PerreaultForever

Good finish to a pretty uninspired hockey game imo. Tampa is in some sort of definite slump/funk so it's good they came alive a little and won in the OT. Otherwise I thought it was a pretty terrible hockey game from almost everyone involved. win's a win. Better than losing.

Ya, I see a way they can win too. All you have to do is sit on your couch and watch Florida, or Vegas, or Boston, or any of the other teams actually doing it. They will have time to see lots of it in May and June.

Well you better have the number one pool when you suck this long and trade your "stars" for even more picks but as the posts above, type of player is still an issue. Drafting BPA is a fine strategy, but when you end up with too many of the same guy you need to make some moves. Forward for D man, fast guy for tough guy, etc. Whatever it takes to fill our holes/needs, even if we technically "lose" the trade on paper.

Understatement imo. It was the worst I've seen this season for any team and totally favoured Florida. I don't fault him at all. I like the emotion and I'm sure the players do too. We need more of that. I was actually thinking in the first period I'd end up writing "why is Granato so passive with those refs, can you imagine what Brind'Amour or Torts would have done?" but then he exploded in the third after bottling it in so long I guess so scrap that draft post 🙂 Donny must have used the F word big time. Those refs need a disciplinary hearing.

Tampa not as good as they used to be. Tampa beatable. But Tampa also a thorn in the Sabres side for a long long time. Their PP is still deadly so the PK is the key to this game imo. Along with all the usual move your feet, compete, forecheck etc etc stuff. Which Sabres team shows up is always a guess. I hope it's an entertaining game. At least Maroon's not there to run over our goalie.

data on what? head injuries, is that what you mean? That's up to the players isn't it? Getting hit in the head can injure your brain, no s&&t . I don't need any "data" to know that. Nobody forces anybody into physical sports. The issue is liberties will be taken if fighting is banned and that will result in MORE head injuries and for "better" players. I doubt there's data to disprove that.

Except we are not small overall, we just play small.

We are in perfect position to do this, or take a veteran for free plus that somebody needs to jettison to create space but we are CHEAP. POnly serious teams spend their money. Saros is unlikely according to Trotts. Unless he's lying to up the bids.

Buffalo would have to make additional moves to make him turn to happy. In order for him to play his game he will want more toughness on the roster and a true heavyweight. He wants to play a Marchand type role so he needs a Lucic. He does not want to have to be the guy fighting an Olivier type. If he's the toughest guy on our roster he will not want to be here and won't give us his true value if he's stuck here. This whole discussion however would mean a culture shift. Is that what Pegula wants? It would certainly be a departure from the directions they've taken so far, which makes me think WE are talking about it and loving the idea, but KA hasn't even picked up the phone.

Not a wimp but a punk. He instigates. He irritates. He rarely finishes. We need guys like that though.

I am old enough to remember when the NHL first went over to play European teams and how they commented on the use of sticks and even kicks and a variety of cheap shots. But no fighting. Wayne Cashman almost had his tongue cut out. I think it'll be problematic. Maybe just expand and refine the instigator rule to limit it but I personally see no need to change a thing.

Mark of a team that's quit on the season and has guys waiting on the trade deadline. They've lost their way with the temporary coaching change as well. No wonder Tkachuk wants out. Nashville rebuild on the other hand, moving along quite nicely.

It is "grit" but it's not true. They really are just punks if you stand up to them. Look at Cousins faking his injury. That's not grit. Greenway showed grit there, not Cousins. They are not that tough, they are just dirty. Bunch of weasels. We just need more Greenways (and tougher) and we will flip the script.

I don't usually bitch about refs as these things are mostly subjective lines and often even out over a season BUT boy were those refs one sided in favor of Florida tonight! Phantom call on Benson was weird. Then the Clifton call was just him holding his ground and the guy's own stick came up in his own face so like wtf look at the video ref. All that led to the ridiculous 5 on 3 and I don't fault Granato at all there. He should have been on them all game though. I would have lost it if it was me. Pure bs all night and Florida really don't need the help do they. That Cousins is a real piece of crap turd of a player. Greenway gave him a shot, fair enough, but he makes like he's been shot, fakes an injury and then jumps up and rather than going after Greenway jumps the smallest guy he can find in the scrum. Garbage hockey and I hope they remember that and somebody takes it to him next time we meet. He needs a target on him. and what's with Tkachuk and that mouth guard chew? How many of those does he go through in a year? Somebody buy that guy a binky. idk, but this game made me really dislike Florida. I suppose since we finally look more like a real hockey team it opens things up to me seeing a team like that as a bunch of punks that need a smack. I hope next season we have a team that can deliver that. Hate on Florida! That is all.

Only if I'd bet on the other team.

I have to wonder if they are thinking of moving him are they the team actually talking to Ottawa about Tkachuk? That trade would make a lot of sense. Tkachuk fits Tochet hockey. Any talks with Buffalo might just be for leverage.

Depends how Florida plays. If they bring a heavy game we will be toast. If they think it's a snoozer you never know. We are bad in front so I expect Reinhart will have a good night padding his stats.

I'd rather give up Rosen or Savoie than Kulich but I'd be okay with this. Ideally, TT, Rosen and our 2025 #1 (top 3 protected). Toss in a 3rd or lower any year if needed.

There was humor intended in that wording so I'm glad you got it. The proper explanation is I do not want to trade Power (even though I think we are not developing him properly - see I did it again 🙂) but if Ottawa said they are willing to give us Tkachuk but they want Power if I was GM I'd figure something out. Maybe a larger package. Take Pinto off their hands as well. Sanderson and Tkachuk for Power and Tage (with odds and sods on either side to confuse people). idk, I'd consider something to get Tkachuk and change the team dynamic here.

See it was always part of the "plan".

Have the last few games not convinced you yet of what I've been saying for ages? Cozens is better as a winger. Give them Tage, not Cozens.

Thompson, Savoie, Rosen and this year's first (cond. lottery protected). That enough?

Well, first off, I'd also do whatever it takes because his attitude and compete (complete with the recklessness and sometimes dumb stuff) is missing from this roster and I think his presence would signal a change and would elevate many others. Everything changes, simple as that. Now, in a dream world, Skinner is part of the deal and I add prospects, #1 picks and whatever else it takes around that. If (big IF) but if I can sign Mitts to a reasonable number, then I'm giving them Tage as the centerpiece. I notice a number of people throw Cozens in there. imo, long term, on a differently made roster with Tkachuk on it, Cozens will be the better guy to keep. Tage I am starting to think will be up and down but over the long haul will disappoint and underachieve to his contract. He just doesn't bring it the same way and I don't think he ever will. If I can't sign Mitts then Mitts is part of the package. I would be willing to deal Power but not willingly. If we did though, I'd want a second move where we add a solid defender to take his place now. Does he have a NTC though? If he has, he ain't coming here, I guarantee you that.

I know, and there's lots of people that think you can get away with it now but I think it depends on your roster too. If you have guys who handle things and take care of themselves (Tkachuk types) then you can get away with a Verhegee or Hathaway type(s) on your 4th line and maybe you don't need the heavyweight enforcer, but if you have soft players and small players and lots of undersized kids, then the old bodyguard philosophy still applies. Players will play bigger and braver when they know others have their backs. We have guys who I really think would be much better and braver players (and thus more effective) if they had that security. That's my view anyway.

I saw the story about the renovations and my instant thought was - is that the timeline? 24/25 is the planned great leap forward? We can only hope, but the comments above from Pegula lead me to think they do in fact plan to add in free agency now, finally, and 24/25 will be time is now rather than be patient for the future. Or I'm just deluding myself. We can only hope.