mjd1001

I am so tired of prospects being brought up and put in the sabers lineup too early. Unless your name is Eichel or Dahlin, you should spend time in Rochester, and stay down there until your performance has everyone begging to have you be brought up because you're just killing the AHL competition. For the long-term benefit of the team and the player, you are a lot better keeping someone in Rochester for 30 to 40 too many games, then bringing them up 30 or 40 games too early for their development.

Its pretty new in the USA, but I like the Kinder Bueno bars.

I really think the Sabres need someone who can drop the gloves, is willing to do so, and is good at it. That player has to be good at hockey too, not someone you just have available to dress 'just in case'. I'm thinking a Marcus Foligno type player (wish he would have never been traded). I know, hard to find, but that is the ONE thing this team doesn't have at all. Now, I have come to not like fighting in hockey at all. I'm good with not seeing a fight in a game ever. BUT, as fighting (and a LOT Of dirty stickwork) is still tolerated in the NHL, I really want the Sabres to get a player, at least ONE, that can play that game.

I hope that is the case. This team probably won't be good, or a playoff team again next year if they focus on youth and trade away Eichel (and maybe Reinhart), but that is what I'd like to see.

Okposo....I wish he and his contract were not an issue, but to be honest, he isn't a problem when he is on the ice. He has learned to play his role and do it well. The problem is what he gives you is a good $2.5-$3 million dollar player that you are paying $6 million for.

I'm OK with a deal like that. Do I want more? Of course. Am I going to ask for more? Of course. But at the end of the day, all you can do is talk to all interested parties and take the best offer out there if you are sure you are going to trade him. If in the offseason that offers are really REALLY bad (take my #4 organizational prospect and a single lottery protected 1st in 2022), then you hold onto Jack and wait it out/play it out. But, if I am SURE I am moving him and there is a pretty good offer on the table, I'm taking it (not holding out for just a bit more) because...if he is truly going off this team....you can't 100% more forward with a new locker room, new leadership...until that trade happens.

I agree. I get the impression that with the Bills, no big things happen unless they say so...but they are more hands off...simply because the game and player evaluation is so much more complicated, there are so many more positions to be an expert on...and there are many more layers of coaches/management. With the Sabres, they THINK they understand the complexities of the game more than they do, and there isn't much (in terms of layers of people) between them and the product on the ice.

I'd accept less than that. Not that I WANT to get less, but there is a chance the offers won't be that good and the reality is you might have to accept less.

Hopefully not. You send him to wherever you get the best return from. Out west? In your division? Boston or Toronto? Doesn't matter...wherever you get the best return.

How does one provide a link for an opinion... For their impression of something?

Who says it has to be with the sabres?? How we enjoy our sports can be with any NHL team we like or are fans of.....or any other sport too. Open minds people....

frustrating

That is true in the NHL, but there will be a few teams that just missed the playoffs and have some pressure on them to make it next year, not 3 years in the future... Or even more....a team will not go as far in this years playoffs as they expect...and pressure will some from the fanbase and/or ownership that next year is a 'make or break' year. Find the handfull of teams that applies to, with a coach and/or GM on the hotseat...that THAT is where you will find more demand for Eichel at the expense of prospects that may be good 1-3 years down the road.

It has been said before, but I'll say it again....I think the Pegulas don't want super experienced people, or multiple layers of management with the sabres because they don't think they need it...because they THINK they know a lot more about hockey than they do. They WANT to be making decisions, they do not want someone to tell them they are wrong. With the bills its different. The roster is bigger. The game is more complex (there are so many positions in football that are just totally different than other positions.) In terms of player scouting, you need to have experts on so many different positions that do so many things. I think Terry accepts this to a certain extent, and is more willing to let the 'experts' make those decisions in Football. But in the NHL, they simply want to have their voices heard more.

There is a bit of a paradox into it when you dig deeper into what is 'entertaining' to fans. To one person, entertainment might be a team with a winning record. Knowing you have a chance of winning almost every game you go into. Signing veterans that will help you win now. Even if that makes your team 'good' but not great, that is what some people want. They are the ones that want to keep Eichel, spend on whatever it takes to resign Sam, and then sprinkle in some other veterans so this team can compete for the playoffs. But on the other side, there are people that actually have more fun seeing a young team develop, even if that team misses the playoffs. They want to witness the journey that ENDS 4-5 years down the road with a very good/great team, but the actual journey is just as much fun as the end result, even if that means losing some more games next year. I understand people who pay money to go to the games and just want to see wins now (I'm not one of them). But I fall into the second category. I have a LOT more fun watching a young team grow and get better, even if that means more losses now, as long as I have some entertaining games with that 'hope' sprinkled in.

From sources outside of Buffalo....like the hockey guys out of Toronto on 590...a few articles I have read over the years...and even one trip I took to central Canada years ago and listed to a station out of Edmonton I think......I have always remember hearing rumblings that Same would really like to be someplace in Western Canada eventually. Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary....maybe even Seattle. It hasn't been brought up too much on this board, but I know I have heard that dozens of times over the years about him It hasn't been brought up too much on this board, but I know I have heard that dozens of times over the years about him...almost like it give you the feeling he would never want to sign a long term deal no matter what....his goal being to get to free agency so he can get back out west.

