apuszczalowski

If they dont look improved from last season he should be here at the end of it. Otherwise I think it depends on how they look. If the team is losing because they are getting beat because they just arent good enough, I think he gets one more year. If they look sloppy and making dumb mistakes an NHL team shouldn't be making, I think he is gone. I cant see them ditching another coach early unless it's clear that the problem is something that can be coached. I still dont think goaltending will be as improved as some think it will be. Ullmark needs to show he can play consistently in this league, and Hutton needs to show that he was just a late bloomer and can handle a full season in the starter role (something he has never come close to doing)

I cant see this ending without the Sabres having him signed long term or him being moved before the deadline to a contender. I feel that they made this move because it cost them very little and if they cant get him extended, they can recoup assets at the deadline for him. Someone will pay for him at the deadline even if he isnt playing well before because of his past numbers (and will write off his bad play as just being on a bad team) and they can recoup a couple of the assets. But I strongly believe they didnt make the move without intending to keep him around long term. Although he isnt sweedish so who knows?

I disagree with 3, only because Middelstat has shown and proven nothing in the NHL yet and Eichel hasnt proven to make players substantially better by playing with him. That's not saying they cant or wont, but they have actually shown they can. Originally what I meant by 3 is that a player will go somewhere because on their current team they are stuck on a lower line or get less ice time because they ate blocked, but on another team they have a clearer shot at playing on a higher line with better minutes. I dont see that the case with Skinner because he was already getting good ice time and playing at the top in Carolina. I think this may be more about #2 and getting to play as close to home as possible (knowing that Toronto is out on him since they wont be able to fit him under the cap with their young players and Tavares)

I wonder the teams intentions with him now. Was he someone they went after because they believe he can be part of their team going forward, or was he brought in because the Canes approached them and they figured they can upgrade the forwards with a scorer for cheap and then recoup some of that at the deadline by moving him again? IIRC, since he waived his NMC to come to Buffalo, it's no longer there and the Sabres can move him again to wherever they want.

I disagree, a rental doesnt have to be at the deadline. It's a deal made for a player on an expiring contract that is made with the intent of keeping that player short term for a specific reason. Usually it's made with no intenions of keeping that player any longer then their contract. In most cases it's a deadline deal that's made with the intent of getting extra help for the playoffs. It can also be to bring in someone to mentor a young player or group, or to replace someone injured and out for a long period of time or season In this case it's hard to tell because we have no clue what the teams intentions are with him, and if they have plans to extend him or use until the deadline and then sell him again for assets.

He must really like the area (isnt it close to where he is from?) Or he has a fetish for rebuilding teams, cause otherwise theres no reason to wave your NMC to come to Buffalo for only a year with the current roster, if all goes better then planned at best they might be in the playoff hunt with Skinner, but more likely they will just be better then last season. Most guys waive NMCs to go to teams that are cup contenders, be closer to home, or for a chance to get better ice time. As for Kessel, does Skinner like hotdogs?

But are there really 4 Swedes worth taking in the 1st of next years draft?

Not surprised, Pu played in the OHL, and we know JBots thoughts on those players......??

I forgot about that. Thought he went from Calgary to Boston at the deadline then signed with the Avs for last season. Then I saw yesterday that it was Pittsburgh who got him at the deadline, then Boston, then Colorado. Then I seemed to recall no one signing him last year and he had worked out for the Olympic team because he wasnt in the NHL?

Probably not, doesnt seem to fit the current mold. Not Sweedish and not in his 20s.... Was he playing in Colorado last year?

Rask could play both games, it is only game 2 so I doubt he will be in need of a rest. Unless the Bruins believe the Sabres will be bad and they start the trend of playing your backup in Buffalo early.....

Meh, doesnt bother me that they dont do any cheesey parody videos, or lip sync/dance videos for the internet. The Browns video was interesting, but it wont help them if they dont turn things around and win. Also doubt it helped them sell any tickets or merchandise. I wont cry or complain that they dont do those types of things if they are winning games......

He could have always spoken to Tavates first if he truly signed the deal to play with him. Or he signed the deal cause he wanted to stay with the Islanders.....

