Bob Malooga

Fruit snacks...before dinner. Don't tell my Mother.

Well, I guess I am delusional...or I just expect those to be the first 7 players off the board, and we won't be drafting in the top-7.

I really don't think he is going to last that long...you're going to have to use a 2nd round pick on him, in my opinion. (And I really want him.) On a sidenote...Edmonton has 2 picks in the top-16? That really ticks me off. Who the hell trades a 1st round pick for David Perron? Lol. On another sidenote...would anyone want Jordan Subban if he ends up going back into the draft? (Apparently he's friends with Pegula's daughter, not that it matters.)

I've always looked at the Montreal Canadians, New York Yankees, Boston Celtics and Pittsburgh Steelers as the model franchises in professional sports. They have the most championships of any other teams in their respective sports/leagues.

I think these kids will all be great players, and I would be ecstatic to (possibly) end up with one of them, *IF* the Sabres are a lottery team again.

I'd give up a 1st round pick next year for Tarasenko or Toffoli, possibly Saad. Unless Murray expects to be a lottery team, I would definitely look into getting proven players for next year's draft picks. Giving up a 1st round pick for Tarasenko would be "stupid?" Lol, come on.

Yeah. Gionta is now a bottom-6, 3rd line player in my opinion. As for Sorenson...who cares? We need all the offensive talent we can get, especially down in Rochester at the moment. There was an article of the best prospects not in the NHL, and he ranked very highly on that list. (Unfortunately I cannot find it, I think it was The Hockey News or Hockey's Future.) He could take Brendan Lemieux's spot on the left side of the prospect depth chart...no?

Question for those of you who might know a little more than I do about this stuff... Has anyone ever seen this kid play, or does anyone know anything about him? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Sörensen "The Ottawa Senators did not sign Sörensen by the 1 June 2012 deadline, leaving him free to sign with any NHL team in the future." "During the 2014–15 SHL season, Sörensen recorded 17 goals and 15 assists in 50 games and after the end of the season he was awarded with the SHL Rookie of the Year award." (Previous winners: Henrik Zetterberg, Tobias Enstrom, Loui Eriksson, Nicklas Backstrom, Victor Hedman, Johan Larsson.) Murray was the AGM when the Senators drafted him. He has been said to be one of the best free agents not in North America. He's young too, and he has improved his play every single year, by the looks of things, really becoming a force for his team this year. It wouldn't surprise me to see him as an Amerks signing...I think Shane Prince is another one to keep an eye on, he even said he would love to "come home," and he will be a restricted free agent come July. He was one of the best players in the AHL this year. Both are "a couple years into their development," and both have "yet to get a chance with the team that drafted them." (Things Murray said he wanted.) What say you guys...anybody have an opinion on this? "An offensively skilled forward. Sörensen is a good skater and has fine puckhandling ability and soft hands. A pretty good scorer with some creativity. Of average size, but plays pretty big and gets involved physically. Must become stronger." http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=20065 EDIT: Here's a video of Sorenson...the only one I could find on youtube. (I wish I knew what they were saying! Lol.)

Bowman does still live there, I just figured if Babcock had to hear it from anyone, that's the guy I want him talking to about it. But, as for Philly's stars, I wouldn't say 27 is "young." It's not old, but he could have a 4-6 year run with the 27 year olds, or a 10 year run with our youngsters...I guess that is what I was trying to get at. I would think that would be more enticing. I honestly think the only competition would be Edmonton...too bad he wasn't an American coach, I think Buffalo would be a lock. I agree about Philly not being very appealing...but I think their blue-line is being sold short. Gostisbehere, Morin, Hagg, they have some good prospects. Are they Risto and Zads? Not even close. But, I wouldn't say Pysyk and McCabe are much better than they are. I love Gostisbehere. (I just want a good coach, especially in Rochester, someone who can develop these kids to their ceilings...what I do desperately want though is Ryan O'Reilly or Tyler Toffoli, I hope those are Murray's top 2 targets this summer. I'm just so damn excited. First time in my life that I have been more interested in the NHL draft, than I was the NFL draft. The Bills are built, they just need to win now. The Sabres? Totally different story. I fully expect Murray to go all Whaley this summer, and steal the show. RFA's, proven talent off cap-strapped teams, anything that works, Murray will do it...I hope.)

I'm so pissed...I had new windows put in last fall, and go figure, the air conditioner doesn't fit into the new windows. Lmao. This is just my luck, my bedroom is 95 degrees right now...even the bird is squawking, "f*ckin hot, f*ckin hot!" (It's a long ways from having central air like I did down south, living in Myrtle Beach...that was amazing.)

