mjd1001

First question, does anyone know if any Amerks games will be on TV in the Buffalo market this year? Second item, and maybe a bit longer of one we can revisit from earlier in the year....now that Pegula will own the Bills and the Sabres, AND it looks like he is getting involved in a lot more (possible new stadium, all the stuff at the harborcenter, etc), do you think it is looking any MORE likely we might get a regional cable sports network in the next few years? Think of the programming. All the Sabres games (exce,pt national ones), Amerks games, an Expanded Blue and Gold. Any NFL content about the Bills that is allowed by NFL rules (player shows,t extened pre and post game shows, etc.) Bandits games. A possible Buffalo based Traverse city type preseason tournament. Bandits games. I'm sure I'm mising a lot. The thing is we always talk about the expense of a network, but you might only be looking to get it on in Buffalo, Rochester, and MAYBE Syracuse and southern Ontario. And what seems to be different about Pegula that we aren't used to, he seems willing to spend (or lose) a bit of money to reach a longer term goal..to market a product. The possibilities of what can be done with a WNY sports network with him owning 4 teams in the area seem pretty good.

I really think Reinhart will be a very good to great player (not based on my expert scouting, but just what I have heard), but what I do feel VERY strongly about is the timeline for him to contribute to this roster should be starting with the 2016-2017 season. If he comes banging down the door before then, then great. The only thing is, the optimal situation in my mind would be onre more year in Junior and then one year with the Amerks....but NHL rules say he won't be eligible for a full year in the AHL until 2 more full years in Junior, correct?

I don't like that he dismissed it so quickly. But he is the coach, he is not putting the team together. I CAN be OK with it if the guys picking the players (Murray and scouting staff) are at least using it to a certain extent.

As of right now, I think the same that I did a few months ago, that 2nd overall pick this year would have been in the 5-7 range in 2013. So what does that mean? He is not going to be a 20-30 goal guy or a 60-70 point guy this year, or next year, or maybe even in 3 years. I'm guessing he is likely to be a 15 goal, 40-50 point guy by the time he is 21 years old (yes, 3 years from now), and his 'peak' may be 25 goals, 70 points....and that may not be for 5 more years. To all those who are thinking he is our 'star' and we need him on the Sabres this year, maybe seeing this little reality check of how long a potential 'star' (not superstar) needs to get used to the NHL is needed. Who we should be looking for signs to be excited about is Risto, Grigorenko, and Armia....we are more likely to see things to get excited about from them THIS YEAR.

I think I remember those comments (or at least reading someone reference them on here), but then there we also comments either from Murray or Nolan that when the season DOES start, it is likely he'd be 'protected' a bit (meaning maybe a day off on road games where you can't get the matchups you want, and in home games only being played in certain situations.) As I said in a previous post, I am in a way hoping he goes back to Junior....as it will be his first time playing in junior after a 'taste' of NHL camp and real NHL competition. But if he stays, I wonder if the fans are going to be prepared for him to get some nights off, and when he does play to only be getting 10 minutes of ice time a game, and sometimes playing in the 3rd period, and other time be glued to the bench by Nolan in tight games in the third until he GRADUALLY gets the chance to be put it. Remember, Girgensons last year seemed really ready for the NHL, yet he got very little, if any, Powerplay time the entire year (even spot duty on the 2nd unit, it didn't happen)

The more I think about it, the more I am agreeing with you. Even if he is one of the 'top 6' forwards on this team right now (which I don't know if he has much of a chance to do that), do you really need him here? Some will say he won't get better in Junior anymore, but I disagree with that. If he goes back to Junior, he will do so after a FULL TRAINING camp with the Sabres, he will know a LOT better what he will need to improve on to be a player with the Sabres. I'm sure he will go back to Junior with a workout plan and a "skills improvement plan" generated by the Sabres. Basically, if he goes back to Juniors, he should have a much more productive year preparing for the NHL than last year because the Sabres will be bringing him along all the way. I guess unless he looks like he will put in 25+ goals (which even McKinnon didn't do), I'd probably want him back in Juniors after his 9 game exposure to the NHL.

Keep him with the Sabres no matter what? Juniors no matter what? Personally, I'd like to see him with the Sabres only if it is CLEAR he is ready now, and a top six guy right now.

