JohnC

That's my point. Enjoy the win. Next year is next year. The Sabres played a good game last night. When the games are played next season, I'll judge those games when they happen. If anyone is going to be agitated about these concluding seasonal games, then don't watch them. Self-flagellation is painful, and also unnecessary right now.

Not necessarily. Maybe he will be relegated to the bench when those players return next year. But the scenario you described is what we want to happen i.e. competing for roster spots and roles. That's a good thing, not something to lament. (I'm aware that you are not saying that.) For too long, this regime has worked under the system that young players were bestowed their roster spots and roles. That era is over with. Ruff is right in playing players who are outperforming their teammates. The goalie position is a good example of that. Samuelsson has been dispatched to the "suite" for inadequate play. Now he seems to be playing at a consistently good level. Both Quinn and JJP have watched games from the "suite" instead of being on the bench. And that sterner evaluation of play has seemed to have worked. The Sabres are at a stage where they have built up some depth to the point that when injuries happen the drop off isn't as noticeable with the replacements. Players like Quinn, UPL, Samuelsson etc. are now going to be pushed instead of always feeling comfortable that their spot in the lineup is guaranteed. I find that encouraging.

That’s why I’m arguing for more patience with him. We don’t know for sure either way on this issue. So let’s give him a little more time to show what he is capable of.

If you can’t acknowledge good play when it happens, then why bother to watch or follow them? Of course, I’m disappointed at how this season transpired, but what do you want the team at this stage of the season to do? Just give up and not give effort?

The GM doesn't need to tear down the pillars of this roster, but he does need to make a couple to few moves to better round out this roster. Can he add another Zucker-like player who may be a little younger? I hope so. I'm not suggesting an overhaul so much as a few smart transactions can make a difference to getting this team over the hump.

There is no question that Quinn needs to round out his game beyond the offensive side of the game. It comes down to whether he can improve in being a more responsible two-way player or not. I believe he can while many don't. I recommend patience.

The issue comes down to whether he can improve on the defensive side of the game to being better than adequate. I think he can. I can't say it with a lot of assurance but I do see him putting more effort on that area of the game. I'm still recommending more patience. I don't see him as an Olofsson version 2, as you describe it.

Compare the Sabres now to two of the Colorado games where we crumbled like a stale cookie?

You are giving too much weight to the analytics from one game. JJP made a lot of plays in this game that demonstrated he can be a factor. In this case, I recommend that you trust your eyes more than the numbers. And Quinn's shootout goal was impressive. He was a factor in this win.

I know that a lot of people are negative toward Quinn. I'm not one of them. He's got good offensive talent, especially his shot. Although he didn't score a goal in regulation he showed that he's a threat in the o-zone. In my view it would be a mistake to get too impatient with his game.

Some immediate thoughts on this game. Reimer gets the first star, a big star. What a qualitative difference when you get excellent goaltending. From an overall standpoint, I thought we outplayed Tampa. What was encouraging is not so much how an individual player stood out as to how collectively well and responsibly the Sabres played a two-way game. Another thing about this game is that the effort never lapsed. It was consistent throughout. Tage is our most offensive threat. He's adding more dimension to his offense by not simply shooting but taking the puck to the open area and releasing a shot. JJP made a number of high-end offensive moves that didn't translate into goals but resulted in good scoring chances. This may have been our best two-way game of the season. Tampa is a good team and we played as if we were the same strata of team. Both Quinn and Tuch are prime time players in the shootout. This was not an important game from a standings standpoint. However, it was an important game in that it showed what type of team it can be when it plays the right way and gets good goaltending. Overall, the Sabres played a hard and tough game. There was nothing soft and loose to their game tonight. I believe that we have won our last 6 out of 7 games. This is encouraging for me although I recognize for a lot of people it means little.

Baby is beautiful. You look radiant and bursting with joy. Congratulations grandpa.

He will acknowledge his empty net goals. Gretzky also has plenty of goals with the net vacant. Ovie made a decision not to break the record with goalie pulled. And that’s what he did last night after scoring two goals.

