dudacek

It’s like arguing if you’d rather have Meszaros or Benoit, but I’d rather have a general resistance to Russians than have a fracker arbitrarily deciding who we should draft with our first pick every year. Please, please let Rutherford get his promise.

I’m reading this as Sergachev, was vetoed for xenophobic reasons, so Nylander was next up.

I read your initial post as Terry wanted Nylander, but this is almost as troubling.

He’s been like that all year, it’s just that people were slow to notice. Hasnt allowed 4 goals in regulation since January of 2020.

Other than an initial blip of flash when Ralph was first fired, I think Skinner has been notably the same non-productive player he has been the past two years. 1G 1A in the 10 games since Ralph was sent packing, and his ice time is dwindling. Less than 11 minutes last night, even down a forward.

Well said. He tries hard and is generally responsible, but is not making plays. And the fact his PP production has stalled just draws more attention to it.

Olofsson has looked like the player his analytics say he is for about a month or so.

I believe it's spelled Trpm. I think he's a Finn...?

Every few weeks Reinhart gives a Pi an opening. I didn't think Sam was great last night. In fact, most of the veterans kinda faded into the background. Fortunately, the kids popped and picked up the slack.

Seriously? It's that bad? Hide your post before PA starts stuffing tennis balls into his dryer vent again.

Don't remember seeing this posted: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31194727/the-human-side-buffalo-sabres-18-game-winless-streak-2021 Good insight into Granato's past and how he is approaching this situation.

After all these years, you finally blame the goalie and I can't even agree with you. 🤣 I mean it was a crappy rebound, but it was a bad pinch by Dahlin to allow the shot in the first place, and Fogarty completely missed his man. Plenty of blame to go around. It's not that I disagree , but he does have two points and is +4 in the past five games. Results gotta mean something, right? 🤷‍♂️ 1G, 2A, +7 in the past five games, playing 24 minutes a night. Is he finally shaking off the COVID? This. Granato's refusal to answer the question was so telling. I mean I'm mostly with @Taro T that the biggest change is Linus, but have never seen so many individual players look so much better after a coaching change. They are legitimately entertaining to watch. Casey, Joki, Thompson, Asplund, Monty, Okposo...they've all sudden morphed in to the best versions of themselves. And Dahlin... Tonight was the type of game you expect from a first-overall franchise player — I can't believe he wasn't the first star. Two absolutely elite plays for his points, the second absolutely mind-blowing with the game on the line. It was so beautiful

Am I wrong to hope that part of what Adams is trying to put together in his super-secret front office rebuild is installing a director of scouting to basically function as the savant @rakish is pointing to? Someone to oversee both Formenton and Crowe? I don't see them holding their horses on an announcement if all they are looking for is a few front-line scouts. There needs to be at least one more significant piece in addition to the senior advisor and the assistant GM.

Asplund was always a guy I projected as a useful bottom-sixer: speed, effort, and smarts with just enough skill. He kinda fell off the radar in the past year, but he sure has looked the part lately. He's scored 4 goals in his past 8 games, 3 in his past five. He's emerging in much the same way as the other two. The final 20 games of the season look a whole lot more interesting than they did two weeks ago.

Missed Compher for the Sabres in 2013

A lot of confidence here over nine players yet to play an NHL game.

Where recent Norris trophy winners were at age 20: Josi: Playing in the minors for Milwaukee, three years away from his first 40-point season Giordano: Playing as an overager for the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL, 8 years away from his first 40-point season Hedman: Putting up a 26-point season for the Lightning, three years away from his first 40-point season Burns: Putting up 16 points as a rookie with the Wild, two years away from his first 40-point season Doughty: Putting up 59 points as 2nd-year King Karlsson: Putting up 45 points and -30 as a 2nd-year Senator Keith: Playing in the minors with Norfolk, 5 years away from his first 40-point season Subban: Playing in the minors with Hamilton, 4 years away from his first 40-point season Lidstrom: Playing in Sweden, a year away from his 60-point rookie season in Detroit Chara: Splitting time between the Islanders and the minors, 6 years away from his first 40-point season I don't think that ship has even loaded its cargo.

This is where the draft consensus does fans a disservice. Even is Grigs and Girgs were ranked higher by "the consensus" the Sabres by scouts to identify the best players, and Wilson is/was clearly better. Your scouts are supposed be able to go off the board and identify that Blake Wheeler was actually better than the guys ranked ahead of him. This is not a case of the Bruins actually being more lucky than smart by picking Marchand in the the 3rd.

I don't have high hopes for him, but I see this as good news. Someone else new to look at down the stretch, with the slim chance he can be more VO and less CJ Smith

A lot of good observations here. On the other hand, Chad did make it clear that these were ongoing discussions and that there was a desire to make multiple hires and announce them en masse. What I've been watching with interest is the lack of any talk from the big boys like Friedman and Lebrun on this front. They chase smoke, and if one would think they would have chased Chad's report. They seem tight with Rutherford and I wonder if they've been asked to sit on this for now in exchange for futures.

I've made my feelings about Linus very clear, but if he is determined to test the market: Hall and Ullmark for Robertson and Freddie Andersen (who has been hurt and has not played well) with us retaining salary? It solves the Leafs two biggest issues heading into the playoffs and gives us an NHL ready prospect and a chance to test-drive one of this year's UFA goalies.

The Leafs are on record as being willing to part with their top prospect. We would have to get highly creative, but can we somehow turn Hall into Nick Robertson?

Did anyone track the Pegula jet in PA last week?

I think it is entirely possible that the owners will decide their money is better spent dumping at least a part of Hall's salary than it is proving Adams is a tough guy. From Tim and Kerry's perspective: 3rd rounder and ~ $1 million in real money vs. message sent. That said, I think some team will cough up a 2nd, which should be enough for this to be moot.

Vogl with a deep dive into Linus' season and his future: https://theathletic.com/2500079/2021/04/05/what-should-the-sabres-do-with-goalie-linus-ullmark-his-career-has-been-on-a-steady-incline/ Vogl talks about the loss of Linus' father and his separation from his family, including his newborn daughter. It reads like he tried to talk about his contract and got rebuffed: So, with that in mind, please forgive Ullmark for not contemplating his status as a pending unrestricted free agent. The piece spends a lot of time setting the table: There were signs heading into the year that Ullmark was ready to establish himself. Last season, his even-strength save percentage ranked seventh in the league. His overall save percentage climbed to 18th from 51st. This year, his even-strength percentage of .928 ranks 10th while he’s lifted his shorthanded save percentage from .838 to .890. “His career has been on a steady incline,” Granato said. “Linus is a No. 1 goalie.” "Ullmark’s number will go up with the open market waiting. The No. 31 goalie spot in the 31-team NHL is Anton Khudobin’s $3.33 million. The No. 15 position belongs to Robin Lehner and his $5 million deal." Lots of UFA goalies this year. Teams with better scouting staffs than Sabrespace will have Linus at the top of the list along with Grubauer. He will get paid.