LabattBlue

Also, how much of the salary cap budget do they carve out for the top 2 goalies in 21-22? 8-10 mil?

Im going to watch to see how UPL and some of the other youngsters look.

Well...had absolutely no symptoms after 2nd dose. I’m now at the 2 week “post 2nd dose” mark. Am i now invincible? 🥳

I’ll be honest I’ve watched very little even after Ralphie got fired. For those who have, has Tage’s play “post RK” warrant him being protected for the expansion draft? I can see protecting Mitts, but not sure about TT.

I've been saying that the only answer is a compliance buyout in the next 2-3 years(I'm crossing my fingers). If you look at a normal buyout using capfriendly calculator, it is way way too painful. In the meantime, I just hope there is some way to utilize him other than the RK approach. PS I wonder whatever happened to Jeff Gilooly or whatever his name was! 😂

So what is your answer as to Jeff Skinner going forward?

Not at all. I just want the best candidate for the job, and if they hire Granato without interviewing anyone else, the ownership and FO will continue to be a joke IMO. If they interview the most experienced...Julien, Brodeau, Gallant, etc... along with some rising stars from college, juniors, or the AHL, and decide Granato is their man, I will at least respect the process, but still feel they didn't hire the right guy. Just my 2 cents.

Does "looking at coaches" = formal interviews? If not, then Adams is doing this franchise a disservice if he hires Granato without formal interviews of the best available candidates.

I don't care how the Sabres play the last 10 games or so. There is NO WAY Granato should be hired without a thorough search of the most experienced candidates on the market. None of this "we know him and we like to hire within our comfort zone" crap.

I don't remember the exact quote, but didn't Adams come out and say one thing, and then 24 hours the team or Eichel said the opposite? My point is, if there was uncertainty as to the course of action, why not say he is still being evaluating, instead of looking like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing?

Brandon Hagel with his 2nd OT goal of the season last night. Now has 19 points in 43 games. Thanks Botts! 😡

Thanks. I wasn't aware of that....obviously. 🙂

Makes you wonder if they should even bother with having playoffs this season?

Looking at the lineup, how many of these guys are even under contract to the Sabres? 5 or 6? Pekar, Smith, Laaksonen, Fitz & Murray? Maybe Elie? I'm surprised they are competitive at all at this point.

Consider this is the same team that within a 24 hour period, couldn't decide if Jack needed surgery or not.

It's one or two games...it is not going to ruin his career is he gets lit up...and if it does mess with him, then chances are his mental makeup was not very good to begin with.

It isn't an option, but I'd go 5 x 6.0 or 5 x 6.5 tops

If nothing else, faceoffs are a big deal at the start of a PP. The team on the PP is gifted an o-zone faceoff to start the PP. Win the faceoff, you setup your PP and go. Lose that same faceoff, the puck is cleared, and probably 20-30 seconds are off the penalty time by the time you are set back up in the opposing teams end.

- Minimal roster deadweight i.e. Skinner and Okposo - Top half of the NHL PP and PK - Top 10 starting Goalie...and backup ranking in the Top 20. - Grit sprinkled throughout the forward and blueline groups. - Dominating top line and two all-star caliber defensemen - Excellent FO and coaching staff

Good to hear he is progressing. Because of his pestiness/grit, I'm hoping he can be an NHL 3rd line/4th line tweener by 22-23...and his OHL scoring numbers over two years were good enough that he has some promise in that regard also.

Hahahaha. Sorry about that!

Regarding Borgen...I wonder if Adams and Co. are planning on not playing Borgen for the last 10 games, hoping that if they leave him unprotected, because of the small sample size of games, Seattle passes on him. Wishful thinking on my part?

I'm saying I don't want him as the Sabres #2 goalie in 21-22. Not sure where the confusion was?

Good for him. That being said, I hope they are not fooled into thinking he can be the #2 for next year. Hutton has also had some nice small run of games over his time with the Sabres, and then fell apart.

This is what happens when you have little grit in your lineup. Someone wants an AHL goon brought up. Fix the roster problem by mixing in more NHL players with grit, and then no one will suggest the extreme alternative.