Team is still soft. They really decided to do nothing about it except bring in John Hayden. Miller scraps sometimes I guess. I think they have too many players with the same kind of temperament and they'll probably get bullied a little bit.

I'd set the over/under on Cozens fights at 3
- Hank Balling

I think Hayden gets some regular playing time. The competition isnt really that "set in stone".

Hope cozensons doesnt fight at all. He really doesn't need to be the tough guy on the Sabres.

3 fights seems about right though.......


We need some Ted hockey.

I've also close to convincing myself eichel will be back ☝️

Meatballs played him on the 4th line because the season was long gone and he wanted to see what the youngins could do. But somethin, somethin, 4th-line skimmer
- Michael Pachla

There were 30 other teams in the league, how many played their psychologically damaged 9 million dollar wingers on the 4th line because they were out of the playoffs and wanted the youngins to play top line minutes. I mean I could see him playing 2nd line and maybe 3rd line with the youngin but all the way down to the fourth line just because Meatballs didn't put him in the doghouse too? Man, Skimmer gets the rationalized love from everywhere.

Watkins another bad pick! Like ej manual pj Kidman and on and on!! Ollie a what 5th round pick and you dump on him? That the best they have done in years !!

But, how are you viewing 9 million dollar players?
- GilPerreault11

through the lens of the stats before he signed his contract while playing for middling teams, not bottom of the barrel sabres teams from 2019-21...from his calder trophy winning 2010-11 season to his 2018-19, 40-goal season skinner was tied for 13th in goals with 244, which translates to an average of 30 goals/82 game season and was fifth in even strength goals with 191 behind the likes of Ovie, JT, Patty Kane and Stammer...all of whom have contracts around and above $9m

There were 30 other teams in the league, how many played their psychologically damaged 9 million dollar wingers on the 4th line because they were out of the playoffs and wanted the youngins to play top line minutes. I mean I could see him playing 2nd line and maybe 3rd line with the youngin but all the way down to the fourth line just because Meatballs didn't put him in the doghouse too? Man, Skimmer gets the rationalized love from everywhere.
- GilPerreault11

he's the new whipping boy...

gotta have one in buffalo

Yep, affraid of posting another terrible take: to go along with the long list of terrible takes.

Lun : gotta like both 3 year signings right?
Adam's get any credit for taking your advice?

I like both deals, mitts slightly more.
- Boss34

Deals are fine. Really not much to say on them. He bridged 2 RFA's. Would have been a surprise if he didn't. 3 years vs 2 isn't all that interesting to dissect.

Mitts is still a wild card. If he's in Montreal, he's getting scratched in the playoffs. He still has a lot to prove.

through the lens of the stats before he signed his contract while playing for middling teams, not bottom of the barrel sabres teams from 2019-21...from his calder trophy winning 2010-11 season to his 2018-19, 40-goal season skinner was tied for 13th in goals with 244, which translates to an average of 30 goals/82 game season and was fifth in even strength goals with 191 behind the likes of Ovie, JT, Patty Kane and Stammer...all of whom have contracts around and above $9m
- Michael Pachla

I thought it was a what have you done for me lately league? I went to see Gordie Howe with the Hartford Whalers when I was really young and I was disappointed I didn't get the 1950's Detroit Redwings Gordie Howe.

Hank, another good read, great job!

At about the mid point of Ralph's 1st season I analyzed Skinners analytics for High/Medium/Low Danger Shots compared to the season previous under Housley. That showed significant decrease in shots from High and Medium danger areas...while a substantial increase in shots from Low Danger areas.
Couple that with a rather significant dropoff in ice time as well as Quality of Teammate...
Well viola, his raw counting stars decreased significantly.

I want to see Skinner with Cozens, and not Olofsson who has proven to be a 3rd liner at 5v5...find someone else on the RW...a guy who battles for the pick and can help find Skinner..he'll be by the front of the net.

Ralph and his dump-in, send back to the point for a shot was 1980's style hockey.
Friggin brutal and Skinner was a guy who lost his game as a result.
- IonSabres

The RW on this team who best fits that description is Vinnie Hinostroza imo. Not a whole lot of RW options

Deals are fine. Really not much to say on them. He bridged 2 RFA's. Would have been a surprise if he didn't. 3 years vs 2 isn't all that interesting to dissect.

