Dr. Who

I think the Sabres are about to become a prime destination. Portillo was afraid to compete with Levi. When we were bad, you could see why there might be some hesitation. Not sure what Johnson's issue is, but I doubt it is in any way an indication of how the Sabres are currently perceived.

I knew a girl who said "Maybe" when she meant yes. This fella says "I haven't made up my mind" when he means no.

Gotta be eleven goals.

I suppose you mean a second pair player who can play top pair. They definitely need to add a top4 D because of Mule's tendency to get hurt. And regardless, they should add as many solid veteran D as they can manage.

Second pair or a 4 to 6 guy which is probably what you intended.

That's not much. I think he'll do a lot more. I'd prefer a veteran goalie to pair with Levi. Varlamov or Freddie Andersen would be nice, but I don't find it outlandish to think KA stays the course there. A lower tier D and that's it is a joke. I suspect he makes a significant move to bring in a top 4D and more depth on D generally. Something along the lines of Hanifin and Graves is more appropriate. VO is almost certainly traded. 2023 1st, 2024 1st, maybe Rosen are chips. If KO retires as he should, I think they will want to bring in a gritty vet to replace him, which makes sense. I like Rousek, so I hope he gets a look.

Bots are known to spread disinformation.

You think him not doing anything is a real possibility? Be embittered all you like about the past dozen years of this franchise; it's not credible that KA does nothing. I expect he will actually be reasonably aggressive in bringing in veteran D. Not sure what he does in goal.

Prefer Graves to Mayfield. I'd like to see Rousek get a shot.

I think those could sell.

I've said this before, but I am struck by how transferable Granato's coaching insight is to life situations in general. He's that sort of fella and I think it's really good moving forward.

Yes, I know, but the fella had prove read and I was just filling in the correct word in the context of the prior syntax. It's just a joke.

This is, of course, correct. Regrettably, I feel compelled to point out that the correct phrase in the final sentence is "proof read." The irony of the coincidence is rather amusing. If this was a planned error, that is quite subtle.

I'm inclined to agree. Seems to me he probably would have signed by now if that was his intention. This isn't a Portillo being gutless about competing with Levi situation. Maybe there's some personal angle that explains it, but can't help feeling he is on the dim side if he doesn't grasp the opportunity in front of him.

Granted personal decisions have many idiosyncratic factors that come into play that cannot be discerned by a stranger, it would be close to inexplicable to me that a young defenseman would look at the Sabres and pass. They are primed to ascend and need D. Perfect opportunity looking from the outside.

I expect Dahlin to continue to be the force he has grown into. I think it highly likely Power is going to be an equally dominant D with a different skill set. He is already surprisingly good for his age and he has yet to fully mature physically or in his grasp of the game. I worry about Samuelsson's penchant for injury, but he is a solid top 4D and the Sabres win a lot when he is available. The Sabres are flush with young forward talent. Their new goalie has shown consistent collegiate success at a superlative level, aptitude in a very small professional sample, and rare intensity. I think it's harder to fail than prosper when those are your building blocks. The players that are dropping off or likely to be let go are not difficult to replace. They do need a more responsible defensive system, or even a semblance of one, yes, I agree there. They do wilt in exasperating fashion, but I think it much more probable than not that the young core is going to mature into a very good team. They need to prioritize adding a solid veteran top 4D and a good veteran goalie to pair with Levi. There are other necessary roster additions, but none of them are daunting or even particularly difficult. I'll be disappointed if KA is not active this offseason to address all that. If next year at this time we are not looking at a playoff team with potential, I will join you in singing a dirge, but not today.

Aside from the cheap opportunity for mirth, there is some interest or mild anxiety because he could walk and become a free agent. Folks don't like the look of yet another college draft pick spurning the team. You'd get a second round comp pick if he did, but that is still a depreciation of a first round choice. I think he has a pretty high floor and would contribute to the d depth. I am not certain he would need a full year at Rochester. Playing out his NCAA career is a reasonable amount of development. He's not a 17 year old kid. Still need to draft the position early and add some veteran D. I think they need to bring in a top 4D in the offseason. Losing out on Johnson hurts the aggregation of talent at a position of need.

I really wanted William von Barnekow to make it just so I could buy his jersey.

I was picking 14th in one of those mock draft simulators last night. Grabbed Reinbacher who was ranked 20th in their system. Seems overly optimistic a result, but perhaps not outside the possible.

This thread is incorrigible. Fella needs to sign so there can be a champagne celebration.

Rosen, VO, draft picks.

I don't think he is untradeable, but I would be reluctant to do it. Just because a player falls outside of the untouchable category doesn't mean one must use them as a part to get other parts you don't have. It would be different if the cupboard was otherwise bare and necessity compelled one. That isn't the case here. There are abundant resources for KA to acquire what is deficient in the roster.

I'm not going to spend time looking over your past posting history. You've been here long enough to accrue nearly five thousand, so I assume you are sometimes more congenial. The few times I've noticed you I've actually wondered if you have troll DNA. Mittlestadt has become an ideal glue guy. He's a great story, too.

I don't know what the coach was thinking. I don't infer from his absence in the first ten seconds of OT that the coach has a negative view of Johnson. And I sure as hell don't think it means Johnson is an AHL tweener, but if that's your take, good for you. We'll see how accurate it turns out.

You seem to take perverse pleasure in telling folks the Sabres have no chance to make the playoffs which is virtually, if not mathematically, true. Here, you appear to enjoy implying that folks ought to conclude from the fact that Johnson wasn't on the ice for the start of OT what? That his coach doesn't have confidence in him? Maybe no one thought it was likely the game would end ten seconds into the extra period. "But we will pretend it was an accident." Snide and nasty. You properly inhabit your screen name.