Mustache of God

Have rosters been released for the prospect tourney for the Sabres? A lazy google only found the Bruins roster.

Hmmm...maybe Casey will eat Larsson and make the problem go away naturally. In all seriousness, I've seen a lot of "hype" articles about Mittlestat in the past week or so, which has been making me giddy for the upcoming season, which leads to introspection, that is, every year I get amped up only to be let down, just like the year before. This year is different though, right?

10 days until we start getting fresh Sabres news and updates for us to dissect into oblivion. Can't wait!

Is Larsson completely off the team at this point? I haven't seen a single line-up projection with his name in it all off-season. At this point I think he's acting as a goalpost/measuring stick for the younger guys in camp, as in "you must be this tall (better) to go on this ride (make the team)". Does he have any trade value? Late round pick or is he destined for the waiver wire?

Read this blurb in the Atlantic today and felt like sharing because, well, the bolded part is truly baffling: For those of you curious, the Sabres ranked #17. The article is an interesting read and has video clips to accompany it. For those on the fence about the Athletic, these articles have been helping me get through the off-season. It's definitely worth the ~$7 per month.

Rodrigues had 25 points in 48 games last year, I don't think it's a stretch to say he's capable of 50 points. I'm on record here saying as long as EROD is on the team they're going to be basement dwellers, but after getting more exposure to him I'm willing to pull back on that stance and give him a clean slate this year. He's one in the lump of forwards coming into camp that's going to have to earn his spot but he's much more secure on the roster than Bailey/Baptiste and Larsson. We'll see. I also don't think the language used in that blurb is appropriate but I'm not the word police. My two cents. Goalies , Jbot brought in the most coveted FA goalie on the market this off-season and is bringing up the rookie the organization has been grooming for the starting job since 2012. As a single game hasn't yet been played yet, it's a bit premature to label this a swing and a miss here. If you were the GM, how would you have addressed the goalie situation? Keep Lehner? Trade ROR for a starting goalie? A first rounder for a starter?

Great post, flagg! This will be a good post to look back on in 2 months when HCPH starts rolling out lines. For some reason I can see him implementing 3-5 elements of your "avoid like the plague" section. I'm also curious to see how the glut of Okposo, EROD, Pomminstein, Baily, Baptiste, Thompson, Girgensons, Larsson, Wilson shakes out. There ain't enough room in town for everybody and I'm really hoping we're not watching Pommers or Larsson at all this year. I suppose that's what training camp will be for.

Where's the option for the Bills winning the Superbowl and the Sabres lifting the cup?

Those highlights are the first time I've ever seen Allen throw a football and I'm impressed. The kid has a cannon and throws with some zip I haven't seen since...I don't even know (don't follow football much). It should be fun to see once he's ready to take the reigns. Curious to see him line up against a non 3rd string defense and with better players to throw to. I know the plan is to let him marinate and learn, but man, imagine having a QB who can throw with speed paired up with the threat of Shady in the backfield? The past few seasons the Bills have gotten burned by teams stacking the box to crush the run and make Tyrod "be a QB". Looks like we have someone who can throw now, which will ensure defenses won't be able to cheat on Shady.

I think the hip ailment could have caused the other lower body injuries (groin, back) if he was overcompensating other parts of his body to offset the problem with his hip.

I recall Dahlin saying he'd be back in August to get settled in before camp starts, get acclimated, etc. Maybe Casey went to Buffalo early to start training with some of the boys and kick-start some of that on ice Chemistry. It's good to see them get there early.

Serious question: How many hot dogs can Skinner fit in his mouth? I can't believe some people don't like this trade. Can they not imagine Skinner on Eichels wing, banging home one-timers. Someone with the skill set to connect on Jack's passes? I know it's hard to remember that hockey is entertainment and can be entertaining. This is going to be so much fun to watch a legit winger with Eichel. I would not be as excited to see Cliff Pu skating with Eichel.

