They are optional around here...
- hehateme

I told a chick I was dating in high school that all stop signs with white borders were optional. I laughed, she laughed. She didn't get the joke...neither did the driving instructor who failed her on the road test.

It didn't last in case you were wondering.

I told a chick I was dating in high school that all stop signs with white borders were optional. I laughed, she laughed. She didn't get the joke...neither did the driving instructor who failed her on the road test.

It didn't last in case you were wondering.
- RhinoFan

On an otherwise crappy day, that was outstanding... Thanks for making me

You know you’re back in Buffalo when you get a middle finger for just beeping the horn
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Suck it up buttercup.

The stench is overwhelming

GMTM got a raw deal. Can't believe he is gone. Saying Rochester would still be bad if he was still here is mesmerizing. The best players on the team are guys he either drafted or brought in. Botts strikes me as a literal moron! No wonder he is so liked.
- Hatboro_Swords

Their 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th leading scorers are all JB's guys.

But hey, Eric Cornel has 5 points in 21 games, and Hudson Fasching is closing in on .5 PPG in the AHL, and they only cost a total of 3 2nd round picks and a Top 6 NHL D man (We don't need those)

Raw deal indeed

As much as I dislike Sam's lack of effort and speed, there are bigger problems to address.

Mainly anyone who is a UFA after this season

Anyone who has an inflated contract that isn't in the future core.

Anyone who is a problem in the lockerroom

I would think any trade partner now would want to add to a bubble playoff team or actual playoff bound team. What would silent sam add?
He doesn't strike me as a playoff guy.
Ek9 is different . He seams to have the intensity to compete in the nhl playoffs

Rhino up with the bad boys again. Watch the production magically appear folks. You heard it here first.

And for reference, here is a cat scared of a puddle:


- RhinoFan

Looks like Samson in the corner.

But, but, This guy is a bad person, Locker room cancer, Nobody wants him on their team etc, etc,etc. not like people every grow up or anything...

- hehateme

Wow this act of kindness eliminates all his negatives.

Great timing for a new blog. Hopefully it doesn't get as stupid in here as the last one did.
- JetpackJesus

Hold my beer.

Their 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th leading scorers are all JB's guys.

But hey, Eric Cornel has 5 points in 21 games, and Hudson Fasching is closing in on .5 PPG in the AHL, and they only cost a total of 3 2nd round picks and a Top 6 NHL D man (We don't need those)

Raw deal indeed
- sbroads24

Stop pointing out the facts all the time.
Nobody likes facts around here.
Opinions are more important

So after a rough start to the season, Lehner is playing pretty well, at least at home anyway, by putting up numbers like he did last year in a Goalie-friendly system.
1.94 GA and .935 S%.
Those are very appealing numbers to be sure.

Not so appealing are his road stats, as they drag his overall performance is 2.76 GA and .914 S%.

So with him apparently securing interest from other GMs, if your Botts do you have Housley play him:
A) more at home to maximize his numbers for trade value...or
B) hope he has figured it out and play him both on the road and at home as your number 1 and let the chips fall where they may?

As much as I dislike Sam's lack of effort and speed, there are bigger problems to address.

Mainly anyone who is a UFA after this season

Anyone who has an inflated contract that isn't in the future core.

Anyone who is a problem in the lockerroom

I would think any trade partner now would want to add to a bubble playoff team or actual playoff bound team. What would silent sam add?
He doesn't strike me as a playoff guy.
Ek9 is different . He seams to have the intensity to compete in the nhl playoffs
- Boss34

Spot on.
I’m good either way keep him, or trade him if the high value is there.
That said, I see him as being a beast in the playoffs with his style of play ... but also expect the boneheaded penalty that can really hurt as well.

As much as I dislike Sam's lack of effort and speed, there are bigger problems to address.

Mainly anyone who is a UFA after this season

Anyone who has an inflated contract that isn't in the future core.

Anyone who is a problem in the lockerroom

I would think any trade partner now would want to add to a bubble playoff team or actual playoff bound team. What would silent sam add?
He doesn't strike me as a playoff guy.
Ek9 is different . He seams to have the intensity to compete in the nhl playoffs
- Boss34

I do not disagree, but Sam really liked his game the last couple.
Yet Housley played him what 11 minutes last night..and about 3 shifts in the 3rd.
I think he is a lost cause if he thinks what he is giving overall is good enough.

I think they need to keep him on Eichel’s wing to build his value. He is exactly the type of player this team should have no use for going forward.

