Anyone know how to make a picture smaller so I can use it for an avatar?
- joevthree

http://www.picresize.com/

I think we could contend in this division easily...

Boston without Thomas is going to be completely different.. Rask was good from them in 09 but since then his confidence has plummeted. We shelled him twice last year..

Montreal is rebuilding.. Toronto still has no goaltender and are trying JVR at center. Ottawa is a solid team but I don't think they will keep up their pace from last year.. I see them taking a step back with the players they lost in UFA.
- JVince11

Ty

We said that 2 seasons ago too. That ended well...
- Rally_Shots

spot on dude

Anyone know how to make a picture smaller so I can use it for an avatar?
- joevthree

I actually just take the picture and load it into the program "Paint" that every computer has unless you are on a MAC.. and there is a resize button on the top left next to "SELECT"

Unclick the "keep ratios" and type in 70x70 and save.

I think we could contend in this division easily...

Boston without Thomas is going to be completely different.. Rask was good from them in 09 but since then his confidence has plummeted. We shelled him twice last year..

Montreal is rebuilding.. Toronto still has no goaltender and are trying JVR at center. Ottawa is a solid team but I don't think they will keep up their pace from last year.. I see them taking a step back with the players they lost in UFA.
- JVince11

Rask will be fine. Hes a good goalie on a great team.

I think that takes time to build, and they have frankly already had a misstep or two. (Leino). On the other hand, Ehrhoff was a big fish, and IMO paid dividends last year.

Honestly, it's harder to get someone in here when you missed the playoffs the prior season. I didn't think they were winning the cup last year, I don't think they will this year either. I do think they're closer than they were before he took over, and there's no reason to doubt they're building towards a run.

Sorry to blow rainbows up yer butt, guy.
- nfph

I agree.

I think Pegula made the best effort he could in making Buffalo a destination. Upgrading the facilities and locker room, upgrading staff and organizational depth all makes the Sabres an organization dedicated to its players. They will see this eventually. Has anyone toured the locker room and facilities? Pegula shouldve made the visitors locker room the best in the league. As close to a home team locker room as you can get without personalizing it and providing them with the extra facilities obviously. That definitely would help lure players here. If they are treated well as a visitor it would appeal to them how they get treated as a player. I think a coaching change would be our best change. I think we're in a dry spell now though because last season to promote Dineen was the best option, or bringing in Hitchcock, or Torts a few years ago. Couldve given Lindy a management or executive role.

The personal side, whether Buffalo is a place to play, cant be controlled by the organization. If Pegula makes Buffalo the best organization to play for professionally, then players will choose that over whether they like the California beach compared to Buffalo winters.

Ty
- Sabres2012CUP

Now with that piece.. I still say...

Boston - 96 pts (playoffs)
Buffalo - 93 pts (playoffs)
Ottawa - 88 pts (8th/9th)
Toronto - 80 pts (they are one injury away from disaster)
Montreal - 68 pts.

Hes certainly not average, but his contract and the fact hes never been to the playoffs really turned me off on any feelings towards getting him
- CaptPantalones

He played on the Jackets, enough said. It's never about money with other teams but it is with the Sabres good teams find ways to win and add to get better, the Sabres just find ways to stay a float.

Rask will be fine. Hes a good goalie on a great team.
- Rally_Shots

They aren't the team they were in 09..

Didn't I hear that Horton's career is done now too?

The other thing I say is that yea even if Rask does play very well for them.. and he very well could with how good the D corps is in front of him..

they still have no body as a back up.. Khudobin is what he is.. young, unproven, etc.

Rask will be fine. Hes a good goalie on a great team.
- Rally_Shots

the team isn't great. now it's just an above average goalie on a good team. we can and will contend for the top spot in the division.

the team isn't great. now it's just an above average goalie on a good team. we can and will contend for the top spot in the division.
- LizzyJo

AND... they only have 277K in cap space..

So they are MAXED out.. and cannot bring in any big names without gambling and trading away other players.

Hes certainly not average, but his contract and the fact hes never been to the playoffs really turned me off on any feelings towards getting him
- CaptPantalones

I dont care about his contract. Its alot but not undoable. He was the only option on that team. Teams gameplanned to shut him down. Still had good numbers. With Rangers he is not the only option. Will help Gaborik alot too with teams def. against.
Good joB Rangers. Now can a domino fall so we can make a move.

the team isn't great. now it's just an above average goalie on a good team. we can and will contend for the top spot in the division.
- LizzyJo

Goals are an even bigger concern for them going into next season than it was last year.

They aren't the team they were in 09..

Didn't I hear that Horton's career is done now too?

