I said earlier this season I would wait until Thanksgiving/20 games into the season before I issue an opinion on the Team...sorry for format, be here it is...

Player. Contract. Full-year Projection (G/A/Tot) Comment

Jack Eichel 10000000 16/64/80 Great A totals, need more G's added to A's... 2-way game rounding out.

Kyle Okposo 6000000 20/20/40 Having a sneaky decent season...keep it up so we can trade that contract!

Rasmus Ristolainen 5400000 8/28/36 low production given ice time & quality of linemates. weak D. Interesting trade candidate?

Patrik Berglund 4700000 8/8/16 need alot more production. not good enough, hate the contract, how can Botts dump him for next season?

Zach Bogosian 6000000 4/4/8 need alot more production. not good enough, hate the contract, 1 mofe year after this

Marco Scandella 4500000 4/16/20 the new Josh Gorge....trade can't happen soon enough

Carter Hutton 2750000 2.52 / .919 playing out of his mind, stealing points, great contract

Sam Reinhart 3550000 8/44/52 decent production, want more G's in mix. I'd consider trade for true #2 D-man

Vladimir Sobotka 3500000 12/4/16 can he add some A's. ok 4th line, but relative high $ for that, 1 more year

Conor Sheary 3000000 24/16/40 good production. streaky though, weak 2way game

Jeff Skinner 6000000 56/16/72 PERFECT fit for Eichel

Jason Pominville 5000000 32/28/60 production won't last...teaching youngins to go to net, be available, re-sign for 1x3

Rasmus Dahlin 925000 4/28/32 Housley needs to get him 20 TOI, loosen restraints

Nathan Beaulieu 2500000 8/8/16 playing well for low TOI...trade value at TD?

Tage Thompson 925000 0/4/4 stop experiment, send him down to A for development through playing. Making same mistake as Blues there Einstein

Casey Mittelstadt 925000 8/16/24 need alot more production from him, developing nice D game

Jake McCabe 1775000 4/24/28 would expect a couple more G's, decent 2nd pairing, terrific 3rd

Casey Nelson 800000 0/8/8 having tough season, needs to step it for reliable producing 3rd pair

Zemgus Girgensons 1600000 4/16/20 playing pretty strong D game, need alot more production, 13th F next year?

Johan Larsson 1550000 0/8/8 strong D game, but nothing on O. last season here

Linus Ullmark 800000 2.79 / .916 playing well mostly, ouch in that Montreal game

Remi Elie 735000 0/0/0 only purpose is to keep kids in A while Wilson is out

Evan Rodrigues 650000 0/24/24 he needs to produce 15-20 G's for 3rd line. Not there, can he get there?


Nets out
-Risto trade candidate for top RW?
-Reino trade candidate for #2 D, add if necessary
-play Dahlin more
-send Thompson down
- last year for Larry
- can Botts find a trade to get rid of contracts on
- Berglund
- Okposso
- Scandella

Lehner didn't score the least amount of goals in the league last year. The only team under 200 goals. He was not good last year, but he also had zero help. He is an average NHL goalie. He's having a nice bounce back year so far. 2.59 and .921; coincidentally both numbers are better than Hutton. Will they end the year like that? It remains to be seen, probably not. Hutton will likely end up on top.
- Wetbandit1

Its big saves when they matter.
Save % and gaa are a fine stat

Winning and losing is more important

Hutton is playing all star hockey

I am enjoying the good fortunes of the Sabres.
They are finding ways to gain 2pts when having been outplayed during large portions of those games.
Finally, we have a team that is showing a strong mental aspect to their game, which should serve them well in the future. Kinda reminds me of that 2006 team...never say never!

That said, I am waiting for them to play more consistently by outplaying the opposition for the majority of the game, rather than the inverse we have seen over the last 4 games.
Also, without Skinner finishing, this team's record is radically different.
Are these two factors sustainable long term?
Probably not, and if Skinner can maintain anything close to this torrid pace...break out your charge card Kimmie, this one is going to hurt big time...no choice but to buy "high".
- IonSabres

Speaking of kim pagula

President of the buffalo Sabres
11-6-2

Thank you kim, you're doing a fine job

I said earlier this season I would wait until Thanksgiving/20 games into the season before I issue an opinion on the Team...sorry for format, be here it is...

Player. Contract. Full-year Projection (G/A/Tot) Comment

Jack Eichel 10000000 16/64/80 Great A totals, need more G's added to A's... 2-way game rounding out.

Kyle Okposo 6000000 20/20/40 Having a sneaky decent season...keep it up so we can trade that contract!

Rasmus Ristolainen 5400000 8/28/36 low production given ice time & quality of linemates. weak D. Interesting trade candidate?

Patrik Berglund 4700000 8/8/16 need alot more production. not good enough, hate the contract, how can Botts dump him for next season?