Maybe, but over the last 5 years or so, the average number of 30+ goal scorers per team is less than 1 player per team.

I agree with you, just wish it was on TV, or even viewable on the web. I'm an equal Bills and Sabres fan, but....while the happenings with the Bills lately have everyone elated, I kinda need a break from the Bills. I'm happy for everything going on, but I'm on Bills overload now.

I only go to a preseason game every year...one where I can pick up tickets for a fraction of the cost. I want to show up once a year just to get a 'feel' for the Arena and what it is like to see a game in person. I can do that at a preseason game. As far as watching a game that matters, High-def and a big-screen work for me for the regular season.

I don't mean to repeat points I made in a previous post, but I want to add to what you said above. He is not going to be 'wasting away' in junior, or playing in a league with 'nothing to prove'. -He is Sabres property now, if he goes to Juniors, he will be on a workout program and diet that will make him more NHL ready a year from now. -He will have a taste of the NHL through camp and preseason (and maybe regular season games). He will learn what he needs to work on and hear what the Sabres need him to work on. In Juniors, he won't just be playing to win, but instead working on aspects of his game that the Sabres staff identify to him. I really think the best thing for his kid (and the Sabres) would be for him to play in Junior, have his team eliminated early from the playoffs, and them for him to play with Rochester at the end of the AHL season and a run for the Amerks in the playoffs. To have him spend a few weeks, or even a month, with a lot of other younger guys in Rochester might be the best month this kid can have in preparing for the NHL.

Reinhart back to Juniors this year. He'll stay with the Sabres at the beginning of the year, practice with the team as much as he can for a month, they will work him into games where they can 'protect him' (meaning only home games where they can get the matchups they want) but ultimately he will go back to Juniors, where he should be. The exception to this would be if 1 of two things happen: 1. The Sabres have MAJOR injury issues during camp/preseason 2. He looks like (to everyone, including coaches) that he will instantly be a 15-20 goal, 50 point guy. This team is under very little pressure to win, and is not having problems getting fans to show up. There is no reason to rush him to the big team. He may not get better in the Juniors another year, but by waiting until NEXT season to play him, he will get a year older, a year stronger/more mature, get 2 full camps in with the Sabres, possibly some time at the end of juniors with Rochester, and a full year with the Sabres training staff. Meaning, even without playing a full season with the Sabres, he will be a LOT better and a LOT more prepared for the NHL next year than he is this year.

-No backup QB that knows the playbook, only 2 qb on the roster -Entire Offense looks bad in preseasons, fans criticizing it as even worse than it is. -Revolving door at some positions -Ownership still not settled, Bon Jovi in, then out, then back in---Toronto group threat won't go away, please let it end already. -It is only preseason and I think Preseason means next to nothing, but can this team be any more boring to watch? I'm sure there are a lot of other things to add to the list, but please, Sabres games can't get here soon enough!

Ok, it would be great to get a generational player who is drafted #1 overall, this thread is not about saying you are better off NOT getting a chance at McDavid, but I thought about how important is it to your success at winning the cup? I went back through my hockey watching years (close to 30 years now) and came up with 3 'for sure, no doubt' "generational players" who were picked first overall: Crosby, Lemieux, and Lindros. Those are the only 3 guys I can remember getting as much hype as McDavid in their draft year. There have been other players with almost as much hype (Tavares, Ovechkin, Joe Thornton, and a few others) but only 3 guys were this hightly touted. So looking at Crosby, Lemieux, and Lindros, what do we get? -3 Stanley Cups in 38 seasons played between them. I'd take it, and those players were really exciting to watch, but those numbers show that missing out on a #1 overall 'generational' player doest mean much in terms of going on a multiple Cup run. If you look at next tier, the 'almost generational player hype' guys, I would say that group would be Pierre Turgeon, Joe Thornton, Alex Ovechkin, John Tavares, Taylor Hall, and Nate Mckinnon (sorry, Patrick Kane is close to this list, but not quite there). What do you get there? -0 Stanley Cups in 58 combined seasons. Once again, you have multiple 100 point seaons, 50 goal years, all star games, awards won, but not as much success as we would think from players this highly touted as first overall picks in the draft. So what is my take-away from this? I'm thinking the Sabres will not finish last, and thus not get either McDavid or Eichel. I'm trying to convince myself that over the next 10-15 years, getting McDavid will not guarantee they will be a more successful team. I'd still love to get him, it would bring excitement to the building, hype to the team, but it really isn't needed.

