nfreeman

Who was the guy in Rochester who never made the NHL that you were lobbying for a couple of years ago almost as much as you’ve been lobbying for Greenway in the last 2 days? FFS. You’re entitled to want a bigger move but how much more do you know about Bloom and Stillman than their stat lines? KA and his staff probably decided that Stillman will likely be at least as good as Bryson and Clague, if not better, and that Bloom was a cheap price to pay. If it turns out that you’re right about those 2 guys and KA is wrong, you can say you told us so. In the meantime you are affecting a ridiculously unjustified level of certitude about this.

I agree that the time value of picks means this is less valuable than a 2023 #1, but it's still a high price for 2 lower-level players.

Wow. A #1 and a #2 for McCabe and a bottom-6 forward? That means Chycrun will be expensive.

I'm guessing that Savoie, Quinn, JJP, Muel and the Sabres 2023 unprotected first-rounder are non-starters from KA's perspective. I wonder whether he feels the same way about Kulich and/or Östlund.

UPL certainly hasn't shown enough to be comfortable that he's a good NHL starter, but I think it's worth remembering that he's 23 and has had 38 NHL starts. Ullmark didn't become a starter until he was 25, and he wasn't a good NHL starter at that point. But he improved a bit each year and now, at 29, he's a Vezina candidate. UPL's story isn't written yet. Of course, that doesn't help us decide who should play this year. I think they're going to continue to play Anderson once every 3 games or so, and let UPL and Comrie fight it out for who gets the bulk of the other starts. I will be pretty surprised if they trade for a goalie.

Perfect time for a rousing, exciting home win before a big crowd. Well done Sabres, and well done Sabrespace with a 37-page GDT. There is no doubt that we are all in. My game notes: - I generally think most of the criticism of Bettman/the NHL is well overblown, but the absence of an NHL network app, and the inability to access NHL network games online by any manner whatsoever other than an illegal stream, is idiotic. - Awful drop pass notwithstanding, I thought Mitts did very well on the 2nd line with Cozens -- well enough that I'd like to see him stay there for a bit. - Cozens showed quite a bit of skill on his goals. - Similarly, Quinn did very well in place of Tuch on the top line. He is really coming on. - TT literally broke the Caps' goalie's skate with a slapper! I don't think I've ever seen that before. And his goal was vintage put-it-anywhere-he-wants TT. - I still want much more from Krebs-VO-JJP, but Krebs' intensity is great. I loved him plowing over Oshie at the blue line. - The Caps look like they're pretty close to calling it a season. - UPL was solid IMHO but not great. The goals he gave up weren't too bad. It wasn't a strong enough performance to lock down the #1 spot though. I think we'll see Comrie vs CBJ. - I hope the fans come out for the CBJ game. The Sabres need to keep playing well at home.

I hate it when I don't get the joke!

Once upon a time in Buffalo, the Sabres drafted a young man named Tom Barrasso #5 overall (in 1983). There was no junior hockey or NCAA for Tommy B. He seized the starting job as an 18-year-old rookie and won the Calder and the Vezina. Barrasso was the Sabres’ starter for 5 seasons, after which they stupidly traded him to Pittsburgh to make room for Darren Puppa. Barrasso played 11 seasons with Mario Lemieux in Pittsburgh, winning 2 cups.

I'd guess KO will get the first shot with TT and Skinner but I wouldn't be surprised to see Quinn, either first or as Plan B if it's not working with KO.

Dammit.

I want this too, but I also agree with having a league process that produces fines/suspensions in cases of dirty and dangerous head shots like this one.

That works for me!

Another great win, in a season in which we've already seen plenty of them with 25 games still to go. My game notes: - Anderson was terrific, although it seemed like the shot and save totals were a bit misleading. I thought the Sabres had somewhat of an edge in carrying the play and Anderson wasn't called upon to steal the game for them -- just to be solid, calm and effective -- although a few of his saves were indeed outstanding (and TBF I did miss the end of the 2nd period and the start of the 3rd). - Still, a performance like that by Anderson has to give the team confidence for the next time he starts. - I think DG will make sure Anderson plays once a week, but I don't see him ramping up Anderson's workload beyond that. I think they've concluded that they can count on solid play from him when he's rested and recovered, so, he'll end up starting about one of every 4 games. Otherwise they think he'll probably burn out and then they won't get anything out of him. - The top line is really firing on all cylinders now. When they play like that, they are good enough to be the best line in any game, or any playoff series, which is a major factor. - Still not liking VO's game much, and I've been a longtime VO supporter. Cozens-VO-JJP, on paper, should be producing much more than they actually are. - Krebs isn't faking his intensity. He burns inside, just like Cozens. It's a great quality to have added to the top 9. That line is getting closer to producing more offense -- if they can get there, it will be a huge help. - Overall I thought they played pretty good team D. - That was a nasty crosscheck into our crossbar that Dahlin caught. He seems like he's getting banged up. - Another big game with playoff implications tomorrow at home vs the Caps, then another home game vs CBJ. They are 2-7 in their last 9 at home and absolutely need to find some mojo at home if they want to make the playoffs. This is a good time to start. Go Sabres.

