IKnowPhysics

I think we're reading too much into this. First, they both have NMCs. Prying either one of them out their holes could be tough. Second, Myers isn't a UFA for another six years, whereas Kessel is a UFA after next year. A lockdown on Myers' developmental potential over the next six years is worth more than one guaranteed season of Kessel. Toronto would have to toss in a hefty conditional pick on Kessel's resigning or retrade, and that'd be a stretch for them, especially after what they gave up for Kessel. Third, if either one of them actually performed to their potential with the new club, they would regularly hurt the other trade team, being in the same division. Very few GMs make those moves and sometimes . Regier is wise to this, which is why he hasn't completed a player-for-player trade with anyone in the NE division (ever!) and hasn't done a player-for-player trade in the East since 2007 when he trade Novotny and a 1st for Zubrus (and some schmo), before that it was Grier for Klepis with Washington in 2004, and before that Peca for Connolly and Pyatt in 2001.

EEEEE EEEEEEEEE, San Diego State University.

1) Ted's not the GM. 2) The GM answered many of those questions earlier this week.

I recognize the value of this; 43.3% vs 40.4% isn't exactly the hard sell. Neither has scored on the powerplay; Ennis has three powerplay assists to Hodgon's zero. Seeing as we've only scored seven powerplay goals, that might imply that he's been handy in creating the few opportunities we've been able to capitalize on. Vanek's scored four of those goals, the last two of Vanek's were on assists from Ennis. Either way, the PP isn't exactly sterling right now. I'm far from crapping on either of them- I like the way the game they bring in the offensive zone, and I'm excited to watch them both develop.

Scoring in the NHL through the early part of the season has been very close to that of last season (0.06 more total goals per game scored this season). No measurable high-scoring league-wide defensive cluster###### we may have expected as a result of no training camp.

Vanek's faceoff percentage? 100%. I expect him to lead the league in hits, blocked shots, +/-, and takeaways at the end of the season too.

Hingle McCringleberry, Penn State University.

Because we need somebody on the second powerplay line instead of Ennis or Foligno. Seriously though, Ennis' puck control is better than Hodgson's (and giveaway stats reflect this), and that's something you want with your best guys in a puck control situation like a powerplay.

You're right, it just makes him heavily biased and emotional. We now have Fox News reporting on sports.

Javaris Jamar Javarison-Lamar, University of Middle Tennesee.

This article has been written. So why write it again? Why republish it now? Bucky is taking advantage of an early-season mediocre win-loss record to try to win a popularity contest with disgruntled fans by trashing the Sabres management. He wants people to say "ohyeah, that's what I was thinking" when he writes his sports opinion column a couple of days after the Sabres suffer a 1-6-1 stretch. He wants readers to identify him as a source of wisdom and insight. And it's all horseshit. He is the Buffalo News' version of Eklund, except he only tries to predict the hiring or firing of Buffalo Sabres front office personnel. He's not Jim Kelley. He doesn't have magic sources. He is the very definition of a yellow journalist. Bucky cleanly nails 1, 3, and 5 with this article, and only those three because he isn't allowed to draw in his column.

Probably Malkin. 50 goal scorer, 107 points last year. He makes his linemates better- he could probably turn Drew Stafford into a 30 goal scorer. No substitute for skill. Sabres scoring ability would get ridiculous. Would also strongly consider a premier Dman that can play big minutes, especially in a shutdown role. Weber's an obvious choice, but I would also consider the Ghost of Nicklas Lidstrom. If we're considering realistic players, I'd take a long look at Dan Girardi: 8th in hits, 5th in blocked shots, 12th in takeaways in '11-'12. Player usage charts show he excels in extremely difficult situations. A steal at $3.25 million. He's not having a great start to this year; may be more available than some. Bonus: he's from Welland.

Everything said in this thread so far has been accurate.

Sir Mixalot is unimpressed by this thread.

