Eleven

3-1-0 with no OT or shootout.

FFS @Zamboni if you're going to ask questions, then attend to them.

Smith isn't Krueger, though.

Not what I wrote. Yes what I wrote.

Did you at least get to keep the fluid? /s I'm sorry, that sux!

I know what you're saying, but let's face it, the Sabres have lost a couple / few college prospects and it's enough that they should be wary. We all were worried about Levi and Johnson last season, and it's a justifiable concern.

This is why I have been putting it off, even though I shouldn't.

There's a lot here and I have only so much time on this planet--but it's a VERY thorough analysis and it was a great read. It deserves a better response than I can give. Rather than go on and on about things we agree upon, I'll hit the differences: 1F (I'm using this for forward lines and I'll use 1D for pairings): All of this presumes the absence of Kreijci (is that how that Scrabble name is spelled?), but let's proceed with that hypothesis. Skinner is more than a step behind the Rat. Pastrnak is the most valuable forward among BOTH lines, even if Thompson repeats himself. I'd say that Boston's 1F is a couple of increments better than Buffalo's. 2F When Peterka establishes himself as better than van Riemsdyk, I'll give him credit for it. He hasn't yet and shouldn't be presumed to do so. Cozens is my favorite young Sabre forward, but Charlie Coyle is somethin' else. If they were the same age, I'd trade Coz for Coyle in a second. You know my feelings on Mitts; if he can keep his progression, I'll lay off, but from what I've seen historically (more than just 2023), I have to go with DeBrusk. Boston 2F is an increment or two above Buffalo. 3F This is a very interesting one. The way you have the lines constructed, I am inclined to agree that it's somewhat close to a draw. If Boston shifts *****face--I mean Lucic--up to this line, then I think their thug is better than our thug. On the other hand, does Oloffson really play with Krebs and Greenway? I don't see that. He needs to be set up, and Krebs (hopefully future Peca) and Greenway (hitter not carrier) aren't going to do that. 1 increment for Boston. 4F What I love about Buffalo's fourth line is that it isn't a pure "energy" or "checking" or "thug" line, even as it was in 2006. Instead, it's composed of defensively-responsible forwards who can slow a game down and kill the other team's momentum. In other words, it's exactly what a "third line" was in the late 90s and early 00s. I rate this line two increments above Boston's bully line. Maybe even three, because Buffalo's can actually play hockey. ===== 1D I don't think that Grelczyk is so much better than Samuelsson that it overcomes Dahlin's dominance. Dahlin is that freaking good and Samuelsson is close enough to Grel. McAvoy is good, too, but he's only so good. I'm giving a +1 to Buffalo here. 2D The first thing is, I still think Granato should and will start out the year with a Power-Johnson pair. But let's look at your construction rather than mine. I think Power can take another stop forward (but part of the reason I think that is because I see Johnson with him, I admit); I see this as a wash at worst and maybe even another increment for Buffalo. 3D. Again, accepting your pairings, I think Boston is a step up here. ===== Goalies: Covered in my post upthread. Because of the importance of the position, this is four increments in Boston's favor. ===== My conclusion is that Boston's roster is ahead of Buffalo's, by three-and-a-half Eleven increments, even if Krqbsi retires.

Guessing Sauve and Thompson. And... I'm wrong, at least on the first one.

What's stopping you?

I'll start: G: Levi/Comrie/UPL against Ullmark/Swayman: Even though the Sabres have the higher potential long-term upside, it's tough to argue that the Bruins don't have a huge edge here. Ullmark holds the Vezina right now, and Swayman would start on countless NHL teams, probably including the Sabres. Since the goaltender is the only player capable of playing all 60 minutes and has the most impact on a team's record, it is easy to conclude that this critical difference outweighs any edge the Sabres might have at first defense pairing or second forward line, for example. I'd love to see different posters put the Sabres' three pairs against the Bruins' three and the Sabres four lines against their four, but I think that the goaltender position alone will lead me to the conclusion that Boston still has the better roster.