Barkov and Bennett missing this game, which is pretty important in the playoff race, after 3 days off, doesn't bode well for their health for the rest of the season.

BTW, Eichel is currently tied with 5 other guys for 98th in scoring in the NHL.

I too am expecting UPL.

Mine is beating Boston, in Boston, on 12/31/22. Going into that game, they had won 5 in a row, most recently a home win vs Detroit, to climb to 1 game over Deluca .500. They could end the year by either losing to their longtime tormentors and falling back to .500, or killing the beast in its lair to enable them to start 2023 2 games over .500 and in good position to finally break on through to the other side. They took a 2-1 lead into the 3rd. Bergeron tied it on the PP, and freaking Marchand scored on a breakaway with less than 8 minutes left to give Boston a 3-2 lead. The Sabres pulled the goalie with a couple of minutes left to try to tie it, but the Bruins got possession in their zone and passed it to Pastrnak -- one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL -- near the Sabres' blue line. Pasta aimed for the ENG, but Dahlin blocked it, took two strides and sent a home run pass off the boards in the Bruins' zone for the perfect ricochet to Tuch, who left a nifty drop pass for Cozens, who immediately rifled in the GTG. Then, in OT, Cozens neatly stripped it from Bergeron in the Sabres' zone, rushed it up the left side and made a beautiful pass to Tuch for the GWG. It was a fantastic win. Hopefully we'll look back on it this summer as a milestone on the way to something great.

In any case, if TT stays healthy I think he's gonna get 50. If he does, it will be the first time since PLF and Mogilny did so in 92-93 -- 30 solid years.

Don't you wanna dance? Say you wanna dance!

Now this is a big game. On the road, 2nd night of a B2B, against a team that’s had their number…there are plenty of good excuses for a young, not mentally tough team to fall back on. Here is opportunity.

That was a thrilling win. My game notes: - the superfly TNT is all the way back, which is a great development for the Sabres. - I didn’t like Mitts’ game (among many lousy plays, right before the too many men penalty was called, he butchered a clean 2-on-1 and turned it into an easy TB breakout, which led directly to the penalty), or VO’s. Both of them were much too soft on the puck. Bryson was a bit of a train wreck at times too. - Overall I thought the play was pretty even. I was glad to see them not go to pieces after the early Tb goal. - Another typical Comrie game — quite a few good saves, and he didn’t really give up any bad goals, but you can’t say he was really good either. OTOH, neither was Vasiliyefsky. - The Sabres showed plenty of heart and grit and stuck up for each other tonight. - Rayzor after the GWG: “Lyubushkin is a real nimmisss” - that elbow on KO was suspension-worthy. - I don’t know what the delay of game rule is on the Joki call at the end of regulation but I’d guess it was the right call. There is no discretion in that rule — it is either a penalty or it isn’t. - It looked like Stamkos was trying to draw a penalty on the GWG — dumb play by him, although he had a great game. - what a great play by Krebs on Quinn’s goal. - Why can’t they play that way at home??

True enough, although for dinner I can put away a much larger amount.

2 slices of NYC pizza is too much lunch for me, but 1 slice isn't enough.

Orlov would be great, but he seems more likely to be a rental that a contender pays a handsome price for. I think I read in the Athletic the other day that he's the top defenseman on the trade market after Karlsson. As for getting my hopes up, while I don't expect an Orlov or Chycrun or Meier-level move at the deadline, I think it's about 60% likely that KA brings in a vet defenseman, probably with term remaining, in a lower-profile, lower-cost move. He's not going to part with a #1 or a top prospect but I can see him giving up a #2. We'll see.

Awesome. Exercise is, by far, the best way to deal with stress. You'll be happier and relaxed, and you'll sleep better -- until of course the little one arrives, at which point you will never sleep and will wonder WTF happened. Good luck to you and your wife.