Doohickie

You're dead to me. Turn in your Sabres Fan Card.

That's pretty much what they did with Tage and Cozens... paid them based on a limited body of work and not all that much more than 50 games. And really, it's not just 50 games. He had earned the 1C coming out of camp in 2021; it was only injury that held him back. But he was "that good" back then as well. He's been running at a 50 points per 82 games pace for three years now, including the time when he was playing injured/recovering. It's not like he came out of nowhere (like Tage did).

If they drop local coverage of teams they'll find their subscriptions decline.

You don't have to be a hockey insider to recognize the disorder that the Sabres were immersed in. Abject organizational and ownership incompetence were known by all who were in the business or followed the sport. The ownership hasn't changed but the organization has. Moving Eichel when he didn't want to be part of a rebuild is a positive from a Sabres PR perspective. The organization under Adams has been steadfast and methodical in its build. One thing I didn't agree with regarding the tank was jettisoning talent to get that one really talented guy. Okay, now you have him, but you need to rebuild the talent pool. XGMTM showed you can't just cash in a bunch of draft chips and build a team quickly, especially if you don't appreciate the role that character and leadership play in the players acquired. (The expansion teams *did* build quickly but that was because they were getting average to above-average talent all throughout the lineup and didn't have to deal with Sabotkas and the like.) I think most people around the league would look at the state of the Sabres and say that, at this point in time, they are a competent franchise that knows what they're doing.

Interesting tidbit there. We tend to look at situation's like Okie's and think of it in terms of value on the ice and value in the dressing room. Apparently Okposo widely respected around the league and as captain playing with him is a potential draw for players around the league. If that line isn't just a reporter's take and it's actually true, it brings another dimension to signing him for another contract.

I think his time as 1C shows that even if he is the regular 3C (or even a 3W), he is the depth the team needs at center to keep the team afloat in the event of an injury to Thompson or Cozens. You can do that and not lose sleep over it. You can't do that with Juri Kulich; not yet anyway, and he's probably a few years away from that level of maturity as a prospect. Casey can do that now and for several years to come. He's the kind of player that can step up in a tough situation; the Sabres are gonna need players like that come playoff time.

You haven't been paying attention. Mitts was the 1C going into 2021-22; injury derailed that He was supplanted by Tage and Cozens as the top line Cs He's worked his ass off at his assignments which included an extended stint at 1C when Tage was hurt and the line played well Mitts is back and he's proven it

Yes please.

I think we already have that on the roster with Cozens and Krebs And Mitts.... even though he's not a full time center but I think we'll see him playing some center when the Sabres make the playoffs.

No. At this point these are the two most obvious needs of the team. Why would you be surprised that Kevyn recognizes that?

Not sure how much people are aware, but storm chasing is big business. Some storm chasers have vehicles that are highly modified to withstand storm conditions. Today the area I live in was the highest risk area for hail in the country. It didn't come to pass but the storm chasers were out and about in the area. This one had a burger.... a couple miles west of my house.

Why? Isn't this what you've been calling for?

They have a lot of potentially good players in the pipeline. Mitts is a good player, and good at a lot of things, right now.

There's always been a d in Reinhardt. You just have to know where to look. Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV.

My real point is that you seem to think a small goalie can't make it in the NHL and my point was that size isn't necessarily an indicator of success. I just got too cute in saying it.

That OT winner was a nothingburger from the point. Amazing that it went in.

I cannot help. I am convuse.

I think you're convusing naive incompetence with malevolence.

Who will score the last goal of the season if they trade Mitts?

You heard me. I put the d wherever I wanted in Reinhartd.

Exactly right. Look at Eich and Reino in the playoffs. Mitts will elevate in a similar fashion, I'm convinced of it. Getting rid of him when we're just entering our playoff window would be a poor move. Also, he provides high level forward depth even while he's contributing on the 3rd line. Lose 1C or 2C for a few games and the team doesn't miss a beat with Casey at the bat.

Yeah, and Dreinhart has really become a good 2-way forward.

(I miss those early, heady days when Redinhart was still fresh and clean and I used to insert the d where I wanted in the name of Rdeinhart.)