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I think the team will miss Peterka more than many are assuming. It seems to me that many people are saying his defensive, 2-way game was awful, putting him in a class with Cozen and Quinn as the forwards that cost the team the most in their own end. I disagree with that. It is not to say I think Peterka was a very good player backchecking or in his own zone, that is not the case. But he was, in my own eyes, close to average. For sure better than Cozens and Quinn last season.

He's a borderline guy that's had many chances. AHL or leave. Next !

It's really one of the major questions about this team. Last year, with Peterka, they were one of the best teams in the league at scoring off the rush but much worse at scoring off sustained pressure. Now that they don't have Peterka, who's bread and butter was scoring off the rush (either directly or setting a teammate up) but have guys like Doan and guys like Benson in an elevated role, how much will the rush scoring diminish and can they offset it with scoring off the cycle and being better at cycling overall. If they can be better at cycling, it could take a lot of pressure off the D as if the puck is in the other team's end they don't have to bust their arses defending. Between that and goaltending, it might spell the difference between making the playoffs or not even if the PP and the defensive zone coverage isn't significantly improved.

Hammy just being lazy and comfortable....just like all the other WGR hacks.

I understand they are not going to ice their opening night lineup on the road, but pretty ridiculous how bad a lineup can be...and yes I agree, it is reality.

WUST-assure. Easy-peasy. Correct, but the accent is on the 2nd syllable. hell-EN-ee-us.

You have 8 more days of hopium.

Im not trying to minimize Peterka, I just respect Benson’s game so much more as a complement to Tage when it comes to winning hockey. Getting the puck back and keeping it in the offensive end matters.

Darth nailed it. If Crosby is only going to play 1/2 of the preseason games, they aren't going to waste him on the road only to have people that actually showed up to the game a day or 2 later in the 'Burgh to be griping about not seeing their star. Same with the Sabres and Thompson and Dahlin. They aren't playing in C-Bus. Right or wrong, it's reality. And teams do tend to have their better checking line going on the road, so the home team's top guys aren't primarily skating against AHLers usually.

I think it’s about matchups McLeod Tuch and Zucker you can safely play against top lines, Quinn Kulich and Doan you can’t. Switch Zucker and Quinn and neither looks great against top lines. But I’m good thinking Quinn Kulich and Doan can outplay most 3rd lines.

The only preseason tix being bought are on the secondary market, and I don't think anyone is getting too high or low based on preseason mismatches. 😂

If he doesn't play in at least 10 NHL games, the contract can slide in his 18 yo and 19 yo seasons regardless of where else he plays. In a player's 20 yo season, the contract no longer slides.

Ice your starters for the home games --- sell those preseason tickets and drum up hype for the season.

Once again, so dumb that coaches don't get together to ice comparable lineups of vets vs prospects vs AHL players. Sabres icing lineup of mostly regulars. Penguins bunch of "who is that". 👎

oh so tempted to do a political one but I'll refrain... also too many choices on all sides.

And it's on ESPN+

The thing about the third line is I don't know who the leader is. Kulich and Doan are still too inexperienced and I just don't trust Quinn to be giving instructions pre faceoff to the other 2. I would feel a lot better swapping Zucker for Quinn on the lines for that reason.

With the usual “it’s preseason” caveats, I’m curious about our first look at whether or not we have 3 lines this year. As a Benson truther and someone who thinks Tage might have a career year, I feel pretty good about the 1st line but there’s certainly projection there. Tuch McLeod Zucker feels like it might be a safe line 2, but the question remains about how real the latter two were last season. Quinn Doan and Kulich is an intriguing but unproven mix as 3rd line. Sure would nice if we can roll them over

How can you not believe a honest face like this

Benson just needs a finisher willing to go to the crease on occasion and float for soft spots (Satan-like) at other times. Between Norris and TNT, he should have a solid season. I figure sometime in the next 5 years, he's going to get one lucky Sabre a big 35+ goal payday that they really aren't worth. It'll be fun.

People naturally distrust groups not like them. Ever watched out the window when a new family moves into the neighborhood or wondered what that car is doing parked down the road late on a Friday night? Congratulations you have a survival instinct which makes you observe things outside of the baseline.

I’m glad the Sabres are paying Samuelsson to sit on his ass every season for 30-40+ games. Definitely deserving of the A

Still do. His name is Mike Ansell. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/team/staff He’s one of 12 coaches employed by the Sabres.

How it is supposed to be pronounced: "Hell-en-eee-us?" Not as easy as the monosyllabic "Krebs" but doesn't seem THAT difficult to pronounce.

Dawn something or another.