woods-racer Posted January 1, 2016 Report Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) The Sabres are following in the footprints of 2 other teams that used the frame work of dumping their roster to get picks and prospects along with high draft choices due to their end of year standings to hope for future successes. The Pittsburgh Penguins right after drafting Crosby went on to get 58 points that 05-06 season. The Chicago Blawkhawks right after drafting Patrick Kane went on to get 88 points that 07-08 season. The Sabres have played 38 games and have 34 points to close out 2015. They are on pace for a 71 point season. What will the second half bring? Will GMTM make a stunning pre-trade deadline move? Will Lehner saunter in and be THE MAN in goal? Make your 2016 predictions. What does the winner get? I could think of nothing finer .....than a chicken diner. That's right, winner-winner chicken dinner! I'm a virgin in this new thread / pole realm, All constructive criticism greatly appreciated. Edited January 1, 2016 by Woods-Racer Quote
Weave Posted January 1, 2016 Report Posted January 1, 2016 Don't see anything changing. 70 points-ish. Disappointing IMO. Quote
Doohicksie Posted January 1, 2016 Report Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) I predict that I will watch the first Sabres game of 2016 here*. Please pray for me. And if you don't hear from me again, it's been a pleasure knowing you. *The Sunshine Bar is owned by one of the guys from DFW Bills Backers who watches the Bills games with us at Buffalo Bros. We said we'd watch a Sabres game or two at his place. As for the team, PLAYOFFS, BABY! (Maybe not but it's my hope every year.) Edited January 1, 2016 by The Big Johnson Quote
thewookie1 Posted January 1, 2016 Report Posted January 1, 2016 70 to 80 pts 25th in the league or so. Estimated ROR 70 pts Risto 50 pts Eichel 50 pts Comeback player: Girgs Traded at deadline: McGinn Potentially traded: Larsson Foligno Carlo Quote
North Buffalo Posted January 1, 2016 Report Posted January 1, 2016 Unless they find 1-2 scoring wingers Sabres continue to lose close ones playing well but cant find back of the net except in rare occasions where the other team melts down. Quote
Rasmus_ Posted January 1, 2016 Report Posted January 1, 2016 69-73 points is where I would put them. They compete game in and game out, but still fall short. They're missing another high end defensemen and another skilled forward in the top six. Consistent goaltending has been an issue as well, but those are all things that will take time. Quote
woods-racer Posted January 1, 2016 Author Report Posted January 1, 2016 I predict that I will watch the first Sabres game of 2016 here*. Please pray for me. And if you don't hear from me again, it's been a pleasure knowing you. *The Sunshine Bar is owned by one of the guys from DFW Bills Backers who watches the Bills games with us at Buffalo Bros. We said we'd watch a Sabres game or two at his place. As for the team, PLAYOFFS, BABY! (Maybe not but it's my hope every year.) That's my type of place to watch a game! No one giving me the dirty eyeball for dropping a few derogatory remarks at the top of my lungs for a knee on knee trip at the ref's there! Quote
CallawaySabres Posted January 1, 2016 Report Posted January 1, 2016 Since playoffs are out of the question.....again, fack the goalies and defense and try and score at all costs. I seem to be in the minority that this team is still boring as hell to watch. Quote
Huckleberry Posted January 1, 2016 Report Posted January 1, 2016 Since playoffs are out of the question.....again, fack the goalies and defense and try and score at all costs. I seem to be in the minority that this team is still boring as hell to watch. Some games are, but most of us are happy with the improvement the team has made so far. Quote
WildCard Posted January 2, 2016 Report Posted January 2, 2016 McGinn is not getting traded, Wookie. We'll get a top 10 pick, and actually see if Murray can lure FA's here that we desperately need Quote
dudacek Posted January 2, 2016 Report Posted January 2, 2016 McGinn is not getting traded, Wookie. If we aren't in the playoff race come deadline time, he better be. We are a building team. Can't let assets walk for free. Quote
WildCard Posted January 2, 2016 Report Posted January 2, 2016 If we aren't in the playoff race come deadline time, he better be. We are a building team. Can't let assets walk for free. His best friend is here long term and he's been given ample opportunity to play the biggest minutes of his career. He will want to stay. Maybe he pulls a Moulson, but either way he's coming back Quote
dudacek Posted January 2, 2016 Report Posted January 2, 2016 He will want to stay. Maybe he pulls a Moulson, but either way he's coming back The signs look good. Hope you are right. Hope we can also leverage him into another 2nd-rounder Quote
