JohnC

I don't see Asplund as an expendable asset as you do. I think although he isn't much of a scorer he does drive a line. His style of play reminds me of Girgs. Not much of a finisher but plays a hard game that is an important ingredient for a successful team. There are players where their production stats don't reflect their value to a team. In my estimation he falls in that category.

I start slow and then up the ante. As like you I have high expectations for him. An interesting issue is what is the makeup of the line he will be on? I think Mitts would be a good center for him to play with.

I expect him to be a second line forward. I would be disappointed if he doesn't score at least 20 goals next year. I also expect him to be on one of the PP units.

The shock is gone. There is now a high expectation.

Next year Eakon probably won't be on the team. A line composed with Okposo/Gergs/Asplund would make for a good fourth line that can also provide some scoring production.

Everyone has their own personality traits. For a person in his line of work his tolerance for disputation was low. However, I don't consider him to be a mediocre writer. Deadline writers have challenges in putting together columns in the allotted time. When dealing in a forum where there is a lot of subjectivity, it shouldn't be surprising that there are many conflicting views and personality conflicts.

Don't feel bad. I, like you, misjudged him. Mitts more than any player on this roster has surprised me with his style of play. What has surprised more than anything about his play is not his offensive talents as it is his grinding and hard style of play. I would never have expected him to be one of our best, if not best, wall players on this team. This is an unexpected pleasant surprise for a player who is now one of our building block players.

I agree with you and others who say that he was not too receptive to criticisms. So he made a choice to leave this forum. But I still contend that there was a minority faction that was somewhat hostile to some of his comments. He just didn't feel the need to deal with it. That's his prerogative.

I agree with you that John W can be combative. He's certainly not a shrinking violet. He just made a decision for himself that he doesn't want to engage here. Everyone has different tolerance levels. His is lower than most in the business.

I don't have it backwards! There were a few people here who would challenge his credibility and his sources. The one thing a reporter is not going to do is publicly state his sources who expected anonymity after talking to him. Hamilton has often commented on why he often unfollows people on twitter. He pointed out more often than not it is the manner in which one responds more than what is actually said. I'm not being critical of the group in general. It's just that in every group there is a minority faction that doesn't know how to respond without being antagonistic. Some people in the media business just don't want to put up with that BS. I don't blame them.

I agree with you that it was the few jerks that contaminated the discourse. John W is not a passive fellow. He was capable of punching back. It appears that he didn't want to get in the ring anymore. He had better things to do with his limited time like pursuing the exotic beer.

He hasn't been involved in quite a while. My impression is that he got tired of engaging with the snipers who were more interested in battle than in exchanging thoughts and responsibly challenging viewpoints. He had some interesting insights due to his proximity that added to this forum. However, some posters were more interested in being combative.

I agree with you that Okposo should be wearing the C letter. But he is such a sterling person that whether he is wearing a letter or not he is a well respected leader who is going to be listened to.

The attached link is a column written by the AP's John Wawrow. What is interesting about this article that I believe was posted in the Buffalo News is that it was also posted in today's Washington Post. The Sabres are starting to get national attention for their performances instead of for their dysfunction. Florida is a serious Cup contender. However, in a win in Jersey they played a tough come from behind game last night. Although Florida embarrassed the Sabres in a game at home not long ago, I consider this is a winnable game. Tired legs can empty the tank very quickly. We need to play at a fast peddle to the metal pace right from the start. https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/Surging-Sabres-show-signs-of-blossoming-in-17046388.php

You made my day. Now, I don't feel like I'm the only befuddled non-hipster who doesn't have a clue what the numbers mean in the broadcast gambling promotions.

Whenever I listen to Okposo talk I come away being impressed with how thoughtful and insightful he is. When asked a question he doesn't give a pablum response to it. He thinks about the question and then clearly responds to it. He doesn't evade or attempt to skirt any issue. He's a high character guy who conducts himself with dignity. I'm just so impressed by him. There are a select few people who by their mere presence are a positive influence on others. He's one of them.

