I admire your UPL positivity but I think this is undoubtedly Levi's net unless he has a 2017 Casey Mittelstadt training camp - Hank Balling
I won't deny it's Levi's net, could see him playing like 50% of the games and UPL another 30%. I just think we'll see a better UPL in those 30% and partially because good defense leads to good goalies.
We got 3 goalies, ride the hot hand whoever is playing the best and just get wins
The Bills missed the playoffs from the time I was 9 until I was 27. They could lose the Superb Owl 8 times in a row and I would take it 100/100 over Trent Edward's drought football.
The same goes for this Sabres team. Irrelevance is miles worse than heartbreak
Location: Mo can stay awhile, FL Joined: 10.27.2017
Sep 20 @ 5:57 PM ET
That's true, the league doesn't stand still, but I still think they've at minimum kept pace with those teams or the gap was far enough that the improvements a lot of them made will not be enough. Let's not also forget that teams in front of them are showing the lack of tread on their tires. 2 huge retirements in Boston, Tampa is aging, Florida went from Presidents trophy to 8 seed. Is this the year any or all of those teams fall apart? Maybe, maybe not, but each year that passes is another year on the clock for them.
Boston ranked 32nd in prospects pool by the hockey writers, Sabres 1st. It's a discrepancy you would expect for where the teams did (and in Boston's case did not) draft. They have to replace a lot of good play and while that doesn't mean we will be better than them it does mean there's chances for points and wins against teams that have dominated us for a while. A few wins against Boston and Tampa can go a long way when it's March and there's a tight race. We lost by I think a goal to Florida in early October last season, that 2 points ends up being the difference in the standings between the teams - Zschalberg
“Florida went from Presidents trophy to 8 seed.”
...and then they went to the Final as that 8th seed. Beating the top 3 teams in the East to get there...
FL won the President’s Trophy running and gunning, flamed out in playoffs and made coaching change to bring more defensive accountability into their game. While they were learning/adapting to the new system they were also dealing with injury problems. One or two at a time they were missing players until Christmastime (not to mention often having to play a man short because of cap reasons). It was in January before they had their opening night roster all back on the ice together again, iirc.
Their play from January on is more of a fair judgment of the Panthers team. The big question at the start of this season is how they will fare with Montour and Ekblad out until mid-November - December, or even January. Long story short, I don’t think FL is on the decline at all.
I think TB still has enough to be top 3 in division this season. Boston will be interesting to see how they replace Bergeron and Krejci.
I think the young Sabres probably learned a lot down the stretch last season as their opponents ramped up the intensity as the playoffs approached. Those lessons should serve them well as they chase a playoff berth this season. The biggest question, imo, (besides goaltending) is do they struggle some if Meatballs pulls back on the reins a bit and has them try to be more responsible defensively. I guess training camp will reveal if he intends to do so. The Sabres should be a playoff team this year (and for many more to follow).
“Florida went from Presidents trophy to 8 seed.”
...and then they went to the Final as that 8th seed. Beating the top 3 teams in the East to get there...
FL won the President’s Trophy running and gunning, flamed out in playoffs and made coaching change to bring more defensive accountability into their game. While they were learning/adapting to the new system they were also dealing with injury problems. One or two at a time they were missing players until Christmastime (not to mention often having to play a man short because of cap reasons). It was in January before they had their opening night roster all back on the ice together again, iirc.
Their play from January on is more of a fair judgment of the Panthers team. The big question at the start of this season is how they will fare with Montour and Ekblad out until mid-November - December, or even January. Long story short, I don’t think FL is on the decline at all.
I think TB still has enough to be top 3 in division this season. Boston will be interesting to see how they replace Bergeron and Krejci.
I think the young Sabres probably learned a lot down the stretch last season as their opponents ramped up the intensity as the playoffs approached. Those lessons should serve them well as they chase a playoff berth this season. The biggest question, imo, (besides goaltending) is do they struggle some if Meatballs pulls back on the reins a bit and has them try to be more responsible defensively. I guess training camp will reveal if he intends to do so. The Sabres should be a playoff team this year (and for many more to follow). - Ratsreign
All good points, I don't mean to say Florida is a bad team at all, but the standings do vary wildly each year and they are the example this year. Boston could very well flip to that position this year with their changes. Florida is an example the Sabres should try to follow of strong goaltending, quick transition defense, and good scoring. Florida has a bit more grit but the Sabres may have more offensive talent when it's all said and done and players hit their stride.
I challenge any sane Bills fan to tell me the past 5 years of Bills football was the exact same fun level as the 17 year drought. - Hank Balling
Basically a whole generation saw crap and know we are getting to that point with the Sabres. Know they are so Excited they take LSD and go swimming in the Big Blue Sh!t Hole
I won't deny it's Levi's net, could see him playing like 50% of the games and UPL another 30%. I just think we'll see a better UPL in those 30% and partially because good defense leads to good goalies.
We got 3 goalies, ride the hot hand whoever is playing the best and just get wins - Zschalberg
At this point, almost for sure. They won't get anything for Comrie, UPL is still young enough that they'll try another year with him, and Levi is Levi. Unless Ek is right and some huge behind the scenes trade is coming these are the goalies we got and they'll ride whoever is doing the best at that time
You guys by far have one of the largest and passionate communities on HockeyBuzz. I would think an article or two per week should be a minimum standard for your teams blogger. Even during off-season. Ek has really let this site go down the drain pipe.
You guys by far have one of the largest and passionate communities on HockeyBuzz. I would think an article or two per week should be a minimum standard for your teams blogger. Even during off-season. Ek has really let this site go down the drain pipe. - The Judge
At this point, almost for sure. They won't get anything for Comrie, UPL is still young enough that they'll try another year with him, and Levi is Levi. Unless Ek is right and some huge behind the scenes trade is coming these are the goalies we got and they'll ride whoever is doing the best at that time - Zschalberg
I think carrying 8D is more likely than 3G. Can't imagine doing both and going 12F.
At this point, almost for sure. They won't get anything for Comrie, UPL is still young enough that they'll try another year with him, and Levi is Levi. Unless Ek is right and some huge behind the scenes trade is coming these are the goalies we got and they'll ride whoever is doing the best at that time - Zschalberg
Think Comrie gets sent through waivers, we do have some injury prone Defenseman
You guys by far have one of the largest and passionate communities on HockeyBuzz. I would think an article or two per week should be a minimum standard for your teams blogger. Even during off-season. Ek has really let this site go down the drain pipe. - The Judge
I think we've shown time and time again that the blog is irrelevant...not that I don't enjoy a good one.
