Dahlin is taking a leave of absence to return to Sweden

[Scottysabres]

3 hours ago, Brawndo said:

 

Yes

Sounds very serious, wish him all the best.

[shrader]

12 minutes ago, SwampD said:

 

It's funny, when I check the standings, I see that the Sabres are last in the Atlantic and last in the Eastern Conference. That's some good hockey.

One single win leap frogs 6 or 7 teams. Standings don’t mean much of anything at this point in the season. There’s plenty of time to correct that. 

[Sidc3000]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Like what? "Trade me or I'll keep playing like s**t?"

Do something or I want out. He obviously learned how fragile life is and how short it can be. He has singing to want to win now

Edited 2 hours ago by Sidc3000

[7+6=13]

If anyone is wondering if this team has a leader.... It's Rasmus Dahlin.  Good on you young man.  

I like this team and I think we can turn the corner with this roster healthy.  

[Wyldnwoody44]

Man, some the the responses in here are pretty harsh.

It's hard enough to deal with an issue with your S/O, even at an advanced age. Times that by 20 when you're supposed to be young and healthy and add to that, you're stuck overseas on a poor hockey team and being leaned on as a leader in a sport that not one of us in here could play. 

Let him go for as long as he wants, this team will be what it will be, hell, it's been nearly 15 years, a couple of weeks for some peace of mind is the least of our issues. 

[Weave]

We are gonna get a solid dose of Owen Power on the powerplay now.  Hopefully he’s got it in him to step up.

[Pimlach]

33 minutes ago, Crusader1969 said:

The Sabres ***** up with Jack Eichel and it has cost them / us dearly

did anyone else see the JJP " mic'd up" opening faceoff vs Tuch?  He said to Tuch "you can not believe how well they treat us" meaning the organization 

As you said and I 100% agree - Sabres need to be known as a team that support their players.   Eventually that will pay them back on spades. 
 

Hopefully Dahlin can reset mentally.  However,  I still think having his offseason routine disturbed is a major factor in his play.  So I don't think we will see the "elite" level of play this season

 

 

According to the AI on Google -  Peterka was not mic'd up for the Sabres game in Buffalo.   But I do believe he told his former teammates how great it is out west.  Tuch already knows that from his time in Vegas.  

I just read a recent article were Peterka talks about how well they are treated in Salt Lake City.   Modern arena, modern practice facility, ya da ya da.  It was not long ago when players on that team were complaining about how poorly they were treated in Phoenix. 

And we all heard about  Florida  - golf carts for the wife and kiddies to drive around the complex on and stuff like that.  Sun, Disney, Universal, beaches, night clubs,  more golf, palm trees and no state tax.  They also have high levels of violent crime, lots of drugs, bad traffic, terrible humidity, damaging hurricanes, high property tax, and astronomical homeowners insurance.  Finding a good school for Junior might required a pretty good commute too.  

The Sabres facilities, including Harbor Center, is probably still above average compared to the others, although the Sabres hockey area is a poor one and always was.  

Peterka likes the mountains, the newness and cleanliness of the American West.  Good for him.  He got what what he wanted, so far.  

Back to Dahlin - it is entirely possible that this is a partial season for him and that he misses a lot of games.  I do trust that Pegula and the organization will provide excellent support, sans the mountains and pretty vistas of Utah. 

[LGR4GM]

21 minutes ago, Weave said:

We are gonna get a solid dose of Owen Power on the powerplay now.  Hopefully he’s got it in him to step up.

[mjd1001]

20 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

According to the AI on Google -  Peterka was not mic'd up for the Sabres game in Buffalo.   But I do believe he told his former teammates how great it is out west.  Tuch already knows that from his time in Vegas.  

I just read a recent article were Peterka talks about how well they are treated in Salt Lake City.   Modern arena, modern practice facility, ya da ya da.  It was not long ago when players on that team were complaining about how poorly they were treated in Phoenix. 

And we all heard about  Florida  - golf carts for the wife and kiddies to drive around the complex on and stuff like that.  Sun, Disney, Universal, beaches, night clubs,  more golf, palm trees and no state tax.  They also have high levels of violent crime, lots of drugs, bad traffic, terrible humidity, damaging hurricanes, high property tax, and astronomical homeowners insurance.  Finding a good school for Junior might required a pretty good commute too.  

The Sabres facilities, including Harbor Center, is probably still above average compared to the others, although the Sabres hockey area is a poor one and always was.  

It wasn't just the youtube video about floridas facility (if anyone hasn't watched it, I recommend it) but there was an article I read about sports teams overall and their facilities (mentioned NHL and NBA teams, some NFL, but also focused on some soccer teams abroad).  There is also a youtube video on the Seattle Kraken training facility. I'm sure this is big in college recruiting also.

