The Ditch part deux

That year they won the cup they didn't show until february.

Smallest violin player playing for the pens.

 

The bruins had to feel good last night watching malcom flop out in calgary.

 

I will say imo losing Botterill was huge but unlikely to be appreciated by the average fan.

 

He is huge for Buffalo!
- The Sheary trade cost a fourth rounder and taking Hunwick of PIT's books.
- Skinner has more than replaced ROR's production, (he's 2nd in the NHL for goals) and it cost a second, a future third, and Cliff Pu. (We all liked Pu - who wouldn't like that name?) But Skinner has been lights out. He wants $9-9.5MM for 8 with his new contract, but maybe he'll realize that playing with Jack can lead to a career season, a chance to play near home, and now it's a chance to play for multiple cups over the next 8 seasons. Perhaps he'll back off from those demands to something closer to $7-7.5MM. Of course, he could have moved his rental value to the penthouse.
- ROR brought back five pieces with three of them being significant futures*. ROR is playing great for the Blues, but not as well as Skinner, and he may have been part of the problem in last year's locker room. (* The 2019 first is top-ten protected and more and more it looks like that could be deferred to 2020. Still.)
- On July 1 Botts signed Carter Hutton to a 3 year $2.5MM AAV contract - just long enough for Ukka Pekka Luukkanan to be ready. Brilliant.
- In two years the Rochester Americans have gone from AHL doormats to Calder contenders. That was his formula in Pittsburgh and he's perfecting it now that he's in charge.

Jason Botterill will get strong consideration for GM of the Year if the Sabres keep up anything close to their current pace.

 

Dan........Sabres are the Hottest team in the NHL right now........6 W's in a row.

 

Yeah, and that is against some very good teams. They're the cardiac kidz, fer sure, too. They've come from behind in every game over this stretch. It helps when a team is this young since they are too inexperienced to have a this-game-has-gotten-away-from-us mentality. Of course no team can sustain this pace forever, but I see the teams' confidence growing after every W. That will help them mightily over time. It's particularly nice that some youngsters may never have that sour taste of losing that nearly destroyed the team last year.

 

Skinner is really working out well, everything ROR wasn't on the offense. They just have to hope he doesn't have any setbacks as far as concussions go. $9.5M is a liitle too much based on his career numbers.

 

At his age (27) and his history, I do not see GM Bots going 8 x $9MM (let alone $9.5MM). He may be worth E. Kane money at $7MM AAV and he's young enough to go 8 years. Anything above that and our egghead GM (purported to be a cap guru) is probably assessing the trade market.

Naturally Sabres fans are delighted with this season, and it is realistic to say they are in the playoff hunt. But I don't think even the most optimistic fan thinks they have a chance at a SC run this year. At 27 y.o. now, Skinner is a few years older than the core of this team. That was, incidentally, one of the stated reasons for moving ROR. I won't be pleased if Skinner is moved for futures, but there are a couple of prospects that could take his place already in the org. I also will not be pleased if the cap is squeezed by the time the Sabres need to sign Dahlin and Mittlestadt to their post-ELC contracts. Botts is a good poker player and this will get interesting. In the end, I think Skinner will blink before Botterill does - unless he does not really want to resign in Buffalo. Everything points to him really liking it there, but I've learned that you never know for sure a player's true desires.

Sign him to a big long term deal - but not one that's nuts - or move him. In the end, he is NOT crucial to this team's future.

 

Yeah, he's a good story but not crucial to the teams future. He'll be going for his last one big contract, so I think he'll swing for the fences.
If the sabres reach the deadline and are in the playoff race, they have to keep him, no choice.
If they don't move him then they'll have to deal with him on july.1st. I doubt any team would give him $9.5, even if he has an outstanding season this year.

 

3-3, 3rd... Oil - Sharks.

 

Oilers and Sharks go to OT...

Good Morning everyone!

 

That didn't last long... Draisatl from McDavid, game over. They pick up the puck and hand to Hitchcock. He's unbeaten, lol.

 

Yeaah, like I said to the average fan it was an under the radar move by Buffalo when they got him but it cant be overstated how good he was for us and is for you. I for one am happy to see the Sabres rising to the top again after a long hiatus. Actually wouldn't mind seeing a game there. Probably should do that sooner than later before ticket demand is out of control but I sense that its too late for that.

 

You'll be able to get tix in BUF. (I've never been not able to get tix in any city.) A lot of season ticket holders offset the cost a lot by selling seats to Leafs fans when TOR is in town - don't choose that game if you want cheap seats. (My personal attitude is that seats inside a hockey barn are cheap at any price - it's hockey!)
Also, Buffalo is not one of my favorite places to watch the game. Despite my affinity for the Sabres, I find Buffalo has more than their share of obnoxious fans. I've saw a woman verbally abuse a fan only to have security called when he had the temerity to respond back with choice (but accurate) words about her character. Just like everywhere, the vast majority of fans are there for fun, I'm just saying to keep an eye out for the rogues.

BTW, Denver is a good place to watch Avs and DU Pioneers games. Let me know when you're going to be a Mile High.

 

Burke was on the radio this morning calling the sabres to make the playoffs.

 

You should be able to buy tickets online to almost any game. Leaf games you would have to buy in the summer. A lot of sabres season ticket holders try to scalp their tickets to leaf fans in order to bring their overall cost down.
Not sure now that they're a contender.

 

Selling a few tix/year is not going to deter some fans since TOR makes it possible for some to afford/justify getting season tix in the first place. Selling the Leafs seats is their business plan. (Suckahs! Buffalo is going to win those games even if the lower bowl is blue & white.)

The big difference this year is that tix to other games will be used instead of sitting empty.

But, for sure, tix can always be had - it helps if $$$$ is no object.

 

The odds are certainly on Buffalo's side. They're 1/4 of their way through a brutal stretch of 12 games. They're 6 for possible 6 points so far. If they pick up 9 more points between now and the 12/4 Leafs game, then I think it's reasonable to expect Buffalo to be playing when the draft lottery winner is announced.

 

Also the hab tickets, pens, wings, rangers, philly and boston are popular.

 

I wouldn't think they'd make it this year, Hutton is solid and that will make all the difference.