I would make the described deal in a heartbeat if it were for Hellebuyck or Saros. When you tabulate the exchange you are only giving up a first round pick and exchanging a goalie prospect for an established high end goalie. After that transaction the organization will still have two high end goalie prospects in the system. What would ease the loss of our higher first round pick is that the Sabres would still have two more picks in the first round. And the wider context is that Power, Quinn and JJ should be ready to play next year and invigorate the roster even more. Most people would agree that the team is on an upward trajectory. It's indisputable that top tier goalies are difference makers and can make up for other deficiencies. If you have an opportunity to quicken the pace of the rebuild without deviating very much from the rebuild strategy, why not seize the opportunity?

I think one of reasons that Cozens doesn't get the credit he deserves for the revitalization of the team is that his game is based on substance with little flash. He, as much as any player, drives the play for his teammates. One way to describe him is that he is a blood and guts type player. He adds an element of toughness that was lacking in prior years. Players like Tuch, Samuelsson, Okposo and surprisingly Mitts have a style of play that makes this once soft team now more difficult to play. This rebuild, after the jettisoning of the old core, is reconstructing the roster to make it a more hardened and tougher roster. The GM has often stated that he wants this team to reflect the values of this community. And it appears that he is succeeding in that effort.

If a third line player is as productive, or maybe even more productive, than a second line forward, you are getting value for the buck. Sometimes labeling/categorizing players by the lines they are on is a wrong way to evaluate players. It's about the production.

I don't know for sure who was most responsible for selecting Granato to be an assistant coach, and then installing him as the HC after the firing of Krueger. If it were KA then I would say that it was his most consequential decision that goes beyond his roster moves. He got the right person, at the right time for the particular situation. The hiring of Krueger suffocated the talents of the players. The hiring of Granato breathed new life into the same players and allowed their talents to be expressed. How Skinner was handled then in comparison to now demonstrates how critical coaching is to being successful. And moving Tage to center is another example of that.

In my opinion Olofsson is not a top 6 player. That doesn't bother me at all. If he becomes a very good third line player who can also contribute on the PP, he has a lot of value. There is a number of ways to construct a high yield roster. Having quality lines below the top two lines is an essential requirement to build a serious team. And having a player such as Olofsson contributing on whatever line he is on something to embrace and desire.

How about 4.5 M for 4 yrs? It appears that he is getting his shooting touch back. Especially as a PP player, he adds a lot of value to the team. If he required a 5 M per year deal it would start to stretch the salary scale boundary but it would still be within the realm of reasonableness.

If you look at our young players such as Tage, Mitts, Dahlin, Cozens and Krebs (players you listed) you can see post teenage players becoming men from a physical standpoint. Without question the rigorous workout regime is a big factor. But a big part of that development is the time required to physically mature. You can tell that Cozens and Dahlin have put in a lot of work in the offseason. These young fellows are going to get better as they get older. Our young core has recently expanded. As they grow this team will get better. This is certainly not a team/roster that is close to peaking. The trajectory is still pointing up. That's what is so exciting about how well the team has been playing because you can see a glimpse of the near future.

I don't want to look back too much at our extended period of descent. It isn't always fruitful to dwell on the past. The attention should be more focused on the future and potential. But looking back for almost a decade it isn't unfair to view this organization as one of the least entertaining and one of the more insignificant/inconsequential franchises in the league. That hasn't angered me as much as it saddened me. The interminable rebuilding years and the soul crushing Krueger era obliterated interest in this franchise. The empty and quiet arenas reflected that reality. The Sabres are still a couple to few years away from being a SC contender. But at least now the spirited play on the ice demonstrates that the upward trajectory of the team is not an illusion. Things are starting to come together. We have the right coach and the organization has the right plan to follow. Last night was a glorious event that signaled that what is happening now is separate from the ignominious past. How can one not be energized?

You make a good observation. While Mitts has turned into a grinding two-way player, he hasn't lost his offensive instincts. I never would have thought that he would become one of our better wall battlers on this team. Players evolve and develop. Patience is a necessity.