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this is a fair thought... it definitely is a sticky subject...

Unlike the NFL, the draft is not the primary way to build in the NHL. Minor league development, ability to make trades, and free agency are equally as important. When players are allowed to refuse trades it hurts the bottom teams or the less glitzy destinations. NFL rosters are more than twice the size as an NHL roster. I see 260 NMCs in the NHL, and only 7 in the NFL. I think NMC are hurting the ability of many teams to compete. And get rid of the "over the salary cap" NHL playoff teams too. Now that is really dumb.

Dahlin was 50th, 1 slot behind Kesselring, who led Utah. But Utah overall was very good at that particular stat, with 5 D in the top 79. It remains to be seen if he (and Timmins, who also is good at this stat) can elevate Byram and Power (165 and 168) at all, or if they get pulled toward the bottom in Buffalo.

I personally believe there should be a minimum per team. Say 1 forward, 1 defense, 1 goalie, and then one for one other player could be any position. That I think would keep it interesting and fair. Those positions would be full no moves and then you would have no partial or 10 team no trades. I do understand the players want no trades because they don't want to uproot there family or play for teams they don't want to play for. But that's what you signed for and as a fan, especially a fan of a team that has a hard part attracting free agents, trades are the only way to augment and add talent. Free Agency is where players can pick where they want to go. And maybe we need to make Free Agency earlier if we were to change the no-move rules.

Chicken or egg, half the D were a terrible match for the system last year. People talk a lot about how Byram’s fancy stats got inflated by Dahlin. They don’t talk about how they got deflated by the other guys. Clifton, Bryson and Samuelsson were truly awful in Lindy’s system. As in 208, 202 and 223 out of 240 D who played 300 minutes last year.

Congrats. Your son shows compassion, you and your wife did good. Yes, they have a lot of work ahead and i hope they can get the dog healthy again. Twelve years ago my son found a Pit Bull puppy that was discarded on the streets. I did not like it at the time but he took him in. He took him to the vet and got him healthy. He trained him and he had a great companion until April when the dog passed away. That dog was good for him.

NMCs seem to come up alot in discussion... just looking to see if folks are fine with it, think it should change, or some kind of hybrid... I am in between the if you dont like that people wont come to you do better... and putting some kind of age minimum in there... but just interested in peoples thoughts...

You are probably correct. I keep thinking like the 31 other teams.

But it's not, really, is it? It's Lindy's final season as a coach. He could step into the front office, I suppose, as an advisor? But he's not coaching anywhere else in the NHL and Appert is already slotted to take over. Adams could get fired if they're a trainwreck, but... he listens to the owner. Jarmo is there, but is he really a threat if he doesn't go full ingratiation mode? Would he want to do that? The Bills are still good and building a stadium and therefore command the attention. It's status quo and trades are hard and why goaltend until Levi is ready for Adams.

Is complete fantasy, but would have been good to see TP go after Pete DeBoer.

You told us what to expect on Clifton. In his interview with Jon Scott he talked about the first season in Buffalo, playing on his wrong side, and how he had trouble the adjusting to Granato's system. He did recover that first season and ended with a +12 after a horrendous start. He was accountable for his performance though and made no excuses. Everything about Clifton's game declined under Lindy which surprised me. He even had less PIMs and less fights, and he saw very limited action at the end of the season. It was time for both parties to move on. I have some big concerns about how the players reacted to Lindy. The team play declined overall, and the Athletic had that players survey (limited to 111 players) that was not complimentary to Lindy at all. Big year coming for both Adams and Lindy. Cozens - you have to admit he really struggled again. I don't understand how he got the "A" and lets face it, he was handed the 2C job years ago. Cozens (and others such as Quinn and Peterka) were allowed to play a one-way game in their first few seasons.

Specifically, the Sabres moved away from a bunch of guys with bad xgf%. Whether that's deliberate or just more dart throwing, idk. The other issue is better coached teams have better xgf% overall. So we'll see what happens. Xgf% is impacted by how teams play. Buffalo plays or played a very rush oriented attack with limited ability to cycle, so they don't get a bunch of chances. On the inverse they were mediocre shot getting pucks out so that all comes together.

Yeah, I think Muel based on his minutes is a major anchor... Gilbert was just an 8th d who was a C minus fighter that was willing... just an Adams failed nod to you need someone to respond.... here lets throw this cannon fodder out there to get beat... cause I know he will jump in when no one else will... Cozens I agree.. as unpopular as this may be I think we see Cozens mature over the years and will become a player that people will want... right now he is just too much of a spaz and head case to be an effective player and leader night in and night out... but in the right situation I think he develops into a guy that will score 25-30 for 50-60 points... and can play two way minutes... and no, I didnt say now... (especially the 2 way minute part) but if he settles down and develops I believe he can be a taller version of a poor mans Mike Peca or a higher scoring Gaustad

The crazy part is they brought back Bryson. I think the Sabres looked at some stats and decided to upgrade, I think without better gt, it won't be enough.

