LTS

I think they put Fasching in the top 6 right now and that's not where McGinn is slated. I would picture McGinn being 3rd line. They still have a logjam on that line but I think that will be broken open in the off season. Carrier has looked great. The last Amerks game I was at he looked terrific. He'll get his shots next year. It depends on who they move off the current roster before I could attempt to predict that.

I agree with this. I have thought all along the idea was to make a stride towards improvement. it's a methodical process. 2014-15 - Move out the last of the pieces and lose. Your coach is gone and you know it. You are going for the top pick to get some talent in the door. 2015-16 - Begin the build Hire your coach of the future - implement his system Bring in the key pieces you want moving out the assets you don't want (ROR, Lehner, Legwand, McGinn) Begin the talent evaluation process against the coach you believe you will be keeping Talent evaluation - juggle lines, places players in new situations, see who floats, who sinks, who can be moved on from and who has to stay for the final build Make your final moves - McGinn and Weber off to contenders - this makes current players happy to see guys who they respect or are friends with get a shot If you win you win, if you lose you lose. The overall goal is to see improvement this year while learning who has what it takes in a real hockey system. 2016-17 - Begin the winning phase Move as many players as you can who you want to move on from Drafting high again The team should improve further and contend for a wild card spot or better. I believe this has been exactly how it's played out the whole time. It explains what appear to be maddening roster moves, lineup combinations, etc. I don't think they are concerned with perfecting the winning so much as analyzing their assets for a better fit in 2016. Murray's message has been fairly consistent this entire time that said basically.. if we win that's great, if not we're going to have a shot at the top 3 picks.

Yes.. while in Buffalo. Clearly they have all known various systems. Sorry, I was unclear. I general point was the guys who have been in Buffalo were accustomed to certain things and that has clearly changed. So the new guys come into the environment and are indoctrinated into the all-new culture immediately whereas those who were around before have to acclimate to it.

Penguins Social media getting their game on... https://twitter.com/penguins/status/705561350362308608

Absolutely. Murray is demonstrating to his players that he does indeed GAF... when he can. I think McGinn and Murray have an understanding. Clearly the Sabres needs outweigh any irrational desire to sign McGinn at all costs. Murray has a role for McGinn (not where he played this year) and that brings with it a salary expectation. McGinn may get an offer from another team for a different role that warrants more money. It might work out, it might not. But I am positive that Murray would sign him if McGinn's hopes don't come to fruition elsewhere in the UFA season. Murray and Bylsma showcased McGinn this year to improve his stock and move him to a contender. The market value at the deadline was low across the board so it doesn't look as impressive but if McGinn was on the 3rd line all year he wouldn't even have had a chance to be moved or at best it would have looked like a Pirri move.

That's not much of an analysis. Panarin has played with Kane and Anisimov 74.5% of the time. How many games have Anisimov and Kane missed this year? GP: Kane (66), Panarin (64), Anisimov (65). Add to that Toews (65), Shaw (66), Teravainen (62), Hossa (54) - and you can see a pattern develop. The top forwards have not been shuffled around for two reasons.. one.. they win, and two.. no one is injured much. Let's look at Edmonton.. using McDavid is ridiculous.. HE was injured most of the year and Harrington still uses 4 other forwards to make his point? Larkin's % - Let;s look at top forwards GP: Zetterberg (64), Larkin (62), Tatar (63), Nyquist (64), Abdelkader (64), Sheahan (63), Glendening (63), Richards (50), Dasyuk (49). So, a few high-end forward injuries but Larkin is only at 44% The Sabres top forwards? ROR (59), Eichel (65), Reinhart (62), Kane (54), Ennis (23), Gionta (62), Foligno (58), McGinn (63), Moulson (64). The Sabres have had more injuries. Lastly, and perhaps more importantly, the number of new players in the lineup for these teams also has some impact. The Sabres injected 5 new forwards into their top 9. The Red Wings, Oilers, and Blackhawks did not. The combinations will settle themselves out. Perhaps the shuffling will continue to be a problem, but there has to be better evidence given than what Harrington used.

A change in system can make an employee look worse than they are. Kane, ROR, Reinhart, Eichel, have only known the Bylsma system. The rest of the team has had to adjust to these changes in training. I don't think we can say Moulson's ability is gone yet. I do recall that in the pre-season everyone was pretty high on him when he was playing with Eichel. Things clearly changed... perhaps he did not progress as much as the others at the beginning. He's not playing great, no one is arguing that, but to throw him out the 10th floor window is a touch over the top at this point.

Oh stop it. Seriously. This nothing like a tank. It doesn't fit into that definition, not even the one found on urban dictionary. The team is improved. The team still lacks the overall depth to be better than they are now, especially with injuries to top 6 forwards like Ennis. Losing is not tanking. It's a a fair evaluation of the talent on this team. This team is ranked near the top 10 in PK and PP. No, really, they are. I can't stand the use of the word tank. It's nothing like it. It's not remotely close. It has to stop. I gotta avoid this thread from now on. It's a like a freakin' social club for hockey fan emos.

