msw2112

I agree. Anderson has been a good teammate and has played well at times, but he, relative to his position, has not had the success that Skinner and Okposo have had relative to their positions. Skinner and Okposo were both high-level NHL players who received large contracts based on past production and then went into major multi-season funks for a variety of reasons (namely coaching and/or injuries) and both have re-emerged as high-level players again. In addition, Okposo has really stepped up a leader on a team with lots of young guys who need that kind of leadership. So I would not have Anderson in consideration for CPOY, but definitely have Skinner and Okposo as the top 2.

I consider a loss in OT or shootout to be a loss, so I don't think a winning record for this period of time, by my standards, is possible. Perhaps they could get to .500 in points percentage. Either way, I am very pleased with the vast improvement of this team and foresee great things to come in the next few years.

I think I agree with the entire list directly above, except for Vezina going to Anderson, somewhat by default. Okposo would also be in 2nd for Comeback player, as he's had a great year after several years where his offensive production has been lacking, but Skinner's jump has been even greater. And I agree with the comment above that Coach Granato has been the true MVP. He's allowed these guys to become (or re-become) the best versions of themselves.

This is absolutely correct! It's a pretty bad rendition of "Shout!" but it came along at the right time and is now part of the Bills' culture.

Did he blossom or did he bloom?

If Johnson signs with the Sabres and ultimately develops into a NHL regular, the O'Reilly trade won't look so bad after all. Berglund and Sabotka were a total waste, but Thompson is developing into a star player who has the potential to score a lot of goals for many years to come - perhaps continuing to do so after O'Reilly retires from the game. The other asset in the trade was the 2nd round pick that we sent to Vegas for Colin Miller. That one wasn't a total bust, but in the end, not a huge asset fro the organization. Yes, O'Reilly is an excellent player for St. Louis and he won a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe, but he wasn't going to do that in Buffalo and his relationship with the organization may have been beyond repair. I guess the moral of the story is that trades and draft picks often take several years to evaluate. It still remains to be seen how Buffalo will ultimaely come out in the O'Reilly trade. Given Thompson's development, if he plays at this level for the rest of a long career, the trade will have turned out to be a win for both teams. Although it isn't quite the same because football players are more pro-ready when they join the league, this trade could turn out like the Stephon Diggs trade for the Bills. The Bills got a great veteran receiver who helped take the team to the next level and the Vikings got a young, talented receiver who is doing very well with their team and looks to have a bright future with them. The trade worked for both teams. In the Sabres trade, the Blues got a great veteran player who put their team over the top, and the Sabres got a young, talented player in Thompson who is paying dividends with his high quality play. If Johnson can do the same, the trade will really look good for both sides.

For what it's worth, a lot of the taller skilled players do take time to develop. Examples would be Chara and Hedman on defense, and the Sabres' own Tage Thompson on offense. The counter example would be the Sabres' former own Tyler Myers, who won the rookie of the year and then regressed for a few years before getting back on track as a solid, but not great, veteran defenseman. Power has looked great against grown men in international competition. I have only watched a few Michigan games (namely the tournament games in the last couple of weeks) and Power has looked solid, but not spectacular. In watching the games, it didn't seem that he was dominant or the obvious best player on the ice, as you might expect from a #1 overall draft pick. He certainly didn't "take over the game" in the NCAA Tournament as top players often do. And nobody wants him to succeed more than me - he played for my favorite college team (my alma mater) and my favorite pro team (my hometown team). I'm just trying to be objective based on what I saw. Perhaps my sample size isn't big enough to make a judgment. I really hope he develops, becomes great, and lives up to his draft status.

It's a good question and I don't know the answer. My guess is that all of the first round guys will leave, except Hughes, as he's only a freshman. I think he wants more time in school to grow and develop his game and also a chance to be "the guy" and a Hobey Baker candidate next year. I'd like to see Portillo sign with the Sabres, but I get the feeling he's going to stay another year. With Levi staying in school and UPL looking at a full-time NHL role next year, if Portillo wants to be a part of the Sabres organization, it may behoove him to leave now and grab the Rochester spot while it's "available" and make a name for himself in the organization before Levi comes in the future. I would be something for the Sabres if all three young goalies panned out. It would be a good problem to have. A similar situation in Florida is what led to Levi being traded to Buffalo in the first place.

Now that Power is signed, the one to worry about is Portillo. Despite the Wolverines disappointing loss to Denver at the Frozen Four, Portillo looked extremely good. I think he's ready for Rochester if he wants to turn pro. I'm a huge Michigan fan and will say that THIS was their year. Their loss was a huge letdown. They will be very talented again next year and have a shot to be in the NCAA Tournament, but next year's team will not come close to this year's in talent. If Portillo is staying for another shot at the NCAA title, he's probably better off turning pro now. If he is staying because he wants to finish his degree or wants another year of the college experience, then so be it. Michigan's loss last night reminded me a little bit of the Bills loss in the playoffs this year. I believe that both teams were the most talented teams and should have won the championship, but fell short in their final playoff game and just didn't get it done. I have watched the last 3 Michigan games and Power has not stood out like you'd expect the #1 overall player to play against other college kids. Perhaps it's just fatigue. Also, some guys are actually better at the NHL level then they show in college or the AHL (for whatever reason). Let's hope he eventually plays in the NHL like a #1 overall pick should play. I'm glad he's on board and moving forward.

