LTS

Every time I see or hear this name.

Not only that.. but to me.. Thompson's goals are more exciting than Eichel's. At least to me... and yea.. the combination.. fuhgedaboutit

Wait.. I can watch this game? Nice! I am glad I am excited to watch this team play...

Well *****.. I will be there too. Didn't even realize. Sorry to all those who would be better off not knowing that.

I would bet that Adams would willingly move on from those players if there was a trade that made sense. We know they have little value, but so does everyone else. Could the Sabres get a player back in a trade that would fill those spots? Might be a stretch. I would bet they could for Olofsson, not so sure for Mitts. So if they had to fill the roster from the Amerks who's coming up? Biro, Bjork, Murray? They won't bring up Rosen, Kulich.. I doubt Rousek even. So perhaps its play them, knowing they aren't what you will keep and hope they improve to get a trade opened up.. or else its the off-season.. or hope someone waives someone else that would work better.

I'd say that Allen is the key only in the sense that if they lose him, they are done. However, I don't think they can necessarily win just because they have him and even if he performs well. We saw that last year. The defense however will be okay. It's never just a situation of sacking the QB and I think the line will still be formidable. It's a question of whether the secondary can cover the receivers properly and if the D can stop the run. Two things they've struggled with.. individually and together at times.

This is a helpful explanation and largely agree. But even then, do you have to account for factors like a front-loaded easier/harder schedule? That state of the opponent at the time? Take the teams that beat the Bills during periods of higher injuries.. do they get more credit than they deserve? So, yeah, at that point in time, given all the factors, they earned that. But the question is, if you don't consider all the factors, are you getting an accurate representation on which to base an opinion? The irrefutable fact is the record, I absolutely agree there.

As many as they want... the only question is how many you want to give them. Apparently you're willing to give them a lot of corners as well.

Yes, for the simple minded "you are what your record is" is true. And for that moment in time, its accurate. It does nothing to reflect what will happen in the future, even so far as 1 day further. I am sure we all live our lives thinking, "Today I am healthy. Therefore, I am healthy." naturally 5 minutes after saying that you could trip over a cat, smack your head and die.

In order to block a shot you have to be in position to do so. We've talked about the Sabres defensive zone coverage issues. Good teams usually don't have to block as many shots because they don't give up as many shots. Look at things in terms of shot block percentage and not number of shots blocked. Blocking a high number of shots would indicate that you are giving a high amount of shooting opportunities. Blocking shots is important, but there's a lot that goes into that number, including skill.

if you are building a house it's not a house until it's done.. but it doesn't mean you aren't working towards having a house. There's no snap your fingers and get there option. And that's the deeper thought.. because if I walked about the frame of a house..no one around, nothing happening. Would I know if they are building or if they quit and it was actually being left to fall apart? I would have to infer from the information around the house. That's deeper thinking, but on the surface the one thing everyone can agree on.. it's not a house yet. But, will it become a house? That's the thinking part. And yet they said it.

And he is part of a well respected hockey family, etc. The guy is about as "IN" hockey as you can be. There's a world of difference between can't and won't and even more so between can't and have not yet because that wasn't in the plan. You are imposing your plan onto their plan. It's pointless to do so. Your plan is irrelevant. You can debate whether their plan is the right one, but they absolutely are following their plan. So it's not CAN'T.. it's have not yet. The discussion of a limited payroll Where is the basis of it? If you wanted they could have paid Thompson $13M a year. Would that have made you happy? They could go potentially go overpay on free agents, how does that EVER work out for teams? Where are they supposed to spend this money? Every, single, argument that comes up with regards to this team comes down to "Get a goaltender." And every response is "Who?" and every time.. every, single, time... there isn't one that fits the argument. The UFA goalies can choose where they want to go and making a trade only works if you have a trade partner, and an option that makes sense. UFAs don't usually go to young teams that have not established they can win. Why would they? Do you think OBJ would have the Bills on his list of teams if this were 7 years ago? 100% not. It has nothing to do with the city, it has to do with having put in their time in the league and earning the right to control their destiny. And even UFAs get it wrong. People keep arguing "Do something." and then conveniently ignore three simple things: 1. In order to do something, there has to be something to do. 2. If there's something to do, it has to be a good hockey move. 3. If it's a good hockey move, it has to fit with the plan.

