dudacek

Rangers are at a similar crossroads to the Sabres: They've played better than their record might suggest three straight one-goal losses) and they desperately need a win to avoid falling behind in the race early. They got a lot of guys (Lafreniere, DeAngelo, Krieder, Zibanejad) who haven't produced yet. They will be prepared. They can score. Not sure how good they are a stopping it. I'm curious to see how Ralph uses home ice to neutralize Panarin and get advantages for Eichel and Hall Lot of similarities between the teams on paper. I'd like to see the Sabres make a statement as to which team is going to be a real factor.

The New York arrogance has been particularly smug during the pause. The idea that Eichel is sick of playing for a bad team and will want to come to the Rangers has one big flaw: the Rangers aren't good. Stepping on their heads as we climb the ladder is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Yes, Bryson is already down and Davidson will also play games for the Amerks. Casey and Cozens might as well. Ralph made it pretty clear there will be a lot of movement between the three rosters, so they will be drawing from 15 forwards and 7 defencemen. AHL dresses 17 skaters, rather than 18 still? There will be times when injuries and travel could leave them short, or with players out of position. That said, the AHL will be a glorified practice league this year anyway.

I’d probably rank Eakin at the bottom of the four new Larry’s so far. But any ES scoring issues the Sabres have are Skinner, Eichel, Hall, Olofsson, Staal, Reinhart combining for 3, not Lazar, Reider, Sheahan, Eakin and Cozens combining for 5. Also, I think you are overstating our ES scoring issues. Right now, we are 15th, dead on average.

I am expecting Cozens to rotate back in, which would push Casey out, but I wonder if Casey has pushed past Tage as the next man up? Curious that it was Asplund dropped from the taxi squad rather than Tokarski if Hutton is coming back. I wonder if there is any chance that Quinn gets a game. I suspect no as long as Thompson, Mitts and Cozens are sharing one slot. (Which may be why Asplund was dropped) I think we were expecting (hoping?) Lazar, Sheahan and Rieder would be in and out. I don’t know if any of them deserve to be sat at this point, but it will be coming. (Which is, I guess, exactly the kind of competition Adams and Krueger were hoping to develop).

Amerks continuing camp in Buffalo for the next two weeks until Amerks season starts, or have they moved to Roch? And guys currently on the Sabres roster like Casey and the taxi squad roster like Quinn are free to practice with the Amerks or the Sabres at any time, right?

Montour has been better since being separated from Dahlin, which was 2 1/2 games (nearly half a season!) ago. I think Risto has been very good, but I'd pick Jake McCabe as our best. Not sure if I've seen Jake play better hockey.

I liked what they did in the O-zone. It also seemed (unfortunately) that they spent more time in the D zone than any other unit. We're also conditioned to reject one when we see it.

I like Risto more than most around here. I also love John Gibson and believe in having an unquestioned long-term starter as part of smart franchise management. I do the trade, so long as it's not a key prospect. I also counter with UPL instead of the first. Very interesting take on Gibson in this year's Athletic goalie poll of NHL execs and goalie coaches: 7. John Gibson, Ducks Average 2021 tier rating: 2.03 We’re going to jump to the most interesting opinion here, because most panelists really like John Gibson and think he’s an upper-echelon goalie. But one, who gave him a 3.5 rating (tied for his lowest), explained why we might be seeing the downward arc of his career. “I don’t see him working at his craft. I don’t see parts of his game that have really gotten better,” this panelist said. “There are older guys in the league — look at Jacob Markstrom. His game has changed quite a bit. Even a guy like Freddie Andersen has made adjustments. I feel like Gibson is collecting his paycheck. Would that be different if they had a better team in front of him?… I’m hard on him because I feel like he could be so much more.” A GM countered that opinion. “I disagree,” he said. “I see John Gibson play with my own two eyes. He didn’t have a good year last year, but he’s a very good goalie.” But a goalie coach, who likes Gibson, echoed the notion that his style may be dated. “I see his numbers every year, and they’re unbelievable, but you look at his style from a goalie coach’s point of view — he has a touch of old school to him,” he said. “It’s not pretty. There are certain parts of his game I don’t trust. But I give him credit: He’s a workhorse who can handle the load.” Said another: “Put him on a good team and he could be a top guy.”

As a pure roster addition, Fleury is a clear upgrade on Hutton. If he gets hot, or blooms being reunited with Bales (50/50 at best IMO) he could be an upgrade on Linus. So on that level, I'm definitely interested. As an asset, his play/contract gives him a negative value, so any trade would have to address that issue. (Thus the "complicated" in the original Tweet)

He is a multiple pro bowl player, is he not? I think something that gets overlooked with Edmunds is the degree of difficulty involved in playing his position. As one of only two linebackers he has a lot of range to cover, and if he makes a wrong read, he doesn't have much in the way of backup.

I think I'm with you on this. The Bills just wrapped up their third playoff year of the past four and some people were still calling them bad heading toward the mid-point of this season. And yes, a lot of it is message board hyperbole. By the eye test, the Sabres have looked like the bubble team a lot of us thought they were, and by the fancy stats they've been better than that. By the Sabrespace gameday threads we are a bottom-feeder. I've watched pretty much every game the Sabres played in the past decade. I know what trash looks like. And so far the 20-21 Sabres aren't it.

I anyone here excited? The reaction to this season so far ranges from "c'mon, it's not that bad" to "they're trash again, I give up"

Leaner. Seriously. His face sitting on the bench is the thing I noticed most. He didn’t do much to affect the game positively or negatively IMO, but he did show a few bursts of energy and got an easy assist.

Two points out of a playoff spot? With only 50 games left?

The PK went into today at 83 per cent, having allowed just one goal all year. Had Ullmark not let a goal from behind the net tonight, they would be at 78 per cent right now, 15th overall. Right now Buffalo is 3rd best in shots for 6th best in shots against 7th in FO per centage 10th in PP 16th in GF 14th in GA Terrible. Absolutely terrible.

I thought the Sabres were better Friday than today. Both games were tense nail-biters that forced both teams to fight. Neither was pretty, both were tense and entertaining and hard-fought. (I’m not sure what skill you saw from the Caps, today.)

Rasmus bounces back with nearly 23 minutes, 6 shots, 2 blocks and easily his most impressive performance of the year. He needs to play with authority and today he did.

A lot of guys were starting to press on our team. And the Caps made it their mission to pound the snot out of us. Hopefully the W will relax a few of our snipers. I thought we got better as the game progressed, so have to credit the perseverence.

So happy for Linus. Two weak goals in regulation but he battled back so hard to be unbelievable in OT and ice in the shootout. And maybe the shootout will take the monkey off Jack’s back.

That Sam to Victor from down low needs to be a greater emphasis.

You can’t cry for a more aggressive PK and get real upset about what they did there.

Presenting himself as a passing option.

The Sabres scoring chances climbing. The goals are not. come on let’s make this PP work.

Reinhart would have got crucified on the backcheck if they scored, but because he hustled and took his man...