nfreeman

You are 100% right. It's not going to be less than 7 years, and probably not much (if a-tall) below $6MM per year.

Awesome.

I have no information, but I hope he returns.

I appreciate the team spirit gents but that was a pretty disheartening loss. They were dominated and outclassed for most of the game.

Good. He doesn't have to clear again if they need to call him back up after the deadline, right?

Your caution is well justified. But Eichel looked like a freaking force of nature yesterday. So maybe... Awesome. Fair.

Here's a dose of reality: there are 7 teams in the EC fighting it out for 2 playoff spots. It is freaking great that the Sabres are one of those teams. But: they have played more games than each of the other 6 teams. And they're about to play Chicago and then take their bye week. They could easily be 6 points out (or more) in a week.

I would say buy in to the view that with reasonable progress, this core, this GM and this coach can become a real NHL contender. More immediately, I would say buy in to, if not making the playoffs this year, at least staying in it until the very end and playing above DeLuca .500 from now to the end of the season. So yes, if they win tonight, I can see me buying into believing that those 2 very consequential possible outcomes about this team can happen.

Yes. 5 good forwards -- one of whom I'm starting to believe will be a top-5 player in the NHL at some point -- plus 2 good defensemen, plus Lehner if they don't have to give him too much term on his contract, plus ideally one more high-end defenseman. That's a core that I'd like to see the Sabres move forward with for at least a few seasons. Seconded/Thirded. Good post JJ and I'm glad you're back, btw. True, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were several fairly specific conversations with Minny and they came pretty close.

Me too.

Why yes, I believe I do.

Very nice work on the GDT, jsb. It's gonna be pretty hard not to daydream about the playoffs for the next week if they win today... Go Sabres.

Surprising. I think he'll get claimed.

I loved it. Well, this was a great post even before that last line flew close to the sun. I completely agree that this was their best game of the season -- and really SFINS could be right that it's been munch longer than that. And that was a great performance by Eichel. Awesome. The crowd did sound like they might be buying in.

Good stuff here boys.

No one is going to trade for Ennis!

Double yep. One of the NBCSN guys (maybe Scott Gomez?) made the point that the bottom really dropped out for Colorado once they traded ROR -- i.e. they lost their leader and fell apart. Interesting point IMHO.

Not bad a-tall. Turning Zemgus or Larsson, both of whom I think share the same ceiling -- i.e. solid #3C -- and are thus somewhat redundant, into a legit 26-year-old 2nd-pairing defenseman would be a pretty solid move.

Abso-freakin-lutely. Sweat it out and tire yourself out in the process. You'll feel better about everything and sleep like a baby (and in fact all bodily functions will improve).

It's hard to imagine any record other than 4-3 or 3-4.

I generally agree, unless (i) he's told the team that he will not sign an extension with them or (ii) they monitor his off-ice behavior and are sure that he will self-destruct again.

So I get the weird necklace while you get the cool mustache and the embrace with a hottie? Such is the mod's lot in life.

I appreciate your generosity of spirit towards my favorite hockey team. But I have a hard time getting really excited about a 7-23 record, even though that record was assembled under difficult circumstances and even though it's better than most other teams' records under similar circumstances. I said "WC wins the point." Where is the rant?

I think these references are too recent. Where is Howie Morenz? Elmer Lach? Eddie Shore? Old time hockey, eh?

Well, I was leaning toward giving yse's theory some credit -- but then: Verdict: WC wins the point. (Although there is some mild consolation in the number of comebacks, since it means that at least they aren't quitting every time.)