mjd1001

I am not a big coffee drinker, so I end up at a Tim Hortons maybe 3-4 times per year, but it always amazed me how slow and disorganized they are inside. For mostly making drinks or basic sandwiches and serving pastries, it usually amazes me how long it takes for the line to move and just how many people they can squeeze behind the counter that look like they are trying to avoid bumping into each other more than actually being productive.

Just the 'eye' test without looking at any replays: (and I watched most of the game but did miss a few minutes here and there) -Dahlin wasn't at his best. He's not the reason they lost, but this wasn't a 'norris trophy' candidate game. -Quinn looked good. Not just because he scores, but a few times I noticed him being a big more agressive and around the puck more. -Power. Looked like a typical 19 year old Rookie tonight..tenative, made some mistakes. -Krebs. He he does get out of position, or plays against quicker/faster teams, his lack of speed is noticable and can cause him/the team problems. -Cozens. Not a typical Cozens game. Usually I notice 2 or 3 really good things and a couple of really bad things he does. I dont' want to say he was invisible, but while he didn't contribute offensively, he also didn't make any glaring mistakes. Not a bad game, but not a 'typical Cozens' game. (from what I saw)

Powerdidn't look great tonight. A few mistakes whiffed on the puck a couple times. For the first time in a while he looked like a 19 year old rookie.

D-units are not communicating well with each other. As good as Krebs has been playing the past month or two..when he is against quicker/faster compeition, his lack of speed is obvious and gets him/the team in trouble.

would love to see the reaction in Toronto if St. Louis got Meier for a mid level prospect, Toronto's first this year, and MAYBE a future first. If they were to get Meier for marginally more than what Toronto gave up for the ROR deal...it might be some fun talk radio up there.

Last year I remember working in the garage and listening to the Sabres broadcast on the smart speaker I have there. This year that went away, now the 'radio' broadcast is 'blackouted' on my smart speaker where in the past it never was. I also brought this topic up in a previous thread a few months ago. Our daughter and her boyfriend, my nephew, and a niece I have are all under 26 years of age are/were Sabres fans. They do not have traditional cable, only streaming channels. Being local, they haven't watched a Sabres game at home in a few years. I talk to our daugher and her boyfriend all the time, but over the holidays I talked to that niece and nephew and the story is the same with all of them...they can't watch the games with streaming, they won't even think about getting a traditional cable package just for the Sabres, and they aren't as big of fans as they used to be because of it. My nephew still watches hockey and says he wants the Sabres to win (he is 21 now) but he says he picked a new team to follow, and now he is a pretty big Panthers Fan because he can watch every game they play through Hulu/espn.

All of the choices have some argument for them, but in terms of what you can get for what it would cost, the 3rd pair D-man is the choice I would make. Get a guy who has 2nd pair talent and put him on the 3rd pair....and that is the biggest upgrade you can get without trading a ransom.

He is so young I'm not worried. Normally takes about a half a season for really young guys to adjust to the AHL. Quinn, Mitts, and a lot of other young players need the first 20-30 games at least in the AHL to adjust befoe they start playing better...if not a full year in the AHL.

Maybe this should go under the 'complaint thursday' thread but since it deals with games like this I will put it here. When ANY east coast team plays ANY west coast team on the weekend, it should be an afternoon game. If the West coast teams want weekend night games they can have those against other division opponents/west coast opponents. You should do whatever you can to minimize the number of times your 'eastern time zone fans' have a 10pm or later start to watch. On the other hand, when a West coast team visits the eastern time zone, ALL of those games are night games. None of your west coast fans should have a morning-local-time start to their road games on TV (I think the Sabres had an afternoon game they hosted a western team this year? If the Sabres want afternoon games, make them against east coast teams). I know the schedule is more complicated than some fans think, with Arena availabilty and such, but this isn't about changing the entire schedule, a lof of this could be altered to make it more fan-friendly for everyone.

