mjd1001

From this picture, it doesn't look like it will be easy to see much up close, the fans look very very far away.

Personally, I never 'fully embraced' Eichel. I hardly go to games so its not like I'm someone who cheered or booed anyway. But there was just something about him. I liked him as a Sabre, I wanted him to do well, but I never got that fan-player 'warm and fuzzy feeling' of feeing he was 'one of us'. To me, last nights comments aren't a huge deal, but they somewhat cement the feeling I had for him even when he was a Sabre.

He came across as someone who can be 'coached' to say or do the right thing, but when he doesn't get his way and gets frustrated, a bit of an entitled/elitist attitude comes out.

I have one friend who is a big Flyers fan and I have on occasion browsed some of the Philly message forums. What is interesting is in less than 1 year a good portion fo the fanbase there (at least those who post) mirror his reaction to the buffalo fan base: -When the trade happened, most liked the trade. Though it was a steep price to pay but they were getting a very very good physical d-man that was held down in Buffalo. A few (minority) didn't like the trade because of his analytics numbers. -A month or so ago 'while he was not playing and injured' I noticed that now it was closer to 50-50 whether flyers fans liked him....maybe leaning slightly toward not liking him. A common thing that my friend mentions when I talk to him and what you can read on the flyers forums: Physical D-man, often takes himself out of the play to make a hit, Seems to have all the offensive tools you want but his production lags a bit, and Flyers probably better off trading him to get something back rather than re-signing him. I admit I only browse other teams forums when I am really bored and have time, so I probably missed 75% or more of the discussion about him, but the exposure I do have is very close to what many of us learned about him for his time here.

I agree with what you are saying. And I know that you aren't arguing with me...but that leg injury may have put him 6 months or even farther behind where he should have been as a 10th overall pick...and even as a 10th overall pick (give or take a few spots) development time may have still been 3-4 years or more. I just think fans need to practice patience with him. He may not ever be a quality 1st or 2nd liner...and if he does become one, it might take another couple years to get to that point.

Krebs is someone that may require even more patience than what some fans want to give. Some things to remember: -He was a first round pick, but in the bottom half of the first round. He wasn't 8th overall like Jack Quinn, 7th overall like Dylan Cozens, 8th overall like Mitts or even Nylander. There was a reason why he was 17th overall, there might be some part of his game that take a little more time to develop. -Going back to his draft status...what is a 17th overall pick? Who was drafted right near him (16th to 18th) in his draft year. Alex Newhook and Thomas Hartley. Who was drafted in those positions the year before so they are a year ahead? Martin Kaut, Ty Smith, and Liam Foudy. How about we go back to guys who are 2 years older drafted in those positions? Juuso Valimaki, Timothy Lilijegren, and Urho Vaakanainen. My point being guys drafted in the middle-to-second half of the first round most often don't end up producing well at the NHL level for 4-5 years after they are drafted even they even do that. -I understand we are looking for things in Krebs and thus see some signs of things we like. But he will probably need time. Another year in the minors wouldn't be out of the question. Maybe a stint in the AHL at the end of this year and then with the Sabres next year but still not producing. That is what it may take.

to be successful next year a lot of upgrades need to happen. Of the UFA's, Hinostroza I think has earned a bottom six chance with the team next year if he wants it. Pysyk I'd like to see back also. Hagg as the 7th D-man I'd be OK with. Butcher, Caggiula, Bjork, and Eakin need to be replaced/upgraded for sure. Hayden and Jankowski I don't really have an opinion on, they aren't good enough to be a driving force on this team in anyway, but as Roch guys that could be called up in a pinch maybe...nothing more than that though.

If we are talking since 2000, On D, take of Risto, maybe replace him with Lydman and I'd even hear arguments for Warrener or Sekera over Risto. Up front I didn't 'like' Roy as a player, but he did produce, so him and Stafford (based on production) I think you need to consider. Connolly may have been near the top of the list as far as talent. We only saw it for about a half season and 1 playoff series leading up to his concussion, but at that point, no matter how short of a time that may have been, he may have been the single best player in terms of talent and production we have seen in the last 20 years (even over Eichel). Too bad that just when he got to that point, he had that serious injury.

If they are good enough I'd still say very good odds they make it here. This "war" is only a couple weeks old. A lot can happen in the next few weeks, or months. Wars can be won or lost, governments can change their positions, things can be ironed out in treaties....even whole governments can change. Those guys may not have even been contributors to the big club for 2-3 years or more. Things are likely to be a lot different then than they have been for the last 2 weeks.

