shrader

It's definitely going to play a role and it's something that's crossed my mind this weekend when it comes to the Kane stuff. I haven't been crazy about the idea of moving him, but I warmed on it a bit yesterday. If they're going to trade for a defenseman, he has to be the most likely candidate for that deal. I don't like weakening the offense, but at the same time, if our farm system is going to replenish any gaps in this lineup, it's not going to be the blue line. There's absolutely nothing there. So if you can find the right defenseman (something I'm very skeptical about), you pull that trigger... but you don't do it until the offseason. Since we only have two blue liners worth protecting, you protect the maximum number of forwards. Without a trade, I don't know where that improved blue line is going to come from. You've got Guhle coming, but they need far more than that. I'm fine with expecting him to fill a 3rd pair role, but what this team still really needs is a 2 or 3 guy back there and good luck finding that. Shattenkirk is the only serious option in free agency and that's not going to happen at the kind of money he's going to command. We're left shopping in the bargain bins again and it's a miracle if you get something better than a 3rd pairing guy there.

What if this whole thing with Toronto is just a flash in the pan and guys fall back down to earth this year? I know people love playing the comparison game, but this whole thing needs to be less about Toronto and more about Buffalo. They need to be their own measuring stick.

How many bonus points do they get when they can build their own kitchen?

I'm not so sure that's out there though. I have no idea how realistic it is, but I think at this point they need to make a serious run at Shattenkirk in the offseason. You'll immediately get a much stronger contribution from your blueline that way.

I'd gladly skip taking a shower one day just to say that I never used the same shower twice during the entire month of February. When I saw that number, I figured there' be a bunch of random half baths scattered around, but no, it says each one is full. Crazy.

I don't think that Columbus really belongs in the conversation. They've been on a completely different track for a while now. The last year or two, they were a popular pick for that team that was finally going to break through. For whatever reason, they underachieved last year. Whether it was something as simple as Johansen-Jones deal that shook things up, they were clearly on the right path for a while.

I'm 100% on board with the dead weight comments, specifically Franson. I feel like I'm watching myself skate any time he's out there. I too can be timed on a sundial. The good thing there though is that are definitely free of him after this year. I'm not quite sure on how they move on from Gorges (1 year left) and Bogosian (3 years left, expansion draft?) though. That's going to be key, reshaping that bottom 4. I know your view on Guhle already, but where else do you think the fix is going to come from? It seems like they're going to have to make a hard push for Shattenkirk. Beyond that, it looks like the market is going to be mostly retreads (but still more than just the Falk and Fedun variety). Strangely enough, it looks like Toronto may again be our competition this offseason, this time in the search for some defensemen. They've really only got two under contract for next year. Oh, and one point to that Harrington column that really made no sense to me. He compares the production of Toronto's rookies to that of Fasching/Bailey/Baptiste. You may as well be comparing Crosby to Tyler Ennis. We all know who those Toronto rookies are always going to be compared to and it's not a trio of crap shoot prospects.

I see absolutely no problem with the talent up front on this team, except the need for one more in the top 6. It all falls back on what I've been saying for a while now, the blue line. It doesn't matter what you have up front when you're essentially stuck in a 5-on-3 situation for more than half of the game due to all the dead weight back there. I'm not sold on Toronto's blue line either, but they've found a way to work with that and that all reflects on the coaching.

I'm not willing to go that far. I think it all begins and ends with your last sentence.

I tell her to line up her mirror with the car next to her. She can't handle even that

Probably the funniest thing with my wife's driving is that when it comes to parking, she has no feel whatsoever for the dimensions of her car. She has no clue whether or not she is too close or too far away from the line (the one either in front of the car or behind it). She has taken to using the backup camera to see where exactly that line is and then readjusting the car. It works, but I could save her some effort if she was willing to listen.

I wouldn't know. I miss every single day game. I love how they need to point out which one is Eichel. I would have never guessed.

Every single time my wife asks me a question, she has already assigned an answer to that question in her mind. She will then follow up with that assumed answer even though it wasn't my actual response. It'll go something like this: Wife: Did you stop at the store? Me: No. Wife: What did you buy? Me: I said no. The best is when my answer and the answer she heard sound completely different, something like: Wife: What color was it? Me: Orange Wife: Purple? Me: That doesn't sound anything like what I said Her other big thing, and it happens at least once a day, is when her phone rings (usually her mother). She'll see who it is and say "I really don't want to talk to you right now". She then proceeds to answer the phone every single time. She's then frustrated and ranting about the conversation after it's over. I keep telling her she doesn't have to pick up every damn time but she completely blows off the suggestion.

One Pegula related hockey experience has gone incredibly well. Penn State pulled into the #1 spot in the national poll for the first time ever yesterday. It's amazing how quickly they got there.

I hate those day games. There's nothing worse than randomly checking your phone at around 4 and having that "oh crap, they played already" moment.

I didn't not know if I've ever seen a better opportunity to switch goalies than after the tied goal. I probably would have done it after the second.

How much did she pay to publish one that long?

I'm available.

Thank god for the replay from the trailing angle. The live feed did not do justice to just how wide open that net was. I would have thought that only early season Evander Kane could have missed that net.

Last week I picked up a group of 18 tickets for this friday's game in Carolina. I need to do this more often. Discounted tickets and only a single $10 fee for the entire thing? Sign me up. I'll be the only Sabre fan in the group, but it should be a good time. The others aren't Carolina fans though, so I'm sure I can use Eichel to win them over, especially the kids.

Thanks to Sam Reinhart

It's a shame they laid that egg against Boston. They'd be on a nice little run without that.

I wish this team could score at even strength half as well as they do on the power play

It nailed my age the first time.

Goaltending is not a problem with this team. They have no reason to add anyone right now.