The project was very well done indeed. The Sabres have had their share of PR/Marketing types of gaffes in recent years (misspelling alumni names on jerseys, selling a hat where the primary logo was "BS" and the like), so it's great to see something done right. They really hit it out of the park with this event.

The Sabres don't want to alienate their prospects. College players, if my memory serves me correctly, can wait it out and become free agents. The Sabres have lost out on some good prospects in the past that did this. One was goalie Cal Peterson and the other was Jimmy Vesey (who ultimately ended up a Sabre later in his career and didn't make much of an impact). Thus, Adams has to publicly say whatever needs to be said to show that these players have the support of the Buffalo organization, 100%, regardless of what they choose to do, even if the Sabres very badly want to get these guys signed and in the door. I think that for Portillo, the best thing is for Michigan to win the National Championship. He'll then have nothing left to prove at the college level and may be ready to turn pro. Power is ready and likely coming either way, but he'll also erase any (even ever so slight) doubts about turning pro if Michigan wins the title. While you could make the same arguments for the 2 Minnesota players, I don't think they are nearly as valuable to the Sabres organization as the 2 Michigan players. Power is a top talent and Portillo is a goalie, which the Sabres desparately need to develop. Go Blue!

It's great to hear that downtown establishments will be mobbed before a Sabres game. Just like old times!

Go RJ! And for what it's worth, this looks very close to, if not an actual NHL lineup. Not a Cup winning lineup, to be sure, but arguably one where all of the players are NHL-worthy and not AHLers. I know some may argue against Eakin, but he's a 4th line center and he is the team's best faceoff man, so he has value for that, particuarly with all of the games going into OT recently, where winning a faceoff can truly be the difference in winning or losing the game.

While the primary answer is coaching, it is also all of the above. Granato's coaching has helped the younger guys develop and gain confidence, and has also created a culture of positivity and confidence that has been severely lacking for years. Not only have younger players developed under Granato (Tage Thompson, Dahlin, Mittlestadt, etc.), but veteran players are also playing much better (Okposo, Skinner). The team has had winning streaks in the past, but if things went south for a couple of games, the wheels came off and the team went into a downward spiral. This season, after a bad loss (like in Edmonton last week), or even a series of bad games, the team is able to regroup and come back strong. If they can get consistent NHL-level goaltending next year, and fill in a few holes with free agent veterans, this team should continue to rise. Adding Quinn and Power (and potentially other young players) into the mix will also help.

It should be a judgment call by the officials and the league. Every situation is different. I don't mind a quick smash/show of emotion, but repeated actions may be over the top and warrant a penalty or fine.

I have always wondered how Eichel would have done playing for extended time under Granato. It may have been the best coach he'd have had in the NHL to that point in his career and the up tempo style may have really meshed well with his game. We'll never know, but I am happy with the current state of affairs. I'm sure multiple factors have gone into Dahlin's development. Eichel's departure changed the chemistry of the team and that may have helped, and as others have stated above, the All-Star Game appearance seemed to springboard Dahlin's confidence and development and he may have missed the opportunity if Eichel was still on the team and "took" the team's All-Star slot.

My memories of Larry Playfair: As a fresh-faced rookie in one of his first games, he got absolutely destroyed by Boston's John Wensink. Here's the video: Playfair came back to pretty much destroy all opponents for the rest of his career! While I give credit to "goons" like Rayzor, Barnaby, and Peters, who did what they had to do to stay in the league, defended teammates and backed down from nobody, those guys lost more fights than they won. Playfair, on the other hand, was a beast who pummelled most of his opponents. I love the revenge against Boston so much that I am linking to the same video mentioned above:

I voted yes, but I agree that it depends on goaltending. Lots of of question marks there: Do they bring back Anderson? If so, can he stay healthy for a full season at age 41? Can he play at the same level at 41? Does UPL make the team and stay for the entire season? If so, can he play at the level he displayed in the little bit of time that he played this year? Do they bring in a veteran goalie from outside the organization? If so, who? While there are also questions about Levi and Portillo, I am leaving those out, as I believe those guys, if signed, are likely destined for a development year (or longer) in Rochester. Based on the current coaching, the current talent at Forward and Defense, plus an influx of additional talent (Power, Quinn, maybe JJ) and any offseason veteran acquisitions (there have to be some, both for cap floor reasons and for practial purposes), this is a playoff team if, If, IF they figure out the goaltending.