Yep.. the owner came in and wanted to win right away. He tried that strategy.. failed. So the turnaround time elongated. He tried another strategy and failed. He tried a third.. and failed. Each all playing into the time it takes to get to this point. Now they are trying a different strategy that relies upon a multi-year plan. The plan includes a focus on winning, but it also includes putting a team together that grows into that focus. They are not at the win at all costs stage, or even manipulate the roster to win stage. They are at the development stage. No one is going anywhere yet. At some point they will, at some point that plan will be evaluated against the results and someone will make a decision. As you say, at some point... and the key is, that point is not now. They're not even trying to hide from that and yet people want to tear them down. But, going back to football.. if you failed 3 times in football you could at least still turn things around in 1-2 seasons. Not so much with hockey.

No way in hell I would forego pads.. nope.. not with some of the wackjobs that play.

It's interesting, I think it was only a few years ago around here people clamored about having a team that would be exciting, that would add fun and entertainment, that even if they lost at least they would lose in an entertaining fashion. They claimed that would be enough to make them happy. Now that team is here and people are unhappy. That's right, they do. But not every idiosyncrasy is the same, nor the injuries. You can look at a record as point in time snapshot of a team but it won't give you an indication of whether they will trend up or down in the future. That's the point of looking deeper.

Yup.. but not for long because my gym teacher was my varsity volleyball coach and I was soon moved to a different sport during the volleyball segments of gym class because I was endangering others... 🙂 I also played club level through college. Likewise.. and my nearly 50 year old body now tells me to stop blocking shots in men's league but it's a subconscious reaction.

Hard to compare between forwards and defense. But you can't determine who the best player in the draft is yet. It's early in the career. But I can say that the Sabres need what Power brings to them far more than they need what Beniers would bring. So for the Sabres, yes.. Power is the better player.

And yet another comparison that has no place... football and hockey are completely different due to contract structures, drafting, etc.

Was debating on buying tickets for this one but an afternoon engagement got in the way. I'll be watching from home.. hooray! If I am not mistaken it's Native American Heritage Night and they are wearing the black and red.

Meh. There's now and then there's later. I am quite comfortable that Power has a much better NHL career in the end. Put Beniers on the Sabres and what is he doing right now? No way he's having the same output as he's having in Seattle. It's a very different setting. There are a lot of teams who never get the best guy and a lot of teams who miss badly. The Sabres are not the exception there. But not a chance do I think Beniers is the best player in that draft...

Oh I missed the original statement. I can't believe that narrative is still going around and even better now being embellished even more. The original take is so bad. If you are going to chime in on factual items, learn the facts. I'd say mind blown but that seems to be the way these days. "I overheard somewhere that MItts couldn't do a pull up a training camp." Man.. It depends, are the 3rd and 4th centers seasons NHL vets who can win faceoffs and shut another team down? Some teams can continue along, albeit perhaps not as good.. but the Sabres lack that depth. That's not a slam on them.. it's the nature of youth build and eventually they'll have that depth.

Not a chance... the whole board is looking for Buffalo to have improved defense and you are on here saying the Sabres blew the draft. It's just trying to get a rise out of people. Do you really think Beniers would have been the better draft pick? Like drafting Power is "blowing" the draft. Even if Beniers was slightly better, which he's not, it would not be "blowing" the draft.

Okposo and Girgensons were here during losing years I think it's a bit unfair to say they have a losing mentality. Okposo definitely does not look as good but I think that's also partially because he's not being used as he has in the past. He's firmly rooted to the line he's on and so his production will not be as good as it was in the past. He's doing what he needs to do, but he's no longer (if ever was) worth his contract. Rodrigues is a star? Is this the same player who hasn't been re-signed by the teams he's played on over the past few years? I wouldn't consider Compher or Hagel stars either. They are all 3rd/4th line players. Hagel didn't even make it with the second team he was with. The team isn't supposed to be playoff ready yet. I think they are where they thought they would be, given what the plan was.

I'll probably watch hockey because its more interesting than football. Imagine if the Sabres were playing the Bruins tonight.. now that would be interesting cross-city matchup.

Enjoy. Can't watch this one tonight.. freakin TNT and not Tage Thompson.