PerreaultForever

or Dahlin. You can't rule anybody out really (maybe Bjork) but I'm not a big fan of naming top scorers as captains unless they really really really stand out like a Crosby, but they have to have leader personalities to go with it. idk what Thompson brings in that way, but I want him to score and focus on that.

I personally would not give up Savoie. I see great potential there. I'm more inclined to give up Quinn or Peterka simply because I've seen less from them that has impressed me but then again I don't watch AHL hockey. Point being though I'm less attached to them at this point. Unlike many I don't believe they are guaranteed to be good. I'm also not giving up a 2023 1st.

Johnny Hayden trying his best to earn a job in Seattle doing the only thing he knows how to do (and not that well, but he's trying) https://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/n265513 https://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/n265512

Robertson played for the Niagara Ice Dogs. Maybe he crossed the border a bunch and likes Buffalo? Maybe he would be a "wants to be here" guy? I would not give up a non lottery protected first in 2023 for anybody, but maybe a 2024 pick? He's a good player though. Maybe the prospect cupboard is full enough at the moment and we can add right now? I would welcome it.

Not that it matters, but my comment about "not good" was directed at the whole team and the D not at Comrie. But it's just a preseason game.

cause it's preseason. Wanted to see what Comrie could do under fire? idk, I didn't see the game but reading the comments it doesn't sound good.

Ya got it. I read that he'd retired so I had assumed he had retired rather than stay on LTIR so that he could take that job. The Jim Nill "further review" thing cleared it up.

Well it all depends on the coach and his system and what he wants players to do. Regarding Tage, as a big (huge) kid the idea we all had was power forward. That's just not him though. He isn't a hitter and although he claims his space, he doesn't assert it physically. Granato (I assume) recognized this and played to his strengths and what he does like to do. Tage uses his reach (and size) to claim his space and control the play. This, as you say, is more suited to the middle of the ice. Krebs isn't big and his game is about vision, speed and passing the puck. He's a playmaker. He can't battle against top checkers unless he can outskate them. So, imo he needs at least one physical winger to help open up ice for him. If not, he might turn out to be an ineffective inbetweener. I, as I've said before, would try Cozens on his wing BUT maybe Granato's vision is control and strength at center up and down the line up so Cozens is your 2C. That also makes sense, but it might end up making Krebs the odd man out in the long run. personally I suspect the 3C job is for Mitts or Krebs to take and the loser of that battle, idk, they might fade from long term plans.

No, if he violated a protection order he does not deserve any help/ It's just a shame. I always liked him as a player.

So what you're saying is a player still gets paid his salary AFTER he retires? That doesn't sound right or make sense, but it's the NHL CBA so I guess anything's possible.

is this a spousal thing?

I could be wrong about this, but if he retired, the Sabres do not have to pay him his contract and he can work wherever he wants. The money against the cap for the Sabres is only on paper. They aren't actually paying him at all.

They might, but that would seem to go against the whole plan of building a new culture. Isn't there a new desire for continuity? Isn't that part of it? I would say if Kyle is named captain they plan to re-sign him. However, Nothing insane about it. Pay attention to what this team is doing. There isn't a player over the age of 24 who KA wouldn't trade, with the one exception of Tuch.

Although there is a distinction, and you can play poorly and win or play well and lose (success and winning are not the same thing) it's a distinction I'd rather they didn't make. It offers you a kind of way out that shouldn't be there. I personally don't want any more good effort talks. Winning is all that matters to me. So yes, you build a team and you build a system and so forth, but it's no success if it's a losing season.

I want to wait to see what they say when we lose a game or have a losing streak. Will it be "good effort" crap or will it be "we stunk and have to be better". I think what we both want though is a new higher standard where winning is all that matters and losing is unacceptable.

Different, not better. I don't think he's even as good as Bryson. He will be in Rochester, probably do quite well at that level, and will be a call up if we have injury issues on D. Nothing more, nothing less.

Maybe. As things were. I remember the game last season though where Cozens shut down McDavid and it makes me think the checking line or 2 way line or whatever you want to call it should be built and structured around him and that line should get the big match ups. The point really is if it's an incremental build you are going to want to phase out the guys who aren't part of the future and I do believe that is Zemgus and Kyle.

I still say Tuch. He showed me leadership last year already but most of all it's that whole kid in a Sabres jersey thing. Adams talking about "players who want to be here" and rebuilding that local community identity. Tuch will bleed blue and gold and restore what used to be. What he remembers from his own childhood. He's the one guy we have who can mean every word he says, from the heart, and I think he'd turn out to be the best captain since Peca.

Eakin ended up in Calgary? I missed that. He might actually surprise and fit into a Sutter system. I wouldn't expect much, but it wouldn't really surprise me if he earned a role there.

Next to Torts, Sutter's probably the most entertaining coach interview around. I like it. It's old school.

Well then people should stop calling it the 4th line. To me if you number your lines the labelling number goes up as the minutes on ice go down. That's the only ranking of them that matters. I don't think that's entirely true. It is for some, but there are Kyle fans who have him pegged for the 4th line.

I get that, but if you believe he's still a 20 plus goal scorer you don't bury him on the 4th line. I wouldn't be surprised if he played with Zemgus. Not sure who the 3rd player will be, but I'm not sure that's the 4th line either.

You're right I don't. and when I do, I take them with a big grain of salt. It's kind of the Bull Durham thing. They're all groomed and trained and coached on how to speak and it's all lies and bs designed to increase ticket sales. It's part of the deal these days. Remember I'm old. I long for the old days when players said what they thought and often it was dumb. I cannot quote you many interviews from last year but I still remember Moose Dupont when asked about how he scored his Stanley Cup playoff goal " I whacked the puck and it went into the net" priceless. Or Tiger Williams "Metaphor? What's that, a type of rock?"

I share this hope. I know I'm viewed as a pessimist here by many but I do expect this year's team to be more competitive, more entertaining, and be in games that are closer. Lots of question marks still but we shall see how much of it can come together at the same time. If Mitts can actually center a line effectively this year and Cozens improves significantly, I may be more optimistic than I have been - despite the goaltending.

I don't get the whole KO thing. On one hand people want him named captain and consider him a valuable player and on the other they want him dumped on the (presumably) lowest minute line with the leftovers. If the line is that good and plays more it's not the 4th line is it? idk, I suppose how that shakes out depends on how well the kids play. Questions I have and wait to see how they unfold (many answers are probable or expected but Granato pulled surprises last year so who knows?): 1. Will Tage stay at center? (likely yes) 2. Will Dahlin play the right side? (probably, maybe?) 3. Who will Power pair with and where does he end up in the hierarchy? 4. Will Quinn, Peterka, and to some extent Krebs be in the starting line up? Those are the biggies for me. Personally, I'd want to try Cozens on the wing, I think his play is suited to it more than Mitts or Krebs but idk. Perhaps a line of Asplund-Cozens-Peterka could be a 2 way line? All 3 have a bit of an edge to their games. While Quinn-Mitts-VO could be a speed oriented offensive line. Depends on how ready the kids are I guess. Ultimately I'd like to see identities develop for each line and more continuity this year where they can develop chemistry and fulfill their assigned roles. Less juggling all around is my hope. It's the next step forward imo.