If, as a fan, you spend time worrying about the Sabres getting 'equal value' for sam and Jack in a trade, you will drive yourself mad. They are likely to have to move them. They are likely to NOT get what fans think is equal value. You have to accept that before you move on. So instead of 'equal value', look at it this way...what can they GET for those 2 players that they can add to Mittlestadt, Cozens, Thompson, Oloffson, Aplund, Routsalainen.....Dahlin, Jokiharju, Bryson, Borgen? Start with the base of young talent you HAVE now, and what can you add to that...and what kind of team will that get you going forward? Its probably not going to get you a contending team next year (for a playoff run), but if it gets you a young exciting team that misses the playoffs again, but shows signs of having the talent to run and gun with the top teams in the league on occasion, I'm good with that for next year.

Me too. Move him out west, keep him in the east, trade him in a division... Doesn't matter. You trade him where you're getting the best return. To win the most games you have to make your team better... The best way you can. If you make the playoffs you're going to play against great players regardless. Don't care about where you move him just get the biggest return even if that's in your own division

It depends what is Adams goal for next year? Option 1: Win at all costs, make this team the best it possibly can be next year, playoffs are a priority. Option 2: Win, be better than this year, certainly try to make the playoffs but don't sacrifice player development. If you choose option 1...you look to hire a veteran head coach, resign Ulmark (even if overpaying), resign McCabe, add the best mid-level Forward Free agent you can. Give Sam what he wants to stay. Get the best backup goalie you can. If you choose option 2...probably keep Granato as coach, don't go heavy with free agents (give your current young guys ice time to keep developing). ENTERTAIN offers for Eichel (not saying to do it, but if he wants out and you can get young, NHL ready guys-plural- you consider it.) Try to resign Reinhart but not overpay, if he demands more entertain a sign and trade (if possible). I'd prefer option 2. This team is not winning the cup next year. I want them to be better than they are this year, but to me watching the young players get better and be given time to fail or succeed is fun. Even if a veteran makes you a bit better, I find no joy in watching a 29-33 year old 3rd line winger be signed to score 15 goals and make you slightly better.

I agree 100%. This board is filled with people every offseason EVERY offseason...asking for or wanting to sign free agents, who are the best guys available, etc. It happened the year they drafted Sam, the year they drafted Eichel, and every year since. At some point you have to start over and do what you say, just let the young guys play together, EVEN IF that means in Rochester when you THINK they are already good enough to be in the NHL. Too many shortcuts were taken by this team, and it continues. Sure, if you stop taking shortcuts now maybe this team won't be good for a few years...but no matter how little patience you have its what you need to do.

I don't know how he can be used much differently. Maybe you hope the teams results will be different because of the other players around him..but that does't mean he used differently. -'first' line, on PP unit #1. That hasn't changed for years. -He averages about 21 minutes of ice time. That is close to where most other top players are. Maybe you average him 30 to 60 seconds less per game (10-20 seconds less per period?) -He already doesn't kill penalties...and I want that to stay the same. 2 minute PK's are a time for him to get 2 minutes of rest. -The only thing I can see changing is to have him focus a little less on D-responsibilities to push the offense more. I'm not saying have him hang our near the redline all the time, but he should usually be the most talented player on the ice, I want him pushing for offense and have that be his mindset nearly 100% of the time. As far as him still being a Sabre....I think he will be, but won't be surprised if he isn't. I'm ok with the team moving him if they get a good return (doesn't even have to be a 'great' return, just not embarassing)...to me he isn't untouchable.

If Anaheim manages to finish below the Sabres in the standing, they DESERVE the best odds in the draft lottery.

Don't hear much talk about Ellis and Girardi. Do they WANT to be assistants next year, or did they just agree to do it for a couple months because they were needed. If Granato is back as coach, does he want them with him? Very curious about those things...

I'm thinking a '4th' line of Okposo, Girgensons, and Cozens isn't a bad place to start (bottom up of course) Your 3 other centers (with no trades) are Eichel, Mitts, and Sam. So from there you need 4 wingers: Olofsson and Thompson would be 2 of them. Skinner you are stuck with as the 3rd. The other guy? That is the one big move I'd make...I want a guy with both speed and a physical edge (The Evander Kane version the Sabres traded for a few years ago would do wonders for this team now) That is assuming everyone is re-signed and no trades. Will that forward lineup win you the Cup? Probably not. but if Eichel returns to form and Sam plays Center like he is now...and you get a small step-up from the young guys it might/should get you in the playoffs.

Right now I'm in favor of Granato. The other names out there...Gallant, Boudreau.....they just don't excite me all that much. Does Granato 'excite' me? Not really, but it has been fun seeing someone actually make an improvement in not only the team compared to the previous coach, but the performance of some individual players.