Stanley Cup! 2025

[Gatorman0519]

The Rat might be one of the better late season adds.  That dudes performance this series is almost legendary. 

[Taro T]

5 minutes ago, Big Guava said:

Evan Rodrigues wasn't good enough to be on terrible Sabre teams but somehow has been good enough to play on multiple playoff teams that have made deep runs and won a Stanley Cup last year with the Panthers(and on the cusp of another one this year).

Also has 30 points in his last 43 playoff games over the past 2 years, so he shows up in the playoffs.

Sabres love getting rid of players that go on to win Stanley Cups elsewhere. It's really almost unfathomable how many times this happens.

Evan Rodrigues, when Eichel was hurt, was the best center on the Sabres (considering even then they typically didn't play Reinhart at C).   Yes, that's a knock on how the team was assembled.

But he was good enough to continue to be a piece on that team.  Unfortunately he was another one that didn't fit into Kreuger's system.

[...]

1 minute ago, Taro T said:

Evan Rodrigues, when Eichel was hurt, was the best center on the Sabres (considering even then they typically didn't play Reinhart at C).   Yes, that's a knock on how the team was assembled.

But he was good enough to continue to be a piece on that team.  Unfortunately he was another one that didn't fit into Kreuger's system.

It may be better to say Kreuger's "system".

[...]

Is it me, or might this not be the best picture for the NHL to post?

 

[Wyldnwoody44]

I don't see any issue with it 

[OverPowerYou]

Connor McChokeiT. When will he ever step it up? 

[JoeSchmoe]

1 hour ago, Taro T said:

Evan Rodrigues, when Eichel was hurt, was the best center on the Sabres (considering even then they typically didn't play Reinhart at C).   Yes, that's a knock on how the team was assembled.

But he was good enough to continue to be a piece on that team.  Unfortunately he was another one that didn't fit into Kreuger's system.

He was good. I could never understand why he didn't get more chances.

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, Gatorman0519 said:

The Rat might be one of the better late season adds.  That dudes performance this series is almost legendary. 

He's hungrier than the Florida players who won it last year. This is his shot and he don't want to blow it. I think this is the best I've seen him play in years. Certainly since the "perfection line". 

There's three differences in this series imo. 1) Edmonton is incredibly fast. Not sure there's ever been a team this fast.  2) Florida is physically strong. They just bull past and through defenders and win one on ones consistently. 3) Goaltending. Edmonton's is good at times but Florida's is consistently better and that might be the difference. Otherwise the physicality has the edge on the speed as they force things to the walls and the outside. 

One would think Florida will now win but it's close enough it could still flip and go to 7. 

[steveoath]

Marchand has been excellent. Would be a great culture addition. 

[Night Train]

9 hours ago, Taro T said:

Evan Rodrigues, when Eichel was hurt, was the best center on the Sabres (considering even then they typically didn't play Reinhart at C).   Yes, that's a knock on how the team was assembled.

But he was good enough to continue to be a piece on that team.  Unfortunately he was another one that didn't fit into Kreuger's system.

Wasn't a good enough soccer player.

[Mango]

8 hours ago, ... said:

Is it me, or might this not be the best picture for the NHL to post?

 

Another 3 day break between games?

I'm not claiming any sort of conspiracy, but anytime Florida has played T home they've gotten 3 days and anytime Edmonton has hosted theyve gotten 2. (So far) It is strange 

[Mango]

6 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

He's hungrier than the Florida players who won it last year. This is his shot and he don't want to blow it. I think this is the best I've seen him play in years. Certainly since the "perfection line". 

There's three differences in this series imo. 1) Edmonton is incredibly fast. Not sure there's ever been a team this fast.  2) Florida is physically strong. They just bull past and through defenders and win one on ones consistently. 3) Goaltending. Edmonton's is good at times but Florida's is consistently better and that might be the difference. Otherwise the physicality has the edge on the speed as they force things to the walls and the outside. 

One would think Florida will now win but it's close enough it could still flip and go to 7. 

Edmonton just has not looked comfortable all series. Props to Florida. But at the same time if you swapped goalies I'm not sure there is a game 6.

I'm shocked that McDavid hasnt been a bigger factor.

