msw2112

Was Jordan Poyer a pro bowl safety when the Bills acquired him? No. He was a 7th round draft pick out of Oregon State that had never started more than 6 games in an NFL season. He had 4 years in the league by that point, but had only started 10 total games. The Comrie situation is similar in that he's been in the league for a few years (6) but only started a handful of games - 24 total with no more than 16 in an 80+ game season. Thus the comparison. Do I know if Comrie will achieve the success that Poyer has? No. Of course not. But the type of signing is very similar. Both guys are veterans who have been in the league for several years, but have not played much. They were signed for a resonable price to come to Buffalo to become starters with the hopes that they would realize their potential when given the opportunity to play a lot. It worked out well with Poyer. It remains to be seen with Comrie. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PoyeJo00.htm https://www.nhl.com/player/eric-comrie-8477480

Adams is using the Brandon Beane playbook. Shed the overpriced "star" players from the past who couldn't get the job done. Draft and develop from within. Make smart and reasonable Free Agent signings. When the team gets to the level that it is ready to compete for a championship, THEN make the big spash acquisition. Perhaps in 1-2 years, the Sabres will be ready to sign their version of Von Miller. Comparing the Sabres to the Bills, I see the Comrie signing as similar to the Jordan Poyer signing. An under-the-radar signing of a quality guy with upside who wasn't a key player in his previous organization, but fits in well with what Buffalo is trying to do.

I'm generally a fan of how Adams has done things, but the lack of goaltending, when they have tons of cap space (as well as draft picks to trade), is disconcerting. I can understand why they wouldn't want a guy like Campbell at 5 x 5M, effectively "blocking" the future guys like UPL, Levi, Portillo, and the guy they just drafted, but there has to be someone out there willing to play on a high value shorter term deal. Overpay (even in a big way) for 1-2 years, when there's plenty of cap space, and by the time the contract is done, you have spots for the young guys. Instead of taking on Ben Bishop's contract - several million dollars - they could have used that cap space to overpay a veteran goalie for 1-2 years. Pay him $3-6M above market for 1-2 years, then he comes off the books when cap space is needed and the young guys are ready. Instead they are paying Bishop to NOT play, without getting any assets in exchange. Seems like a total waste of cap space. Are they also still paying the retired defenseman from the Islanders?

I agree that longer would have been better. This reminds me a bit of Reinhart's bridge deal. The difference is that the team was a train wreck at the end of Reinhart's deal and he was ready to move on. If things continue to trend positive, the team will be in much better shape when this deal ends, which leaves a situation where either 1) Olofsson wants to stay, but there's not spot for him (a very good problem to have); or 2) he is re-signed at the time. Form a practical standpoint, with so much foward talent in the pipeline, it may make sense to get 2 more prime years out of him at a relatively low rate, when we have cap space, and then move on if and when he's due big bucks. Again, a good problem to have. After 2 years, he's either 1) earned a big payday (with the Sabres or another team), meaning he played very well for the Sabres, or 2) didn't play well and the Sabres would want to move on anyway. So, overall, a good move by Adams.

Reading the write up from the link in the 2nd post above makes me think of a young Victor Olofsson. Great, quick shot, and dangerous on the PP. Goal scorer. Needs to work on skating and 2-way game. A late round NHL draft pick. Victor has developed the areas in which his game was lacking and is on the verge of getting a nice NHL veteran contract. If this kid can develop in a similar fashion, he'll be a draft steal. If not, he'll be a good AHL goal scorer, or will play pro in Europe and never be heard from again.

I'm glad he's already in North America. Let's hope he stays over here. I'm concerned about any Russian players these days. Given the war and the surrounding political climate, it may be difficult for some of these guys to get themselves over to North America. All that aside, he seems like a resaonable pick in the 5th round. He's tall and young, so he could add some bulk to his frame over the next few years. Could be in the mix for a 4th pairing or AHL regular in the future.

The hit rate on 2nd round picks is pretty low. The Sabres have lots of picks. They Sabres need young goalies in the pipeline. This guy was rated one of the top goalies in the draft (albeit a weak draft for goalies). Given the amount of time goalies take to develop, it is likely several years before this guy is competing for a job in Buffalo. His selection shouldn't have a whole lot of bearing on Portillo or Levi, who will likely be ready to play in the AHL next season and compete for a backup spot in Buffalo. I have no issue with the pick. That said, the Sabres still need to acquire a veteran #1 goalie for this season. This draft pick has no bearing on that need.

The only information I have about the transaction is what I read in this thread. If what it says in here is true, Adams said that Anderson was signed to be a veteran backup and that they're still in the market for a proven NHL starting goalie. If that's true, this is a good signing and I have no issue with it. I realize that all of us on this board know more than Adams does, but so far, he's done a good job with the rebuild and he seems to know what he's doing. The goaltending situation last year was not ideal, but the team still developed and improved, going with what they had. Even with better goaltending last season, the Sabres were not likely a playoff team. They can, however, contend for the final playoff spots this upcoming season if they improve the goaltending situation. I have to believe that Adams knows this. He also probalby knows that he has cap space and trade assets (such as 3 first round picks). He also probably knows that they need to win games in order to put fans in the seats, so going with a flawed goaltending plan is not the way to do that. So let's give him a chance to do his job. If he fails, we can complain about it later.