I agree with that on Risto. He had/has the talent, he worked hard, he spent a lot of time here, but despite the effort and the physical talent, he just wasn't that good. For me, you don't get an honor just for 'trying hard' and 'having physical tools'...if the technique/hockey IQ is missing in a big way.

I don't know if I'd have them in Rochester next year. If it is obvious they need to be yes, but I am hopeful all of them will be old enough/have enough experience that they will be with the big club next year. With that said, I do agree with your general premise. I think almost every player needs to spend a good time in the AHL, it rarely hurts them. Too many times we have fans of the team that want to rush prospects to the big team. Despite that strategy having failed over and over and over, we still hear people that say "he was a first round pick bring him up!" or after a prospect scores 2 points in a single game in Roch, they say "he's ready, bring him up!" I want most, if not all of the Sabres prospects to have at least 1 full year in the minors. That said, I think Quinn and Krebs should be beyond that point next year and ready for a stint with the Sabres.

At this point in the Sabres 'development', I don't really care if they lose or even get blown out. It is going to happen. But I want to at least see some goals. These last 2 games have been 2 of the hardest ones to watch recently, not because they lost or how bad they are losing...its just because there are no goals. Boring.

I'm fine with him for now..more than fine I like him. Honestly, most of us really have no idea just how complicated coaching an NHL team can be or how in-depth game day strategy is. With that said, there are 2 things we do know. 1.) we know what his coaching style/ attitude is....some don't like it but I do like it.. 2.) He has experience, a TON of experience. Head coaching at multiple levels, experience in a development role, experience in the minors, college level kids, experience with multiple organizations as an assistant working with NHL players. Put those 2 things together, especially with me being a person who LIKES his attitude, and I'm happy he is in his role with the team.

I agree on no tribute videos. I don't like them at all in almost any circumstance. maybe, MAYBE if it was a Ryan Miller situation, or Ray Borque with Boston years ago (basically, you have to had devoted your life to the home team, played for at least 6-7 years but hopefully even more, and had memorable moments that actually contributed to team success, as well as being beloved in the community). Anything other than that, no tribute videos.

I think the 2 biggest reasons why this team is not 10 or more points better are the injuries to Mittelstadt and Girgensons. -We saw last year, Mittelstadt has the potential to be a significant contributor to scoring. Will he be that long term? Unknown yet, but he just hasn't had a chance to get into any type of flow this year even when he has played. -Girgensons. I sometimes don't understand the dislike for him on this board. The guy is 100% motor and effort when he does play. He is one of the better penalty killers and is relied on for that role. He appears to be one of the better locker room/leader guys. As a 4th liner with 10-20% less ice time than the top forwards, he produces. Over the last 3 years, not only does he have one of the better +/- ratings among forwards, but the scores at a 15+ goal pace per 82 games..again with less ice time and 4th line teammates.

I think it will help both eventually. Every year when Vegas loses in the playoffs, the days following that series were they needed a better #1 center. They now have the potential for that. Win for Vegas. For the Sabres, if Krebs progresses to even being a 'good' NHL player and Tuch plays the way he has this year (and the last couple), and throw in the value of a late first round pick..its a win for the Sabres. Personally, I am already happy with the trade. As a fan, I never connected with Eichel...and I already am more of a fan of Tuch. Krebs potential and a first rounder are just the topping on that.

I'm bringing up one that was brought up a few weeks ago but it seems to be getting worse. Serena Williams. She never was likeable or had much charisma ever, but now she doesn't even play half the time and when she does she isn't the best player anymore. Still, she is getting shoved down our throats: -Commericals. I don't know how many she is on but I know I see them almost daily. -F1 races. Why do I need to have her interviewed before a f1 race? -CNBC. I turn on a businesses network and not only is she on, but for the 30 minutes before she is on the host get all excited and keep reminding us to 'stay tuned' because she is coming up soon! -I didn't even read the article, but I saw on a news feed website yesterday an article front and center on the page about some foundation she has that someone made a mistake and credited her sister with something and Serena was mad and 'called them out'. -Now on my twitter feed also. Again, I just don't get it. Shes not the best tennis player anymore. She doesn't even play in all the tournaments. She never was someone who was likeable at all, so why is she EVERYWHERE?

Many of us feel the reason the tank/first rebuild didn't work is because they wanted it to happen to quickly. Yes, bad drafting was a part of it, but right now we finally have some prospects that appear to be 1-3 years away from being very good NHL players. I do not want that 'sped up' by a year at the expense of almost any of them.