Watching some highlights...looks like Skinner has the hands to actually put in a shootout goal? Does this mean we don't have to rely on an AHL skill guy to put the puck in the net in the SO? Love the trade and the direction JBOT is steering this team. He added two top-6 LWs, our biggest need, for the price of a 2nd-tier prospect, 2019 2nd rounder, conditional 2019 4th rounder, 2020 3rd and a 6th rounder (4 picks that have a looong shot of ever panning out). Do we think JBOT is done here? I have to imagine Larsson and Girgensons are somehow getting moved and I'm not expecting much. Maybe they're moved to replace the draft fodder we gave up in 2020 for Sheary and Skinner. We've seen what those two are capable of. At this point I'd rather see them moved off the team for peanuts if it means opening up a spot for a hungry youngster.

If I'm Skinner's agent I tell him, "don't sign anything until you score 85 goals on Jack's wing this season"

Sad about Pu leaving but that will pass. Best of luck, Cliff! This came out of nowhere and I love it.

Now this is hockey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyuPw42g0Is

This is hockey? Warning: Video contain some godawful music (so turn your speakers down) and some terrible jerseys.

Only 6 weeks until we get some Sabres hockey action!

The flop is them losing their lottery pick.

The biggest flop will be Ottawa and it's not even close. They're going to finish dead furking last and hand Colorado a juicy lottery pick. Sure, a lot of the flop teams listed above are all going to be bad as well, at least they'll have the cushion of a high-pick when iall is said and done. Can you imagine going through a tank season without the hope of a franchise altering draft-pick? Agree on Toronto/Tampa for the hype/best. Biggest surprise? Our very own Buffalo Sabres, because we're due for one and we have Dahlin and Eichel, which will blossom into the greatest bromance since Eichel/Reinhart.

Is there a feature in the new Sabresspace where you can tag topics to be reminded about? I'd like to set a reminder at the end of the season to see whose better Jack vs. Casey on the dot. Casey's 5 game sample size is way too small to determine if he's better than Jack.

I'm not concerned about the roles being filled. I trust the Phil will find people to cover those roles. Why am I not concerned? We finished dead frocking last. We couldn't be any worse. Trading ROR to bring in depth can spread his usage around a now stronger line-up in the bottom? Winning the lottery makes me feel this way. Had we not gotten Dahlin, I fear ROR would have been traded for help on the blue line and left a gaping hole in our depleted forward ranks.

This thread is giving me flashbacks to the terrible One Buffalo newsletter that was sent out back in April that felt like it was written by an 8th grader.

Ideally I think I'd like to see Botteril package our pick with one of the other high picks (and perhaps other considerations depending where we pick) to move up and take one of the premier wingers in the draft (I have no idea of any prospective draft lists outside of Hughes). This of course depends on how we come out of this season. Our UFAs next season are Pommers & Moulson...so I'm expecting zero speculation of us hawking our UFAs at the deadline, or us being active at the deadline at all. If we're on the bubble, I can't imagine Botts will be a rental player buyer so I'm not concerned with him dealing any of the 1st rounds near the deadline to potentailly get a rental to push us over the edge to get into the playoffs and destroyed in the first round. If the season starts out looking like things are going downhill fast, I hope he makes a trade to address the slide. The past few seasons they've started in a hole and the GMs did nothing to address the problem. I don't want the season to be over by mid-november. I'd also be comfortable with him trading a pick or two to a cap-squeezed team but the return would have to hlep us more than it would them. Or he can pick all 3. At the end of the day, by any combination, he needs to turn 3 1st round picks into at least 1 elite winger.

How about the "Deluca .500"? That's some classic SS lexicon. I don't see how you can turn Pu into Pooh, or Poo. Nicknames typically shorten a name. Pu is just fine (I really, really, really hope he makes it.) For Tage Thompson I'd suggest "Tager", a stupid nickname for a stupid name. Also missing from the list is Rasmus Dahlin. I have nothing but poor suggestions: Dals? Too lentily, Rasdal? DalRas? Rasmee? Leener?