JohnC

My opinion is that Beane more than McDermott was the driving force making maneuvers and trading assets to get their future qb. There is no doubt that McDermott has a lot of influence in personnel decisions. But my sense is that these two men are in sync and work out where they want to go and how they will get there. I don't see that as a problem as much as a unity in thought and purpose. There is no doubt that there isn't unanimity regarding personnel. That would be impossible. I just think that they have a good working relationship in which each party knows how to make accommodations. I'm not bothered with how much authority McDermott seems to have. When you are rebuilding a team you are going to make a lot of player decisions. Not all of them are going to work out.

I'm not doubting that coaching is an important factor to success but I'm not accepting the 70-80% difference. Where I agree with you is that there should be a match between the makeup of the roster and the personality and style of the coach. A John Tortorella ogre type coach might be suitable for some teams but his excessively tough style of coaching might not work with a roster full of veterans. There is a reason why he has traveled the circuit in his coaching career. https://wgntv.com/2018/10/17/happy-anniversary-coach-q-celebrating-ten-years-of-joel-quenneville-with-the-blackhawks/ The hiring of Joel Quenneville did jolt that talented team he inherited. But let's not get carried away because although the talent level is much improved from last year this roster is still far from being a complete roster. Right now what this team doesn't need is another coaching change so soon from the last coaching change. Stability has not been the hallmark of the sports organizations that Pegula has owned. Jumping ship too soon can be as much of a mistake as staying on the ship for too long.

Maybe a Brad Marchand personality on this roster might infuse this team with some passion. The reality is that this is Jack's team. He was angling for the C to be sewn on his jersey. It's there now. He has to lead by example by giving more consistent effort on both sides of the ice. What you see and everyone else sees is apparent to everyone but the players. It's not so much about winning as it is about how you play. The ingredient for a successful team relates to how you play as much as the talent on the ice. The Washington Caps didn't win the Stanley Cup until Ovenckin change from being simply a scorer and stat player to being a leader with a more well rounded game that included the defensive side of the game. That's what Jack has to learn.

This is a draft loaded with defensive linemen. I don't see McDermott interested in a player who hit a woman several times in a fight. If that is the case I agree with the coach's mind-set.

I DVRed the game but only watched the first period. That's all you needed to see. So I'm not going to waste my time watching garbage. The delete button is going to be used. As others have said it's apparent how this game was going to go after only watching the first period. If they get behind this fragile team's will is easily crushed. In this game the home team had a ferocity and tenacity that the flaccid opposition lacked. Hockey is an effort sport as much, and maybe more, than a skill sport. When you don't have that spark you will consistently lose. Intermittent effort is an indictment of the players and coaches. It gets tiresome to watch. Maybe in the next game this heartless team will exhibit more fire. But that is the problem. It is too often manufactured on a periodic basis.

Outsmart him. Stay in the Chalet and drink some warm bourbon by the giant fireplace. When he says hey dad are you ready to hit the slopes just say hell no I'll watch you finishing your run while continuing to absorb the warmth of the fireplace and sipping your smooth drink that warms your innards.

Some people complain when you lose and also when you win. Some people are too depressed to ever be optimistic. When good news becomes bad news that is the time to seek help for an attitude adjustment. . Assuming that the young guys didn't get caught up in temptations of the casinos this is a very winnable game against a team that is not fully staffed.

With Nylander it is more of a physical development than maturity development. He has the skills and instincts. But when he first played in the NHL he was a boy playing against men. What the impatient critics don't want to acknowledge is that although he has struggled he has also made progress. Because of his skill set he is not the type of player that you would want to immediately throw into the third and forth line role because it is not the role he is suited for. He is more of a top two line player and a player who is suited for the power play. There is also an irony that Nylander's skill set is more suited to the NHL than the AHL where the rinks are smaller. So the play in the minors can't always be translated and projected to the major league platform. I'm confident that both he and Guhle will be playing with the big club this season. And next year or the year after both of these young players should be developed enough to be important contributors. If you want to get a good return on your investment you need to be patient with the process. Every player has a different rate of development. In my view Botterill is handling the prospects appropriately and smartly.

I hate to disappoint you but it is probable that Nylander will be called up this year. And that call-up will be merited. The rush to judge/condemn a player who was under twenty a failure (now he is twenty) was foolish. From a merit standpoint he should have earned a roster spot with the Sabres this year. From a developmental standpoint keeping him down in Rochester to get a lot more playing time was the right thing to do for him and the organization.

Let the youngsters marinate. Botterill has stated that his philosophy is to error on the side of development so that when it is time for a call-upl the player/s won't be bouncing back and forth.

