DarthEbriate

There is a possibility (however unlikely) that the Norris evaluation can begin shortly and continue for several months. (He's gotten his automatic 20 missed games out of the way.) The key features of Norris are the things he does that no other center on this roster does in a single package: above-average FO, above-average speed, above-average shot, and a full 200' game. The D --- he didn't look great, but he never had a great chance to get fully integrated, either --- but it could still be Kesselring. However, it's more likely that Kesselring is what he was with Utah at the start of the season and why they were willing to let him go -- a 3rd pair guy who can move up just fine when he's paired with experienced partners. The best option is probably to trade Byram to a team that needs an offensive D in exchange for an older 2nd pair defensive D with a bit of snarl.

They don't have anyone who brings the puck up ice and you're scared. Sure, you're wary of TNT, but you just go and take away his space because he's got reach but not control. He doesn't create space because he's really only a threat to shoot, not to make otherworldly passes or breeze past you. Now... not every team has a player that creates space. But the Sabres really, really need one. And yes -- a goalie would be nice.

Everyone loves a kid line. But when they debuted together in 2005-06 their ages were Vanek-22, Roy-22, Afinogenov-26. Benson-21, Kozak-23, Östlund-22 are babies by comparison. (And they don't have the support of 3 other good lines, an excellent balanced D-corps, and Miller -- and a good coaching staff with Ruff in his prime and still with the fire within.)

We'll find out for sure what Ruff thinks once they're both in the lineup together.

Norris is a 2C around the league -- a good one, but not a top-line talent. He'd be the 2C on the Sabres as well, if Ruff trusted TNT to play defense.

Tuch was wide. Tarasenko was wide. The goalies were great all game and complete sieves in the shootout.

In the shootout day, at dawn, look to the Ost!

Entertaining period of hockey. Got 1 point. Go get the other.

That probably used up all the Sabres' puck luck for about 6 games or so -- maybe the upcoming road trip.

Zuccarello... can't be too happy about that one.

What a garbage goal! Yay!

I don't want another top-pick savior. I want a GM/HC combination that the league and current roster respect.

I hope Benson plays 16 seasons in the League (for the Sabres, if possible).

Catching up. On the Boldy goal, yes -- Ellis needs to make that save. But wtf, Tuch? Pucks are going to bounce and get away on occasion. But at least try to get it back or just whack it out of the zone. The casualness and lack of effort was alarming. He's supposed to be playing for a $10M+ payday. At least look like it. Tuch did "force" Boldy into a sloppy delay of game penalty to negate a PP, but the Sabres did nothing with their own abbreviated advantage. Ruff -- you need to demand more from your best players.

I think this is exactly what makes him 3rd pair material. If you can limit his minutes, you'll get good effort -- he kills penalties and unlike some of our folks, he does battle in front of the net. The issue lately is that Byram has brought out the worst in him. He was solid, if unspectacular, with Power earlier in the year. He's now played almost the exact amount of 5-on-5 time with Byram as he had with Power. 148:50 w/ Byram, 147:16 w/Power. Timmins-Power 7 GF / 7 GA Timmins-Bryam 7 GF / 13 GA Unfortunately, losing their best defender in Samuelsson could be a killer -- but put Byram-Dahlin back together where Dahlin can elevate him. Re-pair Power-Timmins. And do something like Novikov-Bryson for sheltered minutes/game. (I know, I know, we're likely getting the Bryson-Metsa show instead.) And... is canned by Pegula for not being heard. Pegula/Adams are a dyad in the Dark Side of the Force #####.

Scandalous!

Both teams are coming off a game last night and are playing their third game in 4 days. Sluggish pace expected. Wallstedt played last night, so the Sabres don't have to play a goalie whose numbers look like this: 7-0-2 1.93 GAA .938 sv%. They can't possibly get goalied tonight by a backup, right? (I still was certain that they were going to take Wallstedt with the Rosen pick since they hadn't given Ullmark a multiyear extension.) How is Gustavsson against the Sabres? A career sv% of... .938. Well, #####. This is either a game the Sabres magically show up for and net 7+, or they get 0 or maybe 1 really early -- tell themselves good job, and get shutdown the rest of the way.

Wyshynski tries to stay humorous which is important. It's also correct. There's never panic with the Sabres any longer. It is simply existential dread. They're in their own category for a reason. 14 reasons, going on 15.

The games in hand have disappeared and the points back from 1st have stretched to 10. The crazy gets less and less.

Good to be safe. He definitely was dazed and not with it when he first got back to his knees. Under no circumstances should he play tomorrow. Hopefully, he's good to go for the road trip. Need a lefty with size? Let's see Novikov for a game (or two).

It's the most logical solution. The answer was in the room. Those other guys were in Rochester at the time. It's really a matter of how much control does Jarmo get when he becomes GM. Or, does he also walk because he realizes that Adams will always be there to neuter his own decisions?

It worked for Peterka. At least as far as getting away from Adams and this franchise.

Can't bring up Leone. Appert is right there. He's been prepped as Adam's hand-picked HC for the last 2 seasons.

And trade Doan and Kesselring for players who will be RFAs in 2027.

Just hiring a real POHO and jettisoning Adams into the Sun would liven up the entire roster, fanbase, and franchise. (And even the coaches, knowing they were next and needed to show some life.)