Porous Five Hole

Yikes that was 30 years ago. Time flies. Back then, each existing club was permitted to protect one goaltender, five defensemen and nine forwards. 😯 What the Panthers did was a minor miracle. They were a 92 point team who got hot at the right time. If I’m not mistaken, the Panthers haven’t won a playoff series since that 1995 run until last year’s Cup final run.

That doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Maybe I’m wrong, but the core of the defense is 23, 22, and 21. Defensemen cook for longer than top flight forwards on an ELC. When Buffalo drafted defensemen first overall twice, that announced the true “window.” And that is upcoming. But hey, maybe I’m out to lunch.

A couple of things in my mind. First, did you know that Donnie Meatballs has coached the fourth most games all-time in Sabres history?? It’s true. And it’s wild. Coaches in the show are changed like underwear. But we have stood by Meatballs. That makes me think Donny gets a month next year to have this team in the top three in the division. The other thing on my mind is what @oddoublee pointed out to me. The Sabres 05-06 team out of the lockout was only one year older on average than the current team. Sure the window can open for a long time with this squad…but that’s eye opening. There’s no room for error here and if the Sabres move on in the offseason, I would understand it.

good call out. That 05-06 was a young team. As for this current roster, giddyup 🏇

Interesting. I responded to your post from the perspective of roster construction only. But you’ve said more here for me to think about.

I understand the, “why not” because this team has not won anything. But two things stick out to say no. The first is the average age of a player on an expansion team. They’re made of average veterans. Hypothetically, the best is yet to come with this Sabres team due to their age. I’ll sign up for that versus what Seattle has going for them. The other reaction is on the pool of expansion draft. The generally used option for Seattle to build from was 7F, 3D, 1G protected. So a whole lot of third line forwards with a bunch of 2nd/3rd pairing D. I think the Sabres roster going forward has many pieces better than that.

How the AHL playoffs work is each division produces one team left standing, and there are four divisions in the AHL. There’s your conference finals. In Rochester’s division, there are seven teams and five of them make the playoffs. There’s a mini round (best of 3 series) between seed 4 v 5. So goal number one is to avoid that. And it is still tight…the current fourth seed is four points back with a game at hand. Once the mini series is complete, the next two series (1 v 4, 2 v 3, then the winners play) are best of five series. Back to your original Q, yes the Amerks can do it again. Syracuse has been their biggest problem (Amerks only beat them twice in regulation out of 12 games this year) so they wouldn’t be favored…but they can do it and Levi is the wildcard.

Adults who talk loudly or let their kids be unruly in hotel hallways. Show a little class for the rest of us.

Ovie could retire anytime he wants, but he’s signed for two more years. He’s got eight games left this year. He needs 46 goals to tie. So basically if he’s a 20 goal scorer for the next two years, he’s got it. I think he gets there.

I think it was both. I think Diggs as an elite downfield threat has deteriorated, and I think OC Joe Brady brought a new offensive philosophy. That may have contributed to Stef ‘checking out.’ I also think Diggs route tree could have evolved into a Cole Beasley slot type and he could still be very productive…it wasn’t meant to be here.

I’m not a capologist, but the “dead” cap is essentially the previously restructured contract money & bonus money that has already been paid to Diggs prior to today. Turning salary into a bonus allows the Bills to spread out these funds over the length of the contract (including his 2022 extension). So it will reduce the total cap hit at the time, but it still exists today. Since it is already in Stef’s pocket, the Bills are on the hook. And calling it “dead” simply means that it applies to the Bills salary cap whether he’s here or not. And the Bills were cap compliant with this in mind. This isn’t new money they need to figure out how to deal with (a small portion is, but it’s negligible. The Texans are paying Digg’s 2024 salary. Thought of one more detail: While the Bills were planning on paying these bonus/restructure monies over the course of the next few years, once Diggs is moved…it becomes due and you cannot amortize it any further into the future. This also depends on how a player is moved (traded or cut) and when. It can get complicated to follow along.

Josh Allen had to sign off, right? So with that in mind, it was obviously time for Stef to move on.

Cross posting for Amerks fans. Apparently Pegula’s pride in Rochester has taken a hit. https://www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2024-04-02/rochesters-blue-cross-arena-seeking-new-operator-after-amerks-owner-opts-out?fbclid=IwAR3fdrInAepxcWDxUM-SlsR4Muh3JbMy_2YaxSWQM87I-Q_0BTkUS9j0hwU_aem_AcCUAMH8chlyRzLeuEpALTJJGt1A6Bl3DZnlf8S10RUXURmnAvHZLLjStp0pLHtpOVs This sucks. My take: you can’t make money running an antiquated, million-year-old arena so here’s the keys to everything but the locker rooms. The arena is in desperate need of a dramatic makeover. And while I’m not a billionaire and think differently than billionaires, this sucks. The Rochester partnership won’t effect his overall wealth. Pegula opting out means he’s counting small zeros when his legacy could have made a dramatic difference to ROC. Pegula pride? LOL nah. But unlike “sell the team,” Rochester may not be able to afford that. Sigh.

Apparently Pegula’s pride in Rochester has taken a hit. https://www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2024-04-02/rochesters-blue-cross-arena-seeking-new-operator-after-amerks-owner-opts-out?fbclid=IwAR3fdrInAepxcWDxUM-SlsR4Muh3JbMy_2YaxSWQM87I-Q_0BTkUS9j0hwU_aem_AcCUAMH8chlyRzLeuEpALTJJGt1A6Bl3DZnlf8S10RUXURmnAvHZLLjStp0pLHtpOVs This sucks. My take: you can’t make money running an antiquated, million-year-old arena so here’s the keys to everything but the locker rooms. The arena is in desperate need of a dramatic makeover. And while I’m not a billionaire and think differently than billionaires, this sucks. The Rochester partnership won’t effect his overall wealth. Pegula opting out means he’s counting small zeros when his legacy could have made a dramatic difference to ROC. Pegula pride? LOL nah. But unlike “sell the team,” Rochester may not be able to afford that. Sigh.

I thought it would be interesting to review how old friends have performed since the trades have been made. You can keep scrolling if you’re uninterested.

Hard to argue! Woof, this team.

Since the trade, Casey is 4G 3A in 11 GP, +3. Not much press on him to share since the trade, but Aves 8-3 in last 11 GP. Seems he’s fitting in nicely.

Healthy scratch in the three games since your check in. It looks like he’s truly injury insurance only.

Checking in on old friends, EJ has no points and is a -11 in 12 GP since the trade. Woof. He hung on one year too long.

That’s reasonable. You seem witty and well-liked around these parts. I appreciate your willingness to take part in the community even though the Sabres part of this Space has let us all down. My engagement here is less than I would prefer. It is because I also feel dejected in the state of the team. It makes good hockey talk harder and less fun. I lurk more than participate. So I get it. While I am disappointed in the results, the players are people too. And off the ice, many of these guys are quite likable (from what I’ve read and seen…and from stuff like this). It’s why I don’t mind engaging in it. But I absolutely understand people abstaining.

Maybe. I thought it was funny and it doesn’t sway me into attending one bit. Benny at the end was hilarious.

Goodness I cannot believe I’m feeling suckered into defending the guy, but here I am. This video is the last time I heard him speak: Yes he has sucked as an owner of the Sabres, but he’s far from an arrogant twit. And he doesn’t need to own the franchises to afford his lifestyle. He was a billionaire long before he owned the Sabres. I’m fine with flaming the guy for the results, the hiring and firing decisions, his level of priority for the Sabres, and many other things. There’s plenty to work with.

Skinner To Be Scratched Tomorrow 😳