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The NBA active roster for a game is only 12 to 15 players. NBA backups would absolutely destroy non NBA players. Dahlin laughed and said he knew Malenstyn had some really good skills. Many NHL 4th liners were once high skill players. I knew a guy that played youth hockey against Adam Mair and said he would score double digit goals pretty much every game and just dominate everybody.

Rasmus Dahlin is a way better player all around but I think Power is bit better in that one aspect. The zone entries on the power play smooth and more decisive. Any open ice Power is going to roll. His last few games have been especially good in using his feet to exit the zone and carry on through the neutral zone. If he has open ice he is going to take it.

FWIW, I was paying for ESPN+ sometimes with and sometimes without Disney/Hulu bundled in, but now I have ESPN Unlimited as part of my Verizon FIOS package. It was a bit a pain to do, but I had to enable it, but since I was already paying for ESPN I now get unlimited too, so I'm suddenly saving on hockey (and lacrosse) this season. But if you don't already pay for ESPN it's moot and you're probably better doing select or unlimited on the side depending on your preference. For hockey specifically I get TNT, NHLN and Monument Sports, to cover all the national/blackouts for games here in Maryland from my cable package, and it's been one of the main reasons I still pay for cable. Because TNT would require HBO, I don't think there is a way to stream just NHLN. You basically have to get streaming "cable" and then I think Monument Sports has a streaming app that isn't worth it for the 2-3 Caps games we play each year

What? 🤦‍♂️

The end pieces were sooo tender despite their charredness.

But still no playoffs? 😢

Follow-up - everyone got gravy boats. For what they did with them, you'll have to subscribe to the Only Fans page.

Figured it was common knowledge. But I played a floor hockey game about 15-20 years ago at the facility in Rochester in East Ridge Rd. I was young then, and so were my teammates. We all played competitive travel hockey, but weren't good enough to play over division 3 hockey. Anyway, out comes a team with guys like Scott Metcalfe, Jody Gage, Randy Cunneyworth, Scott Nichol etc. Nichol may have still been playing but everyone else was retired. The way they dismantled us was comical. We were younger and faster but the precision they had with the puck really drove home just how good pros are, even guys who don't make it past the AHL.

One might say a fool's gold (and blue).

Or he has a couple of multi assists games.

Yes follow up, like funny stories.

The fact that this point has to be made is a sad state of affairs!

I agree. The thing about Zucker is that he is not all rah-rah words, he leads by example and he makes a lot of smart decisions on the ice. He seems to fit into any of the top 3 lines.

It kind of reminds me of the discussion that comes up... Could the best college football team beat the worst NFL team? Could the best Alabama team of the decade beat the Detroit Lions when they were owing 16? There are people who argue. Yes, the college team could win and I think that's crazy. I think those games would probably be 70 to nothing... Depending on how hard the NFL team wanted to try. Oftentimes the very best college teams of all time will have 10% or less of their roster that is drafted into the NFL, and many of those players may or may not even make an impact. Not to mention they practice less, they have less complicated schemes, it all matters. I agree with your original point, and it just made me think of that argument I just listed above.

Even Matt Ellis would skate circles around anyone that posts on this forum.

One thing that was discussed in the JJP trade was whether Jack Quinn could help fill the scoring void when JJP was traded. It's a relatively small sample size, but Quinn has been playing better of late. I think it's particularly relevant to note that since Zucker's return, Quinn has had a couple of very good games. I think Zucker is leading that line, ensuring that there are no passengers, and teaching the kid how NHL hockey should be played. And Quinn is a willing student. So Doan is already filling in for JJP's scoring, but Quinn is rounding into form, which also helps.

Often hear people who are great at pickup basketball say they could take NBA players who are bench players that never play, but then get absolutely crushed by them in a "no-contest" type way when they get a chance to play them. That reminded me of Malenstyn scoring on that play...while there are probably a lot of people that think they are way better players and scorers in their leagues than someone like Malenstyn who is a 4th line player, the truth is he would dominate them and their league and score at will, like 5-10 goals a game any game he wanted. The difference in offensive skill between the best "pickup" hockey players and NHL 4th liners is still night and day and I think we forget that sometimes.

Follow up.... What do you think happened 😉 I guess I'll throw it out there, I live not to far from holiday valley and I was chatting with our Canadian brethren at the meet up. If anyone is interested, I have a spare room or at least a nice place for apres-ski if anyone comes down to ski this area. Just let me know 😊

When we acquired Kesselring and Doan it was all abut Kesselring being the guy that could play with Power. Due to injuries we have not seen that, I first commented on Doan who was establishing a reputation as a hard worker, but mostly because I saw his father play quite a bit, and thought if his kid matures into a player like that it would really help the team. I was thinking solid 3rd liner that works his way to middle 6, and brings in a work ethic that we need in Buffalo. Seeing Doan earn his way to first line minutes is a pleasant surprise and that is the Doan work ethic I was hoping to see. I am told that Papa Doan comes down from Toronto every chance he gets to watch his kid so that is a nice bonus. Papa Doan was no slouch when the gloves came off either, a team captain and a willing combatant, but that part of the game is all but ended. Peterka is probably going to be the better natural scorer but Doan is the type of player Buffalo fans love and he will bring positive things that do not make the score sheet. Peterka seems thrilled with the fancy digs in Utah and the beauty of the American West - good for him. Doan simply wants ice time, opportunity, and to play with a good group of guys. Ruff is giving him that. Maybe someday Doan can win Cups in Buffalo, with knowledgeable fans from both sides of the boarder cheering him on.

The Sabres SEEM to have fixed their play at home, PROVIDED they aren't playing a team they are too immature to take seriously prior to puckdrop. Fixing that taking opponents lightly thing is the next thing that needs to be fixed in their home play. On the road, they've still had too many stretches where opponents get the matchups they want and eventually get the goals they need to keep the Sabres road records one of the worst in the NHL and so bad even playing 0.750 at home since the 3rd home game and better than 0.64 there overall can't get them over NHL 0.500 which is a low bar to cross. MAYBE getting healthy will allow them to be better at avoiding the killer matchups against. Pittsburgh would be a good place to start that. They need to continue getting strong goaltending on the road or even better matchups won't help them enough.

Thanks much guys. OK. I'm getting hosed. 😳 Time to make some phone calls. P.S. - @shrader, yes I have the commercial-free version.

Update: Kesselring - DNP That part is still killing me. Any return from him at all and the talking heads would have to eat even more crow from their post-trade reactions this summer.

Tynan Lawrence needs to get back from injury already. He has only played 2 games this year because of an injury suffered in camp and then they shut him down again. In those two games, sounds like he did really well and everywhere talks about his pace and detail. He's a 6' tall center with an August bday playing in the USHL. He will go top 5 in all likelihood and is someone I want to see more of.

Update JJ Peterka: 9g, 7a, 16pts, +2 in 22games Josh Doan: 7g, 8a, 15pts, -3 in 22games