DarthEbriate

The question is who goes to IR (or would they send down UPL to the press box for a day) to make room on the roster? Please don't say Samuelsson!

All the better when it's for the positive and on-ice/field reasons.

I think the nomination is probably 90% locked at this point, but if they miss the playoffs it becomes a matter of how they miss the playoffs. What's the end-of-season perception of Dahlin and the Sabres? Then, compare that with how the others do. If Buffalo is in it until the end before a hot run by Ottawa seals the deal (something more or less out of Dahlin's control) he's got 2nd. If Buffalo stumbles mid-March and then ends up riding out the string for the final 2 weeks... he could dip to 4th. If the Devils get past Carolina and get a 1st round WC team instead of the Rangers, does that push Hamilton up a single spot? Alternately, does a single fix like taking Bryson out of the Sabres lineup result in the team giving up fewer than 3 goals a game down the stretch, turning them into a powerhouse 15-5 finish, and Dahlin coasts to the Norris? A lot can happen in the final quarter of the season.

Just wait until it's April and it's still meaningful.

I think he's got a 50/50 chance to win it if the Sabres make the playoffs, though he does need to make up a bit of ground in points to Karlsson. Get within 15 points or so. And he gets that victory by a similar vote breakdown to last year: stay close in the 1sts and get the bulk of 2nd place votes. If they don't make the playoffs, I think all those 2nd place guys (Dahlin included) negate each other. Karlsson wins in the landslide and Dahlin finishes somewhere between 2nd and 4th.

I agree with you, but in this particular season, Karlsson's defense is a good 1980s-level offense. If he were having a 50- to 60-point campaign he'd look like Dahlin last season and be a -30 for playing half the game and he wouldn't get a single vote. But his point production is double that. The Sharks are really, really bad. Bedard sweepstakes bad. His season quite possibly will cost them Bedard. The concern is how many of those other players siphon votes from each other. You'll get Western Conf votes who see a few games of Dahlin and see Morrissey's breakout offensive season has elevated Winnipeg from 11th to playoff lock. You'll get homer writers who say "Well, Karlsson is #1 this year, but my guy (Makar/Fox/etc.) is going to get my 2nd-place vote." You'll also get pro-Buffalo writers who will vote #1 for Dahlin and not put Karlsson on the ballot.

Karlsson's projected to be a -10 on a team with a -70 goal differential despite playing half the game. He'll break 100 points and lead his team in scoring by 30 points. That's not really an excuse. Note: Last season, Josi's 96 points got him the most #1 votes, but Makar got #1 and all the #2 votes so he won. That would be Dahlin's hope: get #1 and #2 votes and hope Morrissey doesn't steal any. But the issue is last year Makar only trailed Josi's epic season by 10 points. Karlsson's up by almost 20 on Morrissey and Dahlin. The other hope for Dahlin is that without Meier, Karlsson simply doesn't have anyone else to play with and his point production craters down the stretch. But he has 5 points in 3 March games, so thus far it hasn't happened.

I know HCDG doesn't want to punish anyone, but after VO's pull away toward center ice after the puck careened off his skate and was late getting back on his man on the GWG, he's got to sit. Tell him he's out the next 2 games, then JJP gets a couple for rest/recharge. Ideally, Hino is the 13F where he belongs, but that's dependent on one of VO/JJP getting back in the goal scorer's column. (I am a little bit saddened that Skinner stepped out into the slot for the PPG from Thompson last night instead of having it wired home by VO. That could've gotten VO's confidence and jump back in time for the stretch run.)

It started last season when he started reverse-checking folks along the boards. I think there was one in particular --- maybe the outdoor game? --- that was a beauty. He's learning to play with his adult strength and his board battles have turned into consistent wins. He's a NHL-caliber middle 6 guy and would fit there (or higher, say, CHI) nicely on any roster in the League. Mitts still has things he can refine (i.e., shot, own-zone coverage, consistency) but he's become a good player.

I think Makar's missed games will do him in, but he'll still get votes. Quinn Hughes as well. One thing to note on Karlsson -- he's putting up an historic season. He basically said, "Oh? You need me to provide the offense of Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns -- two of the most prolific scoring defensemen of the last decade -- and I need to do that on my own? Fine, done." And he's doing it on a tanking team. His two starting goalies are both sub .890 sv%. Sure, he's not the best in his zone, but their whole roster is garbage defensively. He's 30 points clear of the next highest-scoring player on his team. (Granted, he'd only be about 25 points clear if Meier hadn't been traded.) It'd be like if Dahlin already had 110 points and was 30 clear of Thompson. Heck, Karlsson has 1 point less than TNT.

The only chance he has at the Norris, from a national perspective, is if the Sabres make the playoffs. Otherwise, they'll acknowledge Karlsson's obscene stats, Morrissey's offensive breakout, Fox's overall game and market. And there will be some love for McAvoy as the #1 D on the best team in the league. Edit: And Dougie Hamilton leading the NJD from bottom tier 63-point team to a playoff lock by March 1st. Basically, they've achieved a 100-goal differential swing and there's still a month to play.

2/24 v FLA; 2/26 @ WSH? This team has been in playoff mode for a couple weeks. There are still 20 games left for the Sabres and plenty of time to make up a 4-point swing vs. the Isles, including another game against them. But every one of these games against wildcard competition is as important as the last one and the next one.

I saw a bottom 6 forward (with potential to play top 6) with size who can use his size to cycle effectively. His bouncing around lines a bit didn't really lead to anything that popped in one night. I missed the first half of the third, but I didn't see him drive to the net with intent which sounds consistent with the reports out of Minnesota. He's got the size to be a nemesis for opposing goalies and defensemen. His defensive and all-around game will be good (and maybe great) for the Sabres the next couple years. But if he remains on the perimeter too much he'll be another oft-complained-about player.

Martha Stewart had a commercial selling kitty litter and the owner of the cat doing the duties was an actor she kept calling Bryson.

Are you seeing this? Bryson is helping Martha Stewart sell kitty litter?

Boussh could've given us some gummibears...

Cozens was due. VO and JJP: you're both next.

Brutally long shift started in the o-zone, got trapped in the d-zone, and couldn't get a stick on it to clear.

Stuart Skinner hasn't stolen anything yet. The Sabres can still turn this into a rout.

I care. It's tied once more.

I searched for it... but it appears to have gotten overshadowed by "Vikings are frauds" conversations because the waiving of Jost was the same weekend the Vikings got beat 40-3 at home by the Cowboys.

I'm sure they loved the Greef line when it a dynamo to no end. But it's no different than how we treat our scapegoats, whether they be Eichel or Skinner during Krueger, or Mitts or VO, etc. Sports show hosts have to have a take no matter what the player has done for them lately.

Spring training has retired baseball managers on your mind? 🍺