French Collection

Personally, I hope there is a stumble in mid season which leads to a bloodletting. The new regime gets everyone fired up and 5hey finish strong.

I like both terms but currently do not want to be called a supporter because it sounds like I am contributing to Terry’s yacht maintenance program.

As you and others have said, zone entry success would lead to a bump in goals just from spending more time in the zone. I can’t stand watching a glacial paced Power retrieve the puck, dawdle to the red line and drop it 80 feet to kill 20 seconds of precious PP time. The drop pass (30 feet) should be one of 4-5 options to keep other teams guessing.

Appert, who was hired by KA, who was hired by TP. Does getting rid of them fix some issues? Appert was a goalie, he probably knows what a good PP looks like from the net out but c’mon. I’ve mentioned this name a few years ago as an outside the box hire. Adam Oates was a PP playmaking wizard and I believe he does skills training now and has coached at the NHL level.

I am not opposed to crossing the border for work or entertainment. My reasons not to are rooted in your points 1 & 2. I also do not want to spend my money on TP’s Sabres until they show real improvement with a competent FO and smartly spend to the upper end of the cap. My last border crossing was a bit uncomfortable due to the questioning. My passport has multiple work visas in a calendar year because of my work during power emergencies. I have been up and down the eastern seaboard for hurricanes, ice and snow storms multiple times in the last few years. I believe the border agent was just curious but kept asking me why I had so many visas and what they cost. I had no idea of the cost since National Grid, Eversource, Duke Energy and other utilities pay for us. The visas are issued for a year but we only work for days and maybe a few weeks max. The agent couldn’t get why I didn’t know the cost, didn’t have receipts for the visas and why I didn’t stay longer when I had a year to do so.

Ville Leino had a good playoff performance, once.

As others have said there is no way of proving either side of this debate. The Sabres didn’t have enough talent on the roster to send him back and that is on KA’s watch but credit to Benson for doing well as a smallish 18 year old. Returning to juniors for one season would not have hurt his development but being around pros to practice, work out and travel accelerated the mental part of being a pro for him. His defensive game was good and he had already scored a lot at the junior level so his improvements there would have been some speed and strength by getting a year older. Matt Savoie went back to the same junior club they came from and I don’t think there was much benefit for him except getting traded to Moose Jaw and competing in the Memorial Cup. IMO, the NCAA would have been a great place for him to go, had that option been available at the time. This is now another option for prospects and could help a lot of them. A lot of guys from his draft class will be turning pro this year while he has two NHL years in his pocket. They will be up against a new challenge that he has already surmounted. I think he is ready for another bump up this year.

18 holes of casual golf tomorrow and a 4 person scramble tournament on Sunday to help raise money for the local AAA U14 hockey team. Played a solid round yesterday, beating my best ever at one of the local courses. Playing well this year after 15 years of barely getting out. More than 75% of my rounds are below 80, which I didn’t manage once last year. Cramming in as much as possible, surgery in two weeks will end my season early.

I would be OK with them getting silver.

Verbeek seems to play hardball with some young guys. McTavish plays a grittier game than his cast offs Drysdale and Zegras. He is not a little ball of hate but not many are.

I voted Benson. He already has a defensive game and grit, which many young players have to grow to acquire. His offensive game will take a jump, especially in the playmaking category. He is a dog on a bone that will drag others into the fight.

I know he was never a physical guy and will never be the Pronger clone some dreamt about. I have said this in a few threads and I am just asking for 10% more grit than he has displayed. He has surely gained some strength in the last few years and he has the size. He needs to put forth a little bit more effort to be assertive in puck battles, he could win a few more by doing more than just boxing out and letting his body absorb the punishment. 10% means a small mental adjustment to want the puck more than ever and to realize how that shows your teammates that you will battle alongside them. I am positive he is scared of having to fight if he battles too hard. It is not in him to grind but 10% could make a difference. The odd face wash in a scrum or defending a fallen mate would also raise his grit level and gain more respect on his team and around the league. Like most players he spends the off season working on conditioning, strength and skills. He needs to mentally prepare himself to give 10% more in the grit department. It is just a small adjustment, not a huge physical demand.

Count me in, Beast of the East.

Helenius, Mrtka and Ratzlaff. I am half joking but…. There is no sense of urgency from this FO so it just feels like everyone will want out and the next group of prospects will have to turn it around. My hopium prescription has run out, I am on my last bottle. Guys like Dahlin, Thompson and Tuch are pretty much at their ceilings, the young supporting cast needs to step up. My three guys are. Power. Just 10% more grit and take the next step. Be assertive and show your skill. Quinn. You were as good or better than JJP all the way through development, just do it. Levi. There is a spot for you if you show up with your A game and force KA’s hand.

All NHL front offices are taking a break. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few interns were going over some of the video, stats, analytics for the coming season. The media outlets follow suit. There is actually some hockey on today and the next week or so. The Gretzky-Hlinka U18 tournament is starting. I believe TSN is televising some of the games in Canada. 2026-27 draft eligible kids will be trying to win a championship, impress scouts and world junior executives. I used to have OHL season’s tickets and was way more in tune with this level of the game but not so much. I may tune in for some action.

Having the opportunity to golf 5 days in a row but having a budget for 3 days total. Only 1 of my usual partners, a doctor, is doing all 5. If I had a membership I could golf nearly every day but I like playing different courses and I will be away for 2 months of this golf season.

If he has a bad start send him down for a wake up call and try to find his game. I doubt any team takes him on waivers with that salary.

The role we want him to fill is the role he failed to accomplish with the Flames, while in his early 30’s. There would have to be salary retention for me to accept this. That being said, his experience and skillset is needed.

This was a point of some pride for me when people around here would ask why I was a fan of the Sabres. They would win a lot of games, make the playoffs and go on a few deep runs, at some point in time they would break through. In the early 80’s they had the 3rd best all time winning percentage, behind Montreal and Philadelphia.

I guarantee that KA has not become competent as an NHL GM.

I want to see Levi have a good summer of training and come to camp to win a job, making the goalie position better than it has been in years. This contract is perfect for KA to run his “hopium” roster back, Levi can cook another year, getting a few looks during injury stints.

I thought he played well for a 20 year old. Being deployed at centre is not easy for rookies, a lot of good young centres begin on W and transition to C when they are stronger and more experienced. IMO he could take JJPs wing spot and put up 20+ goals but it looks like he is penciled in to a C role. If TNT had Lindy’s trust at C and Norris was healthy, Kulich could play top 6 wing and thrive. Even a 3rd line role with McLeod could work. I think he will end up more valuable than JJP because of his shot and ability to play C.

I see Doan as a 35-40 point middle six winger who is hard to play against, a physical, forechecking pressure kind of guy. The intangibles are pedigree, leadership and being best friends with Kesselring. He could put up numbers below a Drew Stafford level while providing Mike Grier grit.

I hope you can sleep now.

I think Team Canada used him well in the World Championship when he got 9 goals in 10 games. He was playing wing and used his speed to get open for a playmaking centre to feed him. If he carries the mail it becomes return to sender.