DarthEbriate

I should couch it as a worst-case fear and 99.5% unlikely to transpire, and I admit it is abhorrently cynical. But I've seen companies retaliate against employees before. And in the NHL/sports-world, it's easy to positively spin a trade as doing what's right for the player and "needed a change of scenery". It can even become a mutual agreement. But behind closed doors, it's just suits saying we can: Lose just as easily and we weren't winning with him Get a ton of assets for next season's GM to work with Extend our new core and culture of Tuch, Benson, Doan, and Kesselring Power's salary will be justified if he gets 50 points because of PP1 time Let the owner focus on the fun Bills and push that pesky hockey expectations can further down the road

My fear in all of this (from the hockey side) is that Adams/Pegula read this as a "doesn't want to be here". Much like ROR's end of season interview.

They're also in save the season mode. It has to be either Johnson (has played plenty on the right side in the NHL and college already) or Jones for now. Sadly, there will probably be plenty of time for Novikov and Komarov to get their "here's a glimpse of NHL speed" look by mid-December.

I mentioned the 70% --- It was on the Blues broadcast last night. I think it was 68.something% to 31 and change. But it wasn't at the end of the game, so the Sabres may have recovered a bit, although they still were losing puck battles clean through until the end.

I hope Rasmus and his fiancée can enjoy as much time together as they may. He should take all the time he needs to reset. On the hockey side... I blame Bryson! (And good thing they've got a 1OA and 4OA defenseman ready to just take over those 25+ minute nights and PP time and 60-point campaigns.)

The "this is how we play" mantra from the Ottawa game lasted 3 weeks. The Sabres reality (at least until Benson and Norris are back to ice a top line) is the same as it has been. The standings today show the Sabres in last place in the East, having to jump the maximum 7 teams just to get to a wild card spot. And now is when their schedule actually gets difficult (on paper). The Death Star will be in range in 5 minutes games.

The palm trees and taxes tax is really the Sheevyn Tax(ation of Trade Routes). How much better off would the franchise be now if --- when Pegula wanted to cut costs --- he had brought in an experienced GM who said "I can save you some cash here and there, but we can win with Eichel/Reinhart/Dahlin/Thompson/Ullmark" instead of saying, "they're a rotten core, we need to remove top skill performers and build around the D-man who is only 20 years old."?

The final nail in the coffin. The thread this morning reads like 12 days of xmas. The Sabres got shut out / Blues were back-to-back / full morning practice / Kyrou healthy scratch / Baaaackup goallieeeeeee / 5 hit posts / 70% puck battles lost / all this was at home / a brand-new Sheevyn thread .... and while wearing the goat head uniforms!

It's terrible. A 20 year-old should not be the savior on a team that has been building around top-10 picks (very few remaining) for 10 years. But numerically-draft-order speaking Benson has been their worst at 13 (except Helenius 14) initial first round selection since Armia back in 2011. And yet it's Benson who drives the entire team. Lyon and Ellis need to get every game on the road trip. The team responds to them. "What are you thankful for, @Doohickie?" -- At least I'm not watching the Sabres game right now.

Put your Opponent NHL GM hat on. Are you claiming Luukkonen and his 3x$4.75M (plus the rest of this year) on your cap? If you mean a favor by ending the powerplay and giving the Sabres a chance in the game -- I disagree. The instant the Sabres pulled their goalie to go for a goal the Blues denied the blue line and scored. If you mean by injuring UPL --- why would they care? In fact, it'd give Ellis a chance to play and some of their guys probably like him.

St Louis should've run UPL on their closing powerplay. Just have Parayko go stand in front of the net and fall into him a few times.

They rushed. They could have kept Granato and then canned him the instant Boston let Montgomery go, as St. Louis did. They could have canned Ruff when Montgomery was let go by Boston -- hey, you didn't want to be HC, how about stay on as advisor immediately. Then, give Montgomery full control over his staff and he and Ruff can combine forces to tell Adams what players can stay or go. Alas, too late.

A boot still on Benson means he's probably at least a week away -- so unlikely for the entire road trip. He can re-energize the team. We've seen it already this season. But, it may be too late with everyone in the East scooping up every point available. Tonight: BOS/OTT - OT, MTL/NJ - OT, WSH/PIT - tied in the 3rd

I suggested Dunne. But Luukkonen is the one who should've started the fight there.

If they go down 3-0, Dunne should do something to start a fight for real. Get the team ready for the road trip that could make or break their season.

TNT nearly killed Quinn (or his own knees). Coincidence?

Sigh. They're not even shots on goal.

STL broadcast thinks it shouldn't count. And they were right. They're homers... but not angry or insane.

12 shots against with 17 minutes remaining in the game. Good defensive effort! And yet, Luukkonen's season save percentage has gone down during the game. So it's a bad defensive game.

I forget which game it was, but I wouldn't judge Zucker since he first hurt his shoulder this season. He was one of the lone bright spots in the first 3 losses, then got hurt, played through it for a week, before getting shut down. But he was not himself after that injury.

Put Kozak with the AHLers. Get Tage back with Greenway and... whatever. And change the goalie. Show some desperation.

Montgomery had a team get killed last night (they're on the second night of a back-to-back). He benched his highest-paid forward. The kid who drew back into the lineup has a SHG. The goalies who couldn't stop everything have a shutout and beautiful timely saves. And all he had to really do was say, "you beat the Sabres by outworking them. That's all." If the Blues had come in trying to run and gun or outscore them, nope. Just win puck battles and it's over.

Kyrou healthy scratched and their team responds. At least for one period. Target the shield generator.

Next goal wins?

Huh. That could’ve gone better.