French Collection

Leafs are squeezing every dollar they can out of the cap. They signed a goalie to an ATO to back up Samsonov the other night and will do it again tonight vs Florida. They have AHL goalies available but needed the cap space to sign NCAA prospect Matthew Knies. I know I am repeating myself but I can’t believe KA did not do more at the deadline to acquire a few assets for some salary retention.

I don’t think it will be a franchise defining moment either way this goes. If he ends up as a solid 4-6 Dman for the Sabres that is a terrific addition. The bonus is the low salary and being waiver exempt, as you pointed out. I think he will be better than Bryson and Clague so I want this to get done.

Watching Bryson may be the only thing that makes me want to turn the game off. I know what you mean, they need 4-5 Stillman, Bryson, Clague, Pilut caliber Dmen.

Sad but true. They had chances to grab the net and run with it. Anderson, old and fragile. Comrie, injured and inconsistent. UPL, young and inconsistent.

Exactly, worry about this one and insert lineup accordingly. Tomorrow is another day.

Levi will do his part, if DG starts him. He knows their shooters better this time around.

Krebs does have more upside than Larsson. He is also angrier but Angry Peyton doesn’t have that ring to it.

They are not getting Bedard but this kid has elevated his game in the playoffs. 4 points last night, 19 in 6 games to force a game 7 in the series. I wouldn’t mind seeing him end up in his hometown of Vancouver.

First reference to VO that I see in a while. I haven’t missed him, even though he has 26 goals. I don’t think Greenway pots 20 but he can provide some defensive responsibility, net front presence, positive board battles and wearing the other team down. If he can get 30-35 points then that almost replaces VO’s production on top of the items I mentioned above. VO’s goals can be replaced by improvements in Quinn and Peterka. Quinn should be on the PP instead of VO, he has a good shot, vision, passing ability and great maneuverability. Can a 26 goal scorer + a draft pick return a 4D?

Right on, there may be 1-2 spots per year for rookies going forward. Some years might be 0 unless an excellent prospect forces his way in. This will be the point where prospects and picks are traded to upgrade certain positions. The salary cap will have to be managed throughout this process and that can force a team to play a guy on his ELC.

I hope he signs. Whether he ends up as a 4D or an 8D, he is a Sabres pick. KA will help his D depth and dispel the idea of NCAA picks shunning this team.

Lots of losses that we thought were gimme games. I am 0-2 in live viewings, both in Ottawa.

In Dahlin’s post game interview he singled out Mitts’ work ethic as second to none. DG has said that as well. That has helped transform him from a no pull-up guy to a solid player. I like the fact he has realized that he can’t succeed only on skills that worked in HS and college. He has evolved as both a player and a person. DG believed in him last year and Casey has taken a step this year. He’s also the Sabres iron man this season, helped in part by his improved fitness. Who would have thought that? Like many I doubted he would get where he is, kudos to him. A spin-off of his work ethic is how it challenges teammates to improve and provides leadership for the younger guys and future Sabres.

Side note. Wright was traded by Kingston to Windsor in the OHL for a pile of draft picks and prospects (7 iirc) for their playoff run. Windsor finished first in their conference but got swept in the first round by 8 seed Kitchener.

Too bad, he probably got a free meal at KA’s house.

They just beat a really good team that has had their number for a while. That feels really good.

Elite company. Dryden’s 3 years at Cornell were spectacular. 66/67 25W 0L 1T 1.46 .945 67/68 25W 2L 1.52 .938 68/69 25W 2L 179 .936

Mats Lindgren with another 4 point game for the Red Deer Rebels. 8 points in 5 playoff games for the LHD.

It should. Every year equipment manufacturers claim they add 5-10 yards. 17 years worth of yardage.

Dumba is a UFA in July.

Tage will probably shut it down if the mathematical possibility is done.

Levi.

It’s exciting that Levi has put himself in the conversation for Buffalo next year. I figured he was good but this start is great. I think he is their best goalie so Rochester is not his destination. He has a few more games to build his case. If Comrie or UPL has to go, so be it. It sucks to lose an asset to waivers but perhaps there’s a trade possibility. It’s like if Savoie beats out Jost at camp, you keep Savoie instead of sending him back to the WHL. I would love to see Varlamov as a 1B, pushing the other guys further down the line.

Dahlin will show Montour that his name starts with a D. He will play some O as well. 2 points and +3.

My two cents. They have had a 3 goalie rotation where no one has taken the net. There have been good games but many poor ones from these three. There is not one of them that gives me the feeling that they would win an important game. They might but none of them inspire any confidence that they have this one in the bag. These guys have had 75 games to take the net and tell DG that they’ve got this. Our answers to this question reflect this. I vote Levi because he just beat a good team, he is full of confidence, he was traded away from that team and he fills me with hope because of his talent , work ethic and enthusiasm. Anderson hasn’t even been practicing. He can’t be ready. UPL was good in his last outing, but no better than Levi. Comrie is due for a start but he just doesn’t give me confidence. Regardless of who DG starts, the whole team must show up to beat the Panthers. Levi has thrived on big games up to this point, give it to him.