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I don't see this at all. I think there is generally the opposite occurring and people are as much or more excited about Benson than they were about Quinn/Peterka. Completely agree with your last paragraph, except it wasn't just perception. I was critical of Benson being in the line-up this year, but not because Benson did not play well. I think he had as good of a rookie year, and in some ways a better rookie year, than what Peterka or Quinn had. My disappointment in his place on the team relates to this past year being a season where we needed to move forward; to move forward we needed something more in that position than a winger who would give us an uneven rookie season in the same category of the rookie seasons we got from Peterka/Quinn. Benson is great. I'm thrilled we have all 3.

After Celebrini at 1 there seems to be absolutely no consensus on where the top 15 or so guys will be taken. This will be a fascinating first round.

Good to see this. I don’t get to see the lacrosse game very much but it’s nice to see Buffalo had a strong team that wins. It’s something positive for the sports fans and the team deserves more honors.

You can consider me de-baffled on your original point. 🙂 And I was not so much directing at you, just using your post as a launch point for the discussion. I still find it odd how generally (not just you) there is more sentiment of disappointment around what Benson did versus what Quinner or Peterks did the year before. I suspect it is because the season was so disappointing (an 18-yr old throwing in 30 points on a playoff team sounds better than doing it for some middling organization stumbling through the dark valley of no playoffs) and typically if an 18 year old makes an NHL team, it is because they are McDavid/Eichel/Bedard and they are scoring like first line players. I think if the Sabres had been solidly in a WC spot all year and made the playoffs, Benson's season would have been seen as an indication of how strong the lineup was (dang, they did that AND had an 18 yr old) instead of the glaring weakness it was. ("It" being the fact an 18 yr old could crack the roster, not any slight on his tenacious play, dogged determination, or satisfactory point output). The concept of Benson making the team being far worse than his actual play.

Don't worry, he will get run out of town in enough time to be a mature player on a Stanley Cup team scoring for them.

Sweden just scored 3 goals in 26 seconds and now get a 4th to pull away from Latvia.

My father in law used to have an interesting take on playoff performance. He said that guys who have a mercenary mindset fade away at that time of year. The players don’t get paid as their salary has been paid out during the regular season. The financial reward from the league for winning a Cup is small change compared to their salaries. Those kind of guys do well in the 80% part of the season but may not want to give 100% for two more months.

Dahlin got a misconduct

Cozens has found his goal scoring touch again at the Worls, 3 goals in 4 games.

Their D core is Hedman, Dahlin and Karlsson. I haven’t watched any of their games but they are a definite contender for gold.

Lindstrom at 13 and Levshunov at 14 is the lowest I’ve seen those guys. I would take either at 11. The concerns with Lindstrom are playmaking and durability. Levshunov didn’t impress these guys with an elite skill to separate himself from the pack.

I'd put Benson around 45-50pts this season. Benson got 30 last year as an 18yr old with barely any pp time on a terrible pp. He's only getting better. Jack Quinn, 70+ if he's healthy. Quinn already broke out, we just can't say it cuz it was a short time frame. He's gonna be great if he's healthy. These are probably the best 200ft players we have currently. I think if you can build a line around Benson, he could drive it. If you put him with Quinn Cozens, he'll hit 50pts.

Would anyone attempt an offer sheet for Casey? I know it rarely happens but say 1x6M for a first round comp pick?

Bandits whooped some ass in the 2nd half, only allowing 2 goals while scoring 7 of their own. Time to close it out at home for back to back ships...

That's funny, but also kind of weird. Now can we somehow factor in how much Ted Nolan is loved in Latvia?

Reputation for not getting along with GMs. Probably true. I think a GM afraid of losing his job might make the move but a GM who thinks he's safe might shy away.

lol, it was a good game. Pity they lost but I liked the effort level. Florida clearly had the more talented team but the Bruins gave it their all and it was a bounce away from going the other way. Can't really complain, even though I would have enjoyed a game 7. Really liked Geekie in the playoffs. We should have signed him as our 3C. Ullmark will be traded this off season. Marchand is pretty much done. Although in the long run Power is likely much better, at the moment I'd prefer Lohrei. Kid really stepped up. It will be an interesting off season for Beantown. I guess now I will join the local Canucks bandwagon for however long that lasts. The Bruins beat the Leafs though, and that was very satisfying.

It's character. Some guys want it, some are indifferent, or maybe just don't want it as much. Not willing to pay the price. Playoff games are harder, faster, more physical, more intense, and some players just don't want to give that extra effort as much as others. I think you can predict some of it by watching how they play in big games and at key moments but you are right in that size and skill don't always follow through.

It's very possible that Benson will be fine and better even. I'm just going by what you often see from young guys in the league and saying it wouldn't surprise me and if it happens I wouldn't over react to it. The term "sophomore slump" didn't come from nowhere. It happens.

Was a great night of hockey for me. Bruins sent packing, Casey sent packing and Chris Tanev, who played his college hockey at RIT is moving on. I don't care for Dallas, but it would be nice to see an RIT product win a cup.

Bummer of an outcome. And yes, Mitts didn’t have his best game tonight.

Start of double OT and I’m still here. The wife took the car home after the first OT. I’m getting a ride home from neighbors.

Me seeing the Stars get jobbed in a game 6 OT: