DarthEbriate

Karrabast. Is Eich off getting repairs while MoJo skates with Asplund and Reino?

Let Hutton go. Stay on the leader.

No, Okposo, no head wounds!

Reino as Eichel. Risto/Eichel as Reino. MoJo as ... and Dahlin with the feed. (Good, gooooooood.... Learn to play without Olofsson on the PP!)

Huh, is Pysyk playing wing?

We got our MoJo working.

Booooo! Rubbish, filth, mire, muck! C'mon Sabres' PR people. If your 50th season brethren in Vancouver can warm up in the Vs and play in the Skates, you can don the damned goatheads on '90s alumni day or at least warmups. Booooooo! (But then, play in those gorgeous 50th anniversary home whites if you must.)

It is funny. It's also true. ERod is making $2M because of arbitration. He had 25 points in 48 games a couple years back and 29 points last year. His production says 30-45 points per full season. If ERod were to play with Eichel/Reinhart for 15 games this season (the entire duration of Olofsson's injury, as well as PP time) AND... he gets it together and gels with his old college linemate at 1 ppg --- that's huge for ERod to not only stay in the NHL, but stay at the $2M range. Not with us; we're not bringing him back despite that RFA status --- any maybe not elsewhere --- but that can be his asking price based on production. What we're seeing this year is a 2-way $700k player.

Ah, the new sequel trilogy. Big on plot, wonky on story. Sure, they're each fun in their own way; but it really does make a difference to have a piece of source material (or singular artistic vision) that you're following so that a series interweaves with itself and its galaxy. But there's another thread on this board for that. Edit: In fact, it's much like a President/GM/Coach setup as @Weave and @Pimlach have noted in this thread. You need the guiding vision and it has to be there first. (Yes, it can change things... like make Leia Luke's sister between Empire and Return, but it needs to be a consistent vision end to end. The story.) Then, you bring in your GMs (producers/screenwriters) and Coaches (directors/screenwriters) to execute that vision. But you can't shuffle them season to season or within the same trilogy. It (the story) isn't going to go anywhere. No matter how good your players (actors) are or the scheme (set design, effects) or goals (lightsaber fights) are, without the consistent direction from the top. Otherwise, you could catch lightning in a bottle. But that shot, kid, is one in a million. And only Moulson's contract will be with us, always. I did it! I have achieved a symbiotic circle! I'll see myself out.

I had to look it up to confirm -- yes you're right. DLo has carved out a nice 4th line role with MTL and now ANA. Sadly, wherever he's been, he's been on a near bottom-feeder. Good at his role, gets the crowd going, etc. The Sabres players liked him because he opened up space for them and came to their defense. I think we can all agree though that you don't trade a young defenseman (McNabb) and two 2nd round picks for DLo and another 3/4 F prospect in Fasching. (And I really liked Fasching). You don't construct your roster around DLo. (And I know... GMTM didn't... he constructed it around Kane, Moulson, Bogo, Lehner, and... McDavid.)

I hope they do as well, but it doesn't appear that they've made any announcement. A few weeks back for Canucks '80s night, they wore their wild guady "V" jerseys during warmups, and then those beautiful skate jerseys for the game. Those skates are their Alternate jersey this year, in addition to the official 3rd (stick), and the home and away. Our Alternate this year is the 50th anniversary. So --- maybe we wear goatheads during warmups? But they aren't out for sale anywhere, which means they won't be worn in-game.

Elev-en has taught you well, but you are not a GM yet. Retconned! Prequels!

While it is only a couple injuries, it's been an assault on the LW organization-wide. At some point, (now adding Olofsson) all of these guys have missed significant time this year: Skinner, Olofsson. CJ Smith, Wilson, Leier, Elie. If CJ Smith were healthy and rolling in ROC, maybe we give him the callup for Skinner. Instead, he's still working back into it. So, it's a Frolik/Asplund patch. That's not good... but Eichel is resting and Frolik isn't here yet, it's also nothing compared to this*: Ennis - Girgensons - Stewart Moulson - Mitchell - Gionta Deslauriers - Flynn - Foligno Larsson - Ellis - Hodgson Benoit - Bogosian Pysyk - Meszaros McCabe - Ristolainen Neuvirth (Lindback) *This lineup lost 2-1 via SO vs. the #1 (in points at the time) Predators and backup G Carter Hutton, 2/22/2015.

Frolik is in. That pesky extra defenseman is out. I've done all I can. Sorry I couldn't do better, but I've got my own problems.

With MoJo getting back up to speed after his injury, I'm kind of good keeping Vesey and Sheary with him. Neither Vesey nor Sheary has taken advantage of their limited time with Eichel in the past (edit: obviously, Sheary much more time than Vesey). And I can't break up our only solid line at grinding in the O zone and clamping down on the opposition's top line in the GLO. So... at some point in just the last couple years Frolik would've skated with Monahan, Gaudreau, Tkachuk, although I don't know his various line combos. I'd say give the new guy the chance with Eichel/Reinhart to be their defensively sound partner who goes to the front of the net and uses veteran savvy to take advantage of the space Eichel creates. Why not?

On the possible plus side -- this will teach the 1st PP unit that it can't just stand around waiting for an Olofsson snipe. More movement, more Reino in front of the net for more goals? Hopefully. C'mon, let's keep a little optimism here. On the negative side -- Skinner's injury means he can't just step in and go on the attack. And Thompson is still out so he's not getting the chance to capitalize, either. Mr. Frolik, you have a glorious opportunity! (And Asplund, too.) I think Lazar has to stay at center for the moment. Now that he's back healthy, Wilson is a good 4 LW to keep that line afloat.

The question now is Wilson in the lineup while Frolik's visa goes through... or does ERod get a chance to skate? If ERod/agent had kept quiet, with Olofsson and Skinner out, he could be skating on a line with Eichel and Reino. That'd be good for stats and his next contract. But alas... maybe he just continues to sit and stew.

Lazar was taking faceoffs, but yes... I'd rather see his ice time increase than Sheary.

Asplund with Eichel and Reinhart. Add a Swede and stir.

He's improving at it. His first year was a lot of big rebounds, followed by a bit more flailing to make up for it. Now, much more composed and square and his rebounds are similar to other mid-tier goalies. He's coming along well.

Nice pick, Olofsson. Now... given your reputation, you need to work on the deke to deposit it because they're all thinking shot.

Now... if it's X wing and a prayer... then we've got it.

Reino started hot but has typically been a much better second half player --- for whatever reason. Maybe he brings it again this second half and Skinner reappears like an uncloaked frigate and ... Frolik... is an important piece and Bogo finds his game and... It's a lot of ands.

I see what you did there.

He's gonna go Connolly.