apuszczalowski

Is the league still doing that? I thought that was a 1 year thing they dropped?

I know, I would say he was great, but if he was bad, then the defence was a dumpster fire......

Was there atleast something at the arena this week preventing them from playing that maybe the Pegulas asked the league not to book anything this week? It's not like the Sabres have played ton of games more then any others that they needed the time off for other teams to catch up to them. I believe Calgary has played 5-6 games more then Buffalo, but Buffalo gets an extra week off after the All Star break? Maybe the schedule makers thought they were doing the Sabres a favor because they were going to be sending half the team to the game this year?

Atleast Carolina is a pretty good team, Calgary isn't and Markstrom has been horrible

Yeah, it's also tough to look great all the time when it's looks like no one else in front of you showed up to play. I seem to remember Miller didn't look great when he got regular playing time in the league. There are very few goalies that will look great when they face a games worth of shots in 2 periods and no one playing defence.

But that would require precious draft picks or prospects to do and only dumb franchises do that. The great franchises just stay patient and wait for all their picks and prospects to develop into a dynasty

I found it looked more like he tried to hold up at the last minute to not take a penalty for a late hit and just went down. They were acting like it was Lucic just Umbergering Bryson

Maybe that was the plan today, don't play defence and let Calgary have guys wide open so UPL can get a ton of action to work on his deficiencies This franchise is just playing 4D chess......

That was Lucic, the Flames announcers were creaming their jeans over how great Lucic was on that play taking down a guy half his size.....

If only they could get a 1st overall that they could use on a defenceman........

Seeing the shot total wasn't a shock to me, I have been watching the Ice Dogs in the OHL give up 50-60 shots a game and thought maybe I switched on one of their games. I was shocked that the score was 3-2 at the time and could only think how bad the Flames have to be to allow 2 goals on less than a half dozen shots?

If you watch the Boston feed they would be telling you the opposite, that's its the Bruins getting the shaft.....

Does the Blue Jackets coach have a job tomorrow morning? This type of performance usually results in someone losing their job......

Has UPL really been that much worse then Comrie? Comrie was expected to come in and be the #1 this year, UPL was expected to play mostly in Rochester, Save percentage for both is still sub .900

Or.... Gary Bettman: Hey, lets have Buffalo play back to back nights with travel and then give them 2 days off... also let's make the 2nd game during Thursday night football, make it at home to. Schedule Maker: I think the Bills play that Thursday against the rival Patriots. Bettman: Yes I know the Bills play, put them against a much better team thats likely to win, this way fans in Buffalo will be distracted and won't care if the Sabres win or lose and it will give them an excuse for low attendance at the game

If anything, the whole quote makes it sound like Losing is OK/Accepted because they played good hockey and are young and building something, so as long as they take something or learn something from the loses its OK And they have been rebuilding and collecting picks for over a decade now, just because a new Coach/GM steps in, it doesn't erase their entire past or whats been going on with the franchise. There has been plenty of picks and talent come and go through this organization during that time that they shouldn't still be at risk of getting another top 5-10 pick But every year, and every regime change is the same, dupe the fans into believing theres something special coming, some magical dynasty that will continue to thrive and win once a couple of those coveted picks/prospects turn into NHL superstars. Then every year they just aren't ready to take that next step, and just need another year of development before they can make the jump to Cup favorites, you don't want to just make the playoffs, that won't help the team/franchise, if they are going to make it into the playoffs they better be able to make it all the way so its better to just not make it and get another high pick for the pipeline......

I don't know, it's not like he is struggling for a roster spot ND needs them to put in a good word for him. Also unless he has the ability to pick and chose where he goes, it won't matter if he has ties to the owners kids. Maybe it helps in FA to get a meeting, or gets TP to convince KA to atleast look into what it might take

Refused assignment to Rochester...

Maybe the Sabres just need to be creative to get a deal done? What if we include Harbour Centre in the deal? Might hold as much or more then Mullett arena?

Highly doubtful they make any impact moves from outside. Maybe they pick up a veteran salary dump for a pick/prospect, but it's more likely they continue to scour the waiver wire and just give the younger guys more time and bigger roles to play out the year. There isn't going to be any push for a playoff spot or attempt to speed things up, they ha e given Adam's the go ahead to take the slow rebuild from within. This year is another development year.....

I'll believe it when I see it. Chances of this happening are probably in the single sigit percent. This front office values picks and prospects, and 'building from within' way too much to pay the asking price Arizona will eventually get. It's all about building from within to create a continuous pipeline to fuel a dynasty for these guys.

Nah, its easy, win a few games when everythings wrapped up at the end of the year Then you talk about momentum carrying over to next seasons and some plus side from the youth Get a high pick in the draft and talk up the development of some players and Buffalo fans will be counting down the time til next season starts and they can do it over again.....

Theres a good chance those will also be followed by "Thank You Space Unicorn!"..............

then you trade away the mediocre overpaid players. There always seems to be teams that will take those players (the league does seem hell bent on making sure the Coyotes always exist....)

There seems to be this belief that they need to build a long lasting dynasty, that they need to build a team that will somehow just grow together and form a core that will dominate together for however long they play in the league. What they need to do is just put together a competitive team with a goal of making the playoffs, then add and build from that.