DarthEbriate

I know it's not really a signing/transaction, but it is GM Sheevyn giving the order, and it's right in sequence so here goes: "Execute Order 66." The TankCaptain Purge has begun. The last 20 years and this franchise and its Captains... Maybe just stick to As in the future, eh?

65... 65... You know that means tomorrow's press conference is going to be especially fun when GM Sheevyn steps up to the lecturn, pulls a dark hood up over his head, cackles, sends a visible electrical shock from his fingertips to a microphone as he adjusts it, cackles a bit more, and then announces: "The journey to GM has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The disconnect is over. <applause> The JBotts and RaKrus have been defeated, <more polite applause> and the Tank-a-thon has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning! As part of Order 66, Jackikin Eichwalker will renounce his captaincy of the Tank Order and take his place at my side as my new apprentice!" <visible confusion (of the press)> In the first preseason game, Eichwalker skates onto the ice warmups sporting a cape, a new dark-tinted visor, and a red-bladed stick. During the anthems, he doffs the cape to show his new nameplate "DarthSabre". In the postgame presser, DarthSabre talks of "his new Empire" and only his newfound Power can help save the Padme Cup. Oki-pos-obi talks from his own locker about how DarthSabre was a pupil of his until he turned to evil and that DarthSabre betrayed and murdered Jackikin Eichwalker, so what was disconnected was true, from a certain point of view.

Execute Order Sixty-Five! Good deal for Dahlin. Gets decent money during the flat cap, can still negotiate a big new deal on a rising cap if needed, or can sign an RFA offer sheet, or only sign a one-year deal to become an UFA if we're spinning our skates under yet another GM/coach combo in 2024 where we've elected to start drafting big, heavy guys because the Rangers win a Cup after their offseason of "only add grit."

He'll dominate faceoffs for the Amerks.

I love these camp roster sheets the Sabres put together. Each year I take a look to see if any of our top prospects are filling out with muscle to see if they're going to be stable for the 82-game schedule. And also for the joy of "where did they find the data?". Highlight of the day: Viljami Marjala at the 2021 Sabres prospects camp: 5-11, 154. Now at the 2021 training camp: 6-0, 178. He put on 28 pounds in about 3 weeks. Tager needs to drink what Viljami's drinking.

Jar Jar No. Don't you dare. Abrams. Nope. Not that either. J-J looked fun on the forecheck, the turnover, the tap-in, and on the power play. We will watch your career with great interest. Hard to tell with the camera angle and no replays, but UPL K^6 apparently looked so big and in solid enough position that he forced the Devils tried to make the hardest shots possible and they missed the cage entirely on several occasions.

Here's one that might fulfill the truest version of pinnacle (closest to the top we've ever been) as well as the most Sabre-est. Beware... it's not the happiest memory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNZn6sIusjU&t=179m45s

My follow-up question would be: how does this compare to other bottom-feeding American-based franchises? Detroit would also figure to have several national games. But what about Arizona? Anaheim? I figure every team should get their NFL-equivalent of a Thursday night division game... maybe 4 national games over the course of the season. Then, every team should get a "rivalry" (NFL Monday night game equivalent). And if you're a playoff franchise, you get the coveted Sunday-night equivalents: playoff rematches from last season, or elite talent head-to-head (McDavid v. Crosby), or possible Cup previews (Tampa and Colorado). And... this is where we come in... the mid-week ratings booster. Call it the Packers/Cowboys/Steelers NFL equivalent, where they're good for at least 1 national game a year where the matchup makes no sense, but the league knows the TV ratings will be good. That's where the Sabres can get a San Jose spot, or a Wild game. We should be in that 6-8 game range. So... more national Dahlin!

He tried. Do? He did not.

UPL is a good goalie prospect, a top-ranked European goalie at the time of the draft. But he needs games, lots of games, before he's ready for the NHL. Last year essentially wiped more than half a season from his development, plus they only played what --- three other teams all year? It was a stagnant mess and he didn't crush it. He's not even to Mika Noronen level yet. Don't force him into a role, let him earn/win the role, or the outcome could be unfortunate. UPL-K6: Unfortunate that I made the team? Bales: No! Unfortunate that UPL were rushed to the team... that incomplete was your training. Not ready for the burden were you.

Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Pegulas the Tank? I thought not. It's not a story the Sabres would tell you. It's a League legend. Darth Pegulas was an Owner of the League so powerful and so wise he could use The Concept Of Ehrhoff/Molson to influence the GM and roster to stop winning.... He had such a knowledge of The Concept Of that he could even keep the star players on his roster from re-signing with the team. Jackikin Eichwalker: He could actually trade players away to keep on losing? The Concept Of is a pathway to the lottery and things winning franchises consider to be unnatural.

As another unrepentant, trolling, Packers fan -- sometimes it's good to get the garbage out of the way early. Now, it would be better to play the starters in the preseason a bit, especially if you're going to start a rookie center from day 1 and then learn midway through camp you're going to start a rookie guard as well. Instead, the Packers sat 30+ players each preseason game and elected to play 3rd-4th stringers and identify practice squad guys instead. The Saints played their starters. It showed. Beautifully. But the key point is: the Packers will be fine. The Bills will also be fine. Never read anything into week 1 in the NFL. Especially with an extra week added to the season. Note: And yes, it's odd to post to the Bills thread. But seriously, if you've ever visited a Packers board it's horribly depressing and reads like a youtube comments list. The 'Space on the other hand has lots of coherent folks with well-articulated discussions.

Hedman's age 16-17 season was with MODO and he was at 4 points in 39 games. Age 17-18 also with MODO he was 7-14-21 in 43 games. By age 18-19 season, he was in Tampa. Then two seasons in Tampa where he notched 26 and 20 points. Then, the breakthrough: 20 points in 44 games in 2012-13. The next season he earned his first Norris votes and he hasn't looked back since. If Power can become aggressive enough defensively to immediately diffuse rushes, to go into the corner with great reach and positioning and easily take the puck away, to force opposing players to make hasty, sloppy passes... as Hedman learned to do, then Power could become a true #1 D the likes of which we've not had in.... decades, ever? Because the offensive capabilities should be there. If he chooses the quick and easy path, as a strictly offensive defenseman did, he will become an agent of evil another franchise.

Our first-round picks the next two seasons are as close a guarantee to top-10 as there is, regardless of any single skater (non-goalie) out there. This season in particular we are gunning for a top-5 pick based on the goaltending. Don't forget, Granato isn't running a veteran Blues-trapping lineup where a rookie like Binnington would come in and put up electric numbers. He's going with the offensive, attacking, let-the-goalie face some odd-man rushes... for our viewing entertainment. But none of the current 'tenders are Hasek (although Anderson's career overlapped with Hasek). Don't give up the multiple top-10, cost-controlled picks for an Elias Pettersson or Cale Makar, because they aren't singlehandedly turning this thing around. Not with the next couple drafts coming up.

2.5 is the new .750.

If Mitts plays as an NHL-caliber 3C or above the duration of this deal, then this is a great contract from a team perspective. Also, Execute Order 63! (we're so, so close to an Eichel trade being the order for the great Tank Purge)

I thought it was a Sheahen-Girgensons collision in the scrimmage that cause Girgs to miss the season and got Sheahen a spot in the lineup. But it was a long time ago and I very likely am mistaken. I too thought Sheahen would be a good returnee for our roster this season. As to Sabres West... at least Seattle has potentially above average goaltending. We do not.

I'm just trying to figure out where this lands in the whole Fall of Jackikin Eichwalker story arc. We're clearly past GM Sheevyn's coup and the Sabres head office saying, "I will do what I must" to which Eichwalker responds, "You will try." But... we're not yet to a point where TPeg is saying, "It's over, Jackikin. I have the (contractual) high ground." Or to Eichwalker cut into pieces and bursting in flames. So... conference room. Big meeting just wrapped up. Separatists corpses scattered about. This seems about right:

Goodness gracious me! That's a lot of money for someone who hasn't really shown himself to be a scoring threat. I guess Carolina tried to trade a 1st and a 3rd for him and MTL said "More!", so Carolina said, "No. Here is the 1st and 3rd. Thanks." If one of our players signs an offer sheet, then he doesn't want to be here. GM Sheevyn would have to take the picks. Although... maybe he'd have to match to meet the cap floor.

