JustOneParade

This is interesting. The Sabres have gone how many years with a dearth of leadership? Now, between the present and emerging leaders in this organization there is the possibility that a handful of them will never wear a letter simply due to numbers, not worthiness.

I live 97 miles west of Boston and the Sabres-Bruins games are blacked out on ESPN+ (and don't get NESN on Hulu). Apparently I'm in the Bruins' 'home market'. I feel so dirty. 😏 @Believer, Sarasota will surely have Lightning games blacked out by ESPN+ and possibly the Panthers too. Maybe available on local cable (ie, Bally Sports).

So if this happens as spelled out, are we (not to you specifically @Weave) happy with this result? 11 point improvement but no move up the East rankings. FTR, I expect 85 - 90 points but no playoffs. I'll enjoy watching them most nights, be pleased with the improvement, and comfortable knowing they'll be a perennial playoff team with higher aspirations than just that starting the following season.

Can't wait to see what he becomes with another 100 games played over the next five seasons (including playoffs and Super Bowls 😉).

I wanted to bump and update @Taro T's observation from a couple weeks ago. Through the first four games of the season the Bills D has given up a total of 7 second half points. Considering the quality of the offenses they've played and the magnitude of the injuries they've dealt with on D, this is nothing short of incredible.

So they're under contract with and paid by the Sabres but now playing for someone else (WHL, AHL, etc)?

Someone please help me understand. Loaned? What exactly does that mean?

Watching Power I'm trying to figure out how to describe his game at this point. Someone upthread said 'calm'. He's very solid right now but that seems to be understating his play. He's excellent with the puck when pressured. An excellent passer as far as I can tell. Probably won't see the 'wow' plays like we see occasionally from Dahlin but can definitely contribute in the offensive zone. Might he actually be better than Dahlin in three or four years? And ironically, after the early comparisons of Dahlin to Hedman, might it actually be Power who turns out to be a closer facsimile of Victor Hedman? The kid is just super impressive.

It was Promo.

Safe to assume none of this happens without an agreed upon contract extension for Robertson?

Given the state of the roster the Bills need to get to the bye week at 3-3 and come out the other side reasonably healthy. IMO, if they can do that they'll still be in a good place for the #1 seed in the AFC.

Agree. Probably a little better than average but Miami's front, like seemingly every team the Bengals play, will give Burrow problems. He'll be a human punching bag by the time the Bills see him in December.

I just wonder/worry that the after-effects of the game yesterday will alter this week's preparations. Practices adjusted and more players being 'limited' for some extra rest and recuperation. I've been in those circumstances. These guys are going to wake up tomorrow morning and still not feel good.

What inadequacies did Kozak have to fall to the 7th round? And how were they overcome to become a certain AHL/possible NHL player. Was it him or did the scouts simply overlook him?

Glad to hear you're well @Sabres Fan in NS. Those things are a b**ch.

After watching that game am I the only one who wonders why, in the NFL's infinite wide, the September meeting between these two teams is in Miami and the December game is in OP? Someone upthread said the conditions today were dangerous and I don't think that's hyperbole.

No knowledge of the Swedish leagues. Is that in the SHL (where we can now watch on ESPN+)?

Fearless prediction: The Bills' magic number number tomorrow is 4. If they take the ball back from the Fins 4 or more times combined via punt or turnover, they will win the game. Bonus prediction: By tomorrow night Josh will be making everyone else in the league chase him for the MVP award.

Wholeheartedly agree with the comment about line numbering, or labeling. Especially given the present roster. Now, if we still had Derek Grant centering a line then it would deserve to be labeled as a 4th line. 😏 For conversation sake, a line of OK, Girgs and Asplund would likely spend a good bit of time matched up against opponents' top lines, no?. That would necessitate more than 10 - 12 minutes per night (and add a little bit of scoring?). Sucks that ESPN+ doesn't carry the MSG pre- and post-game shows. Not sure why. Center Ice used to.

Another fan's view ... So you think Adams believes he can can't make the playoffs this year? I hope not, because if he does, he's not very bright and shouldn't have gotten that extension.

I gotta believe they'll be split. And if Power can handle the minutes it allows DG the 'luxury' (necessity?) of limiting the third pair to 12 - 14 minutes per night.

That's why I believe Miami will need to put up 35 points or more on Sunday to have any shot at winning. And I don't see that happening regardless of how banged up the Bills are presently. To coin the old Valvano/NCState phrase, the Bills are in 'survive and advance' mode through a tough upcoming stretch of games and all the injuries. Just find a way to win each week until everyone is (relatively) healthy again. Then I can see them being on a major heater over the final two months heading into the playoffs.

Agree with all of this. I take a simplistic view of things. Look at the Sabres organization (roster, coaching staff, scouting and development) each year under TM, JB and KA. Would you trade any of them for where the Sabres are today? For me the answer is no. That is a better evaluation method than purely points, IMPO.

Yes. And a GM with one year left and feeling his job may be in jeopardy would likely make decisions to increase his chances for that one season at the expense of sub-optimizing plans for years 2 and beyond. (Ex., trade high end prospects for immediate improvement).

A couple random thoughts during Fish Fry week. Lost in all the over-the-top ball-washing of the Miami Dolphins is the fact that in the seven quarters prior to the Ravens defense going inexplicably brain dead during the 4th quarter on Sunday the Fins offense had scored four total touchdowns. Before the season started there was much trepidation about Dorsey being a first-time play caller. The ability to make adjustments in-game, particularly at halftime, is a critical aspect of the job. 10 points in the first half against the Rams, 21 points after. 17 points against the Titans in the first half, 24 after. Granted one of the TD's Monday was from the defense, but the points came in one quarter prior to the starters being pulled. The Bills offense has scored 38 post-halftime points in 3 quarters of football. Dorsey's done a really nice job so far.