I appreciate the shout out, but I really never liked vanek.
He looked like he had the talent, but didnt give %100. Didnt live up to his contract. Busy gambling
- could just be his style of play.

Pommer was/is an overachiever. A guy that worked hard to rise his game to captain of the Sabres. Quiet leader. ---Clutch scorer
Off ice good guy

Merry Christmas fitz - hope you have a great one 🙂
- Boss34

U have a great Xmas too sir

In all seriousness, i wouldn’t mind Vanek or Pommer on the taxi squad- assuming they’re still in shape
I feel like it should be made up of Vets like that,
and not kids who need to be playing to further their development

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

For today:

Mussels in white wine, thyme and butter, with crusty bread
Potato pancakes with sour cream and caviar
Seared Tilapia
(Traditional Polish Xmas Eve is meatless)

Tomorrow:

Standing rib roast (just lovingly smothered it in herb/garlic paste)
Roasted veggies
Homemade pierogis (cheese)


Still gotta frost cutout cookies and watch Christmas Vacation after lunch.

Eggnog and rum, Brooklyn Winter Lager, Sauvignon Blanc, and half an oz of sticky-icky.

Pandemic/Schmandemic
- LandlordTom

I always wondered why if it comes from sea animals it isn’t considered “meat”
That never made sense to me
I grew up Catholic, and no one ever had a good answer why fish fry was ok but a burger wasn’t
Nbd, just curious
Merry Xmas

U have a great Xmas too sir

In all seriousness, i wouldn’t mind Vanek or Pommer on the taxi squad- assuming they’re still in shape
I feel like it should be made up of Vets like that,
and not kids who need to be playing to further their development
- jdfitz77

The more you think about it, having a local taxi squad based in each respective city. Kinda like the 3rd goalie, beer like zamboni driver.

Teams could carry a nhl roster of 24ish ?

Sweet baby Jesus. It's like Tampa has cheat codes
- jcragcrumple

They do.

It's called a Culture of Team 1st.
Stamkos and Headman started it for this version of Team, followed by Kucherov, Point...and now Sergachev, Cirelli and Cernak.
About the only one who doesn't have a high value contract is Vasi...but ne earned his contract backstopping that team to a SC.

Juxtapose that to Skinner's "ME-ME-ME" contract and then being an absolute wussy in year 1 by challenging the Coaching Staff ... anything but a Culture of Team 1st and Winning (except for him)

Triggered...I'm officially placing Skinner on alert for this board..,that MFer better put up 32+15 = 47 this season. PERIOD.

I always wondered why if it comes from sea animals it isn’t considered “meat”
That never made sense to me
I grew up Catholic, and no one ever had a good answer why fish fry was ok but a burger wasn’t
Nbd, just curious
Merry Xmas
- jdfitz77

Because Jesus fed the masses on fish, not friggin Filet Mignion.

They do.

It's called a Culture of Team 1st.
Stamkos and Headman started it for this version of Team, followed by Kucherov, Point...and now Sergachev, Cirelli and Cernak.
About the only one who doesn't have a high value contract is Vasi...but ne earned his contract backstopping that team to a SC.

Juxtapose that to Skinner's "ME-ME-ME" contract and then being an absolute wussy in year 1 by challenging the Coaching Staff ... anything but a Culture of Team 1st and Winning (except for him)

Triggered...I'm officially placing Skinner on alert for this board..,that MFer better put up 32+15 = 47 this season. PERIOD.
- IonSabres

You want Skinner to score at a 45 goal per 82 game season pace? That sounds unlikely to happen, especially when coach Ralph will have Skinner on a line getting 11 minutes of even strength time per game with Eakin as his center to, you know, 'spread out the offense'.

They do.

It's called a Culture of Team 1st.
Stamkos and Headman started it for this version of Team, followed by Kucherov, Point...and now Sergachev, Cirelli and Cernak.
About the only one who doesn't have a high value contract is Vasi...but ne earned his contract backstopping that team to a SC.

