PerreaultForever

never. because he plays unafraid, and although he certainly doesn't win every fight, he can, unlike many of our players, handle himself and fight his own battles. He is exactly what we could use.

If that surgery works. There is no guarantee of that, which is the problem.

Bailey as an example because he was here, we were excited, he was supposed to be good, and in the AHL he is good and still good, but it doesn't translate to the NHL, that's the point. So Quinn scoring in the AHL is good, but it ultimately means nothing.

AHL. It's good to see, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything. Justin Bailey is the leading scorer for the Abbotsford Canucks (as an example) what's your point?

I still think all of this probably comes down to the insurance company. The procedure Eichel wants has never been done on a professional hockey player so the insurance company will not cover the contract if it goes wrong and so the Sanres, rightfully, will not risk it. It's really that simple and since Jack won't change his stance it's an impass and that's the end of that. So Jack can now have his big shot agent file his grievance and they can rule and then, I think, there are no other avenues of appeal so one side will get their way.

I don't think this debate will ever resolve but I also don't think what you want is Dahlin's personality and so you won't get it, much like I will never see Tage use his size to smash people into the boards. It's just not them. So it is on the team to build and structure around him and I still think we have done a poor job developing Dahlin. Right from the get go it was do your thing and play to your strengths rather than we know you can do that stuff, so you need to work on this other stuff. Contrast him with McAvoy from Boston who was often benched early and brought along slowly and paired with a solid vet and is now a complete D man and a dominant player. I don't think Dahlin will ever be that now so imo the best we can do is pair him with a tough solid defender and build a team that's more balanced around him so that we smash back when our guys get smashed. So far, for far too long, the Sabres have shown zero inclination to understand what balanced even is. In a lot of ways Dahlin reminds me of Housley. Teams took liberties with him too, but in those days we also had guys like Playfair to balance things out. Balance, it's always about balance.

That was the word used in the thread. My point is that "fine" isn't really good enough for us to get better. We have to start drafting better overall. We have top picks every year but are not getting the best talent out of those drafts. Quinn is arguably "fine" but I see no reason to think he will be a great player either. Maybe not a total bust like Nylander, so it won't set us back like that did, but "fine" won't elevate us either. We either have to start getting the best talent early, and/or start hitting on more late picks, getting lucky. Either way, we simply have to draft better. Hopefully this analytical overhaul will help. Personally, I'm skeptical of the approach, but time will tell.

Well picking first overall you'd hope so, but there are people here who disagree on it. Dahlin was supposed to be the consensus #1 pick but right now maybe even Quinn Hughes is better. I'm not sure about that, but I do know at this point I'd rather have Brady Tkachuk or Svechnikov, and maybe even Koktaneimi.

Next year. Give them time. I think Quinn will be "fine" but also "fine" isn't good enough for us to get better. We need to start getting the best player in drafts not just a guy who is "fine".

Just outside Vancouver. I grew up in Hamilton Ontario though, which is where I became a Sabres fan. Wish I'd known bunomatic when I lived in Nanaimo 7 years ago. I thought I was the only Sabres fan there 🙂

I haven't seen them play yet this year but they are clearly doing something right. I thought this might be their fade year but I guess Burke and Hextall know what they're doing. Atkinson trade looking really good for Philly at this point. Watching the Philly Florida game both teams way better than us.

Pretty even game between pretty even teams, neither of which is very good. We struggled in the OT though. This is where we will miss the big name stars like Eichel. 3 on 3 we don't have the skill for that. Some good goaltending though. Granato may have to reconsider his practice hard philosophy if these guys tire out so easily.

Well they made wingers into centers so maybe he will play D lol. Oh twitter...................

Ya, Hughes showed how he's still too small for the NHL. Lauzon manhandled him and he landed right on the shoulder. He's out. This is an interesting game imo. First road game. See how this team does with that aspect of things. Playing another rebuild team that was pretty much at the same point as us last year. If we can beat them it's a good sign. Even game imo. Or at least it should be unless the first 3 games was a total illusion. maybe we get to answer that best coach since Lindy thread now 🙂

How much for the sticks he smashed out of frustration?

Oh ya, Bruins fans still talk about how badly they blew that draft, 3 first rounders in a very good draft and all they got out of it was DeBrusk. Think how good they could have been if they'd taken the next 3 instead of their 3 in a row (Barzal, Connor and Chabot) not to mention Boeser and Koneckny and others better than Senyshyn still out there. Heck of a good draft and they blew it.

With the exception of McAvoy (and maybe Lysell last year) Bruins drafting has been sh## . They've mostly added FAs and made late season trades to stay competitive with that perfection line. They definitely do however, try to fit players into the existing style they have and favour. That team definitely reflects Cam Neely sitting at the top as overseer.

Bigger is maybe the wrong word but they do play bigger. They are stronger, bulkier, bigger upper body overall. I mean guys like the dreaded and hated Marchand are small guys but for their size are really strong. The eye test indicates they are "bigger" in terms of muscle mass. Not height. For example, Dahlin is an inch taller than McAvoy but upper body McAvoy is much bigger and definitely stronger.

The espn+ guys talked about this situation far too much tonight. Adams really needs to get this over and done with or it will leak back into the "new culture" .

I agree with this. Bruins were not physical at all. 2 or 3 good hits maybe in the whole game.

Well at least Ullmark didn't get the shutout, that would have been really irritating. Truth be told Bruins aren't all that impressive and I'm not sure they are a playoff team. Maybe, but not what they used to be. Still good defensively but not all that offensively. I think we had moments and the style and scheme and everything is fine, but you all can see what happens up against a good defensive team. Bruins block shots, get in shooting lanes, deflect or intercept passes and basically just bother and irritate and knock the other team off their game. Hence we looked a step off at times, passes didn't connect and plays didn't get finished. It is what it is, but this is going to take a long time and we are still a tank team. Cozens has a lot of skill, but I really think we've rushed him and a year in Rochester would have given him a better development curve. Espn+ is weird and wrong and just like little league. Do they have no commercials? Broadcast was just choppy and messy . Not good for the NHL.

Bergeron is looking a little slow but Marchand is Marchand. They look kind of the same imo. They check really well but don't score a lot. Not sure how they'll react if Ullmark lets in a soft one or two but get ready to lament not drafting McAvoy. He impressed the hell out of me and will likely dominate. Foligno is out for the game. Pasternak might be ready to break out. I'm just excited to see how or if we can measure up at all against our first decent opponent. The first 3 let us play our game, Bruins might not. Will be interesting to see how we adapt and/or adjust. and of course...........Ullmark.

Hey man, you haven't attacked or critiqued me in a while I've missed ya . Kisses. 1am for you is 10 pm for me. I've been around long enough and said it enough times for you to realize I'm on the west coast but if you still want to believe I post late so you can't respond go ahead, it's all about you after all. Reality is I often come in late by your standards, nothing I can do about that. Bottom line, not sure why you typed your sentence. The point was pretty clear if you stop to think for a second. Reinhart was our best player end of last season. Don't think you'd disagree with that would you? In any event, assuming he is playing at the same level, he'd be our best player this year. In Florida, he's a third liner. Is there really more that needs to be added???? If you want to believe we measure up to teams like that well, I'm really not sure what to say to you. I guess.........

I saw that Boston Philly affair. Don't see us being at that level, but Boston did seem slower at times so maybe if they let us skate we can compete with them. McAvoy is a beast though. Nobody on our side at that level right now.

So for all the bandwagoneers over excited by 3-0 how does what we have match up? Ya, that's what I thought.