LTS

Meh. There was a lot to like about tonight. Sometimes the bounces don't go your way. You can choose to look at this loss in the line in addition to the rest of them and feel like crap or you can evaluate the game for the game itself and recognize that there were some positives. It's another loss. Yes, it is. It's a point, which is better than a loss with no points. The player we've wanted and needed to score had 4 points and has been playing much better. The team overall is playing better. It's not where they need to be but it's better than where they were.

That's fair.. given that I seem to have covered both sides adequately.. first they weren't included, then they were. I made perfect sense! Ugh. Although, what I read in the first article was not fully clear. Fox Sports 1 and 2 stay with Fox. the RSNs move.

Oh man... another ticket offer for tonight. I so wish I had read this board earlier today.

This is a great read. Thanks for sharing it. First, I see the #1 scenario all the time now. Look at Okposo's goal the other night from Wilson. Wilson out of the corner to Okposo standing in the circle. I see other teams do it far more often. You guys should see all of it tonight against the Sabres. The #3 attack explains a lot of goals. How many times do we hear Rob Ray talking about the D watching the puck carrier behind the net? The last thing I liked was #2. It talks about spreading out the coverage. When we discussed the concept of opening up the ice by allowing players to go all the way back to the red line without offsides I brought up the idea that the D could sit just a bit higher than the blue line and that would open up the ice more. In this scenario they are pinching the wall and the 3rd forward is sitting high up. Without it having been written down I know I've been seeing this tactic quite a bit from teams in games. I just never identified it as being such a targeted effort and more just reading the D zone coverage. Again.. great read. Thanks for sharing.

Yep.. been busy all day and just now checked. I would have gone to the game without a second thought... GAH! Thanks Eleven for offering them up. I didn't even know there was a game tonight. I barely watched last night. I tuned in on my phone at my son's concert prior to the concert starting... saw ROR score.. then I saw Sanheim score and then someone I knew sat down near me and we began talking and that was that.

It's the full on game of chicken i described before. Every time he scores the more likely someone is going to want to be willing to bring him on. The risk is he gets injured or they wait too long and the value drops because the team isn't going to get to keep him. UNLESS... it's a team he wants to sign an extension with. In which case, perhaps later in the season is fine because a team nearing their playoff run might be willing to give up a bit more in the prospect pool knowing they won't have to use that depth as much in the playoffs. It'll be fascinating to see what happens. Almost as fascinating as people on here speculating everything.

Just read another summary and Fox Sports is not included in the deal.

Certainly plausible. So, Mr. Bettman. I need to trade this guy and you want me to wait. That's fine. You just have to make sure we win the draft lottery this year. :)

Agreed. I would not have expected the rule to read the PUCK continues moving forward, just the player.

Just too classic. Ian Mendes ✔@ian_mendes Dorion says his son told him the other day, "Dad - your team's level of suckage is high." 5:28 PM - Dec 13, 2017

Their mothers?

I had heard the deal was only for the movie business and the television content producing arm. It didn't include FoxNews or the Fox Network itself. I assumed that also meant Fox Sports.

Intriguing. So, a player who comes in on net and then toe-drags a shot would potentially be breaking this rule because the puck technically moves from a more forward spot on the ice back a bit only to be shot. It technically stops moving towards the goal.

The big date, if I recall correctly, is Dec. 19. That's the roster freeze date. After that everyone has to stand down until Dec 26? I wouldn't think that Botterill cares if he trades away a player before the Winter Classic. At the moment that move appears to have made some impact on the team as well.

I'll miss part of the game at a school concert. Unless, you know, I use MSG GO and stream it during the concert. My guess is that my wife will not accept that behavior however. :)

That play is causing a lot of controversy. From my view, he stopped his forward momentum and at that point his chance at scoring should have ended. I am surprised it was counted. I am sure they will update a ruling to keep that from happening in the future.

Couldn't believe he was only 49. It feels like so much longer ago that he played. Guess it wasn't that long ago... He has one of the best names ever for hockey.

I do want to call out Eichel. I saw a lot of hustle and tenacity from him tonight. It's built on what I've been seeing lately but tonight it seemed that much more pronounced. He legitimately hustled back on many plays and his offensive zone skills were showing. In addition, when Pouliot scored, Eichel seemed to really connect with what he had done to get to the net. It almost seemed like an understanding of one hockey player to another. Well, it's a win. They still have a long way to go but winning helps. There was a notable difference in the team once they scored and then scored again. When the Senators scored they responded by holding Ottawa without a shot for about 10 minutes. They have a stretch coming up here where they can knock out a few wins. Let's see what happens.

Oh damn. That'll hurt.

Absolutely. I think the off-season will see some moves that open up the roster in the style the Botterill wants the Sabres to play.

If you are a team making a run in the playoffs you'll go get a depth D for a 5th/6th rounder in the 2019 draft. I think he can get even more than that but if I want to pick the lowest possible value that might be it.

That's a great quote. They've got all kinds of problems. Perhaps they end up moving to Quebec instead? At this point I think they are really moving things around to see what fits where before they start pulling the trigger on trades. I can live with this. Besides, it's not like any other line combinations have sparked the offense.

I don't know. Georges and Pouliot are rentals that provide experience and depth for a playoff team. They are rentals and can be sent packing for low picks (better than nothing in return). Girgensons has 2 years after this one. Any team taking him has to factor him into their plans for a few more years and I'm not sure they are going to be sold on him. He was just scratched from the lineup from the worst team in hockey.

Based on your statement, you believe Kane has the Blues defender then? Ristolainen picks up Stastny crossing the ice onto his side. Kane is at the Sabres blue line Eichel is at the red line. The Blues defender is at the Blues blue line Tarasenko is crossing the red line. You are basically saying that Kane does not pick up Tarasenko but instead, despite being the DEEPEST defender on the ice for the Sabres he should stay at the blue line and pick up the Blues defender? I completely disagree with you. Until the Blues defender enters the play it's a 2 on 3. Eichel's job is to reduce Tarasenko's ice so Kane can cover him easier. Kane's job is to make sure he does not get beat because lo and behold... he is the last defender. Eichel's job as the high defender is to pick up the Blues defense. Moreover, you want Eichel higher in the zone because he's more likely to beat the Blues player 1 on 1 should Kane or Ristolainen cause a turnover. It's man to man.. but Kane was the man.

I think Botterill will make any trade that helps the team. Overall however, I don't see players like O'Reilly being traded in season. Players with lengthy contracts usually get moved in the off-season when teams can be more flexible in what they do. For the in season work you only really look at the UFAs and some possible RFAs. This becomes even more true as time ticks away in the season. Saying it again.. 100% to be moved: Kane Pouliot Georges 60/40: Falk Johnson/Lehner (1 of them and I would pick Lehner) 40/60: Nolan 25/75: Reinhart Josefson Girgensons Past that I think everyone else is an off-season target at best.