Porous Five Hole

OK, but the story goes that Terry wasn’t some innocent bystander. He made comments on ice and was having too much fun on the bench for his opponent’s liking. The goalie got poked and it was on. It didn’t matter if Del was on the ice or on the bench. That was going to happen. Irrespective of someone’s fourth line.

Jay Beagle is not a tough guy. He hasn’t dropped the gloves since 2013. He just lost his *****. It happens. However, to your point, no one will turn down more grit. It’s just harder and harder to find.

Totally agree. Tim Murray gets killed for his mix in the locker room, but he got this one right. KO probably made too much money to bother coaching (and his kids are young), but I would love to have him in a developmental/coaching role once his playing days are over.

Since the celebratory banners of division titles and the president’s trophy are vintage to the uniform of the time, I would have done the same with the retired jerseys.

Apparently most disagree. But the guy leads the team with a -19 and I don’t think 20 goals should cost five million dollars on your third line 🤷 He will also be 28 next year at UFA time the end of next year and I don’t want to give term to that player.

Because his salary will price him out. If you’re making 4M or more, you need to be in the top six. Unless he’s willing to sign for a short term…which I don’t think is in the best interest of a player who doesn’t hit UFA status until age 28. The Sabres cap flexibility will cease to be a thing in two seasons when Dahlin and Tage need long term deals and Muel/Cozens need bridge deals. Plus there’s that whole idea of a good goalie who isn’t on an ELC or 750k contract.

I would give him his QO, and go to arbitration if necessary…and then flip him at the trade deadline as a pending UFA/rental. Assuming the current top line will continue, it is hard to see a spot for VO in the top six. Casey, Cozens, Quinn, Peterka, & Krebs are all fine second line options (who are all younger and cheaper).

This is an excellent observation, but, it’s also the first/only year he’s scored more EV than PP.

While I agree in concept, I don’t think you can pay third line guys 4M or more.

I was listening to NHL Network radio this week and Friedman was stating that the percentage of goals at 5-on-5 is at its second highest rate in modern memory (something like 80% of goals are at even strength). He said most NHL GM’s prefer the the game to be decided 5-on-5 versus the way the game was called coming out of the lockout. This should be considered when determining a (mostly) PP specialist (who is currently running on PP2). If he cannot regularly skate in the top six, I would move on from him at the trade deadline next season.

Love it. Onward and forward.

Listening to this episode, it is hard to argue that culture is a real thing. Something is brewing with this group.

He’s four seasons in at the end of the year. I don’t think his age is as relevant.

I guess. Is it the county that owns the building?

I would be shocked if an NHL team didn’t have a working line of credit collateralized by the organization. But I don’t know that.

"No. None of them are for sale," Raccuia said on the front lawn of The Breakers hotel. "None of them are for sale, none will be. There's no plans at all for that." According to Forbes' annual valuation of NHL teams, the Sabres are ranked No. 29 with a valuation of $500 million. The Pegulas purchased the team for $165 million in 2011. I am not going to go down the road of a minority ownership group for as long as Terry is alive. He doesn’t need the cash. If the team was in dire straights, he could simply collateralize the team with a line of credit with this equity. So I guess this speculation is all tied to front office reshuffling at the end of the season?

To me, this is where I want Rasmus to be from a physicality standpoint going forward. He is playing the body, standing up for himself and his teammates, and isn’t easily moved off the puck. He’s hard to play against. If he obtains more man strength, it just multiplies the above. Anything more would probably increase injury risk. I don’t need him trying to Scott Stevens body check people and I definitely don’t want him throwing fists. His current physicality baseline in conjunction with his continued flourishing of driving of puck possession will put him in elite company.

I always appreciated the insight of @TrueBlueGED

I would take Stevie Y in a heartbeat. His rebuild results and the Wings trajectory is very similar to Buffalo. Yzerman was hired in April 2019. If you give him credit for the June 2019 entry draft, his first round pick that year is an NHL regular defensemen at age 20 this year (one selection ahead of Cozens). Their second round pick is akin to our Ryan Johnson in both age and college status. His 2020 first round selection, Lucas Raymond, is a 20 goal scorer in his rookie year this year. He is our version of Jack Quinn. And don’t forget this was the year that Detroit was AWFUL (39 points in 71 games, yet only got #4 overall). He inherited one of the worst teams in NHL history. BTW,,His second round pick is on a two year deal in Sweden. I’m sure Modo would tell us all about him if Modo still posted. For Buffalo, Peterka is in the AHL. Bad organizations don’t get good overnight and I would trust Yzerman over GMKA (however I am hopeful for Kevy).

I would prefer the current Ducks logo to the Buffaslug all day everyday.

You can vacuum it

Agree. And that isn’t too easy. I think Tage’s case is pretty unique.

That’s Barzal/Pavelski/Kevin Hayes money. While that is probably most likely, that doesn’t feel quite right either. To GA’s point, Buffalo would be taking on a lot of risk at that AAV.

That would put him at about the 60th highest paid center in the league. When I put it that way to myself, I don’t think that gets it done.

https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/rankings/center/ For further reference, a 5m AAV puts him in line with Gourde, Charlie Coyle, and Marchessault. None of those guys are playing Tage’s role on this team.