nfreeman

Fair point. I guess I think though that as long as the missed games aren't playoff games (if such a mystical thing does in fact exist), it's a price I'm willing to pay. He also plays a playoff-kinda game, FWIW.

Couple more items on Kane: - In evaluating his production this year, the 3 broken ribs have to be considered. He broke them on opening night (Oct 13), came back less than 4 weeks later (Nov. 9) and was clearly not himself for the following 3 weeks -- he had zero goals in the 10 games he played in in November. In the 23 games starting Dec. 3 -- about 7.5 weeks after breakin the ribs -- he has 12 goals -- which is a 40+ goal pace. So while I appreciate that that is a selective look at his numbers, I also think it's fair to say that when healthy he's been better than a 20-25 goal scorer this year. - As for Hamilton's report that Kane "isn't the most well liked" guy on the team -- while this could certainly be true, it's also quite possible that Hamilton has an axe to grind with Kane. When Kane missed practice last year after the NBA all-star game, Hamilton wildly exaggerated the negativity of Gionta's reaction (the exaggeration was exposed by the video of Hamilton interviewing Gionta about it). That episode seriously damaged Hamilton's credibility, IMHO, at least as regards Hamilton's descriptions of the team's attitude towards Kane. I agree that he isn't much of a passer, but he does create offense for his teammates by (i) winning faceoffs and (ii) forechecking and crashing the net, which creates rebound opportunities for his linemates (I think Gionta has cashed a few of these).

i think they will expose Ennis and pray that Vegas takes that contract off their hands.

I will add that at this point Kaner is by far the best player in the Sabres-Jets trade (probably a bit unfair though due to Myers' injury).

Well, I generally agree that it isn't necessary to be well liked, but I was responding to the assertion that he is likely to re-sign because he gets along well with his teammates. If Hamilton is correct, and he isn't particularly well liked, then that's a factor to consider in how likely it is that he re-signs with the Sabres. You mean from one of the Sabres, or did I hear Hamilton say it on WGR? (The answer is the latter.)

Kane was a freaking beast and created multiple chances. WC is an excellent poster and is far from negative in tone. I too thought Lehner was a bit out of position on that play. Yes, he had to get to his right because of the sweet play by Radulov, but I thought his momentum took him too far. (Pretty happy with his recovery though!) I found it interesting that Fedun got that much more time than Falk (although I thought Fedun earned his minutes -- he played a nice, steady game and made a number of nice passes). I also noticed that the pairings were pretty fluid -- a bunch of guys got shifts with Risto. Agree on Zemgus. His line with Kaner and Gio created a lot of chances. Separately: - That was one Lehner's best games as a Sabre, and one of Eichel's worst. - I know I said that Zemgus-Kane-Gio played a strong game, but I'd still rather see Reino centering that line and Zemgus on the 4th line. - Radulov is a dangerous player. - I didn't like Ennis' game and thought it was a poor decision to play him back-to-back. I don't see the speed he used to have -- and without it, he's JAG. - Very strong game by ROR. - Risto got a lot of PP time -- 4:42. Risto is good on the PP, but I thought DDB might've given those minutes to someone else to save some of Risto's energy. - The Sabres still have plenty of issues but they haven't quit.

Well, FWIW, Paul Hamilton said on WGR this week that Kane "isn't the most well-liked guy in the room." It will be interesting to see if they try to sign him to an extension after this season. If he enters next season as an upcoming UFA then I think we have to assume he will get traded at the deadline next year.

Whoa. Eichel's ear is fire engine red.

But Eichel definitely gets credit for responding to that shot on Moulson.

As I said: mailing it in.

Eichel looks like he's mailing it in.

That was Lehner in a nutshell -- huge juicy rebound right into the slot and onto the stick of the opponent.

Yes indeed.

This seems topical: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/whats-behind-carey-prices-recent-slump-220350694.html

Reservoir Dogs. Some of the guys are likable, some are edgy, everything lacks polish, nothing seems logically connected and it turns into a complete bloodbath.

I'm interested to see Nelson. He hasn't looked ready for prime time, but has shown flashes of good skating and puck skills IMHO. We should remember that most defensemen take a while to learn the NHL game -- Soupy was still getting healthy-scratched in 2005 -- and he got a $50MM deal in 2008.

Get the D back to a reasonably healthy state and see how they look in the 2nd half of the season. If they deliver another 80ish point season pace in the 2nd half -- seriously consider whether the game has passed DDB by (like, e.g., the NFL game apparently passed Rex by).

Be careful, my friend. This is what they do. They get you kinda psyched to watch a game and then, when you've got your food and your drink and your spot by the TV all set up -- they pitch a stinker.

Well, as someone noted upthread, the correct comparison isn't the additional goals those guys would've presumably delivered vs zero -- it's the goals they would've delivered vs the goals that were delivered by their replacements, including on the top PP (which has performed surprisingly well all season, including while those guys were out). It's also important to remember that every team has injuries -- so again, the correct comparison isn't this team vs a 100% healthy team -- it's this team vs a team with an average amount of injuries. I don't dispute that injuries have set the Sabres back, or that with better luck in that department plus better performance in the SO, they might be on the bubble. I just think we as fans are entitled to evaluate them based on their results, and to give as much (or as little) weight to the injuries as we see fit.

Game on! Will Carey Price finally rise to the occasion vs his nemesis Anders Nilsson? Will Casey Nelson give Shea Weber another lesson in NHL defense, toughness and general manhood? The Habs are in 1st place in the division but a so-so 4-4 in their last 8. Patchy is having a nice season with 21 goals so far.

awesome.

Well, I'm willing to stipulate that any team that makes the playoffs and finishes with fewer than 20 regulation losses is exempt from criticism on the "not really .500" basis. Separately -- Taro and Liger -- pls settle down. We got Liger back and I'd like to savor the moment.

It's all part of the proh-cess, you hoser.

I don't think we're arguing in a vacuum. I think everyone here is well aware of the various difficulties the Sabres have been confronted with this season. I think everyone here is also capable of considering those difficulties in evaluating the overall state of the Sabres. Some of us think GMTM deserves a pass, while others do not. No one is pretending that Eichel and Kane didn't miss games -- it's just that some people think that even with those (and other) setbacks, the team should be better than it is.

I will ask you again: if the Sabres are well out of the playoffs again next year, should GMTM be accountable?