Ctaeth

Metsa: captain of NCAA champion winning team, Amerks assistant captain, and likely Amerks captain this year (it's either him or Dunne) Bryson: bench captain

Agreed. Giving him a few NHL games this year is a show of good will which, at this point, is deserved. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he is the total +/- leader for the AHL over the last 2 seasons (note: I didn't actually check this). And I know someone is going to complain about using +/-, but how else would you measure success for a defensive defenseman in the AHL (that's actually a serious question, I don't think there are advanced stats tracked for the AHL?) From Lindy's perspective though, you really don't want to be rolling the dice with inserting rookies into the lineup this year. He's on the last year of what may potentially be last his contract and if he returns the Sabres to the playoffs, he'll be a hero again.

They had a bit on after the whistle about what to do with mrtka today. Rivet said to send him to rochester because he is physically ready and peters said send him to junior bc he's just a kid. Imo, the decision should be made based on what skills you want him to improve. If you want to improve with the puck, send him to junior... he will have more time with it on his stick than in the ahl. Plus he can run the pp, which he probably wouldn't be doing in his first year in rottenchester. If you want him to begin learning how to properly defend against full grown men within a sabres like system then send him to the ahl.

I kind of like the individual goal songs. That was fun, bring that back

dahlin #3

UPL demotion because the other 3 are doing their brick wall impersonation? sign me up

if they look good again tonight, i might start to get excited about the season. despite all rational thoughts telling me i'm just getting sucked in again. what can I say, I have a sabres problem

Mrtka sounds too much like peterka

Hamilton says skillwise geertsen wouldn't even be playing in the east coast league 😄

Except not half as much of a difference maker

It is neuchev's first game back since march, I think he should maybe get a pass in this particular instance

How did rosen/Östlund look?

Trying to avoid the initial reimer situation from last year I would imagine

Yikes https://x.com/SeanMickey7/status/1966204129497460747?t=n2GPfwk1zsgmHcucbNDhyg&s=19

Went to bed thinking they had lost. What a happy surprise!

and unfortunately, i don't think middle of the lineup players are what is going to ultimately move the needle. It is worth noting that Levi isn't accounted for on his list.. based on the age criterion. He misses out on being considered by 1 year. Regardless, I don't remember pronman being high on Levi anyways

He has pretty much everyone but Power/Mrtka as a middle of the lineup player. I don't think I disagree with that... aside from potentially Benson

McD almost always gets the most out of the secondary. Not worried yet

If you really want the Sabres to make a run at the playoffs, I feel like you would have to hang your hat on UPL having a much better season this year... regardless of what the rest of the team does. (or levi stepping in)

The players that players that could get the sabres back to the playoffs are players that are high variance types. The type that you honestly dont know what you're going to get season to season. To me, the three that could massively out perform expectations are quinn, upl, and norris (for injury reason). You get a good to great season from any or all of these guys... we should be talking about playoffs. Honorable mention to doan and levi

Trades are fun and the nhl can always use more fun. Get rid of the nmc & increase parity

I don't think it's hope in this case. I'd classify it as "expectation", not hope. In the case of older players repeating career years, yeah that's hope. You hope they can reach that level again. But for younger players, it's just expectation and the reality of how players progress. They usually don't peak with less than two seasons total played. I don't take issue with Adams expecting ("hoping") that these young players will improve.... because they should improve. You expect them to; they don't come in as a finished product. Where I do take issues with Adams and his attitude towards the younger players is him continuing to have such a large young core AND not sufficiently supplementing it with enough of the right veterans to show the kids how it's done. It's semantics, but I think it's an important distinction to make. Also, I'd prefer to never be put in a position of defending KA ever again 🤢

Don't forget Doan & Kesselring. They don't have a ton of time in the NHL yet either and could certainly improve their scoring this year.

Tischke previously played for the amerks and was playing for the icemen last year. I would be surprised if he didnt play a handful with the amerks next year