Hoss

He was fantastic tonight

My goodness this is lame.

Loving Lehner tonight

I think Drouin will be worth it. :ph34r:

This is great to see. As much talk as there was about O'Reilly failing to lead in Colorado, and he admitted it to an extent, it's good to see their best young player talk about catching up with him. He certainly left an impact on one of the game's young stars.

Bills become the first team with a full-time female assistant coach http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/20/bills-hire-a-female-assistant-coach/ She's already listed on the team's website. So is a "Laura Young."

Walsh seems to be pulling the strings for his client here... The mention that a trade was nearing completion lines up with the reports that a deal with St. Louis was close (my guess is Walsh is the one that leaked it so he could do this a few days later).

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC I'm told Drouin is at Ricoh tonight...with the other Syracuse scratches. So, there's a lot bubbling under the surface.

(He means Bob Murray, Anaheim's GM, not GMTM, btw) Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun Lightning announce Drouin has been suspended without pay for not showing up to the AHL game tonight

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie I don't get the sense a Drouin trade has been made but that, of course, can always change with one phone call. OK, time to work at @NBCSN.

Hmmmmmmmm... Jeff Veillette @JeffVeillette No Jonathan Drouin in the lineup for Syracuse tonight against Toronto. Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie With Drouin out of SYR lineup, 4 options why: 1. Injured. 2. Traded. 3. Held out by TB to protect asset. 4. Player choosing not to play.

I'll be interested to see how big of an impact Jaden Schwartz' impending return will have in St. Louis. I haven't been shy about my liking of his play in the past, and I think they've sorely missed him.

Just a fact check on Straw since he's a hack: The article he linked to says absolutely nothing about Drouin's trade talks going cold. In fact, it says he's a hot commodity still. Edit: Well, this was more on Wildcard for exaggerating what straw said. Straw said teams may be slowing their pursuit. Article only says his poor play in the AHL may give teams hesitation but doesn't say it is. Get it together, WC.:p

Her name is Margot Robbie. She was also in Will Smith's Focus.

I said "legitimate lines," not equal lines. And no, I'm not in tank mode. Not close to it, either. I don't engage in GDTs lately mainly because I'm working during most games so my attention is elsewhere.

Nobody said anything about equal ice time. You can run three lines but still with varying ice time. They don't have to have equal skill set... And no, I would never be worried about adding a prospect of Matthews caliber. I am still hoping we win the lottery.

I don't see him doing so for a long time because I see no reason to move Eichel or O'Reilly off pivot. I could see him as the third line center if DB is willing to commit to three legitimate lines and Murray can provide the talent (and/or Bailey/Fasching/Baptiste turn into studs).

Doesn't mean anything. I don't "want" anything specific, just whoever is playing better between the two to be the top center. I had it both ways in my post and don't think the difference will be noticeable. The hope is that Eichel looks far and away the best player on this team within a year or two, though.

On a defensive pairing both players are allowed to play similar styles.

I don't think it matters. His and ROR's lines will play similar minutes. "Liability" is a big word for Yandle here. He's not a defensive liability. He's not a shutdown dman but he's definitely not a liability on the backend.

