nfreeman

Well, I think the point was to build a winning hockey team, based on the misbegotten theory that the best way to do so was to bottom out in order to draft a (hopefully) great player. The longer the Sabres go without developing into a winning hockey team, the more clear it should be to everyone that it was a terrible plan.

3 good ones here. Everyone needs to keep his/her pants on. *stage whisper* This is why tanking is a bad plan.

I don't see how that fact supports the tank.

Boy, when Buffalo sports collapse, they fall like a ton of bricks. Does anyone still support the tank?

Thanks. OK dudacek -- your boy is getting his chance at C, now with real wingers. You are accountable for the results. I agree that ROR will get more minutes than Reino, but I think KO and Zemgus will get more minutes than Pouliot and Griffith.

Do we have confirmation of the lines? Is it: Kane-Eichel-Pommer Griffith-Reino-KO Zemgus-ROR-Pouliot Or other?

It's not quite panic time yet. KO is a good scoring winger and Pommer looks like he can still be one as well. Zemgus has shown offensive ability in the past, and Griffith has been a good AHL-level scorer. Once ROR, Reino and KO show up -- and I think they will -- the scoring winger issue will be much less urgent.

Well, if Kane were a 28-45-73 guy we’d be talking about $7.5MM per year or more for him. Maybe he’s not the ideal linemate for Jack, but they’ve been pretty productive so far. And the rest of the offense is pretty constipated. I wouldn’t be in a rush to break up the only productive line.

My 2 cents: - Reino had 2 offensive zone TOs that led directly to NYI goals. And he produced zero offense to compensate (other than a sweet pass on the PP in the 1st). - My biggest disappointment tonight though was Risto. After a huge opening night he was invisible tonight. No offense, quite a few lousy passes, a big failure to hold the zone on the last PP and no physical presence in the D zone. That was not the effort of a franchise defenseman. - Lehner was meh. - for a while Kaner looked like the only Sabre that gave a crap. - I think ROR is too good and conscientious a player not to bounce back from this poor start — but if we could get Tavares, with an extension, for ROR and next year’s #1, I would do that in a heartbeat. - the Islanders are a really fast team. - Beaulieu’s TO for the shorty was one of the biggest gaffes I can remember seeing in an NHL game. - They played fast and entertaining again. They need better PP execution and ROR, KO and Reino to start producing and they will be fine.

Good hockey history here boys.

Ric Seiling? Who was a solid 3rd-liner for quite a few years but who unfortunately was drafted in the 1st round ahead of Mike Bossy? Good news about Ullmark and Bailey in any case. That does sound appealing. He needs to earn it though. 2 good ones here boys. Me too.

I agree that Kane isn't much of a passer. But he's a good finisher, his speed creates room for Eichel and his physicality does the same. His attitude and fistic prowess also deters big hits and cheap shots on the franchise. This too. Jack with 32-54-86 and Kaner with 31-23-54 would be a very good outcome. Not one trick. The goals, the sending bodies flying in front of the net and the Eichel protection are 3 very good tricks. This is pretty much where I am. Give it 15-20 games in Howie's system.

Gorges, as diminished as he is, still represents depth if he's the #8 guy. Below him are Fedun and Nelson, each of whom could play #6 NHL minutes if needed. No there aren't a bunch of Karlssons in waiting but IMHO there is more than adequate depth on D.

Getzlaf was the best forward on that team, but that team won because Pronger and Niedermayer were dominant and the best defensive pair in a generation.

I snagged the 2nd GDT of the year! WC must be busy with an STD instead. I should be attending this one, but am away for the long weekend. The Islanders lost their season opener tonight 5-0 in Columbus. They limp home late night for their home opener less than 24 hours later vs the new-look Sabres. The Islanders put up 94 points last season but missed the playoffs. So the Sabres need to bank points and not fiddle them away as they did last night. Speaking of which, will the Sabres come out determined, or will we see fragile little children feeling sorry for themselves for the loss vs the Habs? Tavares is a UFA after this year. Eichel and/or Kane are due. Go Sabres.

He identified himself as such? If so someone should post it.

I didn't answer the poll questions, because there isn't enough data on him at C. What I want to see, though, is him succeeding at #3 C and continuing to play on the top PP.

Further to the "fun to watch" comments -- yes -- that factor was well improved. I am looking forward to the next game, instead of it feeling like a chore.

GA can certainly speak for himself, but I don't think his point was that GMTM's drafts didn't produce a good pipeline -- it was that the Sabres' pipeline stinks, including the parts of it produced by both GMTM and DR -- since there was a ton of turnover from a lousy roster, and none of it came from drafted players.

I was hoping to see this post!

Also: I am totally fine with the slashing penalties, although I agree with Marvelo on the face off penalties. Slashing a puck carrier on the hands has become the new clutch and grab. It’s an illegal play that impedes the offensive flow.

Reino’s line, right? Interesting stat, and convincing. I did think Zemgus was pretty effective, although I wanted to see more chances from Reino and Griffith.

My 2 cents: - ROR wasn’t terrible, but he did very little offensively and had 2 awful giveaways in the 1st, one of which ended up in our net. - I thought KO was pretty solid and Pouliot was OK. - Jack’s line certainly created chances but also got hemmed in the defensive zone quite a bit. - Lehner was solid until giving up the cheapo shortie. I don’t blame him for giving that one up in the SO — Drouin made a really sweet move. - Risto was a maniac. I don’t say this lightly— he reminded me of Pronger. He seemed to carry himself like he knew he was the biggest and fastest guy out there and he was going to use those gifts to indulge himself in his great pleasure — throwing the opponents into the boards on planting them in mid-ice as he did with Drouin. He also seemed very confident with the puck. He could be ready to uncork a huge season. - Antipin seemed kinda shaky in the first — I think he missed the net on 3 shot opportunities— but settled down and played respectably in the 2nd and 3rd. - Tennyson seemed pretty decent — another Pysyk/Fedun type. - pretty respectable minutes from the 4th line. - Not much offense from Reino’s line, but they weren’t bad either. - Scandella looked pretty steady. - Beaulieu is a really good skater and seems to have pretty good hands. - overall they definitely looked better than last year. Much more entertaining, although the 3rd was kinda dull. - I thought both teams looked like bubble teams. I didn’t think the Sabres dominated.

It seems like the complete silence on talks regarding a Kane extension probably indicates 1 of the following 3 scenarios is in play: 1. JBott wants to get a good, long, up-close look at Kane, both in terms of his game in Housley's system and in terms of behavior, before he decides whether to make a serious attempt to re-sign him (with this evaluation likely including an evaluation of the other guys on the team who have or will need big contracts). or 2. JBott has already decided to move on and is going to see how the season plays out before deciding whether to move him at or around the deadline. or 3. Kane has told the Sabres that he intends to go to FA. Since JBott seems like a smart and prudent guy, and since option #1 seems like the smartest and most prudent option, and since option #3 seems like it would be a foolish and unnecessary move by Kane, I think option #1 is most likely where we are. However, options #2 and #3 can't be dismissed. If Kaner has a good first half, I wouldn't be surprised to hear about contract discussions starting around New Year's.

Reino on the PP.