Porous Five Hole

Also, the ownership group that employed both Botts and Karmanos are gone. The Pens are now owned by the Fenway sports group. It can’t hurt to be well-regarded by some in the Pens organization, but our guy has no ties to the current ownership.

You keep saying this like it is some accepted inevitability. It would be bad asset management. @dudacek already explained that UPL has value given his age, contract status, and salary. UPL is either the backup or getting moved. He’s not passing through waivers with our fingers crossed.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolschram/2023/03/15/nhl-commissioner-gary-bettman-outlines-path-to-potential-salary-cap-spike-for-2023-24-season/amp/ this article sums it up that increases are coming, but it isn’t likely to be next year.

Some notes and numbers for your consideration

Physique and skating will do wonders for his rebound control 🙄

He is Dixon Ward. 40-50 pt guy with some playmaking ability. The NHL game is still a little fast for him. Krebs has only dressed for the Sabres for 120 games. He doesn’t turn 23 until next year. I would give him some leeway. BTW, Peterka PPG% .42 Krebs PPG% .34 And Peterka saw PP time and a whole lot of second line minutes.

Minor nitpick that UPL is 24. Losing UPL to waivers is bad asset management. This is why a trade makes the most sense.

My bad, I thought you were remarking that about Casey.

I think the Sabres should consider it.

I agree with @GASabresIUFAN on UPL. He’s never been good. He’s not it. The fact that he made it through this season without an injury is actually a first for him. I saw too many starts for the Amerks where UPL just didn’t have it. While injuries hampered his games played and potential development, he wasn’t playing injured. I have room for Comrie to be in the mix, but I would be looking for a more established veteran for the Sabres…even if it means carrying three goalies next year (Comrie is very unlikely to clear waivers). UPL has been passed on the depth AND development chart. It is time to move him.

If the center spine is TNT & Cozens, what would an almost 60 point center making 2.5M next year to RFA be worth on the open market? Is that a top four D? I’m happy for Casey and I’m not adamant that he gets traded, but showed this year that 3C isn’t his peak. His value has never been higher. The Sabres also have reinforcements coming. Get me a D and set Casey free.

1 yr, 2 M Fourth line guy. This team is still very young.

I advocated for trading for him as a pure rental at the deadline to help the Sabres make the playoffs. No one seemed to agree with me. Bertuzzi was notable as the only guy who wouldn’t get the Covid vaccine, so he couldn’t travel to games in Canada. That did not help his reputation. He has also had some injuries.

Help me Devon Levi, you’re our only hope.

The organist at MSG played Sabredance for the defensive zone faceoff. After the quick whistle when Tuch took some dudes helmet off, the Sabres score on the next play. Sabredance is always good mojo!

Buffalo is on the road to take on the New York Rangers tonight, opening up the first of two back-to-back sets this week. The Sabres remain in the mix as one of four teams still vying for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. For their best shot at making the playoffs, they'll need to win all of their four remaining games to reach 93 points and then they'll need some help from the teams playing the Panthers (max. 95 points), Islanders (max. 95 points) and Penguins (max. 94 points). Following tonight's game, the team will head to New Jersey for a match against the Devils tomorrow night at 7.

Why have a little Bryson when you can have a Big Johnson

Sure. This team is not the 2023 Bruins. Was that what you expected when the puck dropped to the start of this year? To win every game they were “supposed” to? This team is clearly building to something bigger than a what we’ve previously seen, and I’m here for it. I’m sorry a 75 point team last year didn’t meet your expectations, but calling fans suckers for meaningful games in April is misguided.

This is true. I guess I was trying to understand why someone is calling fellow fans suckers for supporting the Sabres today. It just seems misplaced. Yes there were times the fanbase was frustrated, but the big picture is bright and colorful. With that said, like your style. I hope people haven’t ignored your posts.

We in Sabresland are all disappointed that the playoffs are unlikely. But posts like this are so pathetic. Yes the playoffs are very unlikely, but who here is calling fans suckers for attending a meaningful game for the team in April other than you? Especially after beating the second best team in the NHL today where the opponent needed to win. The Sabres have posted a ten point improvement over last year with four games to go. Virtually no one expected the playoffs with this roster a year ago today. Troll if you must, but it’s poor form.

Agree with this. He’s much more sturdy both on his skates and with the puck. He’s not a blazing skater, but his burst is noticeably better and the puck sticks to him more. He’s playing himself into the core of the squad and I’m happy for him.

Bleak. The Sabres tragic number is down to 3. So any combo of lost points by Buffalo or gained points by two of the Isles/Pens/Fla eliminates Buffalo.

There’s the penalty

Ok 3-1 Pens. Detroit isn’t dead yet.