mjd1001

I think I look at him more positively because I think his positives outweigh his negatives, and I think many of his negatives are a result of those around him. However, I can see and understand some of your points. "Clean up" is a good word, as I think he is capable of doing those things. We have to remember, Dahlin is still so young and inexperienced. When you look at D-men that are 2-way guys (known for both their offensive play as well as their defensive/physical play), You look at Hedman (33 years old, 1207 career games), Josh Morrissey (29 years old, 614 games) Adam Fox (26 years old, 381 games), Roman Josi (33 years old, 988 games), Charlie McAvoy(26 years old, 530 games played). Dahlin is still only 23 years old, has 430 games but none of those are playoff games and most of them were with a losing team. He still is young and learning, D-men take a while to fully develop so I'm still very hopeful with him. When you look at all of those guys I listed none of them (not even Hedman) were considered as good as they are when they were 23 years old.

I posted this a couple months ago, regarding comparables......and this was when he was just starting to play better, he has a longer stretch of good play since this was posted....UPL will likely have 45-50 career wins at the end of this year with 5 or more shutouts. Also keep in mind the goalies listed below were signed with a lower cap. I would expect any of those deals if signed this year would be 5% higher with the cap going up since then. UPL was drafted in the 2nd round in 2017....so..I thought I'd look up what other goalies were drafted in the year or two before him (that might be on their 2nd contract now), how successful they have been and what they got paid at a similar point in their career: -Connor Ingram (3rd rounder, 2016). Waiver pickup. 3 yr, $5.85m contract. (1.95 per year) 7 career wins upon signing -Philp Gustavsson (2nd rounder, 2016). 3 yr, $11.25m contract. (3.75 per year) 32 wins upon signing -Carter Hart (2nd round, 2016). 3 yr, $11.9m contract. (3.97 per year) 49 career wins upon signing -MacKenzie Blackwood (2nd round, 2015). 3 yr, $8.4m contact (2.8 per year) 24 career wins upon signing -Ilya Samsonov (late 1st round, 2015). 1yr, $3.5m contact. (3.5 per year) 79 career wins upon signing

I think you need him here next year, and hopfully a bit beyond, so like everything else, you negotiate and see what he and his agent think is market is. The Sabres aren't up against the cap now, so I don't cheap out on a deal. It would be different if he wanted 7 years for 56 million....that isn't happening, so I'm willing to overpay (if needed) on a short to medium term deal in order to keep him here. I know some will say don't overpay him, he's only been good for half of a season. I get that, but to me, you can't risk not having him here next year or trading him because he demands a contract that you can easily fit under the cap. You gave Clifton 3.3 million for 3 years, and even if he never played again that contract isn't going to sink your cap or your team. You gave Samuelsson 4.3 million long term. UPL has potentially (and LIKELY) much more value to the team than any of them. So yeah, get the best deal you can, but don't cheap out and risk him going to arbitration (possibly getting more than you would give him in a medium term deal) and eventually him wanting out.

I, like many, grew up less than 10 miles from the Canadian Border. After leaving Western NY after college, for the last decade or so I'm back and I can walk down the street now and see Canada. Saturday nights were Hockey Night in Canada on TV...and a lot of time growing up was spent watching CBC and CBLT. I'm no stranger to Canada or Canadian televsion. But, I found that 'Canadian televsion comedy' was something I just didn't always like. John Candy, in more 'american' movies was great. Jim Carrey, Ryan Reynolds, Seth Rogen, Dan Akroyd....we all know the list of many others, I like a lot of their stuff, but the stuff I usually like is the 'american-ized/usa based' stuff. A lot of the Stuff out of Canada though...SCTV, Kids in the Hall, Degrassi, Trailer Park Boys, Schitts Creek...I don't know, I can't seem to get into any of it. Super Dave, Strange brew (as a kid) and Kim's Convenience are just a few I liked. But the rest, I don't know, I just could never get into the stuff out of Canada.

