mjd1001

Its hard to think of losing your top players like Tuch, maybe Thompson and Dahlin, and others, when the team comes off of a win or a streak of 3 wins in 5 games. "What would the team be like without THOSE guys". But then you have to remember, if they are your best players, you are are still losing, still not sniffing the playoffs, how much of a help really are they? And do you want to 'overplay' (or even pay them on the 'high' end of fair value) just to maintain the level you are at? I like Thompson, I really do, I think he can be/is one of the elite goal scorers in the game. Tuch (right now) can be on the be better 'all situation' wingers in the league. Dahling has the talent of a top 5 D-man in the leage and SOMETIMES plays like he should be in contention for the Norris. But the truth is, none of them do it enough or maybe they just aren't as good as I (we) think. I'd LOVE to have all of those guys, and other guys on this team be locked up long term IF the team is winning and a legit playoff team. But for me...it no longer makes sense to fret/worry/bother about their future here on a team that is what it currently is.

Thompson, I don't like he's not scoring but he is streaky. He ended up with 44 goals last year but had a 5 game goal-less streak 3 differen times through the season and at least 1 or 2 streaks where he didn't score for 4. Sure, Tage and Tuch eventually might get back to their 'regular' form, and start scoring goals that cause you to tie a game like last night and get a point, or maybe even win it and get 2. But....how far behind everyone else will you be by then? Its still early, but they are already likely a 4 game win streak away from 'getting to' that LAST playoff spot. Seriously, winning the next 3 games gets them to 10 points in 9 games played...which is a pace for 91 points for the year, that probably doesn't get you to the playoffs. If they win their next 4 in a row, they are at 12 points in 10 games...a 98 point pace that probably does. Its WAY too early to have to be thinking of 4 game win streaks just to get into 'probable' playoff position.

Season 1 to me was the best series of any kind I have seen in a long time. Season 2 was a bit different, but just as good. Season 3 to me was a slight step behind, but I still enjoyed it.

Great, now later this year or next year, find a guy who can fight just as well but is a bit better at the actual "hockey thing."

He's a different type player than Byram....but if Bryam's deal is 2 years...right about the time you would want Mrtka easing into the lineup if he keeps on getting better.

What happened to him, seriously? When he left Buffalo, he was the teams leading scorer. A double digit positive player. He was looking like he was 'breaking out' to be a very, very good #2 center, playing both sides of the ice, and on his way to a 60-65 point season. Then he goes to a better team, and since he left Buffalo on Colorado and Boston, he has been a healthy scratch in both locations, has 52 points in 105 games (less than a point every other game) and is a -32. Was there a pretty big injury that I missed? I don't get the sudden and drastic drop-off.

I'm not advocating for taking a bunch of penalties, but I don't think that's where Montreal excels. As a team, they are better in transition, not what is set offense like you have in the power play. And I think so far this year... And definitely last year, their power play ranks in the bottom half of the league if I'm not mistaken.

I don't think back loading helps you with the cap next year. I'm pretty sure in the NHL.. front loaded contracts, back loaded contracts.. doesn't matter. The cap hit is the same exactly every year from beginning to end. Take the total value, divide it by the years, and that's pretty much what the cap hit is.

Sabres/KBC on the list...starting at the 1 minute mark of the video.

I think they basically flushed money down the drain with the Greenway deal also. And its not just this year, its next year also. The only value I see him giving this team is if he goes in the lineup and Quinn comes out. But then we can talk about the $3.4m per year that Quinn is getting that is basically flushed down the drain for this year and next year. They aren't huge money, but I hated both of those deals when they were signed. Quinn and Greenway are closting just under $8m per year this year and next.

