JohnC

Bowman may have made a prediction on him before he played in the league or just started off in the league. So what! Would the distinguished Bowman say that now? Of course not. You created a standard that no current analyst in the league would now say. Dahlin is an all-star caliber defenseman. He's not the best but he certainly is in the upper echelon. Your argument is a manufactured argument that no one other than the partisan fanatic would make.

I watched the game. Winnipeg is an impressive team. They are not dazzling or provide scintillating plays. They played a tough two-way team defense. There was no distinction in how they played when they were down and when they caught up. It was a full throttle effort from start to finish. They don't give the opposition much room to maneuver. If you try to get cute and dangle with them, they will quickly pounce on you. I'm not making any excuses. But especially as the game went on, it was apparent to me that they were the fresher team. They never lost their steam while our engine did. (My opinion and observation.) One positive note is that UPL played well again. He kept us in the game.

Who has said that he is a generational player? Maybe some fanatic fan who is a delusional partisan has made that ridiculous claim? The vast majority of normal fans have never categorized him as a player at a historical level. Let's just stop with making up stuff. Dahlin is arguably our best player who gets an overload of minutes. He is an all-star caliber of player. But trying to make an argument that he is a failure/disappointment because he hasn't attained the historical pinnacle of his profession is a manufactured and wasteful position to take.

I don't always agree with you and vice versa. You have not flip flopped. Your message has been the same prior to the season and now, within the season. You have clearly and repeatedly stated that if this team doesn't make the playoffs, it will be a disappointment. Anyone saying otherwise, is inaccurately stating what your position is and has been. The reason why you are drawing slings from some members of the blow it up crowd is that you pointed out that this team is not completely out of the playoff race just yet. You pointed out that there is an avenue for success (playoffs), and to your credit you specifically stated what it would take to accomplish it. What the doomsdayers can't tolerate is someone expressing that there is some hope (low percentage or more) that this team still has a chance to be successful as you define it. Some gloomy people see that as a betrayal to what they believe. That's not how I see it.

No. Joki is getting better and expanding his game offensively. And compared to Chychrun, he has been more durable. What happens after a year when Chychrun's contract runs out? Needless to say, I'm more than a Joki fan than you are. If the GM was going to add another defenseman, I would like to see another Clifton like deal that would bring in another solid blueline player. If the GM was going to parlay a second-round pick, I would rather it be used to bring in a gritty forward who would give us more net presence. My priority would be to re-sign Mitts. Adding a Chycrun contract would make player retention more challenging. Again, no to your proposal.

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-vgk/2024/03/02/2023020960 I didn't watch the game because of availability but I did listen to most of the game on WGR. I went on the NHL.com site and watched the scoring highlights. For me, the most impressive goal was on the Girgs goal. The play had little to do with dazzling play but everything to do with hard work and tenacity. Robinson was like a starving junkyard dog ferociously hounding the Vegas players who had the puck. He tangled with a Vegas player on one wall, and then went to the other side to tangle with another Vegas player on the opposite wall. He battled for the puck, got it, and the made a pass to Girgs for his perfectly placed shot. That was an effort play that impressed me the most.

How can you make up your mind when the issue as to who was going to win/earn the #1 position had yet to be determined? Based on his play, UPL won the position as the primary goalie. Ultimately, UPL rose to the occasion, while Comrie and Levi didn't. The GM's strategy of allowing this competition to play out actually worked. Maybe not on the timetable you would have preferred, but in the end the internal competition played out and was a success. It needs to be remembered that UPL got sick and was out for some time. And then when he came back it took more time for him to get back into the groove. Now, after an extended period of time his stats for goalies are near the top of the league. What's amusing is that for the hindsight analysts success is characterized as failure. I for one am stunned by how well UPL is playing. It was the three-way competition that got him to this elevated platform, so far. I'm ecstatic while the nay crowd still bellows about the imaginary "what ifs". It never ends.

Are those empty seats actually bought seats that are vacant?

Not satisfactory if it is 70%. Disappointing.

I'm listening to the game. What's the estimate for the attendance? Is it close to a full house?

I'm confident that you will be able to take enough drugs to allow you to continue with your hazy thinking. Please don't drive while you are in your mellow state. 😶‍🌫️

Your third paragraph gives us a good picture of the potential openings on the roster that will exist next year. It will be in the 3-5 range, in my estimation. I do believe that most of the improvement will come internally from young players such as Ryan Johnson, Peterka, Quinn, Power, Cozens etc. Hopefully, UPL and possibly Levi will continue on their upward trajectory. As has frequently been stated on this forum, much of the problem associated with underachieving can be attributed to the mix of players. We need to add at a minimum a couple of tougher and grittier players who are comfortable playing in the dirty areas, i.e. in front of the net. There are a number of people here who forcefully argue that this roster needs to be blown up. I strenuously disagree.

You may not be aware of it but the caveman hockey era has been over with for a long time. Maybe MMA events could be a more enjoyable sport for you to follow? 😀

I saw a bumper decal when I was down south that is fitting: If your heart ain't in Dixie, get your asssss out. That's how I feel about people who don't want to be in a particular workplace. Bringing in players you know in advance who don't want to be there has a predictable outcome.

I'm not saying that Draisaitl isn't good or even great. What I'm saying is that Dahlin is more important to the Sabres than Draisaitl would be. If you think otherwise, then that's fine. It's not an insupportable position to take.

I absolutely do. We are riding in different elevators; one is going up and the other is going down.

Do you want to trade for a player who doesn't want to be here? I'm not suggesting that he's a bad guy for not wanting to play for some teams. But I don't want to trade for a player who I know in advance will be unhappy at his new location.

The highlight is the point. The more important issue isn't so much about individual talent as it is in assembling the best roster you can. Subtracting Dahlin for Draisaitl or almost any player in the league would make no sense for this franchise.

I don't know where you are coming from. No player is a savior. Winning is predicated on the talent and mix of the whole roster. It's inarguable that Dahlin is one of the best players on a team that needs more players. Subtracting your best player from a unit that isn't fully staffed makes no sense. You get better by adding talent, not subtracting your best talent. We subtracted players like Eichel, Reinhart, Montour for a variety of reasons. We didn't get better.

My response is still the same: Absolutely not!

You have keen and discerning eyes. I should have said disappointing season that hasn't met my/our expectations. You are right, I haven't given up on this season. But our slow start and home record has frustrated me. The hole that this team has dug for itself is exasperating.

You are right I don't watch much western division hockey. However, there is no circumstance in which I trade Dahlin for him. Dahlin is more valuable to the Sabres, regardless the stats Draisaitl would bring to this team. Creating a major void on a blueline that is already a work in progress, makes no sense to me. Again, an adamant no in that proposed trade.

I know what the numbers say: We should be encouraged. And we should be. On the other hand, I know how I feel. This is another needlessly lost season. With a few judicious tweaks to the roster in the previous offseason, this should have been a season where the results could have been more positive. It's even more exasperating when you see Detroit and Philly ahead of us in the standings. I'm encouraged more than most here about the direction of this franchise. But with wiser direction the arduous road to respectability should have been shorter.

There are no questions that this has been a disappointing season. But as you seem to acknowledge in your post the upgraded defensive numbers that @dudacek posted do reflect our upgrade in net with UPL. The Sabres at .500 are not a crappy team. However, it's fair to say that they are not a complete/well-rounded enough team, but that is far from being a crappy team (your description). I don't believe there will be a new coach next year. And without a doubt, there will be some new players on the roster next year.

Are you a morning drinker?