DarthEbriate

This is why the Sabres so desperately need to make the playoffs as a franchise; so that they all get a taste of real-speed hockey. I don't know that anyone on the Sabres will make either US or Canada's 2026 Olympic roster; honestly, if I were the US/Canada GMs I wouldn't take anyone who didn't have Stanley Cup playoff experience.

I don't think it can be argued that Dahlin isn't a veteran at this point in his career, but his D coaching on the Sabres is probably lesser than the other players representing Sweden. But although Dahlin is a NHL vet, he's way younger than any other D on Team Sweden. Karlsson, Ekholm, and Hedman are all 34. Brodin 31. Forsling and Andersson (who hasn't dressed yet) are 28. Dahlin is Sweden's baby at 24. I think Team Sweden may make some changes for the 2026 Olympics. ---- The 3-2-1 is perfect for a system with OT. Just for fun: BUF would have 67 points right now; DET (final WC spot) would be at 82 points. BUF would 15 points back instead of 12 -- which is more accurate, in my estimation. ---- Re: USA-Canada. Had to watch it on delay. The fighting was a surprise to be sure, but a silly one. It was highly entertaining (and Hagel... bloody hell, JBott....). The good thing was they got it all out of their system and none of it carried onward in the game. Then, it was just fun high-speed hockey. Hellebuyck was ready and square for everything, like a bigger R.Miller.

The ESPN intermission crew blamed Dahlin's pinch (and yes, Dahlin needs to see Z is not even thinking of coming back to defend and not pinch) on the odd-man goal, but that goal is looking more and more like Zibanejad's mistake because Sweden has been activating D to go low in the zone throughout the game.

Yup, Zibanejad just slowly drifted down below the goal line for a meaningless bump well after Finland had already possessed the puck moved it around the net.

Dahlin back on the ice. Gets a + as Zibanejad bounces one through Lankinen. Then, Dahlin gets caught pinching and leads to a 2-on-1 Finland goal.

Dahlin gets injured on the left arm/side blocking a shot at the end of a good shift.... grumble, grumble.

Missed the anthem for Finland, but the ESPN+ subtitles for Sweden did not appear to be correct. At least, I don't think their anthem mentions insulin.

Gah! I almost looked it up to be sure and then didn't. Thanks! Fixed

Hasek does things.

The Czechs and Slovaks are probably OK with it. But they did diminish their ice hockey team’s ceiling with the split.

In the spirit of Muel-PO, I think his leitmotif would follow the vocal intonations of his character namesake Anthony Daniels. I was debating a line from Star Wars, but I think the most musical delivery is from Empire: ”Well, at least you’re still in one piece. Look what’s happened to meeeee.”

In his career, Joker has had a habit of getting weaker shots through to the front of the net. It’s not a bad skill to have for a 3rd pair guy. And yes, I still think he’ll be a solid and responsible 5/6 on a playoff team this season.

Never want your coach questioning whether you even want to play. I like that Prospal is playing the last chance card as one final kick in the rear. Yup. At least in Buffalo’s system. Alas, he’ll never even be a Nylander change of scenery trade at this point. Gone the way of Karabacek and that entire trio of 2nds.

So Tage would be the three-note phrase of “T-N-T” from T.N.T? Optionally, add in the notes of “I’m dynamite” to close the phrase.

Likewise, Dustin Wolf has had NHL nibbles, but accrued 141 AHL games over the previous 4 seasons before making the full-time jump to hyperspace this year.

You mean like that season in which he spent a combined $4.6M on goaltending... for the entire organization? Subban $850k, Luukkonen $778k, Anderson $750k, Dell $750k, Houser $750, and Tokarski $725

This team is ###### psycho, man. But, they're my mate, so what can you do?

But isn't the R the AHL-level player? How can you have a WAR in the AHL? This is melting my brain.

As others have said, Finland has a couple. There's also plenty of ex-Sabres to cheer for. 😇

No, the music is in here. Like Mozart when we're doing Sabres solitary.

Was I devastated that Return wasn't as good as Star Wars or Empire? No, no I wasn't. The end wasn't everything. It was about the Ewoks we met along the way. Plus, Paploo rode a speeder and the music was lovely.

Soucy is available. Borgen was available. Fabbro was on waivers (I think the Sabres were a point or 2 better than Columbus at the time so he was claimed before reaching them, but I'd have to go back and confirm that) and has been skating with Werenski ever since. They're out there.

It's not Power. Power likely won't ever earn his salary as long as Dahlin is PP1. The only way Power could come close to earning his salary is if his PP2 unit was scoring at an elite level (and the PP1 was as well). Contrast the Sabres' 27th-ranked PP (16.67%) with Winnipeg's (33%) and Vegas' (28%) absurdly good PPs. That's where the Sabres need to be to justify paying two D as top-pair PP1 pointmen. Consider this season's contrast: WPG Morrissey age 29, 1 PPG, 17 PPA. 2:43 PP ATOI. $6.25M. 3 more years under contract. And 5th and 7th in Norris voting the past two seasons. WPG Pionk age 29, 4 PPG, 7 PPA. 1:23 PP ATOI. $5.875M. UFA this summer. WPG 3rd D is DeMelo with no PP time and 13 points. $4.9M. WPG spends only about $16M on its top 3 D. VGK Theodore age 29, 2 PPG, 17 PPA. 2:48 PP ATOI. $7.425 for 5 seasons beginning this summer. Currently, $5.2M. VGK Hanifin/Pietrangelo age 28/35, 1 PPG 1 PPA. 0:58/0:54 PP ATOI. $7.35M and $8.8M -- but only one is on the PP2 at a time. Theodore is PP1 and the other guys get the scraps. Hanifin and Pietrangelo don't have the production, but they're also established vets who are decent in all zones. Combined top 3 is about $23.5M. Contrast that with the Sabres. BUF Dahlin age 24, 3 PPG, 11 PPA. 3:14 PP ATOI. $11M BUF Power age 22, 1 PPG, 1 PPA. 1:49 PP ATOI $8.35 BUF Byram age 23, 0 PPG, 2 PPA. 1:17 PP ATOI $ RFA. The Sabres are at $23M this season, and their production on the PP is only equivalent to what Theodore provides. Power scores at 5-on-5, but he's still a minus -10 player this season overall (which is his first minus season overall; but he's not getting demonstrably better defensively). Next season, if Byram gets top-pair money, then they need more on the PP for any and all three D, but especially the PP2 D-man. Dahlin's number are slightly deflated by missing 8 games.

And it should be noted: McLeod PP ATOI: 0:06 (0 G, 0 A) Cozens PP ATOI: 2:24 (2 G, 2 A) --> 6th highest ATOI on team The 7th PP ATOI is Tuch with 0-5-5 PP pts. Everyone above Cozens (TNT, Zucker, Dahlin, JJP, Quinn) has at least 9 PP points. From Quinn at 2-7-9 up to Zucker 9-6-15. Cozens is a statistical dead spot on the PP -- but it was a nice shot on the PP goal vs Nashville. Quinn only gets 2:31 ATOI, so 7 more seconds.

Power couldn’t work Forsberg off the puck at all. Forsberg could’ve had a five minute game-ending shift on power there.