Doohicksie

I'm not so sure I agree about Upie but I don't necessarily disagree either. We do, however, need to upgrade the defense, whether that means bringing someone new in or just focusing more on team defense (including the forwards). When Donny took over he said he was primarily concerned with getting the offense clicking again; if you recall we had one of the worst goals scored per game levels in the league. He said that was harder than tightening up the defense. Now that the scoring is back he needs to follow through and show that team defense can be improved. I wouldn't mind better personnel on the blue line but it's the defensive system that really needs improvement.

Not a slur. Trolling is saying something just to get a rise out of someone. Wawrow knew exactly what he was doing and he got the result he was looking for. He thrives on stirring the pot.

That’s brilliant! 👍🏼 ...in an artificial way.

I just watched Kevyn's talk and started in on Donny's. Wawrow was trolling as only Wawrow can. The rest: totally typical of their typical pressers. Kevyn pumping up the tires on his assets, talking about possibilities in vague terms, not saying anything too definite. Donny talking about belief, conviction, process, work ethic. This is his usual lexicon. Both of them want the players on the team to own whether they make the playoffs next year, and not promise for them.

Everything new I learn about Jeff Skinner makes me like him more and more. I'm especially impressed with the.... grace?... he showed when Krueger was holding him back. A lot of players would have had a chip on their shoulder after that but he did what was asked of him as best he could and didn't complain. I think he is supremely confident in his own abilities and knows that in the end that will carry the day. He's also clearly a glue guy in the locker room. I've said this before: He seems genuinely happy. He does his best and then leaves it on the ice and enjoys life off the ice. It's a good example he sets.

Loved his smile when asked about helping Jack and JJ. This team is just loaded with leadership now. Can you imagine Reino taking new players under his wing? I can't picture it.

Did you watch Between Two Stalls? Skinny teased every player he interviewed.

Never burn bridges

Are they meddlers or absentees? It's hard to keep up.

I hate when people say everything happens for a reason, but honestly I don't think Casey would have broken out last year like Tage did if Casey had stayed healthy. I think he would have been weighed down by the responsibility of 1C and would have been mediocre at best. As it turned out he was sidelined and had another year or so to work his craft. When he finally got the opportunity at the end of this season, he was ready. I don't think he was quite ready at the beginning of last year. The forge of adversity made Mitts the player he is today.

You don't think Mitts could play shut-down fourth line? I think he totally could.

If you post stuff like that about the forum's founder it's probably a good idea he pretends you don't exist 😉

I think the versatility that Casey showed stepping in at 1C demonstrated that he's not the kind of player you trade away. I can't think of a recent trade that the Sabres would regret more than they would if they traded Mitts. He's arrived but center-wise he's clearly 3rd in the pecking order and will be paid accordingly. I think he'll be particularly useful in the playoffs- a highly skilled guy who can play up and down the lineup with decent size and grit who can play anywhere you want in the forward ranks. Why would anyone want to trade that away?

I've never seen so many posts I thoroughly disagree with. Like... every point you make is just... I won't even say. Rather than subject myself to more of this I'm going to use the forum tools.

I think that line would really set up Savioe for success.

Based on his performance down the stretch I'm convinced Mitts will be a monster in the playoffs (in a good way for the Sabres).

Once he hits 1000/600 I could see him formally retiring in-season, if he's not an every day player anyway. If he's not playing every day, that might not be until Christmas or even the All Star break.

When Curtis Lazar was traded I think most people on the forum felt he was a very serviceable bottom 6 guy. You need some of those, especially if they can win faceoffs. If Krebs improves is FO% a bit he will have become Curtis Lazar, and that's not a bad thing.

Faceoffs become critical in regular season OT games. You either have to win the faceoff or have an Alex Tuch that that disrupt the other team and cause a turnover... or both. But in the 3-on-3 OT, extended possession frequently leads to OT victory.

I was living in Detroit when Nick Lidstrom was young. He never seemed to get too physical, never got hurt, was never out of position... right from the start. Very similar to Power.

Because now it's time to discuss how we did on our predictions.

I love what he said about missing the playoffs. Similar to what Rasmus said. They're both hungry which is what this team needs.

"He's always at the right spot, at the right time. Barely do any mistakes. He never gets tired of playing that way. He looks like he's floating around there, but he's so smart, he's always at the right spot." Rasmus Dahlin on Nick Lidstrom (just kidding... on Owen Power, but that was Lidstrom's game as well)

"Every game matters. Every game means a lot." THAT's the takeaway from this season. That fact that he recognizes that is big.

I was expecting 2-3 years for Mitts.... until the latter part of this season.