Ctaeth

Except not half as much of a difference maker

It is neuchev's first game back since march, I think he should maybe get a pass in this particular instance

How did rosen/Östlund look?

Trying to avoid the initial reimer situation from last year I would imagine

Yikes https://x.com/SeanMickey7/status/1966204129497460747?t=n2GPfwk1zsgmHcucbNDhyg&s=19

Went to bed thinking they had lost. What a happy surprise!

and unfortunately, i don't think middle of the lineup players are what is going to ultimately move the needle. It is worth noting that Levi isn't accounted for on his list.. based on the age criterion. He misses out on being considered by 1 year. Regardless, I don't remember pronman being high on Levi anyways

He has pretty much everyone but Power/Mrtka as a middle of the lineup player. I don't think I disagree with that... aside from potentially Benson

McD almost always gets the most out of the secondary. Not worried yet

If you really want the Sabres to make a run at the playoffs, I feel like you would have to hang your hat on UPL having a much better season this year... regardless of what the rest of the team does. (or levi stepping in)

The players that players that could get the sabres back to the playoffs are players that are high variance types. The type that you honestly dont know what you're going to get season to season. To me, the three that could massively out perform expectations are quinn, upl, and norris (for injury reason). You get a good to great season from any or all of these guys... we should be talking about playoffs. Honorable mention to doan and levi

Trades are fun and the nhl can always use more fun. Get rid of the nmc & increase parity

I don't think it's hope in this case. I'd classify it as "expectation", not hope. In the case of older players repeating career years, yeah that's hope. You hope they can reach that level again. But for younger players, it's just expectation and the reality of how players progress. They usually don't peak with less than two seasons total played. I don't take issue with Adams expecting ("hoping") that these young players will improve.... because they should improve. You expect them to; they don't come in as a finished product. Where I do take issues with Adams and his attitude towards the younger players is him continuing to have such a large young core AND not sufficiently supplementing it with enough of the right veterans to show the kids how it's done. It's semantics, but I think it's an important distinction to make. Also, I'd prefer to never be put in a position of defending KA ever again 🤢

Don't forget Doan & Kesselring. They don't have a ton of time in the NHL yet either and could certainly improve their scoring this year.