From a Pierre LeBrun article on ESPN.com

And at his current pace, Matthews will break Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 894 goals in late February 2019, during his third NHL season and his 224th NHL game. (Gretzky had 186 goals in his first 224 NHL games.)


Obviously this was a joke, but still...
be prepared to see all the Matthews praise & hype

That's pretty funny. I wonder how many guys knew it was him.
- Wetbandit1

What's up with Anaheim?
Have they signed Lindholm yet?

Btw...
Eichel on IR gives us more Cap room

Offer sheet Lindholm?
7.5per and it costs us a 1, 2 & 3 if they don't match

What's up with Anaheim?
Have they signed Lindholm yet?

Btw...
Eichel on IR gives us more Cap room

Offer sheet Lindholm?
7.5per and it costs us a 1, 2 & 3 if they don't match
- jdfitz77

You could probably get them to not match for less

So 6 goals between Matthews and McDavid tonight and our stud is out for probably 2 months. Lame.

You could probably get them to not match for less
- chilliard77

Curious as to what that number would be though?
They've got about 4.1mil in cap space
Need to sign Rakell as well who scored 20g last year, so I'm guessing that's a minimum of 3mil, even on a bridge deal

Even if they trade Fowler, that's only another 4mil of room
I think they're Fd
We need to offersheet this kid ASAP!

Lindholm-Ristolainen
McCabe-Bogosian
Kulikov-Gorges/Franson

Now that's a good looking defense

It's opening night for the Sabres. I can't say that I am nearly as excited as I was 24 hours ago before all of this crap happened, but it is still opening night.

Obviously our Playoff chances took a serious blow before we even hit the ice tonight. It was going to be tough already before Eichel went down to get in.

The big question is whether we can keep our heads above water until Thanksgiving to still give ourselves a shot at the Playoffs. Can we hover around .500 until then? I don't know. With 15 out for a while, 21 not suiting up right away, and 90 not even being able to take face offs in practice, we are definitely fighting an uphill battle.

Unfortunately, these things are taking some serious steam out of the start of the season. But, it's the hand we've been dealt and we just have to hope we catch some breaks in these games and pick up some wins. What I can say is I hope we do not hear any fans complain about anything when we win games or how we win games during this stretch. We need wins and we can't complain about how ugly they are. We need to stay close enough to the pack for the next 6-8 weeks, or whatever it will be, and I don't care how we look doing it.

Anyway, welcome back hockey!!! LET'S GO BUFFALO!!!!

None of the skaters from the EDM CGY game are showing up in HBSL.

It's opening night for the Sabres. I can't say that I am nearly as excited as I was 24 hours ago before all of this crap happened, but it is still opening night.

Obviously our Playoff chances took a serious blow before we even hit the ice tonight. It was going to be tough already before Eichel went down to get in.

The big question is whether we can keep our heads above water until Thanksgiving to still give ourselves a shot at the Playoffs. Can we hover around .500 until then? I don't know. With 15 out for a while, 21 not suiting up right away, and 90 not even being able to take face offs in practice, we are definitely fighting an uphill battle.

Unfortunately, these things are taking some serious steam out of the start of the season. But, it's the hand we've been dealt and we just have to hope we catch some breaks in these games and pick up some wins. What I can say is I hope we do not hear any fans complain about anything when we win games or how we win games during this stretch. We need wins and we can't complain about how ugly they are. We need to stay close enough to the pack for the next 6-8 weeks, or whatever it will be, and I don't care how we look doing it.

Anyway, welcome back hockey!!! LET'S GO BUFFALO!!!!
- sven233

Right on, brother! Eff Matthews Eff McDavid...
Eichel might be out, but we got Sam! Im excited to see the sick set ups he will produce. If we tread water or better while Eichel is out, then it is a good sign that this team is moving in the right direction. We are not winning the cup if Eichel is in the lineup or not. I just want to see our boys grow and be better. If Eichel isnt in the mix for the first 4-6 weeks....so be it. LETS GO BUFFALO!!!!!

Right on, brother! Eff Matthews Eff McDavid...
Eichel might be out, but we got Sam! Im excited to see the sick set ups he will produce. If we tread water or better while Eichel is out, then it is a good sign that this team is moving in the right direction. We are not winning the cup if Eichel is in the lineup or not. I just want to see our boys grow and be better. If Eichel isnt in the mix for the first 4-6 weeks....so be it. LETS GO BUFFALO!!!!!
- ScottishLove

Lehner will stand on his head. The improved D will play to 10-12th best GAA in the league.

