i know its hard on the internet but i framed that to be as obvious of a joke as i could
- robz228

if your're trying to make a joke get a funny meme like i used to

Except for when he is in the offensive zone.
- jochfr

Does a 2nd line forward need to be competent in the offensive zone if he occasionally makes a pass out of the defensive zone?

Does a 2nd line forward need to be competent in the offensive zone if he occasionally makes a pass out of the defensive zone?
- jcragcrumple

I hope you're not "asking for a friend"

I hope you're not "asking for a friend"
- jochfr

My friend is somevodka's agent

Does a 2nd line forward need to be competent in the offensive zone if he occasionally makes a pass out of the defensive zone?
- jcragcrumple

I'm not a Sobotka fan, he probably was the worst player in the NHL last year. In saying that Johannson went out of his way to compliment him, saying what Sobotka does makes his game and Skinner's game so much better. But, let's not believe his linemates.

I will slap your girls ass if you don't shut yo mouf!
- jochfr

My girlfriend left me so slap away

Last year took us 16 games to get 17 points
the 17th game started the 10 game and the rest was history/infamy

Lets check in on that calming presence after 10 games

106 minutes of 5 on 5 icetime together, the trio has a 47.34% corsi, 51.82% xGF%, and a 46% scoring chances for %

They have 41 scoring chances for and 48 scoring chances against, which is:

23 scoring chances per sixty minutes for
27 scoring chances per sixty minutes against

--

Skinner and johansson have only played 10 minutes 5 on 5 without their anchor attached but they have a 61.9% corsi, 70.52% xGF%, and a 69.23% sCF%

They have 9 scoring chances for and 4 scoring chances against, which is:

54 scoring chances per sixty minutes for
24 scoring chances per sixty minutes against

HOW ABOUT THAT CALMING PRESENCE

(i think the ridiculous gap is because of score effects, though, since Krueger pins sobotka to the bench when they need a goal)

(however when they need a goal skinner is usually playing w/ eichel and reinhart so i dont know when these 10 minutes together occurred)

My girlfriend left me so slap away
- gerbe75pts

Get a new one

I'm not a Sobotka fan, he probably was the worst player in the NHL last year. In saying that Johannson went out of his way to compliment him, saying what Sobotka does makes his game and Skinner's game so much better. But, let's not believe his linemates.
- turbo044

Let's just say that he doubles his current production and ends up with 16 points. Is there any other forward in the NHL who is playing 15 minutes a night and has lower production while playing with that caliber of player?

I would guess no.

As for the quote, Mojo is an alternate captain and he's saying all the right things. When Eichel had to play with Girgensons, I'm sure he said the same things

Mittelstadt has 7 points in 10 games and a plus 6.

Also had a huge backcheck in overtime last night.

I think the light is starting to go on
- Sabretooth9

This is positive, so inherently false.

First!

I think this is true if for no other reason than he plays a heavy game. Those guys generally don't hold up well after 30 (Ovi being the ridiculous exception).
- Slump Buster

Ovi is just ridiculously talented. There's always exceptions to the rule, but for every Ovi, I can find you Jamie Benn, Milan Lucic, David Backes, Patrik Hornqvist, Corey Perry, Wayne Simmonds, Kyle Okposo, Justin Abdelkader, James Neal and so on.

ID(o)GAF because they have a 2nd liner on pace for 10 points and 1,000,000 offensive possessions ruined
- sbroads24

But we're 8-1-1 because of him

But we're 8-1-1 because of him
- TheSabresTaco

Seems legit

To anyone griping about Skinner’s contract,

Are you interested in trying to win a cup in the next 5 years? If yes, you sign Skinner.

Do you think it’s easy for a club to sign a top quality UFA when they have been at the bottom of the standings for years?

Do you think Skinner would have signed a contract for a shorter period than the max length?

The Skinner signing was a good signing. In a perfect world there would be an abundance of players available to us to be able to pick and choose the ideal conditions for signing someone, but we don’t live in a perfect world.

Skinner would not have signed for anything less than that tenure, and there were many teams interested in him, we had competition, he held all the cards.

So if you’re interested in trying to win a cup during Eichel and Reinhart’s prime, then you have to take a chance on that signing. There’s no guarantee that a future UFA of equal talent will become available for us to sign or would be willing to come here. It’s a no brainer.

In 6 years when Skinner might (because it’s not certain) not earn his yearly cap hit, then you are more then welcome to complain about it then, but all these things will still be true. The Sabres are trying to win, and signing Skinner to that contract is a part of that.

