Drag0nDan

Craig anderson was actually good as recently as 2016-2017. The 2 bad years after were woefully bad teams in Ottawa. I think if his numbers end up terrible, it's likely as much the defense as anything else. I also expect UPL to be the starter tbh.

Really neat spot. Cafeteria level food though - wings were on-par with little caesers. And the table and ordering system was insanely confusing.

Id say with Hagg/Butcher both only on 1 year deals, his path to the NHL is pretty set. The right side is pretty open outside of Jokiharju, but I'm interested to see what they do with Johnson/Bryson/Samuelsson. Depending who Pysyk plays with, and how that goes, I could see him returning if he finds a home here.

Owners had no fans in the stands for majority of games. And they let the players get paid full salaries for a shortened season. And didn't reduce the cap or anything from a revenue sharing perspective. So they sold as much ad space as possible. The boards, the seat coverings, and yes - they would show mid-game ads. I don't blame them at all. Hell i wouldn't have blamed them if the sabres were the buffalo Pepsi's for a year if it kept the ice cold so i could watch hockey. Wrestling promotions did the same thing, so did the olympics. If there aren't fans you kinda have to do something to generate some dollars.

It was likely his agent who recommended the arbitration route. Darcy was many things - and I'm pretty sure spiteful was one of them. I think it all had to do with arbitration. Darcy didn't like it.

I think Samuelsson will be given every chance to take a spot in the bottom pair. Bryson's as likely to hit the minors as samuelsson with Hagg as an extra skater.

Dahlins solid up top, and oloffson boasts a pretty nasty shot. The key is opening up the shot since teams will be looking to prevent that. Dahlin will probably need to shoot more, as will whoever lines up in jacks spot - be it cozens or mitts. I don't think skinner will be much different than Hall, and honestly thompson seems like he could be a fit in the middle there. He has a decent shot, and a big body to occupy space - it's just learning how to more effectively deflect the puck. As for PP2, I'm not sure who goes where but i'd imagine bjork in the skinner spot, cozens or mitts, ruots, miller, and someone to play in the middle - maybe Okposo or Asplund. Not a strong group, but that unit was constantly shuffling a year ago and might benefit from some continuity.

He just looks like confused and panicked in the d-zone all of the time. Never knows where to go with the puck, doesn't know how to use his length there to make a difference, doesn't know where to go once we do have the puck to create offense. He's just there.

I've never driven one - but i always liked roadsters and that newer AMG GT looks sick. I think I'll probably settle for a MX5 as a 2nd car in a few years though. The new ones have a bit boosted HP, and are still light as a feather. I figure I'd buy used if and when i can afford to own a car simply for fun. Maybe I'll see if northtown has one i can mess around with despite having 0 interest in adding a 3rd car payment 😁

Well the issue is that there are 60 something state senators. And more than half come from downstate. It isn't a red/blue thing, upstate/wny can't even get their issues heard.

Depends who he plays with in Florida (Centering Huberdeau?, winger with Barkov or Bennett), but i know points are tougher in the playoffs. No backup goalies, no bad teams, fewer penalties.

At the deadline you probably get the same return. There would be more teams available since you can retain salary, and it's possible there is a bidding war for his services. However the teams adding him are playoff teams so the pick would be late, and the deadline market can also be a bad thing. As teams begin adding players for the run, your number of suitors dries up and the offers get worse and worse. Gaudreau could be available, Kessel, Rakell, Hertl... If they run out of suitors they might end up with even less. I also think they look at Levi as a good prospect.

His problem is he's still learning how to play hockey. He does a lot of the right things but he is just sooooo tentative without the puck, especially on defense. There's just too much panic in his game, like he doesn't know what he's doing and doesn't want the puck. On offense he's confident with a puck on his stick, but he needs to put some LBs on his butt and park in front of the net. Its not glamourous but he'll end up with more points, and help the PP units. He also has that Robert Woods thing where he just seems to be constantly falling down for some reason. I'm also curious what the PP groups will be - Seems like skinner-mitts-oloff-dahlin and maybe bjork? And 2nd group would be cozens-thompson-miller? and 2 others that are completely up in the air. Ruots if he makes it probably, maybe asplund, maybe mix in some okposo depending on where you need a player. Also depends who comes over in an eichel deal.

Look at it this way - he was an RFA so he's going to either sign a high 1yr AAV, or an extension. At the deadline on the 1yr deal Buffalo can retain salary, opening up more suitors. However you're only dealing with playoff bound teams now, so that 1st round pick will be late. And who knows what prospect you get out of it. I think it was probably a wash either way, other than giving some of the younger players a bit less pressure prior to his departure. I don't see it making much of a difference. If they moved him, its likely his agent said there was no interest in an extension and they'd probably just go to arbitration.

My guess Dahlin-Joki Butcher - Miller Samuelsson - Pysyk Hagg Maybe bryson as a 7th. Not sure how salary floor works though. Clearly they didn't love brysons game a ton if they brought in Power, Butcher, and Hagg in one offseason. I just feel like they need a bit more of a defensive presence on the bottom pair but that's just me. Bryson was mostly fine

I just think they had that conversation before they drafted him

I would think they would have had that conversation with him prior to drafting him first overall. I can see a 4th round pick choosing his destination as he developed in college and has no loyalty to the organization. A guy who you picked #1? He had to at least somewhat indicate that he wanted to play there.

Like a total whiff? or he refuses to sign?

Hutton was brutal for softies. It was like one a game. The guy had 0 shortside awareness, which was just brutal when the teams killing penalties. And then Johansson was just a rebound machine and no puck awareness around him. Neither should be playing in the NHL without fixing those issues.

I tend to agree. I want a stud goalie after years of having no goalie. Levi and portillo gives them a couple of lottery tickets if UPL doesn't have it. At the same time, they went D-man first overall and they do eventually need some goal scorers.

Yep. That's why i was happy that they included Levi in the panthers trade. I don't know that he's going to be good either, but they need more bullets in the goalie gun for rebuild 2.0.

I guarantee he could play right now. He's playing this card to try and get out.

If he's the best goaltender, he should be the starter. Dell tokarski Houser playing in the AHL and taxi squad if there is one. The goal is to get him starts at this point.

At this point they don't care. Let the new team deal with your surgery.

Last season was just such a mess, and they played in probably the toughest division. They were ill equipped for the condensed schedule with their goaltending injuries and issues. They had the 2 week covid shut down that seemed to sap several players who looked terrible after the long layoff. Injuries all around the roster. Career low shooting percentages for Hall and Eichel. RK system was a disaster. Just an insanely unlucky season across the board. And they only finished 8 points behind the devils, 6 points behind the ducks.