Michael Pachla: Injuries mounting up-front for Buffalo plus the five-game recap

First...


defenseman to play forward this year. But will it be the last?

First...


defenseman to play forward this year. But will it be the last?
- jcragcrumple

its not like it can get "worse"

its not like it can get "worse"
- SabresFaninIndiana

Bogo is not the power forward this team wanted, but he's the one the team needs

Bogo is not the power forward this team wanted, but he's the one the team needs
- jcragcrumple

Risto on the forecheck would be more effective than Risto in his own zone.

The two Dach goals were not Eichel’s fault. Eichel was racing back to cover him both times because a defenseman, Jokiharju, was out of position on both goals.

The two Dach goals were not Eichel’s fault. Eichel was racing back to cover him both times because a defenseman, Jokiharju, was out of position on both goals.
- Beethoven

That may be, but the better question is, how hard did Jack slam the bench door when he came off the ice??

That may be, but the better question is, how hard did Jack slam the bench door when he came off the ice??
- PrinceChill

about a 4.5

Play Larry Pilut and I will be happy or trade the guy. He deserves to lock down a spot.

Any good hallmark movies on tonight? Asking for a friend.

The two Dach goals were not Eichel’s fault. Eichel was racing back to cover him both times because a defenseman, Jokiharju, was out of position on both goals.
- Beethoven

I mean it doesn’t help that we have guys transitioning and Reinhart coughs up the puck in the neutral zone leading to them reversing on us on Dach’s second goal.

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...?thread_id=118162&page=63

interesting

Hockeybuzz Draft Bet:

sbraods24 - Draisaitl
pegulaville -Draisaitl
herzeleid - Draisaitl
rover16 - Bennett
gerbe - Reinhart
letsgobuffalo75 - Reinhart
powerslave - Reinhart
89 - Reinhart
stripes77 - Reinhart
GilPerreault11 - Bennett
Maximum Signal - Reinhart
evatnorth - Trade
gibby111 - Bennett
Otsegolectric - Draisaitl
Enzomatic - Reinhart
Leninthebuff - Draisaitl
jackoc150 - Bennett
joevthree - Ekblad
Irish 14 - Bennett
jaumiller - Reinhart
homiedclown - Draisaitl *
IonSabres - Bennett
100goalseason - Reinhart
ZemgusTurtlsons - Bennett
Orphen22 - Reinhart
sabresfandan - Reinhart
SabresNHL - Bennett
beargk - Bennett
jochfr - Tits McGee (Reinhart)
Da_Cashman - Reinhart
Khymlev13 - Reinhart
TheSabresTaco - Reinhart
IceColdBeer - Reinhart
IndianaSabresFan - Bennett
Buffalo-Sabres - Bennett
Cheeseballin - Reinhart
HonkFortheGoose - Reinhart
CaptainRivet - Reinhart
Cabin - Reinhart
ImThatGuy - Reinhart
Smittyx36 - Reinhart
Jammerz04 - Reinhart
Homer- Reinhart

**CLOSED**

Honorable Mention:
dadeadhead - Reinhart
mhp - Bennett
- homiedclown


Shame that many of these beauties never post anymore.

Also, notice how there is no cement maker with girls howling at him all night and raising his six kids right in the list?

Back then the biggest fight was over benatty vs reinhardt and how
Many pull ups they could do or if they could score only using their mind.

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/boards/thread.php?thread_id=118162&page=63

interesting

Hockeybuzz Draft Bet:

sbraods24 - Draisaitl
pegulaville -Draisaitl
herzeleid - Draisaitl
rover16 - Bennett
gerbe - Reinhart
letsgobuffalo75 - Reinhart
powerslave - Reinhart
89 - Reinhart
stripes77 - Reinhart
GilPerreault11 - Bennett
Maximum Signal - Reinhart
evatnorth - Trade
gibby111 - Bennett
Otsegolectric - Draisaitl
Enzomatic - Reinhart
Leninthebuff - Draisaitl
jackoc150 - Bennett
joevthree - Ekblad
Irish 14 - Bennett
jaumiller - Reinhart
homiedclown - Draisaitl *
IonSabres - Bennett
100goalseason - Reinhart
ZemgusTurtlsons - Bennett
Orphen22 - Reinhart
sabresfandan - Reinhart
SabresNHL - Bennett
beargk - Bennett
jochfr - Tits McGee (Reinhart)
Da_Cashman - Reinhart
Khymlev13 - Reinhart
TheSabresTaco - Reinhart
IceColdBeer - Reinhart
IndianaSabresFan - Bennett
Buffalo-Sabres - Bennett
Cheeseballin - Reinhart
HonkFortheGoose - Reinhart
CaptainRivet - Reinhart
Cabin - Reinhart
ImThatGuy - Reinhart
Smittyx36 - Reinhart
Jammerz04 - Reinhart
Homer- Reinhart

**CLOSED**

Honorable Mention:
dadeadhead - Reinhart
mhp - Bennett
- homiedclown


Shame that many of these beauties never post anymore.

