Porous Five Hole

Schuyler County. Doesn’t one plumber want business?? I’ve been without water for ten days at the cottage and it’s a struggle to get help. I realize this is a first world problem, but dang will someone please return my call?

Not running Cozens out there because of his salary or because he felt he was paid to score goals will help a ton. He was out of place at the bumper or near the point. If PP1 is Dahlin and whomever, with Tage in his office and Zucker net front is the best option. Who is on the half wall driving the PP is unknown, but it can’t be worse than Cozens. Maybe it’s McLeod? I don’t see a natural playmaker in that spot and it is why I am concerned the unit will struggle this year. Maybe Tuch will keep it simple and Dahlin can work miracles?

Zach Benson had 120 SOG last year. Those SOG were better placed on nhl goaltending versus sniping Juniors goalies for the same amount. You don’t solve NHL goalies by shooting on Juniors scabs. Him being in Buffalo will be a godsend long term.

The Cult will be at the OLG stage in Niagara Falls in October. But you’ll be paying re-sale prices if you don’t already have tix.

Sept 3rd works for me. Also, I propose 90 seconds per pick. We did 60 last year and the draft was less than an hour…I didn’t even finish my first drink by the end of it. Just a thought.

In.

Can we shoot for Sept 3rd for draft night? Also, I propose 90 seconds per pick. We did 60 last year and the draft was less than an hour…I didn’t even finish my first drink by the end of it. Just a thought.

As I mentioned in the complaint thread tonight, I have a bat in my house as we speak. Put up the bat signal for Jim Lorentz to come over. We can make it right tonight!

I lived in Rochester and was too young to know his story or his work, but I do know “Artie Baby Boo-Boo.” I can hear it in my head. Rest in peace.

I have a bat in the house 🤬 I’m up at the family cottage and the place has 24 foot high ceilings. The mud and tape at the seam of the ceiling has come loose and this thing (we’ve named him Swoop) is currently wedged where the seam got loose. This thing was flying around the living room an hour ago. I guess I’m going to leave the screen doors open and hope he finds his way out before I wake up tomorrow 🦇

In.

@SDS, did you plan to renew this league or let it fizzle out?

I admit that I didn’t watch a ton of Kraken hockey, but his fancy stats look good and he brings a handedness & mean streak that we haven’t seen out of a top four D. It’s why I listed him in my top three. We need that guy to be money.

Saw an unremarkable article alluding to this and it got me thinking. Who is it for you and why? To me, Tage & Dahlin are not question marks. So I vote UPL, Kesselring, and Norris. While I don’t believe in UPL, he’s plan A in the crease in 2025-26. It is what it is. Kess is such an upgrade from Clifton/Muel/Henri. Aside from being better than those guys, his impact on Power’s game is being counted upon. No pressure, kid… To me, Norris was the better player in the Cozens trade. Dylan’s time was up here. But if he only plays 50 games, then the center spine is in big, big trouble. There are so many guys who could earn honorable mention that it’ll be interesting to hear your thoughts…

The important thing about understanding his value is equating intangibles against points. Benson is not afraid of contact and the front of the net. He’s a real 🍆 on the ice and is the definition of hard to play against despite being short. So what is the measuring stick for him? If it’s points, the soon to be 21 year old will underwhelm you next season. If it’s defensively elite and hard to play against, then he’s top six ALL DAY.

I am higher on Östlund than most of the fanbase, and to me it is no contest. You keep Helenius. Noah’s goal scoring ceiling is higher, but Konsta’s ceiling is higher for everything else. He was also a better player in the playoffs while being the youngest guy in the league. I like them both, but hold Helenius all day.

The Knighthawks will be staying in Rochester. Presser tomorrow. Sounds like the Seneca Nation will own the team.

UPL is not it. Levi still could be. GMKA made the wrong decision extending UPL. GMKA’s career depends on Levi making the jump in 26-27. As a Levi truther, I’m optimistic. He’s been elite in ROC. But that does not help us get into the playoffs in 25-26. Fire GMKA!

It isn’t your point, but a small slice of it, to say that if you replaced Kadri with Rossi —then I am all in. There will always be a long term outlook with the short term in mind. Kadri could hamstring us in the long term…Rossi given his age may not. Like it or not, the franchise decision making must be longer than next year’s roster. I want to make the playoffs in 2926, but that’s not the long term goal. The sabres are not winning the cup in 2026. You have to realize this.

LTS is right. I am coming from an armchair GM perspective. Would you give up assets to sign Kadri for 7MM to age 38 if given the chance? It’s a bad contract and I was just calling it that.

Backstory: It will be interesting to hear how this shakes out given the city of Buffalo *probably* doesn’t want to venture in the arena owning business.

Kadri had another great year, but 7MM annually until he is 38 in 2029 is too risky. As much as I want to do anything to break the drought next season, the cliff is coming on his effectiveness and it’s too short sighted to take on his contract given his age. Unless you can talk Calgary into 50% retained for the life of his deal (likely impossible).

Amerks add another defenseman to the fold, Aidan Fulp. 25 years old, RD, 6’ 3” and good speed. Unsure if it was injuries or ineffectiveness, but 84 GP combined the last two years for Bridgeport. Went directly from college to the AHL to start his career. https://www.amerks.com/news/detail/amerks-sign-fulp-to-one-year-ahl-contract An article from Isles training camp last September talking about his potential. https://nyihockeynow.com/islanders-rookie-camp-aidan-fulp/

Rousek went home when his NHL window closed. All good. He played hurt down the stretch and still performed in the playoffs. I don’t know if Jobst or Murray were playing hurt (neither missed any time down the stretch or in the playoffs), but they were both awful in the post season. Murray had eight games, zero points, and a minus six. Woof. Jobst had two points and was a minus four. No points in the Laval series. I think Jobst ran out of gas and while Murray had a good regular season, his playoff was absolutely unacceptable and as usual…allergic to contact. Time to go veteran hunting elsewhere.

How does Victor Oloffson sound? 😬 There’s not much available out there…