Trettioåtta

Sabres in mid-season form already

How long before someone suggests signing him because the Sabres lack truculence and aggression?

When will Dahlin or Power extensions be announced?

Anderson single handedly beat Florida on Feb 24th. He will have been two weeks rested, and has had a few rough games recently, so is due a good one... Also he is a vet and will have faced the pressure in the NHL before

The goalie choice is the biggest decision of the season. It's gonna feel like a playoff game. Both sides bringing their A-game.

Stillman probably done for the season. Ouch

I wonder what we were looking to trade for? Chychrn?

Are Washington and Detroit buyers or sellers? Weird trade deadline

Next 7 games is a tough stretch. We could feasibly lose all 7. Definitely make or break time for the season.

5-2 Leafs

Skinner is on track for nearly 70 points this season? High skill pass from Dahlin

If TT can continue this play, his greatest asset will not be his performance but his cap hit. It allows the team to aggressively negotiate with others for long term contracts: “Cozens, TT scored 100 points and only costs $7 million. We think you’re worth $6 million.” Boston and Pittsburgh have massively benefited from this.

Exciting game to watch. Anderson looked very good

It was nearly a beautiful play. I’d still rather he try those moves whilst accepting they sometimes won’t work. But yeah - woof!

Power with another wonderful shift

The game looks more even when we’re on the powerplay. Who fell over to give the breakaway?

A PP on new ice should be a good way to get the O mojo going, as i agree it was very disjointed in the first

Power looks like the worst player on the ice every time he’s out there. Hopefully just some jitters

What ‘ranges’ could we offer sheet?

Or the ability to see how revenue from deep playoff runs would cover the increased cost of a better team. Nevermind the windfall he would get if they won the cup.

Miller also allowed the Sabres to play a very aggresive, defense pinching heavily style. I think this impacted his numbers a lot. Miller was very close to being the perfect goalie in the cap era - by which I mean, never that expensive (because he wasn't a Price-level goalie), super consistent, clutch and absolutely solid enough to backstop a team through the playoffs (if the team was good enough). There were / are better goalies - but if I have Miller on my roster, I am not remotely worried about the goalie position, and I have enough money to upgrade the rest of the skaters.

Fine. Good depth signing

Not that it is surprising, but I find it deeply interesting, that in a league run by a nepotisitic old boy's club that the architects of the Sabres downfall have had so few other oppoirtunities: Regier = One year after being fired, he joined the Arizona Coyotes for two years. He last worked in hockey in 2016. Murray = After being fired quit hockey and now tends race horses (apparently). Botterill = Six months after being fired he was hired by Seattle as an AGM in 2021. He was first promoted to be an AGM in 2009. Neither the Coyotes or the Kraken are exactly marque teams either. Ruff = Head coach of the Stars for four years, then assistant head for three years with the Rangers, now head coach of the Devils. 466 games coached as a head coach post the Sabres - untainted by the downfall, and clearly (and rightly) seen as employable by other teams in the league. Rolston = A year after being fired he is hired by the Arizona Coyotes as a pro scout (possible Darcy influence?). A year later (2015) he is promoted to be head coach of their AHL team. In 2017 he leaves the professional hockey world and returns to coach at college level. He was first a head coach at the amatuer level in 2004. Nolan = Two years after being fired he coached the Polish national team for a year, in which they were relegated. Since 2018 he has not worked in hockey. I know there is some possible racial issues tied up in this one. But still pretty telling that in 7 years he has only had one gig for a small international team. Bylsma = Over a year after being fired, he is hired as an assistant coach for the Red Wings. Three years later he is let go. Later in 2021, he becomes the assistant coach for an AHL team (the Kraken's AHL team). Housley = After leaving the Sabres, he joined the Coyotes as an assistant coach. Three years later he is let go. There are no indications he will be joining another NHL team for the upcoming season. Kruegar = Since being fired, Kruegar has not worked in professional hockey. Aside from the weird connections between the Sabres former staff joining the Coyotes or Kraken enterprises. Over the 11 years of the tank, only one GM/coach (of the nine) still works in the league in any capacity (Ruff).

Assuming the rumours are true, the Sens and Wings have both had significantly better off seasons than us. I expect us to be on track for finishing 7th or 8th in our division without some pretty major changes. You can’t finish as the 9th worst team in the league, bring all the same guys back and expect to then make the playoffs.

I’m surprised we only got a seventh. Sure we need to get to the cap floor but Dallas just paid a seventh for like 7% more cap space in a stagnant cap eta. That’s a bargain