dudacek

I don’t buy into the tendency to want to villainize and broad-brush blame Eichel as the cause of all that has been rotten in Pegula-Ville. But the suggestion that his approach/personality have not been part of the solution is fair comment. Honestly, I rather talk about the present. There remains many chapters to unfold in this season. I just want a team that gives me hope and a team I can root for. This letter helps on both fronts.

He’s certainly seems ahead of them now in terms of development. But it’s early and we haven’t seen the other two play yet in juniors. You have to consider Bloom missed the entire year last year and Sardarian battled COVID. They’ve got some catching up to do. From watching him in camp, I worry about Nadeau’s feet. His battle and his hockey sense look good. All three have very interesting elements and I’d rank them similarly. They were picked within 10 picks of each other. It was the Sabres most intriguing draft in years.

I’ll say it again: I want to believe.

Yep, they may want an extra body for a long road trip, but as long as Rochester is less than a day away, there's no need to call anyone up.

These are two key members of our "blinding light" brigade who will be missing a lot of opportunities in this year of development.

Miller is another one who makes mistakes, but they are almost always mistakes of commission, not omission. His style fits the Granato profile. Kinda weird he wasn't used more when Don first took over when I come to think about it.

Wow, that's an outstanding add for the Amerks, no? Only 27 and a full-time NHLer the past 4 years. Put up 14 goals and 32 points with the Flames just three years ago. Wonder if he's related to our former head scout Ryan?

It will be interesting to see how that kind of effort looks against a team that is actually fighting back. The Canadiens had no goalie and were playing with a major hangover.

This was kinda lost in the euphoria of last night. Big time blow at a position where we can least afford it, and of a player who really needs to play. Looked like hand or wrist from a hack on the rush. Hope it’s not long-term.

Wow! I love everything about McAvoy except his jersey, but my gawd are d-men making coin right now.

Exactly. Not sure where the pushback you are getting is coming from. 400-plus posts, good luck finding a dozen pissed off about the hire. Close to unanimous as it gets around here. At this precise moment, Donnie is right there with Peterka, just behind RJ as the most universally loved Sabre.

What did people think of Cozens? I thought he looked good. I saw no signs of the troubling tentativeness from the preseason. He looked fast and hard on the puck. It occurred to me that he is pretty much the poster child for the game style Donnie wants this team to play.

Defensively, the Sabres were seeing and moving into the holes before the attackers were. They were getting sticks on pucks and snuffing out everything. The Habs couldn't complete passes and they were getting caught from behind constantly on the rush. Offensively, the puck never stayed in one place long enough for the Canadiens D to use their size advantage.

Another guy who was surprisingly good in prick-ish fashion was Caggiula. Lot of edge, lot of want. And Rasmus Asplund was the guy I thought he could be after his first prospects challenge. Tremendous hustle and smarts.

He was very good, in that chaotic punch-me-in-the-face Euro soccer star way he needs to play. The way he drew that 5-on-3 was a slimy work of art. His second assist may have gone off his ass, but he generally moved the puck well and smartly on the PP, which has always been his downfall there.

This was exactly my reaction. WTF guys? Enjoy the moment.

Lots of things to like tonight and most of them well-covered up-thread. My favourite thing about the game that hasn’t been talked about much was how poised, confident and assertive Rasmus Dahlin looked. Absolutely in control of his immense talent. More than anything else, it’s a storyline I desperately need to see emerge this year. *** I hope this is the last time I - or anyone else - mentions Jack Eichel’s name in a game-day thread until he is playing for another team.

Great idea! Terrible playlist!

Nice move, but the big thing there was the way he embarrassed the D with his wheels.

Did Kevyn finally get grumpy Bob Murray back to the table only to push one his buttons?

Not overly familiar with Emily or ESPN up here. Credibility level?

I don't care if it is a marketing program. It means something to me. Make it real.

I don't think you are in the minority. Dahlin needs to take a step this year. He's still young, but he's in year 4. Never mind that the future of the team is a lot darker if he's just Keith Yandle.

I like the concept of Thompson down low and Skinner at the bumper. Each has the right skill set. Each also has a lot to prove. Curious to see what a Dahlin-centric PP looks like as opposed to an Eichel-centric PP, and how good Casey can be as a designated playmaker. I suspect the PP will be ugly early, but I'm hopeful it can grow.

I just can't imagine the odds I'd have to be given to accept that bet. I'm not going litter the game day thread with this debate (others can decide if it warrants its own thread) but I would like to hear the explanation as to why Cody is playing and Hayden and R2 are not. And I am curious as to how long this situation will persist.