Toronto should have a shot at competing for a deep playoff run for quite a few years now. As I stated above I think their BEST shot is in the next 2 years, but if they resign matthews, they will have Matthews, Marner, and Nylander for 4-5 more years with them ALL under 30 years of age, and have a still useful Tavares for a least a couple more. You really shouldn't worry about the future 5 years from now (when this pick they traded might be useful and contributing). The Leafs have to take their shot now. The biggest problem they have is not their team, but the rest of the league, the divisions, the playoff format, and just how all of that is falling the last few years. To win the cup, Toronto could possibly have to: 1.) beat a Tampa team that is the conference champs, that beat them last year, AND has pulled ahead of them this year (statistically at least). 2.) Beat a Boston team that, for most of this season, was playing like the best team we saw in the league in decades. 3.) Beat a team as good as Carolina in the next round, who is well ahead of you in the standings, and over the past month playing better than anyone, indcluding both you and Boston. 4.) Then beat in a 7 game series the best of all the teams that come out of the West (A McDavid/Draisatle led Edmonton team, a potentially dominant Colorodo team if they get healthy maybe?)

The Huberdeau contract really doesn't look good, and the biggest issue with it is down the road, not right now. However, I think the best thing the Flames could do is change coaches from Sutter and move on. He has a Mike Keenan/Torts vibe to me. 'Old school hockey' guy, that works well for a year or two but never gets you over the top..but ultimately turns off some players. Some people love guys like his as a coach. I think long term for the franchise they are better with someone else. Looking at the Flames coaching history, they like their 'old time hockey' guys and former players as coaches. In the past 25 years they have been coached by Brian Sutter, Daryll Sutter (twice), and Brent Sutter. Throw in a stint by Mike Keenan also.

Its a good deal for both teams. ROR has been injured this year, but the 'eye test' shows he has lost more than one step (due to age or injuries), and so do his basic stats. But he STILL is a defensively sound, 3rd or 4th line center who can contribute offensively. If leaf fans think they are getting a Selke quality Center they are mistaken, but he still will be above average defensively and will put up some goals. He HELPS Toronto this year. Personally, I would have waited to see if i could have gotten something better if I'm giving away my first rounder, but he SHOULD make the Leafs better. Don't forget, Acciari isn't nothing either. He is a depth piece for sure, but a player who has scored 20 before and this year...on a bad team, was on pace for the mid teens in goals. That isn't nothing...if you have an injury he is a piece than can fill a hole. Finally for the Leafs, they have a window for the next 5 years with this roster, but the biggest part of that window is the next 2 years. Even if this is a 'deep' draft, whoever they were going to get was not going to help this core win a cup, they would be years away. You can't get out of the first round, you have the most talented core of forwards that you have seen in decades, they are all entering their prime now....do what you need to do to WIN NOW! If they think he makes the better on the ice, and he does provide depth, go for it. And they got a rental back. Normally that is a bad thing but for them....it may be good. They don't have to worry about fitting in an existing deal under their cap next year. As for St. Louis, they need a teardown. They are an aging team. They have less than a handful of young guys to build around...and while a couple of them are very good, none are franchise level superstars. I think they have picked above 15th overall like one time in the past decade. They have an aging, fading team that is no where near the cup, going the wrong way, and just about nothing young coming up to turn that around. They desperately need a tear-down/rebuild...maybe even mroe so than that Sabres 'needed' it a decade ago when they started theirs.

I don't think anyone can proclaim who is the best coach in the NHL and be 100% correct: 1.) Just don't have a 'bad' coach. that is step 1 2.) Then there is a 'best' coach based on how he works with the current team YOU have 3.) how good is he based on coaching against other teams (strategy) 4.) how good is he based on current league trends. A coach may do well in the current NHL environment, but maybe not 4-5 years ago. Who is the 'best coach' will be based on a combination of factors 2-4 above, and some guys will be better for some teams and some situations compared to others.

Ok, a lot of variables here, and I don't understand 100% the analytics/fancy stats, but I don't agree with him being a disaster defensively, especially about his positioning. What I am about to say is that I think his 'positioning' is actually pretty good. Maybe he is late getting back. Maybe what I think is good positioning is not expected but regardless..... I have posted on this very forum examples of goals against the Sabres have allowed, and what I have seen is FOR THE MOST PART when comparing Cozens and Tage, Thompson is much, MUCH less likely to leave the Defensive slot open compared to Cozens. Does that mean he is better defensively? No, but to me positioning is staying where you are supposed to be. And in the past month or so, Cozens has been getting better at not doing this compared to earlier in the season, but he is still aggressive in the D-zone that way. Go back and watch the highlights of goals allowed by the Sabres over the past couple months. Goals against when Cozens is on the ice are a LOT more likely to be scored from the slot..where you expect your Center normally be. Often times Cozens goes down low to help the D-men, the puck comes in front of the net 10-15 feet out and the eventually goal scorer has no one there as he lets the shot go and a goal is scored. When I watch goals allowed when Tage is on the ice....he is much more likely to be in that center area between the tops of the circles. So again, I'm not sure HOW The fancy stats are showing Tage's positioning is bad, because to me it isn't not. That doesn't mean he's not late getting back, or maybe he SHOULD vacate the slot more and chase pucks into the corner...or anything else he isn't doing that he should be. But again, as far as not leaving the slot open for goal scorers, he is much better than the other centers on the team (including Cozens) in that one aspect. Videos of goals allowed by the Sabres show that.