My opinion has always been the ultimate solution is for the NHL to fine players for anything dangerous. Anything that can cause an escalation, anything that could justify a fight, you fine. If the refs don't see it, but its on camera (and EVERYTHIGN is on camera) you fine it. The whole thing of 'its a physical game its going to happen' doesn't hold for me because the NFL is a lot more physical, and you don't see fights much in the NFL you don't see people taking out other players from behind every single game...not nearly as much as you would think. Why? the NFL fines that stuff. Again, the players union doesn't want it, but start fining guys for all the cheap stuff, whether it leads to an injury or not, and it'll go way down. I just personally don't like the cheap stuff at all.

True, if I look at them so far: -Tage. Think it should still be a good deal. I do think he is still playing hurt, even with that he is likely to score 30. Over the last 3 years, including this 'bad' year, he has 112 goals in 221 games (almost a 42 goal per 82 rate) What is the 'market rate' for a guy who has the potential to get 50, his bad year is about 30, has a 3 year average of close to 40...and is 26 years old? I think this is a really good extension. -Cozens. Well, he only has 1 really good year. Hes likely to be in the high teens this year in goals, and he has improved to me in his own end and has not become a pretty decent (not GOOD but decent) 2-way forward. If he gives you 15-20 goals per year, not an awful deal but probably not a good one. He gives you 30 or more like he did last year and its a good deal. Someplace in between (low to mid 20's) and its probably a wash between a good or bad deal. -Dahlin. He's the best player on the team. I think he is under-rated by many posters on this board. He is a top 10 Dman in the league right now, and has potential to be a Norris trophy winner. Your paying a lot, but you locked up a 23 year old elite level D-man long term. I think its a good deal. -Samuelsson. Probably not a good deal. Just simply becuase he is not durable. One injury is nothing, a couple still may not be a trend, but with how many times he has gotten hurt it is a trend. You aren't paying him a ton so its probaly a bad deal (at this piont) but its not sinking the franchise. -Power. This is really a toss up. At the moment he is not worth next years salary, probably won't be worth it next year, but at any time he is capable of become a very good-to-great D-man and being worth it. Its just going to take a while.

I agree with you, I have said since the beginning of last year they need to cut down his ice time a bit, even if they think he can handle it. The good news? Since they traded for Byram, Dahlin's ice time is down quite a bit.... Before Byram got here, he averaged 25:50 per game. In the month since Byram got here, Dahlin is down to 24:09. A drop of more than a minute and a half per game is a LOT. And that is with him still getting about 1.5 minutes per game on the PK. Next year if/when Samuelsson gets back and takes those minutes, Dahlin should be off the PK and get even more time off...so...I'm hopeful.

So, Diggs gets the bonus money from Buffalo and his yearly salary. Buffalo takes a cap hit he goes on to Houston...gets THEM to restructure, giving him more up front money. Then he gets a chance to sign with ANOTHER club a year later with another likely big signing bonus. Through all of this, Diggs is making a LOT of money. When you figure in his signing bonus, he's got to be actaully making an average of $25 million per year or more.

Or you could say that they just aren't that good of a team yet, in terms of talent, which is why they start out slowly, and the adjustments the coaches make help them. I'm not saying that is true, but the argument can be made either way.

That could be argued both ways. Those who want Granato gone: This coaching staff can't get the team ready for games! Those who want Granato to stay: This coaching staff is great at making adjustments, look at how they get better as the game goes on. I like this stat, I think its interesting, but I don't put much faith in it to evaluate the coaching staff. Ultimately with this team they have scored the exact same number of goals that they allowed...you can't be more in the middle with that.

I get your point, but if he doesn't evolve, eventually it may get to the point I said. Boys will be boys, even the non-fighters might like a game like that occasionally, but if he keeps cheap shotting other players on the other team, and he keeps taunting the other teams bench, my point is it may get worse and not in a good way for his team.

