French Collection

1 100 points for the Sabres 2. Sabres make the playoffs and win the first round series 3. Dahlin is the team MVP 4. Levi is the Rookie of the Year 5. Power is the most improved player 6. Goals TNT 51, Assists Dahlin 64, Points TNT 102 7. Dahlin wins the Norris, Levi is 3rd in Calder voting, Dahlin is 5th in Hart voting while TNT gets some votes. 8. 11 players score 10+, TNT, Skinner, Cozens, Tuch, Mitts, JJP, VO, Dahlin, Okposo, Greenway and Quinn. 9. 5 players score 20+ TNT, Skinner, Cozens, Tuch and Mitts. 10. Ryan Johnson gets called up a few times and sticks in the New Year. 11. Buffalo and Ottawa replace the two Florida teams. 12. Colorado returns to the pinnacle of hockey over the Canes. 13. Benson leads the WHL in scoring despite missing games to an NHL stint and the WJHC. Cooley becomes the #1 in Rochester and gets a few games when Comrie gets hurt. Quinn has a successful return in mid January so VO is traded to Winnipeg for a 2nd round pick.

We had no rain here for weeks, the leaves were drying on the branches and falling all scrunched up. Rain today is bringing down a lot of them.

UPL is still in the development part of his career. I don’t know if he will ever hit his ceiling, which is probably as a 1B. He needs games to continue this development so I would risk waivers by sending him to the AHL to get more games. Comrie is an NHL backup. He was brought in to audition for a starter’s role and never found traction. He has experience as a backup and a calm demeanor that seems suited to a support role. If they keep 3 goalies then UPL will not get many games and practice time will be tougher to manage. I dislike losing him for nothing but he hasn’t done much to deserve a guaranteed NHL spot.

A lot of his time in the NCAA was spent as a shutdown type of Dman. He uses his skating and stick to defend vs physical play. He has never been a big point producer but is a puck moving Dman. This to me means he can skate it out or make a first pass to get it out. My only real experience watching him was in the World Juniors a few years ago where he was solid and played a top 4 shutdown role. I think it was @pi2000who compared him to Jokiharju, which is a decent comparable imo. I know many are down on Joki but he is an NHL Dman and should get slotted properly very soon.

Johnson has been worth the wait. KA stayed in touch and played the long game. He is going to pay his dues by going to Rochester but he is part of this D corps in the near future. He is ready for NHL duty now but will hone his game in the AHL for a while.

I’m one of the trade VO guys but I also try to be a glass half full type of person. The only positive I can think of with him is that he is a pending UFA and that usually means career years for lots of guys. He needs to elevate his game to get the big $$ and a decent role somewhere else.

He’s a very young man, early on the back nine of his career.

Are you going auto draft or staying up late?

I only get him once in a while, whenever ESPN is the only game on type of thing. I liked his articles on line but I find he is tough to watch. He acts like he is 20 years younger and that he wants to be part of the story, not a means of delivery to us.

Having Mitts compete with Cozens for ice time is a good thing. The only issue might be $$, if they both end up being 60-75 point guys. The C spine will be awesome but tough to afford.

Welcome to the board and enjoy the season!

11 pages on Benson. TNT and Skinner are not in the lineup tonight but the other 3 lines are. DG may try him with different linemates to see how he adapts. Perhaps there will be a rotation on the fourth line of the potential 13th guy.

Can they dress 13 F and 7 D? Maybe in preseason?

You are right about them not being far apart. Cozens is a better goal scorer but Mitts is a better passer. Cozens is a better skater but Mitts is becoming a beast along the boards. They were drafted in similar ranges. Mitts has better wingers and that line can hem in another team with their size and board work. I see Cozens line as a more dangerous rushing unit. DG might be more strategic this year in deploying his three scoring lines for matchups and allocate ice time to the hot hands. This balance will create internal competition for ice time too.

With Tokarski and Cooley in Rochester there is no need to keep three goalies in Buffalo. I think it is time to move on from UPL or Comrie.

You never know, that is as likely as some other scenarios.

Savoie is not practicing yet, I guess they are being extra cautious with that shoulder. I was hoping he could get in a game or two to see what he can do with the big boys.

DG constantly talks about how players compete, which isn’t VO’s game. My eye tells me he wins about 10% of 50/50 pucks. That’s my problem with him, he doesn’t work as hard as most, without the puck.

Enjoy! My last few vehicles have been used, if money wasn’t an issue I would like a brand new Toyota Tundra. Love my truck and still going strong after 10 years and 160,000 miles.

I like the idea of Mule and Joker, Joker might become more of a puck mover, which was a part of his game before playing with Dahlin and Power. My only concern is EJ running out of gas. He would be a good mentor for Power and the defensive conscience on that pairing.

Thanks for this, confirms my eye test and why VO is my whipping boy for the forwards. Bryson probably has similar numbers for the D. Love Quinn, he will help for the playoff push.

Rasmus Asplund has been put on waivers by Florida as per TSN.

This would mean more of a balance of lines, 3 that are a scoring threat. TNT, Skinner and Tuch are great together but I am curious to see breakouts and zone entries with Tuch and a left handed C (Mitts). Tuch being on Mitts’ strong side should mean some nice setups for Tuch’s speed and shot. I have no clue on fancy stats for this stuff but I have always liked the most skilled winger to be on the C’s strong side, forehand passes vs backhand. Once they enter the zone it is less important as guys cycle around. That line would be a handful in the offensive zone. Cozens would almost be 3C in this scenario, because of having to carry VO. Cozens would have to be the defensive conscience as well as drive the line offensively. This is where JJP can make a difference if he takes a step forward, being better on D and carrying the mail through the neutral zone. An engaged VO would make this line dangerous. I don’t know of many teams that could match three lines with that much firepower. Quinn’s return will add to the riches.

It is a good approach to have more options than TNT or VO one timers. Mixing it up keeps other teams off balance. Ovie has scored hundreds of PP goals from his spot but I like variety. I would even like to see how TNT does as a net front presence once in a while. Huge human for screening, great hands and reach. Put Quinn (upon his return) on the left wall when Tage goes net front to have a shooting, passing or dangling option.

I think Stillman will be OK as a 7D this season. He has warts but I would rather keep his grit than having Bryson as a 7. RJ will be ready for later in the season, which may push these guys further down the depth chart. I believe Clague would get claimed before Bryson due to salary.