GASabresIUFAN

Can someone please explain what Eakin and Bjork have done to show they deserve to be in this lineup at all? I honestly don't see the benefit of playing those guys (and Hayden) any longer. They don't contribute anything. No one is giving us a nickel for them at the deadline and they don't make the team better. Jankowski and Murray have a chance to earn a job here next year or we can showcase Jankowski for the trade deadline. Skinner-Thompson-Tuch Krebs-Mittelstadt-Okposo Asplund-Cozens-Olofsson Girgensons-Jankowski-Murray Fixed!

The first thing they teach you in law school is that the answer to all questions is it depends. 1) Will TP loosen the purse strings? If TP says he can’t spend money then I doubt we use the cap space. 2) Where does KA want the kids to play? Buffalo or Rochester? If he wants the kids in the NHL after he moves out some of the vets, then again only enough contract’s return to keep us cap compliant. 3) Can he get players who will help next season at the deadline? Could a goaltender fall in our lap or a RHD with term? Best case scenario: TP loosens the purse strings and gives KA the freedom to improve the team in anyway he sees fit. I don’t think he’ll take any contracts with term unless he can get a goaltender or a veteran D with tread left on the tire.

1, 2. 3, 4, 5, 6, we want 7!

7 is the record. It’s happened 3 times. 89/90 Quebec, 02/03 Blues and 07/08 Kings. Over the last 2 seasons the Sabres have used a whopping 9 different goalies, but 6 each season. Ullmark Hutton Johansson UPL Houser Tokarski Anderson Dell Subban Obviously KA believes in quantity over quality.

Follow the Amerks, Michigan and Minn NCAA hockey to cheer on our prospects, and the US and Canadian Olympic teams. That’s plenty of Sabres related hockey to cheer for.

I was hoping he was done the season. Aaron “Fog” Dell won’t be missed.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/seravalli-20-trade-targets-in-play-as-market-heats-up/ Top 20 trade targets. This was posted a few weeks ago. Some interesting names. No RHDs (of course) but I'd definitely be interested in Georgiev in goal. Also a THW article from Dec with the obvious Sabres trade pieces. https://thehockeywriters.com/sabres-top-trade-chips-2022-deadline-miller-butcher/ It would be interesting if KA trades Anderson once he's healthy for something. With the dearth of RHD who will be available at the deadline, does KA trade Pysyk? How big does the offer have to be?

They’ll just turn the net around and see what happens.

F-er bowled a 265 this time.

I’d like odds if any of our goalies not named Ukka play in the NHL next year. 1%, lower?

Bowled a 227 the first game and lost.

Just saw the score. I’m glad I’m bowling. PS Dell sucks

https://theathletic.com/3091953/2022/01/25/i-want-to-show-how-much-i-care-alex-tuch-on-winning-for-buffalo-learning-from-marc-andre-fleury-and-bills-qb-josh-allen/ Can we just make Tuch the team’s Captain already.

So what’s your theory?

I grabbed the wrong quote. Here is the blocked shots/60 as requested. http://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?report=realtime&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20212022&seasonTo=20212022&gameType=2&position=D&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,25&sort=blockedShotsPer60&page=0&pageSize=50 McNabb is the leader, Hagg, McCabe, DeHaan, Denis Savard, and Connor Murphy are also near the top. What is your theory? Is your theory that blocking shots leads to injuries and is therefore not a smart practice, or that block shots is an overrated stat like faceoffs? Are the guys near the top of the list better players then you expected?

A valid point, but how do you apply your list to the 4 guys who one would assume right now are part of the long-term core in Dahlin, Jokiharju, Power and Samuelsson? What skill set(s) are those core 4 missing? What do we need to add from outside the organization? What will it cost to get them? Will any UFAs with the needed skills even come here? The players I want are guys who can block shots, clear the crease and handle for forecheck. Also guys who help enable Dahlin and Power to be creative on offense as well. I'm looking for at least one guy Tallinder, Scandella, or McCabe and maybe one guy like a better skating McKee.

