Pimlach

Yes, Rayzor's link to RJ would be missed. I often watch the Sabre games using the opponents broadcast, and it is amazing how often the other teams announcers comment on Ray and enjoy some humor with him. Ray is a throwback to when the Sabres were a real team and when the played in front of packed and passionate crowds. Those days are long gone. It is sad how many hockey seasons have been wasted in the irrelevance.

So, you own a bottom feeder team for 14 straight years, one that players and coaches avoid, and you ask a Hall of Fame VP/GM with 4 Stanley Cups to work for Kevyn Adams? Holland wants day to day control of the team. Terry is sticking with Adams and wanted Holland for an Advisory role. Terry is embarrassing. How does he even have that conversation with Holland, or did he have Adams reach out to him? I would love to know who talked to Holland. Either way, not a serious team.

Power was not a positive player. He was terrible defensively and was out there for ~22 minutes per game with a -13 overall. He defensive play was a big reason we had a bad season and he did not step up when Dahlin was injured. Whatever the defensive ranking % actually means, being ranked in the mid-40's is not good enough and points to the problem with the top 4 (includes Byram, Power and Muel). I can agree that Power and Muel are grossly overpaid and that Byram brough a lot of value for his salary. But here we are, not willing or not able to pay Byram so we can keep Power.

The goaltending has to improve. UPL was inconsistent, when he plays better we win more. Reimer had a nice late season stretch but you don't bank on that for next season. Levi is a gamble for next season. The Team defense is bad. That includes the forwards. Lindy complained about his centers not playing enough 2 way hockey. For long stretches the team did not look like they were playing together, especially in the defensive zone. The team loses puck battles way too often and the team goes long periods with poor puck possession time which is a reason for the blown leads. Better coaching, some tougher two way players, and better player understanding of what they are trying to accomplish. These are signs of young team that gets pushed around and is mentally unable to bear down and win close games. The 6 defensemen are decent on paper but lack the diverse combination of skills that winning teams have. We have said this for a long time - Too many puck movers, not enough body movers. They traded away Joker, they brought in Bernard Docker. He is bringing back Bryson. Adams should stop dabbling with D5, 6, 7, and 8 and get some help to the top 4. Top 4 - Dahlin, Muel, Power and Byram. Dahlin is excellent. Byram played some good hockey but apparently is not coming back, the first real sign of how bad the Power contract is right now. Power gets to stay because of his pay and his draft pedigree, not for his performance or for inspired play on the ice. Muel had a rough year. He is injury prone, seems below average on the PK, and physically he does not bring the game that we need from a big defenseman. Muel and Power both greatly underperformed last season. This team needs top 4 help. Can this GM move Byram and improve the roster? Can he get the right complimentary pieces for Dahlin and Power? It's been a question for a long time.

I’m sure Terry will spare no expense to make Sabres television coverage the envy of the NHL.

OMG Frederick took huge shots from Adin, but he gamely landed a few of his own. That was like an old time hockey fight right there.

Henrique is a guy I wanted the Sabres to acquire several times. He is still going after 35 years.

If this is true and Rayzor confided in John Scott, who then decided to leak the information, I will be surprised. I like Rayzor for the humor and the on ice stuff, Marty is a far better analyst. Hard to say who I would hire without hearing them on the air and understanding their approach to the job.

I have seen them both in much younger days. I can't see two iconic artists not having really good bands and really good sound, so if you like their songs then I think you see a good show.

I have been slowing down on the big concerts and going to smaller venues and jazz clubs. My wife wants to see Grace Potter at Art Park this summer. I am going to that. Happy wife, happy life.

Yes and somebody ran Tkachuk and caught him with his head down. He may be going after Nies too. This is a series that players are starting to keep track of hits. The Panthers have a rugged team but the Leaves under Berube seem willing to answer the bell. I hope it goes 7 games

It does, and since Ruff came from Dallas and NJ he has seen how other team do things. In my line of work if a certain project is struggling and we do not change the Manager we were still responsible to identify the problems and get that person the help needed to succeed. When Terry makes no changes he is signaling he is ok with the present course they are on. Ruff could be showing him another way.

I don't think it got personal here with the exception of the reactions to just one poster. For the most part there are only a few squabbles here and there, and they are usually about hockey only. The Bills forum has far more drama and they are a winning team with the league MVP. The atmosphere here is consistent with April and May of the past few years of the KA regime. The fans are majorly disappointed, it is clear that the GM does not do enough to improve the team, it sucks to hear the organization make excuses for their inept performance, and worse it appears that owner is mostly ok with it. So here we are.

In fairness I think he has tried. Rumor was he was after Pesce a few years ago (a very solid RHD) but they could not get a deal done. Seems to be too little and too late more often than not.

I see it the opposite. The Avs GM got a piece they really needed at the time, but sacrificed a better piece that he had in a position of excess. Improve the roster and win right now was his goal. When the Avs GM saw that the guy he acquired was not up to par he easily moved him for a more proven veteran. Meanwhile the Sabres GM admitted he didn’t know how to use the player that he acquired because they have similar skilled players on big contracts at the same position. The Sabres GM never filled a real need, created a new hole, and failed to improve his team. At least he gets a shot at trading Byram to hopefully add a player we need but the trade made for a better player has not improved the team.

Domi ran Barkov. The Rat jumped in.

He made a great move, stayed on forehand, read the play perfectly. 30 playoff goals in his career, already.

Bennett is a classic playoff player.

Lots of hitting. Especially Florida, they are rugged.

Great Mother’s Day for the entire family. The big steak dinner put on by yours truly is over, and everyone is gone. Hockey time in the Man Cave. Time to savor one more glass of Ruffino Chianti that I shipped back from Tuscany.

Joe Kowal and the draft of 76. I almost forgot that guy. Denis Tsygurov is also a candidate for the all Russian Sabres team.

Did the Sabres hire an executive level Senior Advisor yet?

I don’t care if a player has success after he leaves Buffalo. I just want trades that improve the team NOW.

Muel has become a poster boy for the failed rebuild. Big contract after 57 games, injury prone, not physical, … I think both Byram and Muel will be moved out. Byram is almost certainly gone. Muel will be hard to trade, and we get to hear how hard it is to get players to come here.