Richard Noggin

Will start with #4: maybe I'M actually confused about what kind of AAV a #1 overall pick defenseman who looks the part can demand. But if ELITE players are fetching closer to 10, is your thinking that Power can be had for less due to how young and inexperienced he is? Is it his lack, so far, of demonstrably elite offensive talent? What is it (as Dahlin is headed towards 10-11M AAV...)? This Sabres org has locked in many of their core guys to long deals a little early, it seems, maybe saving money overall by betting on continued growth/production before it's been shown on the ice. #3: What kinds of AAVs are those other top-5 guys signing for with 6+ years term? I honestly don't know, and you left that out. I'm mostly just asking if the Sabres can sign Power to so much term at an annual number as "low" as 8.5. The answer may well be yes to most people. I'm happy to be uninformed and possibly wrong.

So you're projecting here that Owen Power accepts 7 years @8.5 per? Don't think his team will seek something more in the 4-6 range like a super bridge? I don't think a #1 overall pick defenseman, who looks the part, would ever sign for such a long, team-friendly deal. Is the thinking that there's some kind of discount for doing it now rather than later? Doesn't much compute, otherwise.

Got a definitive legend to the chart (shades/colors, mostly, but also assumptions/projections) for quick reference? Most of it is intuitive, but still.

This evening on WGR I heard sober talk of Benson possibly going back to WHL for one more season (ostensibly to work on strength and skating). I mean, he's young AF so I personally wouldn't have hopes for him at the NHL level in 2023/24. But wtf do I know?

Mothereffer of course Eichel lol

Same. Seems almost ludicrous to say the puck can't move backwards. But then again, I'm only using common sense. The NHL isn't always known for the same.

So wait: the PUCK cannot move backwards at all on a shootout attempt? I always figured the PLAYER cannot move backwards. Wouldn't just standard stick-handling repeatedly move the puck slightly backwards?

Lotta whiny fans in the thread. Shouldn't be surprised

That's not a reasonable take.

I mean, to just shove it down the stairs is so...lame. Obviously the offense goes deeper than that, and aside from being something adjacent to a hate crime, I'm deeply offended by how cowardly and lame this was. You wanna be a 1980s teen movie bully cliché? That's weak, but at least put some skin in the game and ride the damned chair down the stairs, coward.

Just super weak in front of both nets. That's the most stark disparity.

The lady announcer said at one point that the win for Pittsburgh earlier was "muchly needed." I'm still reeling.

Didn't Adams intimate as much in his presser? That what a trade partner is looking for varies from team to team? He was trying to suggest that they wanted a prospect or young player the Sabres weren't willing to move. At least that was my understanding as I listened.

Is there any concrete reporting on what the player is wrestling with? I don't feel entitled to such information, but oftentimes we hear things nonetheless.

Do some fans think the coach and his staff had a bad plan in the 1st 20-30 minutes of tonight's game? It looked like they had zero answers. Or is it about talent deficiencies and inconsistencies on the 3rd D pairing and bottom-12 forwards? Along with a general DEARTH of the physical tenacity, the damned "compete level" and sacrifice that often distinguishes playoff intensity? The 2023 Buffalo Sabres would have to get back to their season-best scoring pace to overcome a current paucity of defensive connectivity and moreover, a dearth of physical tenacity. They MUST mature in that way going into next year. Methinks this is best accomplished by acquiring some defensive and bottom-6 examples to push the internal development. And more than anything else, the Buffalo Sabres could better pretend to be playoff caliber if they had a legitimate effing #1 goalie.

Marner getting absolutely felated all broadcast.

They showed the Sabres at +1400 (Leafs -5000) at one point in the 2nd period. Woulda been at least fun.

I'm seeing Dahlin's age (22) mentioned in this thread and it's suddenly surprising how young he still is.

Quick survey of the standings suggests the Sabres are favorably poised to push for a wildcard spot, given their 4-5 games in hand over 3 of the 4 candidates for #8, and a goal differential 3x better than the entire Eastern wildcard field. As others have suggested, adding a physical, disciplined d-man by the deadline could attainably fill in the most glaring roster hole (beyond GK). Seems like a good year to make a moderate move and go for it.

Got 'em right where we want 'em.

Watching as much as I'm able, but not as much or as closely as many posters on this board, so I was looking for some insight from my fellow fans. Appreciate (genuinely) the backhanded input. Obviously lol. Juggled HOW, though? So, centering Olaf and Mitts and/or centering KO and Girgs? As well as working in on the PP, of course. His tenacity probably meshes well with Okposo and Girgensons.

So what does that look like for our newly cemented #2C?

Unexpectedly ELITE goaltending HAS to be a HUGE reason why a good team who was at a bit of a crossroads in the offseason is again such a powerhouse (given the save percentage going from a top-10 .909 to #1 .930. Shooting percentage is ALSO top-5 in 2022/23, so there's more to it, but duh).