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Natural stat trick shows Ras and Bo played ~40% of minutes together 5v5. https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=BUF&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2024-10-04&td=2025-04-17&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8481524&p2=8480839&p3=0&p4=0&p5=0 To point about salary cap - Sabres are 4th in Cap on Defense next year with 4.35 FTE’s signed. Those above the Sabres have 6-8 signed. Washington is tops at $6m more than Buffalo. If you get an arbitration/2 year deal for BB and an RFA for Bernard Docker you are adding $8m (?) and surpass Washington. And unless you can somehow move Clifton or Samuelson without retention you have no room to sign a better, stronger Right handed D to support Power. So how is that improving the overall D? I remember when the Kings won the cup here in LA. Jake Muzzin was Doughty partner and he was a classic stay at home D man. Maybe on a bridge contract - 23 years old, 6’3/220. Dahlin and Bo pairing - maybe they did have the best analytics stats. But maybe a Zack Whitecloud type player with a $3m contract might be just as good when paired with Ras, and allow you to sign or trade for a vet on your second line to support Power/Byrum. I fall on the side of not having 3 D that make $8M +. I’m also moving Power first b/c his contract has cost certainty which is valuable with a cap that is going up. I think he delivers a much better return.

because there were players ready to come up from Rochester. That's the point.

They literally aren't going to do *****.

After the most catastrophic failure of a season in team history these ***** are essentially going to run it back.

Ref leaning to the Peg. Lousy call, embellishment on Sunqvist?

Yep. They have a bright future. Nice young core with Suzuki, Caufield, Hutson, Slaf, Demidov and a good compliment of vets like Anderson, Gallagher, Evans, Dvorak, Armia. They understood the assignment.

Would have been nice to see the series with Laine in it. Montembeault, as well.

Yes, but I think that still fits, despite the fact Ruff is clearly more qualified than Krueger. A big part of Dahlin's struggle was Krueger trying to change the way he played and all the mistakes were a factor of Ras trying to do things that didn't come naturally to him. I think there was definitely some of that going on with Power, who had never had an NHL coach besides Granato. Remember how much Byram struggled in his own zone when he first arrived? And then how he talked about being much more comfortable in Ruff's system, and it showed? Power went from +8 to -13 on a team that generally improved at 5-on-5 and was noticeably more mistake prone

Laval takes Gm1 in CLE 3-2.

Except Dahlin only had a bad year 3 because of Barf Kruger.

Sad thing is there was a small amount of buzz building around the Sabres after the 2022/23 season ended. Looked like an exciting young team with a lot of talent that could grow into something. Then we did nothing that summer to help the young guys and have gone backwards two straight seasons. Nobody gives a ***** about this franchise because we're totally irrelevant.

They do look good, but I've been impressed with the Habs. They're young and have been a game opponent. As we sit here going backwards, in the last 5 years the Habs have made a surprise run to the Cup Final, tore it down almost to the studs, rebuilt and returned to the playoffs. Their arrow is pointing up. We're going the other way and don't appear too eager to do anything about it.

I'd keep Power (vs. Byrum) IF they get a legit stay at home RH defender to partner with Power. If they refuse, then trade either Power or Byrum to get a legit 1C or 2C. I get it that Byrum alone won't fetch that return by himself, so picks and/or prospects needed to be included. I know there are many who feel the Sabres score enough goals, but I think they are still lacking a playmaking center who can control play and make zone entries on the powerplay. IMHO - our powerplay will suck until they can add that type of player to the team.

It was kinda painful listening to that and realizing how far outside the NHL mainstream the Sabres are. The context was Sullivan and Tocchet and how aggressive the Rangers will be and who else might be interested, with absolutely no suggestion that the Sabres may be a player for anything and anyone. Just 'some kinda change likely', with the implication that it won't be anything juicy. How could it be? We're the poor, slow cousins of the NHL community.

Watching real hockey teams like the Panthers-Lightning duke it out makes me so mad.

Name him Supreme Chancellor of the Sabre Empire and put him in charge of KBC promotions, I don't care as long as he's not making hockey decisions.

Again with the “next year” threat. The Sabres better do more than just make the playoffs. Get past Round 1 at least. Anything less is laughable, imo.

Demotion by promotion

Is he getting promoted out of the way?

OV looks like a guy that wants another Cup. Wilson having a series. Chyckrun looking good too. Caps pull ahead 3-0.

From last year. WHERE ARE THE PINK SLIPS??!!

When I look at ways to improve next year’s team, can’t think of a better bang for my buck than Owen replicating what Rasmus did in year 4 after a bad year 3. I still see the high-end potential and think the coaching staff/system change/contract got in his head this year.

I agree with both points. With the cap rising the way it is though, he’s going to want more. I think $5.5 this coming year equals $6.8 in year three. If he’s going to play hardball, I’d be tempted to let him go to arbitration, although the threat of an offer sheet looms over that. But it will buy us a year to make a decision on him and Power and leave us room to dump Samuelsson and slide in a $5-6M real RHD like a Pulock into his spot.

Ok, so we're trading Byram in your scenario.

Don’t trade Power There’s an easy freebie