The more I think about it, the more I would hope this turns into a game or two a year in Buffalo, and not much else. What may be better than bringing a Junior team to Buffalo would be to strengthen ties between two cities and two fanbases...Erie and Buffalo.

I doubt that will happen, but as far as message board talk goes, how successful is the franchise in Erie? Could this be a team that could be moved to Buffalo as a Junior team here (I'd hope not, I'd rather see Buffalo become more of a College hockey town with an improving Canisius and/or Niagara Program) Or could this lead to a partnership of sorts between the Otters and Sabres (saying down the road, the Otters play a handful of games in Buffalo, even in years without McDavid?)

For me, its either finish last (guaranteeing at least the 2nd pick in the draft) or go all out for wins. I'd PREFER finishing last, but I just don't think they are going do that this year. I see this team as worse case scenario a 25th to 26th place team, and BEST case about 20th overall. The problem is, I don't think they will finish last.

Positive impact? Pegula not only is a big player in Buffalo, but he becomes even larger in NY states eyes (Albany politicians) and the pull he has will be directed at Western NY. Negative? Same a above, but when the state does direct something his way (to WNY) they may say "you'll get money for one thing but not for both, now pick which you want" If the Bills get a new Stadium here in 10 years, at about that time we might be looking for a new Hockey arena or at least a MAJOR refurbishment of the current one at a minimum cost of $100's of millions. The arean is fine now, and will probably be usable by then, but a few things to consider: 1. In 10 years, it will be approaching 30 years old. 2. While nice for an arena, Some of the ones built in the last 10 years are much nicer already. 3. As or right now, how many Teams in the NHL play in buildings that are more than 5 years older than ours? 5 Teams. The Islanders and Edmonton have new homes coming, and MSG has had a nearly Billion dollar renovation. That is now, what will the NHL landscape look like in 10 years? With the Harbor centre basically attached to the arena now, I'm not sure we will be looking at a new one, but I can expect major renovations/upgrades to be happining in that time frame.

Anyone know anything about him (Danny Flynn) other than he was a coach in Moncton?

I might be in the minority, but I kinda like his game. This team in the long run is not going to be able to afford to have a full set of $4 million to $6million dollar per year studs on the blue line. Ruhwedel to me is/can be a pretty decent puck-moving D man that would be a very good #5 or #6 guy that won't hurt you much if you have to move him into a #3 or #4 role.

I agree with you there. I'm also not going to pick a logo as one of my favorites just because it is an original six team. Personally, a lot of people put the Blue Jackets logo/uniforms toward the bottom of the list, they are actually in my top 5. Chicago I have always loved. San Jose sometimes I look at and go 'eh' but other times I like. Now that I think of it, I think I'm a big fan of multiple bright colors. On the bottom of my list: I think the new Jets logo is pretty boring. The Wild might have the best designed logo, but it just doesn't look good to me. Not a big fan of Ottawa or Detroit either.

I'm good with the Ennis deal for now. Of course, if he turns into an injury prone, 10 goals a year player, we'll be hearing how Murray made a big mistake. While that can happen, so can him turning into an occasional 30 goal scorer. What is most likely, of course, is someplace in the middle. Given a big role in the offensive zone, I think 20-25 goal seasons are what we should be hoping for reasonably.

I still don't think/see Reinhart on the first line. I'd probably prefer him to stay in Juniors one more year. He will get better by attending Sabres prospect camp, training camp, playing in his 9 regular season games, etc. If he DOES make the Sabres, I am pretty sure TM and TN said they would protect him. Meaning 8-10 minutes a game, maybe some days off on the road (play him at home mostly where you can get the matchups you want), work him into power play time gradually, etc. But personally, I'd rather have him in the Juniors this year and then NEXT year play with the Sabres after 2 full training camps and development camps and 2 full off-seasons of Sabres conditioning/training.

Would have liked him to be here, but he isn't so time to move on. Now work on getting good enough to go out and beat him.

Maybe this is why Pegula is interested in the Bills. He has said over and over that Hockey is his first love....well, if Kim is wanting more control of the Sabres, maybe he thinks he can just buy the bills and 'give' them to her, to keep her out of 'his' hockey team.