Jorcus

I hate instantaneous trials and convictions by the internet. RIP Johnny and Matthew. Very Tragic.

I have a difficult time thinking of a use case for AI in hockey. I can think of many uses for AI outside of hockey but I can't see how you are going to use it to gain an advantage for on ice performance. For way too many years of my life I have handicapped horse races and have a good understanding of how advanced handicappers were developing AI type tools long ago to get an edge on the game. To some extent they were able to improve their chances of coming out ahead wagering but there were many things that were difficult for the system players to account for. One of the biggest issues was as much as you might know one horse is faster than the one standing next to it you really don't know how the horse is feeling that day. The best you can do is observe the paddock and the warmups but that is pretty much impossible to program and even when you think you know by observation you don't really know until they run the race. Like LTS pointed out a foot slip changes the dynamic of the outcome. There are many other factors in a race that are difficult to account for that skew results and outcomes. Hockey is like this in many ways. It's a very fast and reactionary sport. Players have to react to the conditions presented on the ice. They are given ideas of where they should be in relation to those conditions but a program can't do that for them. Maybe the program would want them to be some other place but they are not physically able to do that. It's like when a coach draws up a play during a time out late in the game. If that play does not work in the first few seconds there is no play anymore and it's back to reacting to the conditions on the ice.

Are UPIE's glasses 3D or X ray Vision?

Other than Girginsons and maybe a little bit from Okposo all the guys we offloaded were not ones who would take a punch in the face. I like the fact we got speed and am hopeful that the new players are going to do the dirty work so Tuch, Cozens and Dahlin don't end up on IR because they are the ones fighting.

It's fine if your on the Oilers but the Sabres in general had such bad production out of the centers last season that they all have to come up to be competitive. I think McCloud will produce more just by not being the 4th center on the team. At least I hope so.

I am not against the trade of Savoie. The Sabres must have felt he was not going to help us this year. I worry about McCloud's lack of production so far in the NHL. It's Obvious he was not getting top line minutes with the Oilers. This is certainly a projection pick up where it's possible his numbers can jump with different usage. I hope so because you really need better production out that center position. Well at least the team is going to look different. I will say this for the Oilers they love adding people who can score goals.

The summer olympics,

Poturalski had a tough break in Calder cup finals getting hurt the first game and was not able to play after. I was kind of hoping he would get to the Amerks. Got to love his team photo for the Firebirds. If that face does not say I play in the AHL I don't know what does. He also lead the AHL in scoring 2 years in a row although the first year was covid shortened. Tip of the hat to him. https://cvfirebirds.com/team-roster/

Nashville was an older team last year, now they are a very old team. Lots of great players, the big question is will they be able to stay on the ice. Only one skater under age of 25 right now.

I can see it now, We get Trouba and 3 weeks in he gets a 20 game suspension.

On the other hand if the Sabres don't find a use for the money they would save and keep him he might find himself in a misery box if he does not play the way Ruff want's him to. Adams has a stubborn streak, ask Jack Eichel.

Rangers looking for better draft pick may move on from Kaapo Kakko. Any interest? If it were straight 11th pick for Kakko baring other trade would seem worth it.

If Lindy is worried about goal songs we got the wrong coach.

I went looking though the December thread about what Casey's next contract would be. Most were wildly high. A few were low and a few were close but no one came closer than Berg who on December 13'th 2023 predicted 3 x 5.7. Nice!

Here is a crazy question. If a player has a no trade clause to the Coyote's does that exclude a trade to Utah?

Given Adams I only want players that want to be here speeches, does anyone think it is Skinner that wants out more than management wants him to go? There is an assumption that Ruff does not want him but maybe it's Skinner that does not want to deal with Ruff. If that's the case hopefully Skinner's agent can find a deal that gets him out without the Sabres going the full buy out route. I keep thinking about the last Toronto home game when a TO fan threw a Skinner jersey on the ice mocking the Sabres. Who did that affect the most Skinner or the management. Maybe it was both.

