Curt

The team ordered them on time, but the players threw them in the locker room trash can before taking the ice. Because, you know, they are really ugly.

Hmm, interesting thought. 2015 Kucherov was 2-3 years younger than Olofsson is now though.

Why did you watch?

Goaloffson!!!!!!!!!

Oh goodness. Multiple Sabres could have scored to win it there! Olofsson whiffed when he had half an open net from 5 ft out.

Sabres showing that they care.

Great pass from Reinhart to break Eichel loose on that goal............just kidding, that was all Jack.

Your welcome. Would you like me to do the clean up in addition to the setting up?

I think it’s a bit of both. Definitely play a strong defensive game, but I think the goalies are good too.

Just realized that Hutton has a special paint job to go with the 50th Anniversary sweaters. Looks sharp.

Those 3 were drafted 13th, 31st, and 22nd overall respectively. Brennan was first pick of the 2nd round.

I think there is definitely something to this, but it doesn’t really explain the total disappointment of the 1st round picks. These most high profile picks, who would have got the most attention and scrutiny, also had an extremely poor success rate.

Yes, the Sabres have not met expectations for an NHL franchise over the past decade. I don’t know of anyone who would disagree with that. Just because I say that they are lacking the talent, doesn’t mean that I’m completely handwaving away the idea of culture. It can be hard to say exactly what a culture is like from the outside looking in, but in years past especially, it often hasn’t looked great. I also think it can be hard to improve the culture a great deal without also addressing the talent deficiencies.

Scandella was awful last season by the eye test and fancy stats and any other measure. Scandella this season was good by both the eye test and fancy stats. Funny how that works.

I do (of course) think that McDavid coming to the Sabres would have a major impact, but not as much of an impact as LeBron going to a basketball team. There are a couple reasons for this. One, even the best NHL players play less than half the game, while NBA players regularly play 75%+ of a game. Two, in basketball you can give the ball to your best player on every play and run everything through them almost 100%. In hockey that’s not possible to the same extent. Three, in basketball there is no goalie to stop you when you beat the D. Four, in basketball the best team wins more often than in hockey. It’s less influenced by luck so there is more chance that having that best player will actually lead to W’s.

For these NHL players they are. What’s the difference? NHL players still want to go work at places that they consider good.

I’m certainly not vouching for the culture of the Sabres. I’ve seen things that support the idea that it is not the best. What I’m saying is that there also has been insufficient talent. They have not had the talent that you would consider normal for a playoff team. As far as being below expectations, I guess it depends what you mean by that. This season so far, they have performed about to my preseason expectations, considering the players on the roster. The previous two seasons they did not meet my expectations because in 2018-19 it seemed like they kind of gave up towards the end and in 2017-18 they were inexplicably horrible.

I would say: Because they were not that good before we acquired them. Sheary, Vesey, Sobotka, and anyone else except Skinner (and Okposo before his brain injuries) was not a top-6 forward before or after they were acquired. They were and are all 3rd line quality players at best.

Yeah, at the deadline, teams that are looking to buy are probably not trading a F for a D. They are usually going to be trading away futures to add something for the playoffs. The hockey trades are usually offseason deals.

Sure, it’s not IMPOSSIBLE for any team to make the playoffs. Buffalo could have been a playoff team this season, but knowing their talent level, was it expected? Does Buffalo have the talent of a normal playoff team? My answer to both questions is, no. Columbus is exceeding expectations. Their performance is surprising, unexpected. They are the exception.

Yes, they are certainly exceedingly expectations. I would say their management/coaching is definitely better. I think their overall talent is on par with Buffalo, but is better utilized.

I don’t think he has really had that opportunity this season. Johansson is middle-6, and Skinner has played with him a lot, but that’s it. Skinner has been playing mostly with one middle 6 guy and one bottom 6 guy. When Johansson was out injured, it was Skinner and two bottom 6 guys.

I don’t think it’s a problem. I think it’s mostly just human nature. An excellent basketball player has a much larger impact on their team than an excellent hockey player can, and it’s not even close. So one or two excellent basketball players can go to a bad team and make it good. A couple excellent hockey players can not have quite the same impact.

I saw it on the internet, it must be true! What did Plato ever do to you?

I was just thinking if it had been a big open ice hit or even a boarding and the guy was laying on the ice unconscious and had to be stretchered off, I feel like they would have finished the game. Perhaps the uncertainty and confusion about what was happening, and what was wrong with him added to unwillingness to continue the game.