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Post by folatre on Mar 28, 2021 15:18:47 GMT -5
Vancouver is finished. They have no head to head games against the Habs.
Calgary won last night, though they remain in a precarious position. I suppose their only saving grace is that they seem to have a mastery over Montreal this season and five head to head confrontations remain on the schedule.
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Post by Willie Dog on Mar 28, 2021 16:49:18 GMT -5
Vancouver is finished. They have no head to head games against the Habs. Calgary won last night, though they remain in a precarious position. I suppose their only saving grace is that they seem to have a mastery over Montreal this season and five head to head confrontations remain on the schedule. Since the Canucks are out we could take Quinn Hughes off their hands... |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Mar 29, 2021 12:40:18 GMT -5
Good for Fucale, nice to see him having a good season and getting rewarded. He is the top goalie in the AHL right now.
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Post by jkr on Mar 29, 2021 13:55:47 GMT -5
He sure has bounced around a lot. I counted 9 pro teams between the AHL & the ECHL. You have to admite his perseverence - he's almost 26 and still no NHL shot.
I had high hopes for him - the Montreal guy with a successful junior career taken pretty high. Hope he gets a chance with an NHL team.
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Post by PTH on Mar 29, 2021 15:36:57 GMT -5
He sure has bounced around a lot. I counted 9 pro teams between the AHL & the ECHL. You have to admite his perseverence - he's almost 26 and still no NHL shot. I had high hopes for him - the Montreal guy with a successful junior career taken pretty high. Hope he gets a chance with an NHL team. I can't help but think that the Habs just had more faith in Lindgren, and he's the guy who got the AHL starts when he signed, in Fucale's 2nd pro season, and then McNiven got those Lindgren didn't get once Danis was gone. I have to assume Yann Danis was Devils property and had to get enough games to stay game-shape, since clearly he wasn't getting developped. |
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Post by CentreHice on Mar 29, 2021 20:00:38 GMT -5
Watching the 3rd period of the Sabres-Flyers.
Buffalo up 3-0...hoping to end the win-less streak at 17. The legendary Rick Jeanneret with the call.
Oops...Philly just scored. 3-1 with 18:10 to go.
Hope I haven't jinxed them.
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Post by CentreHice on Mar 29, 2021 20:32:48 GMT -5
Flyers tie it, after the Sabres miss the empty net. Oh well... Likely to OT. EDIT: I jinxed 'em. 4-3 Flyers in OT. Overcoming a 3-0 third period deficit. Most "into" a game I've been in a while.  |
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Post by jkr on Mar 30, 2021 4:42:10 GMT -5
Another issue for the Sabres is that now, teams don't want to lose to them. Who wants to be the team that ended a mega losing streak?
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Post by CentreHice on Mar 30, 2021 7:51:28 GMT -5
Jeff Skinner. 3G, 1A after 31 games.
$9 million. Only 6 years left on that contract.
A managerial mess.
Interesting to read preseason reports/hype. Here's the ESPN Buffalo report--by Sean Allen.
===================================
As has become tradition as of late, the Buffalo Sabres had some early success in 2019-20 -- starting the season 9-2-1 -- before experiencing some choppy waters thereafter. At the March pause, they were fighting for a playoff berth.
Unfortunately, they were the final team on the outside looking in on the 24-team tournament when the league restarted, thus ensuring another season of Jack Eichel's career would be spent outside of the postseason spotlight.
This offseason was a whirlwind, including a new GM taking charge, a major trade and the belle of the free-agency ball picking Buffalo as his preferred spot for 2020-21. Here's everything you need to know about the Sabres prior to opening night.
The big question: Can they make the playoffs?
The Sabres' playoff drought has reached a league-high nine seasons, and ownership, players and fans are getting antsy. There's no question this team is heading in the right direction under coach Ralph Krueger (despite going through yet another offseason GM change) and the one-year Taylor Hall deal adds a level of urgency.
Did realignment hurt or help?
While the Sabres weren't having much luck breaking through in the top-heavy Atlantic Division, their new division has a much stronger middle class through which to wade -- and they no longer get to capitalize on playing the Senators, Red Wings and Panthers (against whom Buffalo went a combined 7-3 last season).
Offseason comings and goings, and the cap situation
Buffalo has $3,495,833 in projected cap space, according to Cap Friendly. The Sabres signed Taylor Hall to play on Jack Eichel's wing, and brought in Eric Staal and Cody Eakin to cement the center depth. The Sabres also brought on defenseman Matt Irwin and forward Tobias Rieder.
Buffalo said goodbye to a handful of forwards, including Marcus Johansson, Michael Frolik, Jimmy Vesey, Vladimir Sobotka, Wayne Simmonds and Johan Larsson.
Bold prediction
Jeff Skinner rebounds. After he signed a massive eight-year, $72 million extension in Buffalo, Skinner's 2019-20 was quite forgettable. He scored only 14 goals in 59 games and made fans wonder whether the signing was a mistake. Freed from playing with Marcus Johansson or Evan Rodrigues as his center, Skinner could find his production again -- more along the lines of the 40 goals he scored in 2018-19.
Breakout candidate: Dylan Cozens
After lighting it up for Team Canada at the IIHF World Juniors Championships, the 19-year-old will report to Buffalo with confidence. Cozens, the No. 7 pick of the 2019 draft, could be put in a position to succeed if he lines up with Eric Staal, who could help cover for Cozens defensively as he adjusts to the NHL game.