Juxtapose that to Skinner's "ME-ME-ME" contract and then being an absolute wussy in year 1 by challenging the Coaching Staff ... anything but a Culture of Team 1st and Winning (except for him)

Triggered...I'm officially placing Skinner on alert for this board..,that MFer better put up 32+15 = 47 this season. PERIOD.
- IonSabres

Good post ion

I feel like when the Sabres were good, they had a base or drury/briere and then the brought the next wave from Rochester together. Miller/pommer/vanek.

Maybe I'm wrong about the drury/briere timing but, the 2nd wave is what made us good, similar to Tampa.

Hopefully the next wave is cozens/ tage/ mitts/ quinn

To go with eichel/sam/skins

You want Skinner to score at a 45 goal per 82 game season pace? That sounds unlikely to happen, especially when coach Ralph will have Skinner on a line getting 11 minutes of even strength time per game with Eakin as his center to, you know, 'spread out the offense'.
- kingcong39

Taking Skinner off of Eichel’s wing and expect him to produce at a career best...makes perfect sense.

The more you think about it, having a local taxi squad based in each respective city. Kinda like the 3rd goalie, beer like zamboni driver.

Teams could carry a nhl roster of 24ish ?
- Boss34

For us, Rochester is so close that we don’t really need a taxi squad- but it’s nice for many teams who don’t have an AHL team right around the corner

Is there even word on whether or not we’ll have an AHL season or not yet?

Taking Skinner off of Eichel’s wing and expect him to produce at a career best...makes perfect sense.
- Stripes77

Where we at on girgensons based on the 56 game schedule? What point total satisfies the contract?

I think we were basing it on 48 games?

Skins needs 20 /15 assists = 35 points, for a good season without extended eichel time.

Drive a line with sam maybe?

Where we at on girgensons based on the 56 game schedule? What point total satisfies the contract?

I think we were basing it on 48 games?

Skins needs 20 /15 assists = 35 points, for a good season without extended eichel time.

Drive a line with sam maybe?
- Boss34

“Points” are not how Girgs justifies his “worth”

We need 25goals from Skinner this season imo
30 would be great
Hopefully he’ll have some chemistry with Staal from previously playing together

“Points” are not how Girgs justifies his “worth”

We need 30goals from Skinner (at least) to even remotely justify his contract
Hopefully he’ll have some chemistry with Staal from previously playing together
- jdfitz77

I agree that points aren't necessarily everything, but I do Believe girgs 12 goals and top 5 in goal scoring for the Sabres helped him land a solid deal.

I agree that points aren't necessarily everything, but I do Believe girgs 12 goals and top 5 in goal scoring for the Sabres helped him land a solid deal.
- Boss34

Of course
But i don’t need my 4th line defensive forwards to be scorers, i need them to shut down opponents scorers

I just hope losing Larsson doesn’t hurt the effectiveness of that line that’s been good for us the last couple seasons

Taking Skinner off of Eichel’s wing and expect him to produce at a career best...makes perfect sense.
- Stripes77

Leaving aside the fact that he is the reason Hall signed in Buffalo...I cannot stand Krueger. He just oozes "corporate HR" every time he opens his mouth.

You want Skinner to score at a 45 goal per 82 game season pace? That sounds unlikely to happen, especially when coach Ralph will have Skinner on a line getting 11 minutes of even strength time per game with Eakin as his center to, you know, 'spread out the offense'.
- kingcong39

YES, ABSOLUTELY YES.

He was on a 55 goal pace with Jack.

35 in a 56 is absolutely a reasonable expectation for a guy who will face lesser competition, have a very, very good set-up 2C in Staal, and likely a young, aggressive 2C who can fly and set-up as well.
35. Minimum expectation.

If he plays on the 3rd line with Eakin, I'll ...
A) cut it to 27
B) Lambaste Krueger in an unrelenting fashion...nightly until May 10th.
(Should drive Fitz fvcking crazy)

You want Skinner to score at a 45 goal per 82 game season pace? That sounds unlikely to happen, especially when coach Ralph will have Skinner on a line getting 11 minutes of even strength time per game with Eakin as his center to, you know, 'spread out the offense'.
- kingcong39

For $9M a year he should score 30 with me as his Center.

Leaving aside the fact that he is the reason Hall signed in Buffalo...I cannot stand Krueger. He just oozes "corporate HR" every time he opens his mouth.
- SoCalPucks

Players LOVE him though

Taking Skinner off of Eichel’s wing and expect him to produce at a career best...makes perfect sense.
- Stripes77

Merry Christmas!
Sure, that's one way to look at it.

