LGR4GM

Rasmus Dahlin is one of the best defenders in the league, and really the only good defender Buffalo has. If you take Schaefer you put a limit on Power staying around. You can always trade Power for a forward you need. Byram can also be traded for a forward you need. We probably won't have a chance at Schaefer, but he's an interesting option.

Reminder that this is who Trump is for allllll of you that voted him. https://www.foxnews.com/us/trump-wants-distorted-portrait-himself-removed-colorado-capitol-slams-gov-polis-truly-worst He is going after Colorado because they have a painted portrait of him he doesn't like. That's what he cares about, not you, not your family, not the price of groceries, or the growing isolation the US is facing on the world stage, none of that. He care's that there is a portrait somewhere he doesn't like.

So Terry Pegula, flew to Montreal, gave the team a speech about the answer being in the room, and then left before the game the team was going to play that night was played. What, the actual, f##k.

Yes, here you go: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/canadian-detained-us-immigration-jasmine-mooney

I wanted to expand this beyond just the Canada talk. Trump has basically put Tariffs on anything and everything he can and clearly has NO ***** clue how they work at all. Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, the EU is going to be hit soon, China, at this point what countries do not have tariffs? Russia?

What are you paying McLeod and where should he play? He's a RFA and he's been pretty good at a 200ft game all year. He's fairly consistent with a limited arsenal that is still an effective one. McLeod currently has 17g and 42pts in 66 games. Those are career highs for him and he is shooting at 22.1% on a career avg of 14.2% so scoring regression is a real concern.

Buffalo is going to run Kulich back as the #2 C and put Norris at #1 C.

Let's talk about Matthew Schaefer, it's time. Matthew Schaefer is the 6'2", 183lb LHD that is currently the leading 1st overall pick candidate. As jr seasons end, we will get another round of late March or early April rankings and I expect Schaefer to be 1st in most if not all of them. He played only a little at the WJC20 before getting injured (he went into the goal post a little recklessly) but basically was Canada's best player and that includes ppl like Gavin McKenna (2026 draft) and Porter Martone. Michael Misa was not there because team Canada is dumb. Interestingly in Schaefer's 17 OHL games (stupid injury) he was a +21 which would actually lead the entire OHL in +/- per game up to this point. +/- isnt the most stable stat across teams... but Schaefer would also still be 2nd on the Otters in +/-. Alright, enough of that. Schaefer is an excellent transporter of the puck. His skating is great, sideways, backways, frontways, he has 4-way mobility and as he gets stronger he is going to get faster. He is already elusive in his rush patterns, you can see it even in highlights where he will flow one way and then attack another way. His skating is quite delightful to watch. Now, his balance needs improvement but that goes back to the strength thing and I think sometimes his stride can break down. Considering his age, I'm not worried. Physical game is a big one. Buffalo's problem is 2 things. First, high rev guys with skills. These are guys who are constantly moving feet and checking but they also need the skills to do something with that. The other is willingness to engage physically. Schaefer has both of these. He has a high end motor that needs some refinement as he over-pursues at times (but not that often IMO) and he is physical. He'll box out in front, use lots of stick moves, and lay the body when needed. The important part here is that he has an aggressive mindset. He attacks puck carriers, he attacks when he has the puck, he genuinely wants to create. This is a mindset and less something you can teach. He would change the complexion of the 2nd defensive line in Buffalo because of this. He has really good hands that are tied to a good brain. He has the soft skills to execute on his ideas but also he has the brain to play with opposing players. He will cut through hands, get defenders on his back, draw someone else to him, then effortlessly pass to an open player. He knows when to delay passes to lanes will open. He sees the ice fairly well and can anticipate plays. His scanning habits need some work but when he is actively scanning, he rarely ends up on the wrong side of a play and when he does, he often has the skills, motor, and skating to make up for it. His shot is something that needs improvement. He is clever in how he will again, delay to let a lane open and get a puck to the net but I don't think he has something like Dahlin's accuracy and power at this stage. He mainly scores by getting pucks through or by being the one leading an attack. He will be one of the forwards breaking pucks out of your zone, as in he will get the puck and go. Is he the best player in this draft? Probably. He won't be 18 until September. His rush game and carry ability is on par with Misa. He's aggressive in both ends and shows all the needed skills to execute on his ideas. His physical game is there and will only continue to ramp up as he adds weight to his 6'2" 183lb frame. I wouldn't be surprised if he is 6'3" 190 at the combine. I hope he gets back for a few games but even if he doesn't, he's put one of the best jr seasons for a defender on tape even if the pts aren't otherwordly. He's a bit of a risk because you only have about 20 games but he is an intriguing one. He's an all around offensive defender who could be bigger Makar stylistically. Truthfully he reminds me of Dahlin more than anyone with that skating and rush techniques. I think he probably goes first overall and if you win the lottery, you may have to wait 1-2 years for his NHL debut. I would certainly send him back to jrs next season so he can get a full year of development. If Buffalo were to take him, I would keep Power another year and try to really make him look good and then next summer consider moving on from Owen. Byram, maybe the same thing. No one wants to hear that, ik, but if I were GM that would be my plan. There's also an outside potential that Schaefer just lights up your camp and makes the team. Either way, Schaefer is a fun player with lots of upside.

I thought Buffalo would treat Branstrom like the new Bryson but nope! Just gonna run that back.

JJ Peterka's 15% shooting isn't abnormal so he could maintain something similar. His career is 12.4% so he's within a deviation easily. Peterka isn't great or bad defensively, he's fairly middle of the road. He's not overly physical or overly passive. His puck carrying is fine. He really excels at using his handling to buy time and space to uncork his shot and he's fairly clever with his passing and offensive zone play. A direct style of forward that is effective if not remarkable. He's a great example of a 2nd line winger with potential for upside. I wouldn't go longer than 4yrs. I think if he does get way better, you're happy to pay him in 4yrs anyways. If he gets worse, you are out from under him. I know that walks him to UFA but if he is unhappy it might get him signed for some time so things can get fixed in Buffalo (lol, not with Terry as owner) and then you can figure out what you want to do in the meantime. 8yrs for just about anyone not named Dahlin is a mistake in my mind. 7yrs for Samuelsson was dumb, and Power looks to be an overpay too. UPL got 5 years but I hate giving unproven goalies that much term and here we are. I like Peterka, he has been good this year. He has a great shot, is durable, isn't awful defensively. Is he a 60pt player or an 80pt player? My gut leans towards 60 as I don't think there is a way for him to drastically increase goals or assists. 2-4yrs (5 if you really wanna push it) and then see where you are at. What's that worth? probably in that 7million dollar range. Has he? Or did he go from playing with Cozens (who cannot shoot for *****) and Quinn (who can and was decent last year) to primarily playing with Tage and Tuch.

Greenland ain't putting up with Trump's naked imperialism. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g0718g3jwo Also, Trump has now suggested that NATO could help him "annex" Greenland. How long does Trump wait until he decides the military solution is the best solution.

Hamilton said that Pegula wasn't at the Winnipeg game and... Pegula didn't stay and watch the infamous Montreal game where he gave the team a pep talk, is that correct?

Well, McLeod gave you most of that this year while getting almost no pp time at first.

Idk, maybe?

Exactly, 4 months. Ruff and company were to busy force feeding Cozens pp and top 6 minutes.

Idk what this means in response to what I said

Only took the coaches 4 months to realize that.

This coaching staff is awful

Schaefers potential is better Dahlin or bigger Makar. He's probably 2yrs away the NHL. So the question becomes, is Schaefer going to be Makar and is Misa gonna be Mackinnon

Had Picasso's last night. So good, on transit in Amherst.