DarthEbriate

You had 3 months to prepare for it, ample cap space, or a trade piece in VO (expecting he'd be moved) that could have been a goal-scoring bridge to a "rebuilding" team that needed some scoring (but not too much scoring) or wanted to get out of a slightly higher-priced contract. Lots of options. You had the foresight, the need for a top 6 forward, and the money/goods to make something happen, and then GM Sheevyn did this: In case anyone needs the Star Wars equivalent.

Jef Solo: Keep your distance, Tagey. But don't look like you're trying to keep your distance. Tagebacca: Growl, growl. <0 shots, 0 points, -1 vs. Seattle> Jef Solo: I don't know! Fly casual. Tagebacca: bark,growl,grrrr <5 shots, 2 goals vs. Ottawa>

I'm really happy Cozens was able to add the empty-netter. Needed that +/- bump tonight.

It was probably Skinner from the press box.

Was there an icing? Because you have last change and you put the kids out for a defensive zone faceoff against Giroux-Tkachuk. That's bad coaching. (unless there was an icing.)

Benson makes every line better. For myself, I need Benson getting more ice time than I'm willing to give Robinson-Krebs-__

Giroux is 35 and about to be 36, but he's got a higher gear he can still reach when his team needs a boost. Gotta put a few checks on him (and another insurance goal) to put them away.

EJ back out there.

Oooff. Krebs boarded quite neatly. And look at that, good non-call by the refs for the additional shot from Girgs. Another weak powerplay with no movement. Good stops by UPL to hold off the Ottawa top line push.

Poor start to the period. Hope EJ is able to shake off the puck to the ribs. But Mitts almost has an instant response.

Some good PKs. One where the Sens barely even ever got set up. Seems like the crowd should be louder on those clears and blocks... but maybe it's just the mics.

He and Faber have both been excellent as rookies this season.

Oh! Misfire pass or Benson gets to skate in alone.

Thompson looks different tonight. Goatheads.

And a very delayed: They can't repel firepower of that magnitude!

It was, but their skater was barely back on the ice. TNT again!

Giving TNT all the space in the world to get that shot off.

Odd that the only way the Sabres were able to score on the PP (because all they do is stand around) was to turn it into a rush chance. Nice goal, though.

Gonna hop in the X-wing and go hang with the Senators? Make sure you're prepared. Just need to win the next 6 in a row....

It's bringing balance to The Concept Of. You get Robinson for future considerations, you pass the considerations on to someone else. Also, don't forget this move saves money on the remaining half season of his contract. I reserve the right to laugh when Cederqvist becomes a revelatory bottom 6 grinder and is traded for a 4th at the deadline as this year's Scandella Experience.

I like Jesper Wallstedt and thought for sure the Sabres were going to draft him (instead of Rosen) and he's been great in the AHL. But dang, what an inauspicious start for his first NHL game. 34 Shots, 7 GA, .794 sv% Good job, coach! Way to let the rookie get shelled all game.

Having a slightly off season (their whole team is), but still coming into his prime and with Ullmark-equivalent numbers at the same age/# games played: MIN G Filip Gustavsson. He's under contract for 2 more seasons at $3.75M and Wallstedt is ready to get NHL playing time. Granted, MIN prefers to go Gustavsson/Wallstedt next season, but they'll also still in be cap hell ($14M for the Parise/Suter buyouts) and not ready to contend. Maybe Fleury comes back one more year for them. Minnesota should realistically be aiming for 2025-26 when their cap clears to come out of their reset. And they should absolutely be sellers right now to get into the top 5 this year. Meanwhile, the Sabres get a starter, UPL as backup, and Levi a bit more time. Savoie + draft sweetener + Comrie as insurance -> Gustavsson Or get really interesting: Cozens + Savoie -> Erikson Ek + Gustavsson + draft capital TBD (to balance out the scoring potential)

Late to it and have a conflict tonight, but it appears I may not need to do a rewatch of this one. It appears to be the standard Kraken no-show. Please show some effort, Sabres! Otherwise, what’s the point in paying to see you when you come to Seattle in March?

Somewhere in a galaxy far, far away, there's an alternate reality (probably on your local EA NHL 2014 GM campaign that you haven't played in 7 years) where GMTM went the GM Sheevyn "patience" route (no Kane/ROR trades) and you're rocking a lineup of: x - Eichel - x x - Reinhart - Rodrigues Foligno - Compher - Armia Carrier - x - Fasching Dahlin* - Montour** McNabb - Ristolainen Zadorov/McCabe - Borgen Ullmark *Based on that lineup's growing pains, I'm guessing you still get Dahlin. **You wouldn't have had SJ's 1st from the Kane trade to add for Montour, but it could've been done. Throw in some Quinns, JJPs, Cozens, Mitts, and stir. (Naturally, in this alternate reality, Alex Nylander is a star and is surpassing his brother's career points totals.) Now, back to reality.

Done. Power for Borgen, straight up! Wait. What is meesa sayin'?! Power already has more career points in his 1.5 season (+8 games) than Borgen. Something tells me by the time Power is 27, the numbers will be a little more skewed in the Owen direction. One note on the numbers above: Power has 54 shots this season, 198 in his career. 198 would be leading the league in shots this season.