DarthEbriate

After some workshopping... ++ The dyLando Center? -- dyLando's not a center; he's a wing. DyLando Cozrissian. Workhorse. Gambler. Goal-less. You'd like him. ++ Thanks.

Here goes nothing.

Quinn Solo: Well, look at you! A winger, huh? Cozensrissian: Someone must've told them about my little maneuver at the Battle of Prague (2024 World Championship where I led Team Canada in scoring).

The Reimer signing was a perfect offseason signing to pair with UPL. Proven, veteran NHL-caliber backup who can give you .900 sv% and 20-40 games every year depending on the season. His numbers are solid and steady -- except for one tank season in SJ. It also allowed them to get Levi all the playing time in Rochester can continue to hone and mature his game (get him up to 100 professional games played; he was at 56 entering this season). Instead, Levi won the competition for the Sabres lineup. (And I use the term competition in a GM Sheevyn voice -- "competition" "Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational competition.") That's fine if he won the competition, but it's at the expense of him getting into a daily groove or growing his game. Instead of playing 2 of 3, he'll get 1 of 3. Right now, the bigger issue is UPL. He's made some great saves, he's moved and read the play fine. But there have been at least 4 soft ones this season already. And the defense can't abandon him... like Dahlin leaving last season's PP-goals leader (27) Reinhart unmarked on the doorstep.

It always seemed to work on The Flintstones.

It's an alternate reality, but those can be fun (or sad, if you're a Sabres fan). What's disconcerting is that the once-future Sabres roster below is about $86M, or $2M under the cap with everyone playing on their current contract. To get here, the only thing they couldn't have done is sign Skinner to the long-term deal. Peterka - Eichel - Reinhart Cozens - Mittelstadt - Thompson Benson - McLeod - Quinn Malenstyn - Lafferty - Aube-Kubel Dahlin - Jokiharju Samuelsson - Power Gilbert/Bryson - Clifton UPL Reimer

Yup. For me, TNT remains in that mushy 13-17 range where he can be dominant against teams that don't have an elite center or an elite checking line. (Note: You should be able to win a bunch of games this way, because not too many teams have one, let alone both.) However, if you're a one-line team, which the Sabres appear to be this season until a 2nd scoring line appears, then TNT needs to be elite and the top line needs to be the cliche "you can't stop them, you can only hope to contain them; they're going to get theirs" level night-in and night-out.

What Quinn's poor play is doing is making financial decisions easier. If this continues, he's a trade chip or a bridge contract. If he had hit the season rolling, he'd be with JJP at the top of the list for GM Sheevyn to lock up with all that future cap space (he needed to save cap space for?...because, you know, how the NFL cap can rollover and...yeah penny-pinching winning isn't important internal EEE cap.) on another 7x7.25 deal.

Sad, but true. In the past, he's looked dynamic and he's made the JJP-Cozens line go. This season, he's lost. Now that Aube-Kubel is back, give Quinn this weekend's back-to-back games off. And if Benson is healthy, then get Kulich back to Rochester's top line. Kulich needs playing time.

He had his opportunity to wake up by throwing away his stick and pummeling Verhaege with fists after the Krebs boarding. Pre-Hathaway, he would have. Instead, Krebs was a punk -- which is good, and Verhaege gave the Bastard Panthers standard response to punks. The Sabres didn't respond.

Instead, Verhaege with a boarding/crosschecking, and worrying about the PP instead of addressing it.

Send a message for the rematch. Crush someone on the boards. Spray Bob with ice. Florida would.

Columbus is up 6-0 on Edmonton... and... McDavid had 1 shift of 37 seconds TOI. That would explain it.

Forced to grow. He was tenacious, but after getting pushed around enough in the second NHL season, he learned that he could push back. I think he first snapped against Boston... at least I have a visual of him being very steamed. And that'll probably do it.

If you'd ask him, he'd say he already has: it's Benson and Kulich.

Wanna talk about hockey IQ? Greer is here!

Hey... check that out! The Barkov line elevates, Rodrigues throws a hit... and then the Sabres respond. I never knew I had it in me.

Cozens helps the goal -- stays on the crease edge and gives Dahlin space to drive.

A new game is arisen.

Boom! 2 PPGF + 2 SHGA = 0

Zucker = Sweet!

Now's our chance... to get the powerplay back to even goals on the season! Huzzah!

Looks like the BastardPanthers practice their powerplay.

A bit late to the party, but made it. It looks like the Sabres are both telegraphing passes and not putting any zip on the said passes. To defeat Florida requires more speed, gents.

I hadn't heard that. Looks like he had a pretty darn solid 30-year run of TV work. Well, in honor of Mr. Harris. Hey Sabres, you're gonna have to bop your way all the through this homestand. Right now, the Bastard Panthers are trying to cross your little piece of turf. But it's all your turf.