JohnC

I agree with your last paragraph. The Sabres have enough assets within the system to add at least three good players this offseason who add some snarl and grit to this roster. It's unlikely that the Sabres will make the playoffs this year. If that doesn't provide KA with the urgency to make the required upgrades, then he should be dispatched as a GM. There will be no excuse for not taking action.

An unequivocal yes.

I'm confident that he will in the not-too-distant future be an instrumental player for us. Don't let his more finesse style of play cloud your judgment on him. He's going to be really good. So good where a lot of organizations would make a bountiful trade to acquire him. Be patient---you will come around.

We can disagree on what would make the best combinations on the blueline. But that discussion is made possible because in comparison to a few years ago, there is now enough accumulated talent where you can trade a player in order to add another player to better round out this roster. Mitts was a good player who had value. He was dealt for a top pairing defender. We gave up value to acquire value. We're allowed to have this discussion because we have a supply of assets to parlay with. Not long ago, that wasn't the case because of a dearth of talent. Injuries would result in a cascading effect where players would then be playing higher roles that they were capable of handling. Injuries can now be handled without having such damaging effects. Not to belabor the point, but I'm confident that Power is going to be a stud player for us. In the near future, he's going to viewed as a top-tier defenseman in the league. He's not a banger, and never will be. Don't let it cloud the fact that is going to be really good.

In the last game, the Sabres had an advantage over Detroit because they were coming from Vegas and concluding an extended road trip. Our legs were demonstrably fresher than theirs as evidenced by how much faster and quicker we were. There's a lot at stake for both teams. I'm hoping this turns out to be a game where when it's over the posters here will be smiling. If not, expect an onslaught of lamenting. 😃

We are riding in different buses to the same destination. This organization has made a lot of trades over the past half dozen year. I consider the Nylander for Joki deal to be one of our better deals.

Let me make some comments on the two defensemen that have been mentioned. I put Bryson in the category of being a utility player. He's a tweener NHL/AHL. At best, he's a third pairing and lower player. I'm not going to overrate his game paired with Clifton, he is not a liability. What's happening in general is that there is enough talent on the team and in the system where players are being slotted to their talent level. That wasn't the case in prior years. Bryson is a depth player who when brought up functioned adequately. With respect to Joki, and as well to Power, their play is downgraded by many because they don't play a banging style of game. Joki can skate and move the puck up the ice. He's also more willing to be involved on offense. He's not going to knock people down when they are hovering around our net. That's not his game, and never will be. Too many people focus on his limitations rather than on his assets (not saying you). In general, the era of guerrilla defenders who are inclined to fight is over with. Some people have difficulty altering their preferred profile on players and positions (again, not saying you) to the newer/different style of play. With respect to my assessment of Power, he is going to be a gem and a core player for us for a long time. In the not-too-distant future he is going to be a top tier blue liner who will be coveted by many teams. Based on his play this year, I can already see him expanding his game and becoming much more confident and adventurous in his play.

Don't be surprised If you find some young adults wearing FBI wind breakers knocking on your door.

In my original post, I said that there was a faction of posters who not too long age wanted to dispatch UPL. That is true. There was also a faction that quickly determined Power to be not worth his draft status and keeping. That is true. Are you going to disagree that there wasn't a clarion call from a number of posters who declared Mitts to be a bust? That is true. It wasn't too long ago that Cozens was also targeted of being a minor bust. That is also true. The same premature judgments applied to Bryson and Joki. My underlying point is that too often there is a premature judgment on young players. That was my basic point. With respect to not adequately acquiring a veteran goalie to become our starter, which goalies are you identifying who were available? There is no question that UPL is playing at a high level. But there are some underlying reasons beyond his individual performances that have allowed him to recently shine. The first reason is that our defensive unit has been bolstered with additions (Clifton) and now Byram. And credit should also be given to young players such as Power, Joki, Ryan Johnson. Bryson etc. who got better. In addition, our forwards are in general playing better defensively. If you want to talk about the preceding years, then go ahead. But this year, we started off with three goalies vying for playing time and roles. It took some time to shake out, but in the end UPL earned his #1 role. Prior to the season based on last year's end of season performance there was an expectation (by me) that Levi was going to win the starting job. He simply wasn't ready. I'm sure you disagree but in the end the approach that KA took worked out.

There were zealots here who were arguing that he should be dealt for some retread on the market. When it comes to judging goalies, experienced or not, the best approach is to be humble. One year's Vezina winner could turn out to be next year's bum. I'm not in the column of those predicting that UPL would be playing at his current level for such a sustained time. The truth is no one was. It just seems that because so much frustration has been built over the seasons that it has resulted in people looking for instant cures instead of allowing young players to develop. That same impatience has also been directed towards players such as Cozens, Mitts, Power etc. Very often, trusting in the process takes a lot of fortitude and courage to simply stick it out and allow things to naturally unfold. And it should be understood that I'm not suggesting that little else should be done to augment the process. As it turns out, the GM who has very much been vilified, was right on how he has handled this particular goalie.