Also, notice how there is no cement maker with girls howling at him all night and raising his six kids right in the list?

Back then the biggest fight was over benatty vs reinhardt and how
Many pull ups they could do or if they could score only using their mind.
- Da_Cashman

This wasn’t that long ago, there is now a virus that has latched on and posters continue to try to reason with it.

I’ll put money that Mitts, Skunk and Bennett still can’t do a pull up.

This wasn’t that long ago, there is now a virus that has latched on and posters continue to try to reason with it.

I’ll put money that Mitts, Skunk and Bennett still can’t do a pull up.
- washedup20

CaptainRivet needs to post more

That’s all I got

Hockeybuzz Draft Bet:

sbraods24 - Draisaitl
pegulaville -Draisaitl
herzeleid - Draisaitl
rover16 - Bennett
gerbe - Reinhart
letsgobuffalo75 - Reinhart
powerslave - Reinhart
89 - Reinhart
stripes77 - Reinhart
GilPerreault11 - Bennett
Maximum Signal - Reinhart
evatnorth - Trade
gibby111 - Bennett
Otsegolectric - Draisaitl
Enzomatic - Reinhart
Leninthebuff - Draisaitl
jackoc150 - Bennett
joevthree - Ekblad
Irish 14 - Bennett
jaumiller - Reinhart
homiedclown - Draisaitl *
IonSabres - Bennett
100goalseason - Reinhart
ZemgusTurtlsons - Bennett
Orphen22 - Reinhart
sabresfandan - Reinhart
SabresNHL - Bennett
beargk - Bennett
jochfr - Tits McGee (Reinhart)
Da_Cashman - Reinhart
Khymlev13 - Reinhart
TheSabresTaco - Reinhart
IceColdBeer - Reinhart
IndianaSabresFan - Bennett
Buffalo-Sabres - Bennett
Cheeseballin - Reinhart
HonkFortheGoose - Reinhart
CaptainRivet - Reinhart
Cabin - Reinhart
ImThatGuy - Reinhart
Smittyx36 - Reinhart
Jammerz04 - Reinhart
Homer- Reinhart

**CLOSED**

Honorable Mention:
dadeadhead - Reinhart
mhp - Bennett
- homiedclown



I had the lasagna.



Airplane (the movie) jokes aside, until Edmonton wins a cup with Drai riding shotgun to McJesus, I will not regret us getting Reinhart.

As for our team, I fully expect as many downs as ups this year but our window should start to crack open next year, and if JB doesn't panic we should be built to compete for several years.

BUT, Mitts so far is a huge disappointment to me. Keep Asplund up, trade for another usable center, and put Mitts and Mojo on the wings for this year.

We need a GM with a set of balls to correct his mistakes. Botterill brought in too many defensemen and ignored the lack of top six talent.

It’s not like nobody is available. It’s not like there aren’t teams who need what we have with whom we could make a deal.

It just takes some balls to do it.

Hall is available. It would take a player, a prospect and a pick.

Trade Miller, Thompson and a first for Hall. If they say no add picks until they say yes.

Winnipeg has playoff aspirations but is very short on quality defensemen.

Trade Ristolainen and Olofsson for Ehlers. If they say no, add picks until they say yes.

Detroit needs defense help.

Trade Montour for Athanasiou. If they say no, add picks until they say yes.

Salary in is equal to salary out.

Hall(6) Eichel(10) Skinner(9)
Reinhart(3.65) Athanasiou(3) Ehlers(6)
Johansson(4.5) Mittelstadt(.925) Sheary(3)
Girgensons(1.55) Larsson(1.6) Vesey(2.25)
Okposo(6) Sobotka(3.5)

Scandella(4) Jokiharju(.925)
Bogosian(5.14) Dahlin(.925)
McCabe(2.85) Pilut(.925)
Gilmour(.700)

Hutton(2.75)
Ullmark(1.33)

Hodgson buyout(.792)

Total Salary: 81.312
Cap: 81.5

We are under the cap with no LTIR relief for Bogosian, Okposo and Sobotka

In the off-season...
Sign all RFAs, Vesey and Erod take paycuts or I trade them for scraps and replace them.

Sign Hall at 8 years 9 per.

Choose one of Scandella or Bogosian to sign. Sign Gilmour a UFA. Let all other UFAs walk.

