Taro T

The AHL TV does auto renew unless you specifically tell it not to; but had thought that was just for the regular season version. Had to pay extra for the playoffs last year and also this year. And for us, we had to sign up for it again this year for the playoffs before we could watch. Maybe you got lucky and they forgot to change the tag for your account in their database so they think that you paid even though you didn't. Hope so.

And we'll get at least 8 games for that $30. That decision is looking better and better. 😉

They do. But they also have their biases and oftentimes want to support a certain narrative. Just like with reporting on other fields, the reporting will give you an idea of what's going on, but if you aren't privy to primary sources you won't get much more than an idea of what's going on. But it's also like an extension of the old adage. Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach. Those that can't do that, report. And those that can't even do that become "journalists."

He's been on a lot of the NHL's awards shows and pretty sure he's performed at the ASG too.

Coaches are hired to be fired. Nearly every single one eventually gets canned. That said, Gallant will land on his feet somewhere. He's an excellent coach. He also pisses his bosses off, so his stay at his next stop will be about 2-3 years. Which is right about the same time that Granato's seat could be getting hot if the Sabres haven't started being contenders and not just getting into the dance.

Was tied up all day and then went to the game last night so didn't have a chance to post a reminder the Bandits were playing last night. They crushed the Kin-ig-hit Hawks 20-8 and will be playing whoever won in Hamilton starting Friday night. That'll be a best of 3. Expecting the game will be on ESPNU, but if not it will be on ESPN+. Good crowd (the place was full except for the 300's below both goal lines which were nearly empty) and good energy. Unlike last year when the Bandits steamrolled almost everybody then played very tight games at the end of the year and the playoffs, this team had a lot of injuries and won a lot of tight games throughout the regular season but have now rolled over their opponents 2 weeks in a row. The opponent for the best of 3 will be tougher, but the Bandits are the healthiest they've been all year and Vinc looks like he's 10 years younger than he is. Bandits were up 3-0 through 1, then the Kin-ig-hit Hawks tied it at 3 on a natural hattie by Cerrone and then tied it again at 4. Then Buffalo scored the next 4 to lead 8-4 at the half. Ra-cha-cha made it 8-6 and then Buffalo decided to run away with it. It was 20-7 with about 6 minutes left when Vinc was pulled. His backup played well only giving up 1 more. Friday should be a fun one, but will be too busy to go to the game. Let's go BAN-DITS!

Never said he was going to go later than the top 10. Said the only issue with his being unpolished is he went to a team known for being a QB wasteland for nearly 2 full decades. As you said, there were other "can't miss prospects" in that draft and yet only 2 of them out of 5 didn't. And 1 of the 2 that didn't miss barely stayed in the 1st round. Josh Allen absolutely could've been derailed had he gone 3rd overall as the Jest are even better at ruining prospects and picking the wrong ones than the Bills were for the 1st 16 years of the 21st century. Maybe going 1st overall would've been a killer too. The team that most rivals the NY Jest for Jetsiness is the Cleveland Browns.

IMHO, the issue with Allen getting drafted by the Bills is the kid was VERY raw (supremely skilled and prototypical size and arm strength) and Buffalo had NO, None, Zip, Nada track record developing QBs. McDermott was known for his defense and Daboll was a question too as to whether he was a product of the Cheatriots and Bama's talent. Had he been drafted by an offensive guru like KC's Reid, would absolutely have expected him to become a great QB. But that's not the team that Allen went to. Allen went to one where Tyrod Taylor was their best QB in the previous 15 years. It wasn't just that Allen was unpolished but he was unpolished and heading to a team that was known for being a Lions/ Jest class joke.

Carolina was Buffalo's kryptonite this year. (The last game between the 2 not withstanding.) Joisey is essentially Buffalo 1 more year advanced on their progress. Joisey matches up MUCH better against the Rags than the Canes. And this is a league that matchups really matter.

Well, the Canadian media are some of their biggest fans. HNIC has become a fluffing fest for them and here stateside TNT gives us Bissonnette for our viewing displeasure.

Provided injuries to the top 6 aren't too long term, the ability to send guys down to Ra-cha-cha without clearing waivers is overrated because guys like Bryson and Clague likely aren't getting taken in the day or 2 before the season starts and then they have 30 days &/or 10 games dressed on the parent club before they need to clear waivers again if they get called up. Especially if the Sabres only keep 2 goalies in Buffalo and add another 6D type (to go with the 4D we hope they bring in) then there will be 8D on the Sabres roster. How bad do injuries need to be to get your #9 10 games of action (especially when he's just marginally better than #10)?

The lure of playing with his brother for his country is strong.

True. Minus their fans, they're essentially Minnesota on the wgaf scale. But their fans bring them into Boston/Filly range. The short bus riders that wear helmets to sit in the stands do lend new meaning to the term "special."

