Taro T

Isn't that what was said about the Pegulaplan about 10 years ago? Eventually they should be back in there. But who knows how "eventually" is defined?

Counselor, you appear to be arguing for the point of arguing. Paraphrasing you 'they are going to roll 4 lines, the proof being they paid ~$4MM for the 4th line' but also 'no way will the bottom lines get used a lot.' Which from this perspective looks an AWFUL LOT like 'there will be a bit of a rolling 4 lines mojo.'

That line will be playing legit minutes. But would be surprised if they're averaging nearly 15 minutes per man especially if the "3rd line" is also playing close to that. (Thus using the phrase you took exception to.)

I did not state that they'll be stationary, nor that they should be stationary. Have actually actively advocated for more actual player movement for pretty much as long as Ellis has run the PP. (Have hated having Ellis running the dumbest PP in the NHL in at least the past 25 years.) When mentioning having Quinn drift into Thompson's slot when Thompson drifts elsewhere, was referring to how Thompson would actually bring the puck off the boards (typically drifting back to towards the BL) with now having the PKers drift up with him (as that was who they were concerned with) opening up spots down low. And having Quinn slot over to the 1 timer spot now forces a D to move to follow along with where people now are setting towards opening up additional lanes. Nowhere in that post did it say that others would be stationary either. Suppose that using the term "drift" might've been confusing. But surprised that it was because "bumper" has pretty much become the term for where the player in the middle of the formation at the start of the PP starts out. We'll see Dahlin below the goal line at times (it even happened under Ellis a couple of times shockingly) but that doesn't mean he's not generally considered the point of the PP.

The only consistency to how Ruff uses his players is he looks at what THEIR strengths are and determines a system that will work for them. He doesn't have a set philosophy for how to play other than, the system needs to suit the players he has, he can't force them into the system. There is no consistency to whether he runs even D deployment or not; whether he's rolling 4 lines or 3 with an energy line filling in; running 1 goalie until he drops or a more even split of the goalies. So, considering what we have in Buffalo, would expect Dahlin will be far and away the most played skater, UPL will get about 55 games if he can handle that, and there will be a bit of a rolling 4 lines mojo.

Likewise.

One thing that helps, especially w/ learning a new system, is there was only 1 new D man brought in & he's likely the 7 but who gets a fair # of games situationally &/or due to injury. It often takes well into a 1st season in a new place for a D-man to settle in w/ his new teammates.

Nice analysis. 2 additional points to mention. The Sabres poor drafting is covered in large overlap by the "video scouting" era. MANY here opposed it & a big argument against was, if it was as big a failure as feared, it wouldn't be proven out for 4 or 5 years, and at that point a lot of damage would be done. It sure seems to have failed as spectacularly as feared. And, Murray's plan could've worked, we'll never know for sure because Botterill's preferred players were pretty much a 180 from what Murray was bringing in. Had Botterill (or ideally someone that didn't love trading picks for presumptive 3rd liners that actually played barely like 4th liners) not wanted to swap from the LA model to more of a Pittsburgh model, they could've rejoined the league sooner than they are on pace to do. That sort of total direction change was a big part of why the Bills went 17 years between playoff berths. (We're a 34 team, no a 43 team, no 34, no 43 and personnel had to be adjusted accordingly. That, churning highly drafted RBs & DBs & having no legit QB were a recipe for failure.) Adams shifted gear from Botterill's build; but at least both wanted fast teams. So, the kids Botterill drafted could be a part of the new, newer, newest core.

Personally have said the expectation for a healthy Quinn is 35 goals. But also didn't bump Peterka over his 28 from last year, nor Tuch over his injury riddled 22. If Quinn "only" has 27 or 28, those 2 alone could make up that "lost" production. Could see them using him, in the bumper slot on PP1 as should Thompson drift away from his 1 timer spot Quinn could drift there. With Peterka at the other side & Dahlin at the top, they could have a good shooter all over the ice. Would have Tuch down low for his size on screens & his forecheck on loose pucks that miss the net & rebounds. (Which still leaves Cozens, Benson, Power, & Byram as a core for the 2nd PP. And that's without any addition potential trade for a 2W.)

Pretty sure that's what they'll do w/ the top 2 lines. But 5 years is an eternity for many bottom 6ers.

And, again, Ruff has said flat out that Dahlin will have multiple partners IN GAME. The 2 he specifically mentioned were Power & Samuelsson. Personally expect Dahlin getting 24+ minutes/night primarily w/ Samuelsson but late in periods & towards the end of shifts w/ Power as expect Owen will be getting ~23 minutes/ night. Expecting Muel at or just under 20 and Byram getting similar usage. Putting whichever 2 of Clifton, Jokiharju, & Gilbert dressing getting 14-16 each. (Could see Gilbert getting significantly less most nights he dresses, but don't have a good feel for how often that'd be should everyone be healthy.) And on nights when the Sabres are home & the opponent has only 1 line, could see Ras & Owen together more often in game. Will be interesting seeing what combos Ruff comes up w/. He is definitely from the Bowman school of player utilization.

