JohnC

Thanks for the info. 🍺

I don't think anyone else in this long thread has cited the Skinner example. It's a good comparable example. A very young player on a good roster is in a much better situation than a young player playing on a less talented roster. If Benson does make the final cut, he will be on a good team where he will have less pressure.

I couldn't get the game on TV so I'm listening to Ray and Dunleavy on WGR. They are much better to listen to compared to the out-of-town broadcasts that I have listened/watched so far.

Your last sentence resonated with me. There was a time when young players who were not ready were rushed before they came close to demonstrating that they were ready for NHL play. Mitts is a classic example of that. And Tage also was rushed before he was physically ready for the NHL. One of the reasons was that there was a dearth of talent on the team. That's not what the situation is now. The Benson situation is significantly different from those examples. His play, not his draft status, is the primary reason why there is a discussion about keeping him up with the big club, at least for an introductory stint, if not longer. It's taken awhile to get to the point where there is enough talent in camp where there is internal competition for a roster spot. As you and others have noted, if he earns a roster spot, as he seems to be doing, it will be because his play has warranted him being given a longer look. This is a situation that shouldn't be feared----it is a situation that should be celebrated.

The one thing I'm not going to worry about is another player, based on performance, earning the right to supplant another player. Internal competition is a good thing for a team, and is often stated by the GM. If Krebs is beaten out as a third center, there is still a potential role for him as a fourth center. I agree with you that this is an important year for Krebs to solidify a position on this team, even if it means a different role next year.

You are allowing a preseason game with a mish mash roster to be too influential in your assessments. The best way to approach this game is to simply put it aside. You are giving too much credence to an insubstantial outing. This game was a reflection of the bumpy process of a preseason camp.

This was a type of game with a mish mash of players that I can't make any reasonable judgments on. I'm not going to put myself in a frenzied state on the play of UPL. He was left exposed on plays when players came in on him in one-on-one situations. We already knew that was his weakness. This was simply a practice session where too much shouldn't be deemed from it. This was scrambling hockey game that wasn't entertaining to watch.

When DG moved Tage to center it gave the player room to maneuver and become a prolific scorer. I strongly wouldn't recommend moving him to the wing where he wouldn't have as much space to work with. The coach has made a lot of wise decisions during his short tenure. Moving Tage to center was on of his best decisions. A legitimate argument can be made to move him to another line, but in my view not to another position.

My sense after watching UPL for a while is that because of his size and lack of quickness that he will never excel in breakaway and shootout situations. The issue becomes can he at least improve his weakness in those areas to at least being adequate? And associated with that issue is whether because of his size as an asset can he play well enough in the games to compensate for his deficiencies against players with open space? We shall see.

Few people would argue with you that in general it is better for an 18 yr. old to be given more time to develop physically before playing in the NHL, a tough man's league. But that stance isn't an absolute rule. There are exceptions. They may be few but they do exist. There is still more time in the preseason before making a judgment whether to send him back to the juniors. But as of right now he has earned the right to work with the NHL team. At the minimum, his play has indicated that he has earned the right to stay with the club for the first nine games before a decision is made whether to send him back to the juniors or stay with the big club.

As you are indicating, DG has a variety of options to take when assembling lines and pairings. There is a legitimate argument to make having Mitts center for Tuch and Skinner. If not, is he better suited to be a wing on the second line or does he center the third line? And there is also a legitimate argument to make keeping Tage on the first line. If Tage is centering the second line then does Cozens center a third line? What's become evident is that Sabres are at a point where enough flexible talent has been accumulated where they can play in a variety of roles. The same can be said for the defensive pairings. It's going to be interesting to how this plays out.

Some people have preconceived notions based on what is usually the right approach to take. However, as you are stating, if one drops the preconceived notions and watch the performances, his play suggests that he is capable of playing in this league. Can he do it throughout a long and grinding season? I don't know. What I do know is that based on his play he has earned the right to start the season in Buffalo for at least a designated stint. If he demonstrates that he can handle the rigors of NHL play and be an asset to the team, then why not? This youngster is competing hard; so far, he has earned the right to make the roster. That's what competition is all about!

Don't let his pimples and babyface fool you. He's got the smarts and the mental makeup to play in this league. Is he physically mature enough to handle the rigors of a long and grinding NHL season? I'm not sure. Right now, based on his play he seems like a player who is putting himself in a position to at the minimum start the season off on an introductory stint.

It was a love tap. 🥰

You are right that it is unlikely for the Sabres to pursue the suggestion that I proposed because of revenue loss from forcing STHs to pay for those seats (that they are in many cases unlikely to attend. As you point out.) In my view, it is a scam to include those preseason games in ST packages. However, one of the potential advantages of selling cheap seats at these exhibition games is that it would be a way to cultivate the market of fans who don't usually go to the games. It's a dollar $$$ squeeze that I find unappealing.