20/21

Hall(9) Eichel(10) Skinner(9)
Reinhart(7) Athanasiou(5) Ehlers(6)
Johansson(4.5) Mittelstadt(2.25) Okposo(6)
Asplund(.845) Erod(1.5) Vesey(1.5)
Lazar(.700)

Scand/Bogo(4.25) Jokiharju(3.25)
McCabe(2.85) Dahlin(.925)
Borgen(.925) Pilut(.925)
Gilmour(1)

Ullmark(2.75)
Hutton(2.75)

Hodgson(.792)

Total salary: 83.712
Projected cap: 84M

We can afford adding Hall and the other contracts. Dahlin’s contract will fit with Johansson, McCabe, Hutton coming off the books and the increase in cap. It would even allow us room for an upgrade to McCabe inFA if we decide not to keep him.

21/22

Hall(9) Eichel(10) Skinner(9)
Reinhart(7) Athanasiou(5) Ehlers(6)
Cozens(.925) Mittelstadt(2.25) Okposo(6)
Pekar(.925) Asplund(1.5) Vesey(1.5)
Lazar(.700)

Scand/Bogo(4.25) Dahlin(8)
UFA(4) Jokiharju(3.25)
Borgen(.925) Pilut(.925)
Gilmour(1)

Ullmark(2.75)
UPL(.925)

Hodgson(.792)

Total salary: 85.962
Projected cap: 86-87

I realize the Seattle draft would have happened and we could have lost Ullmark or a dman.

Then Okposo falls off the books and we have that salary along with continued increases in the cap for raises for RFAs, a replacement for Okposo or upgrades to the defense or bottom six.

If Okposo retires early or is on LTIR we can use that cap space earlier to keep Johansson, bring in a better talent for the third line, or upgrade our defense.

We would have a legitimate top six locked in long term. Jokiharju and Dahlin maturing will compensate for losing Montour, Risto and Miller.

Seriously, it doesn’t have to be these exact trades. I chose Ehlers because he has a longterm contract, Athanasiou because he is an RFA, and Hall because he is available.

If Botterill wants to keep his job, this is the type of change he needs to make. Because one forward isn’t going to make the difference. We need multiple moves and to change the way the roster is constructed.

Michael Pachla: Injuries mounting up-front for Buffalo plus the five-game recap
- Michael Pachla

seems strange when scandella is the most familiar with the wild, he gets the nod to go to the presser

scandella +7 this season
mccabe -4


another head scratching move

If Botterill wants to keep his job, this is the type of change he needs to make. Because one forward isn’t going to make the difference. We need multiple moves and to change the way the roster is constructed.
- Beethoven

team could have used a middle 6 vet or 2, looking back in hindsight

The only thing I can guess is that McCabe has an A, and won't sit because of it.

Tank !

I dont understand why scandella is sitting...how about mccabe who has been brutal? I guess were not seeing the same thing as the coach.

team could have used a middle 6 vet or 2, looking back in hindsight
- homiedclown

It was clear at the time (last year, over the summer). Only Botterill needs hindsight

team could have used a middle 6 vet or 2, looking back in hindsight
- homiedclown

If Sheary, Vesey, Mitts, and ERod played like middle 6 guys, it wouldn't be so glaring.

I dont understand why scandella is sitting...how about mccabe who has been brutal? I guess were not seeing the same thing as the coach.
- bonecrrusher

I never thought we would be clamoring for Scandella to not be in the press box this year.

seems strange when scandella is the most familiar with the wild, he gets the nod to go to the presser

scandella +7 this season
mccabe -4


another head scratching move
- homiedclown

Joe Yerdon's take, on why McCabe and Risto must exist, and together.

"Let me just crack my knuckles before digging into this one because it’s got multiple layers to it.

A few things have conspired to make this happen. Part of it has to do with how Rasmus Dahlin has been a bit off at the start of the season. Part of it has to do with how the defense has been built. But a huge part of it is how both Jake McCabe and Rasmus Ristolainen check a lot of boxes that other guys don’t.

Both guys play physical hockey and can clear the area around the net. Ristolainen can be the puck-mover on that pairing while McCabe, ideally, is the heads-up defenseman. When you look at the other players who could play 20+ minutes per game, there are questions.

Dahlin will do it eventually, but right now it’s probably not the best time. Brandon Montour is getting back into the mix and if/when Ristolainen is traded, he’s probably your top pair righty defenseman. Marco Scandella and Henri Jokiharju have been solid, but that pairing was on ice for both of Kirby Dach’s goals Sunday against Chicago. Colin Miller was a healthy scratch for three games because they’re working things out for him. John Gilmour has played in three games and is clearly their No. 8 guy and probably headed to Rochester when Zach Bogosian is ready to go. And you have to think Lawrence Pilut will be back at some point, but he’s still getting back to it after offseason shoulder surgery.

So… they’re a little stuck at least until they make a trade. And they will make one."