Porous Five Hole

(Paywall) …Those facts all combine to mean Zucker will be a popular name when NHL trade talks intensify in the coming weeks. As of Jan. 1, Zucker is eligible to sign an extension with the Sabres. And that’s something that he’s open to, despite how the team has performed this season. “I would love it,” Zucker said. “Right now that’s not something that is in my control. For me personally, it’s something I would be very interested in. If that time comes we can have that conversation.” https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6062957/2025/01/15/nhl-trade-deadline-sabres-jason-zucker/?source=emp_shared_article On the one hand, what else is he supposed to say to a reporter? But on the other hand, we need more guys like him and not less. Sign me up for a short term extension for market value.

JT Miller lives in Pittsburgh during the offseason. MAYBE he would be willing to waive his NMC to play In Buffalo if the closer distance helps his (leave of absence) issue? I doubt it. But that could be the type of guy this locker room needs and to hell with the contract in year’s 5-7. Win mode now if I recall?

Well, all of the next forwards that were drafted after Noah are all in the AHL until you get to Kulich. 🤷‍♂️ Much too early to proclaim anything on any of these guys, but you do you.

Not the dinner pairing I expected, but enjoy!

I thought this was interesting. Any idea why? More backups playing more frequently?

Plus Caps, Wild, Devils all worse than Buff

You guys, the Sabres are not in the top 13 of player taxation. https://thehockeynews.com/news/hockey-taxes-what-an-nhl-player-pays-in-taxes-depending-on-their-team Kevyn Adams is an absolute clown. It was a stupid line to try to justify his failures and it did not work.

Wow man, a 20 year old in his first season in North America and banged up is worth next to nothing? Against his peers at the World Juniors last year, he was Sweden’s best player on a silver medal team. I think he’s worthy of some patience and development.

My understanding from people who would know is he retreated to a life in the background of the horse racing industry. I can only provide this link as proof, but I trust the guys who I know. https://standardbredcanada.ca/news/10-8-15/tim-murray-always-eyeing-talent.html He probably knew he wasn’t hirable in hockey after the reputation he earned. 🍺

Old friend Conor Sheary was the first star for the Crunch.

GIFs are going away soon, so I couldn’t help myself

I’m stuck at BNA waiting for my parents to arrive to then drive home to Rochester. So, I had some time. The Sabres (16-21-5) open a three-game homestand against the Seattle Kraken (17-22-3) at 4 p.m. on Saturday. It will be Kids Takeover Day at KeyBank Center, with young fans assuming roles such as junior reporter, in-arena host, and more. Mattias Samuelsson remained absent from the Buffalo Sabres’ practice at KeyBank Center on Friday due to an illness and is not expected to play against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, coach Lindy Ruff said. Beck Malenstyn, who has missed the past two games, was back on the ice for practice but remains questionable for Saturday’s game. “I would say low on energy,” Ruff said. “Got to make a decision on him.” If Malenstyn does remain out against the Kraken, the Sabres could opt to stick with the 11-forward, seven-defenseman lineup that played in Ottawa on Saturday. The benefit of the 11-7 split, Ruff explained, is extra minutes for the middle-six forwards – which can lead to more of a rhythm in their game. Go Sabres ⚔️

Devon Levi is 12-2-1, 2.12 GGA, .918%.

I kinda feel like all pro is a stat award and value to his team is for MVP. Give Josh nine pro-bowlers to work with like Lamar and his stats would be nuts. Or maybe mvp is a stats award too. I would like to think there’s some nuance there to voters.

I like your post, but I have a slightly different take on the matter of Patty. This is going to be a long one. We’ve heard wild rumors of LaFontaine’s argumentative state and mood swings supposedly from his concussion history. Rumors of NDA’s. Playing into the stigma of his clinical depression that LaFontaine was very transparent about after his playing career ended. https://www.ourmental.health/stars-struggles/hockey-heros-heartache-pat-lafontaines-battle-with-clinical-depression BTW, the embedded video from the webpage was from approx 2013…the same year he was hired in Buffalo. Next, let’s see if we can learn anything from the public comments of an irritated and supportive (to Patty) head coach, Ted Nolan. Nolan on his future with the team after Pat allegedly resigned: “Right now is not about my contract,” he said. “It’s about the situation that just happened, what transpired in this organization, what happened to a very dear friend. We’ll leave it at that.” “That was the main reason I got here is to try to turn things around and coach the Buffalo Sabres,” Nolan said. “Right now, especially, I’m going to really concentrate on that because we traded our franchise player (Miller). We traded our captain (Vanek). That’s tough enough as it is. Then, all of a sudden, a situation happens with Patty.” BTW, LaFontaine didn’t fade into oblivion to never work again. He went back to work as the NHL’s vice president of hockey development, the position he left to join the Sabres. https://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/sabres-insist-pat-lafontaine-wasnt-fired-ted-nolan-upset-over-departure/ LaFontaine was President of Hockey Operations from November 13, 2013 to March 1, 2014. A total of 108 days. He hired Tim Murray on Jan. 9, 2014. LaFontaine was Murray's boss. Murray reported to Patty and not to Pegula. LaFontaine and Murray worked together for 51 days. Here is what I understand happened. Tim Murray wanted to do whatever it took to draft McDavid, but LaFontaine was unwilling to take it down to the studs. He was fine with retooling or getting younger, but no tanking. LaFontaine understood the culture of a locker room. He knew tanking didn’t guarantee McJesus. He also told Murray that the 2014 and 2015 drafts were top heavy and we would be fine wherever we landed. LaFontaine wanted leaders in the room and knew Ryan Miller would have kept the Sabres in games. LaFontaine knew the risk of tanking. His boss and his subordinate did not. Murray wanted to trade Ryan Miller and LaFontaine said no. So, instead of following his boss's orders, Murray went directly to Pegula to get permission. Pegula gave him the green light. On February 28, 2014, Murray traded Miller to St. Louis. The next day LaFontaine quit. That day ended up being a day of infamy. It killed the concept of a senior hockey executive running a hockey department in Buffalo. It killed the relationship with a former star player. It enabled/empowered Pegs to be closer to hockey decisions. But most importantly, the risk of tanking that was ignored back then…well, how we feelin now boys? Thanks Terry! TL/DR: I agree with Pimlach’s conclusion that you cannot defend Terry’s hockey record and I am here to tell you Pat LaFontaine tried to save us.

You truly did see into the future.

Moneypuck is predicting 84 points for the last wildcard spot in the East. Imagine that? All it takes is 85 pts and the Sabres still couldn’t break the drought.

Sure do. 2.6% to make the playoffs, and 8.1% to win the lottery. https://moneypuck.com/predictions.htm

He seems quite vocal, but maybe not so much between whistles?

Dan calls poor play by play for a television broadcast. He has not adjusted his presentation for radio/simulcast. To be fair, neither did RJ, but no one cared because we all wanted to hear as much of him as possible.

🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

I made it two minutes and bailed 🤮

Sunday 1pm playoff game!!!

Ever since the Rona, I cannot stand cilantro. Strangely, I didn’t lose my sense of taste when I got sick in 2021. I used to love cilantro.