Broken Ankles

I can’t say I agree with such a strong take, but I can concede that if there isn’t an announcement early July about an extension and Kev still has a GM title and an office at One Seymour Plaza, it’s an indictment on the organization. Alex then gets a sudden case of planter fasciitis and then goes to LTIR to not risk injury before his July 1st 2026 signing with another team. @Thorny If you had your druthers, you would not offer anything and move on from Alex?

Natural stat trick shows Ras and Bo played ~40% of minutes together 5v5. https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=BUF&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2024-10-04&td=2025-04-17&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8481524&p2=8480839&p3=0&p4=0&p5=0 To point about salary cap - Sabres are 4th in Cap on Defense next year with 4.35 FTE’s signed. Those above the Sabres have 6-8 signed. Washington is tops at $6m more than Buffalo. If you get an arbitration/2 year deal for BB and an RFA for Bernard Docker you are adding $8m (?) and surpass Washington. And unless you can somehow move Clifton or Samuelson without retention you have no room to sign a better, stronger Right handed D to support Power. So how is that improving the overall D? I remember when the Kings won the cup here in LA. Jake Muzzin was Doughty partner and he was a classic stay at home D man. Maybe on a bridge contract - 23 years old, 6’3/220. Dahlin and Bo pairing - maybe they did have the best analytics stats. But maybe a Zack Whitecloud type player with a $3m contract might be just as good when paired with Ras, and allow you to sign or trade for a vet on your second line to support Power/Byrum. I fall on the side of not having 3 D that make $8M +. I’m also moving Power first b/c his contract has cost certainty which is valuable with a cap that is going up. I think he delivers a much better return.

Perhaps a character flaw, but my ex Sabre schadenfreude is running hotter than any standard hatred for the Leafs. Maybe it’s because I know neither will get by Florida in round two, and their impending doom is just a matter of time. Only benefit to extending the series is less rest.

True. However I watch enough NHL to know what I see more often than not by the Sabres is FUBAR. It’s why you never see me advocate for Kulich or Benson in the top six.

Questionable garment selection for sure. No judgement.

But then again, 10 minutes per game doesn’t scream that they are happy with him either. Forwards Boldy, Kaprizov and Joel EE all have twice + TOI as Rossi. He’s down there with Vincenzo Hinostroza. (Whom I will forever be grateful for flipping a puck to my 12 year old son wearing blue and gold at the Honda Center a few years back).

Beane caring about what a local radio host says vs. showing a professional courtesy are two very different things. Beane was way out of line with his tone and argumentative demeanor. I agree with @LGR that the defense does need more attention and Beane had every right to defend exactly WHY those decisions were made. But you see there was no chance for that dialogue because one of parties didn’t like the fact that someone questioned his authority. I might appreciate an answer on why the board didn’t seem to have any offensive weapons that were difference makers when they drafted at 41. Explain the thought process on the selection of TJ Sanders. And the fact he went back to 2018 and the Josh Allen pick - really? Is Beane really so thin skinned that he remembers criticism about that pick from Jeremy? He was widely criticized for reaching with Allen. It was most of the National media too. He also flaunted his (read Josh Allen’s) offensive stats from last year citing 30+ ppg. And where did that get you? Beane has zero AFC Championships, let alone SB wins. Stay humble my man. Take a note from the League MVP who is half your age, with a quarter of the work experience.

Ulmark

Darcy Kuemper also a factor. He was part of the PLD trade and both teams seemed genuinely happy to trade high salary pieces. Kuempers stats were horrible last season, and the Kings are praising him this year for his role in their resurgence. How does a goaltender finish below .890 Save % , 3.31 GAA with 30 starts and 13 wins then comeback with 32 wins, 50 starts, Save% .921 and a GAA of 2? Goalies are weird. It's the only reason I don’t want to jettison UPL into the sun.....yet. I reserve that right in December.

I think that’s a plot line on White Lotus.

How was it NOT a distinct kicking motion? Even if he and the puck were both airborne he kicked, hit the puck with his skate and it went in the net.

Almost an anagram for Sinking Ship.

After the first one, when he scored I thought OK, maybe the kid has skills. I was wrong.

Good God Dan, WTF are you wearing?

Cami might be the single best improvement to the organization in 2024/25.

Sabretage. Sabre sabotage.

If there is a not a “Fire Adams” chant I’ll be disappointed.

They need at least three guys who want to throw both fists and bodies. One can be your 13th forward who plays when needed. Another forward who can be added to a middle six line and not be a liability. And the third is a defenseman who can clear the front of the net, and drop the gloves on occasion. For me, the target for the forward is Rempe from the Rangers. NY has a dire cap situation this year and is in need of younger skill players to develop. Rempe got a bad reputation for some questionable hits and fighting far too frequently early on. He is 6-9 and only 22 years old. If there is any chance that his curve is like Tage, he grows into his body in two years. If you watch Rempe he’s taken off the puck quite easily by veteran players who understand leverage. But again he is only 22. This guy could be Wilson with 20 goals and 20 assists after he figures things out. Maybe Rayzer could help him develop his technique. Who does it take to pry away Rempe? If you take Kreiders $6.5 aav as a cap dump, how much does it go down?

There are 14 Stations of the Cross. The 14th is ‘Jesus is placed in the tomb’. It’s the last and final station, as we allow know happens three days later. “Jesus saves…Perreault rebounds and scores”.

Watching the Yankees vs Pirates this morning and Michael Kay spent a half inning on fan frustrations in Pittsburg. Before their home opener on Friday vs NYY there was a plane circling the stadium with a banner reading “sell the team bob” and players and the manager were bood soundly. Kay went on the say it’s unacceptable to not put great talent around Skemes and some of the younger stars. Citing decisions by their GM to not sign a UFA to a multi year deal since 2016. Then goes on to talk about the success of the other franchise's in Pittsburgh (Steelers, the Penguins -albeit not the last few years) and then makes a parallel to similar city (I assume equally absent of palm trees and relative in taxes) with success in the American League in the Guardians. So reminiscent of the Sabres dilemma. The success of the Bills, Bandits and Winnipeg. The similar lack of spending and caliber of supporting cast as a supplement to the home grown talent. The Pittsburgh fan base seems to be done with it after missing the playoffs for only the last 10 years. (Very few can lay claim to describing a 10 year playoff drought as “only”). Kay didn’t call out the owner, GM and Management staff by name but did lay blame indirectly. It just further confirms what we all feel about our ownership and GM. I’ll be following the Pirates attendance throughout the year to see how it correlates to this seasons w/l record and previous years attendance. Regardless of the fact the Bruins make be in a soft tank, let’s put the screws to that city/team. Hate the Bruins. How about an 8 spot? Östlund gets his first goal.