Porous Five Hole

The reasons why McCabe signed in Chicago are well known. I think that ship has nailed. If Schenn is a commodity, why would he OK a trade here? As much of an optimist as I am, this isn’t a playoff team in 2022-2023. I like the idea of improving the third pairing, but I don’t think that’s an easy task. Telling a good defenseman you’re a blocked shot away from top four minutes on a team destined for tenth in the conference isn’t an easy sell to anyone. Unless one of Dahlin, Power, Muel, or Joki get hurt long-term, this D corps is solidified. No one acquired will step on their minutes during this development season. Fingers crossed lyubushkin can get back soon.

I wish I agreed, but I don’t. The one seed has just become mandatory. I’m saying this because this is the same defense that had their season end at Arrowhead the last two years. Von was the difference. Now we have the exact same defense, less Hyde, to run it back a third time. Why would this year be any different? Josh already did the Incredible Hulk act last year and it wasn’t enough.

Holy S-word!

It’s totally possible. The Pens have lost three in a row and no Letang. But I still don’t see how it moves the needs given my post just above this. I would love to be wrong!

I think the trouble is that you have to sell the player in question on playing third pair minutes for a non-playoff team. Would McCabe or Schenn sign up for that? Agree that neither will see the playoffs on their current teams, but they’re just a shuffled deck chair if they come here. Neither should supplant Muel or Joki this season. Like it or not, this year is about development of their young core.

Unfortunately I think you’re right. Through 25 games, the last team in a playoff spot has 31 points. So 93 point pace after 75 games. 98 seems like the bare minimum needed to qualify. It sucks that the eastern is so top heavy. BTW, the western is at a 84 point pace in the same 75 game envelope-math formula. That would be a lot more attainable. Perhaps things in the East will slow down with teams like the Rangers, Panthers, & Caps on the outside looking in season to date. Those teams could steal from the teams above them. Unfortunately, Buffalo is behind everyone I just mentioned.

KO said Appert told him it was an upper body injury and he’s day to day.

I just texted Kevin O to see what he found out postgame. I’ll reply.

The Sabres probably saved three million annually by inking him as early as they did. That’s another impactful player under the cap down the line.

I wasn’t able to watch the pregame or either of the first two periods…did the TNT folks have nice things to say about the Sabres development during the intermissions and etc?

What’s weird is this game is blacked out for me and I live in Rochester. It doesn’t make any sense. I’ve never seen TNT with a broadcast unavailable in your area message before.

I’m told it is Autism-friendly night at the Amerks game, so some things (like the flippin goal horn) are not in use for sensory reasons.

Bjork is a scratch…what the??

I don’t think it was always quite this way. I think it has gone from 65/35 to 95/5. Remember when Schoop & BD used to broadcast live from the arena on game days? Remember the weekly chats with Darcy & Botts during the afternoon drive show? Schoop was (and maybe still is) a season ticket holder. But like a lot of us (I am an ex-holder), I think he’s made it clear over time that he became disillusioned. It was a lot more hockey-centric in the past. However, I do agree with your overall point that it has always been Bills first. It has just multiplied due to the Bills success and Sabres ineptitude.

I’ll be there. Eff everything about the Crunch.

Old friend Bogo going hunting (NSFW)

I’m fine with your response, and I tried to come up with GA 5 on 5, but struck out. I think there’s a demonstrable difference in this team’s five on five play v PK, but I cannot produce analytical results.

They have to fix the PK. It is sixth worst in the league.

So Krebs has three points in 19 games this year…not sure where you’re getting the pointless in 30 games remark? While he’s a net negative player right now, he looks like he is working hard. He back checks with urgency. He’s only played 80 NHL games in his three pro seasons combined. Krebs has 26 points in those first 80 games (along with 25 AHL games, 25 pts in those games…35 games, 36 points if you add the Amerks playoff run last year). He’s a very young player. People are way too hard on the guy who has the equivalent of one NHL season under his belt in his career thus far. The Sabres believe he needs to develop his game at NHL speed. I’ll defer to them on that. For reference, Cozens scored 51 points in his first 120 NHL games (not cherry picking 120…that was his first two NHL seasons combined—Covid shortened year one). Would anyone be shocked if Krebs accumulated 25 points in the next 40 games to equal Cozens point total at the 120 game mark? Ok, I might be…that’s probably slightly out of reach, but what about 15-20 points in the next 40 games this year? That’s totally achievable. That doesn’t put Krebs far outside of what Cozens put up. Let’s take it easy on the kid.

While I would like to see that, it’s wishful thinking. Mid-season goalie trades almost never happen. Maybe a trade deadline deal could happen, but if the past deadline is any indication...it isn’t likely. From memory, the only goalies dealt were MA Fleury (unlikely Buffalo fit) and Wedgewood (pass). The goaltending will need to be addressed in the off-season and KA needs to get it right.

I thought about this…am I overreacting to wins over Detroit & SJ and just wearing rose colored glasses? And I’m an optimist by nature. I will admit that the eight game cooler frustrated me as much as any pessimist. But as you said, a step is super relevant in a development year. I also see a forward step. A top line and a fun line. A future 1A & 1B defenseman. It’s a long season, but the sun is bright.

I appreciate the observation. I choose to hope.

Nice observation. I just made my own thread highlighting this in my own way.

Dahlin and Tage are automatic all-stars. If the NHL still held a young stars game, all of Power, Quinn, and Peterka would be invited. There’s loud banter about locking Cozens up long term. The Sabres are 8-3-1 with Mattias Samuelsson in the lineup. They were 3-10 without him. Development is painfully slow and the Sabres are close to the youngest team in the NHL (certainly the youngest if you exclude their backup Anderson). No one on this team has to wear the failure of the Sabres current league-record missing the playoff streak. Please keep that in mind. The Sabres are on pace for their best offensive season since 1992-93. https://t.co/nmh7MOvAbU And the Sabres have a boatload of cap to spend to keep and acquire. We all want the playoffs ASAP. And there are messes to clean up (goaltending). But it’s time to stand down on the demands of immediacy. All of the young guys playing up a role from where they “should” be will pay long-term dividends. Time to watch the growth and enjoy.

I’m tagging you to not lose sight of my Power observation in a thread about the entire league. I am thinking that Dahlin and his slow, but recent meteoric growth has taken pressure off of Power to be elite immediately. I can easily see local fans fans say, “lay off the guy because look at how long it took our other #1 overall to be elite.” This case in point should give Power a lot more room to develop without the microscope that Dahlin dealt with. That’s a huge plus.