pi2000

The bottom 6 is still an issue. Was really hoping one or two of the young guys would shine in camp.... didn't happen. For that reason I don't see playoffs as a possibility this season. When guys like Fasching, Bailey, Baptiste blossom into legit NHL players, then we can talk playoffs. Instead we're stuck with a steaming pile that is Moulson, Larsson, Pouliot, Josefson, and Griffith... mostly journeymen type guys who do anything particularly well.

That's awful news, he was a personal favorite of mine. cancer.

Beaulieu and Antipin both look good offensively, but very bad in their own end. Hope Housley can fix that, and quick, otherwise it could be a rough start for this club.

Larsson... makes a nice play to intercept a pass, them promptly passes right back to the Islanders.

My love for T. Barrie was mostly because his skill set is what the Sabres were desperately lacking on the back-end at that time. I recognized the NHL was trending in the direction of plus skating defensemen, so he seemed like a perfect fit. I've since been more focused on TRpm where Barrie doesn't score that well (+4 on the worst team in the league), so my stance on him has altered a bit.

fixed..

I'd like to see a 4th line of Nolan, Larsson and Gionta.

Antipin looked very good offensively and through the neutral zone. However, he looks terrible defending in his own end. How much of that has to do with the smaller rink size vs his small stature, I don't know... probably a little of both. So yeah, pairing him with somebody who's solid in the d-zone would be good.... Gorges.

Larsson is slow :P BUF gave up 9 shots, not bad against PIT's starters. They looked a little better in their own end, but leaving lots of guys open.

I still think one more year in Roch would be better for him long term than 4th line minutes in Buffalo. Yeah, he's at an age where he needs to show something, but let him do that in Roch where he'll get more opportunity. They want to build a winner down there and that doesn't happen with guys like Bailey/Baptiste/etc playing 6 minutes a night in Buffalo.

With half the defense missing and the Pens roster even better than their Cup winning version (+Letang), I'll say 8-2 Penguins.... good luck CJ.

I'll allow it.

I'm reservedly optimistic Housley's system will generate more offense, however from the preseason games at least, they still need a ton of work in the d-zone. They still look like they're killing a penalty when the other team has possession, which won't help their shots against. I've said it numerous times here, this team won't sniff the playoffs until they drastically reduce shot attempts against. I've seen nothing thus far in the preseason that would suggest they've made an improvement in that aspect.... so my expectations out of the gate are extremely low.

So the Knights have black gloves now.. at least with their dark home uni's. Looks much better IMO. Black with gold fingers.

No. What are those lines? Are they shutdown or secondary scoring lines? They have no rhyme or reason... they can't score and they can't play defense. Until that changes, this team is just spinning it's wheels IMO.

Why wouldn't he want to play if that meant a spot on the Olympic team? He could still play at that level.

Here in southern california most of my friends (other hockey/school Dads, coaches, etc) are severely pissed at the players and fully back Trump. It takes everything I have to not engage them. They have zero tolerance. If I said anything our friendships would be ruined permanently even though we'd be forced to hang out at school/hockey functions, etc... so to avoid all that mess I just keep my "unpopular" political opinions to myself.... which sucks... is it complaint Thursday yet? haha That said, I admire Jim Kelly, his approach to life and football. I don't agree with his political opinion, but I don't make that a pre-requisite to friendship like most people these days (and I blame the polarizing media for that).

The Fasching trade happened when the Kings were having success and GMTM wanted bigger forwards who played a heavy game. At the time it made sense. Deslaurier added some much needed toughness to the lineup, which was nice at the time... good for the tank squad anyway. Fasching is still a nice prospect, but might not be a good fit for Housley's system... we'll see. "The Buffalo Sabres today announced that the team has acquired forwards Nicolas Deslauriers and Hudson Fasching from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for defenseman Brayden McNabb, forward Jonathan Parker and two second-round draft picks. The draft picks, acquired by Buffalo in a trade with Los Angeles for Robyn Regehr at the 2013 NHL Trade Deadline, are for the 2014 and 2015 NHL Entry Drafts."

Sorry Juju, I don't have that ability as commissioner. The only thing I can do is reset the entire group or kick people out.

One of my kids is a big Kings fan. He say McNabb is terrible, there a reason they left him unprotected for Vegas to up. He's slow and has poor decision making.... not a good fit for today's NHL.

Agreed. And they don't get down when something doesn't go their way. They get behind or give up a TD and they don't panic, don't slouch and just stick to the plan together. I like that McDermott is always cheering his guys on even when something didn't go their way... reminds me of the same attitude Jim Kelly had... even if threw a pick he would stay positive and confident, never get down on himself always believed he could will his team victory.

How do you ease off? It's like saying ease off on the offsides calls. It's either a penalty or it's not.

True, but he looked like he never played professional hockey before... made some terrible decisions with the puck.

Antipin looked like a rookie in his own end.

Same here... 10p Pacific, probably just be getting home from bowlin... I mean... drinking.