Disclaimer: This is going to sound like me finding a silver lining or making lemons into lemonade. I'm not trying to be all unicorns and rainbows, and I would love to see NHL hockey as much as the rest of you.

That said, is there anyone out there that thinks that this lockout could be, once again, exactly what the Sabres need? Think about it. Another year's experience with plenty of ice time is exactly what most every player on that team needs. In Rochester, you get Hodgson and Adam working at center on the top two lines. They have Foligno, Tropp (I know he's hurt) and others developing chemistry up front with them. Then you have Pysyk, McNabb, Brennan, and the rest of the young core of D working together and logging lots of ice time. The new draft picks like Grigorenko and the other big guy get another year in juniors instead of being rushed into the lineup. And even some of the more "established" players that could use another year of experience like Myers, Ennis, and Enroth get to hone their skills in Europe instead of playing through their growing pains in Buffalo.

Really, the only true drawback for the Sabres I see is Miller's situation. He will lose another year in his prime or late prime, and not playing at game speed could make him rusty. Add on a year of hanging out in Hollywood with his actress wife, and he might not be all that psyched to head back to Buffalo.

Overall though, I'm not entirely sure that the lockout didn't come around at exactly the right time for THIS Sabres team. Thoughts?

The bolded is all I took exception to. The 'Miller has a hot wife in LA so he hates it here' meme is, frankly, absurd.

guys, anyone else think miller is hanging out in LA, plotting his exit to the west coast, while balls deep in his old lady? i think so.

so, lets allow this to happen. miller to kings, and we get quick back. sound good? good. done deal.