Great blog. Even for Sens fans, RJ's calls have become "must listen" moments for remembering the high and low moments of past years.

How many first rounds picks will the Sabres have in the upcoming draft?

I am guessing 3 definite (#1, #5 and #8).
- spatso

God I hope you're right.

Regardless of how many first round picks they'll have, none of the players they select will be as good as Tim Stutzle or Brady Tkachuk
- RichardRoma

get back to me when Tkachuk has a 50 point season

I like the kid, but right now he still puts up second line numbers

*shrugs*

Idk. We know the identity of both teams. We know their make up, strengths and weaknesses. We know how they play. With that in mind, the games are played on the ice and out of all the four major NA sports, the NHL can be the least predictable.
- Michael Pachla

islanders are hanging no doubt


great series, but they need game 4 IMO big time

the younger folks missed out on RJ

his radio only work in the late 70's and 80's was off the chart
- homiedclown

Funny how he was a disc jockey for CJRN his first years calling Sabres games.

Regardless of how many first round picks they'll have, none of the players they select will be as good as Tim Stutzle or Brady Tkachuk
- RichardRoma

This draft might be far better than some think. Just not a lot of season last year to judge future development. But, I don't have any doubt that scouts and gm's have it figured out. I like Power a lot.

Michigan may become to Buffalo what North Dakota has for Ottawa.

Exactly. How many times did you turn down the TV?

And Ted Darling was no slouch. Sabres have been blessed in that regard.
- Powerslave

it was sad seeing Darling in his later years, wondering around

Good blog.as I've said before,I wish our blogger had some or any passion at all for the team.im envious that our blogger puts up a weekly recap and that's about it.keep up the good work hank,you are doing the sabres faithful a great service with your blogs both as a writer and a fan.again great job!

Signed
Envious kings fan

If they don't give us Zegras, and it's Drysdale, do you really still pick Power or go w best forward?
- Powerslave

I go with the plan of having the best D in the league in a couple years. You add The Wall in the other part of the trade and you have a good identity. Shutdown team on backend that can transition. Good two way forwards on offense.

Funny how he was a disc jockey for CJRN his first years calling Sabres games.
- Buff36

he must have loved it

dedication to call a sabres game and then get up at 330 in the morning to spin records the next day

If they don't give us Zegras, and it's Drysdale, do you really still pick Power or go w best forward?
- Powerslave

Well they do play opposite sides, so it would be intriguing. Still get a good forward at 3 Guenther and might still get Eklund at 8. Definitely be a tough call.

Not so sure about that.

Yes, Vasi is playing great, but Kucherov and Point have been fantastic as well.
Tampa's passing on zone breakouts is very good, and their D block as many shots as Vasi does it seems.

That is one hell of a team, and they are handling another very good team where it counts the most...scoreboard. They closed out the entire 3rd period protecting a 1 goal lead, like they have several times this post season. Yes, Vasi is a big part of that, but It is a total team effort.

So fun to watch.

GO BOLTS!

islanders are hanging no doubt


great series, but they need game 4 IMO big time
- homiedclown

I thought they really needed the game last night. Valiant effort so far.

it was sad seeing Darling in his later years, wondering around


- homiedclown

My wife used to work at Laux in the Eastern Hills Mall and Teddy used to come in all the time and "hang out". He must've lived very close. His wife would always call, "Is he there again?", and come and get him. Very sad and way too young (61).

I go with the plan of having the best D in the league in a couple years. You add The Wall in the other part of the trade and you have a good identity. Shutdown team on backend that can transition. Good two way forwards on offense.
- Fattony1187

I do like your plan.

You're hired.

it was sad seeing Darling in his later years, wondering around


- homiedclown

Yeah Parkinson's hit him hard quick, horrible!!

I do like your plan.

You're hired.
- Powerslave

It was only a thought because your not gonna replace Jack on offense as a #1 center. But you can make your D and goalies great from that trade.

You hope you get lucky in next years draft for a center and if you do then you have a complete team. If not you’ll still have a very solid team

islanders are hanging no doubt


great series, but they need game 4 IMO big time
- homiedclown

It has been a very, very good series.
All the pressure is on the Isles now...they absolutely HAVE to win Saturday...and even if they do, they gave back home ice advantage last night.