I also want to know what the point was in flying Rapinoe's Smolinski-face around the world if she's not going to play.

Sabres or Canucks, absolutely.

This installment of the USWNT can't finish and leaves the center of the backfield way too open. Vietnam should have been a 6-0 win. This should be a 1-0 lead. Way too much concern about being fouled and not enough action. We need to make changes right now (at half) or risk losing this and the next game, too. Yeah, I know about the injuries to Sauerbrunn, Mewis, Press, Pugh, etc. Still. And if Lavelle is healthy, why is she on the bench tonight?

That's why I wrote 5.

I had a feeling that the one time I met him, he just was in non-conversational mood.

Yahoo Sports had an article on my phone this morning--I can't find it now--predicting the 5 teams most likely to break their playoff droughts. #1 is the Sabres. but #2 is Ottawa and #3 is Detroit, and I'm wondering just which of Boston, Toronto, Florida, and Tampa they think are going to nosedive, since only 5 teams from the division can get in. Boston is somewhat still Boston even without Bergeron and Kreiji, and I don't see the other three of that group missing.

Luce I: McDonald's, breakfast after Mass. About 1976. Signed an autograph on a McDonald's napkin for me. This was an exercise devised by my father to give me confidence approaching strangers on my own. 'Cause that's smart policy for a five-year-old. Perreault: Numerous times starting in about 1978. Basically, whenever we were late for Mass and had to stand in the back. Yeah, he would say hi and pat me on the head and all that. Good dude. It greatly annoyed my mother that I paid more attention to Perreault than to the altar. Luce II: 2004. Soho. I told him the McDonald's story and bought him a beer. He really seemed to enjoy that I had remembered him. Peters I: The Arena. Around the same time. He was a scratch for a camp scrimmage and my father and I had met up at the scrimmage for lunch and we sat near Peters in the stands. I made fun of Peters's clothing (seriously he was dressed like a pauper) for a guy who had so much money. He was not happy with me. Peters II: Some bar about a month later. He remembered me and started antagonizing me before a mutual friend intervened. Lorentz: A few times, in a few restaurants. Always a nice guy to talk to. Martin, Brennan's Bowery Bar, about a year before he died. I don't know whether he's a conversationalist, but he definitely wasn't that night. Afinogenov and Numminen: Hutch's, April or May 2007. Had a brief conversation about them taking the Isles--or was it Rags--down the next day. Playoff time, though, definitely. Simonick, was it around 2010? NHLHQ, Toronto. I posted about it here at the time. Pegula I: Avant Building bar, the day after he bought the team. My friend wanted a picture with him but was afraid to ask, so I went up to him and said, "Hey, Terry, would you take a picture with my friend?" He looked like he never had had such a request before. And yes he let me take the picture with her. Pegula II / Jeanneret I: They were having dinner at the bar at Chop House, and so were my brother-in-law and I. We didn't chat for too long, only a couple of minutes. Black: A few times. Not my favorite guy, to be honest. Miller: A few times, in a few restaurants and one Walgreens. I never talked to him until the Walgreens, which was about a month before the trade deadline, and I wished him luck. Also Noureen is very cute in public but definitely doesn't wear the "stripper look" from magazine covers when she's out and about. Ray: A few times in a few restaurants, also once at the arena in between periods, and then I sat down next to him in a club last month, and he recognized me, which I thought was pretty cool, and which made my friends wonder how the hell Rob Ray knew my face, which was even funnier. I think that's it.

I'm not sure about your specifics (Murray is a ? to me) but I agree w/ the general sentiment. I'm much more concerned about WR2 than about KR/RB2.

From everything I'm seeing about him today on the larger Internet, this indeed is his legacy.

Oh they've been in soccer for quite a while already.

I was being sarcastic. Jet skiing alone isn't a good idea.

This is why you should always jet ski alone.

Yes, the new rule is a touchback inside the 25 rather than just in the end zone. I enjoy a hot take as much as the next guy.

My bet is that it's twitter again w/i 30 days but I don't really care. I would like to know these people's theories on Dalvin Cook though.