Why this is a focus right now is beyond my comprehension. Of all the things to complain about or focus on, this is not one of them. This conversation should have ended in the off-season.

If you want to argue in four years that we should trade Skinner because of future cap cost risk versus reward, I am all for it, but let’s just accept some things as being what they are.

My girlfriend left me so slap away
- gerbe75pts

Did she leave the dog?

To anyone griping about Skinner’s contract,

Are you interested in trying to win a cup in the next 5 years? If yes, you sign Skinner.

Do you think it’s easy for a club to sign a top quality UFA when they have been at the bottom of the standings for years?

Do you think Skinner would have signed a contract for a shorter period than the max length?

The Skinner signing was a good signing. In a perfect world there would be an abundance of players available to us to be able to pick and choose the ideal conditions for signing someone, but we don’t live in a perfect world.

Skinner would not have signed for anything less than that tenure, and there were many teams interested in him, we had competition, he held all the cards.

So if you’re interested in trying to win a cup during Eichel and Reinhart’s prime, then you have to take a chance on that signing. There’s no guarantee that a future UFA of equal talent will become available for us to sign or would be willing to come here. It’s a no brainer.

In 6 years when Skinner might (because it’s not certain) not earn his yearly cap hit, then you are more then welcome to complain about it then, but all these things will still be true. The Sabres are trying to win, and signing Skinner to that contract is a part of that.

Why this is a focus right now is beyond my comprehension. Of all the things to complain about or focus on, this is not one of them. This conversation should have ended in the off-season.

If you want to argue in four years that we should trade Skinner because of future cap cost risk versus reward, I am all for it, but let’s just accept some things as being what they are.
- Beethoven

Plus he's funny as (frank)

My girlfriend left me so slap away
- gerbe75pts

That sucks.

Like really sucks.

That sucks.

Like really sucks.
- gcomella34

Theres plenty of em out there, eventually you'll find the one you want to be miserable with the rest of your life.

I was happier then a pig in poop last night. Had all my buddies over watching the game and having beers. Sabres on one TV and Leafs on the other. Had a bit of the World Series on as well. Was a grand old time.

I’m sorry that I worry about a long term contract. Am I the only one that watched Ehrhoff, Hodgson, Leino, Okposo not live up to expectations ?

If that isn’t enough for you look at Parise, Suter, Keith, Seabrook, Vlasic, Benn, David Backes, Loui Eriksson, James Neal. Milan Lucic. How long do we wait before we lump in Zuccarello, Doughty, E. Karlsson ?

I’m sure there are more contracts but that is what I can think of in the 30 seconds it took me to write this post.

Skinner is a good player, but the contract scares me. It is not however taking away from my excitement of this year.
- Swedish_Jesus

They didn't sign Skinner to an 8yr contract because they still expected him to be elite in years 6-8. They signed him to an 8 year contract because that's what it took to sign him. If they didn't we would be playing against him. The same goes for most players that get signed to deals like that. Is there risk? Yes, but if you don't sign those types of players you will never be good. Under the current CBA 7-8yr deals for young vets has been the norm, it the world we live in. There was no other option except lose the player and his contributions to be replaced by player X, who likely is and will not be as good. Under the current rules it is what it is. Instead of complaining about the term of the contract perhaps provide us with some options that would have a better outcome had we let Skinner walk.

Theres plenty of em out there, eventually you'll find the one you want to be miserable with the rest of your life.
- hubie

this seems legit

Let's just say that he doubles his current production and ends up with 16 points. Is there any other forward in the NHL who is playing 15 minutes a night and has lower production while playing with that caliber of player?

I would guess no.

As for the quote, Mojo is an alternate captain and he's saying all the right things. When Eichel had to play with Girgensons, I'm sure he said the same things
- jcragcrumple

Or he really means it and Mojo and Skinner are scoring, it's working right now, until someone else comes in and fills the roll why complain. Why not trust in Krueger, obviously what he is doing right now is working.

Hey, good news is we are winning AND there is room for improvement:
1. Our PK sucks, and there isn't any real reason it has to stay that way. We might not stay 4th in the league on the PP, but we don't need to stay 20th in PK either.
2. Team is scoring 3.8 goals a night (third best), with Sobotka in the top six with one point, Olofsson in the top six with no even strength goals, Vesey with no goals at all, and only 2 goals from the defense, which figures to have a lot of goals in them as a group. Get Vesey going, the D scoring a bit, and maybe make a trade to replace Sobotka, and there is more offensive upside still to come.
3. We got shelled in the third period again last night, and lost another lead. This team still has to learn to close out a game, and that only comes with winning.