I completely disagree with the first sentence. The guy is a legend and I believe the Pegulas would keep him around longer if he wanted to keep at it. Relative to player salaries and other costs, his salary is a drop in the bucket. I also completely AGREE with the 2nd sentence. It's a lot more fun to do your job when things are positive. It doesn't feel like a grind when you're having fun doing your job.

I find it so interesting that the Bills have one of the best track records regarding injuries in the last couple of years, while the Sabres have one of the worst. I just saw an article this morning in which OJ Howard said that one of the reasons why he signed with the Bills was the advanced sports training center and how it might help him stay healthy during the season. With all of the investments the Pegulas made in Harbor Center a few years ago, it's baffling that they can't get the same type of results with the hockey team. With the Sabres on the upswing and the future bright, I hope they can figure this out.

Eichel said "7 years." The game last night had roughly 12,000 fans. Thousands short of a sellout. In the last 7 years, there have been a number of sellouts and loud crowds. I attended a sold out game during the 10 game winning steak in the Housley era. It was loud and highly engaged. So, if he was referring to the last couple of years, which included COVID, yes, he'd be correct. But to say "7 years" is just him being a prick. And to say "me leaving" is just a further indicator of what a self-centered guy he is.

I think that if Michigan wins the natty, Portillo leaves and signs with the Sabres (along with Power, who will do so regardless). If they don't win it all, Portillo may go back to school for another year. For Portillo, it is likely Michigan or the AHL, whereas for Power, it's the NHL. And I'm not exactly sure how it works (I'm sure many on this board do), but I would love to see Power on the Amerks' blueline for the AHL playoff run. Get in the max munber of games in Buffalo without eating the first year of his contract, then send him down to work with his future teammates and make a playoff run and get some professional hockey playoff experience.

I agree. Tuch is so obviously team captain material, particuarly for THIS team, but he's only been with the team a couple of months. The proper thing to do is award it to him at the beginning of next season after he's proven himself and earned it. Naming Eichel captain was a tough situation. McDavid was named captain and many other "best players on the team" have been named captain, even at a young age. I think that Sid Crosby was named captain at a young age. The Sabres saw Eichel as that type of player. Skill-wise, he is knocking on the door of being that type of player, but he lacks the intangibles that those other guys have. There's also the thought that he could have grown into the role, but it didn't happen and likely never will. An apt comparison is Patrick Kane. Great talent. #1 overall pick. Top scorer, multi-year all star, MVP candidate, etc. Not captain material. The "C" went, appropriately, to his teammate Jonathan Toews, who displayed captain-like intangibles (while also being a very good player) at a young age. Tuch is the right guy for next year's Sabres, although Couzens has those qualities too and may be a future "A" or "C" depending on what happens down the line.

I'm not going to lose sleep over what a 25 year old kid (or so) said in an interview. I don't live in Buffalo anymore, but was visiting a few years ago and got tickets to a game against Montreal during the 10 game winning streak. If my memory serves me correctly, the Sabres mounted a furious comeback and won it late in the game (either end of regulation or early in OT). The house was packed and the place was electric. It reminded me of years past. Eichel was a part of it and had a ton of fan support. His comments last night were inaccurate and petty. I agree with those that said that Eichel was the biggest problem in his tenure with the Sabres. In my opinion, he is one of the top 10, possibly top 5 most skilled and talented players in the NHL. That said, he lacks the intangibles that make a talented player great. He doesn't have the grit, determination, motivation and leadership skills to truly be one of the best. He's an immature person, and even though he's much older than when he came into the league, he's still immature. He's been pampered and told how great he was since he was a little kid, and nothing has changed. The contrast with Josh Allen above is a good one. For those who follow the NFL, Eichel is more like Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals. When things are going well, Murray is a great teammate. When things go badly, he sits by himself on the bench and pouts. Murray is now creating a stir in the media, because he wants a new contract and had his agent post a long rant on social media. Sound familiar? Eichel and Murray are "me" guys and guys like Josh Allen (and Alex Tuch) are about the team. Having high individual goals and belief in onesself and being a team player are not mutually exclusive, but guys like Eichel and Murray just don't get it and probably never will.

It's been so bad for so long, I would prefer they do it the right way. If the kids need a bit more seasoning in Rochester, then give it to them. The franchise is close to turning the corner, let's not accelerate the process and screw it up. The good news is that Krebs looks ready for sure, as does Sameulsson. Not sure about Quinn, as he's been injured a lot of the season. Peterka seems to be a little bit behind. UPL seems ready, but may be better casts as a backup to a to-be-acquired quality veteran. Power has looked the part in international competition against older players, so he may be ready to make the jump too. Mittlestadt and Thompson's development was stunted by a failure to get them appropriate time in the AHL early on, but it appears that Donny G has been able to overcome that. I'd hate to see a similar path for the currnet crop of young talent.