thewookie1

The Sabres are also on the other end of some lax officiating. Philly has been playing interference all night. Problem is Buffalo seems to lose their speed entirely when teams do that.

Twice

Just win and keep the dream alive!

I’d bridge him barring his ask matches Muel’s numbers more or less.

I still would like a vet #2 and let Levi keep simmering in Rochester. If the vet loses to Levi, great; if not we would still be safe. I also somewhat think there’s a chance Tokarski is resigned as a 3/4 goalie. Since you need at least 3 goalies with NHL experience going into a year.

I think part of that is due to Ovi requiring a guy to be spread wide all the time thus the net front guy ends up loose usually.

It pops up and then vanishes akin to a gopher

Strikes me as, I already have 1 old arena to try and update and fix; I don't want two of them while I also deal with a New and Old Bills Stadium.

Well, that's annoying to say the least. I'm starting to wonder if a middle aged goalie hurt him at some point because he outright refuses to sign an experienced backup. That and if they keep Granato they have better have given him a completely new coaching staff; aside the goalie coach and perhaps the guys who watch for offside challenges I want not one guy back.

Skinner is certainly the reason for its success last year since he does the emotionless speech the best. The rest of them aren't anywhere near as skilled in that regard. Muel's mispronouncing of the sponsor was actually rather funny since his 2nd sounded like he was talking about a poison Benson's was the best part akin to Bush's random cameo last season. Cozens just assaulting Skinner with feathers was also pretty good.

I have a funny feeling they will sweep Washington these next games, lose to Detroit and thus aid Detroit making the playoffs much to my chagrin.

Major difference is that Skinner was a top player on the team whereas TDA is literally just a 3rd pair sub.

It's most speculation based on the mass quantity of reports and connecting dots as well as using Adams' own statements about working on getting bigger and stronger last season. Could all of the hockey talking heads have been merely speculating while claiming it to be true; sure. But none of us can really do much better in regards to sources for what was going on behind the scenes. Logically, one can create a very reasonable timeline of events based on the many reports floating around by generally well respected sources. Before the draft we almost certainly pursued Pesce and Hanifin. Just after the draft there were talks about Pesce using his NTC to block a trade prior to the draft. After this we heard few mentions of the Sabres pushing for Pesce besides general speculation. Hanifin also appeared to be a possibility to which at least one insider believed it was to happen in the coming days. However weeks went by and nothing happened, however many of the insiders still believed we were a prime candidate and that Adams was most certainly engaged with CGY over him and as we learned later, Tanev. The only reason the Sabres would of backed out of a rumored deal for Hanifin would of been knowledge that he wouldn't sign. Yet we seemed to continue calling in to get updates. Byram for Mitts talk only began to be talked about in mid-December which was likely a combo of Colorado needing a 2C and Buffalo wanting a RHD or at very least a Top 4 D. Could it all be pure guesswork, certainly but it computes as a very possible and even likely timeline of events. As for Montour versus Byram, they are very similar in many regards. Montour is 6ft 194lb Byram is 6ft1 190lb Montour started his career at 22 and was a full time starter the following year. Byram started his career at 19 and was a full time starter the following year (However, Byram ended up with multiple concussions his next 2 seasons which had him play only 30 and 42 games respectively. Points wise starting from year 2, Montour had 32pts in 80 and 35pts in 82 being traded to Buffalo mid 3rd season Points wise starting from year 2, Byram had 17pts in 30 and 24pts in 42, this year he has 26pts in 67 which is a step back. But he does have 6pts in 12 with Buffalo. Mind you, Byram is 2/3 years younger in every respective season in comparison. Hits wise, Montour averages slightly more than a hit per game besides this year where he has 93 in 58 games. Hits wise, Byram's 2 injury years had him hitting almost 2 per game (53 in 30 and 82 in 42) This year he's only a tad over a hit per game with 81 in 67 games. Montour has an edge in the Corsi numbers and a great playoff with a Cup Finals loss while Byram has both age and a Cup Ring (while being highly used as the playoffs went on) What will decide these two is if Byram finds his physical play from prior to his two concussions which outpaced Montour or settles in at about 1 per game. Additionally will Byram take the steps Montour did in his 6th season. (Presently Byram is in year 4.)

Byram is a good player with high tier potential but was likely Adams' 4th choice nonetheless. Chychrun was his 1st choice but Arizona wanted Benson's pick and Savoie as well as more and I can honestly understand balking at that sort of demand. Pesce and Hanifin were his 2/3. Pesce vetoed a trade here supposedly and Hanifin likely told he wouldn't extend which would of made that a null point anyway. Byram is still young, won a Cup and at his best is a Top 2 Defenseman. He also had no types of trade protection so it was merely a matter of meeting the price. Supposedly we were also in on Tanev among others too. So if you believe the media; Adams is building a team while having to peruse through a mess of NTCs and NMCs which many Top 4 defenseman have. Even if Adams wanted him Trouba would block the trade anyway. He went to NYC for his wife whose a doctor there. He may have, but then again Gudas isn't exactly a spring chicken and thus he targeted Clifton as a younger alternative. I wholeheartedly believe Adams has been looking for a physical defenseman but hasn't found one willing to come here and thus with Byram is hoping to double down on the skilled defenseman angle. Honestly, go through every team and find their Top 4 D, typically 2/3 have some protection and the ones lacking it are either signed forever, extremely costly, or would never be traded in a million years for an assortment of reasons.

Based on how his personality has been seen during games and his personal desire to play 200ft from the get-go; I’d guess he becomes far stronger physically over the next couple years and becomes a poor man’s Brayden Point or slightly slower less dirty version of Marchand. The Juniors rule screwed him a bit but he held his own as an NHLer at 18 while being both undersized and a less physically mature forward. If development was the most important factor he would have been in Rochester but we didn’t have that choice. IMHO he had nothing to gain from Juniors since he already plays a 200ft game which is rare among his peers. Plus Juniors doesn’t tend to help much with bulking up due to the schedule. He needed to play with Pros and likely would of put up 50 pts in Rochester had he been there.

Our PP just can’t do anything

I don’t think they’ve done bad, it’s been a story of every Buffalo chance is either saved or hits something and Toronto has had 2 goals.

In that case he would of been out until at least January minimum more than likely and he'd of still taken time to get back up to speed.

Refs seem to be outright ignoring anything the Devils do while staring the Sabres down like an old religious sister stares down the bad kid in class.

Another call missed as Tuch gets tripped over the line

Byram hooked like a bad comedy act ..... no call Soft slash on a Devil ..... dear God that's a penalty

It wasn't 1 for 1 According to an article about Ullmark; his father's death was a significant factor in leaving Buffalo because he wanted a new start.

He has a starters job. Ullmark left due to his father's death pushing him to want to leave UPL hopefully will have no such issue.

We are due to money and arguably Hamilton Arizona is also Bettman’s pet project he won’t let die

Because they’re the only team that literally doesn’t have a home and is still in place purely due to Bettman wanting them there. The reason I wouldn’t say they are the worst is due to the fact we are inept not terribly ran. Our leadership is lacking but not crooked or actively creating off-ice issues. Arizona couldn’t pay for their players’ meals at the COVID playoff. As well as being tardy to payments at their old arena and have thus been left to play in a college rink. The Oakland A’s have been actively killing their team payroll every year and now are likely to be moved against their fans’ wishes. As for on field/on ice ineffectiveness, we rank highly but in terms of the worst franchises we are at very least ran by legitimate people, in an NHL arena, and players aren’t having their paychecks bounce.