In The Buff

U guys who say the Jays game is on local tv. Who's ur provider, Spectrum? Verizon FIOS? Verizon guide has a totally different game scheduled, but if you disregard that & go to that channel anyways, the Jays game is on. My father wanted to watch the game & was arguing with me that the game wasn't on because he saw the guide. I told him to just humor me & check out the channel & he just called to apologize to me haha.

Yeah my 1st thought obviously was Crosby with Sheary. Sheary's probably the perfect example of that

As a Sabres fan I know the feeling. Not about us scoring in a playoff game (because its been so long since we've been in one) or about paying for talent (see half our roster), but i can still relate lol. I'm still optimistic we'll get this thing turned around though... one day. It's always darkest before the dawn & we haven't seen sunshine in a decade. But while i think its extremely unlikely they'll trade a Marner, after getting knocked out of the playoffs in the 1st round for what, the 3rd season in a row if im not mistaken? There very well could be some thoughts that what they have now isn't working & to take an area of strength to fill out a big area of weakness. Stranger things have happened

The link you provided has the word "edit" in it & brings up an error while viewing. I'm guessing because you didn't save it or publish it. Didn't even get out of the gate with this one, we've reached a new low haha

Yeah Nashville works for me too. Even though I'm still disgusted any of these teams at all have a shot at #1OA. At this point for me its about making the best out of a less than ideal situation. Whatever team gets 1OA, I don't want them to be from our Conference

Yeah i really like that shade of blue i think. Reminds me of the blue in the 2018 Winter Classic jersey (which was one of my favorites). And the striping tweaks the traditional for a bit of an edgier look. Some cool ideas for sure. I just hope the official jerseys are something we can all be proud of. I remember before the slug came out there were lots of interesting concepts like this floating around that got me excited about our new jersey. And then the slug came out haha. They absolutely nailed the 50th Anniversary jerseys, so i can't wait to see what they come up with now.

There are some pretty cool jersey ideas on the 1st page of this thread from years ago. I remember some other ones from back then that were pretty cool too, but i couldn't find them on the internet. In my search i did however come across this page full of some good looking concepts that I didn't see posted anywhere here. Here's the link of them if u'd like to check em out https://buffalohockeycentral.com/2020/06/26/sabres-jersey-concepts/

Thankfully i never bought anything with the slug on it. Thought so then, still think so now haha.

Appreciate your exercise with the trades... it'd be great to get Monahan but there's no way in hell they'd trade him for Casey & a 2nd & Montour. Maybe if Casey was further along in his development, but even with our 8OA idk if it gets it done (though it'd obviously would be more enticing for them where they'd have to think about it). But if Calgary had missed the playoffs this year, then I could see the Flames wanting to make a move like that. He's their 1C & PP1, signed to a decent contract for a couple more seasons. Getting rid of him creates a hole in their lineup where if they made that trade, now they would be looking for a 1C/2C to replace him. Casey obviously isn't that guy & Backlund & Bennett aren't 1C material. Backlund could fill that spot if needed, but their C spine would be neutered. I'm no expert however so who knows, i could be totally wrong (wouldn't be the 1st time haha). I just think you're undervaluing Monahan. I also think Montour's value has dropped a bit (even if its just slightly) since when we traded Guhle & a 1st for him. And Casey's value is well, in the eye of the beholder. And that 2nd rd pick has a 25% chance at making the NHL, years down the road. So really the trade is a 1C for Montour & a couple prospects. Would u make that trade if you had Monahan? Maybe if their GM was Jbotts they would do it. I also would hope we made some move at Goalie for next year as well, unless you're going with: Hutton can see clearly again & betting on him to turn things around.

I would too. Especially when you factor in our our draft history & what we've used our 2nd rd picks on. Jury is still out on our 2nd rd choices under Jbott, but nothing really blows me away with them. Sure we all hope UPL will be the real deal or that Samuelsson's career is at least as good as his fathers. But in 10 years prior really only Jake McCabe has done anything with us. Sure we've used others in trades but i'll take Strome over Asplund or Marcus Davidsson or the many other players we got in the 2nd. Sabres draft history in case anyone wants a good cry: https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr00005054.html

I just hope they don't screw this up. The reason for the change in the 1st place is because its "what the fans wanted". Idk if there's been any fan input into the design changes, but it would've been nice. Between the slug that got smeared across a windshield mess & the alumni jerseys from last year with the embarrassing spelling mistakes, I really don't have much faith that it'll be what we hope it'll be. But after so much disappointment over the years, getting this right should be a gimme right? As always hoping for the best.

I hear ya. However when i lived deep in the heart of the West Side here, in the summer time i'd have a bonfire in the backyard, with a few grills going & my HD projector playing Katt's standup shows on the back of my house. And the whole neighborhood would come over, often people I didn't even know, with the demographics being heavily slanted towards african americans & hispanics. Maybe it was just the perfect setting for me but we would've had the cops called on us from everyone laughing so much, if it wasn't for the whole neighborhood being there too. Tbh watching his standup's together in that setting really seemed to bring us all together, kinda ironic given how disgusting that word is on its own. Chappelle is also known for gratuitously using the N word... context is everything i suppose. This was also like 8 years ago, when times were different & not everything was weaponized like it is today. But yeah that Chappelle skit was funny as hell... just like most of his stuff imo.