I have some questions, probably stupid ones...but I keep thinking about this. 1. Would Scotty Bowman carry any weight with Mike Babcock when it comes to Buffalo? Doesn't Bowman still live there, and hasn't he always? I would assume they must have some kind of relationship, and words from someone like Bowman could be a significant help in luring Babcock to Buffalo...no? 2. What kind of personnel decisions would he want from Murray...just roster decisions, or trade/draft decisions too? Would he walk in there and start demanding that the young players get traded for proven veteran talent? 3. On the flip side of that, going with a team like Philly might give you better players now, but wouldn't he be setup in Buffalo to have a longer run at success, as the young players the Sabres have grow into their roles, as well as their bodies, and develop? 4. This guy has an ego, right? Like, a giant, huge ego? Wouldn't someone like that realize that if he wins in Detroit or Edmonton, or Philly, or anywhere else that he is just another hockey coach...whereas in Buffalo, if he wins, he will instantly become a living legend? Mainly, the two things I think about the most are #1 and #4...I would think that would be huge for someone like Mike Babcock. Domi plays in Arizona, Larkin in Detroit. Lol. And, doesn't Babcock have more cups than Bylsma? (And that was in the western conference, no?) EDIT: Bylsma also failed to even get a bronze in the Olympics, when he had A LOT. (Never realized he played for the Amerks though.)

One thing I have not heard or seen discussed is Brian Gionta, Matt Moulson and Josh Gorges...CHOOSING to come to Buffalo. Did they decide this, thinking that they could be the key ingredients to get Buffalo to the playoffs this year? Did they not realize how deep into a rebuild this team was? I cannot, for one second, think that they believe they are better off winning these last two games, and costing themselves (especially Gionta and Moulson - wingers) a generational center...who will help them greatly. They were the captains of this team for the majority of the year, correct? Why would they not take control of that locker room and say something? Is it absurd to think this way? It's just mind-boggling to me...and quite frankly, I have one foot on the ledge. (If it has been discussed here, I apologize...but I have definitely never heard it discussed on WGR, at all.)

Funny how just last year Paul Hamilton said on WGR, "There are no forwards currently in Rochester who have a future in the NHL." He was specifically asked about Johan Larsson, and he said even he was not going to make it. Lol. Are you joking about him not making plays? His blue-line to blue-line play the other night was beautiful, so was his assist on Matt Ellis' goal.

Elected to the board of the Hockey Hall of Fame?!? Lmao, WTF, how in the world does this happen?!? http://deadspin.com/actual-crack-smoker-rob-ford-elected-to-hockey-hall-of-1695742672?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

I wouldn't have cared, and it would have made this a lot easier...as there would be THREE generational forwards to choose from. Instead of getting stuck with a defenseman at #3. Lol. It kind of depends who picks behind us, if it's Edmonton, I offer them Hanifin and drop down a spot, picking up an extra pick and a much needed center/forward. In my mind, finding elite offensive players, is harder than finding quality defensemen. Look at the Islanders, they found two and it didn't cost them a whole lot. Gorges, Bogosian, Zadorov, Ristolainen, Pysyk, McCabe...I like our defensemen, but I really think we need more offensive firepower. Then again, if Murray brings in Toffoli and/or O'Reilly, it would completely change everything. It's super hard to make up my mind, when this could go so many different ways now.

Like I have said previously, I really like that draft class too...I think Jakob Cychrun will be a stud. (Pretty sure I posted that article in another thread, just not sure where it was.)

When Weber said, "we don't want to be here," I did not at all take that as they don't want to be in Buffalo. They don't want to be in last place, and going through what they've gone through the past 2 years...very different idea. Then again, I don't want Mike Weber, Patrick Kaleta, Matt Ellis and a whole lot of them here either. I DO want one of those top-2 picks...because if we don't get one, I am going to have a hard time feeling optimistic and accepting Noah Hanifin. I am almost at the point where if we miss out on a top-2 pick, I would rather have the extra 1st, Myers, Armia and Lemieux here...I think. On the flipside, if they do miss out on a top-2 pick...I am also debating whether or not I even want it, and would rather trade it for an established player. Yes, I am extremely upset and confused right now. Lol. This is getting more difficult, not easier...like I thought it would be going into the last 2 weeks of the season.

I hope not, Zadorov is a monster who likes to kill anything that moves, Hanifin won't even look at you the wrong way.

Just going off what we have and what I have heard we could possibly get. I figured if I said we would get Lehner, Bishop, O'Reilly, Toffoli, Jones and 5 free agents we don't even know if they'll be available yet, I would be called crazy. My question was, is it optimistic to think we can get 2 top-6 forwards and 2 starting goalies? If Zadorov goes to Rochester, he's going back to Russia, I'll make a bet on that one. Pysyk doesn't belong in Rochester either, if that's the case, trade him for something so he can finally play. TJ Oshie, Dustin Brown and others have been said to be available this summer...they are much older than O'Reilly, and they are always injured. And as I tried to show in my post, I would probably take Toffoli over all of them. I figured it was a more optimistic idea than a lineup with Cody McCormick in it. Kane - McEichel - Ennis Moulson - Girgensons -(open spot) Foligno - Reinhart - Gionta Deslauriers - Larsson - McCormick I'm not sure how that is really any different than what I asked about? Lol. (I was using that as a template.)