Indeed good for him. I'm a McGinn fan. I'll continue to be one. He's going to make the difference on a team like Anaheim and that's the point. He's good in Buffalo but once Buffalo is in a spot like Anaheim he'd be great for Buffalo.

Good stuff. Moulson didn't come back to be a slacker and I think Murray wants him around. He has faith in him. This isn't Leino. There were some changes and Moulson is attempting to adapt to those changes. Perhaps it does not happen this season but it seems like they have a good understanding. People can crap on Moulson all they want. I won't do it. He's not having a good year, that much is certain, but I think he's a highly respected player in the locker room and has a ton of leadership that this team needs.

Sent my kid to bed just before the Foligno shorty. Told him to get up and watch.. then sent him back... Calgary scored before I was back to the TV.. then D-Lo. I felt bad.... I mean.. it was only a few more minutes and he would have seen all the scoring.. So I bought tickets for the Minny game on Saturday. (it's also his bday tomorrow... soooooo) He wants to hear "Here we go now..." in person. He said so tonight.. and every other night he hears it on TV. How can I not buy the tickets? No analysis of the game from me. I am enjoying a team better than last season and refuse to get swept up in the rush to critique. I remember people hating Lehner and now people love him. These are hockey guys and the vast majority of them know what they are doing. There are things that will confuse people... it's okay. Here we go now... Here we go now... Here we go now... Yep.

Bailey is still in his development. Murray is evaluating everyone else as to who is part of any plan going forward. Catenacci has to prove himself now. The trade isn't troubling. The Sabres aren't going anywhere this season and McGinn is either replaced or re-signed next year thus rectifying this temporary situation. All year long I have been positive they were showcasing McGinn to get him to a contending team and that was done. This top line is what was probably always wanted. (barring the ROR piece). Time to find out who's got what.

Okay.. so I'm at work today, unlike in years past. Are there legally available streams for listening to trade deadline stuff and watching when I can? I thought NHL network did stuff in years past but I can't see anything that jumps out. Sportsnet.ca appears to be available for us in the US. So that's good. Anyone using any other sources? As I said before.. Murray is in the perfect position. He doesn't have to move anyone. He can move players in the off-season if he wants to move players under contract and only a few on here are going to be overly upset if Johnson and/or McGinn are still on the roster at 5pm today. Murray might even sign one of them after the deadline. Move them if the deal is right, keep them and play your cards for the off-season. Someone is going to get desperate though. I think the deal Murray wants will come to him.

So I had a chance to stop in the New York Beer Project yesterday after my son's team won their division. I was very impressed with the quality of their beer. It was a pretty cool place too and the food was quite tasty. One of those places that is really out of the way but if there were one in Rochester I might find myself going to it quite often. For those in Buffalo who can go... you should. They had a great Coffee Milk Stout on Nitro.. under 5%... fantastic. The Wee Heavy was also spot on for the style.

Loving this deadline. The trades are scattered and I think there is a lot of patience on the part of Murray who can either move McGinn or keep him. He does not have to get rid of him. I wouldn't doubt for a moment that he's told McGinn he'll try to get him to a solid contender, that he wants McGinn back next year and if the trade this year doesn't materialize he'd just sign him after the deadline for next year. Right now it feels like some of the selling GM's are holding out to see who gets desperate to match a move made by someone else. Chicago went out and set everyone straight. What does Nashville and/or St. Louis do in response? It's going to be a fun day tomorrow.

Those Staal brothers stick together. I think Eric will be a good addition for the Rags.

The pace of this game is awesome. It also means tomorrow morning is going to suck for me. Big hits, speed.

This game has 5 minute major for boarding written all over it.

I love mead. It's a sweeter drink. There's no bitterness in a braggot. So, if you want the IBU you're best off going with the barleywine to fit all those characteristics. Still, I'd always suggest you try anything once... unless you absolutely know for certain. The Rogue beer is a 750ml. It's not overly expensive if you can spare the dime. I believe it was in the $8 range. Somewhere... :)

Well.. my son's team won today. So I need to leave the house at 7am to head back to Lockport in the morning. So a few shifts and I might have to call it a night... but a few glasses of port don't hurt..

The uniforms are very nice. I like the Wings especially with how the white gloves carry the length of the sleeve and provide an interesting look.

Interesting deal.. move out 3, bring in 4. The trade deadline is proving interesting. As I see it.. Varone gets a shot with the Sens organization, perhaps he does something. He hasn't done a ton with Buffalo and with the new guys coming in for Buffalo they might as well move some AHL players to give them a shot at things as well.

Had Rogue Farms Marionberry Braggot last night. If you are a fan of braggot's (and I am) or even if you are not you should try it. Beware.. it's a big beer (11.42%). I am not usually a fan of Rogue overall and I've had quite a few braggots that don't hold up but I think they did an amazing job on that beer.

Exactly the reason I will probably stay up for it. Unless my son's team wins it's quarter-final game today and then I have to be back in Buffalo tomorrow morning early. In which case.. I might still consider staying up and watching the game! Go Sabres!

I said the Blackhawks were done and then they went out and pulled off that trade? Sheesh. I won't say it again.. but man.. I wonder what they'll look like in 2-3 years.