The other way to look at it is
$9m for 14 G's in 69 games is about 18 short
He should be an absolute monster to show he is worth $7m let alone $9m...he owes this team big time...make it happen. It's not like he will have Johan Larson and Lazar with him. Get'er done. All else is friggin excuses.

Merry Christmas!
Sure, that's one way to look at it.

The other way to look at it is
$9m for 14 G's in 69 games is about 18 short
He should be an absolute monster to show he is worth $7m let alone $9m...he owes this team big time...make it happen. It's not like he will have Johan Larson and Lazar with him. Get'er done. All else is friggin excuses.
- IonSabres

Let’s take him away from the center he scored 40 with.

Put him with two boat anchors as line mates that he played with last season and be furious he didn’t produce.

Look he had a bad season. That is as much to blame on Botts and Ralph.

Thankfully this season he should play with good line-mates.

Let’s take him away from the center he scored 40 with.

Put him with two boat anchors as line mates that he played with last season and be furious he didn’t produce.

Look he had a bad season. That is as much to blame on Botts and Ralph.

Thankfully this season he should play with good line-mates.
- Stripes77

I'm not arguing that, and honestly I did an analysis last year to prove the opportunities he did get were of unbelievably poor quality compared to the season before (High Danger down 50%+, Medium Danger down 30%+)...so I'm well aware of what you are saying. That was last year.

Now he has the 2nd best center he has ever had as his linemate ... expecting elite production when playing with very, very good players and being played as an elite scoring winger, and playing against lesser competition...well, excuses are gone..PRODUCE.

At least we know Gigensons will lead the team in falls.

But this season is a huge question mark other than that.

I'm not arguing that, and honestly I did an analysis last year to prove the opportunities he did get were of unbelievably poor quality compared to the season before (High Danger down 50%+, Medium Danger down 30%+)...so I'm well aware of what you are saying. That was last year.

Now he has the 2nd best center he has ever had as his linemate ... expecting elite production when playing with very, very good players and being played as an elite scoring winger, and playing against lesser competition...well, excuses are gone..PRODUCE.
- IonSabres

For sure I expect him to produce if he’s playing with Staal and say Cozens.

However with how Ralph was horrible with his lines last year I could see him with Eakins and Thompson and expecting him to produce at a 30 goal pace is setting yourself up for disappointment.

I really don’t like Ralph as a coach. He continues to ride Risto. He makes weird lines and refuses to change it up.

Hopefully I’m wrong but I don’t see it.

Make him president and get a real coach in here if this season goes tits up.

Of course
But i don’t need my 4th line defensive forwards to be scorers, i need them to shut down opponents scorers

I just hope losing Larsson doesn’t hurt the effectiveness of that line that’s been good for us the last couple seasons
- jdfitz77

I think larrson held girgs back, annually.

Also , not so sure girgensons is the 4th line guy. I bet he plays up and down the line up.

Krueger likes grit and sandpaper on each line.

Also lazar / okposo and rieder/ eatkids are lower on the totem pole.

You don't pay 2.2 x 3 if you expect just defense. And as crags pointed out, his pk wasnt sellars, (maybe Larsson's fault)

For sure I expect him to produce if he’s playing with Staal and say Cozens.

However with how Ralph was horrible with his lines last year I could see him with Eakins and Thompson and expecting him to produce at a 30 goal pace is setting yourself up for disappointment.

I really don’t like Ralph as a coach. He continues to ride Risto. He makes weird lines and refuses to change it up.

Hopefully I’m wrong but I don’t see it.

Make him president and get a real coach in here if this season goes tits up.
- Stripes77

He has a real roster now so I expect to see better lines. I think the Skinner on L2 thing was overblown a bit. He was trying to squeeze anything he could out of the bottom 9. I don't blame him for that

He has a real roster now so I expect to see better lines. I think the Skinner on L2 thing was overblown a bit. He was trying to squeeze anything he could out of the bottom 9. I don't blame him for that
- jcragcrumple

What do you mean by overblown a bit?

Serious question so I can respond better.