Doohicksie

Looks like the PhenomenOtter is more of a MediOtter tonight.

I'll see you down at the Luby's for the earlybird dinner.

That would make me sad. I think he's a good defenseman already and likely to get slightly better. But if he's a 7/8 D (or lower) for the Sabres they're not utilizing him properly and possibly could fetch a nice forward.

I haven't looked in detail, but my impression was that he was pretty much goalless for the first half of the season and came on quite a bit in the second half. EDIT: Okay, I looked. His scoring was pretty even at 2 goals per month with no goals in October or January... and three in March. But looking at the goals, the ones marked with * were from in tight (8 of 11 goals). The remainder were from the slot. He's scoring goals from where goal scorers score goals. 11/22 shot from edge of crease* 11/30 shot from slot off faceoff* 12/13 rebound shot from top of crease* 12/15 loose puck shot from edge of crease* 2/13 shot from top of crease* 2/19 tip in from low crease* 3/12 one-timer from slot 3/14 tip in from slot 3/14 EN 4/11 tip in from net front* 4/15 deflection from edge of crease* One last note: On Goal #7, he scores on a one-timer from the slot, but just prior to that he was down next to the goalie. As he saw the play develop he shifted to the "quiet area" in the slot where he would be wide open for the shot. It's that level of hockey sense that makes him a potentially great goal scorer.

That aspect sounds like Benson. Style of play not as much, but that aspect is Brierish.

And an even differenter kind of fan at 60.

I had stalled out at about 22-23 lb. lost, bouncing around in that range. This weekend I "gave up" and ate some big meals. Didn't gain an ounce. Weird. So back to eating light and I'm down 25 pounds as of this morning. And the best thing is how much better I feel physically. It doesn't take all that much weight loss to see benefits.

They did it out of respect to the players, and it was well received by them. Nothing wrong with that.

The players have long hair. That's literally the reason.

Take the initiative. Pressure the other side. Press the play. Don't hang back. This year's team was far, far too passive. In the spring of 2023 the Sabres were driving play much more. It's not rocket surgery. I hope Lindy pushes the team to engage and take the initiative more. Take time and space away from the opponent. Press the play on offense. Don't let up.

If/when we get to the playoffs, Tage will take some hits. One would hope he delivers a few too. I have video proof that he's capable. And they don't have to be Umberger Soup hits. Just effective physicality is all I think he needs to provide.

Yes.

I thought of getting a Beauts sweater. Now that they're defunct I can't find any other than used ones on ebay. Too bad. Such awesome.

Not the most popular version of this song, but this version is very... earnest. I guess it should be, since John Denver wrote the song. And Mama Cass's harmonization in the chorus is sublime.

Go Beauts! Oh... 😞

I feel your pain.

Ah, the Party Line. I saw a tweet in the aftermath of his hiring that said since Ruff accepted another HC job, NJ would pay almost nothing of the compensation on the remaining years of his NJ HC contract.

Show me on the doll where the team hurt you.

He's a very competent NHL goalie and if the Sabres had managed to keep him, there would have been no Comrie, UPL could have had a smoother development and Levi could have spent more time seasoning in Rochester. If we eventually ended up with three legit goalies we could have traded one to fill a need elsewhere on the team. I think if the Sabres had retained Ullmark they would have made the playoffs the last two seasons. But yeah, sure, nothing to moan about.

Eh, even then, I'm not sure keeping UPL with the team necessarily birthed in the monster; it was the failure to waive Comrie to send him down right away (or simply move Levi down). One flaw I see in Adams is that he makes a promise to a player, he stands by it for too long, even when the situation changes. If you recall, there was worry that Levi would walk into free agency at the end of his college career. I think Adams promised him he'd go right to the NHL to get him to sign with the Sabres. At the end of last season that didn't look like a bad commitment, but it became apparent pretty quickly this season. I think Kevyn felt he'd made a commitment to Levi and when Levi struggled early this season Kevyn hesitated too long to send him down. Hearing what Levi has said about his time in Rochester, I think things would have been fine if Kevyn had moved him down earlier.

That proves that it's possible. He reportedly asked for the trade prior to needing surgery. It had to do with not wanting to go through another rebuild, not the injury.

Well yeah. He asked for the trade.

Eichel didn't have a NMC in effect yet. He was traded in November, 2021, and his NMC kicked in at the start of the 22-23 season.

Source for this assertion?