SabresFanInRochester

But Boston didn't make the playoffs. So that's an extra month of eating and drinking before the season starts. That fat bastard will be tipping the scale at 290 lbs by the time September hits.

I did have a lot to drink tonight

The style that he plays doesn't permit him to continue playing an extended career. He played too physical of a game, and I hope that when he ran Miller, the hockey gods pissed down on him an evil liquid that is slowly eroding his dense skull. I think Lucic's best years are behind him and I don't want to be the team holding onto a player past his prime. The big name free agents usually don't pan out and I think Lucic would fit that mold, even though he's not a free agent. I like the way Girgensons plays the game and would certainly take him over Lucic. If I could have someone in the locker room or on the ice mentoring the young kids, I would rather it is Girgensons. The guy works hard! Lucic -- he comes into the season overweight. Ennis is a different skill set. But, I would absolutely rather see him play than Lucic. I think the offensive production of Ennis is much higher than Lucic going forward. Ennis has been on the 30th place team in the league for two years. Lucic has had the luxury of playing with top players. If I had the 30 GMs lined up and told them you could either have Kane or Lucic, I have a hard time believing the majority would select Lucic. Out of everyone you have mentioned, Kane is probably the most brazen player, but still not a neanderthal rockhead like Lucic. I think Kane has his best years ahead of him. Lucic -- downhill from here.

University of Phoenix told me the same thing. It was a great interview. She also discussed the beer chug and "Buffalo, I'm coming for you" comment that was on Vine. Had nothing to do with the draft. That tape was made last September before he was coming to Buffalo for a prospect's tournament. I was really liking his style when I first saw the video clip and misconstrued it was his reflection on wanting to come to Buffalo to play, but I guess I will still gladly accept him in the blue and gold.

You're giving Lucic too much credit. There was a lot of buzz in Boston last year that Lucic came into the season out of shape. You expect that from a rookie who doesn't know better. Not a seasoned veteran. His age might reflect there are good years ahead of him, but he is not a player like Jagr who will be playing into his 40s. I don't want to be holding the hot potato.

I have been softening up to this trade, but I would rather package Larsson than Grigorenko. I know Roy is in Colorado and than connection exists, but I think the assets of Larsson, Zadarov and the 1st could fetch O'Reilly. For that little stretch when Larsson played well, I think Grigorenko looked much better during this year-end stint when he looked promising. I think there is a ton more upside to Grigorenko than Larsson. Don't want to give him up. I think he is going to factor in nicely.

I'd rather have Hodgson than Lucic <<ducks>>

50 votes for me today. I would love to see a local rink win this, and even though I am from Rochester, this is good for the community. Come on SS members, take 30 seconds and log 50 votes!

:w00t: It's funny when someone says that and then continues to read posts to see what people say about their departure.

Maybe we will be proven wrong on what really happened, but if Murray gets feedback from the players that prompts him to fire the coaches, how can you still defend the coach as being the right man for the job. Dudes gotta move on about how great a coach Nolan is.

Good thing Nolan wasn't an X's and O's coach because the players will not have to adjust to a new system. ;)

I disagree with this. I think Pat and Nolan were brought in as popular choices to appease the fans. Pat left because of the sell-off of players, namely Miller, IMO. Nolan wanted to stick around to do anything and everything to stick it to the man. There was no motivation to fire Nolan before. Now that the prospects for the team are bright -- McEichel/Kane?Reinhart -- they don't need a popular pawn in place as a coach. It was a marketing decision, IMO.

I have always believed that a motivational coach, like Nolan, can win short-term with compete level speeches and motivating players by getting them to like you. I don't think that works long term. I think that evidence speaks to why he has success in juniors and olympics (short-term) versus NHL (long-term.) On top of that, there is the highest level of talent on display and if you are not going to outplay, and without a talented team, you better be able to outcoach. Don't know how you can do that when you don't coach x's and o's.

TW - I hate the way Grigorenko has been handled since the draft. And the way Nolan treated him made me upset. I was a regular poster criticizing Grigorenko being on the 4th line with no talent, and I admit that I was not always right with my facts. Grigorenko started playing pretty nice recently. I never thought Nolan was good with kids and I think Risto was going to be a star, regardless. I started to second guess myself after Grigo turned it on. So, I have agreed with your opinion that he is not good with young talent. I think Murray said that he expected/expects more from Risto which I take to be additional criticism of Nolan not being good with the young talent, and I think maybe Grigo started to buy into the politics of saying the right things and earned playing time and that's really why we saw his improvement.

I think this is also worked into it. Maybe I heard it wrong. My bad, if I am off base.

Murray said that but it was weird. It was really strange to pull Zadorov in as an example of why Nolan was fired. Kind of like, we didn't see eye to eye, but what he did, hey, it was his call. Something had to be done. Then he mentioned that Zadorov needed help and didn't receive it. I took it as Murray thinking more resources should have been put on the young guys.

I took it that way. It sounded like -- after 6 hours of player interviews, this had to be done. He later said, all the players said Nolan was a good man. But I think as fans, we have said that too. We like him, but want someone else going forward. (Sorry to the 10 people on the poll who wanted him to stay -- I am referencing the 50 people who were indifferent or wanted change.)

I didn't take it that way. To me, it sounded like he wasn't 100% behind Nolan's handling of Zadorov. I thought he said you cannot wait for a 19 year old who needs guidance to come to you. You need to pursue him and help him out. I don't think that's a slam on Zadorov, but an example of how Nolan and Murray did not see eye-to-eye.

Oh, please, please, please, please, please!

There were quite a few who wanted Nolan to stick around unless Babcock was the replacement. Looks like it's not going to play out that way. I really hope they pursue Babcock and don't make a decision tomorrow that Richardson, or Jim Nasium is the new coach.

I think ESPN has it. http://espn.go.com/nhl/

Sabres win lottery and select McDavid. At the draft, Buffalo's pick from the Islanders is traded to Colorado along with Zadarov and Larsson for O'Reilly. Buffalo stands pat in goal with Lindback and add O'Connor from BU. The only free agents to resign with Buffalo are Lindback, Grigorenko, and Strachan, who signs for depth on D. Kaleta, Meszaros, and Benoit all move on. Nolan is replaced by Babcock. Stewart comes back to Buffalo to add some depth at RW and grit. McCormick receives an injury settlement and the role of fighter is replaced by a bunch of chippy guys -- Bogosian, Weber, Deslauriers, Foligno, Stewart. Depth chart going into season: Girgensons McDavid Kane Moulson O'Reilly Ennis Stewart Grigorenko Gionta Deslauriers Reinhart Foligno Gorges Bogosian Ristolainen Pysyk Weber Ruhwedel Lindback

Spoken with rationale.

I don't want Arizona to get him. Then we will have to listen to "if Buffalo had won against Columbus and finished 29th, that would have been their pick" logic. I don't want it to be the Leafs. Their fans are annoying as it is in the Sabres arena. I don't want someone who is going to dominate. I don't want it to be Boston. Mass-holes... enough said. I wouldn't mind Columbus, Colorado, or San Jose. Keep him in the West, except for Columbus -- I feel we owe them.

:clapping: Well said. I never want to be in a position where I am rooting for the opposing team to win. It sucked, but had to be done. We have the right people to serve as the core. Game on!