JustOneParade

Thanks guys. Why did they have to make this so complicated? Regardless, here’s hoping he makes the Sabres out of camp and stays in Buffalo for the duration. Even if he is playing on the wing initially.

Question for those in the know. So Savoie can’t go to ROC. Say he makes the Sabres opening roster, plays in BUF until mid-Nov and the team decides he’s not ready. Or he gets injured and needs a rehab assignment. What then? Can he then be sent to Rochester? Is the only option back to the WHL? At what point does the WHL no longer determine where he can play?

Good to see Levi perform fairly well in the shootout. Of course it helped immensely that there were no Sabres d-men on the ice.

If Levi plays well enough to frustrate the Panthers I fully expect Tkachuk to show what a punk-ass DB he is.

You're tempting fate @Doohickie. You might be opening yourself up to derisive comments from an agitated landscaper questioning why you are writing about grasses on a hockey board. 🙄

Unforced errors. Intercepted passes. Pucks sent to nowhere. Pretty good synopsis of the whole season. If you combine all of that with their awful performance at the face off dot and losing puck battles with regularity (all possession killers) it’s stunning that this team is in the top 3 in the league in scoring. Is that an indication of the skill this team possesses or a sign of them abandoning defensive responsibility for the sake of activating offense? Clean up or improve upon those things at the top and …. oh my. 😲

Very true. And I highly doubt the words ‘play free’ were ever uttered by Rod Brind’Amour.

WRT development next year, maybe we shouldn’t underestimate the benefits of Levi practicing against the third highest scoring team in the NHL every day (or however often they do practice).

I wasn’t able to see the game last night but followed along here and watched the extended highlights this morning. Then the following dawned on me this morning (pun unintended). Assuming in his remaining games the Levi we saw last night is a reasonable representation of the player he is, it is going to be a painfully long wait between the end of the season and the start of next in October. And this from someone who subscribes to the idea that you don’t wish your life away.

That blows. That's all I got.

I wouldn't fire DG yet but I would insist on a makeover of his staff and much more emphasis on everyone defending in their own end. What's so, so disturbing to me is that they are looking just like the Sabre teams of the final 6-8 weeks of the Bylsma, Housley and Krueger eras. Though unlike the others I don't believe they've quit on Granato. Someone upthread used the term 'unwatchable'. Bingo. I've turned the broadcast off four of the past six games. And I had only done that one other time this year because it sickened me to see the Leafs' fans celebrating in the KBC.

Certainly was a joke (painfully so and with bad spelling to boot). @MBD, which other little brother did I miss? Casey's little bro and who else? Now that I'm on my laptop, here's the goal I referenced.

Those lowly Flyers had Carolina beat yesterday. Then took a penalty late and gave up the tying goal with 0.3 seconds left in regulation. Gave up the winner 30 seconds into overtime.

What fantastic hockey in the Big10 Championship game last night. Minn vs. Mich. Talent all over the ice. Playing were a defenseman we hope joins the Sabres soon, a young prospect that may develop into something in a year or two, a goalie we no longer care about, and even a Sabres’ little brother. Johnson looked solid, not spectacular. He defends and skates well. Exits the zone cleanly. Wasn’t on the ice for any of the Mich goals (although I think Jakob Bryson was on for three of them). Lastly, don’t know how to attach from my phone but find a highlight of Pitlick’s (Minn) goal. YouTube maybe? Absolutely incredible. The Michigan defender is now suffering from PTSD.

Casey with Cozens and Quinn will be an increasingly effective line - and they're pretty good now (when Tuch was available). At some point in the near future I see Savoie centering Kulich and JJP. That line will be fun to watch too.

I was thinking about this WRT Ryan Johnson. KA shipped out Portillo's rights because he indicated he wasn't signing. Does this indicate that Johnson has said he will be signing, or at worst still undecided? Otherwise I would assume KA would have traded his rights also, no?

ESPN+ (it was essentially a free add on with the bundle because we already had HULU and Disney+). Because of where I live Sabres/Bruins games are blacked out and don't get NHL Network games (not available on HULU). Edit: and it sucks not getting the MSG pre- and post-game feed on ESPN+

Ah, memories of the annual ‘North Trip’ to play Friday nite and Saturday afternoon games (hoops) against SLU and Clarkson.

But he's only eight years old. Hence, the 'future considerations'. 2X

Yep. At least he's engaging enough to get pummeled (I believe that's what you meant) instead of harmless pushing and shoving and idle 'don't do that again or you'll have to answer to me' threats.

I was thinking the exact same thing! 14 pages of angst quickly pivoting to a GoFundMe thread to erect a Stillman statue outside KBC.

Agree. I'm just not sure Detroit would have been willing to help fill one of our glaring holes.

@SwampD I don't know if your question was asked of me. The posts are coming fast and furious. If so, I am making the assumption in my post that Joki is not a top-4 D-man (even though he's being deployed as such presently). If he is, then the first part of my post is easier to fix as the Sabres would then be looking for a bottom pair D-man.

Totally agree with @LGR4GM. Was thinking the same last evening. Simply, if the Sabres traded for a defenseman, what prospect would be 'blocked'? There are none. Get Johnson signed and add a legitimate top-6 D-man to pair with Power (Joki to third pair with Johnson). As others have mentioned, I believe the bigger issue is more systemic. The Sabres are atrocious at defending in their own end and its not only the D. Tired of seeing opponents wide open in the slot or standing alone on the back post for easy tap-ins - with nary a Sabre nearby. If its a coaching issue, find someone who can teach these guys how to properly play in their own end. I have admitted that I'm not well versed in what is supposed to be happening. Who is responsible for what. But I do watch enough hockey to recognize on a macro level that how other teams play defense bears little resemblance to the cluster fudge the Sabres are doing. Fix that and the goaltending may actually look .... competent?

The Eastern Conference playoffs are going to be ‘must see’ TV. The NHL should just award the Cup at the EC Finals. Don’t see anyone from the West getting in the way unless COL suddenly reverts back to last year’s version.