You get the money to give up the home location and you get last line change. It's the best of both worlds. 😇🍺

Rich Stadium capacity 72,000. Tim Hortons Field capacity 24,000. They'll need to set the ticket value 3x higher to turn the same profit, especially since they'll need to rent THF instead of just using their own Bills Stadium. I wonder when we'll see what other compensation the Pegulas are getting to go to Hamilton. Now, if they absolutely need an outdoor game with Toronto, how about a home-and-home at THF? And then the next season a home-and-home at Ralph Wilson Stadium? It seems wasteful to go through all the setup to only use the rink for 1 NHL game. Or set it up and then host a few games for a week in your NFL stadium against some division rivals. Then the next season, go do the same thing in Boston, then Toronto, etc. Just roll it around the northern end of the division in February.

Rodgers doesn't have to listen to anyone. It's fine. He's very cognizant of peoples' perception and his reputation. He'll play this year in GB, then get dealt for some picks and play elsewhere next year when the cap hit isn't crippling. That's not good or bad. This year, he'll play his heart out. And if the defense shows up (and doesn't fold or slide after making an interception with 4 minutes to go) they'll be contenders.

I'm a Packers fan and we are absolutely contenders because of the offense as long as Rodgers' clavicles and hammys stay strong. Get a win in the division, win 1 playoff game and let's see where it goes. The Bills are also contenders. Anyone who says otherwise is being purposefully contrarian for the effect. The Bills' offense is dynamite, the defense is solid. They may be the most well-rounded team in the AFC. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's preseason game. The Packers' 2nd string was even with the Jets starters. Then, the 3rd-4th started turning the ball over vs. the Jets' 2nd string in the 2nd half. I'm curious to see how the Packers' 2nd string does against the Bills starters (if Allen and Co. are truly going to play tomorrow) and backups. Note: A couple Packers' starters will play. Rookie center Myers is going to play a series or two. A couple other vets might work off some rust if they've been injured. But no name you really know will be dressed. Note:Note: Packers message boards are pathetic with the amount of foolishness, vitriol, and trolling. Oddly enough, the most reasoned NFL thread is also on the most reasoned hockey message board.

It's semantics at this point. We're not tanking; we've already tanked. We finished last and we're the worst team over the last 5 years and we're the worst team over the last 10 years. We aren't blowing up anything of value to plummet in the standings. Now --- if we get off to a great start, we could tank this season if we start selling off good or overachieving players in an effort to keep pace with... say... Arizona. (I mean, they signed Hutton. Dell is at least better than Hutton, right?) If we're 5 games better than Arizona and we trade Dahlin (our lone All-Star representative) for futures, then that would be tanking again.

To the OP: They'll definitely need a new 3rd jersey to increase revenue. Some new threads for "the next newest newer-than-next generation of the rebuild" to hype the lottery pick in the 2023 Entry Draft. To the more recent thread conversation of blocking. The problem management is creating is that the players we're losing because they aren't wanted here (a.k.a. didn't emphatically say they want to stay on for 5 more years of rebuild)... aren't blocking anyone. Until UPL is better than Linus, there's no blocking taking place. And when it does happen, then you can worry about moving Ullmark. Likewise, Reinhart isn't blocking anyone at either RW or C because he's solid at either position. In the offensive zone, no one on the roster is blocked by Eichel. Heck, Skinner keeps dropping to the 3rd/4th line every season, so he's not blocking anyone except financially. The GM's goal should be putting a roster together that is deep enough to raise hell line-by-line, survive injuries, and have roles for everyone. (And don't so massively overpay a player that they're unmovable.) Let the coach and the players sort out ice time via their own competition. You don't eliminate internal competition from your roster by getting rid of the better player today and bank solely on hope. It's up to the prospect to play to the level that there's no decision to be made. Play so that there is no conflict. That's not to say we haven't had some blockages in the past (Staal blocked Mitts once we saw Staal was done and Eichel was broken; Eakin blocked either Cozens/Asplund depending on time of year; Girgensons blocked Angry Larry at center for a season). But that's on the coach to sort those out in season, not the GM on the roadmap of a rebuild.