DarthEbriate

Docking Bernard 94.... Ninety-four. (I'd say wear 94, but I really just want him to wear a defenseman's number.) We could go from a Power-Joker to a Power-Docker. Though I do like Muel-Power. (This is all names-based.)

^This Because in a vacuum, I'm happy with what he's done in the last 72 hours. Greenway and Zucker for 2 more years with a slight overpay on one and a slight underpay on the other. If Greenway is healthy, this gets the "core" and Power two more years into their prime with real veterans to guide them. Adding a 2C (Norris) while removing a middle 6 winger (Cozens). This is good. And it hopefully means McLeod gets more all-around minutes instead of getting stuck on the 4th line. Removing Gilbert is a minor problem, but he's a 7/8, no biggie. And bringing in a defensive-first D-man RHD to balance out one of the pairs. That's a net positive. But still Adams shouldn't be in this gig for all the years of ineptitude before it (and likely to follow).

Or of his actual fighting prowess. Per hockeyfights.com, Cozens has 5 fights since the start of the 2022-23 season (not exactly an enforcer) 3/19/2023 Trent Frederic. An even fight 45% Cozens, 45% Frederic, 9% Draw. Perfectly even. 11/3/2023 Garnet Hathaway. Ooops! 91 % Hathaway. 0 draws. Um... some drunken homers voted for Cozens. 4/7/2024 Jeff Petry. Cozens gets Petry offbalance and they topple. 1 punch thrown as they fell. 50% draw, 44% Cozens, 6% Petry. 12/14/2024 Martin Fehervary. 50% Fehervary, 43% draw, 7% Cozens. Decisive loss. 2/27/2025 Jesper Kotkaniemi. The opening faceoff scrap in Carolina that energized a struggling Canes roster for their home game. 81% Kotkaniemi, 9% draw, 9% Cozens. You got your ass kicked by Jesper Kotkaniemi??? He's a lover workhorse, not a fighter.

Enjoy those palm trees while in Florida, GM Sheevyn. You've earned it!

Josh Norris is now the Sabres' highest-paid forward. 5 more years remaining on the contract and a modified 10-team No Trade Clause that kicks in for the final 4 years. The shoulder is the primary concern. A thrice-bacta-tanked shoulder is not going to magically improve as he ages.

Good point. Norris - 5 GWG goal this season and 18 in his career. That's... fine. Nothing spectacular though. Ah, but... Cozens - 1 GWG goal this season and 4 in his career. That's utter dreck. Just absolute #####-##### ### # ### # # ########.

Change of scenery, yes. But it's not like he'll join their top line. He's going to be between Perron and Batherson to start. I think once they move him to wing he can blossom, same as here.

He can't play in the AHL until next season

As of right now, B-Docker is on LTIR, but is practicing and will debut in short order. If Joker is moved as expected, I think you start JBD with Power just to see what happens, put Byram back with Dahlin, and do Samuelsson/Clifton as they had earlier in the year. Ruff will do none of these things.

Less than MacKinnon. Double Necas. Seems right.

And you think we 'Spacers are degenerate fans?

Gilbert could always re-sign with Buffalo in the offseason as the 7/8 muscle for next year.

BriseBois throws away picks for Gourde and Jeannot, but there's only a few pick slots difference between his 1st and Buffalo's 2nd. The problem is one team is generating plenty of playoff revenue and 2 Cups and has a roster that can flip the switch to kick-ass at any time. And the other is.... none of those things.

There's still a chance that 2026 2nd is pick 64 in the draft!

The addition ... is the subtraction. It is Buffalo's destiny to bring balance to the Concept of the Cup.

Which he has done. Is he a defensive stalwart? No. But, he's improved each season and has been slightly more consistent than last year (where he disappeared for a month; this year it's down to a week or so at a time). By his mid-20s he could be an all-around top 6 guy on any good/championship caliber team in the league.

The new guy fight. Jost led the Sabres in fights the season he showed up.

I think it was Hathaway who officially destroyed Cozens. But there were multiple times he's taken a shellacking.

Benson gets the puck to dangerous areas when no one is there to finish. Dahlin and Power both transition the puck well. Tuch is a slightly underrated playmaker.

Perhaps they mean maybe Tkachuk will teach him how to fight? Or Tkachuk will kick Cozens' ###### when he doesn't come to the aid of his teammates?

Does the short term of removing Cozens and adding Norris get them up to 8th overall by the end of the season (particularly if a team jumps ahead of them via the lottery)?

JBD is a 6-0 190# RHD who is a defensive +/- stud in the AHL and 3rd pairing guy in the NHL. 24 years old, pending RFA, and currently on LTIR with a high-ankle sprain suffered in January 2025. The RHD equivalent of Ryan Johnson?

He doesn't need to score like he did this season; if he can continue to play like he has this season -- engaged, aggressive, and responsible across any line he's deployed on (Zucker's "line" has often been the Sabres' best line all year), then is an excellent signing. Yes, the speed will drop off at some point, but if they get two more years like this year's Zucker, this is an excellent move. I want Benson learning from Zucker (moreso than from say, Okposo's game toward the end)

Is Norris at least capable on the power play? He doesn’t need to be a power play dominator but is he at least not a power play detonator?