GASabresIUFAN

While I am a Buffalo native, I understand latching on to a team not from your home town. I've been an Atlanta Braves fan most of my life. It stems from going to spring training games in West Palm with my grandfather and Hank Aaron chase of 715. It's a little ironic that I ended up living in the Atlanta area. PS: While not Canadian, my grandmother was born in Toronto and I spent most of the summers in my youth in Haliburton Ont. I also still have considerable family in St Catherines, Toronto and for some reason Calgary. Is that Canadian enough for this thread?

Exactly. Jochen Hecht 2.0?

Thank you. Adding Jost has gone along way to solidifying the line and moving Casey to the wall has helped him think less and play more instinctively. His pass to VO last night was pretty and the play in the first that rang off the post were just two examples of his improved play.

I watched it after the game. It was the best PSE has done. Well deserved. I didn’t realize how much Miller had worked with Comrie.

He has only 22 giveaways for the season. He also isn’t a glider. He should be more physical given his size and his new position and Ray said his work along the boards is much improved. I get that people wanted him to be Cozens when drafted (I did too) given his offensive tool kit and that he often leaves you feeling like he has much more to give, but this constant drum beat that he is a turnover machine and that he is a ineffective NHL player simply isn’t true. We still have plenty of others guys who don’t contribute.

Maybe that’s what I remember.

Not from coaches, but certainly in the media. I seem to remember articles about him not being fully engaged. I could be wrong. I certainly remember the articles about the fractured locker-room. The post Jack era certainly seems to be a team all pulling in the same direction.

Fail. Looks like we need a KC code to have a chance at tickets. @freester and I still hoping. Now if anyone knows a KC season ticket holder please let me know

Could be.

Anyone know a season ticket holder for the Bills who has a ticket passcode they aren't using for the game in Atlanta?

Haven’t we heard this before?

I maybe the most vocal supporter of Mitts here. I do it primarily because so many here have an opinion of him that is so set in stone they can no longer see anything else and there needs so balance in the discussion. I readily acknowledge his terrible play defensively early in the season but it's time to put that discussion in the rear view mirror. Jost has solidified that line, and they have played very well for the most part since DG created that line.

Seriously? Why on earth would you do that? The 1st 3 lines of your post I'm right there with you, except I like Jokiharju as the 3rd D pair RHD.

Would that be a bad thing if he get's it?

Oh come on, wasn't there at least some fun in seeing Hall and Staal sent packing. We got Montour for Guhle in 2019 and a 1st. Bogo and Kane in 2015. My favorite TM trade in 2014 of 2 2nds and McNabb for Fasching and Delo. Honestly I don't remember when we were ever a major buyer at the deadline this century. Even in the 2 great years, DR didn't do much (thanks Quinn). In 2007 we shipped out Biron and added Conklin and Zubrus. I don't think we did anything in 2006 except dump Noronen. We got Grier in 2004, but dumped Curtis Brown. Maybe the most improved deadline acquisition for Briere in 2003 for Chris Gratton. After that deal, maybe getting Dumont and Gilmour for Michal Grosek? DR went for it in 1999 getting Barnes, Juneau and Warrener for Mike Wilson, Alexei Tezikov, Plante and Barnaby. We also got Satan at the deadline. Dumont, Grier, Briere, Warraner and Satan are the type of deadline deals I like. Deals where the guys acquired fill holes beyond the season they were acquired.

Besides the trades of Staal, Hall and Montour two seasons ago?

You didn’t say this year and you didn’t say playing at an extraordinary level this year. Truthfully Josh hasn’t been extraordinary this year either. The two best players on the Bills this season are Diggs and Milano. Josh has been fantastic at times and awful at others. I do think the Milano and Poyer are building a HofF resumes and that White maybe as well. Miller is already a shoe in. Maybe I’m confused by your definition of extraordinary. To me a player at the top of his game who is voted as one of the 3 best in his position, like Milano, is extraordinary. Your two extraordinary talents, Allen and Diggs were not so honored. Diggs was 2nd team and Josh nothing. I’m the one who pointed out up thread everything this team has endured to get to this point, but to say this team lacks special talent on defense is wrong imho. What is correct is that this team succeeded despite the injuries to those stalwarts.

