Taro T

Will be very unhappy if Stillman gets claimed. They could've had 8 strong of NHL caliber D w/ Lyubushkin and Stillman as the 2 spares. And then still have had Johnson, Clague, and Bryson in Ra-cha-cha. That could've survived the D attrition they suffered last November should similar happen again. But instead, they're going to have 6 NHL D w/ Bryson, Johnson, Clague, and Davies or Cecconi the injury replacements. Not seeing the logic at this point.

Realize somebody loves Bryson and UPL almost as much as Granato loves him some Jokiharju (who is likely going to have a very good season admittedly), but for the love of all that is holy: WHY??????

Thing is, if they bump Clifton down off the top pairing and reduce his PK usage until he gets things figured out, that alone will go a long way towards making the GTing and the defense look reasonable/good. Both PK goals he was too high in the zone. The Geno goal, just a bit; the 7th goal, he was on the Sabres' F's back pocket while the puck was below the goal line on his side of the ice. He is still pretty much lost in the new team's system. He was a good pick up and he'll figure it out. But letting him play lower in the lineup until he does will go a long way towards facilitating that. And if it results in them winning a few more games than they're going to letting him learn on the top pairing, well, so be it. 😉 In no way am saying Clifton is the only issue. But address that and pretty sure the others are manageable.

A lot of times, D-men have difficulties in their 1st season with a new team. But once they're finally used to the new system and their new partner, they're fine. Hoped it wouldn't be the case with Clifton because of his time with Granato on the NTDP, but right now it looks like it will take him some time to get used to the differences from being on a very solid team defensively to being on one that is offense first. IF that is the case, really hope that Granato recognizes it quickly and adjusts his plans until Connor is up to speed.

He vetoed a trade to the Sabres or just a trade elsewhere? Bummer if it was the Sabres he wouldn't come to. Pretty sure Clifton was on the ice for 5 of them. Same as Dahlin. Clifton was out for 4 of the 1st 5 and the 7th. And he was an instrumental piece of 4 of the 1st 5 and the 7th.

Hopefully the biggest take away for Granato tonight is that until Clifton is comfortable in this system, he should not be the #2. Whether he plays with Power or Johnson, would really like to see him down the depth chart some. Totally understand why Don is trying him with Dahlin, if they both play the way they can it could be a very good pairing. But it is clear, from Granato's comments earlier about why Clifton didn't play until the final 2 PS games and watching Clifton in these 2 games, that Connor is not up to speed yet. And they really shouldn't be playing him on the top pairing until he is. MHO. Granato's MMV and likely will. Liked the movement on the 1st PP; both units. But the 2 late PPs didn't have nearly as much movement and didn't do nearly as well. Still hate the entries on the PP. Amazing how bad they still are at that aspect of it. Levi had a stinker early in the year last year and it didn't phase his play at all. Expecting this one will roll off his back too. Sure that he wants the 1st 2 back, nothing he could do on the net off the pegs goal nor the Geno goal. The one where Jost got caught trying to cover for the D change it looked like Levi made the 1st save but the rebound went right back to the Pen. Considering Dahlin was still high, not sure that one is on Levi but he likely wants that back too. The last goal, pretty sure he'd like back but he realized it was Crosby that was coming out above the goal line. Can't cheat to cover the pass because Crosby will bury it if you go off your line early. Won't put that one on him either. Don't recall the particulars of the go behind goal, so no opinion on it. They had good moments. Just not enough of them. Glad that they'll be opening against an offensively challenged squad as it might help to settle them down a bit. And still say 103 this year. Donnie G will figure out the pairings.

Had Clifton not been trying to join the rush out of the zone, perhaps Crosby wouldn't have been completely alone below the goal line leaving Power to decide whether to continue to watch the man at the far side or keep Crosby from walking out above the goal line. He got caught in no man's land.

Will they do anything with the Thompson drawn PP?

What can we expect? Likely this:

Hunter Shepard? Talk about a dichotomy.

