If the cap goes down, a lot of teams will be in trouble. Maybe they do that compliance buyout again?
- sippyd

Unless the Canadian Dollar totally bottoms out, and let's remember oil prices are always at their lowest in the winter, I see the cap at least staying where it is. The NHL hates admitting to a mistake, see: No Goal, Phantom Goal, John Scott, Rory Fitzpatrick et al. So they'll find some loop-hole in Hockey Related Revenue to make the cap at least stay where it is. Plus the GM's/owners can use the escalator to bump it up too.

I always question your assessment of D, but it's fun questioning it
- GilPerreault11

Well, including me, not one person in here is coach or GM material to say the least.

Although, some I fear (for them) think that they truly are.

It really wasn't just an opinion, he was awful, and pretty much everyone saw it. Even since he's been with Risto, they have been dominated with shots and chances against. He's made that pair no better than Gorges did.

But at least now I know why you will have a vendetta against McCabe.
- sbroads24

It is an opinion and they have been solid except for the Detroit game when the whole team was spent because they got into Buffalo at 5 AM on Thursday and played again the next day.

He has made that pair a lot better, Gorges was out of position a lot and made a lot of mistakes.

I have no personal vendetta against McCabe it's just that he needs more experience and Bogo has played better with Risto even though he is playing the left side even though he shoots right even though many D can't do that.

No, if we wanted to talk about personal vendetta's and why you hate Bogo we could go back to yesterday's discussion and the last two year's discussions you've had for your 6'8" Sabres D bust.

It really wasn't just an opinion, he was awful, and pretty much everyone saw it. Even since he's been with Risto, they have been dominated with shots and chances against. He's made that pair no better than Gorges did.

But at least now I know why you will have a vendetta against McCabe.
- sbroads24

I see the same things that you do with Bogosian sb.
I remember, clearly saying to myself last game against Detroit that every time we were hemmed in , in our zone Bogosian and Risto were on the ice.
I made a mental note of it because it was beyond annoying.
Bogosian is not half as good as people think or suggest he is.
Even Weber has outperformed Bogosian this season IMO, certainly defensively.

Unless the Canadian Dollar totally bottoms out, and let's remember oil prices are always at their lowest in the winter, I see the cap at least staying where it is. The NHL hates admitting to a mistake, see: No Goal, Phantom Goal, John Scott, Rory Fitzpatrick et al. So they'll find some loop-hole in Hockey Related Revenue to make the cap at least stay where it is. Plus the GM's/owners can use the escalator to bump it up too.
- Wetbandit1

They are talking about a 59 cent Canadian dollar and it just keeps going that way . Looks like government might not try and stop it as they see it as boosting the Canadian economy. When the NHL made their assessment of next years cap the dollar was at 73.5 cents US it is now below 68 cents. We are in a great position to pick up players in Free Agency as lots of teams will be scrambling to keep who they have.

Canadian market has been big for me in the past especially the whole Tar Sands project . Not good right now . So I am following everything very closely.

It is an opinion and they have been solid except for the Detroit game when the whole team was spent because they got into Buffalo at 5 AM on Thursday and played again the next day.

He has made that pair a lot better, Gorges was out of position a lot and made a lot of mistakes.

I have no personal vendetta against McCabe it's just that he needs more experience and Bogo has played better with Risto even though he is playing the left side even though he shoots right even though many D can't do that.

No, if we wanted to talk about personal vendetta's and why you hate Bogo we could go back to yesterday's discussion and the last two year's discussions you've had for your 6'8" Sabres D bust.
- GilPerreault11

Maybe I'm delusional about Myers, but man you are the exact same way about Bogosian. He's done just about nothing this year but be the opposite of solid

I see the same things that you do with Bogosian sb.
I remember, clearly saying to myself last game against Detroit that every time we were hemmed in , in our zone Bogosian and Risto were on the ice.
I made a mental note of it because it was beyond annoying.
Bogosian is not half as good as people think or suggest he is.
Even Weber has outperformed Bogosian this season IMO, certainly defensively.
- BuffaloHardHat

He's Josh Gorges on steroids. A decent #4. And Weber has been more steady I agree. And that's something for me to say that

He's Josh Gorges on steroids. A decent #4. And Weber has been more steady I agree. And that's something for me to say that
- sbroads24

Gorges was better with Risto than Bogosian.
Simple truth.
If Bogosian was traded tonight I would be totally fine with that!
I would rather keep Gorges than Bogosian.
And for me, "that's saying a lot".

Maybe I'm delusional about Myers, but man you are the exact same way about Bogosian. He's done just about nothing this year but be the opposite of solid
- sbroads24

Well, playing 1st line D opposite his natural shot, 2nd PP, PK, big hits, gets SOG, mobile, the Sabres coaches obviously see what I see because they have him playing big minutes on the #1 D unit against the other team's top lines.

Yes, you are delusional and you hated him from day one he arrived because he replaced your main man, The BUST.

Gorges was better with Risto than Bogosian.
Simple truth.
If Bogosian was traded tonight I would be totally fine with that!
I would rather keep Gorges than Bogosian.
And for me, "that's saying a lot".
- BuffaloHardHat

That is ignorant and I say that in the most affectionate way

Well, playing 1st line D opposite his natural shot, 2nd PP, PK, big hits, gets SOG, mobile, the Sabres coaches obviously see what I see because they have him playing big minutes on the #1 D unit against the other team's top lines.

