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.
- JVince11

If you paid attention to my post in the prior blog, Florida relied HEAVILY on OTL, SOW or SOL.

They had the same amount of regulation wins as us.

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
- CaptPantalones

My guess: Doan goes to Pitt or SJ

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.
- JVince11

Thank you very much sir.

My guess: Doan goes to Pitt or SJ
- rustbelt82

I dont see San Jose being in any better shape then we are. Unless he truly wants to stay west

But Pitt seems like a great possibility

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.
- CaptPantalones

What ever you say

http://www.picresize.com/
- nfph

Thank you sir, I couldn't find the pic when I was done (haha), but Vince's method worked.

My guess: Doan goes to Pitt or SJ
- rustbelt82

Pitt will land him (L4)

What ever you say
- SABRES 89

I dont see San Jose being in any better shape then we are. Unless he truly wants to stay west

But Pitt seems like a great possibility
- CaptPantalones

True about SJ......if he really wants to win a cup he would be dumb not to sign with Pitt.

With the upper echelon talent in the east with the NYR, Philly, Pitt, Boston, not to mention Washington, and with our youth being very strong with Ennis, Coho, Grigs Grigs, Foligno, Myers, Mcnabb etc, etc. Anyone else think it's time to sort of rebuild and move on from Vanek, Miller, and Pommer.? We could get a decent amount of young prospects and role players and set ourselves up to look very good and with a boatload of capspace in 2 years. Honestly we might be the 6th or 7th most talented team in the east, why not get something for them while we can

With the upper echelon talent in the east with the NYR, Philly, Pitt, Boston, not to mention Washington, and with our youth being very strong with Ennis, Coho, Grigs Grigs, Foligno, Myers, Mcnabb etc, etc. Anyone else think it's time to sort of rebuild and move on from Vanek, Miller, and Pommer.? We could get a decent amount of young prospects and role players and set ourselves up to look very good and with a boatload of capspace in 2 years. Honestly we might be the 6th or 7th most talented team in the east, why not get something for them while we can
- sbroads24

Vanek + picks for Ryan + pick

In light of the Stafford for Ryan trade discussions... I did a little research..

Ryan:

Starting in 2011-2012:
82 GP - 31/26 - 57 Pts - 113 Hits - -14 G/T Ratio - +1
82 GP - 34/37 - 71 Pts - 156 Hits - +20 G/T Ratio - +15
81 GP - 35/29 - 64 Pts - 127 Hits - +12 G/T Ratio - +9

Stafford:

Starting in 2011-2012:
80 GP - 20/30 - 50 Pts - 102 Hits - 0 G/T Ratio - +5
62 GP - 31/21 - 52 Pts - 53 Hits - +2 G/T Ratio - +1
71 GP - 14/20 - 34 Pts - 59 Hits - -16 G/T Ratio - +4

I think trading Stafford for Ryan would be a great deal.. I think that keeping Stafford with Ennis and Foligno would give them very similar offensive stats if it was for the length of an entire season but the defensive upside to Ryan is just monumental over Stafford.

With the upper echelon talent in the east with the NYR, Philly, Pitt, Boston, not to mention Washington, and with our youth being very strong with Ennis, Coho, Grigs Grigs, Foligno, Myers, Mcnabb etc, etc. Anyone else think it's time to sort of rebuild and move on from Vanek, Miller, and Pommer.? We could get a decent amount of young prospects and role players and set ourselves up to look very good and with a boatload of capspace in 2 years. Honestly we might be the 6th or 7th most talented team in the east, why not get something for them while we can
- sbroads24

Even when a team rebuilds they have to hold on to a piece or two... When Ottawa rebuilt they kept Spezza and Alfredsson.

Carolina rebuilt but kept Staal...
LA kind of rebuilt or reloaded but kept Kopitar and Brown
TBL sort of rebuilt but kept Stamkos, MSL, and Lecavalier

Vanek + picks for Ryan + pick
- theblueandgold

The Rags look good on paper for sure, but as long as they are blocking shots all year long you can count on key injuries taking their toll on that team. They had a good chemistry there and I wonder if they didnt screw that up (not knowing a whole lot about their team)...

My guess: Shane Doan goes to NY Rangers.

With the upper echelon talent in the east with the NYR, Philly, Pitt, Boston, not to mention Washington, and with our youth being very strong with Ennis, Coho, Grigs Grigs, Foligno, Myers, Mcnabb etc, etc. Anyone else think it's time to sort of rebuild and move on from Vanek, Miller, and Pommer.? We could get a decent amount of young prospects and role players and set ourselves up to look very good and with a boatload of capspace in 2 years. Honestly we might be the 6th or 7th most talented team in the east, why not get something for them while we can
- sbroads24

I'm kinda feeling that way too. Only problem is with new big commitments to Erhoff, Myers, and to a lesser degree leino, would we just be throwing money away on them and wasting thier time? Granted there is a lot of time left on those deals, but we are paying those guys "win now" money, not gut the team and try again in 4 years money.

My guess: Shane Doan goes to NY Rangers.
- Jacob582

- rustbelt82

i rather have Ryan over Stafford .....

The NHL now a days is way more physical ....... a big power forward in Ryan

Hes got nice hands
can score
can hit

and

Can actually make the other team worried about a player on the sabres! In previous years teams probly laughed at the Sabres roster.

and thank you jackets GM for lowing the price on Bobby Ryan!

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
- CaptPantalones

We aren't getting Doan or Ryan.

And Nash is better than any of the current wingers on the Sabres.

Thank you sir, I couldn't find the pic when I was done (haha), but Vince's method worked.
- joevthree

Looks good man.

i rather have Ryan over Stafford .....

The NHL now a days is way more physical ....... a big power forward in Ryan

Hes got nice hands
can score
can hit

and

Can actually make the other team worried about a player on the sabres! In previous years teams probly laughed at the Sabres roster.

and thank you jackets GM for lowing the price on Bobby Ryan!
- buffalofan1027

...Which is cancelled out by the fact that there is one less big time player on the market. If anything his price goes up, or stays the same.

With the upper echelon talent in the east with the NYR, Philly, Pitt, Boston, not to mention Washington, and with our youth being very strong with Ennis, Coho, Grigs Grigs, Foligno, Myers, Mcnabb etc, etc. Anyone else think it's time to sort of rebuild and move on from Vanek, Miller, and Pommer.? We could get a decent amount of young prospects and role players and set ourselves up to look very good and with a boatload of capspace in 2 years. Honestly we might be the 6th or 7th most talented team in the east, why not get something for them while we can
- sbroads24

Absolutely!

I would start shopping Regehr, Vanek, Pominville and Miller immediately.

The Sabres won't get near the Finals for at least 3 seasons the way the Rangers, Flyers and Penguins are going after it.

We aren't getting Doan or Ryan.

And Nash is better than any of the current wingers on the Sabres.
- Losman

Love when people say this. Source?

Love when people say this. Source?
- IceColdBeer

Reality.