Skibum

Settle down, two of those were empty netters last night.

The draft is not going to solve the problem soon enough. They are going to have to improve via free agency and trades; problem is that top free agents don't like to go to teams with entrenched losing cultures, and trading for good players requires having your own surplus of good players. The only viable option may be to trade away some very high draft picks for good players on tanking teams. I don't know how else the current Sabres are going to bring in difference-makers.

Half of the forward group has been basically useless this year. Aside from the top line, the only line that's clicked at all is the checking line. That's two secondary scoring lines that can't score, and a third line that's not supposed to score much anyway. Your $72 million dollar goal scorer has disappeared. You have a bona-fide superstar center and the clock is ticking to build a team around him. I don't see any significant improvements coming down the pipeline for at least 2 years, and that's if the prospects actually pan out. The head coach's visionary rhetoric is starting to sound like a lot of bloviated new-age lip service. Defense has improved dramatically, but half the forwards and half the goalies are flat-out bad. It's just not a good roster, and that's on the GM. He should be on thin ice.

Could just as easily have been an ACL or similar season - ender. At least he’s coming back in time for the.... oh, never mind.

By the way, Olofsson appeared to have wrecked his knee last night. That did not look good. If we're lucky, it's a sprained MCL.

Ha ha, you're right. I was looking at Hockey Reference and mis-read it. He finished 25th for the Selke once. I was wrong, this guy sucks! But really, he's better than most of the bums they're running with right now.

He's been very consistent at 40ish points per season and doesn't miss many games due to injury. He has a Selke trophy in his man cave. He's better than 8 of the current sabres forwards at a similar cap hit to Scandella. It's a start, anyway.

I hope they have a solid acquisition at forward lined up after this. Otherwise, this trade accomplished nothing.

Who the heck would trade anything for these guys? Bogosian is overpriced, injury prone, and looking kinda washed up, while Rodriguez has 0 goals and 3 assists in 24 games, as a FORWARD. You could maybe package Bogosian based on a history of competent play, but Rodriguez's next stop is more likely to be somewhere in the AHL.

The last three sequels were pretty much the exact opposite of the Prequels: Prequels: Great stories that obeyed the laws of the SW universe; spoiled by bad characters, bad directing, and bad scripts. Last three films: Great characters, solid directing and scripts; spoiled by terrible storylines that repeatedly violated the laws of the SW universe. If only George Lucas could have provided the essential narrative and turned it over to a director with vision and chops. That's the formula that helped make Empire the best of the whole franchise.

Fair enough, but I think it's worth a try. What's really missing is a guy who can carry the play on the 2nd line, whether it's a center or a winger. Olofsson is showing that he may be able to do that, and there's only one way to find out. Another option would be to put Olofsson with Skinner on line 2, and (gasp) promote Vesey or Sheary to line 1. Between Eichel's dominance and Reinhart's awareness and slick passing, it's possible that any NHL forward with a modicum of skill could hold down that third spot. Bottom line is there are just not enough pieces present to put together two productive scoring lines. It's a real bummer when the above options are all you have to work with, and at the end of the day, the existing lines are probably as good as it's going to get for now. Last crazy suggestion before I give up: Try Dahlin at Center #2. That still leaves 7 NHL D-men, most of them at least decent.

We might also see some Swedish Black Metal Magic happen between MarJo and VO on line 2. I look at it this way: Skinner played out of his mind with Jack and Sam last year. With the way Jack is playing this year, that line could be making pure hockey porn right now. And again, the second line in its current state is going nowhere. Swapping Skinner for VO isn't going to cost much scoring, because there isn't any scoring to give up. If you don't have a legit #2 C, you might as well load up the top line with the best guys you've got.

I'd like to see Kruger figure out a way to get Skinner and Eichel back together on a line. Skinner with other dudes obviously isn't working out. Olofsson is showing that he can drive the play on his own - maybe put him on line #2 and see how it goes for a while. The secondary scoring can't get any worse than it is now. There, I fixed it. Season saved.

It goes to show you just never can tell. This kid was tearing it up at the Junior level - looked like the next Patrick Kane, and you can't say it was a dumb draft choice. I hope it works out in the long run, but it's definitely a 'wait and see' situation at this point.

I don't know that much about him as a player, but for me, there is a stink on those pre-McDavid #1 Oiler picks that will never wash off.

Bummer.

If history is any guide, we should all be stocking up the liquor cabinet about now.

Maybe I'm nuts, but I didn't think it was as bad as the score indicated. The Sabres had a ton of chances in the 1st, and 30 shots on the game, but they just couldn't put any of them home. It didn't seem like they were "on their heels" at any point. They just played atrocious defense for a grand total of about 40 seconds, and the Caps took full advantage of every little lapse.

It's hard to say we're loaded on defense watching tonight's game...

This doesn't look like a beat-down; the Sabres' forwards have been playing a good game and creating chances the whole period. Hard to believe it's 4-0, but all it takes is a few quick lapses on defense.

It’s probably a moot point because someone else is going to get hurt, in all likelihood.

Jeez, they win in a shutout with an extra insurance goal, second game of a back to back on the west coast, after losing the first game by 3, to take first place in the Eastern Conference, and we’re talking about how they can’t protect a 2-goal lead. A little perspective maybe???

I think the raw material for success is there, and you will see this line gel and start producing in a month or so, maybe sooner with Sheary back in the mix.

Ha, I just dropped in to post the same thing, and was wondering if someone would beat me to it!

It's three cagey veterans who know their roles extremely well, have played together a while, and are pretty good athletes, too. It's no surprise they are doing so well.