SABRES 0311

So right now it’s 8:08 PM here and 6:08 AM EST. That puts me 14 hours ahead of you guys. Every time I do a GDT I triple check the date/time so as not to anger the Sabrespace Deep State. Thsnks for confirming what the Deluca 500 is. I was guessing on that one. Off the top of my head I think age is catching up to the Hawks. I also think having a good chunk of their cap tied up by two players doesn’t leave a lot of room to sign younger good players. Essentially they are on the downside of their dynasty moving toward rebuild. In the near future I think the Sabres, Laughs, Lightning, Sharks, Jets and Blue Jackets will take up the mantle of Pens, Hawks, Kings, Bruins, Caps and Preds.

Hide your wives, daughters, and girlfriends as Mr. No Means Yes and the Blackhawks come to Buffalo to take on our Sabres. Game starts at 7:00PM by which time the Me Too crowd should be in full swing. The Hawks are lighting up the West in 14th place and boasting an 18-24-9 record, 8-14-3 on the road. The Sabres sit at 9th in the East with a 25-16-9 record (Deluca .500?). Sabres are 14-6-3 at home so checking my advanced stats it looks like they have a better chance at wining this one. I think we all hope for Linus to get the start tonight but Phil is like a box of chocolates. For the bad guys Crawford is injured I believe. This leaves either Ward with a 3.87 GAA and .888 SV% or Delia with a 3.00 GAA and .923 SV%. Linus by the way has a 2.83 GAA and Hutton has a 2.79 GAA. The Hawks have a -34 goal differential compared to the Sabres -4. Good luck to those brave souls in that WNY weather who are at the game. May you get a taste of heaven while literally sitting in hell frozen over. LW C RW DRAKE CAGGIULA Rating: 70.2#101 LW JONATHAN TOEWS Rating: 78.0#32 C PATRICK KANE Rating: 84.2#2 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 77.45#18 FL1 ALEX DEBRINCAT Rating: 78.2#14 LW DYLAN STROME Rating: 70.1#161 C DOMINIK KAHUN Rating: 71.4#125 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 73.21#23 FL2 BRANDON SAAD Rating: 73.8#42 LW DAVID KAMPF Rating: 70.3#153 C MARCUS KRUGER Rating: 69.5#172 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 71.17#23 FL3 CHRIS KUNITZ Rating: 69.9#107 LW ARTEM ANISIMOV Rating: 70.5#148 C JOHN HAYDEN Rating: 67.9#135 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 69.44#27 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS DUNCAN KEITH Rating: 72.0#74 LD BRENT SEABROOK Rating: 71.5#72 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 71.76#28 DL1 HENRI JOKIHARJU Rating: 71.4#83 LD CONNOR MURPHY Rating: 70.1#94 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 70.71#30 DL2 SLATER KOEKKOEK Rating: 68.5#122 LD ERIK GUSTAFSSON Rating: 74.9#30 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 71.68#13 DL3 LW C RW JEFF SKINNER Rating: 80.4#9 LW JACK EICHEL Rating: 81.0#14 C SAM REINHART Rating: 76.8#24 RW FL1 Rating Rating: 79.38#9 FL1 CONOR SHEARY Rating: 73.2#50 LW CASEY MITTELSTADT Rating: 71.6#117 C EVAN RODRIGUES Rating: 72.8#64 RW FL2 Rating Rating: 72.53#28 FL2 REMI ELIE Rating: 68.6#121 LW VLADIMIR SOBOTKA Rating: 68.3#184 C TAGE THOMPSON Rating: 69.5#170 RW FL3 Rating Rating: 68.81#31 FL3 ZEMGUS GIRGENSONS Rating: 70.1#160 LW JOHAN LARSSON Rating: 68.8#120 C KYLE OKPOSO Rating: 71.0#98 RW FL4 Rating Rating: 69.93#21 FL4 DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS JAKE MCCABE Rating: 72.1#71 LD RASMUS RISTOLAINEN Rating: 76.2#25 RD DL1 Rating Rating: 74.11#21 DL1 RASMUS DAHLIN Rating: 74.8#26 LD ZACH BOGOSIAN Rating: 71.5#73 RD DL2 Rating Rating: 73.11#13 DL2 MARCO SCANDELLA Rating: 71.4#82 LD NATHAN BEAULIEU Rating: 70.7#84 RD DL3 Rating Rating: 71.07#17 DL3

Dems are going all in on offering free stuff. Bold strategy. The left seems to be going through a split between the old moderates and new progressives. Going to be interesting to see how the primaries affect the party.

