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Maybe not fine but I could take some solace that the team actually did the thing they are all trying to do

So if the Sabres won cups in, say 1975, 1999 and 2006, you'd be fine with how things are doing?

My son (college-aged) has been saying something similar ( as the Bills have sputtered a bit (fits of starts and stops): "Maybe this is the season where the Bills get hot at the right time." Fingers crossed. Hyde and Poyer have said over the years: The safety positions in McDermott's scheme are extremely complex. It takes time to learn so that you can play fast. Part of me thinks this has to be the plan. OTOH, Knox is so connected to this team -- maybe he'll end up taking an extension/restructure that allows the team to keep him (at a more reasonable number). I was at my perch in the 300s -- perplexed. I lost my patience with one of my regular Bills text threads -- there were people there just dogging Allen for the bad plays/decisions he made (and there were several) even after the game was over. Some people cling to misery like their lives depend on it. Sadly, I think this must be the case. My pet theory: Keon is one of those young athletes whose mother (or others playing a mother's role) just babied the sh1t out of him. Made sure he was awake at the right time. Made sure he was on time for things. Packed his lunch with sandwich crusts cut off (this is a metaphor). And otherwise ran his life so that he stayed on a good path. He's adrift now. Too immature to make a difference in the insanely competitive, hyper-professionalized NFL.

It's not "clear" at all. Lyon has been very good. So has Ellis. UPL less so. If we played a modicum of defense, or stopped turning the puck over in our end, we would be above .500 now.

It feels like they are in a little different spot than us

I know exactly what our goaltending is or isn’t. If you have read my posts over the years I have been extremely critical of our defense as well as our goaltending and talked about how our bad defense hurts our goaltending. Remember I have been calling for years for capable defensive D for this team. Instead we got guys like Stillman, Clifton and others. That said we have years of track record on Lyon and UPL. Neither is a top flight goaltender. UPL has had one good pro season between the NHL and AHL and in limited play this season, he looks exactly as he has most of his career; bad. Lyon has played well decently this season, but it’s not playoff caliber goaltending. I’m not exactly sure why you are fighting me on this, it’s pretty clear neither Lyon or UPL pass the eye test and the stats corroborate this.

Rangers and Detroit got in a fight after the game for an after buzzer shot into the net. Didn't Detroit shoot at the net late after the period ended with us and Thompson went after somebody? Is this a thing with them?

I don't think you do know what our goaltending is because you tend to see goals allowed strictly as function of goaltending, and not the end result of team play. Just like hope, expecting a goalie to win you every game standing on his head while his team does absolutely nothing in front of him, is a sh***y strategy. Goalies are voodoo. He's in a funk right now. All goalies go through down periods. He has to play himself right.

Levi isn't an NHL goalie sadly.

I never said he was. I said the only chance (the key word here is "chance") we get elite goaltending is one of Levi or Ellis step up and give us elite goaltending. So far that hasn't happened and may never happen. What we know is that UPL and Lyon are what they are and are never going to give us elite goaltending.

Levi is not playing at an elite level this season. You should watch a couple games.

We tend to forget Detroit is right behind us in the playoff drought parade.

Who disagrees with the notion that young players who are still physically developing should continue to work at getting stronger? With respect to predicting injuries, as you well know, in many sports, especially crash sports, it’s a feature of the game.

Do I remember? I've been remembering first 50+ years! Josh has been woefully supported by Beane.

Well, 50+ years of frustration has it's limits!

If he hits UFA there will be a huge line of teams willing to give him that type of deal. Tuch is literally irreplaceable, any player of his type will be impossible to acquire because of NTC's at any price. If you end up trading Dahlin and Tage they officially become the Coyotes where within 5 years Bettman will have no choice but to throw his hands in the air, admit defeat and allow Ebenezer Pegula to sell to a group that moves the team to Portland or Houston.

I don’t necessarily disagree but Kempe is same age. It’s that much or lose him. If he hits free agency as the number one free agent, he will get more.

Zucker and Norris are injury plagued players who are injured every year. As is Greenway. Kesselring I know nothing about from before. Kulich is an odd one for sure and yes, Benson blocked a shot. Now back to you, are you going to accept this year's excuse "if not for injuries" cause you know it's coming.

I watched the Thompson goal again. What a play by Doan to get him the puck. Knocked down from behind and passes it to Tage through his legs

Well hell. In High School I could dunk a basketball on a 10 foot net. I wish someone had given me the NBA minimum at the time because I sucked at basketball. I was barely a decent volleyball player... but I could jump!

Either way... it won't have an impact on you right? Frankly, unless NYS gets involved it wont have an impact on me either. But... give me a new owner anyway.

Sure but like, that's not why they are injured. Benson blocked a shot Kulich has blood clots Zucker, Kesselring, and Norris aren't young guys or light weights.

A true heart on the sleeve thread here. It's really hilarious to look at after the fact.

But if you reward him and we don't get any better then every other shlub demands the same reward and that's unsustainable and you still get nowhere.

Keon is a mess He has NO dog in his game IMO Rather he's an immature underachiever who doesn't seem to be getting the message???