Thorny

But even then we can go for a hockey trade. Guys like Samuelsson don’t break bank. If we eventually get to a spot where we want to convert Olofsson’s valuable points, that pay, to defensive aptitude that kinda really doesn’t, then that’s swell. But it’s too valuable a commodity to not see a return on asset.

People like being in the playoff hunt, now, right? And if we get in, wouldn’t it be nice to win a game? VO helps both to a considerable degree. If Quinn took his spot now (Ie we tasked him with replacing VO’s production) we’d win less. How can we talk endlessly of culture and not suppose this team will benefit greatly in the now, and long term, by building the strongest foundation possible, this season? I understand it’s being framed as “will replace” and not that it’s time, now, but it’s not just about Quinn surpassing VO. Assuming he does, who’s taking Quinn’s former spot? More than ever, with rising scoring and deep NHL F groups, we need to be looking at a 12 spot roster and also assume injuries (that wildly we’ve been able to almost avoid this year). Does Asplund or Hinostroza, the current 13th guy, replace VO’s 30/40 goals? I don’t think we have anyone close. Let’s just worry about the next couple years first, ya? Replace him when the talent level of the top 12 forces a 35 goal scorer to the bench based on ability. As ever I think it’s important to remember that the future we covet probably only arrives if we actively harness it: make the competition we used to *pretend* we had, actually happen. The non-KA guy with his 30 goals annoyingly preventing the next young prospect from making the team is exactly the spot we want to be. Finally.

How many cups does the team have that lets the 30/40 goal scorer walk? Come on now.

I’ve been hearing for a couple years now from people who know way more about the advanced metrics than me that, as scoring skyrockets, not just even Cs but forwards in general are carrying more and more potential for value relative to the other 2 positions. I suppose that, A) Adams focusing on making our F group the deepest possible first, as he appears to have targeted, before detailing the rest of the roster makes a lot of sense B) Teams will live and die by their depth of F. We aren’t done at F, won’t be done at F, and it’s why Adams is inquiring on guys like Meier C) The D that can provide top value are much rarer and harder to find. Making a Dahlin even more valuable as more teams will struggle to find D that can live up to the aptitude of their Fs. D advantage for us (Dahlin, Power) proving a potential X factor. D) these lists must fluctuate a bit b/c Mark Scheifele has not been good by advanced metrics any time lately until this year. It does show the impact of coaching indisputably.

We are talking these players as they currently stand, right? Owen Power is not “significantly better” or more “purely talented” than Danny Briere, Tim Connolly and a host of other players on that team. Danny Briere ALSO was a top 10 scorer that year, along with Tage this year people really just be saying anything nowadays

Marty Biron to the nearest courtesy phone..

BigdickdubbleU We’ll be playing a Jets team on Thursday coming off a loss - to Nashville and their Devon Levi, Saros

I bet you it’s auto-immune Its always auto-immune, House

This is truthfully a very common thread throughout the NHL nowadays, especially this season goals are way up. Teams get big leads. Score effects, as always remain a thing: but with the raw amount of goals going up, it simply translates to greater swings in differential relatively this happening to the Sabres is normal. Try to be one of the teams overcoming the score effects, rather than one relying on them to get back to square ground so far so good

Please rest up tomorrow

HEY look at me look AT me IM the captain, now

Adams is open to big name trades, see everyone His and his team’s analysis of each individual move is what matters, by the principles they’ve set. No move is simply ruled out based on stringent adherence ie “we won’t “mortgage the future” by dealing for a “now” player.” Always open to improvement, doesn’t view things as *necessarily* set, in house. Not if we can do better. Depends on cost, depends on player. Very good.

Flyers hanging around this year a definite surprise

Top line carrying the mail tonight

Then I’d rather have you inside my house, pissing out, than outside my house, pissing in - - - heard this on tv recently and didn’t think I’d get a chance to work this into conversion so soon

Quinn and Peterka producing little of late while we maintain a spot in the playoff race makes me borderline giddy some days re: hockey outlook. We aren’t firing on all cylinders, areas for not just realistic but inevitable improvement, potential star-level substantial improvement, are already on the clock ticking down

I KNOW YOU BOYS LIKE EM SCHLO-

“Please, you’re scaring us, lady!” I rest my case lol

I HEAR YOU BOYS LIKE EM SCHLOPPY!

Historically excellent!

Dahlin also got to play behind..I dunno, Scandella? Whereas Power got to play behind...oh, Rasmus Dahlin

Excellent thank you very much. Glad to see my memory isn’t shot yet

Should have blazed before this

No he was not. This is a false narrative surrounding Dahlin’s rookie year due to some of the regression we saw in the second half defensively his *sophomore* season, which then became a full blown issue under Krueger. The starting point was actively beaten down for a little while His advanced D metrics season 1 were all solid. Not to mention the fact it’ll probably take Power his first 3 post draft seasons to put up the production Dahlin did in 1

maintain the shutout, win 3-0 while getting terrible shooting luck even as we pepper Binnington with shots, while the regression to the mean comes Thursday and our offence explodes again against Hellebuyck as I rain down the boos and laughter at him from the stands on Thursday or score more now and bunch then too whichever