With all these recent signings how could they not go at worse 4-1? So far they traded away talent and brought in role players/mid level talent to go with a giant question mark in net. Going 0-5 is quite possible, 2-3 best case I think With Vegas, they all had the attitude of they were given away by their previous team in the draft and had a solid goaltender. This team lacks top end talent and is filled mostly with depth caliber players, they will not be viewed as being talented or favourites to win much because they have shown they lack talent and arent good enough....

He had played a little bit of JR B hockey here in Welland before being drafted to the Greyhounds in the OHL. There was an article in the paper here talking to a scout from here who said he had a lot of penalty minutes and liked hockey fights, but usually that didnt last because after a few fights no one would want to fight him anymore.

According to Biron, he knew he was in for a beating...... They invited Ray to come to Marty's WGR Roast last year because of the fight and to play it up with the roast but Ray declined because he didnt feel comfortable and didnt want to become a Villan to Buffalo. He didnt want to make the fans and city of Buffalo think badly of him by playing it up and bringing it up again. Seemed like a good guy off the ice but he battled alot of demons and issues. Had some DV issues/accusations along with drug/alcohol too. He had just played in a charity event the day before and was hanging out this weekend on a friends boat. Just after 6 am apparently he dove into the water and no one saw him come up again. Police divers recovered his body early afternoon, they said they had to take extra precautions in the water for the divers safety so I'm assuming the water in Hamiltons Harbour (it was a friends yacht parked in a yacht clubs area of the harbor) can be a bit rough?

Or they thought it was his brother?

Cant do that, you would risk turning Rochester into a bad team. These guys are all about making sure the minor leagues are stocked with potential.... At best, they show some Improvement and make it to New Years before being pretty much eliminated from playoff contention. Most likely they are fighting with Montreal and Ottawa to not be the worst team again..... Until they start playing, the entire team is a giant question mark on whether they have truly upgrade anything. Goaltending - lehner had to be upgraded, but will Ullmark in his first full season in the NHL be better? Is Hutton a slow developer and the real deal in possibly his first season ever playing more then 50% of the games? Defence - Dahlin is a good upgrade, but will the one player be enough to see the teams defence improve? Will another year in Phil's system be better for everyone else? Forwards - Kanes offence is gone, RORs defence and faceoffs are gone, being replaced by possibly another rookie and a couple of questionable veterans that St Louis dumped and one of their lesser top prospects. Will Sheary be an improvement while not playing with the Pittsburgh forwards? Sam and Jack will need to take some big steps forward also. Coaching - is Housley the real deal or in over his head? Last year looked like over his head. Was their really a huge issue I the lockerroom that was preventing the team from playing well on the ice or is this more wishful thinking that addition by subtraction will work..... Were some players bad seasons because of lingering injuries or are they just done/on the decline. So far the front office moves may look like they have improved statistically/on paper depending on how rose colored your glasses are, but they have done anything to really saw they are hands down better then last season.........

He is, I'm sure they are all in kn trying for Hughes so who better then the guy who couldn't make a save in a shootout and has lead a tank job before?

You can assume that it's what they wanted, but it will never be a fact until its confirmed by those involved. We dont know what Montreals GM feels is too high. Maybe he expected to get ROR for a mid level prospect or salary dump? Or maybe he wasnt going to give up more then a 3rd or 4th so when Buffalo asked for a 2nd he said that's ridiculous and too high?

After that last move blew up in their face I'm sure they are just going to try and get the best deal possible now I lean that way too. We as fans think they should do something or be in on these moves, but I dont think that JBott and the front office feel the same way. They ate going to continue the slow rebuild using picks and waiting for their prospects to develop. They dont want to give up picks or prospects in deals

I think each word should get it's own player. S### could be - Leino A## could be - Kozlov (cause he was one) F### could be - Moulson (cause it's what most people say when they realize he still counts under the cap) Etc.

it will be whomever Eichel doesnt get along with again, and we will all blame that person for being a lockerroom cancer who just cant play nice with Eichel....

Trading away your top assett should be for upgrades to your 3rd or 4th lines. Thast what should be found in FA or through your minor league system...

According to STL GM, it is.....