Trettioåtta

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

Some of the combine tests can also reveal asymmetry in the kid's physique (e.g. right leg noticeably stronger than left) - useful for knowing when discussing training regimes, or evaluating likelihood of injury etc

I think the reality is that at the draft Eichel was a clear second overall selection - there was no doubt or debate about it. Right now, there is debate about who should be second overall, and Eichel is not the undisputed choice. Therefore, Eichel has failed to live up to his pre-draft hype. (or others have exceeded theirs - or a little of both)

Dude is a beast in the playoffs. Not far off a PPG player in the playoffs

ROR won the Selke, Conn Smythe and Stanley cup. Tage has had one good season. Four years after the trade. Short of him becoming a genuine first line centre for a prolonged time, we won’t ever win that trade.

I have also heard that teams have been covering Quinn hard, which whilst limiting him, leaves ice open for his teammates (who have been scoring). I haven't seen any games, so can't comment on how good the analysis is.

Bogo and Kane et al wasn’t it? Vs Gionta and Gorges

Fair - but there is no way you should be signing that free agent if you're anywhere near the bottom. I get miscalculations occur, but the only way I do it is if the cupboard is well stocked, and the team looks ready to take the next big step, but is missing a piece, so the other team gets four 20-32 picks. E.g. picking the Wild as the classic bubble-style team: 2014: Alex Tuch 2015: Joel Eriksson Ek 2016: Luke Kunin 2018: Filip Johansson I still trade that for Hubes (or pretty much any 23 year old stud)

I entirely agree. I don't like it - and with all our ELCs due to end in the next couple years, we don't want money wasted. Potentially a 4 x 5.5 makes us quite vulnerable

Could be inured too

Forwards Skinner, Thompson, Tuch I don't think this top line changes, too much chemistry (although Tuch cooled off a lot towards the end) Krebs, Cozens, Olof I put this as the second line with trepidation. We would need a big step up from all of them really. I would sort of like this to be a hard-checking two way line (e.g. three Cozens). But we don't have the pieces for that. Krebs' vision and Olof's shot could make it more of a rounded line - the classic, playmaker, sniper and grinder combo JJP, Mitts, Quinn Feels like Mitts is due a breakout this year (if he ever has one). Quinn and JJP have great chemistry, and experience together and are dynamic to play with Mitts. I put this as the third line, to give all of them space Asplund, Girgs, Okposo A fourth line that shuts down the opposition, and plays more like a 3b, than a 4. I like the ability to roll lines extra- Hinny I really like his game, and someone is always injured so he would play most games. I worry that this forward combo really relies on the kids and them all taking steps forward - but maybe that's just where we are? One more really solid two way vet would ease my tension though. Defence Veteran stay at home RHD (second pair) Third line LHD (anything) Mule - Dahls (formerly Risto) Power - RHD LWD - Joker Depth is always nice, and having Joker dominate against third liners is preferable than merely hold his own against second liners Goal Goaltending is tricky - it really depends on UPL and the coaches assessment of him. I like Anderson, but he is too old and at best can be a veteran third goalie. I wouldn't mind brining him back as that (if you can carry 3 goalies?) and he is ok with it. Otherwise, I think Fleury is your best shot. Doesn't seem like tons of options out there really. This is definitely the most important too. Fleury UPL Andersson