JoeSchmoe

Is that a rule, or is that a decision made by the team that they're better off resting? I used to compete in rowing... I never quite made the national team, but I was in the system. We trained 2 and 3 times a day, and went a lot harder than what hockey players do. Sure we'd rest a bit before key races, but if we rested every other day, we'd never get better.

Is it possible that the Sabres either practice with less frequency or less intensity than other teams? Anecdotally it seems like you hear Ralph talking a lot about rest days. Visually, they just don't seem sharp, in that they don't execute on the little things (missing point blank opportunities, hitting posts, passing just a little off, etc). When you look at almost the entire roster playing below their career norms, lack of practice could be the prime reason. I could just see Ralph playing the nice guy card and taking the easy route over and over just to keep a positive attitude in the room. Also, I could see some of Terry's nouveau conditioning pros taking on a less is more attitude you hear about these days (kind of like my kids' "new" math!). I'm not saying he needs to bag skate them as punishment old school style... But he could still make sure they're working hard on a consistent basis, keeping the skills sharp at game speed, and just teaching overall work ethic. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think he's just not pushing them hard enough.

You thinking Shane Wright?

We haven't drafted with a crap for a long time, that is the #1 problem with this team. I know everyone wants to put this on ownership, but more than anything it's been bad luck and to a lesser extent bad scouting. The 2nd worst thing that could happen to this team is for new ownership come in and cheap out on player salaries a la Ottawa and Arizona. The worst thing to happen to the Sabres would be for new ownership to come in and move the team to a wealthier market that doesn't need to have one of the cheapest ticket prices in the league to fill the building.

The price of oil and natural gas seems to be on the rebound. If the run continues, hopefully the Pegula lifestyle can get back on track and cash for the team will be a little easier to come by.

How do Thompson and Mittelstadt not get a regular spot in this lineup? Both have shown some evidence of some offense. For sure top-9 on this team.

Are you actually a closet Pacific Division fan? All those trades would be BIG losses for Buffalo, especially in a seller's market. If you don't get a clear win on a trade, just stay put and wait for a new coach. More realistic trades the Sabres should be looking at are: Eichel for their 1st, Zegras, and Gibson Eichel for Turcotte, Byfield and their 1st Reinhart plus a 2nd round for Petterson.

If I'm a GM on this team, or any team... No player (including McDavid), is untouchable for the right price. At the trade deadline, there's going to be more teams than usual still in it and less teams than usual who are in sell mode. This should make for a seller's market. Hopefully we can catch a few teams that are willing to overpay for some of our guys. Otherwise, there's no harm on staying put if the right deals don't come around.

So you think the news is coming from the agent and not the team? One semi-related story I recall from a while back came from Rob Ray when he wasn't in the media for too long and doing his 4pm bit on WGR. He said that even if a lower guy like Brad May got the story, the networks would give their big guys like Friedman all the credit.

This is usually the case with all teams. Maybe it's part of the deal with the massive TV contracts the big networks have that they be the first to break the major stories.

Michael Scott doesn't have the same way with words as Krueger. Most of us (not all) heard Krueger speak when he first came in and bought right in! "You know, a town with money's a little like the mule with a spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it, and danged if he knows how to use it!" LYLE LANLEY “It was quite interesting. I’d sit beside Sabres fans and have conversations that I won’t be able to have with them now. But it was very enlightening. I certainly could feel the spirit of the city. I loved the history, the architecture and just the size. I can feel it’s a hard-working community, and it’s a place that my wife and I feel very comfortable coming to live there, but of course above all the environment that I’ll be working in will be a match to what I was looking for.” RALPH KRUEGER

Any Simpsons fans here? This whole situation reminds me of the monorail episode where Krueger is the smooth talking salesman, and we as fans are the town of Springfield that bought in hook, line, and sinker.

Given what we know about this team between the tank years and now, I think Dan Bylsma deserves a retroactive Jack Adams for putting up 81pts in the post tank year.

If Eichel was 2019-20 Eichel, we're in a playoff spot right now and everyone is loving Krueger.

It wouldn't be hard to find an unsigned free agent somewhere that would be better than Irwin.

I'd keep Mitts in there.

Was Borgen not available tonight?

Why the F do slugs like Irwin, Okposo, and Eakin get a nightly roster spot? They'd rather not hurt a veterans feelings than win.

Remember in Hoosiers where Gene Hackman forced the team to pass the ball a bunch of times before they were allowed to shoot? And at first it didn't work, but eventually it paid off? Is Ralph Gene Hackman? Will Ralph bring a tape measure on the ice in the Cup finals to prove to the team that Stanley Cup finals nets are just the same as regular season? 🤡

Eichel looks like he's at least trying tonight. Joki looks like he might be at risk of losing a spot to Borgen. It won't happen mind you, but Borgen looks worthy of being our #6... Ahead of Joki and Irwin.

He should be in the lineup every night.

Thompson actually creates something when he's out there.

How? 1 The captain is too cool to try. 2 Shaky goaltending kills momentum. 3 A top F has been buried on the 4th line with no support 4 Coaches would rather trot out never-beens like Eakin, Irwin, and washed up guys like Slo-poso than play younger players with some potential upside like Mitts, Borgen, Routs, etc.

I'd staple jacks butt firmly on the bench if he wants to keep up that effort and body language.

I thought Dahlin gapped it okay, but could have prevented the shot by making a check prior to what was a weak shot. My only question is if Dahlin commits to playing the man, and the opponent has a backup, it could backfire.