THIS version of this team is NOT a SC contender. It IS a playoff contender. (Please note, saying it is a playoff contender doesn't mean it's a lock to be in.) BUT you have to get to be a playoff contender before you can be a SC contender. Adams timeline for SC contention is IMHO 2 seasons away. UPL should be in his prime & Levi will finally be there too. Dahlin will be squarely in his prime years & Power & Byram will be mid-20's (aka entering theirs) w/ at least 1 of Samuelsson or Johnson able to round out the top 4 & Novikov would likely be available to fill into the top 6 should whatever 2 other guys are rounding out the unit by then get injured/ need support/relief. Yes, Thompson & Tuch are getting long in the tooth by then, bit Peterka, Cozens, & Quinn are all at their primes & there is at least middle 6 talent ready to step up in Kulich, Oslund, & Helenius. And we haven't even mentioned Benson nor McLeod nor should he still be in the organization Wahlberg. Find a couple other useful bottom 6ers & you're cooking w/ gas. And all Adams has taken from that squad is a 2nd round pick that wouldn't be ready to help anyway and Savoie who still would need to beat out all those other guys plus Rosen. The future looks bright. (But you can never count on the future.) But the present looks alright too & there could still be another move or 2 to happen.

Yes. Is this the point of the show that we list truisms? If so, toast is good w/ bacon & homefries. 😉

You don't say? The stores for a company who's main selling points are cheap & fast located 1/2 a continent away from HQ aren't nearly as concerned about quality as the ones that could literally have a corporate exec in their shop at any time? Inconceivable. 😉

Cirelli is Tampa's 3C & people here have been pining for him for at least 1/2 a decade as surely THIS'LL be the year they can't keep everyone. Well, that year finally came & Cirelli is still there but Stamkos & Sergachev aren't.

It's what Murray always said was his plan. HE knew which of the Sabres prospects would come close to their ceilings and to trade the their value went down. Of course, pretty sure everybody tries to do that too.

Yeah, they'll reach a point where they can't overpay bottom 6 guys. But they're not at that point yet. And only Lafferty, of the new guys, has more than a 1 year deal. his is just a 2 year deal. And the 1C & 2C each only get just over $7MM/yr. The 4th line is still a lot cheaper than the Aisles 4th line was last year. (Aisles dropped $5.75MM on their 4th line.) Expecting the Sabres will be giving theirs usage more similarly to the way the Aisles use theirs than the way the B's use theirs.

Lindy has historically deployed minutes in a balanced fashion on the back line. But he never had a Dahlin before. He's going to ride Ras hard. But not sure if Ras will be the 4 or the 5 as far as rotation into the PK is concerned. Remember, he tends to be the D-man in the box if one took the 2 minutes. Jokiharju is decent on the PK. Could see him or the new guy (if he's not the 7) slotting in front of Dahlin usually on the PK.

Could see him being played against certain opponents & somebody else (Krebs) getting different ones. Ruff used to rotate the bottom the lineup guys in & out depending on the opponent. Don't see a reason for that to not happen again.

Personally, no. At least not the Ruff to GM part of it. Because it makes more sense to move Karmanos into the GM role with either Adams (if things work the next 2 years) or Ruff (if they don't) in the PoHO role. And if Adams is PoHO then Ruff ends up a "special advisor" or with some other such title.

Dislike losing Wahlberg, but there's a lot of roster flexibility added if a guy like Zegras is brought in. And, like the other moves Adams made this summer, it not only helps today but it can still be good for the '26-'27 squad (which is still where (when?) IMHO Adams sees the prize located).

Still wouldn't be surprised to see 1 more move later this summer, but if this is the roster, as others had mentioned that Krebs was being discussed as a winger & with how compared to the rest of the bottom 6 Greenway skates like his blades are rusted; starting to wonder too if it isn't Greenway as the 13th F and Krebs clinging to that 3W spot. It does give Ruff some flexibility as they are very different players. (And again, still believe Adams is trying to work 1 more deal that'd put Benson onto the 3rd line & both Krebs & Greenway into the pressbox or out the door.)

Interesting how the Eulers seem to have come to the conclusion the reason they couldn't get that 1 extra win was not enough firepower (at least based on their Sabre related moves). Foegele out as a FA; Skinner in. McLeod out; Savoie in. Really not the conclusion most outsiders would've come to IMHO.

??? You're in Buffalo; why go for a Detroit style pizza? Maybe you could find a Houston style chicken wing while you're at it. And don't understand the comment about the Brew Pub thing. The Buffalo Brew Pub on Main just off Transit was something like the 8th in the country. Pearl St wasn't brewing in the 80's.