Zach Bogosian 6000000 4/4/8 need alot more production. not good enough, hate the contract, 1 mofe year after this

Marco Scandella 4500000 4/16/20 the new Josh Gorge....trade can't happen soon enough

Carter Hutton 2750000 2.52 / .919 playing out of his mind, stealing points, great contract

Sam Reinhart 3550000 8/44/52 decent production, want more G's in mix. I'd consider trade for true #2 D-man

Vladimir Sobotka 3500000 12/4/16 can he add some A's. ok 4th line, but relative high $ for that, 1 more year

Conor Sheary 3000000 24/16/40 good production. streaky though, weak 2way game

Jeff Skinner 6000000 56/16/72 PERFECT fit for Eichel

Jason Pominville 5000000 32/28/60 production won't last...teaching youngins to go to net, be available, re-sign for 1x3

Rasmus Dahlin 925000 4/28/32 Housley needs to get him 20 TOI, loosen restraints

Nathan Beaulieu 2500000 8/8/16 playing well for low TOI...trade value at TD?

Tage Thompson 925000 0/4/4 stop experiment, send him down to A for development through playing. Making same mistake as Blues there Einstein

Casey Mittelstadt 925000 8/16/24 need alot more production from him, developing nice D game

Jake McCabe 1775000 4/24/28 would expect a couple more G's, decent 2nd pairing, terrific 3rd

Casey Nelson 800000 0/8/8 having tough season, needs to step it for reliable producing 3rd pair

Zemgus Girgensons 1600000 4/16/20 playing pretty strong D game, need alot more production, 13th F next year?

Johan Larsson 1550000 0/8/8 strong D game, but nothing on O. last season here

Linus Ullmark 800000 2.79 / .916 playing well mostly, ouch in that Montreal game

Remi Elie 735000 0/0/0 only purpose is to keep kids in A while Wilson is out

Evan Rodrigues 650000 0/24/24 he needs to produce 15-20 G's for 3rd line. Not there, can he get there?


Nets out
-Risto trade candidate for top RW?
-Reino trade candidate for #2 D, add if necessary
-play Dahlin more
-send Thompson down
- last year for Larry
- can Botts find a trade to get rid of contracts on
- Berglund
- Okposso
- Scandella
- IonSabres

Pretty reasonable assessments
Agree with most

Pretty reasonable assessments
Agree with most
- jdfitz77

Thanks.
Transition Year...producing wins better than I anticipated, I don't t hink it is sustainable how thet are doing it though.
Relying on a couple players to score, and Hutton playing out of his mind.

They have several guys way under-producing for their contract values...it is the longer term contract with Berglund that is most concerning, although his CAP hit goes down in 2020 season. Okposo is at least puting up respectable numbers, of course would like more for his contract though.
Other under-producing players are 1 or 2 seasons then done. IMO, getting out from Scandella and Bogo would be a terrific feat for Botts this season.
The rest I can live with for 1 more season.

I said earlier this season I would wait until Thanksgiving/20 games into the season before I issue an opinion on the Team...sorry for format, be here it is...

Player. Contract. Full-year Projection (G/A/Tot) Comment

Jack Eichel 10000000 16/64/80 Great A totals, need more G's added to A's... 2-way game rounding out.

Kyle Okposo 6000000 20/20/40 Having a sneaky decent season...keep it up so we can trade that contract!

Rasmus Ristolainen 5400000 8/28/36 low production given ice time & quality of linemates. weak D. Interesting trade candidate?

Patrik Berglund 4700000 8/8/16 need alot more production. not good enough, hate the contract, how can Botts dump him for next season?

Zach Bogosian 6000000 4/4/8 need alot more production. not good enough, hate the contract, 1 mofe year after this

Marco Scandella 4500000 4/16/20 the new Josh Gorge....trade can't happen soon enough

Carter Hutton 2750000 2.52 / .919 playing out of his mind, stealing points, great contract

Sam Reinhart 3550000 8/44/52 decent production, want more G's in mix. I'd consider trade for true #2 D-man

Vladimir Sobotka 3500000 12/4/16 can he add some A's. ok 4th line, but relative high $ for that, 1 more year

Conor Sheary 3000000 24/16/40 good production. streaky though, weak 2way game

Jeff Skinner 6000000 56/16/72 PERFECT fit for Eichel

Jason Pominville 5000000 32/28/60 production won't last...teaching youngins to go to net, be available, re-sign for 1x3

Rasmus Dahlin 925000 4/28/32 Housley needs to get him 20 TOI, loosen restraints

Nathan Beaulieu 2500000 8/8/16 playing well for low TOI...trade value at TD?

