nfreeman

BTW, if the Sabres are able to get, say, a 2nd-rounder for Scandy at the deadline, that will be a nice restoration of value by RK.

On the first bolded -- not sure what this means -- Pommer wasn't re-signed and isn't going to be. I don't think any of the other bolded guys will be re-signed, with the possible exception of another cheapo one-year deal for one of Larsson and Zemgus. As to the broader question of JB's cap management performance, while I agree that it's still too early to tell, I think there has been a consistent series of competent, logical moves, plus a few excellent moves like the MoJo contract and the Reino bridge deal (understanding that YMMV on that one), and an absence of GMTM-like blunders. So the early returns, while incomplete, are still good IMHO.

Well, it all depends on the trade that's available, innit?

I'm guessing Hutton will start?

I plead guilty! Seriously, if they can win a game like they did last night, where they legit earned it for 60 min on the road against a good team, and kept it coming in the 3rd period in the face of fatigue and adversity -- it could be a great season.

Couple other game notes: - Evander looked like a highly motivated monster last night. I'd still rather have Skinner, but I'd really rather have both. - Just to stir the pot, I'll note that Evander was much more effective than Reino last night, and if the Sabres have to give Reino a huge contract this summer, it'll be questionable as to whether that $$ might've been better spent on Evander (although we of course don't know whether that option was available to JB). - Guess who the only team in the EC with 7 wins is? - Another encouraging showing from Mitts' line. I thought all 3 of them played pretty well last night and that line has been pulling its weight and contributing offense for the last few games now. - So was the whole D pairing shakeup just a misimpression that one of the Sabres beat guys reported and then a bunch of people repeated? - Overall, a good, balanced game throughout the lineup. - That Sharks goal that Sorensen banked in off of his skate was pretty close to a kick, although it was an unusual backward kick. Still probably the right call though, and the Sabres certainly got the benefit of the doubt on Mitts' goal.

I dunno -- it still seems like it's missing something...

I've been thinking about this over the last couple of days. I like Ehlers, and would've said yes immediately over before the season started, but they are 7 and freaking 2, with a number of quality wins, and they look great, and Risto is a huge part of all that. RK is leaning on him quite a bit. I think I'm at the point where it needs to be more than Ehlers and maybe needs to be such a good offer that no one would make the offer. And I'm definitely not trading Risto just to avoid healthy-scratching Scandy or sending down Joker, either of which would be only until someone else gets hurt.

This is either going to be a very ugly win or an awful loss.

Sweet victory for @PASabreFan here.

Best win of the year IMHO. Worth the brutal late bedtime.

I agree with all of this although I would probably say Eichel has been their best forward. It’s close though, which is a good thing.

I’ll be interested to see which of the 2 new D pairs gets more ice time.

I don’t hold this opinion, but he has been an important contributor overall and especially on the PP, which has been a huge difference-maker for the team’s getting wins.

outstanding. There is NFW that Casey Nelson should ever get called up before Borgen again.

Interesting and quite possible.

Interesting move on D. A promotion for Joker or a demotion for Dahlin? Or other?

So a friend of mine is traveling to this spot -- Churchill, Manitoba -- in a couple of weeks to (hopefully) see the Northern lights and polar bears. I think he's the only person I know who has been to Hudson Bay. If you check it out on google maps, you'll see that there are no roads that go there, although there is an airport and a train station.

Good for Hutton (and for the Sabres). He's having a terrific start after a crappy 2nd half of last season. But games like last night are not a sustainable winning model. They took their foot off the gas after going up 3-0 and relied on Hutton. Fortunately, he delivered and Kovy shot wide on several point-blank opportunities. That won't happen consistently. They'll need to play much better vs Evander and the Sharks. I didn't think Reino, Mojo or Skinner did much last night. I liked Scandy, the 3rd line (i.e. Larsson's line) and of course the Mitts-fits (good call on that nickname from someone upthread). If they can get going and provide offense consistently it will be a huge help. On to SJ.

Ok boys. Let’s get one here.

Good rest for the Sabres. How will they respond to squandering a lead on the road to a fast, physical team?

I like Reino standing up for VO and Skinner doing so for Dahlin.

Keep your pants on please.

Now that is some high-quality on-location Sabrespace reporting.

Looking at that lineup, I think there is NFW that Anaheim trades a good forward for Risto. They don't have enough of those to begin with.