JohnnyK Posted January 3, 2016 Report Posted January 3, 2016 They would be smart to resign McGinn!!! ASAP and trade the captain G!!!!!! Quote
TrueBlueGED Posted January 3, 2016 Report Posted January 3, 2016 His best friend is here long term and he's been given ample opportunity to play the biggest minutes of his career. He will want to stay. Maybe he pulls a Moulson, but either way he's coming back Minus the obscene contract, hopefully :lol: Quote
WildCard Posted January 3, 2016 Report Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) Minus the obscene contract, hopefully :lol: Well played :beer: At least he'll be housing Matthews :ph34r: Edited January 3, 2016 by WildCard Quote
thewookie1 Posted January 3, 2016 Report Posted January 3, 2016 His best friend is here long term and he's been given ample opportunity to play the biggest minutes of his career. He will want to stay. Maybe he pulls a Moulson, but either way he's coming back That's what I was inferring, with O'Reilly here long term I could see him being very interested in getting the opportunity to play in the playoffs, improve the Sabres, then return in the offseason. I doubt he'd get much in a contract with his injury history coupled with his stats never being awesome like those of Moulson's past. Quote
wjag Posted January 3, 2016 Report Posted January 3, 2016 One point out of last. Matthews or bust Quote
SABRES 0311 Posted January 3, 2016 Report Posted January 3, 2016 DB hits his head in the bathroom and comes up with the flux capacitor and the idea Gionta sucks. Eichel finishes with 25 goals, Sam with 20, and Chuck Norris' fist shoots out of ROR's beard to break Crosby's jaw. Quote
Robviously Posted January 3, 2016 Report Posted January 3, 2016 McGinn is not getting traded, Wookie. We'll get a top 10 pick, and actually see if Murray can lure FA's here that we desperately need I'd prefer to re-sign him but he's easily the UFA that playoff teams would want the most as a rental. Depending on what the offer is, it'd be tempting. Legwand, Foligno, Weber, and Johnson are the other UFAs. I could see playoff teams looking for depth asking about Larsson and Gorges too. It's tough to imagine the Sabres not having a better second half than their first half. They're not playing awful hockey, they just aren't getting any bounces. We won't be able to challenge for a playoff spot this year but I think we'll escape the bottom 5 of the league. The new NHL Lottery Simulator (who gets the first three picks) is pretty fun: http://nhllotterysimulator.com/ If we pick anywhere in the top ten, we should be good to get a goal scorer or a good mobile defenseman (we could really use either one). Quote
Peppy22 Posted January 3, 2016 Report Posted January 3, 2016 around 70-75 points which is what I expected and I am fine with it. Quote
Robviously Posted January 3, 2016 Report Posted January 3, 2016 I believe Foligno is an RFA Good catch. My mistake. Quote
WildCard Posted January 4, 2016 Report Posted January 4, 2016 3 Improvements Buffalo Must Make For 2nd Half Compared to the last two seasons, scoring for the Sabres has been up so far this season. While they averaged less than two goals per game during the past two seasons, Buffalo currently averages 2.33 goals per game which is the 26th best in the NHL. Ryan O’Reilly, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Jack Eichel have accounted for 32 of the Sabres’ 87 goals. Many of Buffalo’s players have been productive this season but others have left much more to be desired. Quote
Rasmus_ Posted January 4, 2016 Report Posted January 4, 2016 (edited) 3 Improvements Buffalo Must Make For 2nd Half Good find. They do need some of their secondary scoring to step up. To me it starts with Zemgus, he's been solid in the defensive zone all season and he's slowly starting to put up more shots. However, he's the perfect example of a player who needs to get it going. The second thing that will strongly help is Mark Pysyk coming back and remaining healthy. He cycles and skates well and makes the right pass more often than not. Less Weber/Colaiacovo and more Pysyk should help. I don't know what it is about this team, but for the most part their worst period is the 1st. More often than not they're falling behind early and playing catch-up. Slowly their becoming a middle of the pack team with 95 for and 104 against, which is coming back towards semi-respectability. It is a much improved number as compared to last year. For me it seems more likely than not they'll finish similarly that they did in the month of December. They're making strides, but they are still a few "right pieces" away from being a playoff contender. Go GMTM! GO SABRES! Edited January 4, 2016 by TheCerebral1 Quote
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