[Pimlach]

9 hours ago, Big Guava said:

Evan Rodrigues wasn't good enough to be on terrible Sabre teams but somehow has been good enough to play on multiple playoff teams that have made deep runs and won a Stanley Cup last year with the Panthers(and on the cusp of another one this year).

Also has 30 points in his last 43 playoff games over the past 2 years, so he shows up in the playoffs.

Sabres love getting rid of players that go on to win Stanley Cups elsewhere. It's really almost unfathomable how many times this happens.

Each new GM let the previous GMs players go.  He needed to get out to reach his potential.  It is hard to shine playing in perpetual rebuild.  

[Jorcus]

7 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

He's hungrier than the Florida players who won it last year. This is his shot and he don't want to blow it. I think this is the best I've seen him play in years. Certainly since the "perfection line". 

There's three differences in this series imo. 1) Edmonton is incredibly fast. Not sure there's ever been a team this fast.  2) Florida is physically strong. They just bull past and through defenders and win one on ones consistently. 3) Goaltending. Edmonton's is good at times but Florida's is consistently better and that might be the difference. Otherwise the physicality has the edge on the speed as they force things to the walls and the outside. 

One would think Florida will now win but it's close enough it could still flip and go to 7. 

 

I really wonder where Florida would be without Marchand. As it often does playoff series come down to who has the most effective third line. The first and second lines cancel each other out. Florida counteracts the rush by trying to prevent it before it happens they are always pressing even away from the puck. The Oilers have a hard time breaking out. Florida is good about not turning over pucks in bad spots which would lead to more breakaways. The Oilers often have a hard time getting out of their own zone. When it's not going well for them they get hemmed in for long periods of time. Florida just has a more depth right now than the Oilers without Hyman in the Lineup. 

[Jorcus]

10 hours ago, Big Guava said:

Evan Rodrigues wasn't good enough to be on terrible Sabre teams but somehow has been good enough to play on multiple playoff teams that have made deep runs and won a Stanley Cup last year with the Panthers(and on the cusp of another one this year).

Also has 30 points in his last 43 playoff games over the past 2 years, so he shows up in the playoffs.

Sabres love getting rid of players that go on to win Stanley Cups elsewhere. It's really almost unfathomable how many times this happens.

 

His Buffalo stat lines were 192 games 26 goals and 45 assists. I guess Pittsburgh and Colorado love getting rid of players that go onto win Stanly cups since they did not want to pay him. He is a good player now. he was a marginal player on a last place team for us. 

[SwampD]

10 hours ago, Taro T said:

Evan Rodrigues, when Eichel was hurt, was the best center on the Sabres (considering even then they typically didn't play Reinhart at C).   Yes, that's a knock on how the team was assembled.

But he was good enough to continue to be a piece on that team.  Unfortunately he was another one that didn't fit into Kreuger's system.

Ya know?!… I was having a nice morning and then you go and bring up Kreuger!!!

Of the the 14 year drought, his years were absolutely some of the most awful hockey I have ever watched. Maybe some of the most awful hockey that’s ever been played by any team ever.

It’s actually pretty amazing (and disgusting) what we Sabres fans have been subjected to. 

[DarthEbriate]

37 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

His Buffalo stat lines were 192 games 26 goals and 45 assists. I guess Pittsburgh and Colorado love getting rid of players that go onto win Stanly cups since they did not want to pay him. He is a good player now. he was a marginal player on a last place team for us. 

No one is going to build a team around him or mistake him for an offensive dynamo, but Rodrigues is defensively sound and an excellent complementary piece to a line.

This season, he spent the bulk of his time with Barkov-Reinhart. Then, last night, he was in the opening lineup with Tkachuk-Bennett, knowing that McDavid-Draisaitl was going to play together from the first shift. 

[Mango]

1 hour ago, Jorcus said:

 

His Buffalo stat lines were 192 games 26 goals and 45 assists. I guess Pittsburgh and Colorado love getting rid of players that go onto win Stanly cups since they did not want to pay him. He is a good player now. he was a marginal player on a last place team for us. 

As with a lot of players that have come and gone in the Pegula era, they are put in positions they aren't qualified to perform them. 

The Sabres in large part have had many more roster construction issues than they have actual player issues. We just ask too many players to do more than they are capable of. 

[...]

10 hours ago, Wyldnwoody44 said:

I don't see any issue with it 

I think only @inkman may have the ability to see what I see.