Porous Five Hole

If the Sabres were trying to win the cup next year, I would totally agree with you. And there’s always room for a player like the one you’re speaking of. But since the Sabres are realistically resigned to another year of growth, I want the high ceiling offensive guys in the lineup next year.

The distinct advantage I think the Sabres have here are the highest ceiling defenseman of comparison. While it is close as all three teams gave up more than the league average (Buffalo was best of the three in 21-22), I expect shots against/shot suppression to be a leading factor for the Sabres rise relative to the Sens/Wings. This isn’t to say Meatballs will employ a defense-first strategy, but cream rises to the top. Dahlin/Power/Mule will go a long way toward tipping the scales in the Sabres favor. Please oh please let Comrie be NHL average…if so, I like Buffalo in this comparison.

I’m guessing your HRR comes from Horny Rump Riding

Honestly, I miss these. I like the current, but would be happy if they went back to red.

My view from last night

Dear Mods, I Lyubushkin’d her so deeply that we’re married. Now she calls me Ilya for short.

I can see myself using it as a verb. “Did you really just Lyubushkin the table when you walked by?” This might be specific to my clumsy eleven year old. “I just Lyubushkin’d that garbage plate.” And then there’s the innuendo opportunity. ”If you touch my Lyubushkin, there’s no turning back.” So yea, I really like the name/term Lyubushkin and I look forward to using it in all situations.

I watch the Bolts a lot (my folks live in St. Pete and root for Tampa). Some people think it’s sacrilege to have a second favorite team, but I don’t have a problem with doing that. All of this to say that I as a GM would have signed the Cernak & Cirelli deals in an instant. Both are home runs. As a Sabres fan first, I’m jealous.

I just love saying Lyubushkin. I started calling my kid Lyubushkin instead of his name, Dean (he’s 11 and doesn’t care about sports), today because it’s so much fun. GET IN THE CAR LYUBUSHKIN!!

Agree. Progression of the kids cannot be relied upon, but is reasonable. Lots of things at play…did other teams get worse today? Will the Sabres see less backup goaltenders? Will they be less bit by the injury bug than others? A lot of unknown factors. But baselining last year to this year is encouraging.

I’m inferring this is good news for the family.

They need to spend enough to be cap compliant after they move one of Kane or Toews. Or maybe not, but that’s all I can come up with.

Assuming VO can finally put together a full season and reaches his ceiling of 30+ goals, this is a decent deal for the Sabres. If he doesn’t put it together, it doesn’t really hurt anything because the money wasn’t going elsewhere anyway. I am surprised less than 5M is what it took to buy out VO’s first UFA season. Or maybe the comps of 20 goal scorers making 5M+ didn’t exist and this is good money for him. Either way, it appears he “really wants to be here.”

I just wonder if Calgary not offering their built-in benefit of an eighth year in the contract had him questioning their commitment to him?

If Comrie is worth five more wins (10 points) than the goaltending combos we had last year, and Power matures as a premier talent could/should (say his addition/play is worth three wins over last year’s group), this is a 90 point team. And what if this comes to fruition and the Sabres make a deadline deal for additional talent? A lot of “if” and hope, but it isn’t unreasonable to me. If this team continues to grow, a wild card run could be had. I’m drinking the hopium! 🍹

Sent you a beer. There’s no time like the present.

This is true that the state did that, but that could have just as much been a part of the BK restructure proceedings versus a purchase contingency. I assume the loan was in default from two owners ago.

This part isn’t correct. In the book, Golisano specifically railed against the Hamister public/private partnership (50M in public money) that fell apart. BTG explicitly stated no public money was part of his purchase of the team.

Pretty sure anyone outside of WNY wouldn’t know that ROC was Italian-centric during his youth.

OSP covers his acquisition in the book, and threw shade at everyone (Hamister, Pataki, and anyone else who tried to make the first deal work).

Oh I think you know

Yea, I’m in ROC and it is probably more well known here…

Thank you for responding. I’m not asking who your sources are…but I am curious, if you’re comfortable, with their line of work? Team source, media source, agent source, or something else? The long-told story is what you’re insinuating, but the horse’s mouth says otherwise. And that is what got me curious.

You’re saying he’s lying about Drury not agreeing to a deal?

Yikes, you just made me realize how thin the D is at the moment. I hope the Sabres do some serious shopping as opposed to 750k to a couple of JAGs & Mark Pysyk.