PerreaultForever

I was pulling for Florida all the way after they beat Boston. Absolutely loved the style of play they brought. I've said here that is the style we should be trying to play with all our size and speed, but so far we only do the speed part and we do not know how to defend like they did. Can Ruff change that? It won't be easy, it's a huge shift. I have no idea if he will even try. New Jersey certainly didn't play like that.

No, I will just end up watching the Bruins in the playoffs like every other year (which for some fans here is worse than suicide) and they will give me some enjoyable games I think, because while that may be "all Ruff has to do" but with the line up Adams has given him it's next to impossible.

Which is why I want to stick to harmless sports babble.

That was a bad moment. There's been lots of bad moments, but I think the lowest of the low has to be when Lucic ran over Miller. Lucic basically broke the franchise. That sounds silly, but look at the results from there on. We have been bad ever since. We lost all the mojo we had and we have never gotten it back.

We have sunk to doing real life stuff here now? Sports is supposed to be my happy place. Real world escapism most of the time. Don't try to take that away from me with anything serious.

I don't hate the Sabres. I hate Pegula and what he has turned this franchise into. Until it changes there's not much to love. I had a lot of hope with Ruff's hiring, but the last few days have sucked all of it away. It's sadness and frustration as I see another wave of young players wasted away and eventually leaving.

Well ya, there was all kinds of things wrong with the team then but while they say things have changed have they really? The results certainly haven't, and players not wanting to be here hasn't, so idk, I really just don't know. I've said before that I think this franchise will not succeed under Pegula. Whatever it was or is, that was a creepy weird comment.

Anyone else tired of hearing the phrase "good hockey IQ"?

Yes, it would be McAvoy and McAvoy will be elevated and freed up as a result, much like if he was in Buffalo and paired with Dahlin. To the last comment we have a fundamental gap in terms of how we evaluate and value the bottom line guys added. I think as the year goes on you will see my point, but for now I guess we agree to disagree on it.

Erik Johnson re-signing with Philly did make me chuckle today. They are doing things differently, but ultimately that organization might be just as clueless as ours.

I don't think the Penguins are improved if you factor in that Guentzel isn't there but otherwise I agree.

Third pairing? Seriously? I mean seriously??? I'm going to predict he gets paired with McAvoy and thus frees up McAvoy's offensive side. But sure, you think because we added a few bottom players we can handle this, sure.

I would hope it's the former and not the bolded but I did have that thought. Personally, I think Levi should spend the year in Rochester.

Serious question though. How does adding a few fourth liners make the team "harder to play against"? Boston's harder to play against with Zadorov on their blueline (I won't even get into how their 4th line new guys are better than ours it's not worth the time). Toronto's harder to play against with Tanev added to their blueline. Zucker doesn't make us harder to play against. It's a statement, but it's not even a true statement.

No he didn't. They've had small win streaks but I cannot remember a Sabres team that played hard all season. I think it would go back to before Pegula bought them. Back with Briere and Drury. Those teams "played hard".

Cool. The country club needed a pool man.

This is fine. If Levi can't crack the roster out of camp we have a guy to back up who can actually play a few games instead of just sitting on the bench (Comrie). We still, of course, have to sign UPL.

The thing for me is what did the competition do as well? Do you see his moves as coming anywhere close to the moves made by the teams we need to pass to make the playoffs? I don't. Maybe we stay ahead of Detroit and Ottawa who were both underwhelming and in Ottawa's case confusing but I don't see anything that takes us up a level.

I have no idea what he really believes. I'm also quite sure he lies a lot. If I stepped aside and just looked at his tone and body language and tried to psychoanalyze him I'd say he looks somewhat resigned and defeated but also lost and not sure what to do next. He does not exude actual confidence to me, even if it is the bs type you see from some hockey guys .

Not a chance my friend. I wanted both gone last year (years ago actually) and have said while I like Krebs attitude, I thought he was basically Curtis Lazar at best. Go look if you like. I think you've seen me praise Ruff. I actually remember him as a rookie and how his game fell off after a shoulder injury, remember that? I do. Always liked him as a player and I think you've seem me praise the hire but it's not enough. Your fanboy view of the roster is divorced from reality.

I just looked up his stats. His numbers are a lot lower than I thought they were, and he's been injured a lot too. I thought he was better than that. I think we just paid 5 million for the equivalent of what we got out of Conor Sheary.

To say they are trying to prove some idea from before implies that they actually have a real plan. I am coming to seriously doubt that. I don't think they have a clue what they are doing and in fact, they keep changing their minds. Ultimately though, there's now been so much futility saying nobody wants to come here is perhaps too extreme, but I think they do have a really hard time getting anybody to come. I would not be surprised at all if they gave higher offers to various free agents but those players chose to go elsewhere. The inability to sign good free agents, the losing reputation, and hence all the NTCs, has forced them to adopt this draft our own policy. Nothing more nothing less.

I believe they were talking with DeBrusk but couldn't come close to what Vancouver offered him so they went this way instead. As previously stated, he'd be the odds on favorite to end his playoff draught now and maybe even be that ex-Sabre with the cup but wouldn't it be something if now Edmonton missed the playoffs? Maybe they ditch Evander Kane now.

He takes a little less because of Florida tax reasons and the term they gave him. Otherwise the 1 million (a little more for some a little less for others) is your proper 4th line number. I suspect the only reason he signed here for the previous contract was the huge overpay for a 4th liner. This time we likely only offered him a year at less than that 2.5 . He made the smart choice.

I was so pumped when they hired Ruff. I thought finally they have admitted they were fools and have hired a real coach. I just thought give him the tools he needs. It isn't a huge ask. You have capital to trade, you have money to spend. It can all happen but..................... same old same old. Garbage franchise.