Looks like a solid signing for a local kid who is a good AHL player and a fringe NHL bottom 6 player. Every organization needs guys like this, so he's a good fit for the Sabres in this role. If the information above is accurate, it's a 2-way deal with a $200,000 AHL salary. Making $200K at age 27 is a pretty good gig if you can get it, particularly where the job gives you time during your workday to work out and stay in great physical shape, and you get to play a sport that (presuambly) you love to play. There are other "fringe benefits" to being a member of a local college or pro sports team....And, if things really work out in your favor, you could make up to $750K. Not bad.

I think that Olofsson is a guy just hitting the prime of his career and he's a scorer. I don't know what the exact metrics are for NHL contracts, but I am in favor of paying him with a longer-term contract. Lock him up in his prime. If the team decides it has too many good forwards and can't pay them all, that would be a great problem to have and you can trade some pieces at that time. While I also advocate paying Thompson for some of the same reasons, Olofsson has been a scorer for several years, so I would say he's a proven goal scorer. Thompson has only scored for one season. Back to Victor, it is true that earlier in his career, most/all of his goals came from the right side on the Power Play on one-timers (which shouldn't be viewed as bad skill to have - he's one of the best in the NHL at it and it's a lethal shot), but it looks like he's expanded his game beyond that. Draft, develop, and pay your own is a good way to build a team. Get rid of the dead weight (which Olofsson is not) and swap in pieces here and there as certain positions become overcrowded and others are thin. When you get up near the cap, move assets as needed to free up space. If someone were offering an NHL starting caliber goalie for Olofsson - a major need for the Sabres - then I would consider trading him now. The same could be said for a RHD. If those opportunities are not there, go ahead and sign him up.

I wasn't specifically referring to the end of next season or any particular date. I was simply referring to the time when his contract runs out, at which time he will be a UFA. I am in favor of the Sabres getting out ahead of that date, whether it be 1 or 2 years out. That said, when he's a RFA, he will hold some cards and the team will hold fewer, so it behooves them to get out ahead of his RFA status too.

Skinner was terrible under RK, but has bounced back and played very good hockey last year. $9M hockey, no, but still very good play. If he contiues to play this way for the next few seasons, his contract may turn out to be an overpay, but not a the gross overpay/albatross that it looked like in the RK years. Same can be said for Okposo, although he's nearing the end of his deal. When Skinner was re-signed by the Sabres, he was a UFA. He held all the cards. With Thompson now, he is not a UFA, so the Sabres have the ability to work out a resonable longer term deal now while Thompson is still under contract. If they wait it out and he continues to perform well, Thompson will hold all the cards. Yes, there is risk if they sign him to a big deal and his play falls off, but it looks like he is a young talented player that has progressed and will continue to improve. Keep in mind that he was a first round pick for a reason, he has tremendous size (which can't be taught and which won't go away), and clearly has high end skill. He's moved to a new position, where he has excelled. Also, if you look at the careers of other really tall guys (Chara, for example), they started slow, took time to grow into their bodies, and then be came great players for a long time. I see more of that in Thomspon than I see Tyler Myers or Adam Creighton (for the more senior membres of the board). So I would vote in favor of signing Thompson to a new deal sooner than later.

I support Okposo to wear the C. I would also support Tuch. I like Dahlin, Girgensons and Couzens for the A, but Couzens may still be a bit young. He's definitely a future leader. The only downsides to Okposo, as correctly identified above, are his age and current contract status.

I agree that the standards should be higher for number retirement. Basically, the guy should be a Hall of Fame player in order to achieve this status. Rare exceptoins could be made for a guy who was a captain, gritty leader for a very long period of time, consistently put up good numbers, and brought home a Stanley Cup, even if not a HOF talent. Another point of view - and the one that the Sabres seem to be applying - is this: although the team has not won a Stanley Cup, it has a rich 50+ year history with several periods of success. Let's honor the guys who were the leaders and best at those times and helped the team achieve the highest successes that it did. While its a lesser standard than some other teams that have had more success apply, I don't think it's a joke. Applying these standards as they are, Miller is deserving. Congrats to Ryan!