I don't even know if these things are done, and I'm sure this idea would have to be 'collectivly bargained with the union'...and of course the players wouldn't like it because these guys out of college want to sign with the team of their choice but.... for fans, a 'supplemental' draft would be fun. When the college season is over (or junior season, or both)...anyone who is a free agent, who is no longer draft eligible, is entered into a supplement draft. Teams pick in order like they do in the regular draft. If you pick one of them with your first round pick, then you LOSE your first round pick in the upcoming draft. If you skip the first round (and everyone else does) and you think a guy is worthy of a 2nd round pick when it is your turn you can pick them in the 2nd round of the supplmental draft, but then you lose your 2nd round pick in the upcoming regular draft...and 3rd round, 4th round..etc. Again, no-one would probably want that system except for the fans, but it WOULD get the fans excited to follow these guys and that draft...and certainly give fans something else to talk about.

These guys are NHL prospects, but the undrafted free agent guys, I'm not as excited about as I used to be. Maybe some of them turned into star players that I do not remember, but in the past, the buildup of Jimmy Vesey, Will Butcher, and guys that fans were all over thinking they would be major difference makers....it just seems to me SOME of these guys might help around the fringe, but very few end up being difference makers as much as they are built up to be.

Plus I'm not so sure his teamates will like that if that is ALL he does. The league is different now. Years ago the non-fighters would want the fighter on your team...fights happened more often, and you would rather the 'heavyweight' take care of it so you didn't have to. But now, a Guy like Rempe...it can become an arms race. He does what he does..and not only does the team he does that too dress their 'enforcer' the next game, but him, and the 'marginal enforcers' are looking for something to happen. As a teammate on the Rangers, you just went from playing your game to now having one, or a FEW guys on the other team you face having that 'itchy fighting hand' or at least maybe those guys looking to make that 'borderline dirty hit' on SOMEONE on your team (maybe you) that would not have happened if Rempe didn't do the things you do. So yeah. it can still be part of the game, and it was a bigger part of the game in the past. But I think a lot of modern-day players, the ultra skilled guys....Rempe's act will wear thin with them as a teammate much quicker than it did in the past. Its not the fighting alone, its the fighting, the 'build up' to the fight, the dirty hits and the 'heel persona' he is taking on (waving at or chirping at the other teams bench)

Here is what I think the reality is with Diggs, he can be/might be a pain for coaches in the locker room, he might be all about himself, but his skills are declining and declining rapidly. He's supposed to be an "Elite" WR right? making almsot $20 million per year, he better be, but he's not anymore. He doesn't blow by guys anymore. The occasions he was open deep, well, he was occasionally, but not nearly as often as he was in the past. How many times a year did you see him catch a pass in open territory and make a couple guys miss and turn a slant or a curl into a big gain? I'm not saying he is awful, but he is no longer a game breaker or even a THREAT do do that other teams to have account for. THIS is what happens to most WR's when they get over 30 years old. It just does most of the time, and Diggs is not immune to it. And its NOT going to be better this year than it was last year. Sure, he might put up decent numbers with Houston (and I'm not sure that even will happen), but they may want to show off their 'shiny new toy' and feed him the ball, but he's no longer a game breaker. As many have said, his stats (and his overall play) declined a LOT over the last year. Zero 100 yard games in the last 13 games played with the Bills. Most of those games he didn't even get 50 yards. Basically invisible in the last 3 playoff games the team played. He simply is not a great, or even very good WR anymore. And if there is one thing that is worse than having a WR who isn't great anymore, its having one that THINKS he is still great when he isn't, and demands to be treated as if he is still great when he isn't anymore.

