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Being a good soldier is an essential part of being a good leader.

Good to know! I just assumed he wasn't leadership material based on KA's insistence that he is fine with sitting for stretches.

The Bruins are very much leaning into this. They know they don't have enough skill, so they're trying to forge a path with brawn and defence.

I like the forward lines Benson comes back in and Krebs moves back to Danforths spot then when Greenway comes back he takes one of the 4th line wing spots and the other is between Beck and Geertsen and honestly I’m fine with Beck sitting for Geertsen most games, Beck is a good hitter and forechecker but he doesn’t fight at all, and we will need the fighting honestly watching the pre season so far there has been so many fights! And teams are loading up on big tough players, the Florida effect if you will

Let me put it another way. How many 5’9” defenseman do we want? Metsa may be a better player and better leader (idk) but at the end of the day NHL defenseman are rarely that size without an elite offensive talent. Like they wouldn’t even sniff the AHL because they’d score 2+ PPG. It’s why the Bryson signing was so maddening. Having more than one mighty mite in the org essentially dooms one of them into permanent AHL status. Just a moronic signing the second the ink dried.

Blocked!

Hell is a naughty word, so...

That is probably true but no one should expect them to play behind the opposing net. Most of the times I have watched Novikov play he is anchored just inside the blue line. He is the definition of the stay at home D man. Take care of your net first worry about the rest later. Isn't he the guy you want protecting a 3 to 2 lead in the third period? I honestly am not sure if the Sabres see it that way. For all of Lindy grumbling about being harder to play against why is most of the blue line based on speed and skill? Sure get your top 4 to skate circles in the offensive zone but the third pair should be shut down types that are physical in their own end. The Sabres seem to have a lot of hope invested in Johnson. The whole Org. last year pointed to him as the the guy who would be in the NHL from the prospect pool. He might be fine but he just seems like a lesser version of Byrum. I am not sure that is what this team needs right now.

I am not arguing to not extend him. I'm on the fence and would be okay with either..... If they extend him or if they don't right now. But you say how do you not extend him? Simple. You have him this year. So if you miss the playoffs this year it will be with him on the roster. If you missed the playoffs this year with him on the roster, maybe this organization will be looking at sweeping changes, and having an aging guy getting likely paid $10 million per year who is in his thirties with eight more years on his deal would not be the way to go? If you make the playoffs and things are looking up, then you offer him market rate what he's worth. If he wants to be here, he's from the area, and you're giving him what anyone else would give him on a rising team that just made the playoffs, I don't think he would turn his back on that. Eichel, Reinhart, and Ulmark are frequently brought up as examples for players. This team let get away in the past because they were cheap and didn't want to extend them. All of those players were on the upside of their career, none of them would be starting a new contract in their early thirties... Not anywhere close to it. Again, if they extend him I won't be upset terribly. It's just that.. they have him this year. I don't see an urgency to do it at any cost.

Move Dahlin to center ala Phil Housley.

Bryson’s final college season, his junior year, he was the captain of Providence, losing in the semi-final.

Agree entirely. But there can’t be many teams that would do well after losing three of their top players. Imo, quality depth is a problem for most teams in the league. Expanding to 32 teams has diluted the talent pool.

You’re right. Perhaps I overstated it a bit. But those seeking to manipulate or “train” others certainly aren’t looking to tap into the vein of our better natures.

This team has no forward depth. If Thompson or Norris or Tuch go out, well idk what we do.

Metsa: captain of NCAA champion winning team, Amerks assistant captain, and likely Amerks captain this year (it's either him or Dunne) Bryson: bench captain

Nope. Only starts if he plays his 9 games in the NHL.

If Mrtka plays in Rochester does It start the3 year entry level deal? I thought it did. Thanks

There is another piece to this with Tuch on top of exactly what you said... its the human piece... this is the one guy who wants to be here more than anything, home town, live and die etc... he was your real return for giving up Eichel... you have failed for 14 years, your core players are less than content with golfing every April and you have an effective leader, scorer and pretty good two way hockey player that you let walk.... that to me would be a final straw concern for some of these players... like how can you not pay this guy... how committed are you to winning.... dont exetend him, miss the playoffs again... and I can pretty much promise you some folks are gonna want to be traded...

Novikov and Komarov might be the slowest skaters in the organization.

If Geertsen really is a Ruff beloved and automatically has a roster spot and playing time, Krebs had better have a good showing with the top line today.

Agreed. Giving him a few NHL games this year is a show of good will which, at this point, is deserved. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he is the total +/- leader for the AHL over the last 2 seasons (note: I didn't actually check this). And I know someone is going to complain about using +/-, but how else would you measure success for a defensive defenseman in the AHL (that's actually a serious question, I don't think there are advanced stats tracked for the AHL?) From Lindy's perspective though, you really don't want to be rolling the dice with inserting rookies into the lineup this year. He's on the last year of what may potentially be last his contract and if he returns the Sabres to the playoffs, he'll be a hero again.

Yep. Somebody posted the team has no depth at the same time people are arguing about how their #10(!) needs to be playing. Questionable as he may be, not many teams missing their #2, #3, and #5 are dressing 6 players better than Bryson

kinda crazy how Kesselring, Timmins, and Mrtka really add depth to this team. Is this defense good? No but it's easily comparable to previous Sabres teams.

Factor in the palm trees and tax rates to attract new guys. He’s already here and wants to be here. I agree that he will not be a great player in 5+ years but they should keep him because their two best players are locked in at lower rates for a long time. The over payment can be absorbed. Heck, Tuch might even transform his game to become a bottom six PK and defensively responsible checker in his mid thirties just to remain a contributing Sabre.

No. Metsa wouldn't be happy in a press box. UPL initially had no timetable on his injury. But if it wasn't substantial (because about 2 days later it was only day-to-day), why offer Georgiev a 1-year deal? Just give him a PTO for camp. If he doesn't take it, big deal. You had 5 goalies on the ice, even with Ratzlaff out with illness and Lukkonen on the mend for the couple weeks of camp. Give Houser a call.