But the money has to come from somewhere in your allocation Lets just look at next year, the cap is projected to be about $104 million. -The Sabres have already signed a tad over $38m in forwards, $32m+ in defense, and $7m in goalies. That takes them just over $77m. So $26-$27m left. -Next year Skinner's cap hit is $6.44m. That leaves the team with a shade over $20m to spend. The lesser spots on the roster, Krebs, Malenstyn, and Bryson are all up. Whether you bring them back or not, you are paying them or their replacements. At current they total $3.7m. With the cap going up, its going to be hard to replace them cheaper than they are, so odds are it will be at least what you pay or slightly more. Lets say they get lucky and replace them dollar for dollar at $3.7m. That leaves you with about $16.5m. So, If you want to sign tuch for $11m per year? Lets say $10m per year. At $10m per year, that leaves you with $6.5 m left over. That $6.5m has to be used to sign Benson, Doan, and Kesserling. I don't think you are going to sign those guys long term, or even short term, and get them under $6.5 per year combined. Now I know you can try to trade Quinn, Greenway, maybe even UPL, but if the Sabres WANT to trade them becasue they don't think they are worth it, good luck finding another team that wants to take on those players at their salary. We aren't even considering haveing a little bit of cap money left over in case of injuries next year, or just to keep a bit in reserve to give you flexibility with a trade or free agent signing if someone becomes available that you want. If Tuch re-signs long term at $10m per year or more....it very well might be at the expense of NOT signing Benson, Doan, Kesserling, or more than 1 of them long term. Unless the front office pulls some magic out of a hat, as much as I don't want to see Tuch leave, I'd rather have him leave than sign him to a big deal where he is aging and starting to decline...rather than possibly locking up the younger guys that...so far...are you looking good. Maybe not rushing into a deal is a good thing, give some time to evaluate just how everyone fits in. Tuch currently is the best all-around, most versatile winger on this team. Right now. But his next contract isn't paying him for what he is right now at age 29. You are going to start to pay him at age 30, 31, 32, and likley 33, 34, 35 and beyond. He will NOT be the best all-around winger on this team through the majority of his next deal.

Good. Its not going to stop him at this point in his career, he keeps doing the stuff over and over, so at least its something. (although it should be a bit more)

With regard to the Penalty Kill: The penalty kill tends to look good when your goalie is making saves and not kicking out huge rebounds. -This year they are allowing 1.2 'scoring chances' per minute short handed. 0.52 'high danger' chances per minute. 1.17 shots per minute. -Last year they allowed 0.88 'scoring chances' per minute short handed. 0.36 'high danger' chances per minute. 0.86 shots per minute. In terms of shots allowed, official scoring chances allwed and high danger chances allowed, the PK is worse this year than it was last year. The difference is goaltending. Alex Lyon this year has stopped 48 of 49 shots shorthanded, a .980 save percentage. Last year, the goalies had a .830 save percentage SH. On 49 shots faced this year, if the Sabres goalies had the same .830 save percentage, they would have allowed 8 or more PP goals already this year, not one. So again, the stats show they are allowing MORE shots, MORE high danger shots, MORE scoring chances, better shots taken from better locations on the ice than last year. The ONLY thing better this year is goaltending. I think when you look at the Sabres PK overall, last year they weren't terrible. They did have some defensive breakdowns, but not a ton more than other teasm. They were average-to-above average positionally until there was a big rebound or until Dylan Cozens decided to go rogue and leave spots wide open. Just they had near historically bad goaltending on the PK...and that wasn't just they allowed super great chances...its just their goalies on a lot of shots you want saves..didn't give them to you.

That $20m though, you have to have Benson and Doan and Tuch and Kesserling. Bryson, Malenstyn and Krebs are also up...maybe you don't bring them back but if you don't, you still have to pay their replacements. I know Tuch is CURRENTLY the best all around forward on this team, he plays the most minutes and in every situation. But looking at that list above, He'd be my last choice to sign a 6-8 year extension. I never liked that Greenway deal. To me even when healthy, on some games he brings a bit to your team, but on others he is invisible. A guy who is always hurt, who half the games he does play is a non factor...I just always thought that money was allocated elsewhere better. And Quinn? His leash has got to be gettng really short. The last season-and-a-half I thought he was the only guy on this team that HURT the team more than Cozens. He has to start showing he isn't that player anymore. I don't see it yet.