Does your employer offer any help in finding new work? Or do they simply in cold blood issue the notice? As someone else suggested, don't be afraid to rely on your friends and work cohorts to give you leads to other opportunities. Wish you the best.

People in general often get consumed by little things that in reality are simply life irritations. You are dealing with something serious that relates to health and life. Wish you the best.

As you smartly point out, the Sabres didn't get frustrated not scoring in the first period. They stayed patient and kept at it. This team is playing with a lot more maturity over the past dozen games or so.

In this NHL link is a recap of the game and highlights of some scores. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/

As you point out, even when Benson was not getting points you can never say that he was a liability on the ice. Quite the contrary, as you noted he was driving the play and playing a very responsible defensive game. For a long time, he was one of our best players in giving us net presence on offense. Usually, young players fade as the season grinds on. He is getting better and better.

Some quick thoughts on this game. I thought that Greenway played really well in the first period, also played solidly throughout the game. He's a big horse who plays big. He can't be moved. He's also a very smart player who although isn't the fastest player on the ice, he does have good anticipation and is positionally sound. Great value pickup. The Sabres were by far the faster and quicker team. We utilized those advantages. \ This was a game where it is difficult to single out any one player because collectively everyone played well. Both the defensive pairs and the forwards played a responsible defensive game without few lapses. No Sabre player in this game could be considered a liability. All our pairings played well and all our line were good. Benson is getting better and better. Cozens is playing well. It seems that he is out of his funk. So far the lines that DG has put together has worked. Skinner seems to play with a little more determination with his new line. UPL is playing to a high standard, his now usual standard. He is playing with calmness and is seeing the puck. Credit has to also go to the defensive pairs who are playing well in front of him and quickly getting the puck out of their zone. I liked Clifton in this game. He adds an element of toughness and grit to this unit. Both he and Greenways additions by the GM and an element of strength and grit to this team. I enjoyed this game. Over the past dozen games the Sabres have gone 8-3-1. Let's keep it up.

All joking aside, I respect the members in the medical community. It's a tough and exhausting profession to be in. Gracias senor.

I believe that Colorado's front office understood how good Byram is. They are in a position to seriously compete for the Cup. They made a deal that made sense for them by acquiring Mitts to address a need in pursuit of their high aspiration for this season. When you want to receive value, you have to give up value. This was a good hockey deal for each franchise.

Using the perplexing logic that some posters advance one must conclude that Dahlin is a failure because he's no Bobby Orr. In the few games that Byram has played for us, it's evident that because teams have to account for him thus creating more space for the other players on the ice. It shouldn't be forgotten that adding him to the PP makes it much more potent. I do agree with @PerreaultForever that this new acquisition is more of an offensive defenseman than defensive defenseman. That's fine with me. Dahlin is our best defenseman. And being paired with Byram makes him even better. I don't want to get ahead of myself but this new duo could up to be one of the best pairings in the league in the not too distant future.

Don Granato was asked on WGR about Quinn. He said that he was still wearing a boot. It's very doubtful that he will be playing this season.

For the patient or the doctor?😁

Do you tell your patients to do it again, and again, and again until I'm sure of what my finger is telling me? 😁

I don't put you in the category of hating Power. Where I have a nuanced disagreement with you is that I have a higher opinion of him as a player now and projecting his play in the future. I'll even go farther in projecting that from a talent/salary ratio: I believe that in locking him up sooner than he needed to the GM will in the end have gotten a better contract deal than if he waited to sign him to an extended deal. We shall see.

Every team is constructed differently. If our best players are on the blueline, they will consume a larger portion of the cap than many other teams. There is no question that in the future the front office will have to make tough decisions regarding who to keep and who to move on. That's true not only for hockey but also for pro football and basketball. I'm not worried about it. I agree with you that Byram is a top D talent. I find the possibility of him paired with Dahlin to be an exciting prospect. Potentially one of the top pairs in the league.

There isn't a team in the league that doesn't have to deal with the cap. It's part of the business landscape that can't be avoided by an franchise. Different teams are at different stages of competing. So, the timetable to seriously address it is different for all organizations. Will the team at some point have to deal with that challenging issue? Of course they will, just like every other team in the league. So, what are you actually saying about the cap that is illuminating? Next season, Okposo, Olofsson and with the trade Mitts won't be on the roster. So some cap space will be available. I'm not concerned with the issue, especially recognizing that the GM, by locking up his top players sooner rather than later, has created my room to maneuver. If you want to fret about the future cap situation, then go ahead and do so. It's not an issue I'm really concerned about.