I think Dahlin is one of the best D-men in the league right now. There are a few things holding him back from getting the attention across the league and from Buffalo fans also. 1. The team isn't good and not in the playoffs. He won't get the coverage that players on top teams in the playoffs get. 2. As per the previous discussions, he isn't putting up the point totals. Not because he is not as good as the guys that do, but the forwards on this team are just schooting/scoring a lot less than the guys on the other top guys teams. As said, If Tuch, Thompson, Cozens, etc, converted chances at the same rate as other teams, or EVEN at the same rate as they did last year, Dahlin would be up near the top in points as he would have a lot more assists. 3. There are more times Dahlin LOOKS like he is making mistakes in his own zone...simply becaue for much of the year he was playing behind possibly the worst group of forwards in the league in their own end. The Sabres have gotten better the last few months in this way, and guess what? Dahlin looks better in his own zone. He might be BETTER than the other guys in Norris consideration with D-zone play, but he is going to look worse with how often he is in a bad position in his own end. Is Dahlin the perfect defensive player? No. Is he on track to be the best D-man ever? probably not. But I honestly think he is, when considering ALL parts of his game (offensive zone, defensive zone, physical play, shooting/scoring) right near the top of the league.

Agree. I'm just hoping Rochester holds onto their playoff spot (looks like they will) and he gets some playoff games with the guys down there, and hopefully they win at least one series again.

I too would LIKE someone on the Sabres to have the ability to 'answer the bell' in those situations, but I don't care that much. There are some who lement fighting leaving the league and some who don't need it at all. Give me end to end hockey with goals, and I don't need it at all. But it is what it is. I was watching the game last night and when the puck dropped, I didn't turn away form the TV. But for Rempe himself, something about him rubs me the wrong way. A couple of dirty hits, doesn't seem to be going out of his way to avoid them. Then he gets in fights...some are a draw, some he losses, and yet he seems to always want to skate by the opponents bench and say something or salute the crowd after a fight. Its like man, you got in a fight you didn't win...the reason you got in that fight is because you dirty hit someone, and after that fight you are going to go yapp at the opponents bench on the way off the ice? To me, not cool.

I don't mind McDermott as coach, I guess I kinda like him. I'm not married to the idea of him being here forever, but I never really was ever on the train of firing him, or even thinking about it. With that said, he is a little strange with the media. At times its like he is trying to be like Bellichick with giving nothing to the media, but he does it his own way trying at time to be SLIGHLTLY more friendly, but its just, I don't know, it comes across as really strange. Back onto Diggs, after listening, reading others opinions, and thinking of the trade, I'm really really good with it. I've posted many times that I want this team to get younger. Before LAST year I thought the Diggs extension was a mistake, and yes, I did post that I didn't want Vonn Miller at all even when he first arrived, and I think last year was the year to move on from Poyer and Hyde, not this year. I prefer a younger/more athletic time. I know, sometimes you need veterans, and if I had my way the football or hockey team I put together would always be a bit too young, but that is what I like. I never liked guys that much who "made their name" with other teams and then were aquired. Yes, your franchise gets attention for that, but for me its just more fun bringing in relative 'unknowns' and having them make their name WITH you....and then I prefer getting rid of players a year too early rather than a year too late. Plus Diggs, I was never a fan of his social media presense. Yeah, I know we can ignore it if we want, but just something about me, I prefer guys/players/stars who stay off of Social media (kinda like Josh Allen) rather than guys who 'build their brand' on it, and always need to have some interaction on it. Just me. To be totally honest, he was a Buffalo Bill but I really didn't like him. I'm going to look forward to watching a younger (if not as good for a year) team play football this year in the Bills. I"m going to look forward to seeing what moves they make in the offseason. Next to winning the Superbowl, the Bills are now in position that makes me the MOST interested I can possibly be in them....The team building/team construction aspect is the most fun thing for me as a fan, certainly a lot more fun than just 'running the vets' back out there year after year.

This may be something I posted in the past, but it came up today again so I'm posting it again. on Espn, Stephen A. Smith. He just yells and yells and yells, how does anyone like that, let a long tolerate it? I hardly watch ESPN anymore, but after the Diggs trade, I turned it on for a few minutes yesterday. Turned off the TV after a couple minutes. So just a few minutes ago, I turn the tv on and because ESPN was on last, it came on right away, and immediately, I have no idea what it was even about, he's just yelling, like on the verge of screaming. How does someone make a career about complaining about things in sports, being angry all the time, and just yelling on tv? I don't get it.

