dudacek

Wow. I’ve stopped talking about this stuff because nobody ever sees these things the same way. Two guys cutting across the middle at high speeds, not even really focused on each other because of two other guys in their way, reaching for a loose puck that just changed direction collided in a dangerous fashion. McAvoy wasn’t even intending to make a hit there. Braced himself at the last second when he realized what was coming and caught Aho in the worst spot, who tried to do get out of the way and never got that chance. Id love to crap on a scumbag Bruin play, but that was nothing but unfortunate.

Nemec, Jiricek, Slavkovsky, Cooley and Wright will be gone by our turn, correct? But at least one of Gauthier, Kemmel, Lekkerimaki and (outside chance) Savoie should be there at 9? And that group may overlap with names like Nazar, Geekie, Lambert, Yurov, Miroshnichenko, Kaspar and Ohgren, some of whom may also be there at 16, especially when you factor in some defencemen also being taken? And the way the draft stacks up (meaning it lack consensus), we shouldn't be surprised if we take 2 players at 9 and 16 some are going to think we could have had at 16 and 28? Am I reading this correctly, two months out? I'm seeing a lot of mocks where we are taking Gauthier (who is starting to look like my guy, pending someone sliding) and Korchinski (who seems like decent value but terrible fit).

So what you're saying is the Dahlin selection is another knock against Botterill because he had the best chance to take the best player available and didn't?

Exactly. There will be Robert Thomases, Nick Suzukis and Josh Norrises. Maybe even a Cale Makar. We just have to find them.

Jason Botterill took over a team that had two shiny new 2nd overall picks, a future Conn Smythe winner, and had just finished with 78 points. He guided it to seasons of 62, 76 and (prorated) 80 points. He finished 25th, 27th, and 31st. Three full years just to get back to the level of bad he started with. It's hard to believe anyone defends him.

Misinformation? I said he needs to put on weight. I never said he can't or won't. There's what, 800 players in the NHL and maybe 30 of them under 180 pounds? None of them are 150.

Even if Peterka and Quinn are pencilled in, Hinostroza, Eakin, Hayden and Bjork leave two more forward spots open. And that's not counting the fill-in spots Janko, Cagiulla, R2 and Murray had this year. There's room to add a forward or two.

When the Sabres went 16/9/3 to close the season, who was the #2 centre?

The dude was (is?) 150 pounds. It might be too obvious, but it’s hardly irrelevant.

People have talked about the Sabres taking USNDP players because of Nightengale’s extra insight. Could just as easily lead to them avoiding players. Didnt someone upthread talk about Nazar’s poor body language? People have talked about the Sabres taking USNDP players because of Nightengale’s extra insight. Could just as easily lead to them avoiding players. Didnt someone upthread talk about Nazar’s poor body language?

He’s another late birthday, like Quinn. He’ll be turning 20 in the fall. This is a pleasant surprise. Wonder if the plan is for him to be an Amerk next season? Hope he’s at least 170 by now. *** Related, I’m expecting a development camp this summer for the first time in ages. 4 Russians from last year, 4 high picks this year, Rosen, Bloom and Nadeau? Huglen and Johnson? Dare I dream Levi versus Portillo? Maybe even Power, Peterka and Quinn? Could be good one.

I like the idea of: Skinner/Tage Mitts/Tuch Cozens/Okposo As the pairs anchoring the first three lines with the others rotating in around them as circumstances dictate. Traditional two scoring lines, 1 matchup, 1 energy: Skinner/Tage/Olofsson Quinn/Mitts/Tuch Girgensons/Cozens/Okposo Asplund/Krebs/Peterka or: Skinner/Tage/Tuch Asplund/Mitts/Olofsson Girgensons/Cozens/Okposo Quinn/Krebs/Peterka 4 balanced lines: Skinner/Tage/Peterka Girgensons/Mitts/Tuch Quinn/Cozens/Okposo Asplund/Krebs/Olofsson The beauty of our forwards is that we have 6 C/Ws and several wings very comfortable playing either side.

