Derrico

That's just because he's the whipping boy around here. I'm not going to sit here and defend Sobotka. Not gonna happen. But Erod is not dramatically improving that top 6 from what we iced the first three games. He's not.

Meh. Erod is a third liner at best imo. Maybe a slight upgrade but huge is not what I would describe that as. He's not a top 6 player today. Neither are. Hence why I would consider a Risto deal.

Meh. I wouldn't call ERod a huge upgrade.

We have enough depth the cover three weeks. But I’ll say again what I’ve said all summer, only make that trade if it substantially upgrades the top 6. Don’t be moving him for the sake of it or a third liner coming back. Toughness is overrated until you don’t have it imo. He and McCabe are the only two bringing that element (I guess bogo too once he’s back but he’s useless).

I'm a big fan myself. We need a RW much more than a LW but I would still be into a Risto for Ehlers swap.

How far away is Montour? If it's only another two or three weeks I would trade Risto IF it dramatically upgrades our top 6.

People can say what they want about GMJB’s NHL team building but his drafting seems to be excellent based on early returns atleast.

I checked Sabrespace at 8 this morning on the first game of season and there was no GDT. Last year we had multiple people doing the big writeups. Good call doing the analystics on yourself Brawndo hhaahahhaah. Expectations cannot be any lower around here.

Let's Go Buffalo!!

My two thoughts? We are one friggen RW away from having a decent forward group. Not top 10 in the league but not bottom 10 either. I'm still holding out hope we can atleast bring a good RW in (I know we all want centre). Put a good RW in that second line and all of a sudden alot of things make sense. Man it makes too much sense trading Risto, just need that partner. Also, we have several regulars on D injured to start the season. But holy this is some depth to still field that top 6 AND still sending Borgan down. All this Vlad talk, I do want to point out this is the best Defense all around Buffalo has had in atleast 10 years. Probably much longer.

I had to stop this half way through.

I can't even imagine. Please give them the strength to get through this.

First year I’ve signed up for nhl.tv and I’m watching it through Roku. I probably can’t comment yet as it’s only been a couple of preseason games but it’s very easy to navigate to find the correct game. I also like they hide the scores so if you want to start watching the games half hour or hour in you can easily do that and not have the score ruined. Personally that’s what I do. Kids go to bed for 8. I start the game then, fast forward through commercials or part of the intermission and usually caught up live by early third period.

Yep. You can’t each that shot and playing with Eichel has fit like a glove in the few games to end last season and now picking up right where it left off in, albeit preseason. Give him pp1 ice time (I think sabres power play will be top half of the league) and he’s going to score a lot of goals.

VO is going to score 30 goals and win ROY. I’m being serious.

This is where all the problems come in. The cap implications. Buffalo is right up against the cap, along with 80 percent plus of the league. Buffalo can’t take salary back to sweeten any deal.

I had this thought last night too. Is he rookie eligible I take it? If he plays top line with Sam and jack and first line power play I could (knock on wood) see him scoring close to 30 and having a real look.

Oh for sure. Injuries are so random. As are slumps, hot goaltenders and just plain puck luck. All of those factors have a major influence on the final result but the goal is to be one of those top 5 or 6 too teams and hope it plays out right.

That may be true but he is going to kill this team if hes playing second line minutes.

I think this is where I'm at. I would be very surprised if this team wasn't better than last year baring injury (didn't really lose anyone and added Olofsson who I think is going to be very good, MJ, Miller, Joker and Vesey. Any coaching we get this year should also be an upgrade. At the same time there's a huge disappointment waiting because JBott didn't do enough. I don't want 85 points, we need 95 and make the damn playoffs. Been too long and it would be shocking if our forward group and potentially goal tending are good enough for that.

Wow just imagine a Risto trade for a legit top 6 right winger. That knocks okposo to the fourth line and our forward group doesn’t look so bad.

Now that Faulk is out of the way does chatter start to heat up on Risto?

*****

No. The clubs came the same time as the thumbs up down and I believe gif features. SDS can correct me if I’m wrong but those all came as part of the platform upgrade and not as a result of this thread.