I couldn't disagree more. White, when fully healthy, locks down half the field. That is extraordinary. Milano may be one of the top 5 linebackers in football right now. He is a sure tackler, can cover RBs and TEs and sack the QB. With him the Bills are tough against the run but without him teams can run all over us. He was voted a 1st team All-Pro this season along with former Dawg Roquan Smith (who is the best college LB I have even seen) and Fred Warner. He is an extraordinary player. As to Poyer - here were his stats in 2021 (https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/nfls-best-safeties-jordan-poyer-tyrann-matthieu-minkah-fitzpatrick-justin-simmons/) McCourty ranked 2nd at a passer rating of 31.8 and Marcus Williams was 3rd at 54.2. By any measure that's extraordinary. Injuries have cost him this season, but that doesn't change the fact that he is an amazing safety and maybe the best safety in the NFL when fully healthy.

That would be great. Maybe they’ll have to cut a D we could use.

He was squeezed out. He was insurance as you say, but I believe that management has seen enough from guys like Rousek, Biro, Murray etc down in Rochester to think that they would be just as effective if called up.

You know that it is statistically untrue. You also know he takes the puck away from the opponent more often then he gives it away?

Anderson, Bryson and Lyubushkin.

Actually it would help cap strapped teams by giving them a player on LTIR, essentially creating more cap room. What’s the harm of adding a late round pick if someone wants Bishop’s deal.

The Sabres are in an interesting situation. We are on the border of playoff contention, have some lineup holes, and millions of cap space to take on contracts if interested. We also have 8 players on expiring contracts divided evenly between 4 UFAs and 4 RFAs. UFAs - Anderson, KO, Vinnie and Z; RFAs - Cozens, Clague, Jost and Asplund. We also have a large group of players with one remaining including core RFAs Dahlin and Power, plus RFAs Krebs, Jokiharju, Bryson, Mitts, and UPL and UFAs Olofsson, Comrie and Lyubushkin. 3rd line players Mitts and Olofsson are trending toward career highs in production. Will KA be a seller or a buyer or possibly both? Vinnie is already in the trade rumors and I expect him to be moved sooner then later. This will enable KA to stop playing roster roulette with the kids. The biggest roster issues remain D depth and some who can win a faceoff. Imho the forwards also need to be more physical and try to score more dirty area goals. Step 1 - Decide whether the team wants keep Z and KO beyond this season and talk to the to determine if they are even interested in returning. Depending on how those conversation go, I’d either re-sign them or trade them at the deadline. It may even be possible to trade them and then bring them back in the off-season. I’d probably trade one of the two for sure to get Asplund in the lineup to see if he’s worth keeping beyond this season. Step 2 - Trade Anderson if he is willing. I hate a 3 goalie circus and I’d love to give Anderson a chance at a Cup if someone is interested in him. Trading Anderson would also give management more opportunities to evaluate both Comrie and UPL Step 3 - See what the market is offering for VO and Mitts. If someone is offering a 1st or a package which includes a good to excellent D prospects, I think KA would have to consider it. Step 4 - Kick the tires on acquiring a parter for Power with term. Chychrun is the obvious answer, but maybe even Luke Schenn if he is willing to sign and extension. Step 5 - See if you can upgrade Bryson. Step 6 - trade Bishops contract, especially if we take a contract back in another deal. Assets are assets.

I’m not sure that’s 100% accurate. On offense that’s true. However on defense there is serious talent although much of it has been injured this season. Matt Milano is an amazing linebacker who is finally getting his due. White , when healthy, is a perennial all-pro DB. Miller is a Hall of Famer and the Hyde/Poyer combo is the best safety combo in the NFL. Ultimately the Bills great accomplishment this season is continuing to win without the services for all or significant part of the season from the top tier players on the defense in White, Miller, Hyde and Poyer. No other team in the NFL could have survived much less thrived with losing that much top end D talent. It is a real compliment to Hamlin (also now out), Elam (a rookie), Rousseau (a 2nd year player) and others who stepped up to fill the gaps. Rousseau imho is on the verge of being a long-term difference maker.