darksabre

I think a lot is going to depend on players like Olofsson making the jump and how much room we have to bury players in Rochester. We're very limited by cap space right now. Next season they can go nuts because so many forwards come off the books. But it's a little more complex right now. If Botterill can get a player or two back in trades that are on RFA deals that could get us through the year. I just don't know what a guy like Risto really gets you for the cap relief he provides. The first week of October could be real weird.

I think there's more coming.

I understand the sentiment, but I think it's possible to cover up some of the lack of depth at center with wingers who can actually score a damn goal. We did it for years here under Regier. The problem we have isn't just with the center spine, it's with offense in general. Jeff Skinner is our only scoring winger. All of the centers in the world don't solve that problem.

Any discussion on Ullmark and the new coaching really needs to wait a few months. I think there's a lot to work on with his development and we aren't going to see any of the fruits of that for a while yet. Hopefully he looks better in January than October, which would be the opposite of what happened last season.

They dominated until the third and then took their foot off the gas and almost blew it. The Pens were playing mostly AHLers so it doesn't count for much.

Preseason. They got outworked by Columbus early and never really found another gear beyond simply neutralizing the jackets attack. They had more vets in the lineup and our vets didn't do much.

I'm hoping Ice Jerseys will have these for customizing because they do the best work.

I'm trying to think of who has stood out the most to me in this game. Probably Casey Fitzgerald.

Rough stat from Ray there, Mitts 1-8 on faceoffs tonight.

Okposo-Sobotka-Pekar is a worthless line.

Damp buns

This second period has been much better from Buffalo in that they've made the game a little boring.

Jakey!

Bemstrom for Columbus is pretty good

Looks like PP1 is Dea-Mitts-Olofsson-Reinhart-Bryson? PP2 Smith-Olson-Okposo-Fitzgerald-Montour?

It has only just begun.

Supposedly. But the Amerks were good, largely due to a core of AHL vets: guys who were aren't looking to have on the Sabres.

I can't help but think that not having Sobotka and Okposo out there would be helpful.

Yeah. Not great.

Same.

Pekar has some hustle.

Mitts-Reino-Olofsson looking good on the PP

Victor with the first SOG there

2 established NHL D in the lineup for Buffalo and it shows.