PerreaultForever

I don't put too much stock in pairings and lines right now but I am interested in which side Clifton and Dahlin played. Both have played both. The thing I liked A LOT was listening to Granato say this season was about WINNING. This is what I wanted to hear.

All kidding aside I think "17 years" does make this a valid comment. I think there might be quite a few fair weather fans showing up over the next few years.

Team setting the stage for a reboot/rebuild. Maybe.

That's pretty good. Inspires confidence too. I hope he makes a red black and white one for the goathead nights.

Right. Which means absolutely nothing either way going forward.

I'm not in any way suggesting it's "true". To the topic, someone mentioned Power as a trade in a possible which seemed unlikely to me so I mentioned the POSSIBLE of Dahlin, given the contract situation. It's unlikely, the whole topic is unlikely, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility. As for your "evidence" he's happy, it means nothing. Players are friends with each other and he's on this team. At least for this year. Kyle and Jack stayed best buddies remember. It means nothing.

Why? I'm not suggesting Anaheim asking for Dahlin, I'm suggesting what if contract talks have soured worse than we know? I certainly hope not, but Dahlin was supposed to be "unhappy". What if he's so unhappy he's flipped and said he will be "considering all his options" as agents like to say.

Because it's almost Canada 🙂

idk, and I doubt it's even true, but what if it involves Dahlin? I will have a hard time staying a Sabres fan if we traded for Zegras. I really can't stand that guy.

Well the short answer is because the prospects were playing and the Sabres aren't (yet) BUT I think the answer to your issue is simple. This board has talked about lotteries and draft picks and prospects so much because the team hasn't been winning and in the playoffs. Prospects are where the optimists have to go. Once we become actually good again this "problem" will solve itself.

There's some of that for sure, but there's also a ton of dumping on and joining in. I mean really, where were the "hockey insiders" when he was first hired by Columbus? Afraid to be sanctioned by the old boys club I guess. Babcock's a jerk, deserves to be gone, but I find the piling on a little distasteful and it kind of makes it a little cancel culturey.

It's just a strange thing to me. You're not alone by any means, and there's nothing wrong with classical music (I will go see a good symphony myself) but it is an interesting phenomena to me how many people shift their preferences as they age. Age appropriate and all that. Anyway, what is it 21 days now?

It's the Year of the Rat in Beantown for sure. It was the logical choice though. As much as he's hated league wide, he's been a leader in that locker room for years. He's going to oversee the cultural transition as the team shifts over the next 2 years. Falls (for a while at least) with that shift, but an inevitable shift all the same. After that it's probably McAvoy.

Relax dude, it was just funny. Like I said. and don't respond to posts when you've been drinking. If you read it again you'll notice it responded to 2 - count 'em TWO - different posts. Not just you. Frankie says Relax 🙂

All these stories are coming out from the Spittin' Chiclets Podcast crew and then they go from one hockey guy to another. Not sure if they are all true, or a little spun in an anti Babcock direction but those guys really really hate Babcock. Not defending Babcock in any way. Absolutely sure he did some of these things (or a version of) but it is interesting to see how the "news" is spreading out in all directions because of a popular podcast with a few loudmouth former NHLers.

I agree with you that there's lots of different good things out there but had to laugh at your chosen continuum. Beatles on one end and metal on the other as the poles or extremes. Lots of people do this but I always find it odd. Why would you shift your music based on your age? I still like what I grew up with and like new things too. The range is wide (farther than the Beatles and metal :)). Pretty sure if I make it to 90 I will still be cranking up Purple Haze or Iggy and the Stooges or the Ramones (etc etc). Probably louder than before as I go deaf 🙂

I can see Kulich being called up if they trade Olofsson or they just get fed up with how he plays. Injuries of course could lead to numerous call ups but Kulich imo is the "sleeper". I don't actually think anyone makes the opening night roster though.

I hate to say it, because I know how this lands with some members here but they looked soft. They definitely played soft and had no answer for the Pens kids' D play and physicality. This is how we draft, this is what we get. On the other hand, I guess Burke and Hextall drafted some truculence. 🙂 Several players out though so hard to judge properly. Benson was pretty good. Probably the only one.

Poitras and Lohrei look like the only possible future NHLers in that prospect pool and they are just likely mid level at best. Interestingly I posted the comparison to how many prospects the Sabres have on a Boston website and suggested the division was getting ready to flip top to bottom and bottom to top over the next few years and the Boston fans pretty much agreed. It's SO CLOSE you can taste it. If the Sabres somehow (and I can't see how) blow this rebuild they might as well fold the franchise.

Wow jumping the gun or what. Let's see it in the NHL before we start crowning them. A Sabres dynasty would be nice, but I have to see it to believe it.

imo it isn't Matthews that screwed them, it was Nylander squeezing them for maximum money and the Tavares signing was a terrible move. In a cap league you can have a few top forwards but then you have to reserve some big money for D and goal as well. They went really top heavy on scoring forwards and left nothing for the rest. They should never have signed Tavares and should have maybe traded Nylander for D years ago. We aren't similar as our top forward took less money than he would seem to command now so there is money left for D. Rasmus does have to be signed soon though or (and I don't want this but) he will have to be traded. No way you can let the season expire as is. I would give him the 5 year deal he wants. Kick the issue down the road when it might mean less and he might be more motivated to stay (assuming we are winning). Eventually we are going to have a big problem paying guys though if all these prospects coming up mature at the same time (and are good of course). A good problem perhaps, but a problem all the same. Some moves will have to be made trading talent for bottom end depth and/or different prospects/picks. It'll be dealing from a position of strength though if/when that happens.

Only thing I'm wondering is how much money did he scam out of them?

So I was watching a little of the Bruins-Canadiens prospect game today and it was garbage hockey comparatively speaking. Bruins have very very little to look forward to. Maybe 2 potential NHLers at best. Division is likely getting ready for a full top to bottom flip in a year or two.

I'm not disagreeing with the idea that you can't teach scoring as easily. You can't really teach it period. That's a skill thing. But they all have these skills coming in at lower levels and there isn't a whole lot to teach beyond line chemistry and being in the right position to utilize their skill. Obviously as a pro you keep working on your skills but once you know how to take that shot it's just about training and your stick type and details. Good D on the other hand requires solid team play and communication. Perfect positional play and a lot of details in terms of making plays without taking penalties and so forth. It takes discipline and commitment. It's not glamorous, but it's hard work. A lot of these guys just don't like it, don't want to do it, and it takes them a long time to add it to their skill set. They just instinctively don't. You take a guy like Skinner. Offensively gifted, can run around like a buzz saw on offense, but after all these years in the league, he still doesn't know what a back check is. Idk what they will do but it will be interesting to see if they stay all offense or try to build a better defensive system (which might cause an offensive drop off) . You don't want Kreuger hockey or even Bylsma hockey with this skilled team but you do need better defense all around. Granato has his work cut out for him.

Johnson can skate for sure. Like many of the guys we draft he skates well and in open ice moves the puck impressively. But he's not a forward, he's a D man, and in front of his own net he was absolute garbage. Gets bodies out and can't take pucks away from aggressive forwards. Right now imo he's somewhere between Jokiharju and Pilut in terms of ceiling and floor and that's just not going to help in terms of NHL play.