PerreaultForever

You don't know that. Neither do I. Adams works to an internal cap number and a projection of who he wants and when and with Mitts becoming our top points producer it's quite possible he no longer fit into Adams cap budget. He'd already decided Cozens was 2C and Thompson was 1C so Mitts was a 3C number or out he goes. Hence you take back the best you can get to eliminate the problem. I'm not saying I agree with that or if it's a fact, but it's definitely a possibility and logically, you know you can see it.

I doubt Seattle lets him go but yes, definitely.

I agree with the second sentence, but does he "really like Byram" or was Byram just the best player he could get for Mitts from a team that wanted Mitts? A guy he thought would not hate coming to Buffalo because he had friends there. I am really curious as to how Ruff puts this D together. I personally don't see how Byram gives us what we need there.

uber alles?

That's because they are apples and oranges. Cozens was given a big payday so there is an expectation to go along with that. Krebs is a bottom end low pay guy who might (stress might) still get better. He's a low risk investment. They are not comparable, even if they are of a similar age. Personally I don't care if they bring back Krebs, but if the plan is Krebs as 3C, then we are in deep trouble. As for Cozens, one down year on a bad team with a bad coach means absolutely nothing. I still think he's a better winger than center but since we lack centers I have to hope Ruff can bring out his best.

The guy's been on 3 cup winners and this is what he says in his exit interview. This is just another example of why I keep saying that Sabres need to emulate Bruins culture.

Can't say if it's true or not for sure. https://phillyhockeynow.com/2024/05/19/philadelphia-flyers-matvei-michkov-terminate-khl-contract/

There's a lot of people in different fanbases talking Iginla. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes quite high. I'd be surprised if he goes past Seattle but Calgary, I mean......... Bottom line forget about him, he will be gone.

Unquestionably a big miss on that one. There were some big mistakes all over in that draft though. We could have picked Tyson Jost (picked just 2 spots later than Nylander) 🙂 Imagine if we'd picked McAvoy. That was probably the only draft the Bruins won in recent memory with McAvoy and Frederic in the first round. Imagine if we'd picked McAvoy first round and Lindgren second (or even Peeke). Our entire D conversation over these years would have been different. But alas, we got Nylander and Asplund. Is KA still making these same mistakes? Time will tell. All our GMs in these bad years are the same. Inexperienced guys who made big mistakes and the coaching hires have been horrible. Besides Kreuger, I think Jbots biggest mistake was trading Foligno. Heart and soul guys matter.

He will since he's still playing. Tied with Coyle at the moment with 59. Which is a pretty high total as they are only half way through. Gudas had the most hits last year for the full playoffs with 91. Much more hitting in the East this year than the West overall. Vancouver has the most hits by a Western team though by a fair bit. https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask/nhl-hits-leaders-2024-playoffs

I just bought Fontaines DC tickets the other day for September. Also Johnny Marr and James .

That was my view before this season started. We missed the playoffs by one point and rather than make a concerted effort to take a leap forward and make them his attitude seemed to be "oh 1 point that's nothing, we are fine. All I need is Conor Clifton"

Canucks looked like garbage tonight. Don't see either team beating Dallas. The level of hockey played in the other 3 series is/was much better.

"sick" seems a little extreme but I understand your point as a Sabres fan. I would think however that Lucic made you sicker. He should have. I was trying to think of the guys I've really hated. I think Darcy Tucker fit that bill. He was very Marchandesque and he played for Toronto so how could I not hate that? Ken Linesman was really hateable. I personally think he was much dirtier than Marchand. Of course at least half the 70s Flyers team would also be in that category. None of them made me "sick" though. It was just good healthy hate.

But it's not 2-3 years, it's 13.

I get it. The narrative in Boston and outside Boston are two completely different things. He is beloved in that town and by his teammates.

I think the Vegas locker room and team culture had a lot to do with it as well. That was a fairly close knit team and Eichel knew people were doubting him and he wanted badly to show he was not the problem, the Sabres were. idk about Matthews. He seems like a diva and a bit of a d*ck but if they change the team maybe he adapts. Maybe not. I definitely don't see Marner changing though. He's never shown anything in that direction.

That's it entirely. You can look at other teams as well and see bottom 3 depth/role players totaling 3-4 million(ish) on many teams. All contributing more than KO and Girgs. The first question for free agency (and we have no way to know the answer but it's the question all the same) is will we spend to the cap to try to win now or will we be a lower towards the floor team with some philosophy about future contracts. If we do not spend and bring in bodies we need we will have trouble actually being better. Yes, I believe in Ruff, but how much can he really do? It was pointed out in one of the threads how bad Granato would really be if UPL hadn't stepped up and put up great goaltending numbers. That's the team Ruff is inheriting, and there's no guarantee the two young goalies will be great next season. We need additions.

Dallas is playing near perfect defensive hockey. It's a tight system with veteran leadership and excellent goaltending. Vegas was a loaded team and Dallas managed to knock them off so I think Dallas is capable of beating anybody. Not saying they will, but right now I'd say they are a favourite for the cup. I'd predict a Dallas-Florida toss up cup final at the moment. Rangers have more talent than Boston had but Florida has the grit and the experience. They are dirty but also smart and I think they will draw guys like Rempe into dumb penalties. If their PP works that could kill the Rangers at key moments. There's two possibilities and only Florida knows which is the reality. The Boston Florida series was old time physical with some really hard hits both ways. By the end of it Florida seemed a little less physical so they are either wearing down already due to the physicality (which ultimately got them last year) or they are holding back a little because they know they will need it later. I personally think it's the latter but it's hard to say. Vancouver's the wild card to me. I mean they are doing it with a third string goalie and their superstar has been largely quiet but at times they really look good so who knows.

Hard to say, but maybe Marner agrees to waive his no trade clause for some teams. Nylander might be fine. Matthews hard to say. Clash of egos or he buys in like Eichel did with Cassidy?

It's true. Some guys want it, some guys don't care as much. This is why you need a strong locker room and a strong culture with veteran leaders who are warriors and want it. When you have that they tend to drag the others up with them and the pressure is on to meet the expectation and be part of the group.

That's funny, but also kind of weird. Now can we somehow factor in how much Ted Nolan is loved in Latvia?

Reputation for not getting along with GMs. Probably true. I think a GM afraid of losing his job might make the move but a GM who thinks he's safe might shy away.

lol, it was a good game. Pity they lost but I liked the effort level. Florida clearly had the more talented team but the Bruins gave it their all and it was a bounce away from going the other way. Can't really complain, even though I would have enjoyed a game 7. Really liked Geekie in the playoffs. We should have signed him as our 3C. Ullmark will be traded this off season. Marchand is pretty much done. Although in the long run Power is likely much better, at the moment I'd prefer Lohrei. Kid really stepped up. It will be an interesting off season for Beantown. I guess now I will join the local Canucks bandwagon for however long that lasts. The Bruins beat the Leafs though, and that was very satisfying.

It's character. Some guys want it, some are indifferent, or maybe just don't want it as much. Not willing to pay the price. Playoff games are harder, faster, more physical, more intense, and some players just don't want to give that extra effort as much as others. I think you can predict some of it by watching how they play in big games and at key moments but you are right in that size and skill don't always follow through.