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Tampa and Florida really beating on each other. Somehow Tampa has 5 players in the box at once.

It’s not turning Power into Popeye, it about Power willingness to do his job properly. He isn’t good enough offensively to rely on offense alone like Karlsson. He needs to become a 2 way defenseman or he’ll remain a drag on this team.

The grammar police will be in full force on this 1.

Bigger and better than the other players.

Oh great, robo texts are now smart enough to follow up with a “hey, did you get my text” a few hours later.

You're never going to make Whimpy into Popeye. But you can teach a guy how to at least not embarrass himself and eventually even become passable at that skill.

Yes certainly, but also he has to have a willingness to engage physically. I don't mean running around and hitting people just to hit them (Clifton). I mean challenging a forward at the blueline, clearing the crease, using his big frame to take away time and space from opponents. So far in his career he is unwilling to engage physically. No amount of coaching will fix a player unwilling to do what is necessary to get better on the ice.

Even as cynical as I've become about this team, even I am having trouble believing how physically fragile this roster is. However, watching the last 2 periods against Pittsburgh really illustrated what I wrote in the 2 above quotes.

So, giving him a real coach here, rather than a Wilford, would've been a good thing.

For Adams, it's the only plan. Hope me Hopey-Hope, you're my only hope. I think at this point (except Samuelsson) it's all minor tweaks and "no reason for preseason" stuff. If it were in the regular season, they'd likely all play unless by resting a game they could get a 4-day break to really heal up. If it were post-season... ha. You're right. That's silly fancies.

He was so much bigger that it didn't matter in college or lower levels.

Once again half the team will be injured to start the year

Was Power this bad at the defensive side of playing D as a youth and in college? Serious question. Wondering how much having an actual coach in his formative NHL years might've helped his development.

Yes. True. But, sadly, hope is not a plan.

Is the reason he can't say Hell-ANE-ee-us, the same as why Barbara Walters called her cohost Haa-wee Weas-an-er? Eh, pwobabwy not.

I feel like we can still have hope in Lyon.

I thought overall a lot of the vets looked flat and the PK made Wilkes-Barre look like an NHL team. But being preseason, I was mostly interested in what the new guys did. Georgiev scares me. He looked like he’s thinking more about where his body parts should be than stopping the puck, if that makes any sense? Focused on process as opposed to the game. Mrtka showed his age. His size and skill belongs, and his engagement seems excellent, but his ability to keep up mentally has declined as the speed of the game has increased toward NHL levels. Timmins looked blandly competent. I think he’ll be a better 6 than Clifton, at least for this group. I liked Johnson. Always loved his feet, but his battle was noticeably above his peers. He might be earning his shot. If one of the 6 is injured, playing Bryson ahead of him at this juncture makes no sense to me. Kesselring’s a player. He wants to make a difference and he can. Geertsen can keep up, which is important in his role. Don’t see anything else there yet so I hope he can actually chuck ‘em. Not sure what else he brings, but Danforth seems like a tough little bastard for his size. Looked to me like Doan got benched for the shift after his early penalty. He hunts pucks, locks into his man on the backcheck and moves the puck smartly. Type of guy you like on your line. Norris isn’t really a perimeter guy but he’s kinda flowing through the cracks all the time, more purpose than passion maybe? Got some smarts and some skill. He seems a lot more competent than Cozens.

Glad you didn't quit, I used to enjoy our discussions. To your post, I'd be happy to discuss the shutdown. Why do you think it happened? Of course I did. I'll happily regurgitate it if you wish.

Greenway being out at this point is a 'meh.' Was hoping at this point, UPL being out to be a 'meh,' but until somebody else actually steps up it isn't. And the key off-season addition being out is definitely not a 'meh.' Does anybody know when the last time the Sabres entered a season pretty much healthy? (And even if they were technically healthy last year, which they probably weren't; Dahlin was definitely at 80% or less in Europe. That counts as not healthy even if he didn't miss time.

I said a helluva lot more than “sue me” and in no way did Hank point out one damned thing I said that was hypocritical. And my putting him on ignore has nothing to do with the post about Kimmel.

Aren't 2 of those from the B-squad? Also, the 1st PP goal came about 20 seconds after the 1st shortie they gave up. So, essentially, they're net 3-17.

Here's a solution. This season, I hope they're better against the rush and better at cycling in the offensive zone. Like... you know, real NHL hockey teams that make the playoffs year-after-year.

I was surprised to read they were over 22% after Christmas. Also surprised that they are 4 for 17 in the preseason.