IKnowPhysics

Tought to say. Likely not. Irwin is not an NHL-grade defender on any sort of contending team, based on his positioning, skating, and shooting, but would probably be excellent in the AHL. It would be debatable if Guhle would be excellent at the AHL level. It'd be different if Guhle were 20 years old and had a potentially higher trajectory.

Anaheim simply has younger, better defensive prospects that need ice time in San Diego. Guhle is 25 years old with 0 points in 5GP for the Gulls. He suffered a fluke MCL sprain in January, which I expect he's just recovered from or is still recovering from. Nonetheless, his ceiling is a 3rd pair D and requires substantially more development to get even that far. Anaheim is passing on that investment. If he clears waivers, Guhle could look for success with another AHL team or perhaps try the European leagues. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.anaheimcalling.com/platform/amp/2021/1/9/22221706/anaheim-ducks-brendan-guhle-out-6-weeks-knee-injury-injured-reserve-ir

Cozens, for his energy and proclivity for goals and scoring chances, has not shown to be great yet at preventing chances. Putting him on a checking line when we need 5v5 scoring is, to me, in the same vein as putting Skinner with Lazar in line four. Not necessarily because of his fight, but rather his team-leading 5v5 GF/60, I would have considered giving Cozens some time with Eichel today.

The Sabres (6-11-3) start a three game road stand at the Islanders (12-6-4), including today (Thursday), Saturday, and Sunday. Sabres are 0-3 against NYI this season and have been outscored by a combined 9-3. NYI is 4-0-1 in its last five games. Must win.

First goal: Second goal (2:34) Third goal (5:55)

After Ryan Lindgren made the mistake of asking an eager Dylan Cozens to dance and getting his mouthpiece ejected last night, Cozens deserves his own thread. Cozens' postgame cites his upbringing in Whitehorse, Yukon as a driving force in his work ethic: He's the first Yukoner to be drafted in the first round (2019, 7th overall) and only the fourth ever to be drafted. In juniors, Cozens played for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL, serving as captain during his final year, in which he recorded 38G 47A 85P in 51GP. This gives Cozens an NHL equivalency of 41P in 82 NHL GP. Cozens has played 15 of the 20 Sabres games this season, but despite only scoring 3G 1A 4P in 15GP so far this season (82GP pace of 16G 5A 21P) and playing mostly being centered by Staal and Eakin, it's easy to see his potential. When Cozens gets ice time, his 5v5 GF/60 is the highest among Sabre forwards at 2.81GF/60. He shoots the puck (5v5 CF/60) more than any Sabre outside of Taylor Hall. If Cozens had played Jack Eichel's 277.6min of 5v5 ice time (opponents, linemates, and usage notwithstanding) as opposed to his 170.5min, Cozens' goal scoring pace would have already have him at 13G (good enough for 3rd in the league currently) and be on pace for a 60G 82GP season. Understandably, Whitehorse is going bananas for Cozens as a Sabre. And we should be too. He's a bright spot in a dreary season.

Exactly why this is *****. Hutton is objectively bad.

I simply don't know how you do more of the same and expect it to work better. It's lunacy. And now you rest Cozens, say on morning radio that you expect a big game from him, and then stick him with Rieder and Eakin.

Lots of things not to like there. Hutton, Skinner on 4th, Cozens on 3rd, Okposo not on 4th, Miller on 3rd pair. Upsides: Irwin out.

Krueger on WGR this morning. https://www.radio.com/wgr550/sports/sabres/krueger-we-need-to-get-some-gritty-goals Bits: -Cozens in tonight, was seated to rest, and is expected to be strong tonight. -Krueger is still making reference to not being able to tell "everyone on the outside" about something with Jeff Skinner. Says Jeff is being very professional about his benching, and while Jeff may not embrace the decision, Krueger says communication is clear and honest, and Jeff understands this "disruption" is helping get Jeff to where he needs to be. -Said "there's no 4th line" but confirmed he has been playing Skinner with Lazar to get Skinner matched up against worse D pairs. Sees Jeff getting lots of chances and is waiting for the "waterfall to break open." Acknowledged Jeff is a "classic 5v5 scorer." -Understands why Eichel seemes frustrated. Expects everyone to be frustrated with where the team is, especially somone that competitive. -Does not see a problem with goaltending. Thinks games are close and putting a lot of pressure on the goalies, but the overwhelming team problem is 5v5 scoring, and Hutton and JJ played well enough. Acknowledged Hutton is a leader on the team. -Needs to find ways to open up the 5v5 scoring without opening up the goals against.

Bloodsport may or not be a bad movie, but it's irrefutably the greatest documentary ever made.* *depending on whether you think Frank Dux is full of *****.

Lots of jobs on the line now.

Until I see otherwise, I'm convinced this team will hold steady on the GM, coach, and likely the players. I think that they think they have some sort of bulletproof process and that they've built some unshakeable foundation. I think that they believe to their cores that, if given time and circumstances, it will fix this team. I think that they think they haven't had enough time and/or the negative circumstances surrounding the team are outside of their control. Despite losing, they are doubling down on whatever their process is. Because why wouldn't they? Their foundation, their process, is self-built on the principle that it will work. If they admit that it doesn't work, even for a moment, they have nothing. They will carry that torch to the very end, until the day they are fired, because that is what they've chosen to build- an imaginary precept of infallibility. I'm simply hoping that their process at some point will be perceptive enough to be self-aware and flexible enough to start solving problems. Because if it doesn't, they're going to trust the process until it eliminates them, that point will come way too late for any chance of success or opportunity to rebuild, the franchise will smolder, and the remaining invested fans will yet again be left with nothing. As for the season, the team is in a meat grinder. There's no hope. No off switch. They're being shredded. They're not reaching to help themselves out, and when they are, there's nothing to grab. Adams put an interesting team together on paper with some predictable strengths and weaknesses, and it's folded like a house of cards. I'll keep watching, if only to see who digs deep, puts out the effort, and tries to fight their way out of this, even if they're by themselves.

Anger is more useful than despair.

I don't know if I would quit this team 100%, but I would be heartbroken and the closest I've ever been. In short, the suffering of the last seven years will have all been for ***** if they part out the single most important player asset to the franchise. Basically, for me not to quit, the return for Eichel would have to be so ridiculously high and bulletproof to risk, that it's essentially impossible for an NHL team to make any sort of reasonable hockey trade to fulfill that.

I noticed similar. The third period was tracking slightly for Buffalo and Skinner ended up with the best forward stats because he was moved to that line at about the 44 minute mark.

Fascinating and heart breaking. Had no idea. His decline was admonished, particularly here, so, so heavily.

Full Tankrection. Is that Jeff Skinner?

Possibility: they may be too tired to fight. IF RK is right, and they're drained, they simply wouldn't have the energy to throw down.

Attempting to jinx: Carter Hart Shut Out Carter Hart Shut Out Carter Hart Shut Out

Yet another good tip against a sleeping defense that's not tying up sticks in front.

Irwin had to make a diving play because he got burned by his own bad decision and bad execution.

Matt Irwin: still bad. Can't skate at an NHL level. Can't shoot at an NHL level.

Yes. Give me all the HDCF and none of the HDGF. And yeah, Montour dumb.