What I find encouraging is that I foresee a few of our young players getting better as the season moves forward. Dahlin is an obvious example of that where right from the start he fits in and to say the least his talents are obvious. Although Middlestadt is not thriving from a production standpoint he clearly is not out of place as a player in the NHL. I'm encouraged by his play. Skinner is a player who doesn't fall into the mold of upside potential. That's because he is already a finished product. The issue for him is fitting in with his line mates and living up to his sniper reputation, something he has done for years. So when he gets going that is going to provide a boost to a team that isn't a very prolific scoring team. I'm not going to get carried away but from what I have seen so far at this very early stage I do consider this a fringe contending wildcard team. Having a good start is the key to staying in the hunt. What has hurt Skinner is not playing on the top line. He probably would be scoring more goals on that line but would have a distorting effect on Jack's play. With Skinner on the line Jack would try to pass more than shoot. It would be a boon for Skinner but a handicap to Jack's goal scoring potential. I believe that Housely made a very smart move by putting Shearing on his line instead of Skinner. The upside of having Skinner on a line centered by Mittlestadt is that his presence is going to help accelerate the development of the young center. As I said in a prior post although Mittlestadt's numbers aren't eye popping he doesn't appear to be out of place. This is a young player who like Reinhart has great instincts. If this line gets in sync then our top two lines make this team very competitive.

Dads can be enjoyable (and tolerable) to ski with assuming that they are doing their Pater duty by paying for the ski run. You can laugh at your son being exhausted on one of the ski runs but in the not too distant future you will be the one preferring to stay by the Chalet fire place with a brew while the youngsters are whizzing done the slopes.

The positives about this game go beyond this game. Dahlin is steadily showing that he has a lot in his talented basket to offer. Ullmark can be a good backup with a brighter future down the line. For me what was most encouraging is that Skinner produced. You can almost see and feel his frustration in the prior games. Hopefully, this will take some of the pressure off of him and allow him to play his freewheeling style of game. Housely playing Sheary, instead of Skinner, on the Eichel line was the right thing to do. And putting Skinner with Mittlestadt might accelerate the development of the younger player. Mittlestadt has a lot of developing to do but from what I have seen so far he doesn't seem out of place. As K-9 and others have previously stated it's important that the Sabres play well enough in the first third of the season to stay in the playoff hunt. Being out of contention before the first half of the season is over is depressing for the team and the fans. When your younger players play meaningful games they are more likely to improve at a faster rate in that more competitive environment.

You are astute and perspicacious. In general, their picks in both drafts have been reasonable. The worst value pick so far might be the second round Zay Jones pick. I'm not giving up on him but he has not been impressive especially compared to some of the other second round receiver picks that other teams have made. I still believe he is salvageable to the point of being respectable.

I saw part of the game. The reason is that I turned the channel. This was a game in which very early on you knew what the outcome was going to be. My tolerance level has been lowered.

I'm not saying you are svelte. When people state that you as a person have expanded they are not referring to your horizon.

From an analytical sense that line is not doing well. So the coach is subtracting a piece and adding a different piece to the mix. This is clearly demonstrated in 26Corner's color graphic. So the move makes sense. I like keeping Mittlestadt on the line, even as a forward because hopefully the more playing time he gets the faster he develops. As you observed Mittlestadt is not shining but he doesn't look out of place. I'll make a small prediction that in the not too distant future Tage Thompson will be sent down to the AHL. Tage has a tendency to try to dazzle with little to show for his pretty play. He needs to simply his game and be more efficient with his action. Playing pretty in the NHL is not going to cut it if there is no production to back it up.

I'm with you on the Larsson issue. He's a gritty player with no offensive capability. Botterill worked hard in the offseason to bring some functionality to the third and fourth lines. I don't understand the infatuation with Larsson who is more of an AHL caliber of player. Remi would be a better option.

I know why you like contact backs: Because you are a bruiser who likes to mix it up with other combatants. You can get a good back after the first two rounds. We have critical deficits that need to be addressed first. As far as the stocks go I intend to hang on. But trust me there is going to be an adjustment period when the market and economy adjust to the unavoidable economic cycle. What you see now is not what you will see later. The cycle of life and the cycle of the economy are realities that can't be avoided. When you have a $1 Trillion deficit in a full employment economy what do you think the deficit is going to be in a downturn? A little sugar is not bad for you but a mountain of sugar is damaging.

Do you have a propensity to gloat after the fact? Or are you a genuine prescient prognosticator who sees what others don't see? If you are prescient should I hold or sell my plummeting stocks?

I didn't watch Seinfeld when it originally ran. But I have been a devoted fan since the reruns. One of my favorite shows was the Elaine dance segment. It hasn't got as much acclaim as some of his other shows but it makes me bust a gut. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=seinfeld+tv+show+elaine+dancing+at+work&view=detail&mid=53B8568CA6273067982F53B8568CA6273067982F&FORM=VIRE

You are a finicky critter.

Simple solution: DVR! You can watch at the time of your choosing instead of when you are snoozing! Trust me I will not lead you astray.

Too many people are getting carried away with how much McCoy will bring in a deal with the Eagles. It's not going to be very high, possibly a fourth or so. If the Bills could get a third round from them I would make the deal. The Eagles have two second round picks so losing a third round pick would not be a major loss.

I'm not anointing the GM. What I have said is that it doesn't take much analysis to realize that this roster is more talented. You don't have to be a hockey afficionado to recognize that this is a faster team and the talent is more widely spread throughout the lines. I'm sure you would be willing to admit that in one offseason there has been a substantial makeover from the previous year. You are entitled to your well earned cynicism. However, when I see progress I'm more willing to shed some of the encrusted cynicism that has been baked into me. My prediction is that this team is capable of being a fringe wild-card playoff team. Compared to its recent history that is a giant leap forward. When in doubt trust your eyes.