Digger

Yes I agree that they are good prospects for the Flames but I am not as clear as to where in the lineup a Zary and Coronoto will play at the NHL level. I was and am still hoping for a A+ prospect that can eventually play on the top line ideally at center. Yes I know Krebs may not be that guy either but I believe he will be a great fit playing with Cozens either at center or one of them on the wing. Maybe in the end we will end up with 3 centers that all play at a similar level in Mittlestadt, Cozens, and new prospect (TBD) coming back in the Eichel trade. Hopefully another top center prospect in the 2022 draft too.

It's hard for me to get excited about any trade with the Flames. Other teams have some nice pieces but I'm not seeing anything that I really want from the Flames compared to the other potential trade partners. Is Connor Zary worth it as the best prospect coming back or am I missing someone like Adam Ruzicka?

So what are the thoughts on the $5 million coming back from Vegas? If it's Theodore or Smith then I think most of us would be happy to have them play in the lineup for the Sabres but I wonder if there's a concern about them not wanting to be here. If that's the case do they trade that player or players coming back from Vegas for someone on LTIR and more picks or prospects? So needing a 3rd team to help make this deal work overall. The Sabres do look like they are having fun as a team this season so maybe a veteran on the last year of his contract would like to come and play for us and then go at the deadline to a contender (assuming Sabres are out of the playoffs.......wow it's amazing to even think that this year).

That's a great video catch. There's no love lost for Tony DeAngelo.

Olofsson is playing for a new contract this season too. I wonder how this will play out with a new contract and where he falls in the mid to long term plan for the team.

Definitely not as active as Lindy Ruff was. It seemed like Lindy would switch the lines immediately after the opening face off. I have always liked to see if a forward line or D pair can develop some good chemistry and that generally takes some consistent playing time in games for that to happen.

I support the coaching change if and when it happens but I would be surprised to see Tortorella take over coaching the Panthers.

Thanks. I wonder if Peterka really wants to go to the WJC actually. I know it's a big deal to play for your country but he has now played in 2 WJC's. Maybe he wants to keep doing well with Rochester and maybe get a couple of games with the Sabres to show that he could play for Germany in the Olympics.

I was waiting for you to update us on who we should be expecting to see this year because you're always on top on the prospects. I assume that both Quinn and Peterka are now too old for WJC. But we can expect to see Power, Rosen, and hopefully some of the Russians (but their program is not as easy to predict). Anyone else?

No we can't close the thread until he gets traded. But I will say this. I think it would be really cool for the Sabres to be beating a great NHL team (like Tampa last night) and have the trade happen without everyone being on top of it. Fans focused on the Sabres winning the big game rather than worried about the return and all of the politics that have gone along with this situation. Can't plan this but still would be awesome. Surprise, the Eichel trade happened while you were enjoying the Sabres winning without him!

He was injured last season with a shoulder injury and I believe he tried to play a few games through it before going on IR. Being healthy this season is a start as well as fighting for a new contract.

Yes absolutely. Marcus Foligno is a high character player who can play physical and has enough skill to play in the NHL.

I grew up near London, Ontario and now live in what they call the Tri-cities area of Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge, Ontario. I've been a fan of the Sabres my whole life. Although I'm sure NS would be horrified to know that I had a Bobby Orr lunch pail back in my younger years. #4 was pretty popular when I was young and he was playing for the Bruins. I think that I liked the Sabres so much because the Leafs and Montreal teams and fans always seemed so arrogant (still do today). I really appreciate Sabrespace to be able to talk Sabres.

Consider that Matt Barzal was drafted 16th overall in the 2015 draft. A player like him would look great centering a line for the Sabres so while I would love another premier center prospect with Eichel's skill we may be okay with getting another center with skills just a step below elite.

Toronto had a tough night in the NHL as well losing 7-1 to the Penguins. Love it. Great job by Rochester. It's amazing to think that last week at this time the talk was all about how bad UPL was. Nice to see the team have a decisive win (more please).

@Pimlach yes that's a great observation and I agree a good discussion point. It would be nice to see him show some more passion with fighting back when he gets abused on the ice. I imagine that he tries pretty hard to not show his frustration or to take a bad retaliation penalty in response. I do wonder if he would play better with a more physical D partner. Not necessarily to fight his fights but really to help give him some more confidence to push back and know that he has a D partner that will step in and help if things escalate (example Pastrnak and Marchant clip shown above in the thread). He did look good with Borgen last season for the few games they played together. Could try him with Mathias Samuelson but I'm not sure he's ready for the minutes that Dahlin plays yet. It's always been the case with skills guys to figure out how to get them off their game. The Bruins know what they are doing when they target him. How do the Sabres respond and how does Dahlin adapt?

@Brawndo post above shows no other changes to the lineup other than Tokarski in net so I assume Murray is not playing tonight.

Yes I agree. My point is that the Bruins have been able to compensate for a poor draft like 2015 (with the 3 first rounders with only one making a contribution to the team) with free agents and trades of players that want to play for them. Look at their roster and you will see a real mix of drafted players, free agent signings, and trades. Because players want to go to the Bruins they have an advantage that today the Sabres don't have. But winning and improving the team culture should help the Sabres as we move through this rebuild.

Jack Quinn can certainly get a great shot off quickly. He's a goal scorer, nice goal.

I absolutely agree with you on the Bruins drafting issues but the one thing they have in favor for them is that players want to sign in Boston to play so they do get to fill in their holes with free agents and players asking to be traded to them. That's one thing the original 6 teams all seem to have going for them. The Sabres need to draft well and earn back their respect and I think they are on the way to doing that now.

I agree. Lots of close ones last night, tonight they go. Butcher returns to New Jersey. Let's see if he can beat his old team and coach Ruff who did not really like him.

Well let's see how they come into tomorrows game against the Devils. First time on the road this season.

I would like to see a back to back to see how Granato adapts and adjusts to the Bruins. He was pretty good with that last season. Will have to wait.

Not getting the bounces..........yet.

Let's go boys. Come out ready to play right away and let them know they are in Buffalo and it's not going to be an easy win.