Michael Pachla: Sabres gearing up for an Eastern Conference heavyweight on NBCSN

4-2 TB

Bumped from last blog:

I see Adam Clendening is on waivers. 26 y/o right handed defenseman originally from Wheatfield. He's got good size at 6' 200 lbs and was drafted as a two way defenseman with good offensive upside. I can't say I have noticed him in any games, but seems like someone to consider trying to pick up. $700k this year and still a RFA next summer.

Also 24 y/o Swedish right winger Michael Lindqvist has been placed on unconditional waivers by the Rangers.

What’d I miss?

Happy to see

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
Sobotka-Rodrigues-Pominville
Sheary-Mittelstadt-Okposo
Thompson-Larsson-Girgensons

I think Reinhart in that position, if he can continue to produce like he did in the last couple games, is much more sustainable than the old man through the course of this season.

Rodrigues looks best in the middle.

Thompson caught in the middle of a big club that he can't produce for and the little brother club that is having too much success to bother with inserting him and disrupting chemistry? An odd place to be, but a place that many guys would love to have. He needs to capitalize every opportunity he has up here, and he's not doing that. If/when he gets sent down, there are 3-4 guys I'd test with the big club before giving him another chance.

Happy to see

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
Sobotka-Rodrigues-Pominville
Sheary-Mittelstadt-Okposo
Thompson-Larsson-Girgensons

I think Reinhart in that position, if he can continue to produce like he did in the last couple games, is much more sustainable than the old man through the course of this season.

Rodrigues looks best in the middle.

Thompson caught in the middle of a big club that he can't produce for and the little brother club that is having too much success to bother with inserting him and disrupting chemistry? An odd place to be, but a place that many guys would love to have. He needs to capitalize every opportunity he has up here, and he's not doing that. If/when he gets sent down, there are 3-4 guys I'd test with the big club before giving him another chance.
- Angler

it would seem as if Housley has an infatuation with Thompson...not that he's a bad player by any stretch but like you said, he hasn't been able to produce yet

one thing that last game made clear, if rodrigues ever comes out of the lineup again i am rioting

hes not a great finisher apparently but really has an impact

it would seem as if Housley has an infatuation with Thompson...not that he's a bad player by any stretch but like you said, he hasn't been able to produce yet
- Michael Pachla

Great write up Michael.

Phil and jbotts are working together with Thompson

Jbotts brought him here for a reason
Phil is trying to work tage in and get him going.


Gotta start giving phil some credit

His lines are clicking
Defense is clicking

I believe in moral victories.

But only in the short term.

it would seem as if Housley has an infatuation with Thompson...not that he's a bad player by any stretch but like you said, he hasn't been able to produce yet
- Michael Pachla

I agree that he's not a bad player and I hope he just needs some more seasoning.

I suspect that two factors, maybe three factors, are playing into this.

1) Sabres playing well - sitting in a playoff spot right this second
2) Rochester playing really well
3) Thompson is the young guy that we traded ROR for

Perhaps Botts and PH are both interested in keeping him up here based on their personal desires to see that trade work as well as possible, and the "things are fine right now" mentality mixed in.

What’d I miss?
- dadeadhead

hookers and blow

one thing that last game made clear, if rodrigues ever comes out of the lineup again i am rioting

hes not a great finisher apparently but really has an impact
- robz228

Re finishing:

https://youtu.be/zqUFUtd0d4Q

hookers and blow
- homiedclown

Low energy

hookers and blow
- homiedclown

I always miss the good stuff

Great write up Michael.

Phil and jbotts are working together with Thompson

Jbotts brought him here for a reason
Phil is trying to work tage in and get him going.


Gotta start giving phil some credit

His lines are clicking
Defense is clicking
- Boss34

tough stretch coming up

Tage is horrible... I know he is young, but he does nothing when he is out there.. He looks completely lost.. He needs to go to Rochester...

Tage is horrible... I know he is young, but he does nothing when he is out there.. He looks completely lost.. He needs to go to Rochester...
- hehateme

the game is still a little too fast for him and he's had trouble in his own zone...dude can skate, he's got a long reach, he handles the puck well and has a really good shot

tough stretch coming up
- Michael Pachla

I guess we'll find out how much this team has in the heart department.

F the Bolts.

Sabres 4-3. Dahlin in his first NHL fight and also with the game-winner.

Bills waived WR Terrelle Pryor.

Someone named Robert Foster led the Bills in receiving in their upset smash of the Jets as Pryor was targeted zero times. Pryor drew five looks in two games in Buffalo. If the 29-year-old converted quarterback can't last in the Bills' desperate receiver corps, his NFL future is looking bleak.

the game is still a little too fast for him and he's had trouble in his own zone...dude can skate, he's got a long reach, he handles the puck well and has a really good shot
- Michael Pachla

This is all accurate.

He has the skills but you can almost watch him thinking the game, instead of playing it. If in fact this is true, spending time in the American league isn't going to help him to adjust to the speed of the game in the nationals. He has to simply work his way through it until the game slows down for him and he can just play.

The shame of it is I think the same is true for Nylander in the A, and he hasn't had a real chance up in BUF yet.

Bills waived WR Terrelle Pryor.

Someone named Robert Foster led the Bills in receiving in their upset smash of the Jets as Pryor was targeted zero times. Pryor drew five looks in two games in Buffalo. If the 29-year-old converted quarterback can't last in the Bills' desperate receiver corps, his NFL future is looking bleak.
- SABRES 89

Thanks for the cup of coffee, Terrelle.

Thanks for the cup of coffee, Terrelle.
- Der Kaiser

Didn't even notice him

This is all accurate.

He has the skills but you can almost watch him thinking the game, instead of playing it. If in fact this is true, spending time in the American league isn't going to help him to adjust to the speed of the game in the nationals. He has to simply work his way through it until the game slows down for him and he can just play.

The shame of it is I think the same is true for Nylander in the A, and he hasn't had a real chance up in BUF yet.
- Der Kaiser

Hold your shock but, agreed

He learned what he needed to in the A last year and most of his production was from direct involvement in either starting/finishing the play.

This was supposed to be a transition year anyways, this would be the optimal time to have him and nylander work through that here.

If the Sabres are going to have a chance to win tonight, they're gonna need to capitalize on the PP (2/4?)

If they win, i also think Eichel will play over 20 mins and get at least 2 points.

Not feeling optimistic. 5-2 lightning - Risto and Eichel with the goals
- jcragcrumple

Totes ma goats.

If Eichel registers a point, our chances go way up, if he doesn't it's probably a loss.

5-2 feels right

Here's to hoping for one of our good games, we'll need it. Tampa is filthy, in a great way.