Tage Thompson 925000 0/4/4 stop experiment, send him down to A for development through playing. Making same mistake as Blues there Einstein

Casey Mittelstadt 925000 8/16/24 need alot more production from him, developing nice D game

Jake McCabe 1775000 4/24/28 would expect a couple more G's, decent 2nd pairing, terrific 3rd

Casey Nelson 800000 0/8/8 having tough season, needs to step it for reliable producing 3rd pair

Zemgus Girgensons 1600000 4/16/20 playing pretty strong D game, need alot more production, 13th F next year?

Johan Larsson 1550000 0/8/8 strong D game, but nothing on O. last season here

Linus Ullmark 800000 2.79 / .916 playing well mostly, ouch in that Montreal game

Remi Elie 735000 0/0/0 only purpose is to keep kids in A while Wilson is out

Evan Rodrigues 650000 0/24/24 he needs to produce 15-20 G's for 3rd line. Not there, can he get there?


Nets out
-Risto trade candidate for top RW?
-Reino trade candidate for #2 D, add if necessary
-play Dahlin more
-send Thompson down
- last year for Larry
- can Botts find a trade to get rid of contracts on
- Berglund
- Okposso
- Scandella
- IonSabres

I think we’re going to be good.

I think we might already be good.

At least we got this out of it...



That wasn't the first time he did that either:



That perfect shot that hits the ice 8 feet in front of the goalie and he's got no chance to adjust to the bounce.
- Wetbandit1

I was at that blue jackets game. Place went nuts. It was awesome.

The outcome in 1-goal games is the difference right now. A lot of that is Hutton. I honestly think the Sabres are finally getting some puck luck, too. I guess we were due

The outcome in 1-goal games is the difference right now. A lot of that is Hutton. I honestly think the Sabres are finally getting some puck luck, too. I guess we were due
- jcragcrumple

sabres had no business taking 2 points in the last 3 games let alone all 6

secondary scoring is still a problem

scandella is still a liability


after saying that, eichel, skinner, skunk, bogo, beaulieu, and dahlin are playing well

others need to step up and be more consistent

sabres had no business taking 2 points in the last 3 games let alone all 6

secondary scoring is still a problem

scandella is still a liability


after saying that, eichel, skinner, skunk, bogo, beaulieu, and dahlin are playing well

others need to step up and be more consistent
- homiedclown

It depends what you view as depth, too. Sheary and Okposo are putting the puck in the net enough, even Sobotka's 3 goals are fine. Pominville did - and continues to do - his job.

Mittelstadt and Reinhart aren't getting goals. I'm excluding Eichel because Skinner's goals are inextricably tied to Eichel imo.

Larsson, Erod, Berglund, Thompson and Girgensons have 3 goals between them. That's tough

The defense is picking up some of that slack by scoring goals.

Goals are coming from some odd sources

I'm very intrigued to see if Housley makes any lineup changes for this game today

I’m not gonna go back & search for exactly what ppl said

Believe me or not... idc
- jdfitz77

no, of course not. you'll just assume we all said that so you can get your licks in because the trade didn't go the way you thought it would.

Sabres tied for 6th overall in the league.

It depends what you view as depth, too. Sheary and Okposo are putting the puck in the net enough, even Sobotka's 3 goals are fine. Pominville did - and continues to do - his job.

Mittelstadt and Reinhart aren't getting goals. I'm excluding Eichel because Skinner's goals are inextricably tied to Eichel imo.

Larsson, Erod, Berglund, Thompson and Girgensons have 3 goals between them. That's tough

The defense is picking up some of that slack by scoring goals.

Goals are coming from some odd sources

I'm very intrigued to see if Housley makes any lineup changes for this game today
- jcragcrumple

I just added up the points for the centers and wingers for the sabres, jets and bolts

mostly because Ek had a f@cked up blog right now where he counts 7 tampa players as centers for point production


points for guys up front

tampa 143
sabres 117
jets 107


tells me we are getting some secondary scoring, IMO not enough from second line

no, of course not. you'll just assume we all said that so you can get your licks in because the trade didn't go the way you thought it would.
- Sabresfan-365

On a scale from 1-10, how surprised/shocked would everyone be if they won tonight? I'm at a 9.5, between the Wild playing well and the game being an under 24 hour turnaround.

On a scale from 1-10, how surprised/shocked would everyone be if they won tonight? I'm at a 9.5, between the Wild playing well and the game being an under 24 hour turnaround.
- kingcong39

I dunno, they had no business winning the last two and they took 4 points, against two great teams.

They may not win but they're due for a performance that isn't an eye sore so who knows.

On a scale from 1-10, how surprised/shocked would everyone be if they won tonight? I'm at a 9.5, between the Wild playing well and the game being an under 24 hour turnaround.
- kingcong39

depends on 3 things IMO

1. who the wild play in net
2. how housley will try to stop the top 2 lines from the wild
3. special teams

Dumba: "Expecting a lot of speed. They're a fast team and make a lot of plays. They've got a lot of skill." #BUFvsMIN

depends on 3 things IMO

1. who the wild play in net
2. how housley will try to stop the top 2 lines from the wild
3. special teams
- homiedclown

Depends on only one thing.