Biggest strength: Leadership
As bizarre as it sounds for a team that's been bottom dwelling for most of this decade, Buffalo has two distinct yet captivating voices in its coach (Krueger) and captain/No. 1 center, Jack Eichel. Those are two positions for which teams spend years looking, and Buffalo has both in house -- and signed for the long term.
Biggest weakness: Goaltending
One of the biggest surprises of this summer's goaltending carousel is that the Sabres didn't buy a ticket. Buffalo enters the season with the uninspiring combination of Linus Ullmark and Carter Hutton. The duo combine for just about $5.3 million against the cap, and are both free agents next summer, so this might be only a temporary arrangement.
Fantasy facts to know
Taylor Hall plus Jack Eichel should equal fantasy glory. The upside of a superstar center playing for the first time with a superstar winger is very enticing for fantasy; just don't lose sight of Hall's struggles to find a superstar scoring rhythm since his MVP season of 2017-18.
The Sabres also reunited Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner to complement the scoring lines, with Victor Olofsson, Sam Reinhart and Dylan Cozens offering plenty of ways to fill out the top six. This offense should be much more interesting for fantasy this season than it has been in recent campaigns.
The new ESPN standard scoring -- with hits and blocks -- means that Rasmus Ristolainen joins Rasmus Dahlin among Sabres blueliners who have fantasy value. -- Sean Allen
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Post by Tankdriver on Mar 30, 2021 11:15:07 GMT -5
So CH, the complete opposite came true?
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Post by CentreHice on Mar 30, 2021 12:04:07 GMT -5
So CH, the complete opposite came true? Pretty much. Very few know the source of the UberCranky crystals. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Mar 31, 2021 15:11:29 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Mar 31, 2021 17:53:28 GMT -5
If Demko continues his fine play, that will be a fair contract for all. The uncertainty, I think, is what kept him from earning more. HE gets good long term security and the Canucks get a solid goalie (if he continues his good play, which is the risk)
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 1, 2021 8:50:00 GMT -5
It had to eventually happen, and it did in style.
BUF 6 PHI 1
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 1, 2021 10:40:42 GMT -5
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Post by jkr on Apr 1, 2021 11:36:07 GMT -5
It had to eventually happen, and it did in style. BUF 6 PHI 1 I'm still PO'd at Vigneault and the smart a$$ comments he made when Niskanen crosschecked Gallagher in the face. Looks good on him. |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 2, 2021 16:58:01 GMT -5
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 2, 2021 18:34:39 GMT -5
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Post by Skilly on Apr 2, 2021 20:22:21 GMT -5
I wasn't sure of the context cause that Ovi fight against Svitchnikov happened in 2019. They don't even play Carolina this year. I had to check to see if Washington even played today.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 6, 2021 6:21:42 GMT -5
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 6, 2021 16:42:57 GMT -5
Wow... poor guy, always liked Emelin... get well soon |
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Post by GNick99 on Apr 6, 2021 17:53:32 GMT -5
Not often Lesfs do us a favour, but back to back wins against Flames pretty cool!
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 7, 2021 17:56:11 GMT -5
Not often Lesfs do us a favour, but back to back wins against Flames pretty cool! Let's hope the Leafs are tired... |
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Post by jkr on Apr 10, 2021 15:36:47 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Apr 10, 2021 17:21:04 GMT -5
Brisebois is turning into Jim Rutherford. Pipeline!, Pipeline! I don't give a (blank) about pipeline. Which is all good, but really? David Savard? Is he better than I think he is? Yes, he's experienced, and the right side of Tampa's blue line contains Erik Cernak, Jan Rutta, Luke Schenn and Cal Foote. Cernak's pretty good and it falls off from there, so Savard is likely an improvement over the rest, but they've got Hedman, McDonagh and Sergachev on the left and two of those play on the right occasionally, so I'm not sure I'd want to give up a first rounder for him. I get the principle, that you can never have too many defensemen and if there are some injuries along the way, a first rounder isn't going to patch that hole. Steep price, just like last year with Coleman and Goodrow, but they were already strong on D. Missing Bogosian, are we? Also not only was he -19, but that was the worst on Columbus by a fair margin. The only guys close were (Cough) Laine, Domi and Jones. Jones was -13, the other two -15. Many players were in the low single digit area. Looks like Kekalainen is selling too soon . For a rebuilding team, I like that deal. Also, it was creative how Tampa ended up with only 25% of Savard's salary, by involving a 3rd team (old buddy Stevie Y), and retaining 50% of 50%. Brisebois used to be the Habs Capologist so he's using those powers judiciously this year. Kucherov comes back at the end of the season, so his CAP hit doesn't count and suddenly not only has he got the Florida tax CAP advantage, but also the playoff advantage. The Governors are going to have to close those loopholes. I hate that southern US states that screw the poorest people, have that tax advantage. So simple to solve it and level the playing field.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 10, 2021 18:36:47 GMT -5
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 10, 2021 19:02:15 GMT -5
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 10, 2021 20:35:33 GMT -5
Galchenyuk making the best of his shot in Toronto. Playing with Matthews and Marner tonight vs. the Sens.
Two assists on the first 4 goals...and a nice play to start Matthews's second of three goals.
Sens gave them a good go.
6-5 Leafs.
Campbell passes Price with 11 wins to start a season--the Covid factor being what it is.
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Post by jkr on Apr 11, 2021 16:17:42 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 12, 2021 19:59:48 GMT -5
Domi doing Domi stuff.
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