Taro T

Murray was REALLY good at identifying guys that were physically talented. But he was REALLY REALLY bad at understanding how people interact with each other and how those interactions could let players like Rodrigues become more than they appear to be and cause players like Kane &/or Bogosian end up bad influences on young players that you're really relying on. If Murray had an Adams who does seem to understand the human side of the game and how to relate to people as an advisor he could trust, the whole thing could've worked.

To this day, believe that people would've been ok with the trades of that weekend had Lehner been brought in for the 3rd 1st round pick and the 2nd one been part of the package to get O'Reilly. Murray knew he didn't need to use the pick that went out for Lehner to get O'Reilly; had he needed it for that doubt he would've ended up with Lehner. But that Murray team was simply cursed. Lehner screws up his ankle bumping the post in the 2nd period of the home opener against Ottawa of all teams, ruining his 1st 3 or so months of his Sabre tenure and O'Reilly drives his truck into a Timmy Ho's putting him in the owner's dog house. Yes, Murray had no idea how personal interactions or life in general could effect how his horses performed on the ice, but those were 2 of his 3 key pickups that year. And both had 'seriously, that actually happened' events hanging over them and then the next year right before opening night Girgensons gives Eichel a high ankle sprain in the last practice prior to the season opening.

But 26.5 year old average age teams probably on occassion do win Stanley Cups. '27 could be a very good year for the Sabres. (Provided everybody hasn't been axed before then resetting the timeline once again.)

Charles Barkley walking away from TNT's basketball desk. Wonder if he'll be part of the ownership group that ends up getting that new team? (Wouldn't bet against it.) And personally, hate that Arizona lost its team, but hate the idea of expanding past 32 teams even more. Right now, there is at LEAST 1 team currently in the league that will wait until 2056 to hoist the Stanley Cup for the next (or 1st) time. Expanding that out is nuts.

5. EVERYBODY forgets Kulikov. The man LITERALLY breaks his ass for the Sabres and nobody cares nor remembers. 😉 (And, technically 6 as it looks like Dudley is still a special advisor or has some other role for them.)

Eh, still believe he should've come out and at least let Bettman shake his hand over it, but also get why in this moment it was too difficult for him to do that. He's the most recognizable face in the NHL to those like us who live and breathe it, but he plays in Edmonton and the casual fans that tune in for the "big events" only don't know much at all about him because the Eulers rarely get early US nationally broadcast games. As crimes against hockey are concerned, not coming out is at worst a misdemeanor and likely only a traffic violation; but it still would've been nice for someone as revered as him to stay in his lane and not go speeding right out of the rink.

At some point everybody ends up leaving. Unlike the players, who will still be partying at noon tomorrow, a LOT of the people in the building have to be at work tomorrow. Personally, would still be there in the MMArena should it have been Buffalo beating Buffalo West, work tomorrow be darned; but totally get that not everybody can set their own schedule.

Really hope you're right.

You too quick. Nice post.

Only the 2nd time a skater from the losing squad won. And when Leach did it, pretty sure he set a goal scoring record.

Why? Do you really want them to rehire Murray?

And it looks like the Swamp Cats were at the full cap this year (slightly over according to Puckpedia) so that $500k comes off next year's cap for them. Heck, they'd've been better off losing tonight, they'd still have a 5th round pick instead of a 7th round and an extra $500k. /sarcasm

And good for E-Rod. Pretty sure Billy Smith did that all the time. Never shook hands after the last game and wanted to do his celebrating with his teammates in the dressing room.

Was goin' nuts trying to figure out who the 6th Sabre player was. Danke.

Can understand why McDavid didn't come back out to take the trophy, but would've hoped that he would. It's reminiscent of the Swedish Juniors not letting their silver medals get put on back in 18 and their Captain (?) tossing his into the crowd. (Fortunately the Canadian fan that caught it gave it to a Swedish fan near him that managed to arrange for him to get it back.) You were deemed the best player of the playoffs and your team came within 2 goals of being the 1st SC Champion from Edmonton since '90 and from Canada since '93. It was a special season for him, and there ARE Euler fans still in the crowd. Certainly getting to see him receive that trophy would've been a special memory for them even though they really wanted to see him be handed the bigger trophy.

So, is Draisatl the new Joe Thornton? Him doing anything AT ALL these last 7 games might've been enough to get them 1 more W.

We should be happy the Swamp Cats pulled it off. They proved you can have AT LEAST 5 Sabres on your roster and still win a Stanley Cup. If 5 can do it, why not 20?

Would recommend every Sabre fan run out and buy a lottery ticket that day to see just how much that day truly is ours. When the cards are falling your way, stay at the table.

Don't follow the juniors kids anywhere near as closely as some of you do. Appreciate all the info the draftniks here do provide. Based on what's been said, would be really happy with Catton or Iginla and am extremely intrigued at the idea of getting Eiserman. Would be pleased if the Sabres come away with any of them. And if they trade back in the 1st, want Jiricek's kid brother, just because.

You don't want to know what other used stuff he's kept. 😉

Personally, expect he did plan to sign with the Sabres but then when they absolutely #### the bed coming out of the gate he changed his plans. Adams and Granato seemed genuinely surprised when he signed with Detroit.

Pegulas aren't selling tix to both. By the time TC opens, they've already sold all the Sabres preseason tix they're going to sell (in STH packages, because nobody else is going to buy tix to a preseason game at window prices). And really don't see Terry caring all that much if STHs get stuck getting $5/ticket when they might've gotten $20/ without the conflict. Which is the sum total net effect of the conflict. There won't be a single unsold Bills ticket due to a preseason Sabres game. (Regardless of where either game is played.)

Well, Florida didn't have a 1st available until 2026, so Henrique was not an option for them. But surely Maurice would rather have added him to the lineup than Okposo. There just was no realistic way to do it. Personally, would rather see the Cats win than the Eulers tonight, but won't be all that upset if it goes the other way.

Expect Maurice believes he can regulate Okposo's ice time enough to make sure he doesn't get caught out against McDavid much, if at all. Having home ice, expect that Maurice sees the smarter play trying to have the slow W with a wealth of experience eat enough minutes to keep the other 3 lines fresh enough without him getting caught out against McDavid rather than trying to have the quicker more physical Cousins in the game because of the possibility of him taking a bad penalty now that the Euler PP has come back to life in games 4 & 5 particularly. Betting he wishes Zito found a guy a little bit better than Okposo at the deadline at this point, but you don't get a do over and he sees Opkoso being his best fit at the 12 slot with the game being at home. If the Eulers were hosting this one, expect that Cousins would get the nod again like he did last game.

Am on the same page as you guys. Agree that Adams SHOULD be gone if they miss the playoffs. But don't expect that he absolutely will be gone if they miss again. The owner seems to really like him and he's let him make moves that all seem geared to being a true contender in '27. Should they end up in the realm where they have more points than anybody else that ever missed the playoff, personally expect Adams gets yet another kick at the can. Should they miss with 91, do expect he'll be gone. Personally believe that if they make the playoffs with say 93 points but then get ousted in 4 or 5 that he should be gone in that case too. Because 93 SHOULD NOT be good enough in an era when there are so many loser points available. But, also expect in that scenario that he doesn't get punted there either because they will have actually made the playoffs. And, expect this discussion will end up being moot, because there's a good chance they get to 98+ and that they make the playoffs. Dumping Comrie and bringing in a coach that has a plan for what to do in his own end and how to run a PP should be enough on their own to get them to 98 PROVIDED the GT doesn't do a Comrie imitation and they don't have catastrophic injuries (both of which are possible, so this team needs additional moves to give it some wiggle room should either come to pass).