Besides from the other names on this list. Katt Williams had some pretty funny standups back in the day. And from my childhood days i'd toss in Gallagher. He was pretty witty & he liked to smash things with sledgehammers. The sledgehammering alone gets him on my list haha These 2 still wouldn't be Top 5 imo... Just other names added that havent been mentioned yet

I can't see Calgary trading Tkachuk, Lindholm or Gaudreau... suppose anythings possible but those are 3 players I can't see them wanting to move on from. I wouldn't move them, not for what we'd be willing to send their way, unless they really value our 1st rd pick in a deal. Vancouver makes some sense. I'd love to have Horvat but i cant imagine the Nucks would move him, as he's sorta like their Eichel & on a good contract still. But Boeser, Virtanen, Gaudette seem like attainable pieces. I also remember their GM Benning wanting Reinhart in the past, and that area is where Sam is from. The Nucks also need some defensive help. So maybe Risto & Reinhart for some combo in return? Chicago also seems plausible. Strome & Saad could be possible targets for us. What they'd be interested in return i have no idea. Strome is up for a new contract & will be getting a substantial raise from where he's at now. Still gotta figure his salary will be less than what Reinhart will get on his new deal. If thats part of the trade, Chicago ends up paying Reinhart but knows who theyre getting in him & we pay Strome & take more of a chance we get the numbers right. Maybe that is attractive to both teams for different reasons. I hope the names we're mentioning are the targets we're looking at & not a bunch of middle 6 tweeners we're hoping can be 2nd line players.

Considering the rumor involves a team currently in the playoffs, at least we're spared all the potential trades regarding Adam Henrique. He's probably been talked about more here than on a Anaheim Ducks messageboard haha. But i wouldnt be surprised if these rumors are true. It's what I'd hope our GM is doing. Wonder if its connected to the rumor we heard about Jbot, how he had been working on a deal prior to his firing, or if its something brand new from KA. Either way i hope for the best!

I was only speaking of the players who scored yesterday when i mentioned Sheary & Ennis... but yeah thats a lot of players. Thanks for doing the research... i guess you really could fill out a roster with all those guys haha. I'm sure you could perform the same exercise with other teams too. But given how many years we've missed the playoffs, when I see all these ex Sabres in the post season i can't help but reflect on all the mistakes we've made & wish i were seeing Blue & Gold on the ice instead.

I am, its Chris Cuthbert & Louie Debrusk

Sheary scores tonight, now Tyler Ennis. In years past I would see all our ex Sabres playing in the Playoffs while our players played Golf. And there'd be so many of them you could almost field a complete team of them, heck you probably could. But I used to wonder if that assembled team of ex Sabres were better than the team we currently have. Hopefully I won't have to think about stuff like that & we'll be in the dance soon enough lol

I still buy the Rooties Blue Cheese tho ?

For me its LaNova's on West Ferry because the size of their wings are as big as a little kids forearm (sorry for the visual but all i could think of haha). They're also made right. Fried, then sauced, then put on the pit to char & then topped off with more sauce. Lots of places skip that all important step. Mattina's on Delaware Ave in Tonawanda has pretty good wings too. They might even be bigger in size than the LaNova wings, but still have a good char to them. Gabriels is good for sure & their BBQ sauce is tasty. I also remember there being daily specials from time to time but idk if they still do that. They're good but the wing sizes are probably 30% smaller than the above, so unless we're going to Gabes i usually go somewhere else. 1 great thing about Buffalo is theres no shortage of options

You can tell its Peak Offseason when we debate whether Sam can be a center on this team. Seems it happens every offseason haha. Just goes to show how long we've had this hole on our roster. I would say since he hasn't played C yet (while on a team badly needing one), we won't be seeing him at C & any help to that position must be found via draft or trade.

Yeah i could get on board with Torey Krug if it could happen, with the addition of moving out Risto and/or Montour for some forward help. And to your bolded: "I'd like to see us land some Bruins or Blues" 1st thing i thought was the ROR trade where we got 3 Blues players back in the deal. How'd that work out? haha But to the overall sentiment, that was also one of Jbots goals i remember. Adding players that have had some playoff experience, since nobody on the Sabres has gotten that experience with the team itself. Yes, adding players that come from successful organizations that know how to train & play & win should help lift up the youth on our team for sure. Makes sense to me, it just needs to be the correct player... easier said than done if our history is any indicator. But i think thats been the idea with Mojo & Simmonds, even Sheary, bringing in players who have that experience.

He'll get his 9 games & he'll stick to the NHL roster this time. Development wise, I'd be more worried about Cozens' if he had to play another season in the WHL. He's already risen to the top & likely learned as much as he can versus that competition. I want him to continue to grow & be challenged. If he had to play another season there, would his focus drop off, would his attitude change for the worse? Why even mess around with it. Plus we need him to contribute now. That doesnt mean we just force him into a role but i think after training camp & this extended period of time prior to the season starting, he'll be ready. Cozens isn't Casey Mittlestadt, his body is more developed physically so he shouldn't be such a liability out there to get pushed off the puck. I'll be shocked if he's not on the roster come this season.

Possibly. But given the long time off from playing here in the States, what is it, 9 months before the Sabres might play a game again? I wouldn't possibly expect Pilut to come back at all til the following year. Why come back sooner just not to play yanno? So change in regime or not, at least for now i don't see it impacting things in the short term. Down the road possibly & i hope it does, at the very least so we can use that asset which is Pilut in some way that can improve the team. For whatever thats worth...

I'd honestly feel more comfortable if we had Yzerman or Davidson or Gillis taking over. Kevyn Adams? A guy who can't even get the spelling of his 1st name right? Idk man haha. But like others have stated, i don't think we're that far away from being a playoff caliber team as it is. We don't need the best GM in the world, all we need is a competent one & we're a playoff caliber team. Maybe Kevyn is that guy, i certainly hope so. We'll know more once we see what he does. Sticks crossed i guess