Taro T

At least it's been washed. 😛

Think we're likely quibbling over the definition of "carry it into traffic." When he was in college and at the WJC's, he would skate the puck into 2-3 defenders and still be able to make a play. He tried doing that at the NHL level with not good results. That is what was beaten out of him. He shied from even bringing the puck towards the center of the ice early this season much less trying to beat several defenders doing so. He's got a fair amount of his confidence back, but he still isn't getting to the point often of having 2 - 3 defenders draped on him. He's getting rid of the puck before they get to that point. Beating a defender that has engaged and getting one drawing towards him is one thing. Actually going THROUGH 3 guys at once is something he seems to leave to the McDavids and He Daddy Giraffes of the league. And IMHO, that's a good thing that he's at that point.

Well, if he does, then they either give him the Comrie v Dallas treatment (Ukka, rub some dirt on it, and get your butt back out there) or Comrie gets to play against somebody besides Pittsburgh down the stretch to show what he can do. Personally, expect him to give up a couple of questionable goals but not be a total disaster. (Basically, expecting him to be himself.)

Love that they're putting Benson out there with 2 3rd liners. He's been the wing on the top line every preseason game he played (even that very 1st one where he was on a line with Greenway - in Washington there were very few actual NHLers playing), this'll be an opportunity to see how he does in a 3rd line role and with players that outsiders won't be able to say are elevating him. Also, interested to see how Johnson does with Samuelsson. Expecting that pairing to work well. And if the Dahlin-Clifton experiment works, expecting we'll see Power- Jokiharju most of the entire season. (Arrg.)

True. But having 2 D locked up for big bucks a 3rd locked up for moderate bucks, 3 C's for kind of big bucks (all 3 combined will be under $22MM probably about $20MM), and an all world goalie eventually locked up for big bucks at least has your money getting spent in the right areas. They'll still be able to afford a pretty good supporting cast around that.

Not a 1 off on opening night. Opening night is October 10. The Sabres open the next night on the Island and their home opener is the following day vs the Rags. The 24th is one of the very rare dates that all 32 teams are playing on the same day.

Have been saying Mittelstadt was better at battling for pucks than people were giving him credit for a year ago. This isn't something particularly new. Also, his moving the puck into traffic which was a big part of his game in college and when he 1st got to the NHL was pretty well beaten out of him by Taylor & Krueger around the time he was shipped down to Ra-cha-cha. That wasn't improved last year, that had improved long before that. His issues early last year weren't with moving the puck into traffic; they were with moving the puck to the boards, or winning it in a batttle there, and getting double teamed with no way to get the puck out of there with the Sabres maintaining control. After he got Jost onto his line, he stopped getting bottled up along the boards. And as the season advanced, so did Mittelstadt's willingness to carry the puck away from the boards when he wasn't already at the goal line. (Which was pretty much the only place he'd start to bring it out to the higher danger areas.) But now, instead of trying to beat 3 guys heading to the phone booth, he more often than not passes it when he approaches that phone booth. Is he incredible? No. But is he better than people thought he was in seasons prior? Ab-so-friggin'-lute-ly. Personally see him as a 2C with competent W's who can play up without getting overmatched provided his linemates aren't themselves overmatched. Believe he can drive play, but not necessarily drive a line. (Which is why he isn't a 1C.) And will admit it is strange reading more than a handful of people saying Mittelstadt might be competent or even actually good. Which is great. People being willing to change their opinions when conditions/situations change is an awesome thing.