A couple evenings ago, my son and his wife became aware of a dog wandering the streets. I guess it was pretty obviously dumped in the neighborhood. Someone took it off the street to keep it safe, but wasn’t able to hold it. My son tracked down a rescue group that agreed to step in. He has decided to foster it, get it crate and house trained, and healed up. It has open wounds on its paws pads and appears to have some sort of skin issue/infection. If it goes well, the kids may adopt it themselves, but for now have committed to fostering it in preparation for someone to adopt it. I am proud as hell that these kids are so good hearted, but man, they have some work cut out for them. Its an adult dog that was never trained and is minimally socialized.

Even in their limited roles against limited competition, Lafferty and Gilbert were two of our worst statistical players. Clifton was less sheltered but was still our worst defensemen next to Bryson. The guys we got to replace them are pretty decent in similar roles.

But the offense is experienced. Benson, Tuch, Zucker, McLeod, and evert Thompson know how to play on both sides of the puck. Norris could be included too. It's really only Kulich and potentially Tage who aren't stout defensively. The defense on the other hand lacks experience all over. Dahlin is the only defender with 300+ games.

Having watched my son play minor hockey through U18, I’m comfortable saying that no player makes it to the NHL without having been exposed to multiple defensive systems and structures. So much of a team’s ability to play a consistent and repeatable and effective defensive system/structure at the highest level, comes down to the same things that it does at lower levels: the teaching and communication skills of the coaching staff and, above all, the head coach. I agree that our forwards were bad at defensive hockey. I don’t think it is because they are, as a collective, intellectually or temperamentally unsuited for playing a well-coached defensive structure.

I can make the case that in the Peterka trade that our roster/team got better. If Kesserling becomes a good pairing for Power and Doan adds an element of grit and responsible two-way play to a lineup that needs an improved defensive game, then those player changes will better round out our roster. And if you consider that both Quinn and Benson should be able to improve their offensive numbers to offset JJP’s offensive numbers, then the deal makes sense for us. In order to get something, you have to give up something. And that’s how I view this trade. On initial appearance it seems to have worked out for each of the trading partners. TBD.

Do you know who else does’t want to deal with an openly unhappy teammate? His teammates. Do you think the coaches will find a disgruntled player more receptive to their coaching? It was already reported that he had difficulty dealing with Ruff’s hard style of coaching. If Kesserling turns out to be a suitable partner for Power and Doan adds an element of grit to the lineup, then this trade will work out for both teams. I didn’t want him to be traded. However, he did. So goodbye to him and welcome to the new players who are happy to be here.

Can't agree with the depiction of these players as anchors. Lafferty and Gilbert were exactly what they were. Bottom players and extras. Expecting more was stupid. Clifton lost his game playing in an unstructured system. I said this might happen when we signed him. He always had the tendency to run around and try to over step and then get caught out of position. In this chaotic system he ended up floundering. We broke him. Cozens? An anchor? Let's see how Ottawa goes. Quinn's still an anchor until he isn't. Same for Samuelsson.

I don't agree. The forwards on this team by and large suck defensively. Positional play is poor, structure is weak, assignments are blown, and back checking at times is non existent. They lose puck battles (if they even enter into them) and they leave the D exposed and overwhelmed. Part of this is bad coaching but it's also inexperience. Team defense is a concept the Sabres are generally unfamiliar with.

Well, idk enough about Danforth to say he's better or worse than Lafferty but I don't think Timmins is better than Clifton. Maybe he is, we shall see, but I don't think so. Norris to Cozens??? That is an interesting one. Don't think Norris is known for his defense but we all felt let down by Cozens so again, we shall see. Kesselring and Doan better defensively but not offensively so how does that shake out? again, idk. The goalie. Now I find it interesting that one of our main competitors, Detroit, made a deal for a goalie (who is suspect in many ways) because they weren't happy with the goalie they had who we are lauding as some sort of improvement/answer. Does that not make you pause and wonder? It certainly doesn't give me optimism.

He was an RFA without a contract, he couldn't become an UFA for 4 more years (7 seasons or 27 years old). Who cares if he wanted to be here... give him a fair offer, he can sign or sit out, don't trade him at a loss just because he doesn't want to be here. The entire point of RFA status is to protect the team that drafted and developed the player.

Jones?