I have seen something like 30 NCAA hockey games in the past 2 weeks, and it has been GLORIOUS!!! First time in my life I haven't watched one minute of the March Madness basketball tournament...didn't even do a bracket, did a hockey one instead. Lol. Really wish they would put more NCAA hockey on during the year...I get the Big 10 network, so I have seen all of Fasching's and Compher's games, but I'd like to see more. So happy for RIT...I really hope they can make a run at this thing, and win it all like Union did last year, shocking the hockey world. And as a captain on a #16 seed who beat the #1 seed, and is one of the top scorers in all of NCAA hockey...I would love to see Matt Garbowsky signed by the Sabres. (Losing Bailey stung a bit.) Matt O'Connor is the apple of our eye though, or at least I hope he is...he's everything Murray wants in his goalies.

I won't lie, I was blown-away when I read that and that conversation was the VERY FIRST THING I thought of. Lol. (If was actually quite easy to find. Last page of that thread.) But, I have also said before...I will never say something or add to a conversation if I don't know what I am talking about or haven't done my research. As for my opinion, while the Sabres need a goalie...I just like the kid that much. Same with Matt O'Connor, we need a goalie yes, but I would take a shot at him anyways. They can ALWAYS be used as assets, and having too many good goalies can never be a bad thing...again, in my personal opinion. (I look at NHL goalies, the way I look at NFL Quarterbacks...you're not going to win unless you have a good one, and it never hurts to stockpile good ones to use as assets.) EDIT: I want to add, although I like Blackwood A LOT...I still think Thatcher Demko ends up being the best goalie taken recently...which is what the conversation started over to begin with. Lol.

People are still upset about this? Tyler Myers was drafted the day my Father was buried in his Sabres gear, and my name is Tyler...I thought this would devastate me, but I am so extremely excited about Evander Kane. I also REALLY liked Armia AND Lemieux, but I feel we have a Lemieux type of player in Fasching and Carrier, and Armia will be replaced by Bailey and Baptiste. I just do not see this as much of a loss...my only worry was not finishing last, picking 3rd and not having the extra 1st round pick for something else. (I'm confident that's no longer a worry.)

I think when it's all said and done, we could have a lineup like this... Kane - McEichel - Ennis Moulson - Reinhart - Toffoli (or) O'Reilly (Grigorenko if neither is brought in) Foligno - Girgensons - Gionta Deslauriers - Larsson - Schaller Gorges - Bogosian Zadorov - Ristolainen McCabe - Pysyk (Ruhwedel if Pysyk is traded for O'Reilly) Lindback, Hackett or Johnson...and one of Martin Jones, Robin Lehner or Ben Bishop? Is this too crazy or too optimistic? Could Murray pull off the offer sheets for Jones and Toffoli and STILL have the assets to bring in O'Reilly? Is Tampa Bay not as close as I think to turning over the net full-time to Vasilevskiy? Won't they need to dump Bishop's contract to sign their young RFA's? Will Ottawa turn the net over to Hammond after this year, having to decide between Anderson and Lehner? I just have a weird feeling that this team is about to change A LOT more than we think it will...I see Murray going all out, like the Bills just did, to stock this team with talent. (I like Schaller over McCormick, and I hope Mackenzie Blackwood and Matt O'Connor are both added to the stable of goalies...I'd like to see Matt Garbowsky signed for Rochester too.)

I think Tim Murray acquires Ben Bishop, somehow, at some point...I think he will be the Sabres starting goalie when they are ready to compete for the playoffs. Tampa Bay will soon turn their net over to Andrei Vasilevskiy full-time, and will not keep Bishop as a backup on his contract. (Unless he trades for Subban, Demko or Fucale, and keeps Lindback or Johnson to be the starters for a year, while one of the kids works in Rochester for another year.) Either way, I think this will be priority #1 this summer, and I honestly don't think he will keep the goalies he currently has.

Touché, appreciate the response and explaining your stance...I was a little confused. And while I don't want to see another season like the last two, I don't want to go through all of this to get Noah Hanifin...I want an elite goal-scorer, and if they miss out this year, go ahead and be good next year...but I hope they entertain trading up for one of those kids, and I wouldn't really care what it took at that point. But, again, I hope it doesn't come to that...I am getting sick of defending moves, and prospects and Murray and Pegula and Reinhart and all the other young players, and Gionta and the trade for Kane...lmao. (As for Cychrun, I think he might end up being better than Ekblad, and that is saying a lot, I know...I just LOVE everything about that kid's game, he's been a man since he was 15 years old...then again, so was Ekblad. Lol)