Porous Five Hole

It was bad bad. The Sabres had more than eight minutes of power play time and were in the offensive zone for less than two and a half minutes. It’s bonkers. PP zone entries are coaching details and our coaches don’t have the chops for the job. It was the Sabres third game in four nights while the Flames didn’t play for the same four nights. The schedule didn’t do the Sabres any favors and that third period was predictable more than it was a meltdown. And this is why it’s frustrating to hear so many on this board wanting to trade out Byram, Power, or Cozens (ducks) like we didn’t learn our lesson with these previous trades. I’m fine if they move on from Dylan, but I’m not pushing my 22 and 23 year old guys out the door. Some have even turned on Tage in the GDTs. Granted he has trouble staying healthy, but he’s pacing for about 40 goals and he’s 27 and signed on a reasonable long term deal. Trading any of the above are hard trades to win/get better. Launching everything into the sun because we are frustrated is not the correct approach.

What a weird and fun thing. Thank you for pointing it out!

No way the Aves were going to pay Rantanen more than MacKinnon, which he's demanding, so they get something back instead of losing him to free agency. But it would be hard to argue they’re better now than they were yesterday.

Gonna be a tough third period. This is Buff’s third game in four nights while Calgary hasn’t played in four days. Need some puck luck and a big period from UPL.

I’m a little rusty with waiver rules today, but I think this correct: Devon signed his ELC as a 20 year old. For goalies, they need four years or 80 NHL goalie starts to not be waiver exempt. This is currently year three and he has 39 starts. So it is possible he could end up in Rochester next year. I personally think it’s most likely he’s an NHL backup next year because he will need NHL competition to continue to develop. Just one man’s opinion. He’s already an AHL all-star. And the eye test matches the great AHL numbers. I get wanting him to play everyday so ROC is the best place for him for now. But it is inevitable he will outgrow AHL competition. His AHL career save percentage is above .920.

Boom!

I’ve been loving this Rye from New Riff. It is light and silky and ends with a nice amount of spice and heat.

It’s a little early to be calling him maxed out at the AHL level when he’s 23 and has had 80 pro starts. He also doesn’t smoke darts in the locker room lol

Honestly your attempt wasn’t funny 🤷‍♂️

#me Oops!

I hope no one views this thread as a defense of GMKA. My takeaway from last offseason was that he didn’t do nearly enough and it’s time to move on from him. Once you pile on, ‘GMing is hard/it’s hard to make a trade,” plus taxes and palm trees, he should have been let go already. For me, starting the thread was because I’m interesting in armchair GMing and I wanted to see how players have faired away from Buffalo.

This made me laugh harder than it should have

In the spirit of GA’s thread, I thought we would check in on old friends to see if there was any remorse to be had. Zemgus Girgs- 43GP, 0G, 2A, -5. He signed a three year deal for essentially the league minimum and I bet TB already has regrets. Eric Comrie- 3-6-1, 2.94, .904% for the best team in the western conference. The drop off between Helle and Comrie is huge, but Eric has been good enough to stay their backup. The Jets have scored 3 goals or less his last 7 starts, including only 1 goal in 4 of those 7 games. Victor Oloffson- 23GP, 9G, 7A, PLUS 9! Not bad for a guy who was a career -63 in Buffalo. 6 of his 16 pts have come on PP2. Did miss some time with an injury. Fans are pleased with his play. His time was up here and a fresh start seems to be what the doctor ordered. Eric Robinson- 45GP, 10G, 11A, +8. He’s having his best year as a pro. It would have cost us nothing to bring him back. While he didn’t hit a ton of guys, I think the Sabres miss his size and compete. His skating was more than fine. You know who else has ten goals so far this year? Peterka & Cozens. Jeff Skinner- Yikes. Pretty well documented. Has been a healthy scratch for the last three games. AHLers who suited up last year: Brandon Biro- AHL Coachella. Production in line with his Amerks career. He’s unlikely to get an NHL look from here, but he lived the dream of scoring two goals in the NHL last year for Buffalo. Tyson Jost- earned a call up to the Canes after starting the year in the AHL. 16GP, 2G, and has been out of the lineup due to injury. Same guy we knew… Guys we traded away: Mitts- It has been documented on the board that he’s been bad and he was recently demoted to 3C. Rumors just today circulating that the Aves could be selling him at the deadline. 46GP, 8G, 18A, team worst -16 while the rest of the top six is +10 or more. That’s astonishing. Locked in for two years after this season at 5.75MM. Oof. The Sabres took the Aves to the cleaners with this trade. Erik Johnson- Remains the seventh (eighth?) defenseman for the Flyers. 15GP, 1G, 1A, -2, 13 minutes a night when he plays. Remember when he was signed to help Owen Power? 🤣 Okposo- Champion and still retired. I’m not going to assign grades, but in summary: Correctly moved on from Skinner, Girgs, and Comrie. VO’s fresh start has gone well for him. Whiffed on Robinson, but whatever. Byram trade aging well and something for nothing with Okie & EJ.

(Paywall) …Those facts all combine to mean Zucker will be a popular name when NHL trade talks intensify in the coming weeks. As of Jan. 1, Zucker is eligible to sign an extension with the Sabres. And that’s something that he’s open to, despite how the team has performed this season. “I would love it,” Zucker said. “Right now that’s not something that is in my control. For me personally, it’s something I would be very interested in. If that time comes we can have that conversation.” https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6062957/2025/01/15/nhl-trade-deadline-sabres-jason-zucker/?source=emp_shared_article On the one hand, what else is he supposed to say to a reporter? But on the other hand, we need more guys like him and not less. Sign me up for a short term extension for market value.

JT Miller lives in Pittsburgh during the offseason. MAYBE he would be willing to waive his NMC to play In Buffalo if the closer distance helps his (leave of absence) issue? I doubt it. But that could be the type of guy this locker room needs and to hell with the contract in year’s 5-7. Win mode now if I recall?

Well, all of the next forwards that were drafted after Noah are all in the AHL until you get to Kulich. 🤷‍♂️ Much too early to proclaim anything on any of these guys, but you do you.

Not the dinner pairing I expected, but enjoy!

I thought this was interesting. Any idea why? More backups playing more frequently?

Plus Caps, Wild, Devils all worse than Buff

You guys, the Sabres are not in the top 13 of player taxation. https://thehockeynews.com/news/hockey-taxes-what-an-nhl-player-pays-in-taxes-depending-on-their-team Kevyn Adams is an absolute clown. It was a stupid line to try to justify his failures and it did not work.

Wow man, a 20 year old in his first season in North America and banged up is worth next to nothing? Against his peers at the World Juniors last year, he was Sweden’s best player on a silver medal team. I think he’s worthy of some patience and development.

My understanding from people who would know is he retreated to a life in the background of the horse racing industry. I can only provide this link as proof, but I trust the guys who I know. https://standardbredcanada.ca/news/10-8-15/tim-murray-always-eyeing-talent.html He probably knew he wasn’t hirable in hockey after the reputation he earned. 🍺

Old friend Conor Sheary was the first star for the Crunch.

GIFs are going away soon, so I couldn’t help myself