nfreeman

Unfortunately while I think Quinn is going to be a great Sabre, I don’t think he’ll be effective enough this year so as to be better than Benson or a healed Kane.

KA repeated today what he’s said a number of times in the past: that there is a plan and a process they are going through with contract extensions. He described it as putting a puzzle together. I think they definitely have a preferred sequence in mind for the guys they’d like to sign, and that their top priority right now is getting Power signed. I wouldn’t be surprised though if one of the other guys got a contract first. Still, I voted for Power.

IMHO there is room for both Benson and a fully healed Kane in our top 9, no matter what.

I agree with the important thing, but I also think 8 years is important and I’m quite happy about that part of it. That would be amazing but we are miles away from there just now.

I think there is zero possibility of this happening.

Good. He doesn’t turn 24 until April.

https://twitter.com/cover1/status/1711107014649135475?s=46&t=7IpQiWJHjSkbNZDsf0-S_A

My order of concerns: #1 with a bullet: team defense — both coaching and focus/determination on the part of the players. 2 - goaltending. For some reason I am kinda confident that they are going to get good starting goaltending from Levi and adequate #2 goaltending from UPL/Comrie. Still, there is a significant likelihood that it doesn’t play out that way. 3 - defensive personnel. I am reasonably comfortable with the top 6 — they just need to learn and execute a team D system much better than we’ve seen this far. I certainly would’ve preferred a Pesce or Greaves, but either of those would’ve required a fat multi-year deal at a time when they are trying to sign Dahlin and Power. I think the net result would’ve been losing someone good like Quinn or JJP in a couple of years.

Debacle.

Watching this game is an ordeal.

No one is disputing that right now UPL doesn’t look like a good NHL goalie. The reason losing him on waivers would be lousy asset management is we are starting his age 24 season, his career record is 20-19-6 on a series of crappy teams, and a number of injuries, and there is still a very reasonable likelihood that he gets there in the next couple of years.

In fairness: - Bryson did look better in camp than he did last year. He’s 25. Soupy didn’t become half-decent in the D zone until he was 26ish. - Like many of us, I thought Stillman earned the spot over Bryson, but IMHO it was like comparing a C to a C-plus. I think very few of us want either of them playing much this year. - Bryson definitely has higher offensive upside than Stillman does. - I think it’s pretty likely that UPL would be claimed if waived and losing him in that manner would be lousy asset management. We’ll see.

Wow. So that means they are keeping 3 goalies, innit? Don't love that decision, but I get it. Keeping Bryson over Stillman also seems questionable.

Disappointing showing. They looked like, to quote the great Ryan Miller, fragile little children and they looked allergic to defense. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh looked like a mentally tough, veteran team that was able to completely expose the Sabres. I don't expect Levi to be as ordinary as he was last night, but they aren't going anywhere if they don't start playing NHL-caliber team defense. And to echo @PerreaultForever, this isn't a couple of the individual defensemen playing poorly. This is a team defense issue and it's a major problem that will keep this team out of the playoffs if it doesn't improve substantially. Mental toughness and dedication to defense is needed. It's far from clear whether the Sabres can provide it. Otherwise, Benson continues to look like he belongs, and belongs in a real role. As noted upthread, he consistently elevates his linemates, regardless of who they are. I liked Greenway-Mitts-Benson much more than I liked Greenway-Mitts-Tuch. The power play looks better. VO looks like he's playing with some desperation for a roster spot and a contract. Good for him. We haven't seen much yet out of TT, Dahlin or Power. I wonder if contract issues are on the minds of the latter 2. DM has his work cut out for him.

Tage and Skinner on the half-walls. Tuch down low. Dahlin at point. And Benson in the high slot.

You don't think he's going to get the 9-game look? If not -- care to make a charity wager?

I too am pretty skeptical that Von will play. There is no rush and the Bills have generally been pretty cautious with this kind of thing.

This is reasonable. I think he's going to get the 9-game look, and those 9 games will be pretty informative as to whether he can handle it physically.

In this context I'd define it as able, right now, to be effective in an NHL game. I think Benson is "ready" in that sense now and Kulich isn't.

Good stuff here. The NHL's rights to call the shots on franchise relocation -- and their longstanding opposition to it -- is the key, IMHO. I think the alleged NMC in TP's purchase agreement is a red herring -- it almost certainly includes conditions relating to financial performance, attendance, arena, etc. that may or may not be met in the future and if not met would allow the team to move. But the NHL, for many reasons including the desire to protect expansion fees, would almost certainly prohibit a move.

Way too early for the victory lap. This weekend feels like a classic trap game -- letdown after huge win vs Miami, stomach punch from Tre's injury, travel, jet lag, mediocre opponent with a good QB, etc. 3-2 is quite possible.

I'll predict that by the end of game 2, the lines look like: Skinner-TT-Tuch JJP-Cozens-Mitts Greenway-Krebs-Benson Zemgus-Jost-KO extra: VO

He was my favorite Sabre when I was a kid. Our family dog is named after him. Taken off the ice and the earth too soon. But one of the great ones while he was here. Thinking of you today Rico. Go Sabres.

It’s just preseason, but I think: - Benson is the real deal. - Mitts is not a #2C and Greenway-Mitts-Tuch did not work last night as a second line. - Comrie is better than UPL. - Rosen and especially Kulich are not ready and the Sabres were right to send them down. - Ryan Johnson isn’t ready either but has a lot of game on both ends and has top-4 potential. - The team overall doesn’t seem focused and determined.