LTS

It's not good. Could be better. I'm gonna keep on doing what I do... Could have done without this...

No quote thoughts. Crosby - it's awful. Just too much respect for the guy now. It's a horrible thing for Pens and hockey as was said above. Given the severity of what he's gone through in the past with concussions it makes all that much more scary. I think by saying the "in house" comments Sullivan opened himself up to be scrutinized and basically gave the media dogs rare meat for the locker room. They'll be all over it. Could have simply said that he collided awkwardly with a player at practice and hit his head and boom. Story done. Gaudreau - good on him. Let's hope he can live up to that deal for the next 6 years. He's fun to watch.

This many unsigned players makes me think there is a lot of talking happening behind the scenes. Someone is shopping something out there and everyone's waiting for that to happen before locking in. Either that or you have GMs playing the quiet game of "chicken" on who signs their RFA D man first and establishes the baseline. Either way.... it's entertaining.

If nothing else all the players who play a similar role should serve to push a few to elevate their game a bit. They are fighting for a job on a 3/4 line. It's not easy to get that opportunity inside another organization because most have a plethora 3/4 line players already. So losing out in Buffalo could mean the end of an opportunity. Best case.. too many elevate their games and the Sabres can trade a few away. Not yet however. I think 1 yr contract players are definitely trade bait material if the younger players prove worthy but not at the beginning of the season. If Murray can keep some in the AHL and take advantage of a top level team losing a few players to injury he can maximize his return. If nothing else he waits until the trade deadline. I think one thing is certain, choosing between Foligno, Girgensons, Bailey, Fasching, etc. is not going to the deciding factor of making the playoffs this year.

Ahh yes... I recall that. Of course they weren't winning anyway right so coming up with a slogan on how to lose just a few extra games isn't so bad.. we all know how that is. :)

I thought Edmonton was just incompetent. Saying they tanked is almost giving them credit for having a strategy.

I'm going to go clown hunting instead.

Whether a player is 19, 29, or 39 there is no age aspect to who they will follow. If a 19 year old player walks into the locker room and can act like a captain he will command respect without asking for it. His work ethic and his personality are going to show. If you have more than 1 player who falls into that mold then I would suspect the younger player would defer to the veteran and if the franchise decides that having the younger player as the C is better for marketing I suspect that both the younger and older player will understand the business aspects of that decision and the letter on the sweater will only matter for ceremonial puck drops and trophy presentations.

So I can wear my Sabres sweater then? Do I wear the one signed by a favored whipping boy? Do I wear one from the goathead era? Do I wear a current one? Or maybe.. I'll wear another teams sweater.. just because.

I think you made a typo.

Lehner?

There's a baseball game on? Guess I'll miss it. I could care less, no really I could, if it were a basketball game then I couldn't care less. :) Should be a fun game to watch (the hockey game).

Definitely disagree. Vesey's numbers are showing as Gudas comes in. Every player is trained now to turn their back out to the player coming in because they aren't supposed to get hit. Gudas knows that too. He could have tied Vesey up on the boards but he doesn't. He goes for the big hit and he deserves to get what he's got coming to him. Loved this article. I read it earlier today and was glad someone beat me to sharing it. It's a must read into GM decision making and the facts behind the scenes.

Sweet

Your responses make it sound like there is only 1 reason something happens. My point is that there isn't. No, I don't think the Moulson signing is ONLY to bring in Okposo. However, when considering the need to sign a veteran to the roster for the transition I don't doubt that some of those relationships come into mind for him. I don't think he's bringing in any player that he doesn't have a role for in the organization. I just think that when choosing actions he takes into account more than just having the player. He would like to have Vesey, certainly but he could have waited just like everyone else. Instead he uses a 3rd round pick that he had plenty of to bring the kid in early. Make a show of it.. he lost on the show but he wins in the "I'm willing to go get the guys that other players like." He probably loves game theory... someone should ask him that. Perhaps John Nash is one of his idols?

Just read this... way too awesome not to share.. I love little stories like this. It's about Jamie McGinn's first shift in the NHL. http://www2.tsn.ca/bardown/Story.aspx?Jamie%2BMcGinn%2Bshares%2Bamazing%2Bstory%2Bof%2Bhow%2Bhis%2Bfirst%2Bever%2BNHL%2Bshift%2Bwas%2Bjust%2Bone%2Bsecond%2Blong&id=590587 My first NHL shift. I told my linemate at the time I just got called up, playing Pittsburgh Penguins, and my linemate was Jody Shelley at the time. I was playing fourth line. He was like, ‘You nervous, kid?' And I was like, ‘Yeah, I'm pretty nervous. I wouldn't mind having a quick shift.' He's like, ‘OK.' So we lined up for the draw, and he dropped the gloves with someone right away. So my first NHL shift was one second long. So he came back and was like, ‘Is that short enough for you?'”

I hear Lehner has his own WWE intro music now. If things go down on the ice the lights start flashing and the jumbotron goes crazy and you hear Lehner's Death March theme. The players know it's time to hide.

Hope Enroth starts... think the Sabres fan cheer him? I think they do. Can't wait.. hockey.. must have hockey.

Even if he does he hasn't shown the propensity to make stupid trades because he loves a player. Right now the Bogo-Kane trade looks like a total wash on both sides. Some day i hope we learn just how calculating he is when he makes certain moves that seem odd at the time but might play into something different later on. What if Matty Mo was signed to gain favor for Okposo later on? What if the whole Vesey situation was to show for Eichel? "Hey Jack, we gave him the opportunity but he wanted NY. We didn't try to hard sell him, but we were willing to go out and give him a lot of time to think us over before he made the NY decision." I'll keep waiting for his head scratching move but at times I wonder if he's like a grandmaster chess player just in the hockey realm... he's a GM after all. Yea.. it's almost fanboi from me... but I'm not coming up with bad moves on his part.

I love when Matty Mo has moments like this if for no other reason than to stoke the SabreSpace fires... :) Larsson... he's a keeper. He's just fun and responsible. The Sabres have a lot of speed, I was impressed at times how fast they were moving up and down the ice. Their D is every bit the death of them we think it is and they'll need to improve it but with the forwards they have they should be able to fill it in nicely through trades, etc. Without the scoring it was still fun to watch and I was very impressed with Nilsson. Bogo and Kane looked like crap. Just poor puck choices all night long.

You can only do that if the corporate sponsor is FarmersOnly.Com

Indeed. Had 300... and the modem.. with the flip switch so I dialed by hand also had the capability to do 110... Ooof.

While it might not be the thing you prefer there are clearly those who would prefer it and think nothing of it. I don't see why you'd insinuate any level of abnormality in wanting to watch it.

Murray is highly regarded a guy who can spot talent. Stands to reason that he drafted quite a few "under the radar" people in Ottawa. Going out and getting them when the organization they were in can't keep them isn't necessarily a mistake. The premise that the Sabres scouting staff isn't on board is a bit far fetched. Perhaps they were all in agreement on grabbing him for the age/role/salary/skill fit they needed. At the level Grant is playing do you think there is a huge difference between him and 35 others guys around the league? I don't think there is and as such I think I would trend towards the player I know over someone I don't.

1 game suspension to pay for breaking the glass...