Thorny

When you realize we are witnessing a playoff berth come to fruition in real time

Lol ok right i knew that I just thought someone else made a Vegas specific version of the quote last Vegas was good

Is that the Hangover, Last Vegas, or Fear and Loathing?

Never go full Vegas

Tampa looks primed for another loss!

I’m not really joking. I think we might do it Just ftr

Plenty of room on my “the math doesn’t actually look that bad” bandwagon

Maybe this Will die

The Sabres might only need 30 points 15-7 might get us in the playoffs

A playoff contender, yes But we are a “playoff contender”’ more less, right now. But that’s not the point anymore. The idea isn’t to contend for the playoffs, the idea is to make the playoffs. The idea is to measure based on results, actually having expectations. We don’t want to minimize everything we need and squint really hard to the point we dial it back to the bare minimum theoretical supplement possible, to where the playoffs stay in range next year, should everything go to plan that’s bad strategy, and that’s how you miss the playoffs. People crunching the data and shaving off the most neutral and negative possible outcomes in favour of a hope for the most positive outcome are missing the forest for the trees The roster needs to be in a place where, if we are pessimistic about whether it achieves its full potential, said result for team is still comfortably in the 8th spot

Hypothetical, because I see the two teams compared by the fanbases so often: IF the Sabres miss the playoffs, would your disappointment be at all mitigated should the Red Wings also miss? Trap game for the Jets

Agree, don’t see why they would leave it to chance when the stakes are so high

if we are talking points percentage I think they hold on

If they aren’t willing to tie their careers to Levi’s ability to be good next year, they really, really should bring in a compliment to UPL next season

Isn’t Ellis the pp guy?

We are also going to finish above .500 twice in a row, when we hadn’t done it once since Darcy Regier, if I’m not mistaken. Adams hasn’t been a good GM. That’s a league relative comparison. But he’s been better than the last couple Sabres guys. He’s been the best GM of that bunch im going to take a shower

The good news is that contrary to the analysis that looked like we had taken a significant step back this year, instead we look to have stalled out right around the same spot. Still extremely unacceptable given the goal, but much easier to rebound from going forward. It should show KA that what we had last year was “real”, we really are a team that is within shouting distance of a playoff spot. Most importantly, it should show KA the “run it back” approach was a mistake. No overhaul needed, just judicious supplementations. It’s a mulligan available to KA, but one he absolutely can’t punt on a second time

A lot of it is noise relative to how close we are to fielding a “proper” team re:achieving results necessary to make the playoffs our goal differential last season: 19th our goal differential this season: 20th I like that I said “shell game” a million times this offseason cause that’s what the numbers bear out

3-2 sabres its in the title

The strength of record for the teams we’ve faced has been significantly lower in the second half so far though - the 3 games you mentioned notwithstanding

“It’s what it is”

He’d be playing if they didn’t win the cup last year lol