Porous Five Hole

Total sidebar—It is kind of funny to me that goalies can earn points, but aren’t scored for +/- Andy and Comrie both have an assist this year but they’re considered even.

If UPL hadn’t gone 12-4 in his last 16 games and was still in ROC, I would have thought this could have made a lot of sense. It is a nice bridge timeline to Levi (it would give Devon one year in ROC, one year as an NHL 1B, and hopefully year three as 1A). But I just don’t see the Sabres putting UPL back in ROC. So the fit isn’t perfect and I would have to pass.

And don’t forget the first round pick (with some protection).

And Genesee beer products!

https://sanjosehockeynow.com/san-jose-sharks-timo-meier-trade-return/ The ask appears to be: A 1st-rounder, and then one of: 1) a Grade-A prospect, or 2) two Grade-B prospects, or 3)one good prospect & a young established NHL player. So up to three pieces. And then the ask on a new contract “starts with at least a nine.”

If the Isles sign Horvat long term, I think this is a great trade for them. If it’s a rental, it would be a questionable decision. Raty's ceiling is probably being another Horvat at best. But his floor is zero. Beauvillier is a 30 point JAG…and that was most of Horvat’s cap hit. Nice win for the Islanders pending an extension.

Krebs to line one, Aspy to line four. Would love to see Krebs with some talent around him and he won’t be out-hustled playing D.

Even worse, he’s a realtor 😂

So you’re out on Gabe for sure?

Until someone gets hurt and you’re going to wish you had some veteran depth that doesn’t disrupt the future.

I’ve been an advocate of letting the kids play up a role and leaving the top six alone for the stretch run. But the Cozens injury made me realize how vulnerable the Sabres are to a long term injury. With all the cap space available, I’m ready to “disrupt” the chemistry with a shot at a pending UFA forward acquisition for the stretch run. Assuming the cost this year is the same as last year at the deadline, Claude Giroux cost Owen Tippett, a first-round pick 2024 or 2025, and a third-round pick. This is the equivalent to Jost, a first rounder in two or three years, and a third round pick. It may cost more for Pat Kane (UFA) or Brock Boeser (who has term remaining) than the Giroux cost, but it should be close and I’m firmly in the camp that it’s time. A move like this isn’t cost prohibitive to the rebuild, and no one has to eat salary for us (potentially reducing cost to acquire). I think Buffalo should be a buyer and not a passenger at the deadline. While goaltending isn’t a strength on this roster, I don’t think anyone would be excited about playing the Sabres in a playoff series (this team can score). And what if UPL or any tender got hot?? Theres room on this roster and on the cap to acquire. And if it pushes Peterka to the third line to be a problem for an opponent, well then even better.

Impressive!

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/georgia-bulldogs-quarterback-stetson-bennett-arrested-on-public-intoxication-charge-in-dallas-police-say/287-4f0caf3c-6d7d-4c46-a1fc-535aac7638a8 kinda like this?

UPL gives up a rebound when getting hit in the chest. And sloooowwww

Nah, Nash was actually a good hockey player 😉

Story time. Today I taught my eleven year old son the tradition I have of how to treat a new album drop by a favorite artist. As a guy who grew up and is stuck in the 90’s musically, I was blessed with a lot of (subjective) great rock music as I grew up. Living in ROC, it was tradition to go to the Midnight Madness CD release party at the House of Guitars. My friends and I would eat pizza and wait in line to buy the new ___________ (Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, etc) album the minute it came out (midnight on release day). Then I or we would hop in the car and drive for a couple hours and listen to the album cover to cover 2-3 times straight. Music is released differently today, but the tradition still applies. I still live in ROC. I picked my kid up a bit early from school today, and we took a road trip to Buffalo to listen to his favorite artist (Ava Max 🤮) cover to cover on repeat for each way. We drove to Bar Bill got Cajun honey butter BBQ wings and Fowler’s chocolate. After listening to the album three times, we talked about the songs we liked the most, how the new stuff has evolved from her previous release, and how it takes “work” to get to know new music. This coming from a guy who takes a PTO day when a new album comes out of a fav (TOOL, Big Wreck, Rival Sons). Today is special day. New music from a fav is a gift. Make it special. I think I impressed that upon him today. I asked him to carry this tradition on. I liked pop music at age eleven, found rock at 13, and metal at 15. I hope the same for him and he grows to enjoy guitar solos over auto-tune and computer generated beats. He will get there. Today was a great day. And if you’re still reading this wall of text, cheers to you 🍺

I could be mistaken, but I don’t think the Empire Sports Network was carried on basic cable in Syr. But I know for a fact MSG & SportsChannel were.

What happened with him? He has the fourth-most games and seventh-most wins of any coach in NHL history. It seems he was well regarded from an outside looking in perspective at his Jets tenure.

Both teams were four games in six nights, but the Sabres put on a clinic. And they were the road team!

Aside from being three points down with three games at hand, Buffalo has two games head to head with the Caps. This is excellent.

I get your point. But as we saw with Damar this week, you don’t win by saying or showing anything. No one thought putting Damar on the Jumbotron during a snowstorm or TV b-roll footage of him exiting a gator with a mask on would spark stupid conspiracy theories. But this is what happens in social media today. If that was my family, I wouldn’t want to deal with that. And don’t forget Jessie Pegula is the third ranked women’s tennis player in the world. That could be a distraction to her. Questions during every tournament and every press conference. No one in her family wants that either.

https://sanjosehockeynow.com/san-jose-sharks-timo-meier-trade-extension-other-teams/ Yes it goes without saying

Well Cozens is getting nice raise, so that could be KO’s money right there (7 X 7.5ish). With Jost onboard and with Bishop’s salary included, the Sabres are at 64M (floor is 61M). Assuming they don’t take on another Bishop-type contract, the Sabres would need to spend Girg’s 2M and (estimated) 3M-ish of Bishop’s 5M somehow. This assumes the cap floor rises 1M. That’s plenty of money to rebuild your fourth line.

I’ll take a new partner for Boosh please. A 4/5 D type who can act as injury insurance in case Joki breaks again. Other than that, roll with the kids and let them get this experience playing important minutes and under pressure. They’ll be better for it in the long run. If there’s an injury up front, insert Krebs and call up Aspy to the fourth line. No forward blockers please.

Jake and his wife were residents of Chicago as far back as 2016 and perhaps earlier. It is why they chose the Hawks in the first place. He’s not leaving. And if he is, he’s not coming to a team like this. He would go to a team like the Avs or Rangers as an over the top acquisition. —edit to add he has a modified NMC and I can almost guarantee Buffalo is on it.