Ehrhoff looked good again. Miller looked in his 2010 form. Extremely sharp. To post the equivalent of a 50 goal pace (on an 82 game season), Vanek need only score 18 goals in these last 37 games. If he were to keep the pace he's on he'd post the equivalent of an 82 goal and 171 point season. Vanek's shooting percentage is a ridiculous 24.4% on a team-high 45 shots. Of players with more than 20 shots, only Patrick Kane is more deadly. I guess if we can't get secondary scoring going, we can get the D to step and bounce a few in here and there. Season stats after tonight are pointing to weaknesses in defense (duh): -We're 6th best in the league in goals per game and 3rd in the East, but we're 2nd worst in goals allowed per game. We're also 2nd worst in shots allowed per game. -We're 8th worst in giveaways, but 7th best in takeaways. --Stafford, Hodgson, Ehrhoff, Myers, and Sekera lead in giveaways. Leopold has the fewest giveaways of the regular, big-minutes players. Hecht isn't far behind. --Vanek, Ehrhoff, Hecht, Pominville, and Staffford lead in takeaways. Brennan, Pardy, Regehr, and Weber have yet to record any. -We're 15 in hits, compared to 31st at the end of last season. Ott, Foligno, and Weber (only 7 games) lead the team. As expected and observed, we're much more physical team. -We're last in faceoff percentage (43%). From those stats: -If Miller can backstop us until the D un######s itself, we could end up doing pretty well. -Hecht is doing a great role playing job. -Leo, for as bad as his checking is, he isn't making many mistakes with the puck on his stick- maybe he's the new Numminen. -Stafford's a turnover machine (which may explain his poor +/-)- he battles for the puck well, but seems too eager to give it away. -Part of Vanek's magic is that he is simply wrecking opponents when he tries to force turnovers. Great example: stripping Tavares for the break tonight.

Rec skates are designed to be cushy comfortable (like a hiking boot) and as much like speed skating ice skates as possible. They have long, tall chassis with uniformly large wheels. They're soft-sided to be comfy and stay cool. Some rec skates have brakes, which, depending on how you skate, could be a hindrance. Hockey skates are designed to take pucks and sticks and are as much like hockey ice skates as possible. The have compact chassis designed to be fast and efficient, but not be so long- so that they feel like a hockey blade instead of a speed skate blade- this makes them capable of being more agile than longer rec chassis. The boot uses laces to stay tighter than rec skates and is hard and durable enough to take pucks. The stiffer boot also transfers energy better than a rec skate (this is compensated by the longer chassis on a rec skate).

I see it.

Just for the Leafs. And the Flyers, Penguins, Senators, Bruins, Hurricanes, Capitals, Stars, maybe the Rangers .

First, I doubt any of this business of taking a 4th line shift off to catch your wind is meaningful in any way. Vanek played 24 minutes last night (TWENTY FOUR). His last three seasons he's averaged 17. The coaching staff might be listening closely to him about whether he's winded or not, especially if they're trying to make a comeback . Second, has anyone ever played competitive anything when you're one of the better players and the rest of the team sucks that night? Of course it's frustrating. You do all you can do to put up a big game, and the rest is left to your team, and if they let you (and eachother) down, yes, it can piss you off. This Sabres team has been the Thomas Vanek show* so far this season, and after the streak of lost games, he should be plenty pissed and make it his business to call out his teammates. So what happens when he does that- you get lots of good scoring chances created by the secondary forwards throughout the game and just enough secondary scoring to keep the game close. Then Vanek does all he can- everything he's been doing- and gives you two big goals and a shootout goal to get the team the W. That frustration is going to mold these top line boys into leaders right quick. *The opening acts include Pominville, Hodgson, Ennis, Ehrhoff.

Oh ###### guys, businessmen doing businessmen things. Get the ###### pitchforks. Also, re: ulterior motives; Kim's a Sabres fan, and if he bought the Flyers, she would have to take his balls.

Forget all of the I told you so nonsense. I could go back to any thread on the board and find a post that's wrong. I'm not prognosticating the entire season yet (I'm just spectating- try it sometime), but come from behind wins like last night's tend to impact team chemistry and effort in a positive way. We saw what a good Sabres team can look like with this group of players in Boston and in various spots in some games. We have the potential. I think some of our systematic weaknesses improved a little last night. Either way, there's more to come, and as a fan, I'm all in.

Thank you.

Someone tell Kessel about this idea, he'd have a ball.

The man does put a mean cupholder on a pisser.