Anyway, the point was the new way to attract players is by the facility. Its not new, but to the extent teams are going it is new.  Its about having your practice/training facility (and even your arena) not downtown, but in a nice suburb where players live. Closer to the airports (players fly out a lot and they want to be close to both the practice facility and the airport.  Ammenities rivaling high end spas (and some of them that are open to family members of players and staff)  Private high-end dining. Barbershops with professional barbers/stylists for the players on site. Frequent functions for families/wives/kids at the rink with ammenities catering to familes.  I forgot the franchise but one mentioned (I THINK it may have been overseas) that has an option that when the players come in for practice, they park in a private area, take their private golf cart from the parking area to the training center, and while they are practicing they can have their car professionally washed/detailed and ready when they return. 

This is what you are now competing with.  This is what players want.

Apparently that is what young players want.

Edited 1 hour ago by mjd1001

[HILLsabre]

Hats off to Rasmus gutting it out and sticking around to start the season. I think he realized it was going to be same old story this season with or without him. I'm wondering if the Sabres came out of the gate with chemistry in the line up, solid goal tending and on fire points wise, what would he have done? Decision might of been different or a lot harder.

[Pimlach]

2 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

It wasn't just the youtube video about floridas facility (if anyone hasn't watched it, I recommend it) but there was an article I read about sports teams overall and their facilities (mentioned NHL and NBA teams, some NFL, but also focused on some soccer teams abroad).  There is also a youtube video on the Seattle Kraken training facility. I'm sure this is big in college recruiting also.

Anyway, the point was the new way to attract players is by the facility. Its not new, but to the extent teams are going it is new.  Its about having your practice/training facility (and even your arena) not downtown, but in a nice suburb where players live. Closer to the airports (players fly out a lot and they want to be close to both the practice facility and the airport.  Ammenities rivaling high end spas (and some of them that are open to family members of players and staff)  Private high-end dining.  Frequent functions for families/wives/kids at the rink with ammenities catering to familes.  I forgot the franchise but one mentioned (I THINK it may have been overseas) that has an option that when the players come in for practice, they park in a private area, take their private golf cart from the parking area to the training center, and while they are practicing they can have their car professionally washed/detailed and ready when they return.

Apparently that is what young players want.

Soooo.   It looks like time to drill another well. 

[pastajoe]

3 hours ago, Porous Five Hole said:

It could also be Zac Jones if they’re looking for offense. He has 13 assists in 11 GP so far. The Russians aren’t ready.  

 

[thewookie1]

I do wonder if the fact we were flying to Carolina may have broke him mentally seeing as his fiancé is named Carolina. Just that small thing that could mean more to him hearing the name and everything else. 
 

Frankly I don’t think he’s leaving for anything to do with the season’s start. Had he started the season on fire and looked great I might be more worried but he’s looked distracted and distant this year and thus the idea that his emotions have clouded him to this point makes a lot of sense.

[sabremike]

 

[FrenchConnection44]

Although it’s hard to avoid the thought that the fact that the Sabres suck may contribute to this, this probably has impacted his play on the ice this year. 
 

As such, this a good move until his fiancé gets better. Hopefully and prayerfully. If he’s distracted from a full commitment to hockey (as appears to be the case), then he needs to be at home with her. 
 

Wish him all the best. 

[Demoted]

Not like this team is doing anything special this year. He won't be missing much here.

[SwampD]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

One single win leap frogs 6 or 7 teams. Standings don’t mean much of anything at this point in the season. There’s plenty of time to correct that. 

That single win just got that much tougher to get without your #1D.

[Carmel Corn]

Hoping for the best for Dahlin and his family…I can’t imagine trying to play hockey with his fiancé’s health always on his mind.  Given the indefinite timeline, it suggests to me that this could be longer term….meaning I would not be surprised if he is away for the rest of 2025 and maybe we see him again in early 2026?  I sure hope the team is doing everything they can to support him through this.

I hope any fan who can afford to will donate to Rasmus’ foundation charity.

The unfortunate impact to us fans is that it makes it more likely that any post season hopes will be gone within the next month.  The frustrating kicker is that it gives our incompetent management and coaching an excuse for another failed season.  I cannot stomach the thought of Adams, Appert, etc. being brought back, but I almost expect it now.

[SwampD]

So, are we allowed to get the first OA pick in next year's draft?

[Weave]

2 minutes ago, SwampD said:

So, are we allowed to get the first OA pick in next year's draft?

Pretty sure we are

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, SwampD said:

So, are we allowed to get the first OA pick in next year's draft?

Why wouldn't we be allowed to? We've not drafted 1st since 2021 and the rule is 2 years in a 5 year span. Also the rule started in 2022 and we've never moved to since then. 

[Taro T]

16 minutes ago, SwampD said:

So, are we allowed to get the first OA pick in next year's draft?

Depends.  Are they any really good French Canadian C's slated to go 1st overall or any LHD slated to go 1st overall?

if not, probably not.  😉