So the cap is a real thing and the Sabres aren't too far away from it. Remember, next year they're dealing with an accelerated hit due to Jeff Skinner, but even after that it doesn't go away what they still owe him. With that being said.. another thing to consider... Do you sign a big dollar, long term contract extension with Tuch.... Knowing that Benson appears to be a real player and you're going to want him here... And he's going to be more important to this team over the next 8 years then Tuch will? Sure, you can make moves in other places... But there's only so many dollars to go around.

And his willingness to do it. I brought this up in a previous thread but watch the replay of his 2nd PP goal last night. Right off the faceoff he goes immediatly to the net. He doesn't look around, he doesn't skate to the slot and wait for to get his hands on the puck there. Nothing fancy. Its like right before the faceoff he is repeating in his head over and over "get to the front of the net, get to the front of the net" and when the puck drops that is the only action he takes.

exactly agree. A short term extension for Tuch is a dream scenario for the team.

Thought this was interesting....Connor McDavid: -2023-24, 2024-25, and so far this year combined (including playoffs): 196 games played, 73 goals (30.5 goals per 82 game pace) -Previous 3 seasons before that, (including playoffs): 250 games, 141 goals (46.3 goals per 82 game pace) He's still a great player no doubt, and almost making up for the drop-off in goals by adding assists, but not immune to the 'superstars peak at goal scoring in their early-to-mid 20's' rule. (he'll be 29 when the playoff start this year, 31 when his 'next' contract starts)

I guess every game is 'winnable', but I don't think they have things easy coming up at all... Montreal and Detroit the next 2....both are 4-1 and actually look really good....then a home-and-home vs Toronto? Its not exactly the Isles, Flyers, and C-bus. Their next 10 games have opponents with combined record of 31-16.

You brought up Kozak. A few other post brought him up also. Is there a growing opinion that he should be a permanent member of this team, and any chance anyone thinks he is anything other than a 4th liner?

Doan with not a lot of ice time this game. My guess is his line this game was Doan-McLeod-Tuch. The Sabres were on the PK so much this game, and his line-mates of Tuch and McLeod are used on the PK so much....that after the PK was over those guys needed a rest, so unfortunately Doan was on the bench with them. If not for that, I think he would have had more ice time than 13:55

Doan and Benson now the topping the scoring leaders for the team after 5 games, (Benson only playing 2 of them) Who had that before the season started? I'm half way there with you. I don't think it should be true, and I'd normally rather have the better overall player...but maybe there is something to it?

Taking a quick look at the games analytics...Possessions stuff like Corsi, Fenwick, xgoals, shots for/against...etc. Pretty much across the board, Benson, Tage and Kulich had the best numbers this game. Quinn and Zucker near the bottom. (Tuch and McLeod also not that great, but not as bad and Quinn and Zucker)

I'm watching the replays of the goals. Thought on the PP. I have thought for a while that while zone entries, faceoffs, and moving the puck around are important to a PP, traffic in front of the net is more important than any of them. Watch replays of PP goals around the league and you'll see that on some nights, half (or more) are scrums around the net or deflections. Do the other 3 things just "OK" (zone entries, faceoffs, and puck motion), but park a guy in front of the net that won't move, and you'll have a good PP. Watch replays of both of Doans PP goals. Not only is he in front of the net when they are scored, but he goes there right away. His 2nd PP goal is the best example, he goes right to the front of the net and just stays within a couple feet of the net at all times. Its like on the PP, his whole world is that area. Peterka was more of a perimter player. Cozens didn't hang around in the front of the net either...10 feet out in front yes, but he didn't just park himself there at all. So maybe Doan isn't as 'skilled' as those 2 overall, but him going to the front of the net like he does may actually cause him to be better on the PP than either JJP or Cozens was on this team.

I haven't watched either of the last 2 games live. (saw most of last game on replay, haven't seen any of today's game yet) But I'm looking for opinions here. Since Benson has been back, does anyone have a preference for who has been better....Benson or Doan? When reading comments, I seem to read a lot of similar positives for both. Despite the stats, who appears to be better on the ice?