The thing is, when Mittelstadt was a whipping boy last year, you could still see that he was backchecking well, winning battles near his own net, and also forechecking well, winning battles near the boards. The big issue was, after he won the puck in his own end, he'd skate the puck to the boards because he didn't see an outlet pass (whether it wasn't there or he simply didn't see it is a fair Q, but recall that during the entirely of that time, 1 of his outlets was Olofsson so ...). The nearly as big of an issue was, after he won the puck in the offensive zone he couldn't get it away from the boards as he'd typically have 2 defenders on him and he didn't see an outlet (again, whether the outlet was there or not, he didn't see one and one of his outlets was Olofsson so ...). Through much of that dark time for him, his other winger was Asplund who IIRC was mentioned as being waived to the Swamp Cats farm club this past week. When Jost joined his line, Mittelstadt suddenly wasn't the blackhole of puck possession. He not only got the puck, he moved it to a teammate. Olofsson doesn't often win puck battles. In fact, he often not only doesn't win the puck battle he turns the wrong way when he's upon the puck carrier. If he'd stop cold in front of him (which he really shouldn't do) he'd create more pressure than what he currently often does. It SHOULD be something he can correct fairly readily, but it doesn't really seem to be something that he actually does correct. IF Olofsson could pay attention to the defensive details of the game, and he actually did to a reasonable degree battling through his hand/wrist injury 2 seasons ago, he could be a guy they consider keeping beyond Quinn's return. But, he knew he didn't have a quality shot then and also knew that if he wasn't doing something in a 2 way vein he wouldn't even be playing. Really thought that he'd take what he'd learned the previous year and become a pretty decent forward last year now that his shot was back. (Missed it by THAT much, Chief.) He was even getting opportunities to protect a lead w/ the goalie pulled and buried a few EN early in the year. But that was about it for defensive zone focus. And his line was really getting trashed because they collectively were bad in their own end. You may be right, maybe he's at his "find a spiritual guide" moment. But, really doubt it because until he shows he's there, won't expect it because it never showed last season, at all. Which is a darn shame because he not only has a great 1 timer, he can also thread a pass pretty well too. When everybody was oohing and aahing at Reinhart's goal scoring exploits as the 1C, who do you think was feeding him for those shots? None other than last years #1 whipping boy. (Apologies to Bryson, as that might be his deserved title.)

Wonder who the odd forward out is amongst them? Benson as his 2 linemates aren't playing or 1 member of the Jost line? Also, interesting that Clague is the spare D and not Stillman. Wonder if that flips against the Pens?

Really expect that if Tuch is on the Mittelstadt line, that that is what Granato treats as the 2nd line. And because of his usage on the PP and PK that Cozens will still be the 4th most used F behind last year's 1st line and just ahead of Mitts who doesn't get PK time and will be on the 2PP. (Cozens could be 2PP too, depending on whether they want him in the middle of PP1 or Benson. But that'll likely bounce around a bit.) Also, expect that when they're protecting a lead that Tuch bounced to Thompson's line and Cozens joins Mitts line. Olofsson, Peterka, and Benson being the guys that get to have the best seats in the house to watch the last 10 minutes. (Well, next to Comrie/UPL's seat.)

Absolutely, 50% of your high end prospects is about max of what you can expect to see play any significant role in the NHL. That the Sabres have so many 1st round and early 2nd round prospects gives them the possibility to have a smidge over that hit. And with something like 9 high pedigree high end prospects in the system, having 5 or 6 end up legit seems possible. But at least 3 will hit, likely 4. (Wouldn't be at all surprsed to see Benson, Savoie, Johnson, and at least 1 of Kulich, Rosen, Östlund, & the big Russian D-man become useful pieces.) The future's so bright, gotta wear shades.

NO STHers want to go to preseason games. Every city has a diaspora. As the preseason games are the ones they can not only obtain but get for reasonable prices, they tend to show up. That's the theory at least.

All this. Plus, he was part of That 70's Line that was clicking early in Granato's 1st year as the full time head coach. Thought that on a bad team he could become a defensive conscience on a 2nd or 3rd line that could still chip in a few points or be a solid 4th liner on a good team. Turns out he couldn't. It's ok. As we know all too well, not all prospects reach nor come near the ceiling they project might be possible when they're young.

Would include 16 in there as well. It's not his fault he was tiny in an era that goonish hockey still was a huge part of the game. He was truly an amazing talent and a true treat to watch. There's a reason he was the one highly skilled skater that wasn't ushered out the door when Muckler was told to both cut payroll and put a better team on the ice.