To me, it's shots from the outside that he is ready for. He looks NHL level in terms of tracking, technique and athleticism and seems very strong down low.

Think what he means is we don’t know how many sheets are offered but not signed. For example, there were rumours Brayden Point declined one.

There have 10 offer sheets total in the salary cap era, and just 2 since 2013: Montreal to Aho in 2019 and Carolina to Kotkaniemi last year. Last time there were 3 in one year was 1997: Colorado matched the Rangers for Sakic, and Vancouver matched Toronto’s offer to Matthias Ohlund. Tampa did not match the Flyers offer for Chris Gratton.

If somebody wants slice AJ Greer Tim McCracken style that would be fine by me. Some Federal League level taunting the Amerks bench on consecutive goals. Enjoy the minors, punk.

Agreed. I think Portillo gets dealt in or around the draft. Yes, I do think teams will give something up.

Yes. I think the AHLtv choices were $29 for every game in the playoffs, or $8 for every game any given night.

Utica had the best record in the league this year, but the Amerks played them tough: 6/5/2 season series, 46 goals for, 45 goals against Rochester 3 at Utica 4 (SO) Rochester 2 at Utica 6 Utica 3 at Rochester 2 Rochester 3 at Utica 5 Rochester 4 at Utica 2 Utica 3 at Rochester 4 Utica 6 at Rochester 7 Utica 4 at Rochester 2 Utica 4 at Rochester 2 Rochester 3 at Utica 2 Utica 3 at Rochester 4 Rochester 2 at Utica 3 (OT) Utica 1 at Rochester 8 Eleven of the 13 games this year were tight. Expecting the series to be the same.

Nothing groundbreaking, but Adams interview on GR yesterday offered a few nuggets about Sam's department The Sabres use both the numbers provided by the nhl's new tracking system and their own proprietary numbers. The analytics department is constantly working with the other departments in order to get to the "why" behind the numbers. Without citing specifics, Adams used the example of a recent meeting between Sam and the coaches, where Granato immediately identified the reason behind something the analytics department had observed as a coaching decision and could show with video the "why" behind what the numbers had caught. Adams said teams would be foolish not to pay attention to the numbers and his marching orders to Sam are to "sort through the noise and tell me what's important." It really comes across as a healthy collision between the numbers and the eye test.

Vancouver would have to shed some serious salary before they could even consider this. It would, but circumstances have changed. In addition to the cap and economic realities Tom points out, you also have had a pretty big shift in the community of NHL GMs. It’s different group of old boys, embracing different philosophies. As this one proved, the door is already opening.

Sabres missing their 3rd in 2023 would limit their offer sheet ability this summer. Basically, they'd be limited to throwing out an offer between $2 and 4.1 million (2nd rounder). More would require their 3rd. Unless they were to go all out and offer someone more than $10 million Teams will certainly be vulnerable and a handful of others, including the Sabres are in a position to take advantage. Here's the list of available players: https://www.capfriendly.com/rfas

In his WGR Interview today Adams said he made it clear to Ryan Johnson that there is a spot for him, regardless of being a LHD. “When he is ready to be on our team he will be on our team.” Says Donnie’s system doesn’t have an emphasis on sticking with your side. Players shift a lot and will continue to. Semi-related, 2nd consecutive interview where he talked about goaltending, gushed about Levi, and did not mention Portillo.

The Islanders were a deep team but they have let a steady stream of players leave (Okposo, Tavares, Leddy, Toews, Eberle, Greiss, Dehaan) or get old (Boychuk, Bailey, Hickey, Lee, Martin, Clutterbuck, Ladd, Palmieri, Parise, Chara) without effectively replacing them.

Not disagreeing, but it happens multiple times every game and most players are guilty from time to time. It becomes an issue when it happens too often with the same player.