Go Bolts!

Hank, this was another great blog (again). You really come up with great topics and do a great job laying out your point of view.

That said... I could not disagree more. So let me get this straight - RJ mispronounces a few names and misidentifies a few players so we should put him out to pasture?

First, every announcer does it. To be honest I really don't recall him doing it as much as others seem to do it.

Second, so freaking what? The man still has the flair for the dramatic, the same wit and (after it warms up) the same great voice. We've got the rest of our collective lives to listen to Dan Dunleavy (no offense to Dan - he is a fine announcer) - why the rush to get to that point? RJ at 90% is still waaaay better than anything we are going to get. He isn't ruining our viewing pleasure and he certainly isn't embarrassing himself the way Van Miller did at the end. I would also point out that the pandemic layoff seemed to get to him a bit as he seemed to shake off the rust later in this season. Don't underestimate the ability of Ralph stank in the organization.

Finally, why can't we see this guy as a gift? I grew up listening to him call the games in the early 80's on the radio as we didn't have cable. My kids are now listening to him on tv now. Mispronounced name or not, he's still RJ and there won't be another. I doubt any of you were happy to hear that it was Dunleavy calling a game and not RJ last season.

I don’t think Anaheim wants to trade Zegras. Center a trade around #3 and drysdale and a small plus.

Trade Sam/Risto and Oloffson to LA for Turcotte and 8. Draft Eklund at 3 and The wall at 8.

Before “iTs nOt eNoUgH”...

Dahlin/Drysdale
Power/Joki

And Wallstat/UPL Could be the best D and Goalie tandem in league.

Center core of Cozens/Turcotte/Mitts isn’t horrible. Wing core of
Eklund/Quinn
Skinner/Tage/Paterka. Isn’t bad either. Add that to best goalies and D in league and your looking pretty pretty good. Don’t forget we would most likely have a top 3 pick next year to add to forward core
- Fattony1187

As much as I want JE… Drysdale is even more untouchable than Z …
The trade with us is centered around Gibson for JE and some filler pieces on both sides that make each team happy.

Some Saber fans insist a high end F has to come back and while I understand that we just aren’t in the position to give up offensively talented players…
So like I say …. Sabers need a goalie in the worst way… and that we can trade ….

I do like your plan.

You're hired.
- Powerslave

someone has to have a plan... just wish the Sabres did

My wife used to work at Laux in the Eastern Hills Mall and Teddy used to come in all the time and "hang out". He must've lived very close. His wife would always call, "Is he there again?", and come and get him. Very sad and way too young (61).
- Powerslave

he was wondering in the best western lobby in lockport at 9pm on a regular basis in the early 90's

I go with the plan of having the best D in the league in a couple years. You add The Wall in the other part of the trade and you have a good identity. Shutdown team on backend that can transition. Good two way forwards on offense.
- Fattony1187

It was fun watching Dom all those years, and The Hardest Working Team was enjoyable as well.
I could get behind another version of that for sure.

Any rumors as to what the value of what Ristolainen is currently?

As much as I want JE… Drysdale is even more untouchable than Z …
The trade with us is centered around Gibson for JE and some filler pieces on both sides that make each team happy.

Some Saber fans insist a high end F has to come back and while I understand that we just aren’t in the position to give up offensively talented players…
So like I say …. Sabers need a goalie in the worst way… and that we can trade ….

- dozerD10

We aren’t trading Eichel for the main piece of Gibson coming back. Goalies are like RBs in league. You can find one if needed

As much as I want JE… Drysdale is even more untouchable than Z …
The trade with us is centered around Gibson for JE and some filler pieces on both sides that make each team happy.

Some Saber fans insist a high end F has to come back and while I understand that we just aren’t in the position to give up offensively talented players…
So like I say …. Sabers need a goalie in the worst way… and that we can trade ….

- dozerD10

If you think youre getting a top 10 center for a fading, slightly above average goalie, and #3, youre nuts.

Its Zegras or Drysdale, or we are hanging up the phone