The Sabres will win the division if...

[#freejame]

What do you think it will take for the Sabres to win the division next season? Do you think they'll need to sign Stamkos or win the lottery? How far away do you think they currently are? Feel free to discuss your ideal off-season while leaving practicality at the door. 

 

 

[LGR4GM]

If they manage two add 2 more top 4 defenders.

[Huckleberry]

They do need to add at least another 60 point winger to the top 6.   Have lehner playing all season long.

Add another top LHD.

[LGR4GM]

They do need to add at least another 60 point winger to the top 6. Have lehner playing all season long.

Add another top LHD.

Another 60pt winger? We don't have 1 60pt winger,I mean maybe reinhart

[Wyldnwoody44]

If other teams all fall Ill with a long term viral infection..... This team is looking at Wild card or in that general area, which is fine. If they miss the playoffs though, this place may explode

[Randall Flagg]

If they manage two add 2 more top 4 defenders.

Yep, we'd need 2 top 4 defenders, one of them a good top pairing d-man, Eichel and Samson to continue their trajectory, Larsson to be like second-half Larsson, same with Foligno, and Lehner to have a very good season. I believe any of these are perfectly possible, but the combined chance isn't likely. 

[Weave]

They'll need more points than the other teams.

[WildCard]

Yep, we'd need 2 top 4 defenders, one of them a good top pairing d-man, Eichel and Samson to continue their trajectory, Larsson to be like second-half Larsson, same with Foligno, and Lehner to have a very good season. I believe any of these are perfectly possible, but the combined chance isn't likely.

Hit the nail on the head

[dudacek]

Therrien to keep his job, the Lightning to really miss Stamkos, the Wings to really miss Datsyuk, Ottawa to Ottawa, the Leafs to Leaf, the Bruins to continue their decline and an unexpectedly bad run in FLA.

 

Really, the competition ain't that great, is it?

[Claude_Verret]

A lot more than can be reasonably expected goes right for them.

 

I think bubble playoff team is a reasonable expectation.

[qwksndmonster]

Therrien to keep his job, the Lightning to really miss Stamkos, the Wings to really miss Datsyuk, Ottawa to Ottawa, the Leafs to Leaf, the Bruins to continue their decline and an unexpectedly bad run in FLA.

 

Really, the competition ain't that great, is it?

Wow, no it isn't. I think as long as we get a D-man to play with Risto, the rest of our corps will be servicable. Enough to win the division? ...maybe if we get Stamkos.

[Drunkard]

^{Our defense really isn't bad, we just have a few guys playing above where they should be. I only see the need for one LHD next season, as long as that guy is capable of playing opposite Ristolainen on the top pairing. Gorges and McCabe are more than capable of solid play, they just don't belong on the top pairing. The right side is fine with Ristolainen, Bogosian, and Psysk. Plus we'd still have Franson to sub in when there's an injury (looking at you cokey McCokehead Bogosian) or if someone is struggling and needs to ride the bench for a game or two.}

[LGR4GM]

You guys we have no depth on defense and someone is bound to get hurt. 1 defender won't be enough.

[qwksndmonster]

You guys we have no depth on defense and someone is bound to get hurt. 1 defender won't be enough.

If Risto is a #1, then the rest of the D looks like this:

 

Bogo is a #4

McCabe is hopefully at least a #4

Gorges is a #4

Pysyk is 3rd pairing

Nelson is 3rd pairing, hopefully more

Franson is the #7

 

I can definitely agree that getting 2 new Dmen would be nice, but I don't think it's absolutely necessary. I look at next offseason for obtaining a number 3 if none of our guys have distinguished themselves by then.

[Randall Flagg]

I definitely don't want Gorges in the top 4 if I'm eyeing the division title, and I'm by no means hating on Gorges.

[qwksndmonster]

I definitely don't want Gorges in the top 4 if I'm eyeing the division title, and I'm by no means hating on Gorges.

So long as his body doesn't disintegrate, Gorges is the definition of a 2nd pair stay at home guy.

[ddaryl]

definitely need a top D man and a Winger .

 

I feel we will be a solid playoff team next year if we add the above and maybe a depth signing or 2

[Randall Flagg]

So long as his body doesn't disintegrate, Gorges is the definition of a 2nd pair stay at home guy.

On a playoff team, maybe, but not on a top six team in the league. Though I guess with this new division format the winners aren't necessarily a top six team.

 

I want josh comfortably on my third pairing, is all.

Edited April 22, 2016 by Randall Flagg

[TrueBlueGED]

So long as his body doesn't disintegrate, Gorges is the definition of a 2nd pair stay at home guy.

What real contender this year would Gorges play 2nd pair LHD for?

[qwksndmonster]

On a playoff team, maybe, but not on a top six team in the league. Though I guess with this new division format the winners aren't necessarily a top six team.

 

I want josh comfortably on my third pairing, is all.

Me too, but next season might be a bit early for that, considering he just played top pairing for us all year.

What real contender this year would Gorges play 2nd pair LHD for?

Probably none of them. But I'm not really expecting the Sabres to be contenders next season. And our forwards will be really good, hopefully, allowing for a servicable D corps to hold the fort down until we can find another top 3 D-man.

[TrueBlueGED]

Probably none of them. But I'm not really expecting the Sabres to be contenders next season. And our forwards will be really good, hopefully, allowing for a servicable D corps to hold the fort down until we can find another top 3 D-man.

That's the point. The context of the thread is division title, which I'd say is a good proxy for contender. If Gorges can't play in the top-4 of any contenders this year, then yea, we do need to add two defensemen to win the division.

Edited April 22, 2016 by TrueBlueGED

[qwksndmonster]

That's the point. The context of the thread is division title, which I'd say is a good proxy for contender. If Gorges can't play in the top-4 of any contenders this year, then yea, we do need to add two defensemen to win the division.

I think a good partner for Risto + Stamkos + good season for Lehner means that we could compete with Florida for the division title next season. Obviously a lot has to go right, but I think the chances are better with Stamkos and only 1 dman than with 2 good dmen and Okposo.

[WildCard]

I really don't think we need Stamkos to contend for the division next year. If we're healthy, add 1/2 d-men, and our young guys continue their progression, we can snag a spot

[TrueBlueGED]

I think a good partner for Risto + Stamkos + good season for Lehner means that we could compete with Florida for the division title next season. Obviously a lot has to go right, but I think the chances are better with Stamkos and only 1 dman than with 2 good dmen and Okposo.

 

That's mostly because you think our current defensemen are better than I do. We just have different baselines for the comparison.

[qwksndmonster]

That's mostly because you think our current defensemen are better than I do. We just have different baselines for the comparison.

I think everyone, save for maybe Randall, thinks our current defensemen are better than you think they are.

I really don't think we need Stamkos to contend for the division next year. If we're healthy, add 1/2 d-men, and our young guys continue their progression, we can snag a spot

If we don't make the playoffs next year heads must roll.