The other thing I say is that yea even if Rask does play very well for them.. and he very well could with how good the D corps is in front of him..

they still have no body as a back up.. Khudobin is what he is.. young, unproven, etc.
- JVince11

Still a backup goalie, you can find a decent backup for a million bucks every year on the UFA market.

He played on the Jackets, enough said. It's never about money with other teams but it is with the Sabres good teams find ways to win and add to get better, the Sabres just find ways to stay a float.
- SABRES 89

Its not about money with the Sabres anymore. Hasnt been since Pegula took over. They offered the big bucks to the big guys, they just didnt take it.

Buffalo has done enough to get better, but no doubt more is needed. But there not going to land big names until one decides to come here. If they get Doan, that would help things. A trade wont do that

Now with that piece.. I still say...

Boston - 96 pts (playoffs)
Buffalo - 93 pts (playoffs)
Ottawa - 88 pts (8th/9th)
Toronto - 80 pts (they are one injury away from disaster)
Montreal - 68 pts.
- JVince11

The Sabres could easily get passed by many of the middle teams imo. Carolina, Florida, Winnipeg, Washington...

If the roster stays the same we could be a bottom 10 team in the league. I personally would take us tanking this year so we can roll a very high pick in with when ZG and MG are ready.

Its not about money with the Sabres anymore. Hasnt been since Pegula took over. They offered the big bucks to the big guys, they just didnt take it.

Buffalo has done enough to get better, but no doubt more is needed. But there not going to land big names until one decides to come here. If they get Doan, that would help things. A trade wont do that
- CaptPantalones

Adding Ott is not "getting better"

the team isn't great. now it's just an above average goalie on a good team. we can and will contend for the top spot in the division.
- LizzyJo

I think we may be able to contend, but Boston will win the division again with another 100+ point season IMO.

Its not about money with the Sabres anymore. Hasnt been since Pegula took over. They offered the big bucks to the big guys, they just didnt take it.

Buffalo has done enough to get better, but no doubt more is needed. But there not going to land big names until one decides to come here. If they get Doan, that would help things. A trade wont do that
- CaptPantalones

I think a trade for Ryan I think could do it.

I dont care about his contract. Its alot but not undoable. He was the only option on that team. Teams gameplanned to shut him down. Still had good numbers. With Rangers he is not the only option. Will help Gaborik alot too with teams def. against.
Good joB Rangers. Now can a domino fall so we can make a move.
- hafgod

I definitely feel hes going to be much better suited in NY then he was in Columbus. he doesnt scream to me franchise player, he never has. Its part of why I never really wanted Buffalo to get him. They have enough "good" players. they need great players and a leader, and Nash doesnt scream either to me

Id rather they go grab a leader and wait and see if Grigorenko turns into the franchise player we all think he might be

The Sabres could easily get passed by many of the middle teams imo. Carolina, Florida, Winnipeg, Washington...

If the roster stays the same we could be a bottom 10 team in the league. I personally would take us tanking this year so we can roll a very high pick in with when ZG and MG are ready.
- sambarugh

I cannot see Fla or WPG being as good as they were last year... I just don't see it..

I think those were basically fluke years for those teams... WPG is more likely to come back better..

I think Tampa Bay will be better as well.

I wanted Nash so bad...
- JVince11

Me freakin too! Was hoping it was going to be one of those out of the blue moves Darcy pulls out of his @ss! They NEED to do something now if they want to be considered a contender in the east. Ryan is the move here but giving up Stafford seems like addition by subtraction, need to keep as much offense as you can. Just looking at Boston, Philly, Rags, & Pitt and shaking my head wondering how we can run with them with Hodgie as our #1?

Adding Ott is not "getting better"
- SABRES 89

Maybe not just Ott, but adding Grigorenko and possibly Girgensons certainly does. The team is far more competitive for doing it and going to be a lot harder to face with guys like Ott and Foligno and the rest of the hungrier kids. but your too stuck in that dark cave of yours to realize.

how good is their line up now though...

Nash - Richards - Gaborik
Stepan, Halpern, Callahan, Boyle, Pyatt, Rupp, Kreider, and Haglin..

how do they fit in?
- JVince11

Nash - Richards - Gaborik
Kreider - Stepan - Callahan
Pyatt - Boyle - Hagelin
Rupp - Halpern - Asham

Hagelin seems to be the only player out of place. Surprised CBJ didnt want Hagelin over Anisimov.

I think a trade for Ryan I think could do it.
- hafgod

It could from the standpoint of players seeing they are committed to bringing in good players

But getting Doan would be a whole another level given the respect around the league that he garners. if they can sell him on Buffalo, Doan could sell it to a lot of future free agents