Aren't we also using our backup goalie? And isn't Tampa icing their regular lineup? I'm not bothered how the opposition handles its lineup. I'm more concerned on how our team plays and whether we win or lose. If we win, I'm less likely to complain. If we lose, I'll more likely be critical. Reflexive criticism before the game is even played makes little sense.

To Ovi's credit the coach asked him when Chicago pulled its goalie if he wanted to on the ice. He said no. He made the point prior to the game that he wanted to earn the record the right way instead of scoring a goal when no one was in net.

Is the franchise involved with the secondary market where they it gets a % of the transaction? How does this specialty market work? Do the Sabres sell discounted tickets to the company or do fans who can't go to the game sell back the tickets at a discounted price to the secondary company?

I've been reading the posts on this thread and surprised with the comments on it. A young prospect is getting an opportunity to play in the NHL. No question that injuries are a factor why he was brought up. What does it matter if he plays on the first or fourth line? Either way he will get some exposure to playing against faster, bigger and more talented players than he would in the lower league. And that should serve him well in preparing to get the NHL on a full-time basis and stay there when he gets the opportunity. As a fan, watching a prospect play, regardless of role, gives me more of a reason to watch this meaningless game, as @SwampD points out. Why anyone would be irritated with the line he is put on in what is basically an introduction stint is beyond me. And it should also be pointed out the Ruff jumbles lines throughout the game. And in end of game situations, he frequently sticks with the players who have played well in the game and sits players who he feels are liabilities. This season has been a disappointment. That can't be denied. But this depressing negativity, especially over such a trivial consideration, makes little sense. I, for one, am interested in watching this intriguing prospect even if it is for a limited amount of ice time.

Go to the game and buy your daughter a bucket of popcorn. And don't forget to buy her a soda pop. It's permissible for you to have a beer. But don't overindulge and yell obscenities when the play doesn't go as you like it. Remember, you are supposed to be an example to your daughter. In another year or so your daughter will find you irritating will be a target of her menacing scowls. 😁

Irrational behavior happened today in the Oval Office. A looney female conspiracy whack job talked to Trump at the WH and told him some national security staff were not loyal to him. It resulted in the firing of three members in that office.

I don't have streaks in my pants when I watch him play; I have loads in my pants that weigh me down. The people around me have given me a nick name: Stinky!

Normally, the advice you give about stocks in a down market is sound advice. However, the president's irrational and peculiar fascination with tariffs can cause a severe recession once the retaliation comes in from other countries. What makes this tariff issue more unnerving is that much of it is targeted at our allies. Buffalo is located on the border next to Canada. It is going to have a negative effect for western NY because fewer Canadians will cross the border to shop and do other activities. If this course continues there will be fewer Canadians coming to the arena to watch hockey.

What this agent did is what all agents do. I'll also add that organizations also have "informal" nondisclosure conversations with agents to see what the agent is thinking in regard to his client/s. Purity is theoretical and not regularly practiced in the real world of sports and business.

The agent is doing what agents do: trying to get his client the best contract he can get with his team and/or from the market. The agent represents his client, not the team he currently plays with. How is this tampering when he is pointing out the options that the player and organization have?

It appears that you have become a member of the curmudgeon club. I have been a member for a long time. Welcome to "my bones are aching and I got to pee club. 😀 A while back, an old lady politely asked if she could cross through my line to get to another line. I said sure, no problem. She proceeded to get in front of me in the line. I got hustled by an old crafty "bit***h. I ended up laughing at how absurd she was. I pity anyone who had to live with that old shyster woman.

As you point out, and has often been noted by many, there is a need to add a quality rugged defensive blueliner to get a better mix on that unit. Does that mean that Byram should be moved? Not necessarily, but I'm open to it. As far as moving Power, I'm adamantly opposed to dealing him off. End of the discussion! Can enough roster adjustment being made this offseason to put this team back into the relevancy category? Maybe. My hesitancy is based on what I believe to be the caliber of our GM. Sad to say.