nfreeman

Is it possible the 93.5 was kilometers per hour and not mph?

http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/BernieVHS.jpg

I agree that it's way too early. However: why would you not have any regrets if the Sabres look like the Oilers in 3 years? The bolded is awfully generous.

Exactly. Taylor Hall has scored a ton of goals too.

Awesome. Welcome! And to Neo Senior: good work, sir. Thanks Shrader. Since that spreadsheet supports my position, I will assume it is correct. Here is a link to the spreadsheet, btw: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_WuBgKs0Wxsb2Sqv12H6rtm7P3bGijBHoTtYH-xM6GI/edit#gid=0 In particular, the DFL team has a 52.5% chance of falling to #4, and 2nd-last has a 61% chance of falling to #4. As for how the lottery works, here is the NHL's official word: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=728795 I'll say it again: tanking is a loser's play.

First of all, everyone needs to remember that, just like last year, it is 80% likely that the team finishing DFL will NOT get the #1 pick. Second, unlike last year, the team finishing DFL can fall as low as 4th. A more skilled number-cruncher than I am will hopefully figure out the odds of that happening, but on a quick view it looks to me to be about 50% likely. Third, I think this season thus far has borne out the concerns of those of us who were always anti-tank: it's not that easy to flip the switch from losing to winning. Despite huge turnover, the Sabres, while substantially more competitive than last year, are much closer to DFL than to a playoff spot, let alone contender status. There are many miles to go before the Sabres get there, and it's at least as likely that they don't get there than it is that they do. Bottom line: IMHO no one should hope, consciously or subconsciously, for more losses this season -- because more losses this season means more losses next season and the season after that.

Remember when getting Pysyk back was going to reignite the offense?

Right on, and glad to see you back here, sir.

The rhythm is gonna get you...

And it's pretty obnoxious to refer to those who disagree with you as "foolish."

IIRC, it was Gaustad plus a 4th for a 1st. I could see something like that with McGinn, although it might have to be McGinn plus a 3rd. Still worth doing.

If memory serves, post-playing-career, Barnaby also had a number of DWIs, one of which included a high-speed car chase with him fleeing from the cops on just his rims after his tires had blown out.

Not tea. It was whisky mixed with turpentine. And missing out on the ROR/Bogo avatar opportunities and falling back on Sabretooth is like missing out on Hannibal Lechter and falling back on Elmer Fudd.

Awesome.

I think this is right. GMTM will sell off a number of guys, accumulate picks and prospects, and use some of those as currency at the draft or over the summer to bring in a ready-to-go NHL player or 2.

I'd expect either a top-6 winger or a top-4 defenseman to come in via FA, if not both. I don't think Ennis will be traded at the deadline, unless it's in a package for Drouin or other significant guy coming back, because I think GMTM likes his game, and because Ennis' value is pretty low right now. I think GMTM will unload pretty much all of the upcoming UFAs at the deadline, plus Franson, because he wants to re-stock his pick/prospect cupboard -- and GMTM pretty much said this on the radio last week. I also wouldn't be surprised if an RFA or 2 (like, say, Larsson or Foligno) were dealt at the deadline. I'd like to see McGinn brought back in free agency, and I think there's a pretty decent shot it will happen. He seems to like it here and he seems like GMTM's kind of guy. He also isn't the kind of guy who will attract huge offers, so getting him back seems doable. The same goes for Weber. While Taro's points regarding a Moulson buyout are valid, I nevertheless expect him to be gone next year, most likely via buyout. I just don't think GMTM will abide performance this poor, regardless of contract. I also think Schaller will either be a regular or the 13th forward (and I think his play in this recent stint is vindicating my consistent stance on this, so there.) I'd love to see Fasching muscle his way into the lineup, but a season in Rochester seems more realistic. So I'd predict: Kane-ROR-Reino McGinn-Eichel-Ennis Foligno-Zemgus-Gionta Deslauriers-Schaller-other Risto-Bogo McCabe-new UFA defenseman Pysyk-Gorges

This is more or less where I am on Pysyk as well. I find it amazing that some here wouldn't trade him for Drouin. Interesting, and given GMTM's description of the Sabres as sellers, I think you're right. B

I'm about 7 episodes in. I'd say it's entertaining but not great. This was my impression as well.

Now this is a reasonable point.

Generally I think your hockey insights are very good, but this is a fairly hysterically stated straw man. No. That is not Lehner's upside. You cannot possibly determine Lehner's upside based on that small of a sample size. Lehner's upside is that he could be a no-BS very good #1 NHL goalie -- and an NHL GM, who's seen him play a ton of games, thinks he can get there. And since he's physically ready to return, we might as well start seeing as much of him as possible so we can figure out whether he can reach his potential. As for Ullmark, he's not being "cut" from the team. The Sabres are keeping his rights and putting him in the A, where he'll get a ton of work and develop into a better goalie.

Agree -- no one is giving up anything for Legwand.

Speaking of which, has anyone heard from Whisky Bottle of Emotion? He hasn't been on in a while, and I miss the young fella.

I agree, except that GMTM likes bigger guys. Still, I can see him being very interested in Drouin for the reasons you mention. I agree with TBGED, and I don't think GMTM would trade next year's #1 for Drouin -- at least not until we know what it is. If it turns out to be, say, the 9th pick in the draft? Then I think GMTM pulls the trigger. At this point, though, if TB is shopping him pre-deadline, that means we don't know what pick it will be, and that TB will probably want players who will help them in the playoffs this year. And that, in turn, means IMHO TB is going to want one of the Sabres' untouchables -- ROR, Eichel, Reino or Risto. I would give them Ennis, one of McCabe or Pysyk and the Sabres' 2nd-rounder in a heartbeat, but I don't think TB will go for that.

Guys who are tough and who can score 20 for a team as offensively constipated as the Sabres are not easily replaceable. Having said that, I agree with taking a #1 for him for the reasons you mentioned -- and I suspect GMTM does too. This is a good point. My interest in keeping him drops substantially if it's going to cost, say, $5MM per year x 4 years. Because this isn't fantasy hockey. Because Stafford has no heart and McGinn has a ton. Because Stafford engages enough in the game to play to his potential about 20% of the time and McGinn does so about 90% of the time. Beat me to it.

Interesting. Thanks for posting. NFW, IMHO. Well, GMTM gave Ennis an extension, so I don't think he view Ennis as a weak-kneed Darcy remnant. And given Ennis' poor season, his value is probably pretty low, so I tend to doubt that he'll be moved. But anything is possible. But I think the $2.5MM would count against the Sabres' cap, innit? So the cap hit would be pretty close to what they'd get from a buyout? I continue to think a Moulson buyout is highly likely this summer. I too would like to keep McGinn, but if the market is frothy, he could definitely fetch a nice return, and then return as a FA.