Until December, at least, we will play a lot of 2-1 and 1-0 games, and win more than we lose.

I think we're going to be good. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE GOOD! Godamnit, I hope we're good. Please, God, we could use this. Please let them be good.

I feel like Tom Brady's football.

Jesus. What a thread this was to read.

Jesus. What a thread this was to read.
- walshyleafsfan

Yup, they closed all bridges to pedestrian traffic until 6-8 weeks from now.

Great start for my HBSL

Matthews 33pts
Tarasanko 22pts
Shattenkirk 17pts

Cabins Creatures 103.50
New Jersey Devils 4.00

So 6 goals between Matthews and McDavid tonight and our stud is out for probably 2 months. Lame.
- Pierceme69

I think the Toronto/Buffalo rivalry just got instantly better.

Also I expect Toronto to be very good if not this year, next year.

I think the Toronto/Buffalo rivalry just got instantly better.

Also I expect Toronto to be very good if not this year, next year.
- ImThatGuy

Having a goalie and a d corp would be useful

Having a goalie and a d corp would be useful
- walshyleafsfan

Just need Matthews to score 5 every other night.

Enroth could go either way.

I think the Toronto/Buffalo rivalry just got instantly better.

Also I expect Toronto to be very good if not this year, next year.
- ImThatGuy

Didn't you hear? They've already won the cup for the next 4 years...and Matthews has been awarded the Hart, Norris, Calder, and Vezina in each of those seasons

I think the Toronto/Buffalo rivalry just got instantly better.

Also I expect Toronto to be very good if not this year, next year.
- ImThatGuy

TO is going to be very exciting to watch over the next several years.

Didn't you hear? They've already won the cup for the next 4 years...and Matthews has been awarded the Hart, Norris, Calder, and Vezina in each of those seasons
- feetontheair22

So what you are saying is they are super excited about their #1 overall pick generation player it seems who put up 4 goals in his first game.

Kind of like how we were with Eichel......

So what you are saying is they are super excited about their #1 overall pick generation player it seems who put up 4 goals in his first game.

Kind of like how we were with Eichel......
- ImThatGuy

No I'm saying they are getting ahead of themselves....we weren't sitting here after Eichel's first game claiming he's the best hockey player on the planet

We also weren't forgetting that even with Eichel it doesn't make us cup contenders...the Leafs fans seem to have forgotten that as well

So what you are saying is they are super excited about their #1 overall pick generation player it seems who put up 4 goals in his first game.

Kind of like how we were with Eichel......
- ImThatGuy

I'm happy that Matthews had a good first game. But at the same time, there's a little part of me that chuckles at the fact that he scored 4 goals, and then basically let his guy walk right by him to score the game winner in OT. It was a bit poetic.

I think what we saw yesterday was two bad teams play, one of which has a guy that's got serious skills. The problem is the team around him still isn't very good.

I told my one friend yesterday, I have a feeling Ottawa isn't going to be very good. Even without Eichel for up to 2 months, I expect that we finish ahead of them in the standings.

From a Pierre LeBrun article on ESPN.com

And at his current pace, Matthews will break Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 894 goals in late February 2019, during his third NHL season and his 224th NHL game. (Gretzky had 186 goals in his first 224 NHL games.)


Obviously this was a joke, but still...
be prepared to see all the Matthews praise & hype
- jdfitz77

For one night at least, he deserves it.

I'm happy that Matthews had a good first game. But at the same time, there's a little part of me that chuckles at the fact that he scored 4 goals, and then basically let his guy walk right by him to score the game winner in OT. It was a bit poetic.

I think what we saw yesterday was two bad teams play, one of which has a guy that's got serious skills. The problem is the team around him still isn't very good.

I told my one friend yesterday, I have a feeling Ottawa isn't going to be very good. Even without Eichel for up to 2 months, I expect that we finish ahead of them in the standings.
- HonkFortheGoose

We beat the Sens the other night. They had their full roster playing . We didn't

I'm happy that Matthews had a good first game. But at the same time, there's a little part of me that chuckles at the fact that he scored 4 goals, and then basically let his guy walk right by him to score the game winner in OT. It was a bit poetic.

I think what we saw yesterday was two bad teams play, one of which has a guy that's got serious skills. The problem is the team around him still isn't very good.

I told my one friend yesterday, I have a feeling Ottawa isn't going to be very good. Even without Eichel for up to 2 months, I expect that we finish ahead of them in the standings.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think Toronto will be good this year. They will struggle early in terms of W/L as the young guns get adjusted but will turn the corner quickly.

Pretty quiet around here for opening season for our team.