I agree for the most part. People wanting him to hit, to be a "Chris Pronger" type, thats just not his game. It doesn't matter that he is as big/tall as he is. Most of us know the stats. Hits per 60 minutes...Power is at 1.57 this year. Clifton is a 9.45, Samuelsson 7.7. Dahlin at 5.5 Byram at 5. The Sabres are a team notorious for not hitting and its almost like Power shys away from contact. The top D-men around the league are around 15 hits per 60. But..there are a lot of guys like Power below 2 hits per 60 that are very good D-men. Hampus Lindholm in Boston is 1.8. Pesce and Slavin in Carolina are below 2. Cale Makar is at 1.2. Josi at 1.39. Quinn Hughes at 0.79! So, you don't have to hit to be a very good/great D-man. Is Power any of those guys...No, not yet, but he is still developing his game. So, people see a big body and they want hits. Power just might have the skillset/gamestyle/mentality closer to those guys I listed above, its just that he happens to be that in a much larger/taller body. Hopefully he will turn into a D-man that gets you 10-20 goals, 50+ points, one who makes a great first pass out of the zone, is a very good penalty killer, and is skilled enough offensively to fill in on the Power play (and be effective handling the puck) when Dahlin or Byram are out or need a break. You get a guy like that (which I think is his projection and he is on his way there), then he can be a great D-man without hitting anyone. Would a few more hits be nice? Yeah, at times, but just becaue he is tall that doesn't mean that is who he is, he can be very good without playing that way.

High danger chances...basically right in front of the net. Half way or less from the circles to the goalposts, and between the dots. As of right now, leauge average for shots from there is 593 shots, the Sabres are at 545 shots. So yes, when people say its coaching because they are getting less chances from there, they are near the bottom, but not far away at all from league average. Last year they had 18 less shots than 'league average' from the high danger zone. This year they have 48 less. It would be reasonable to say the increased number of games missed by your top offensive players (Tuch, Skinner, Quinn, Thompson) and the level of their replacements along account for the change in those numbers. Their offensize zone time compared to defensive zone time is almost identical this year compared to last year. HOWEVER, the players part, converting those chances...the league average shooting percentage is 19.7% from the 'high danger' area. The Sabres are at only 14.7%. My point is..lets say the Sabres could change coaches and the same players who converate at 14.7% when they get those shots are not put on position to be there more often (lets say league average.) They would have 48 more shots, at 14.7%, which would (statisticall) equal about 7 more goals for the year. But lets flip it around. Lets say the same coaching staff gets them 'only ' 545 shots from those high danger areas, but they convert at just league average rate (19.7%). That gives them 27 more goals. So to me, this is more on the players than it is the coaces. Last year they converted in those high danger areas at 19.1%. Last year they were 3rd in the leauge in goals, and stil last year they were slightly below average in terms of total shots taken from the high danger areas. The main difference from this year to last year is the rate the players are converting those high danger shots. Whether it's Tage's wrist injury, Tuch being banged up since camp, Cozens regressing...etc. When you dig really deep into analytics, the 'fancy stats', you can come up with numbers to support any point of view you want. My main point is the one thing that doesn't change is simply this...compared to last year, the drop off in goals is due mostly/mainly to players simply not converting on chance this year that they were last year.

Quinn played many times better last game than before.

Nothing wrong with that. Trading a guy who in his mid 20's is coming into his own, leading your team in points, that seems to be liked well by management and his teammates. VS Trading a 30+ year old WR that didn't much much of a difference at all the last 10 games he played, who appears to be getting to the point in his career his skill is sliding and was/is due big contract dollars the next 3-4 years.

If you want to really stretch, Houston gets a guy on the decline, that they either overpay at what? $18m per year? Or the cut him themselves and lost the 2nd rounder they gave up for him. Maybe not this year, but you could have weakened (slightly) an opponent in the conference for the next few years.