Mitts is still a wild card. If he's in Montreal, he's getting scratched in the playoffs. He still has a lot to prove.
- Lunaion

Then signing a $6.1 million offer sheet

he's the new whipping boy...

gotta have one in buffalo
- Michael Pachla

He won't be the whipping boy as he should be, holding underperforming, hugely overpaid players should be questioned and not drooled over as he has been for two pathetic years.

OLO will be the whipping boy like he is on this site.

through the lens of the stats before he signed his contract while playing for middling teams, not bottom of the barrel sabres teams from 2019-21...from his calder trophy winning 2010-11 season to his 2018-19, 40-goal season skinner was tied for 13th in goals with 244, which translates to an average of 30 goals/82 game season and was fifth in even strength goals with 191 behind the likes of Ovie, JT, Patty Kane and Stammer...all of whom have contracts around and above $9m
- Michael Pachla

Any concerns over jeffy the new rich guy?

Jeffy the bad attitude wealthy , had a great contract year with jack?

I think it's more than ralph or a 2 1/2 year slump

I thought it was a what have you done for me lately league? I went to see Gordie Howe with the Hartford Whalers when I was really young and I was disappointed I didn't get the 1950's Detroit Redwings Gordie Howe.
- GilPerreault11

The contract was given to him with those stats in mind and with him comimg of of a 40 goal season. Ain't his fault he signed it nor is it his fault the god of synergy tried to change what made Skinner reach those lofty numbers.

It is what it is.

Deals are fine. Really not much to say on them. He bridged 2 RFA's. Would have been a surprise if he didn't. 3 years vs 2 isn't all that interesting to dissect.

Mitts is still a wild card. If he's in Montreal, he's getting scratched in the playoffs. He still has a lot to prove.
- Lunaion

Mitts was 12th in goal scoring in the nhl the last month of the season if I'm not mistaken?

Seems like a hot player heading into the playoffs.

Also, they scratched caufield right?
Maybe they shouldn't have

The contract was given to him with those stats in mind and with him comimg of of a 40 goal season. Ain't his fault he signed it nor is it his fault the god of synergy tried to change what made Skinner reach those lofty numbers.

It is what it is.
- Michael Pachla

Does he have a responsibility to produce in some way? To earn that money in some way? Was it a good idea to try to develop two scoring lines instead of just have one and finish in the bottom 5 again? Does he have any responsibility for falling off the track? Or is it someone else, others responsible for him?

The contract was given to him with those stats in mind and with him comimg of of a 40 goal season. Ain't his fault he signed it nor is it his fault the god of synergy tried to change what made Skinner reach those lofty numbers.

It is what it is.
- Michael Pachla

How do you " ain't his fault" any player?
Especially when there's a coach/ player issue.
Generally speaking, it takes 2 too tango.

How many of you poster every played ice hockey?

Ville Leino

Ryan Miller going to the Olympics as an assistant coach...

There are 3 sides to a story 1st side . Then the 2nd side! Then the true!! What is true from both sides! Where both sides have the same thing in common.

Deals are fine. Really not much to say on them. He bridged 2 RFA's. Would have been a surprise if he didn't. 3 years vs 2 isn't all that interesting to dissect.

Mitts is still a wild card. If he's in Montreal, he's getting scratched in the playoffs. He still has a lot to prove.
- Lunaion

3 years versus 2 years is intelligent and significant as it means they'll still have 2 seasons of control left with each player, which is the right time to make a definitive decision on each player (commit long term vs. trade).

Any of you bloggers play ice hockey? Or you just want a bees?

How many of you poster every played ice hockey?
- Rsh

I played ice hockey as a kid (Hamburg and S. Buffalo)

I played ice hockey as a kid (Hamburg and S. Buffalo)
- Hank Balling

Did you score more than 20 goals in each of your 2 nhl seasons of just over 50 games each?

7th round pick?

Still have a target on your back?

Or were you the take the money and run type?
9 million to score 2 more goals than girgensons?

I played ice hockey as a kid (Hamburg and S. Buffalo)
- Hank Balling

I played through high school and a year of junior...then I started reffing and have made it to the professional ranks.

More than likely not!!