My concern about ejecting Skinner is who will replace him on left wing. Peterka is listed as a right winger who is playing left wing. Then you have Benson, Greenway and the unsigned Girgensons. I still have no idea why Kane would sign in Buffalo given past issues but would he play any more defense than Skinner would? Also he is listed as a right winger. Maybe left and right are more interchangeable than I think they are but it seems like it could be an issue. If you tell me they are clearing space with Skinner to get Gentzel or Debrusk I wouldn't argue with that but that seems like a very long shot. Skinners contract is like owning a timeshare you can't get out of it without losing big so maybe the best thing to do is just use it until it goes away.

We need more than 2. I don't want Krebs as my 3rd line center. If Stamkos or other high end center pushed Cozens down to third line we will be better off. It's nothing against the Tage and Cozens this is more of an issue with Krebs. I don't think Stamkos is coming here but if he did I would be happy. We can't go into the season with what we have now.

A lot depends on what they look like when they come to camp but what I would like to see is the open spot be is the end of the bench. My vision for Juri at this point would be to get him up and on the practice ice working on his defense. Then getting him in and out of the line up with limited minutes until he works his way up to a bigger role. Maybe he is not ready for that yet but my hope is that he will be.

Is this an opinion on Stamkos or all NHL players of his age and class? I think that would eliminate a lot of UFA's. There are pluses and minus to bringing in Stamkos. The big one is what it would prevent you from doing otherwise. Also he had a pretty bad plus minus last year I don't know if his ability is degrading or not. That aside he would fill a giant hole on this team at center. My concerns about him would be physical in nature not that he would be a quitter.

I am not sure why Kane would ever come here. This is the city where he almost lost his career or even his freedom. Too much attention, too many expectations and too many questions that would never go away. Stamkos on the other hand seems to be motivated by money which to him means respect. I don't know how he would feel about playing here but he has felt insulted buy Tampa's offers before. I doubt he has anything against the Sabre's but he would come at a very high price. I don't think I would worry about his motivation.

Monsters almost finished the epic comeback. Game 6 when the bears scored with less than 1 min to go in regulation to go up by a goal the monsters tie it back up to send it to overtime then win it to go to game 7. Last night it was a back and forth affair Bears up by 1 in the 3rd which is almost automatic win for them. Monsters got a goal with about 7min left and ended up going to overtime. They had had some good looks but got the dreaded delay of game penalty which is about the only thing that a ref can not overlook. The Monsters fought that off but the Bears kept the pressure on right after and put in the winner.

I think Kulich was negatively affected by his trip to the world Juniors this year. He was hurt after the return and the coach explained about how much hockey the kid had played in the past year was wearing him down. I think he is a much better player than what he showed at the end of the year. I think he should be with the Sabres next fall. There is an extra spot on the roster with the loss of the third goalie and unless you think Rousek is better to have in that position It could be Juri. He does have over 100 AHL games which is a lot for a guy his age. Lets see how he comes to camp this year.

For big game fishing you are going to have a hard time beating lake Ontario. We don't even weigh kings unless they are getting close to 20 lbs anymore. My arm is killing me from yesterdays trip and I only fought with 3 king salmon yesterday. Chautauqua was the lake I learned to fish on with my Grandfather. Its pretty but shallow and busy in the summer. Keuka is a beautiful lake, Fishing is ok, but a very expensive place to stay these days. Best of the fingers. Skaneateles is 2nd for beauty. Another expensive lake though. Adirondack area has so many, Blue mountain is beautiful, and so is Placid, others worth going to Piseco. 4th lake, Indian lake, lake flower. That does not include ones that you hike into like cedar lake in the West Canada area. I think it's time for a road trip to the ADK!

If this were not a salary cap league I might agree but other than the IR loophole this is a pretty tightly restricted salary cap. The numbers are an important part of the puzzle. What can a team afford to pay now, what can they afford to pay later? Why did they keep this guy and not that guy. The importance of knowing came to be with free agency. It's the internet age we are going to find out what a play gets paid no mater how many websites get sold. Any fan who wants to think about a trade or getting a free agent has to think about the salary. I like to think about it. How can I blame a GM for not spending money unless I know what kind of position he is in?