It's difficult to make judgments on this type of exhibition game. However, I'll offer just a few. The most important potential takeaway is that Levi is demonstrating that he is our primary goalie. If he upgrades the position, that in itself will be one of the more impactful factors in having a successful season. Mitts made some nice passes that put the recipient of them in a good scoring position. In my mind, he's a center more than a winger although he can play the wing. He is one of our better wall players. Where should he play and with whom? @LGR4GMmade this observation about Tage: He was dangling too much. There is a delicate balance between maneuvering to get in a better scoring position and being too cute with the puck. I don't want to make too much of an issue here because this was an exhibition game. Benson is going to be good. He's got great instincts. His pass to Skinner for a score was a nice play. He simply needs to physically mature. His best trait is that he has the confidence to believe that the NHL game is not too big for him. The big question for this team is whether it has improved its team defense. You can't fairly make even a preliminary judgment from this type of game.

It would be an interesting experiment to see what the financial return would be if the tickets were sold between $5 to $10 for this type of exhibition game. The place would be filled with parents bringing their kids to see their first game. The concessions and merchandise sales would certainly be higher. This type of major discounting pricing would likely create additional return customers. In the end, the financial return for the Sabres would be dramatically higher. A win for the fans and a win for the hockey company.

This short link is from Sabres.com. Zack Benson comes from a family that worked in a traveling carnival business in the summertime. It gives you an insight why he is so adaptable to new situations. He's had a lot of exposure to a lot of different coaches and situations. He has a unique background and a pleasant personality. He was a terrific pick in the draft. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/zach-benson-s-family-business-6337869023112 https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/granato-after-practice-6337805943112

We are in accord in our assessment of both players. Johnson is older than Benson and is more physically developed. Benson has a lot of skill but needs to get stronger. It's just going to take some time for that. Both Tage and Mitts needed to physically develop before they could seriously contribute. Clearly, they have gotten to that required physical standard. And now they have become entrenched NHL players. What I like about Benson is that he is not intimidated playing at the NHL level. He has an attitude that he belongs. He's going to be a gem. I'm glad we kept the pick and were able to select him.

The issue for me is not whether a fight is staged or not. It's the issue of fighting. I don't believe it is necessary and I consider it to be unsafe for the players. There are plenty of injury risks just in playing the game. I don't see the need for adding a risk of injury by fighting. We are travelling on parallel paths that won't cross. That's okay.

Obviously, there are physical risks in all pro sports. That doesn't mean that there shouldn't be attempts to limit them. The notion that by eliminating fights there is a slippery slope leading to stop clean checking is absurd. Have you watched college hockey where fighting is not allowed but hard checking is?

You go to a lot of games. I watch a lot of games on TV. No, I don't have official stats on whether fights are staged or not. But just from a viewer perspective I'm confident in my position. But that's not the main issue and central reason why I'm adamantly against fighting. It is a health and safety issue. You saw the Stillman fight last year. Whether it was an agreement to fight or not, it could have caused a season ending injury or even worse. What was gained by the fight? It's not necessary at all.

Why is there a need to be fights at all? Football is a much more physical game and it is not allowed. How has no fighting in college, Olympic and world tournaments (I believe) hurt the game? It hasn't as much as it has enhanced it. College hockey played by the upper tier level is very physical. Just explain to me why fighting should be allowed? What's the point? The notion that vicious stick swinging would be more prevalent doesn't resonate with me at all. Anyone who gets involved in that type of behavior would be thrown out of the game and the league office would suspend that player for a number of games. Stick swinging is severely dealt with by the referees and the league office. With respect to my comment about hockey players who get involved in a fight should be thrown in jail is not an excessive comment. Fighting in any public setting such as a bar, on the street, at a football game etc. would get one arrested for assault. Fighting in hockey is an ugly remnant of a past era. That era, thankfully, for the most part is long-gone. And because of that hockey is a much more entertaining game to watch. There's no justification and need for it.

Again, most fights are staged where the combatants agree to go at before the gloves come off. Stillman getting hurt in his first game after a fight is an example of that. (As you cited. He could have had a concussion that jeopardized his season, and even career. For what?) I'm aware that fights are no longer as prevalent as they were a number of years ago. Fighting has been for the most part is limited. I'm arguing that it should completely be eliminated. It serves no purpose other than to create unnecessary health and safety risks. I'm all for physical play. That can be done by checking. Fighting in the NHL is an anachronistic part of the old era. In my opinion, it shouldn't be part of today's game which is faster, more skilled and better flow.

Most fights are staged where one combatant asked the other potential combatant if he is willing to go at it. For the most part, it is contrived. As far as stick work while the action is going or after the whistle there is a simple solution: Enforce the rules. Call penalties even after the whistle if necessary. There are no fights in the college or Olympics because they are not tolerated by the officials. And there are usually no fights in the world tournaments. Fighting does nothing to enhance the game. What it does is create added health risks when it is now such a small and anachronistic part of the game. For me, hooligan behavior is not entertaining. It belongs in the prison yard where criminals have their own code of conduct.