What I don't understand is how the Bills are going to play KC in KC again next season?

Correct!

Not sure where this belongs, but I wanted to see where our offense was coming from in recent weeks and where were we record wise. In general the team is actually playing better. We are 3-3-1 in our last 7 games with 20 goals scored 22 goals against. The good news is that 18 players (12 forwards and 6 D) have had at least 1 pt in the least 7 games, but 6 players are leading the way. At forward Skinner (5g 3a), Tuch (2g 5a), Thompson (2A, 3A) and Cozens (2G, 3A) lead the forwards while Dahlin has taken his game to another level (1g, 6a) and Jokiharju is also contributing (1g, 3a). A couple of other things that stood out and may explain why Jankowski is playing higher in the lineup. He has 3 pts recently with Asplund and Olofsson only have 1 assist each in the last 7 games.

I am right there with you brother. I'm not a Leslie Frazier fan. The refusal to adjust to running offense got us plowed numerous games and ultimately cost us home field in this playoffs. I hope he gets a nice NC job elsewhere. Things just don't work like that. The core of this team is excellent and Allen is going to be here for the next decade plus. They need a few upgrades on defense. Need to play 3 linebackers to stop the run and they'll be fine.

You know Vinnie is getting traded?

.... and then depression set in. Was it so wrong to want a 3rd championship?

We don't need Laaksonen to be a top pairing guy. We have Power and Dahlin to be our top two pairing puck moving anchors. Hopefully Jokiharju continues to develop into the role of stay at home D partner to either Power or Dahlin long-term. Honestly I envision Oskari as a puck moving partner to Samuelsson and PP QB on the 2nd PP unit, that is if Samuelsson does ultimately move to the right side. To say Fitz isn't reliable NHL D is just a little premature. Lets give him 10 NHL games before we label him as such. I honestly never though he'd ever play a minute in the NHL, but his work ethic and development has gotten him this far. I don't think it's to far fetched to imagine he'll continue to improve even at 24 and possibly become a solid 3rd line defender. I think your real concern is that Jokiharju isn't good enough to remain paired with Dahlin long-term. It's a reasonable fear and if it comes to pass then there really isn't a RHD prospect in the system worthy of that role. In theory you could this as your grouping without trades or UFA signings in a year or two. Dahlin Jokiharju Power Samuelsson Johnson Laaksonen Bryson Fitzgerald

Do you mean the guy drafted with one of the draft picks TM sent back to LA in the terrible McNabb trade? On a serious note, I think the issue of even balance between RHD and LHD is overrated. Most NHL teams aren't balanced. The Avs and Bruins, for example, only have 2 RHDs on their roster. Many teams have at least one LHD who is comfortable playing RD. Sergachev on TB and Orlov on Wash are just a couple of examples. I can see Dahlin and Samuelsson with that kind of ability. For us, Jokiharju is cemented on the roster. I think Laaksonen will eventually play in the NHL, maybe as soon as late this season. Despite comments above, according to Amerk's HC Seth Appert, Oskari's D is coming along and is their current focus. It's improved enough that Appert is now playing him 5 on 5 late in the third protecting leads. https://pickinsplinters.com/2022/01/12/laaksonen-assists-on-4-goals-in-amerks-win-but-his-defensive-gains-are-more-important/ Appert said: Don't forget Fitzgerald is a solid defender who has finally earned a callup. I have argued for two off-seasons that we need one or two veteran RHD, mostly as mentors for the kids while providing better in zone defense. I have zero problem with getting a guy like Orlov who can play both side. I also have no problem with moving Johnson for added RHD depth in the organization, although I think he also could comfortably move to the right side. I think Dahlin, Power and Samuelsson are the core LHD going forward. I also would not surprised if we grab at least one D, hopefully a RHD, in the first round this coming draft.

Quinn is just resting for a few so KA can showcase some of the JAGs on the roster ahead of the trade deadline.