Taking stock of what we have: Good goaltending tandem Two out of three defensive pairings Threatening top line and good fourth line Three out six middle six players who have the ability to score and getting better defensively (TT, Mitts, Sheary) Good PK Prospects on both ends who show they belong on the team GM with a plan What we need: Third defensive pairing 2C A real PP A real coach Captain who captains

He just sat there with a thousand yard stare. Swedes are an interesting people. Bogo is a beast. The C would just make that beard pop.

I went with that time frame because I think they will need a couple runs before they have the experience needed for emotional maturity. I don’t think JBot is putting a one hit wonder together. I think the plan is to put something in place for a perennial contender. This translates to our now young guys mentoring new young guys with their playoff experience. My reasoning for all of this is the lack of big moves aside from Skinner. Contrary to some opinions we have trade bait to get the middle six in shape now but it sacrifices long term plans. Another reason is our young core seems like they will need a few more years to toughen up physically and mentally. Personally I think Jack should have an A not the C. Tonight was a chance for him to take the bull by the horns but he was just another player. Imagine this version of Captain Jack in a game seven. Mid 20s Captain Jack would have given Benn a couple taps on the thigh after that hit and we’d hear Ray talking about him trying to fire guys up on the bench. I believe this was an attempt to force post game interview Jack into on ice Jack. Captain should be a guy who can anchor the team and lead by example. I think that guy is on the team now but if I say his name I’m gonna have to build my own bunker. One guy I forgot to add to the departed list is Phil. He will not coach the Stanley Cup Sabres. If he gots a long term extension, JBot will not manage the Stanley Cup Sabres. Again just my opinion and I have been wrong before.

I think this team is woefully underprepared for the playoffs but I think they have just enough to get in. If so they will get bounced in five or six games of the first round. Nevertheless I want the experience that comes with playoff style hockey. They aren’t going to go from non playoff to cup in a single season. Likely they will make the playoffs and get bounced a couple of times before making it to the finals. Each time gaining more experience. If I had to guess, the Sabres will have a real shot within the last three years of Jack’s current contract. That team will not have Scandella, Beaulieu, Bogo, Sobotka, Hutton, KO, Pommers, Girgensons, ERod or Sam. Hutton - traded for a backup to Linus Sam - traded for a 2C (package deal both ways maybe) Bogo - traded for a second/third round pick or second pairing dman KO - who cares Pommers - retired Sobotka - some overseas league ERod - traded for a bottom six player Girgensons - traded for a fifth or worse pick Scandella - traded for a #4 dman Beaulieu - traded for a prospect or #6 dman Edit: Sheary - traded for a third liner

But but but we like familiar names. Nolan, Housley, Lafontaine. They are going to turn things around. Never mind two can’t coach and the other didn’t get his way so he left. Talk about loyalty.

Ray just said the Sabres don’t let teams take advantage as much when playing at home. YANDLE disagrees.

Watched the Beaulieu interview. Noticed Dahlin looked like a kid sitting in timeout.

So the Sabres give you roids?

I put a lot of the blame on the players. Unless Phil told them to make no look passes, play timid, and miss the net.

So you want him him to go out later in the game and fight Benn? Benn would crush Eichel and he would be in the box for five minutes with even less time remaining. I do agree Jack should man up but he had his chance. Probably just looked at the ref then threw his head back like he always does.

Well the captain had his chance and all he did was look at the ref.

Not sure Eichel is the guy. Bogo however would knock him out then dry shave that child predator gotee off of him.

Bogo and McCabe need to go to work. Get a point or a head count.

Two chances for Eichel and he screws it up

I hope Nate scores then gives Phil the finger

Is it just me or does it seem like NHL refs have been a problem league wide this year?

ROB RAY’S ANALYSIS:

Would like to see more of FL2. In their very short time together they seem to work well and can gain possession time. I think if they can get a line out there who can cycle it they will wear Dallas down.