dudacek

Flyers are winning the division. Sabres good chance to be 2nd.

Sure looked like it. Hope that’s true for most but not true for us. If Casey had been handled properly, he’d be entering his first full season, centring The 3rd line and we’d be hoping he’d look like Nick Suzuki.

It may be different come playoff time, but the Leafs are notably slower than the Habs. It will be interesting to see how all those old and slow character veterans work out.

You overlook the goalie question, but other than that I think you’ve captured very well what Ralph and Kevyn believe and are trying to implement.

The good news is you don’t have to listen to Anthony Stewart and Kevin Bieksa say Wayne Simmonds sparked a big Leaf comeback by fighting. Because that’s what it was, not the two-man advantage for the puck being shot over the glass, or the ridiculous snipe by Nylander. Havent missed the Leaf Friendly narratives at all.

The contract is clearly bad. That aside, he was a pretty useful hockey player last year, good on the boards, diligent, hardworking and pretty good offence for a guy that rarely saw the PP and spent the entire year with Johan Larsson. Ideal world, the Sabres were hoping he, Eakin and Zemgus would combine for 40 (prorated) goals and respectable defence. I have no problem with Kyle on my 3rd line.

Those jerseys are so beautiful. I was already planning a Dahlin white, but I think a royal is also in order. Maybe give it a few weeks to pick a number.

This can’t be real.

That said, the summer before Krueger, Larsson was still largely a whipping boy who many wanted gone. Pretty sure you spent a lot of time correctly defending him. It’s hard for most to get their heads around a 14-point scorer as a key piece.

There is part of me that believes Ullmark can give us 40 top-15 games and Hutton 20 top-40 games. There is another part that says Ulmmark can give us 35 top-25 games and Hutton 25 top-60. That said I really have a good feeling about Linus this year. He, Montour, and Rieder are the three players I think who might give more than people are expecting.

His numbers are going make the Sabres look bad for sure. And he'd fit our roster nicely if Cozens isn't ready. Still think the Sabres made the right choice if the arbitration demand was what was rumoured.

No, you can't have it both ways. It is as much Ralph's choice to stock the top six the way he has as it is to stock the bottom the way he has. And for all the intensity of your argument it basically comes down to Ralph choosing to play two plumbers with Skinner instead of one — something we have yet to see happen at all, let alone be sustained over an extended period of failure.

I think that Rieder, Eakin, Lazar and Sheahan are probably capable bottom-six NHLers. I agree that their ability to put up more than 20 points is questionable and that I'd rather have two of them in the lineup than four. I think it is important to point out that last year the Sabres put out three lines that couldn't score, and that the guys you are bashing are more likely to help us win hockey games than ERod, Sheary or Frolik would. Finally, I really, really want to see the Eichel and Staal lines put up eight on the Capitals this weekend in 6-4 and 4-3 OT victories and immediately prove the bolded wrong. And I know that's what you want too.

Yes. If you don't think there's an element of trial to this season, why were they given one-year deals?

I disagree with the bolded. How do you explain one-year deals with Hall, Ullmark, Montour and Reinhart? We know Sam and Taylor wanted more. You are correct, he's on the roster. Johansson is significantly better than Sheahan or Lazar. Which is why there needs to be a Cozens on the line. Rob Ray indirectly had a very relevant point on Skinner: The Sabres best players don't want to play with Skinner because he doesn't get them the puck and he doesn't do what they want them to do. Guys like Derek Ryan (or Curtis Lazar?) are more content with just doing their thing and let Jeff do his.

It will be Tage Thompson. Where is my Tage?

He's starting on the taxi squad

Sometimes I think we debate stuff we actually agree on because we read different things into the same words. I firmly believe that any organization benefits from a manager with reasonable, clearly articulated expectations who practices what he preaches and is easy to respect and follow.

Maybe tryout is the wrong word, but I think the strategy has to be looked out as a trial of some sort, given all the short-term deals. I can't see any other way to regard it. If it all works, Adams will likely try to keep it together and if it doesn't he will try to keep the parts he wants and walk away from others.

For me: Added a coach who seems to care about culture and players want to play for Developed Jack Eichel into one the league's elite players Fired Jason Botterill, a terrible GM Traded for Eric Staal to fix their biggest roster issue without sacrificing any piece of their future Signed Taylor Hall, the best offensive free agent available without sacrificing any piece of their future Developed Victor Olofsson and Henri Jokiharju and shown signs that the same may be coming for Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens and Rasmus Dahlin None of these things may equal wins, and they are mitigated by other issues created and left unaddressed, but they are things that give me hope.

I think what the franchise needs most long-term is to win this year, energize the existing core and create a good situation for the Cozens and the Quinns to walk into. That doesn't preclude your scenario, but only if you see enough from the kids right away. This season is not about learning on the job.

You seem to be more upset about R2 than the situation warrants. He was always a longshot to make the team this year, he didn't do anything special in camp, and if he shines in Rochester he'll be back up. There is a ton of truth in this. The Sabres have basically made a ton of short-term bets while keeping their options open for next year. Personally, I think it was a smart call given the nature of the season and the condition of the fanbase, but if we don't take a real step forward, there is a huge possibility that next year will be a step back.

Any word if Euros like Pekar, UPL, etcetera are coming back? With guys like Mitts and Borgen up on the taxi squad it would seem the Amerks are going to struggle to ice a full lineup.

My take on where we appear to be headed: The first line has the potential to be the best line since 16/89 were working their magic (hopefully with Thompson in the Andreychuk role) The 2nd line moves the puck very well, is very smart, and can finish. It could be very good and is the best 2nd line we've seen since the slug era The Eakin line's success revolves around Eakin's performance. We know Okposo and Girgensons play that role well and I think Rieder will be a pleasant surprise. Eakin needs to be what Adams and Ralph seem to think he is to make it a viable 2-way 3rd line. I am intrigued by the possibility of Skinner and Cozens playing against 3rd pairs, even with Sheahan/Lazar as basically a safety valve. But that means we need Cozens to be effective. I can't see Skinner and two plumbers being effective at either end of the ice. The top four is as it should be, with the idea of the 1st two pairs getting equal time to start and Dahlin/Montour evolving into the first pair as Dahlin steps into his own. Those two need to be with Jack and Taylor as much as possible. Miller and Joki is a good 3rd pair if Miller adapts to his off-side. Both goalies need to take a step from last year. Sheahan, Asplund, Mitts, Irwin, Borgen seem like viable choices as spares The PP should be deadly. If it's not, I will blame the coaches. The PK has to be better. Rieder, Sheahan and Eakin have good track records here. They have not addressed the D though and that is concerning. Lots of reasons and to be concerned and lots of reasons for optimism. This is a better team on paper than last year's and a better one than we've had for some time. I don't know if excited is the right word, but I am very intrigued to see if it can somehow all come together.

Not sure whether to take that as Okposo is out for sure, or Cozens is the placeholder. Affects my reaction. Asplund is one I had not considered opening night, but this is the year he should make them team if he is going to be a player. Pulling for him. Like his game a lot at the lower level. Hasn't looked yet like it will translate.