DarthEbriate

It must be noted my expectations and reality are rarely in agreement. I still make that trade, too. It was a good trade. We also got McGinn for 2/3 of a season. But it was a big investment of expected NHL-caliber talent to do it in a farm system that had been obliterated as well as part of the tank. The tank forced us to rush Girgs, Grigs, Risto, and Zadorov to the NHL rather than seasoning them all in Rochester, probably doing at least some damage to all of them (most notably Grigs). So then when we needed young guys to step into the lineup on ELCs...they were already in Buffalo or in Colorado. Or Ottawa, Winnipeg, Los Angeles, wherever else GMTM shipped all those picks.

And now, Princess Sabres, we will discuss the location of your hidden Rebel base. <interrogation probe floats menacingly with syringe ready to go>

Faster. More intense. I want to see us start spoiling some playoffs. I need the Rangers to stay good for a bit -- which pains me to say -- but I want them hot. We play Boston and Pittsburgh a bunch down the stretch. I want our kids to spoil either of Boston's or Pittsburgh's season. Preferably Boston.

Thanks @Zamboni for once again making this list. It's a good parallel to the other ongoing threads on Sabres' draft futility. Here's what I expect in the 2nd round: 50% NHL hit rate -- you get a player! At least for a few seasons you get a guy. There are very few stars on this list, so I can't say we should have our ROR, Kucherov, or Aho. But this is how you fill out a roster. And... we did not. No picks early on was GMRegier was trading 2nds for rentals in our charges to 8th of 9th. Then McCabe, who is probably the second-best pick in his draft after Severson. Win there. But then we're in the midst of the tank and have a surplus of 2nds and we get nothing. Maybe the best all-around pick in JT Compher (who is now underperforming in Colorado) who we traded, and the rest: garbage. The trouble is you look at those 2013-2014 drafts where we have 6 seconds, and there's not much there. Aube-Kuble, Montour, Dvorak all would have been nice instead of the Karabacek. But that was supposed to be the stockpile! We were suffering, tanking, and those 6 seconds should've been a young core of a lineup. Nothing for it (and yes, we got ROR out of it, but gave up a ton for him). What really amazes me is by drafting so poorly -- look at all the 2nd rounders we ended up having to acquire via trade. We've had 'em all! Larsson, Montour, Elie, Carrier, Lehner. And signed later: Dalton Smith.

Unnlimmmitttedddd Rasmiiiiiiiiiii!

In my experience there's no such thing as luck. Good against the Devils is one thing. Good against the Islanders? That's something else.

The future will we see. Other ice rinks. Cozens, Eichel, Borgen: old friends long gone. But hopefully soon to return.

We could score more goals if we had more Rasmi!

I'm really looking forward to getting Cozens, Eichel, and Borgen back and see how they embrace some positive vibes and enjoyable hockey.

We need an entirely new level of graphic for the Ras-Trick!

RASTRICK!!!!!

That was a follow-through on the clearing attempt.

Oh Rieder! I said a couple games ago we were intercepting passes in the neutral zone and it was only a matter of time before we started intercepting offensive zone turnovers and burying them. Almost there. Almost.... there....

Let's not go full Alamo Death Star mode here, gents.

And he was supposed to be so good with younger players, European players, etc. But all the defensemen look so much better since he's been jettisoned in an escape pod into the asteroid field.

Not a chance. Nor the Montour goal. They didn't stay beneath the puck.

Where's Risto? It's raining Rasmi goals!

Rasmi the Youngest!

What a save, what a goal.

I spoke too soon.

Crash the lane, Montour! And it's always nice to score in the final minute instead of giving that up.

The NJ broadcast has now referred to both Dahlin and Asplund as from Finland.... Notes must be messed up

Lovely saucer, Mitts.

A Rasmus! Nice goal. And I like this line.