He was scratched already what, 2 games ago. Certainly if you are going to trade him for sure, you don't want him to be injured, but usually I tend to think you don't scratch him until the deal is imminent, not days and days before.

I agree. Except for me we had season tickets from the time I was 14 years old until I was in my mid-to-late 20s. I understand people want to go to the games. The tailgating, the energy and the sound of being there. But for just watching the game, I personally find it better on TV. After not having been to a game in years, we went to a preseason game a few years ago and got club seats. Even from the club seats, I was suprised at how little I could see compared to on TV. Most plays, and certainly every running play was just the ball carrier running into a mass of other players and then nothing specific I could see. Those who love the atmosphere, I get it, I did it for over 10 years.

So, he not only wants a team that has a chance to win in the playoffs (obviously), but wants a big market, big city, lots of media attention. Got it.

I agree. Contrary to some here, I like some of the younger guys on WGR, especially Dibiasi..who I think will be fine as a permanent replacement. Kinda sorry to see Simon go. Over time I tend to tire of certain host, but the GM morning show, while not perfect, has been one of my favorites. To me a lot easier of a listen than the afternoon show (which I don't even bother to listen to anymore except for very rare occasions).

I'm somewhat in agreement with you. UPL looks like he can be good, but he is just so young. Often times goalies need years before you get the best out of him. He has shown flashes he has it in him, which is good, but he is NOT playing like even an above average NHL goalie yet. I want to see Comrie. I want to see him get an extended run just to see him play. UPL has earned a spot on this team next year, he's earned the right to fight for the #1 goalie next year when Anderson is gone. He has earned the right to get more NHL games this year....his play to me, however, has NOT earned him the #1 goalie on this team right now.

I mostly agree. To me there is very little downside to standing pat at the trade deadline and not doing anything major...letting this team play out the rest of the season. They COULD get hot (this team has been very streaky all season) and get in. They might not but you will have basically a full season to evaluate what you have. If something drops into their lap that they cannot beleive, of course make a deal. But there is a lot you can do in the offseason.

Exactly where they place in the conferene isn't a big deal to me. Its making the playoffs or not. If they miss it by finishing 9th, 11th, or 14th or lower....doesn't matter much beyond their total points and goal differential. What matters to me in this order: -make the playoffs or not -total points, is it an improvment over last season -Total plus-minus in goal differential. Is it positive/ a lot better than last year. 95 points is where you usuallly need to get to in order to make the playoffs. Position in the standings now dosn't matter as much to me with 30 games left as the pace to get to 95. Right now they are on a pace for a fraction over 90 points. Need to pick things up, but not out of it for sure.

I'm probably watching about half the game, wife wants to see a movie tonight at home. Its the Superbowl, but I've seen enough of them already so if I miss it and just see the highlights and hear the recap 500 times over the next week I'm ok with it. No prop bets, not betting for me. Tipping on winning squares? To each their own, but to me tipping is getting out of hand. I'm good with tipping up to 20% for a waiter/waitress when they bring food over to me, but for most other things I think we are taking it a step too far.

Something is wrong when its easy to say you are glad western road trip is coming up and you won't have to play at home for a while.

Maybe it has happened, but I dont ever remember any Sabres team, ANY NHL team being outshot 32-4 at any point of any game.

1st Calgary goal, bad pinch by Power, he'll learn the more he plays but you get that as he still is a rookie. 2nd Calgary goal, good shot, hope for a better save or a little better backcheck/stickwork from Skinner. 3rd Calgary goal, want a save there also, but forwards/wingers late getting back.