If there is a new owner, I only want 2 things: 1.) The deal has to include a clause where the team can't be moved 2.) The new owner doesn't do anything to 'accelerate' the rebuild. Bring people in that want to do things differently? Fine, but not to make moves to abandon the youth movement and speed things up.

I tend to disagree. -In the 6 seasons prior to them taking over (including the season they took over most of the way though it as that was before their first 'offseason' retooling the team, the Sabres in the previous 6 seasons: -made the playoffs in 4 out of 6 seasons -had a positive point percentage in 7 straight seasons -1 presidents trophy -2 conference championship appearances -Averaged 100 points per season -won 4 playoff rounds in 6 years, 25 playoff wins in those 6 seasons. -1 coach in the previous 13 years. Since they bought the Sabres (starting with their first full offseason and season of ownership) -No playoffs in going on 11 seasons in a row (and many of us think that will extend to 12) -1 out of 11 seasons with a positive point percentage -Averaging 70 points per 82 games -zero playoff appearances, zero playoff wins (obviously) -5 times finishing dead last in the division, and a couple more at the bottom of the league -They are on their 7th different coach trying to make things right. Its not only how bad the results have been, but the fact they took a team that had some recent success with hardly any money/investment into it and turned it into something so bad....I have a hard time thinking of other franchises in my entire lifetime that had worse results/less success though an ownerships life.

If the Pegulas do sell....they may go down as the worst owners in the history of the NHL, and maybe North American pro sports, at least in terms of their teams success. No other league makes it as easy to make the playoffs as the NHL has historically, and when you look at winning percentage, playoff appearances, winning seasons, many measurables I'm not sure anyone would have owned a team as long as them and had as little success.

When they score a lot more and have players good enough to do that year after year. I just took a look at the top 5 teams in the league now in terms of points/point percentage: -Colorado: 5 players averaging more than a point per game...3 of them averaging more than 1.3 points per game -Carolina: 4 players averaging over .9 points per game. -Florida: 4 players average over 1 point per game (Huberdea at 1.42) -Tampa: 3 players over 1 point per game...a 4th at .97 points per game. -Toronto: 4 players over .9 points per game, Matthews on a 62 goal per 82 game pace. What does Buffalo have now? Tuch averageing 1 point per game (over 22 games). No one else even in the .9 range...only one player (Tage) barely holding onto .8. You need 3-4 guys at least to produce at the same level Tuch is so far, but to do it over 82 games. It goes beyond that. We LOVE what Thompson is doing, and Skinner to a certain extent. But there are 34 players with the same number of goals or more than Thompson, and 48 with the same number or more than Skinner. Sure, this team needs a good starting goaltender, I almost don't bring that up because it is so obvious. But for them to start winning, they need some players to develop a LOT more production. When you look at the better teams in the league, what the Sabres have in terms of production is way down the list. The top teams in the league are on pace for 320-340 goals for the season. Scoring is up. The Sabres are currently on pace for 217. I want to see this team find 80 more goals per year (full season), that is the starting point for when I will consider them good on a consistent basis. "learning to win" can just be being able to put away that one goal lead in the 3rd period and not blow it. But if you score like a top team in the league, you are going to 'learn to win' by simply being in a better position to win more games because of your scoring.

I know I know...there is virtually no connection from this team to that of years ago except for the fanbase.... I'm not sure what is worse..11 straight years of no playoffs and counting (good odds we get to at least 12).....or 4 out of 20 years with no playoffs (and counting). Even with those conference finals teams in 05-06 and 06-07....THAT part of the franchise (before the current playoff drought even started), had missed the playoffs in 5 out of 9 seasons in a league where half or more of the teams make the playoffs.

Sabres have lost 5 in a row. They are playing a very good team, well above .500 and playing them on the road. Logic points to the Sabres losing this one....but its time to put this losing streak to an end. Sabres win this one.

To answer your question, banning russian born players form the NHL, who may not have anything to do with this, from the NHL does NOTHING for the liberty of the people living in Ukraine. Nothing. So you ban Russia as a nations from participating in tournaments, hockey, Soccer, anything. You cancel the Russian GP in forumula one. Anything sports related professional or otherwise where Russia as a nation is represented you don't allow or cancel. But you do not ban someone or suspend someone from the NHL (or any other league) based on their nationality or the location of the plot of land they were born on. That doesn't solve the problem, all that does is give people who want to blame 'someone' for what is going on a scapegoat, and the scapegoat here might very well agree with the position you have.