TheAud

Yeah, agree. I wish GMTM had gotten someone like Stempniak to run on that top line so Foligno could be with Eichel and Okposo, then bump Moulson down to 4th line next to Girgs and Carrier and we'd be cooking. He probably expected Ennis to be that guy however.

I don't think sending him down will accomplish anything positive in the long run and could be quite detrimental in the short run. There's no doubt he is one of our top 9 forwards and this is coming from someone who thinks he's not really playing that well. It's too early to judge but so far I he feels like a 2nd overall pick not unlike Dave Legwand...more offense and less defense than Legwand but that caliber of player. This is a nice player to have on your team but a bit less than you're hoping for from the #2 overall. However at this point, he's on the roster and his draft position is irrelevant. I like him on a line with ROR as much as possible as Ryan's work ethic and hockey sense seems to keep Samson on the right path whereas when he gets on a line with less disciplined (or hockey smart) guys like Kane or even Eichel (who's still finding his NHL game), he seems to lose the thread a bit. Maybe a 3rd line role with Gionta would be OK for a while as well.

Alternatively, results may regress to the mean and it ends up looking similar to past seasons. (I didn't read that anywhere though)

After some recent posts in other topics I was curious as to the pace of points per game this team has accumulated vs. the past two Sabres seasons. I have not been able to figure out how to post an image viewable on the screen but did manage (I think) to attach a file. If you are interested, please check it out. I am comparing all three seasons to a 96 point pace, good enough to be in the running for the playoffs. Obviously not where they want to be long term but a reasonable goal for this season. The tank team's point progression, or lack thereof, is really stunning. I just sort of blanked out that year in my mind. Given the 21 games without Jack and the other injuries, I think this team is in an OK place relative to expectations to this point. Sabres tracker 12-17-2016.pdf

I made a backyard rink one year...just a great experience. However I live in Corning where it's generally 1-5 degrees warmer than Buffalo or Rochester and that actually makes a huge difference some winters on days available to skate. My only add from that experience is that leaves are your enemy. It seems non-intuitive but a brown leaf stuck to the ice on a sunny 25 degree day will burrow a 1/2" divot into your ice surface. The absorption of sunlight by the darker surface is really significant. Even colder days are not immune. Good luck, it's totally worth it.

Why did Kane shoot from there? Oh right...

Agree with this...or Okposo

I am maybe not so in touch with the 'average Japanese' person these days but my view of Japanese culture is somewhat similar to what I see in the US when it comes to learning from history or be doomed to repeat it: people are too focused on the latest and greatest new smart phone, or their favorite series on Netflix, etc. to really understand their government's policies or reflect on the direction the country is headed much beyond liking a slogan that makes them feel good. As of 2013 I certainly hadn't noticed anything like a populist or nationalist movement beyond the fringe elements. Maybe it's picked up there like Brexit or Trump represents that sort of movement in the UK and US...I'm not sure. Frankly I spend a lot more time in Taiwan than I do Japan these days so I'm more in tune with the politics there.

Maybe it was mentioned elsewhere and I missed it, but I really noticed Kulikov as a positive influence last night. He moved the puck well, played physical, and at least provides the threat of offense as opposed to say, Gorges. 23:45 ice time all at even strength, 2 SOG, 5 blocked shots, and 3 hits per the box score. I think they missed Kulikov when he was out more than is generally being discussed.

Agree - if Moulson puts out that effort (which is not a given) and is paired with Jack and Okposo...that's a nice 2nd line. Just need to find the right piece with ROR and Samson on the first line. It's not Carrier yet at this point in his career. Please not Kane. Might be good to give Foligno or even Zemgus a try in that slot.

He looked even less happy going out for the face off that followed with his fellow 4th linemates. Would love to see him start scoring and stay out of trouble long enough for Murray to include him in a package for an upgrade on the blue line.

ROR will'd that thing in

Deslauriers is so useless

I lived in Tokyo for 7 years until 2013...most Japanese view their WW II government similar to how the Germans view the 3rd Reich...with some degree of horror and wonder how their predecessors let it get to that point. Of course any individual may have different opinions but obviously there is much more retrospective angst or anger over Nagasaki and Hiroshima than any other aspect of WW II. To the extent that the Doolittle Raid ties out with payback for Pearl Harbor, I doubt most Japanese have any issue with it and can appreciate the daring and bravery involved.

Sabres have 26 points in 27 games which works out to a pace of 79 points for the season. Not good but the 2014 team finished with 54 points. That's quite a difference. Sabres have 9 games left in December so they could end up with anywhere from 26 to 44 points vs 31 for the 2014 team (and btw, how many games had that team played by end of December?) The 2014 team tanked in 2nd half and I agree we don't know if the 2016 team will do likewise or not. We also don't know if they will catch on fire and end up with 94 points. Unlikely but not impossible. The point is, this is not a sound 'statistical case' it's simply cherry picking some information as vehicle to complain about the team. Which is completely unnecessary as there are plenty of other justifications possible to complain about.

When Rex brought in Rob to coach the goalies, I really thought that was questionable at the time but frankly Nielsen and Lehner are playing quite well.

Today people don't know who Jimmy Doolittle was.

Going to the game in DC tonight. First time here. Just read it will be Holtby instead of Grubauer. So we're moving up in the world getting 1st string goalies instead of back-ups (*back-ups who have dominated us no less).

Miller, Hawerchuk, and R. Robert.

After Andreychuck is added next round, I suggest Miller, Edwards, Crozier, and Barrasso are all added at the same time so that a robust goalie discussion can occur. Maybe Crozier isn't quite in that class but he did solidify the team early on, had a long career, and helped them to the first Cup Final in '75. This activity is pretty fun.

This point and N'eo's had me change my vote to Martin from Mogilny

If Moulson gets tons of top line Powerplay time and has a career high shooting percentage and stays healthy for 82 games he could crack 30 goals. Then we'd pray Las Vegas takes him off our hands in the off-season. It's not like any of that would be sustainable even if he were 29 years old, but he'd be turning 34. $5M in cap space to use towards other higher value areas...

Agree with all these. Unfortunately a career year for Larsson is like 12 goals and 15 assists.

During those moments when I get down and start feeling sorry for myself, one way I cheer-up and realize I have it pretty good and start being grateful is to consider that I don't live in Winnipeg. So I got that going for me. Which is nice.

I guess it's just the whole "turn your life around, save your marriage, your son tragically dies so you create an organization that changes laws and drives research literally saving hundreds of children's lives and then beat cancer twice" thing. But you're right. He was a dookie back in his 20's.