Looking forward to next year this is what I see and what I'd like to see. Here's my lineup with empty spaces where we need to fill (I will label the holes so I can breakdown options after): Kane - O'Reilly - RW1 LW2 - Eichel - RW2 Girgensons - Reinhart - Fasching Deslauriers - Schaller - Gionta LHD1 - Risto McCabe - Bogosian LHD3 - Pysyk Lehner - G2 OUT: Moulson, Ennis, Larsson, Legwand, Weber, RW1/RW2 Loui Eriksson (BOS UFA) - He's having a great season in Boston. I like his speed and all-around game. He would be a great fit with either O'Reilly or Eichel which would allow us some flexibility. Wayne Simmonds (PHI trade) - This will depend on what Philadelphia is looking to do in the coming years, but I love the idea of adding Simmonds to our top six. Extremely rugged with plenty of offensive talent to contribute to a top six anywhere. Jiri Hudler (CGY UFA) - A veteran who played the best hockey of his career a year ago. He's not having nearly the same season so you'd be nervous about another Gionta situation here. Known for his leadership abilities, though. Kyle Okposo (NYI UFA) - This is guy a lot of members of this board have had their eye on for a while. Finally a UFA and would give us some sandpaper and offensive ability in the top six. Cam Atkinson (CBJ trade) - He's smaller than most of us prefer, but he's got talent. And wouldn't it be fun to see the guy who sealed the tank come in and enjoy the fruits of it? Radim Vrbata (VAN UFA) - He's much older than the typical players Murray has targeted, but he could bring a veteran presence and is still a sniper out there. Would be a rare sight for Sabres fans to have a guy who is a pure scorer and little to nothing else. Tyler Ennis - I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he'll be dealt, but I get the feeling it's trending in that direction whether it's before the deadline or in the offseason. If he is dealt I imagine it'll be in a deal to fill one of the holes I've mentioned. Justin Bailey/Nick Baptiste - I don't think they'll be quite ready next year, but I think they'll get an opportunity to make the team. I'm feeling confident that Fasching is in the team's immediate plans and makes this team, so he could be an option to slide up into the top six. LW2 Mikkel Boedker (ARI UFA) - This is my favorite option. I would love to see him on Eichel's wing. He's a pending UFA that Arizona is trying to keep around. Still young and ready for his first big contract. Jamie McGinn/Zemgus Girgensons - I still want to see McGinn traded and re-signed. If he is then you can have either him or Girgensons on Eichel LW and the other on Reinhart's. If you go this route I think you'll want to target a sniper for Eichel's RW. Jonathan Drouin (TB trade) - We all know he's available, but I don't know that GMTM is seriously involved here. If he is I imagine the plan would be to plug Drouin in the top six and let it shake out. Jeff Skinner (CAR trade) - He's long been rumored as somebody Carolina has considered dealing. He's a scorer and won't bring any physical presence, but he's certainly an appealing young player. David Perron (ANA UFA) - His play has dipped significantly since he went to Pittsburgh. A recent trade to Anaheim could reboot his game, but he could also be a buy-low type that teams with great centers get to take advantage of. Draftee - If this team is drafting in the top three then you could see any of Matthews, Laine or Puljujarvi sliding into this spot. LHD1 Keith Yandle (NYR UFA) - This is the free agent I want above all others. I think he'd be the perfect addition to Risto's left side and give this defense an instant boost to a full group. He's not a shutdown guy, but he and Risto would be true blueliners who would give us great possession numbers while on the ice. Sometimes the best defense is great offense. Marc Edouard Vlasic (SJ trade) - This has long been one of my favorite trade options if San Jose is at all open to moving him. He's still relatively young considering it feels like he's been around forever. Good two-way dman to compliment Risto. Jonas Brodin (MIN trade) - There's been rumors that Minnesota is dangling him hoping to pick up a young forward. It would likely cost Reinhart, but if the Sabres can make it work with prospects/picks plus Girgensons or Ennis this would be a great acquisition. Zach Bogosian - This would open up a hole at RHD3 (I think Pysyk could slide into the top four with no problem), but Bogosian has looked good on Risto's left lately. Maybe that's a long-term pairing as he regains his shutdown form. Is health a major concern, though? Brian Campbell (FLA UFA) - Bringing back Soupy would have more than just sentimental value. He's playing some of the best defensive hockey he's ever played and would be a stop-gap until some of the young guys find their games. LHD3 Mike Weber - He wouldn't be my first choice, but he's playing a little better this year. If he's stuck to third-pairing and press box duties then it's easier to mask his deficiencies. Josh Gorges - Could just let Gorges ride out his contract here on the third line. Same as Weber here. Cody Franson - See Gorges. He's got value in the offensive zone still and could play the right side of our third pairing while Pysyk or whoever else is on the right plays on his left. G2 Linus Ullmark/Andrey Makarov - We could let one of the young guns from Rochester get a full-season shot at being a backup to Lehner. Chad Johnson - Johnson has been very good lately and could earn a spot as the backup here for another year or two while Makarov and Ullmark get playing time in Rochester. There are obviously more options than this and chances are there will be a couple players on this team that I (and others) haven't even thought of yet. Dreaming of a lineup like: Boedker - Eichel - Okposo Kane - O'Reilly - Reinhart McGinn - Girgensons - Fasching Deslauriers/Larsson - Schaller - Gionta Yandle - Risto McCabe - Bogosian Pysyk - Franson Lehner - Johnson That's a team I would put a playoff bet on.

Oh, for the record. I loved Dunleavy's call last night. I really think he's going to develop once he gets more consistent scheduling.

Our best bet in dumping Moulson is retaining salary and finding a team looking to dump a contract that's a year or two shorter than Moulson's. Or just buying him out after this year.

If McGinn and Johnson haven't extended by the deadline you trade them. I would hope that McGinn comes back, and I think Murray is likely going to have that conversation with him. As far as getting draft picks: do it. We need them. Either as currency for other deals or to restock the pipeline.

John Scott will indeed play in the All Star game after all. Pacific captain.