DarthEbriate

Alas, the Sabres don't have an overdrafted and very big 3rd line center (Gratton) to swap for a potential top-line scorer (Briere). They did have Cozens last year.... Maybe Guerin would've been willing to offer better than Ottawa/Norris. But, health concerns aside, I probably take a solid 2C in Norris over a young guy in Rossi who likely wants to paid as much as Norris and soon. (big caveat: does Norris ever play 70+ games in the lifetime of his current contract? TBD)

vs. Rolston (serious hire to work with new core before outright tank), Nolan (nostalgia re-tread during outright tank = no chance to win), Byslma (serious hire to rebuild), Housley (serious hire for new active D-direction), Krueger (serious???), Granato (offensive-only direction), Ruff (only interviewee in a nostalgia re-tread with only a 2-year contract before heading upstairs -- to bridge to a serious hire???) Can't be any worse.

There is always the possibility that Kekäläinen resigns or is fired because Pegula doesn't feel "heard" by him.

Kekäläinen drafted the following: Merzlikins, Gavrikov, Kolesar, Peeke, Bemstrom, Sillinger (Cole). I don't think PLD, Werenski, Marchenko, Jiricek, Del Bel Belluz, etc. will be available.

One thing of note, he was never afraid to move a 1st round pick, and he was connected enough to be involved in 3-team trades: https://www.nhltradetracker.com/user/trade_list_by_GM/Jarmo_Kekalainen/135/1

It was probably on Amerks sites as well, but Matthew Fairburn reported that Rousek played through a torn meniscus in the playoffs, good for second on the team with 8 points in 7 games (t-Kulich; Clague had 11). Props to Rousek for that.

With capfriendly and its predecessor (I've forgotten the name now) gone... is there a convenient way to compile the Columbus cap hits during Kekäläinen's time? I'm seeming to remember they were always under similar Pegulas internal restraints.

I scoured the stats page for just the right GMKA move.

In the event that someday a couple years from now, Jarmo is Sabres GM, and they make the playoffs -- and either Terry or a sportswriter or tv talking head or a Sabrespace poster gives credit to Adams for the roster he assembled that Jarmo is just the benefactor of... we all agree now to immediately shoot them down.

I had never been all that impressed with his Columbus teams. But I do appreciate that when he knew Bobrovsky was leaving and he had at least an OK squad, he said, "It's now or never: punch it!" and traded for Duchesne and Dzingel. And they swept the Lightning and lost in 6 to Boston. And they had some players that would've been good contributors that the Sabres need more of: Zucker-like. The Cam Atkinson, Brandon Dubinksy, Nick Foligno types that kept them afloat.

++Found someone they have, I would say. Hmm? --Rrrrriiiight.

If the Sabres were to trade all four to… Vancouver, let’s say… and then Vancouver won the Cup riding UPL… I’m out. I’m dropping hockey at that point.

6-3 game one win with Boushh playing. 0-3 since.

McDavid wasn’t even floating defensively looking for an easy outlet. He’s just faster to pivot and take off than anyone else.

It’s a game again.

Everyone should’ve been stocking up on as many ex-Sabres as possible.

Hear me out... UFA 32 years old, 6'3". Experienced. .926 sv % last year in the NHL. Louis Domingue. Sign him on July 1st to a 1-year $1.5M contract. Get through camp and start the season with Luukkonen, Domingue, and Levi on the roster. Then, waive Domingue. Boom. Playoffs, here we come.

It’s a little thing they call scheduled surgical procedures and LTIR.

This is totally its own thread. There is one big ancient generation. The generation that grew up with Star Wars, the generation that drew up with the Prequels, and now a generation that is growing up with the sequel trilogy.

200' player, engaged defensively, and ever around-the-puck -- yes, yes, and yes. Stirrer and pest making life miserable for opponents and getting under their skin? No. Theoren Fleury, Esa Tikkanen, Marchand he was and is not.

Eklund doesn't need to beat out TNT/Tuch/JJP/Benson/Zucker/Greenway to make the roster. Just Lafferty, Rosén, or Östlund, or (Quinn unless if he's moved). Kulich I'm already assuming is a lock. Edit: And Helenius. Benson beat Jost, Savoie (injured in preseason), Rousek (Amerks leading scorer the previous year), Kulich, and Rosén. You could also argue Biro or Murray if you're generous to their then-contracts. And also Olofsson, who was the first guy dropped out of the lineup while Benson stayed in it.

Two things of note: 1) When 4Nations was being selected, Tage was still playing center for the Sabres. Top 6: Eichel, Matthews. No room there. Also on the roster: Hughes. Nope. And the bottom 6 centers: Larkin, Trochek, Nelson. 2) TNT was good in the Worlds. Cool. He had two overtime goals. Clutch. Against... Norway during a 4-on-3 PP and goalie Tobias Normann. And in the gold medal game against... Austria. 3-on-3 on a rush goal, against... Leonardo Genoni.

Hi, Brendan. Salary? Well, you'd make 6% what you were making, but you'd report, get this, directly to the General Manager. You can't beat that! No, not 6% less. 6% of what... what you previously earned. Brendan? Hello there?

And these posts, articles, and the resulting threads on this board will persist the entire season as long as everyone in hockey operations is operating on a lame duck contract. There will always be the valid question from the outside, "What's the plan for next year?"

Aren't you a little short to be a stormtrooper win a faceoff? Rossi is good; his potential is still not reached. I'm just wondering why yet another 23 year-old who isn't a superstar or powerplay savant... and hasn't shown any veteran grind, long playoff-run, relentless tenacity, holding-others-accountable, being a punk to play against, angst-at-the-world fervor makes sense for this roster at forward.