dudacek

I’ve never been as down on Tage as some here, but this neutral zone force thing he has going offensively and defensively has caught me completely by surprise. Let’s be honest, for the 1st 40 minutes his was the only line that was doing anything at all offensively. Cozens was awful and Vinnie was invisible. The Zemgus line was hanging on by sheer force of will. And fist bump for Victor Olofsson. He’s been much more than the 3rd line PP specialist some have been trying to pigeonhole him into.

Said the same thing in the Devils game. He had his wheels going more today, Hayden seemed more in the flow and R2 was battling, but all three of those guys are going to see the press box when Mitts and Eakin get back and should be looking over their shoulders for Quinn and Peterka.

I really liked Donnie’s intense reAction to the icing call he thought Hedman touched. Great message to the team that he was coaching to the buzzer and they need to play the same way.

Craig Anderson with a 1.76 GAA and .944 S% after 4 games? Pinch me, please.

Am I right to think the Zemgus line got the bulk of Tampa’s top guys tonight? Hedman, Stamkos and Point had just 4 shots between them and were a combined -12. Never in a million years would I have had Mark Pysyk and Robert Hagg as a shutdown pair on my bingo card. They’ve been surprisingly good.

Stamkos used his shoulder to drive his principle point of contact to the face of a defenceless opponent. Not sure why that wouldn’t be a suspension. Except Stamkos. Very reminiscent of the Kucherov cheap shot on Dahlin two years ago. Loss looks good on those arrogant *****.

From HFBoards, posted for discussion purposes: What I've heard, from someone who's been right in the past, as well as someone else who's talked about it online: Buffalo's ask is: 2022 First round Pick, 2022 Second Round Pick, Sean Monahan, Connor Zary & one of Dillon Dube or Andrew Mangiapane. Calgary is likely, though just speculation trying: 2022 First round (protected), 2022 Second round Pick, Sean Monahan, Connor Zary/Jakob Pelletier and one of Juuso Valimaki or Oliver Kylington. From what I understand, Calgary is currently the one closest to getting this done. I doubt Buffalo wants the grievance filed on Eichel's end. I also heard that originally Matthew Tkachuk was involved in this discussion, but has since mended bridges with the club; with Sutter and Treliving personally reaching out to him.

You guys are silly. Western New York is everything my side of New York City. Every Western Canadian knows that.

Excited i get to watch another Sabres game tonight. Eager to see if the legs bounce back and how they look against a team and a goalie that has historically owned them. Tampa his really risen up my hate list. They don't get the knocks they deserve for being the entitled cheaters they are. (I'm talking on the ice, not the cap stuff)

One of the things I love about both of these players is their versatility. Each has a versatile enough toolkit that either can be the playmaker, the finisher, or the conscience of their lines, depending on what the line needs.

Maybe, but I don't think his numbers ever warranted it. He had 12 goals in 49 games when he was called up in his 3rd and best AHL season. Marcus and Tyler were both close to a point per game when they got their call-ups. Luke Adam over a point per game. Stafford had 22/22/44 in 32 games.

Seriously. Your current best offer doesn't even include Peyton Krebs but you won't take the ninth-highest scorer in the entire league over the past 3 years in return?

Interesting that the same lineup appears to be coming back the game after it appeared we ran out of gas.

Not in the way I was talking about. Mine is the "kid putting up buckets of points in Rochester, when do we give him his shot" debate

It makes me so happy that this is a thing. When was the last time this was a thing? Foligno and Ennis? Stafford?

I've noticed some people equate "played well" almost entirely to showed bursts of speed/hustle, initiated physical confrontations, and hit the scoresheet. Some of these same people haven't liked Dahlin's game this season. I think Dahlin has been very good this season. Eye of the beholder, I guess.

And just like that the player who scored 19 goals in his previous 101 games moves to the top of the list. We’ll have a pretty good idea who the best players are in 5 years, we might know in 10.

I have not seen an Amerks game this year, but in the Quinn games I have seen, I have never watched him give anything less than 100 % on defence.

I answered this up-thread. He loves to play hockey and would rather be doing this than anything else in his life. He wants to fix his neck in a way that maximizes his recovery time and flexibility in order to play hockey to the best of his ability. He wants to minimize the impact of his body post-career. He wants to protect the value the $50 million contract he signed. He wants to retain the ability to sign another contract or contracts after that one. He believes ADR allows him to do all of these things, does not think it is unreasonable to think the Sabres should feel the same way, and believes that he would be able to have all these things if the Sabres would trade him. You can say that is unrealistic, or makes him entitled, but his position isn’t difficult to understand. And it’s hardly as simplistic as being “all about” any one particular element. And, for the record, the Pegulas position is not too difficult to understand either. They love their hockey team and want nothing more than to see it succeed. They want Eichel’s future handled in such a way that maximizes his asset value for that purpose They want to minimize the risk of any neck surgery on his long-term health and his value as an asset They want to protect the value of the $50 million contract they signed. They believe ADR is counterproductive to all these things and do not think it is unreasonable to exercise the powers given to them by a contract Eichel freely and knowingly signed. Its not petty and it’s not simple. It’s a business negotiation where neither side is likely to get all that it wants, or has been willing or able, as of yet, to find a compromise.

Not butthurt at all from the ROR deal, eh?

Agreed. It’s the flip side to Eichel not taking this to arbitration. I think both sides have always agreed the preferred solution is a trade. Maybe that is closer to reality than our perception? Maybe all it’s going to take is a Vegas adding a Krebs to the deal, or Pegula agreeing to retain $1 million and a “fair” deal could be done. We really have no clue how far apart the offers are from the ask.

This is an interesting one. Over the past 210 games Barzal has 56 goals and 113 assists. Does anyone here think it would be ridiculous to hope either Cozens or Mitts can be a 20-goal, 60-point guy?

Yes, for now. If the Sabres wanted to test how much it is really only about getting paid, I suppose they could suspend him for refusing treatment.

Perhaps our lawyers can weigh in, but I don’t think such a case has any chance of standing up in any court of law given what’s happened up until this point. I am surprised by the amount of people discounting Jack Eichel’s ability to make a decision based on what he believes is best for his long-term health. Whether we agree with his conclusions or not, I think it is pretty clear he has done his research and he believes ADR is what’s best for his long-term. But it is certainly not about just the money. It’s about the money, and about the ability to continue with his career and his passion, and about his long-term health. If all he wanted was to get paid he could just get fusion.

Remember when people used to complain that Ralph never used Skinner in OT? Watch the winning goal from last night. First Skinner makes a terrible decision: making a half-hearted attempt to pressure the puck-carrier who was easily being controlled by Dahlin. Not only does he whiff on the drop pass, he takes a line that pulls him even further out of the play and leaves Severson (?) with an acre of room to make a play and all evening to make it. Cozens is hung out to dry on a 2 on 1, but makes an effort play to force Serverson in the hopes that Skinner can get back in time to support him. Unfortunately Skinner has stopped skating on his backcheck giving Zacha all the time he needs to pick his spot. Terrible read, terrible effort. https://www.nhl.com/video/zacha-snipes-home-overtime-winner/t-326162728/c-9263378