And had Tkachuk messed up his hand with that late block, it could've significantly altered the course of this series.

The team has 10 returning players (not counting Olofsson who IMHO won't be back this coming season) battling out for 9 spots in the top 9 plus there are kids like Savoie, Rousek, and Kulich who will get looks as well. Who does Kane bump out of the lineup presuming he wouldn't be brought in specifically as a PP specialist? (And why would a team with Thompson, Tuch, Cozens, Quinn, Skinner, Mittelstadt, Peterka, Krebs, Dahlin, and Power need another PP specialist?) 2 years ago the team could've used his offense. Right now, that's the thing they're actually really good at generating. Would much rather have a PK specialist 4C brought in.

Agree. Good for Krebs. This could very well be his last opportunity to play for his country unless he really settles in a a Selke type 2 way forward or his offensive game takes a leap beyond what it seems it will. Glad he and the Sabres decided to let him take this opportunity. (Still sad for Derek Plante and his not being allowed to play in the Olympics way back when because the Sabres had so many injured C's and really needed him to hold down the fort.)

Seeing that list of prospects helps clarify just how far this team has come from the initial stages of rebuild #1. That team had O'Reilly, Kane, Eichel, Reinhart as the core pieces of the top 6 F's with Fasching, Carrier, Baptiste, and Bailey in the system and Mittelstadt drafted to try to fill out 2-3 scoring lines. This team has Thompson, Tuch, Skinner, Cozens, Mittelstadt, Quinn, Peterka, and Greenway (with Krebs also in the mix) as core pieces of a top 9 F corps, with Savoie, Kulich, Rousek, Rosen, Östlund, Neuchev, etc to try to supplement those other pieces. The contrast in depth is stark.

And, not that it matters, but the NHL in their mid-season awards was giving the Norris to Dahlin. Even ahead of Karlsson and his crazy offensive #'s. @Thorny was right about the injury induced swoon that Dahlin had right after the ASG. It cost him a finalist nod. And agree with you, that this snub might be the best thing that could've happened to the Sabres next year (well, 2nd best right behind Levi being what he's certainly appeared to be capable of being) having their best skater playing with a chip on his shoulder.

Yeah. Would put Dahlin at 3, just a smidge ahead of Matthews. Matthews was in the Eichel / MacKinnon tier; not the McDavid / Crosby tier. (Of course, at the time of their drafts, Eichel and MacKinnon were being considered borderline "generational." What a strange label as it gets brought up seemingly at least once every 5 years.) And Lafreniere seemed to have more hype than Power. But neither of those 2 were being viewed as "all that" IMHO. But the guy getting compared to Potvin has to be ranked higher on the hype machine than Hughes. Again, IMHO. Other than those 2 tweaks would agree with the Athletic's list.

The team certainly seems to have reached an inflection point. The monster question is will Adams be able to bring in the right guys to fill the few remaining holes to have them see the exponential rise that they seem to be on the verge of? Personally, expect the odds are good that he will. (Though if he doesn't, pretty sure goaltending will be the culprit yutzing the works up. (File that last bit in the "No Schlitz, Sherlock" folder.))

Will be very surprised if Adams doesn't bring in a top 4 guy on D this summer. Expecting 1 other 3rd pairing / tweener guy as well along with 3 or 4 guys specifically for Ra-cha-cha which won't factor into anything. Expecting he'll not make any additional upgrades to the F's (with the only real changes being Savoie and 1 of Rousek or Kulich make the roster out of camp and Olofsson gets traded away; maybe 1 or both of Okposo and Girgensons decide to walk) or G but really hoping that's incorrect. And really want a PK specialist 4C brought in. Varlamov too. 4 pieces, is it really that much to ask for? Doesn't seem like it, but expecting to only get 2 of them. (The 4D and an extra 6D.)

And the reason we have DTv is back when Empire still existed, Time Warner bumped it up to a pay tier (replaced it with the Hallmark Channel on their regular package). Rather than pay $5/month extra for the tier that included Empire switched to DTv and started getting Sunday Ticket. That decision cost TW a truck ton of money through the years.

Half way there. 2 down, 2 to go. Was getting a kick out of the TNT announcers ball washing Nylander. "He's putting on a clinic." Yep, didn't get an assist but started the play that got Florida back in the game and then was the place where scoring chances went to die at the other end.

Give Power a legit partner rather than Jokiharju and a lot of those "defensive issues" clear up. (Provided he finally figures out how to not deflect the puck past his own goalie. THAT issue wasn't on Henri.)

Bummer. That statistical slide he went on after getting injured on the Florida trip near the AS break really took the wind out of his sails. He was getting hyped hard before that. Hopefully he gets it next year.