Bedard. Duh. 😛

Yep. Rapp takes Poyer's role if he can't go. (Another great signing by Beane.) And Jackson steps into the starting rotation, but not sure if Benford keeps his normal spot and Jackson fills in for Tre or of Benford steps up with Jackson the 2CB. Elam becomes the 3. And as somebody else mentioned, Ingram likely gets elevated to the 53 man roster. Fortunately, the team is hitting a stretch of middle of the pack/ good offenses and will have some time to evaluate whether Jackson and Elam are good enough to take on the added responsibilities before the trade deadline. Jags, Gints, Cheats, Bucs is a way easier stretch than Iggles, Chefs, Pokes, Lightning Bolts is going to be. Even if they will need to upgrade at CB, White being out shouldn't be costing them games at this point. Plus, the D-Line that has been getting pressure like crazy will soon have Von Miller available if they need to take it up from '10' to an '11.'

Kind of fitting that they're buying Fanatics branded jerseys. They MIGHT last long enough to last throught the entire 8 or so months the relationship likely will last. Fortunately for them, they won't leave any forensic evidence that they ever were Chef fans. 😉

At least you weren't one of a handful of people in America that missed Don Beebe's stripping the ball away from Leon Lett. Just sat down in the sea of Cowboy fans because just couldn't watch the Bills give up more points that the Patsies had done against the Bears. When my buddy started cheering, popped back up but missed the best part.

Probably not. Just saying that IF they're going to get anything for him, it'll be from a team like Tampa that is pretty far back in the waiver claim queue. And still am hoping at this point that UPL is the guy they try to sneak through waivers but fear it'll be Comrie. Comrie isn't ever going to be a #1 (at least not a reasonable one) but he can be a reasonable 2. UPL MIGHT POSSIBLY become a 1 someday, but right now he isn't IMHO a serviceable 2. He needs to play too often to be the 2 and he's nowhere nearly good enough to get more than every 1/3 game.

Still expect if Tampa is interested they might be willing to trade for him. Will depend upon what other goalies are expected to be sent down (UPL certainly won't be the only waiver eligible guy getting sent down, but there won't be many that are intriguing to GMs), but if UPL is Tampa's target could see them offering a 3rd for him to make sure they don't have to worry about 18 other teams ahead of them putting in a claim. (Buffalo's ahead of them too, but obviously won't be putting a claim in on him themselves.) Ummm, Isn't that what 3 scoring lines and a non-scoring line is? 🤔

Really don't see this team having a top 6 and a bottom 6. They're going to have 3 scoring lines and a defense 1st line that should be able to pot a few of their own. So Greenway playing with either Mittelstadt or Cozens will result in essentially the same ice time as he would with the other. Just at home, when Granato has the last change he'll likely face slightly tougher matchups and on the road when he doesn't he'll likely face slightly easier matchups. (Just expecting opposing coaches to try to test the Cozens line early if his W's are a 2nd year Peterka and a 1 way Olofsson. Expecting they'll be up for it. But if Tuch is on Mitts line, that is the line that will be treated as the 2nd line. (Definitely by the opponents, possibly by Granato; he seems to worry less about matchups than other coaches do, but it'll be interesting if that still holds now that the primary goal is winning and development is the 2ndary goal.)

Thought his comment was more regarding having Christmas stuff on sale before September even ends.

Thought it was, but wifey not happy that yours truly had a coupon for it last week.

Yeah, and personally don't like Jokiharju with Power. 😉 Granato has been considering Greenway - Mittelstadt - Tuch something to look into for a while. If he keeps that together, and expect he will for the next 2 games, no idea on how well it will work so no idea on whether it will stay together for the trip to the Island then unless Olofsson has already been declared the 13 or 14 that's where he goes. No way he plays with Thompson and Skinner. Plus, considering Cozens will be on the PK and likely the PP1, there is a bit of sense to having him center the "3rd line." He'll still be getting more ice time than Mittelstadt overall.

Whether Johnson supplants Stillman as the 7 now or later, Stillman is at worst the 8 on this squad and he will be the designated press box sitter when all are healthy while Johnson continues to hone his craft. Having the '05-'06 season still in memory, there is no ####ing way anybody should be happy to see Stillman go away. Losing Clague or Bryson for bupkis also wouldn't be a good look, but neither is getting claimed and they are at best 9 & 10 on the depth chart. (They could slide to 10 & 11 by the time there are 3 D out at once.) Personally, am still disappointed Lyubushkin is gone. Wanted him and Stillman rounding out the top 8 while Johnson cooks some more in the A.