Yes, you are delusional and you hated him from day one he arrived because he replaced your main man, The BUST.
- GilPerreault11

Yes let's talk about the last 3 games and ignore the first 25+.

It's all Jake McCabe......

Well, playing 1st line D opposite his natural shot, 2nd PP, PK, big hits, gets SOG, mobile, the Sabres coaches obviously see what I see because they have him playing big minutes on the #1 D unit against the other team's top lines.

Yes, you are delusional and you hated him from day one he arrived because he replaced your main man, The BUST.
- GilPerreault11

Yea well, that's not a ringing endorsement.
Bylsma IMO, has not positioned himself as some kind of good coach in this league.
So far he is a coach that rode the coat tails of Crosby, Malkin and a hot Fleury.
Who couldn't win with those 2 - 3 players ?
I don't care what this "coach sees".
Scott Bowman he is not, and by a looong shot, IMO!

That is ignorant and I say that in the most affectionate way
- GilPerreault11

Eh, just the truth Gil.
I'm not going to beat a dead horse here.

I'd go to 3 for $40M, but it's irrelevant. We already have our top 2 centers. ROR hates playing wing, just like Stamkos, and unless you want to move Jack there full time(I don't) there's really no way to make it work with Stamkos.
- Wetbandit1

This is a good post.

Well, playing 1st line D opposite his natural shot, 2nd PP, PK, big hits, gets SOG, mobile, the Sabres coaches obviously see what I see because they have him playing big minutes on the #1 D unit against the other team's top lines.

Yes, you are delusional and you hated him from day one he arrived because he replaced your main man, The BUST.
- GilPerreault11

But he hasn't played well against them?

This is a good post.
- Der Kaiser

I agree that we don't need Stammer, but what we do absolutely need are goals, and he undoubtedly brings that in bunches

Zack Bogosian minutes last 5 games:

28:15
24:18
26:16
21:29
23:32

Josh Gorges
17:52
17:02
20:30
20:50
18:45

Now, some have been saying how important the number of minutes played are. How about who they play against? Bogo is playing against the other team's top lines and players and Gorges is playing less minutes against 2nd and 3rd line players.

So, do you still think Gorges is better and would trade Bogo and keep Gorges?

Unless the Canadian Dollar totally bottoms out, and let's remember oil prices are always at their lowest in the winter, I see the cap at least staying where it is. The NHL hates admitting to a mistake, see: No Goal, Phantom Goal, John Scott, Rory Fitzpatrick et al. So they'll find some loop-hole in Hockey Related Revenue to make the cap at least stay where it is. Plus the GM's/owners can use the escalator to bump it up too.
- Wetbandit1

Oil will be down for a while and not just because of winter. OPEC not cutting production and leaving the price low to make ours and Canada's production not worth while. So far it's working.

Zack Bogosian minutes last 5 games:

28:15
24:18
26:16
21:29
23:32

Josh Gorges
17:52
17:02
20:30
20:50
18:45

Now, some have been saying how important the number of minutes played are. How about who they play against? Bogo is playing against the other team's top lines and players and Gorges is playing less minutes against 2nd and 3rd line players.

So, do you still think Gorges is better and would trade Bogo and keep Gorges?
- GilPerreault11

Id move them both

Zack Bogosian minutes last 5 games:

28:15
24:18
26:16
21:29
23:32

Josh Gorges
17:52
17:02
20:30
20:50
18:45

Now, some have been saying how important the number of minutes played are. How about who they play against? Bogo is playing against the other team's top lines and players and Gorges is playing less minutes against 2nd and 3rd line players.

So, do you still think Gorges is better and would trade Bogo and keep Gorges?
- GilPerreault11

Let me use your logic from last night.

He plays big minutes with skilled players. Where is the production?

He's Josh Gorges on steroids. A decent #4. And Weber has been more steady I agree. And that's something for me to say that
- sbroads24

That's because Weber is actually playing at his ability level being on the third pairing mostly. There are a few games where I've seen him at the top of the TOI chart, but on average for the season he's playing 2-3 minutes less a game than he has over the course of the last 5 years.

11-12 18:35
12-13 18:22
13-14 17:49
14-15 18:45
15-16 15:36(so far)

That's a significant amount less.

And what do you know? His CF% is way up to 52.5 last year it was 38.5 when he played a career high in ATOI. Granted last year his CF relative was 1.1 which just shows how truly awful the Sabres were last year. And this year he's at 6.1 which is by far a career high his previous career high was -2.2 and his career low was -7.3.

So yes, like the majority of us have said the entire year so far, when Weber plays less he plays better. And the numbers bear that out. He's been especially steady the last month or so, but was pretty bad at the beginning of the year.

But he hasn't played well against them?
- Sabresfan-365

He hasn't played well since he played with Risto? He even played fine while carrying a rookies load, certainly not perfect, but who on this team is?

He hasn't played well since he played with Risto? He even played fine while carrying a rookies load, certainly not perfect, but who on this team is?
- GilPerreault11

Weber.

- BuffaloHardHat

He hasn't played well since he played with Risto? He even played fine while carrying a rookies load, certainly not perfect, but who on this team is?
- GilPerreault11

What did he carry exactly? Besides some of the worst numbers on the team