I played some youth soccer and many of my best friends played high school soccer. A couple even played in college. I respect the sport, but I just can't get into it. To my knowledge, my friends who played in college follow the Bills and Sabres closely but really don't follow soccer. For me, part of it is that my sports appetite is more than satisfied with (American) football, hockey, basketball, and baseball. I really don't have time or interest in adding another sport to my "watch list" and I spend so much time following the Bills, Sabres and my college teams that I don't have time to learn the nuances of a new sport. For the most part, I just don't care, although I will watch an occasional World Cup game if the US is in it and is playing for something. I was in Atlanta a couple of years ago and went to a sports bar to watch Monday Night Football. The local MLS team was playing that night. I was extremely surprised to see the bar packed with soccer fans totally into the game, and only a handful of us there to watch the soccer game. My friends in Atlanta told me that the MLS team was out drawing the Falcons and that it's gotten huge there. Too bad they couldn't get this to happen with the Flames or Thrashers. Obviously, the game has a huge international following and a growing domestic following in the US, so there's definitely something there, but I'm not interested in becoming a part of it.

If he's willing to play in Rochester if he fails to make the team, then I'd be all for bringing him back. You can't have too many good players and he's certainly good enough to contribute in Rochester and perhaps at the back end of the Sabres' lineup.

As you correctly mention, the goaltending is the big difference. If the Sabres can somehow land a great goalie, they, too could make the playoffs and have success. Even consistent competent goaltending gets this ascending team over .500 and jockeying for a spot in the playoffs. Obviously the goaltending siutation is a major "if."

I have a subscription to the Athletic, but I rememer Fairburn most from his Bills coverage for the Syracuse newspaper (which I read online). I thought he did a great job and I'm happy to have him on the Sabres' beat.

No doubt you insert Mule into the lineup. If Dell continues to play well and win, do you replace him with a healthy UPL? It's great for UPL's development, but it may not be in the best interests of the team winning the Calder Cup. I guess it will be a good problem to have.

I think I drank about 2/3 of these brands during my high school years in the Buffalo area.

That sounds about right. Goalie and RHD. Extend Tage. Goaltending is a major problem. UPL seems to be perpetually injured and even if healthy, he's unproven. Portillo and Levi are excellent prospects, but have not signed yet, may never sign, and even if they do sign next year, it's not likely either one will be NHL-ready. Subban sings well, but isn't a very good goalie. Anderson has flashes and is a great "organization" guy, but he'll be 41 years old and will likely have injury issues, as he did this past season. Tokarski and Houser have played well at times, but are not quality NHL starters. Thus, goaltending has to be the #1 priority and the place to spend the cap money.

I hadn't considered that angle. Perhaps he didn't want to overly imitate or copy Rick while Rick was still continuing. Rick has a highly unique voice that can't and won't be replicated, but Dan is at least developing into a solid play-by-play man. He's also starting to make some "signature" calls. Prior to this year, I felt like Dan was a minor league caliber guy at best. Now, I see him as a middle-of-the-pack NHL guy. Not great, but competent. As I said earlier, perhaps he can continue to improve and get to the next level. It's similar to what happened with the Bills. At the height of his career, Van Miller was one of the best (although I don't think he was quite as much ahead of the class as RJ). John Murphy, the current Bills play-by-play guy who took over from Miller, is competent, but just a middle-of-the-pack talent. He's been at it long enough that if he hasn't taken the leap yet, he's not going to. Dunleavy still has a chance....

I have been critical of Dunleavy in the past, but I will admit that he has improved. He still has a ways to go, but I hope he can get there.

With all of the RJ hype of late, I had fogotten that Ted Darling was pretty good in his own right. When I watched Ted Darling broadcasts as a kid, I always thought "How does he know that guy is from North Tonawanda?" Looking back, I realize how funny that was. What I also remember about Ted was whenever he talked about tall players (Andreychuck, Adam Creighton, etc.) and their "loooong reach." Back to RJ, he's truly one of the all-time greats and will be missed. I'll be sad that we won't get to enjoy his calls anymore. I don't think he's at that point yet, but I lived in Chicago at the end of Harry Caray's career. For Harry, it was definitely time to hang 'em up. He was getting players' names wrong (Ryne Sandberg was "Ryan Sandborn" and such) and forgetting basic facts about the game. I don't think RJ is anywhere near that level of decline, but as others have said, it isn't bad for him to go out close to the top of his game. We'll miss you, Rick!

I agree that the NFL has watered down its product - too many games on too many nights, too much coverage and hype, etc., and yes, WAY too many commercials that disrput the flow of the game. That said, after all these years, the Bills are a top contender, so my interest is high. Also, there seems to be a reasonable amount of parity, so there are lots of upsets and most games are competitive. The divisional playoff round this year was off the charts. There were four games and all four were incredible games, down to the wire, great drama, etc., including the Bills-Chiefs which was the best of them all for football fans in general, despite the heartbreaking loss by the Bills. It may have been the best weekend of NFL football in history - and that's not hyperbole - it was truly that good. Divisional playoffs Saturday, January 22, 2022 AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 19, Tennessee Titans 16 NFC: San Francisco 49ers 13, Green Bay Packers 10 Sunday, January 23, 2022 NFC: Los Angeles Rams 30, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27 AFC: Kansas City Chiefs 42, Buffalo Bills 36 (OT) NFL aside, I love hockey and the Sabres' apparent return to relevance has rekindled my interest in the team and the NHL in general.