Personally, would run Tuch Thompson Benson (as long as he's here, why not try it) Cozens Dahlin with Skinner Peterka/Krebs Mittelstadt Olofsson (if he's in the top 12) Power as the 2nd unit. Not of fan of Skinner down low, but that's where he seems to want to be and if they bump him off the top unit they'll definitely throw him a bone. Peterka/Krebs is a placeholder until Quinn is healthy. At which point Peterka can take VO's spot on the other half wall. And would absolutely 100% change up the entries. They have to be one of the 5 worst teams in the league on PP entries.

Except there is another place for them if they struggle after game 10 or whatever: Washington. It's just that they'll be more expensive in '26-'27 than they would've been had they gone back to WA prior to playing in game 10. Yes, the Sabres brass would catch some flack for it. But pretty sure that doesn't phase any of them.

41 games isn't even CLOSE to 50? While they aren't in the same apartment buliding, they are in the same area code.

That puking emoji wasn't directed at you @Brawndo. Htf did UPL win the backup role? (Yeah, yeah, we know they like him for some inexplicable reason, but WHY????) Not saying Comrie's great, he isn't. But he's adequate. Something UPL far too often isn't.

Believe it or not, you'd lose the bet. Dick Lemieux was traded from KC to Hotlanta in '75 and played one game for the Flames.

No love for CAPTAIN Steve Ott? For shame.😛

Interesting idea. But am expecting that Benson is going to be an everyday player. (We'll see if that actually plays out that way, but don't see him being a guy you want to sit every other night.)

Well, of course 97 is more attainable than 111. You have to go past there to get to there. And wherever you go, there you are. 😉 But 97 points says that the team was only 6 points better than last year's squad over 82 games. 103 is 12 points better. With Levi added; everybody but Clifton, Johnson, and Benson experienced in the current system; Cozens, Peterka, Power, Dahlin, and Mittelstadt and others all a year closer to their peak just have a hard time believing this team turning (on average) a single loss each 10 game segment into 4 W's and 4 trips to OT (or popping 4 OT trips from last year into W's) is outside their capability. They won't be as good on the road as they were last year, but their home record will be where last year's road record was. They were flat out horrible at home in general and that won't be the case this year. Granato will likely still be reluctant to match lines, but he'll do it when he needs to do so. That alone will help a bunch. Expect Levi alone is good for at least 8 points in the standings. Unless this team has huge injury issues, which with a young team will be a bit unexpected; or the STs are absolutely attrocious, this team is a triple digit team. The PP will likely be bad, but your best PKer is your goalie and the goalie is significantly upgraded. (The starter is at least.) And, should Comrie be the backup, not expecting him to have the Anderson vs lousy team mental issues that Craig had last year. They lost 5 or so games against bad/horrible teams after the calendar flipped with Andy either giving up a really bad goal early keeping that team mentally in the game or giving up that UPL special killer goal later in the game. Not going to relook it up (there are posts about it here that can easily be searched) but they threw away at least 8 and maybe 12 points in those games. Comrie won't win them many games, but he's not going to lose them a lot against bad teams either. And that will be the bulk of the games he plays. 20 points better than last year seems a lot more realistic than only 6 points better does. (And again, still am expecting 103 - a 12 point improvement.)

And if somebody really wants him on their AHL squad, could see Pittsburgh saying sure, he's yours. Nylander is on a 1 way deal. $775k is a lot of money to pay an AHLer. And after IIRC 30 days or being on the NHL roster for 10 games, the Pens would lose their right of 1st refusal should the claiming club realize what he is.

Two of the best teammates ever to play. No way either would ever say anything negative publicly about Fuhr or any of their other key teammates. That's not how great leaders operate. So, regardless of how true or not the statement may be, it really isn't as impressive nor as decisive as you imply. They have a horse in that race. To the bolded, we are in agreement. And it is obvious what Muckler's view on it was, but understanding his perspective doesn't absolve him from being an idiot. And his idiocy very possibly cost the Sabres a Stanley Cup.

Hopefully this means that they've already decided Comrie won the backup role and are going to refrain from giving him the opportunity to puke all over himself resucitating the 3 headed monster.

Because in his quest to be this generation's Rico, 7's not available any more. Duh! 😛

Partial season age 22 Rico versus in his prime & full career Benson.

Maybe Filly will put in a claim. Cut down on just how much they gave up for Ristolainen.