Do we have the confidence, or are we still afraid?

I just added up the points for the centers and wingers for the sabres, jets and bolts

mostly because Ek had a f@cked up blog right now where he counts 7 tampa players as centers for point production


points for guys up front

tampa 143
sabres 117
jets 107


tells me we are getting some secondary scoring, IMO not enough from second line
- homiedclown

What are you calling the second line?

Sheary-Mitts-Okposo?

So why is it that it's okay for Jack to have 4 goals this year, when last year KANE was taking the puck away from him too much? SORRY BUT, this doesn't fly both way's. Jack been good this year BUT, he still needs to start scoring goals.

So why is it that it's okay for Jack to have 4 goals this year, when last year KANE was taking the puck away from him too much? SORRY BUT, this doesn't fly both way's. Jack been good this year BUT, he still needs to start scoring goals.
- gordong

Because when skinner takes it away he actually scores in months not named december

I said earlier this season I would wait until Thanksgiving/20 games into the season before I issue an opinion on the Team...sorry for format, be here it is...

Player. Contract. Full-year Projection (G/A/Tot) Comment

Jack Eichel 10000000 16/64/80 Great A totals, need more G's added to A's... 2-way game rounding out.

Kyle Okposo 6000000 20/20/40 Having a sneaky decent season...keep it up so we can trade that contract!

Rasmus Ristolainen 5400000 8/28/36 low production given ice time & quality of linemates. weak D. Interesting trade candidate?

Patrik Berglund 4700000 8/8/16 need alot more production. not good enough, hate the contract, how can Botts dump him for next season?

Zach Bogosian 6000000 4/4/8 need alot more production. not good enough, hate the contract, 1 mofe year after this

Marco Scandella 4500000 4/16/20 the new Josh Gorge....trade can't happen soon enough

Carter Hutton 2750000 2.52 / .919 playing out of his mind, stealing points, great contract

Sam Reinhart 3550000 8/44/52 decent production, want more G's in mix. I'd consider trade for true #2 D-man

Vladimir Sobotka 3500000 12/4/16 can he add some A's. ok 4th line, but relative high $ for that, 1 more year

Conor Sheary 3000000 24/16/40 good production. streaky though, weak 2way game

Jeff Skinner 6000000 56/16/72 PERFECT fit for Eichel

Jason Pominville 5000000 32/28/60 production won't last...teaching youngins to go to net, be available, re-sign for 1x3

Rasmus Dahlin 925000 4/28/32 Housley needs to get him 20 TOI, loosen restraints

Nathan Beaulieu 2500000 8/8/16 playing well for low TOI...trade value at TD?

Tage Thompson 925000 0/4/4 stop experiment, send him down to A for development through playing. Making same mistake as Blues there Einstein

Casey Mittelstadt 925000 8/16/24 need alot more production from him, developing nice D game

Jake McCabe 1775000 4/24/28 would expect a couple more G's, decent 2nd pairing, terrific 3rd

Casey Nelson 800000 0/8/8 having tough season, needs to step it for reliable producing 3rd pair

Zemgus Girgensons 1600000 4/16/20 playing pretty strong D game, need alot more production, 13th F next year?

Johan Larsson 1550000 0/8/8 strong D game, but nothing on O. last season here

Linus Ullmark 800000 2.79 / .916 playing well mostly, ouch in that Montreal game

Remi Elie 735000 0/0/0 only purpose is to keep kids in A while Wilson is out

Evan Rodrigues 650000 0/24/24 he needs to produce 15-20 G's for 3rd line. Not there, can he get there?


Nets out
-Risto trade candidate for top RW?
-Reino trade candidate for #2 D, add if necessary
-play Dahlin more
-send Thompson down
- last year for Larry
- can Botts find a trade to get rid of contracts on
- Berglund
- Okposso
- Scandella
- IonSabres

so other than Skinner everyone needs to score more.... Got it... and agree

So why is it that it's okay for Jack to have 4 goals this year, when last year KANE was taking the puck away from him too much? SORRY BUT, this doesn't fly both way's. Jack been good this year BUT, he still needs to start scoring goals.
- gordong

Kane didn't have 14 goals before Thanksgiving while playing with Eichel

+I think Dahlin had a turn around moment after his blatant give away in first period. His game seemed to go up a notch there after.

no, of course not. you'll just assume we all said that so you can get your licks in because the trade didn't go the way you thought it would.
- Sabresfan-365

He's completely full of it again. He got heat for refusing to call him even a B prospect and insisted Baptiste was the better prospect.