DarthEbriate

Or it's just transposing lines 2 and 3 and nothing to dwell on.

Daccord just got 5x$5M from the Kraken for 69 games of NHL experience. He was a UFA at the end of the season and was an original octopus expansion pick. Good job, Swayman!

There is 80 games' worth of time for injuries or performance to dictate who is in net, though.

Hopefully, we have a player who learns to protect himself better from aggressive old d-men who are looking to set the tone early in a game.

Swayman reset the goalie market, as intended. Now a #1 is going to be looking for Vasilevskiy money. Levi's agent is tenting his fingers and smiling.

It is odd, for sure, but as part of the (North American) season opener tripleheader, Blues/Kraken is the logical one to kick out of primetime. Bruins/Panthers is the clear primetime kickoff (banner raising and a good matchup) and Bedard/Utah makes sense to get on the opening slate out west.

He will never have a better chance to get his career in order than until JJP returns. Then, he can keep it going while skating for Aube-Kubel. Krebs has a desperate home audience in a home opener with a fragile fan base watching on TV. All he needs to do is go hard to the net, go hard to the corners, and skate and battle his hinder off. Open up space for TNT's shot and for a D-man to jump into a play down low. Maybe draw a retaliatory penalty. He can still be the unsung hero of the rebellion (as one of the offspring of Jackikin, he can still be Wedge. Or he can be Biggs.)

I'm bored, but otherwise doing alright. There's too much time between games 2 and 3. Thanks for asking!

Push the Sabres and they won't push back. It's been that way for 10 years. Can Ruff change it? They did call up that one AHLer for a game vs. Tampa Bay after getting tossed around the previous two seasons. Remember that great example of toughness? Part of the beauty of playoff hockey is the ebb-and-flow. Good teams taking turns controlling play and going at each other, pushing, prodding, exerting their will. And then it shifts back. The Sabres haven't been able to push back against a physical team. And it can't just be a bunch of newcomers on the fourth line. It needs to be everyone. Tuch responded to the hit: well and good. That's expected. But the response needs to be ongoing through the rest of the game. There needs to be a fire and an orneriness at the end of the game to send a message for the next day, and the rematch later in the season. This franchise still needs a line brawl in the worst way. They need to pick another franchise and make them an enemy. Force a good old rivalry. Make those games must-have tickets. And then, pick another team, and do it again. I nominate Boston and Tampa.

Yup. Tie your boat the bronze-medal goat. Now the Jets are free to trade for Davante Adams. Heck, they can even sign Bakhtiari despite the fact that his knee can't pass a physical.

If losing Reimer had been a primary concern, they should have simply signed him to a larger contract with all that Skinner cash. Levi beat Reimer out in camp/pre-season and that was that. Now... from an organizational perspective, the concern is depth and Sandstorm (deep hurting!) not being a great AHL goalie (by his career numbers) when you have a potential excellent Amerks roster that can learn how to impose its will on the opposition. But if they can't trust their goalie, they'll have a messy season, too.

Sure. Bettman kept the Coyotes in Arizona for 25 years. As long as the new owner(ship group) got money flowing into the team and got a new or upgraded stadium in order, then Bettman and the other owners would be happy at the increase in revenue. Buffalo/Ontario is a premier hockey market and the league is stoked to have an American team participating in it. But on the other hand... Have you ever heard the tragedy of Darth Pegulas the Wise? Of course you have. You're living it.

He scored a goal in his first game, sparking a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 regulation win against the Jets. Figured a good battle-winning, board-working 3rd liner. Didn't exactly pan out that way, but he is still playing 8 years later and is likely to be an injury call-up once again.

Jones is far from a meddler. He is the general manager, though he has assistance for contracts/cap work. The only time he gets upset is if the coach also wants to be in charge of the roster. He’s in a 4-team division that includes frequent ineptitude in the Giants and DC and yet hasn’t made an NFC title game since the 90s. He let Garrett be his coach for 9 years. McCarthy is on his fifth. Jones is a softie who wants a yes-man as coach. As long as he’s on TV and his team is on primetime slots, he’s happy as a clam.

As of this post, he’s the only Sabres forward credited with a hit.

Each team lost one home game. The Sabres are on the road today. But, if you look at the Sabres’ schedule on ESPN, both games are listed as vs. NJ, which would lead you to conclude that they gave up two home games.

Look at the bright side. At least you’ll have play-by-play that tells you what is happening and gets excited when things do happen. Though Marty during the intermissions is very good. He already does part time national work; it’s only a matter of time before we lose him to broadcast UFA.

If Benson is a healthy scratch, then the Grand Ruff’s foul stench is already on board. But! I’d rather the crazy young wizard be a healthy scratch than injured and be in danger of missing multiple contests.

Accelerate to attack speed. Or at least look like you’re trying to outskate them.

I say lift off and nuke the entire team from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. But if that fails, or if they start 0-3, at least spread out the new guys so Zucker, Malenstyn, Lafferty, and Aube-Kubel (if healthy) can at least impact the young culture on a line-by-line basis.

After the first period of the first game… Amend that: 77 points There. Bets hedged.

—How we doing? ++Same as always. —That bad, huh?

Two games that I’ll be unable to see, but just remember. Each game: be the log. You are the first log today and you are the second log tomorrow. And don’t forget to wave to your friends when it’s over.

1) Sabres point total? 99 2) Will the Sabres makes the playoffs? Yes 3) Sabres leading goal scorer? Peterka 42, with TNT a couple back. JJP just scores a few more greasier goals. 4) Sabres leader in total points? Surprisingly, Quinn by a point on the help of PPA 5) Sabres MVP? Dahlin 6) Sabres ROY? Kulich, unless Levi is somehow still eligible 7) Best off-season acquisition? Lafferty, relative to expectations 8.) Worst off-season acquisition? Reimer, but it’s not a bad thing 9) Biggest surprise? (positive or negative) The overall effectiveness of the 3rd line and how the Sabres engage physically. 10) Breakout player? Leaguewide, it’s Quinn. Within Sabredom: McLeod 11) Will any Sabres players or coaches finish as finalists (win?) for any major awards such as the Norris or Selke? Ruff, but doesn’t win. 12) Unsung Hero? McLeod up front, Muel on the blue line 13) Who will be the first Sabre traded away this season? Reimer 14) Will KA make any in-season acquisitions before the deadline? Yes. 15) Will the Sabres be buyers or sellers at the deadline? Buyers, but not significant, because GM Sheevyn is still playing the long game and doesn’t believe that this is the year to move young assets. 16) Other Bold prediction? {Such as KA gets fired mid-season ;)} The Sabres will have over 18 fighting majors this season. Power will start to look the part in all 3 zones. A victory over TB on 4/13/25 clinches a playoff berth and officially ends the Lightning’s playoff hopes for the season. 17) Any other thoughts? Many. The most upsetting one is that injuries and lack of clearing the front of the net lead to easy goals take all the positive vibes and flush them away. And that I’m happy to change my predictions at any time.

But what if it is? What if the Sabres make the playoffs and Edmonton finishes a point shy?