So after a rough start to the season, Lehner is playing pretty well, at least at home anyway, by putting up numbers like he did last year in a Goalie-friendly system.
1.94 GA and .935 S%.
Those are very appealing numbers to be sure.

Not so appealing are his road stats, as they drag his overall performance is 2.76 GA and .914 S%.

So with him apparently securing interest from other GMs, if your Botts do you have Housley play him:
A) more at home to maximize his numbers for trade value...or
B) hope he has figured it out and play him both on the road and at home as your number 1 and let the chips fall where they may?
- IonSabres

In the telecast last night, they said he has the best GAA at home of any goalie in the league

In the telecast last night, they said he has the best GAA at home of any goalie in the league
- jcragcrumple

Not that I want to see any one hurt permanently....but it would be timely if one of the teams in a playoff race had their starter go down for the balance of the season such that they become desperate for help from a upcoming UFA.
Maybe in that scenario they could extract maximum value...dare say a 1st...how ironic that would be! Lol

Their 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th leading scorers are all JB's guys.

But hey, Eric Cornel has 5 points in 21 games, and Hudson Fasching is closing in on .5 PPG in the AHL, and they only cost a total of 3 2nd round picks and a Top 6 NHL D man (We don't need those)

Raw deal indeed
- sbroads24

Please share the names of 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th and let me know how much you think they'll help. 1st and 3rd are the only ones that matter to me. Players and picks GMTM traded away are a dime a dozen. They did nothing for the Sabres or the team they are playing on now. RoR and Kane were great gets. In your world everything must work out. In mine, it rarely does and you have to figure out how to improvise. GMTM would've got us through. Pegula said he told him to not be afraid to make a mistake then poop cans him the first time it is perceived he did. There's more to this story. GMTM was shrewd. Straight shooter. Had the reputation of giving up too much so other teams would work with him. I'm still trying to think of an interview where he made it sound like he thought the Sabres were great that you claimed to have heard.

Botts can't even do an interview with Mike Schopp without sounding like he is scared. He doesn't have it. How do you think he is going to handle millionaire egos or negotiations with other GM's? GMTM got a raw deal. No doubt in my mind.

Please share the names of 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th and let me know how much you think they'll help. 1st and 3rd are the only ones that matter to me. Players and picks GMTM traded away are a dime a dozen. They did nothing for the Sabres or the team they are playing on now. RoR and Kane were great gets. In your world everything must work out. In mine, it rarely does and you have to figure out how to improvise. GMTM would've got us through. Pegula said he told him to not be afraid to make a mistake then poop cans him the first time it is perceived he did. There's more to this story. GMTM was shrewd. Straight shooter. Had the reputation of giving up too much so other teams would work with him. I'm still trying to think of an interview where he made it sound like he thought the Sabres were great that you claimed to have heard.

Botts can't even do an interview with Mike Schopp without sounding like he is scared. He doesn't have it. How do you think he is going to handle millionaire egos or negotiations with other GM's? GMTM got a raw deal. No doubt in my mind.
- Hatboro_Swords

Help Rochester? A lot. Which was your original point, wasn't it?

Please share the names of 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th and let me know how much you think they'll help. 1st and 3rd are the only ones that matter to me. Players and picks GMTM traded away are a dime a dozen. They did nothing for the Sabres or the team they are playing on now. RoR and Kane were great gets. In your world everything must work out. In mine, it rarely does and you have to figure out how to improvise. GMTM would've got us through. Pegula said he told him to not be afraid to make a mistake then poop cans him the first time it is perceived he did. There's more to this story. GMTM was shrewd. Straight shooter. Had the reputation of giving up too much so other teams would work with him. I'm still trying to think of an interview where he made it sound like he thought the Sabres were great that you claimed to have heard.

Botts can't even do an interview with Mike Schopp without sounding like he is scared. He doesn't have it. How do you think he is going to handle millionaire egos or negotiations with other GM's? GMTM got a raw deal. No doubt in my mind.
- Hatboro_Swords

Blog title at the top of the home page "Compher line adding scoring punch"

Please share the names of 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th and let me know how much you think they'll help. 1st and 3rd are the only ones that matter to me. Players and picks GMTM traded away are a dime a dozen. They did nothing for the Sabres or the team they are playing on now. RoR and Kane were great gets. In your world everything must work out. In mine, it rarely does and you have to figure out how to improvise. GMTM would've got us through. Pegula said he told him to not be afraid to make a mistake then poop cans him the first time it is perceived he did. There's more to this story. GMTM was shrewd. Straight shooter. Had the reputation of giving up too much so other teams would work with him. I'm still trying to think of an interview where he made it sound like he thought the Sabres were great that you claimed to have heard.

