DarthEbriate

Too many punks.

Off of work! Locking S-foils in attack position. This is why they play the games.

I found the goalie to pair with Levi. https://theathletic.com/5117206/2023/12/07/maple-leafs-joseph-woll-2/ He likes Star Wars Lego. You're in!

And yet, Cozens has far and away the best faceoff percentage on the team (except for Girgensons' tiny sample size). But I agree with you that Cozens needs to go to wing for a season to be able to simplify his game. Reinhart did it (and then they foolishly never moved him back to center after trading ROR). Cozens is still only 22 years old, he doesn't need to be a center in the defensive zone just yet.

I think Robinson will look energetic and engaged (provided he's in the lineup). But I also think that the lack of defensive awareness by the forwards is going to lead to a couple rush goals (Skinner let his guy go by last game; Pasta did the same thing to him in the first matchup). Either Levi stonewalls them and we see a 3-2 final (winner undetermined) or this one gets away from them early once more. Boston could shut it down in the 3rd and still win by 6.

Yup. Their only real bottom 6 option from Rochester this season is Rousek. He didn't look out of place when the Sabres were rolling last season and Granato trusted him on the ice to close out a win only a few weeks ago. The only other person I think you could list is Cederqvist as a cup of coffee reward and skate him for 5 protected minutes. Don't besmirch the Butcher! His trade turned into Vsevelod Komarov. 😇 I don't like the EEE method for my sports teams.

Be careful. That path leads to the dark side Concept of Kassian. We've come full circle!

If the Sabres organization had a guy like this in the system (late 20s AHL/NHL tweener) who has some wheels, kills penalties, and throws 1.5+ hits/game, he would have been the ideal call-up when Girgs got hurt. Then this move would have been logical and... fine. And when you waive him back to the Amerks he passes through no problem, just like Robinson did for the Jackets a month ago. But it's a move that's 2-3 weeks too late and the organization doesn't have anyone like this to call up in a bottom 6 role in the first place.

20-21 squad. Tage was on that team. But Granato was already a Sabres assistant by that time.

That's why we call it The Jost. Jost has 2 career fights in 8 seasons. It's the "I've got my new teammates' back" move.

This is a classic case of, "remember that guy who was great against us? super tough to play against?". Last season, the Sabres blew the stuffing out of the Jackets in the TNT 6-goal game. The Blue Jackets won the revenge-game rematch, mainly because of this guy (and a hot goalie). 3 goals (1 ENG) and 3 hits; he was buzzing all game. Of course, he did it against an inconsistent, super-soft Sabres squad. So... great, he's automatically one of the toughest guys in the league by GM Sheevyn's standards. On the positive-spin side, Robinson did have 10+ goals in back-to-back seasons in a bottom 6 role with Columbus, so maybe... just maybe... he helps the 4th line to do something (anything) for a few months. Maybe he just needs a change of scenery. I also nominate him for the "join the team, get in a fight the first game to show you're the new sheriff in town; we're not soft anymore!" fight next game. I call it The Jost.

Alright. Off to a friend's birthday dinner. Hope the Sabres come back and win and it turns the season around. Have an entertaining thread, 'Spacers!

Almost. Dahlin opted to send it to 4-on-4 instead.

Can't buy a bounce. Seemingly all season.

Cozens' "harsh words" didn't need to be bleeped. His filter is too good.

Pominvillesque?

Edmonton fired their coach. 7-3 in their last 10. (they had very good metrics but crap goaltending) Wild fired Evason. Won 3 in a row. Likely more of a temporary blip. But this team could use any blip.

I can see why Kane chose to sign with the Wings vs. the Sabres.

Benson with a great chance in the opening minute+. But the ice isn't just slanted, it's a sheer cliff.

I liked Bucci in the '90s with the whole espn2 vibe. But... now that I'm mumblemumble years old... he's not a good announcer.

Net didn't move that I can see on the replay. Good goal. Bad defense.

Is that reviewable? Because Thompson definitely quit on it.

No response from the Wings on the EJ hit. Softies!

I think he simply was frustrated by yet another wheel-spinning bad season and was emotional during a locker cleanout session. [I don't know if he ever officially or unofficially requested a trade, as we've learned Eichel had.] I think if you give him a summer to cool off, he comes back refreshed and ready to go in the fall and is a great 2C, 1C when you need a faceoff or are trailing, to Eichel's up-and-coming stardom. You can still add Skinner that offseason with ROR's contract. Research, research, research. Not sure if it's enough to.... what year, what year, what year... to save Housley's job, though. Damn. This team went through coaches/GMs so fast these past 10 years. I can't keep up.