Botts can't even do an interview with Mike Schopp without sounding like he is scared. He doesn't have it. How do you think he is going to handle millionaire egos or negotiations with other GM's? GMTM got a raw deal. No doubt in my mind.
- Hatboro_Swords

Well Botts has work a couple of deals already, most notably dumping Foligno and Ennis for Scandella and Pommer. That on is working just fine.
He did dump Moulson, as touchy as that was. He did negotiate the Eichel deal, which was tricky.
I have faith in him, seems to be buttoned-up, has a head on his shoulders and successful experience dealing with the Pens and their Cap. I did however LOVE the straight forward comments by GMTM.

Not that I want to see any one hurt permanently....but it would be timely if one of the teams in a playoff race had their starter go down for the balance of the season such that they become desperate for help from a upcoming UFA.
Maybe in that scenario they could extract maximum value...dare say a 1st...how ironic that would be! Lol
- IonSabres

Now would be a nice time to pull the trigger. I've advocated for Lehner here, but I don't think his timeline matches ours, and I think we can always find stable goaltending again. If he can land us a prospect who is close, I'm all for that. We can also deal with it next summer because he'll still be an RFA.

Blog title at the top of the home page "Compher line adding scoring punch"
- sbroads24

You are the king of making rash decisions after one game. How many goals/points does he have this year? You could say the same thing about E-Rod's line or Josefson's line in a one game sample.

You are the king of making rash decisions after one game. How many goals/points does he have this year? You could say the same thing about E-Rod's line or Josefson's line in a one game sample.
- Hatboro_Swords

Compher broke his thumb blocking a shot Oct. 19 against St. Louis and was out for six games. He had to wear a thumb brace that affected his play when he returned, but that's no longer an issue.

"Now that's behind him," Bednar said. "Now he seems to be getting more chances. He's earned himself a spot on our power play and we've moved him around a little bit to the flank and now to the middle. He's a right-handed shot, which we don't have many of, so he gives us an element there where he can help us score some goals and open things up for some of the other guys."

The fact that Compher has been taking more shots in recent games -- 20 in the past six games -- is evidence that his thumb has healed.

Compher is going to end up being almost exactly what O'Reilly is, a 2nd line center. Yet will be half as cheap, and wouldn't have cost 4 assets.

Tim Murray was a moron.

Compher broke his thumb blocking a shot Oct. 19 against St. Louis and was out for six games. He had to wear a thumb brace that affected his play when he returned, but that's no longer an issue.

"Now that's behind him," Bednar said. "Now he seems to be getting more chances. He's earned himself a spot on our power play and we've moved him around a little bit to the flank and now to the middle. He's a right-handed shot, which we don't have many of, so he gives us an element there where he can help us score some goals and open things up for some of the other guys."

The fact that Compher has been taking more shots in recent games -- 20 in the past six games -- is evidence that his thumb has healed.

Compher is going to end up being almost exactly what O'Reilly is, a 2nd line center. Yet will be half as cheap, and wouldn't have cost 4 assets.

Tim Murray was a moron.
- sbroads24

Gmtm always gets his man

Compher broke his thumb blocking a shot Oct. 19 against St. Louis and was out for six games. He had to wear a thumb brace that affected his play when he returned, but that's no longer an issue.

"Now that's behind him," Bednar said. "Now he seems to be getting more chances. He's earned himself a spot on our power play and we've moved him around a little bit to the flank and now to the middle. He's a right-handed shot, which we don't have many of, so he gives us an element there where he can help us score some goals and open things up for some of the other guys."

The fact that Compher has been taking more shots in recent games -- 20 in the past six games -- is evidence that his thumb has healed.

Compher is going to end up being almost exactly what O'Reilly is, a 2nd line center. Yet will be half as cheap, and wouldn't have cost 4 assets.

Tim Murray was a moron.
- sbroads24

All players have to deal with injuries. Compher was the only one that could be considered an asset, the rest was slop.

Botts is a doofus.

All players have to deal with injuries. Compher was the only one that could be considered an asset, the rest was slop.

Botts is a doofus.
- Hatboro_Swords

Of course.

Whenever the greatest defensive center to walk this earth has his annual 15-20 game goal draught, we hear about how he's ailing from a summer tourney or getting over some injury that's bothering him.