The sabres are starting to rebuild and need to accept that a Stanley cup isn't likely at all in the next 4 years so I believe that tying up 7.5 million for 4 years with doan isn't worth it, I think the teams that want him and that he'd be interested in are Stanley cup contenders that need one more guy like the rangers or penguins
- MattDuchene9

What exactly would you call what Colorado has been doing for like 5+ years?

Ya know... if I didnt know any better... I'd say you like Doan. You really REALLY like him. Hopefully he reads these blogs so he knows to stay the (frank) away from buffalo.

The sabres are starting to rebuild and need to accept that a Stanley cup isn't likely at all in the next 4 years so I believe that tying up 7.5 million for 4 years with doan isn't worth it, I think the teams that want him and that he'd be interested in are Stanley cup contenders that need one more guy like the rangers or penguins
- MattDuchene9

Good points, however I will take issue in that there is no finite amount of time that rebuilding takes. There is no doubt that the club as a whole has the potential to become much better in a few years time, as they are young as a whole and a few years of maturation could probably do them good. However, that is not proof that they can not contend at any point before that maturation is complete.
The club suffered through an abnormal amount of injuries, many of which were inflicted upon its best players; Myers, Ehrhoff, Miller, Ennis, Vanek, Roy. Even so they were good enough at the end to pull themselves within a few points of the playoffs. It is unlikely that they will suffer through nearly as many long term injuries, especially to key players.
Hodgson replaces roys scoring. A full year of a more mature Foligno. Ott takes over the toughness role vacated by Gaustad. Vanek will be healthier. knock on wood. Leino almost has to have a better year statistically, same with Gerbe. Myers more mature, Leino Ehrhoff and Hodgson have more time to adjust to and learn the system.

Everything points to us being better. And two games better probably means playoffs. And as LA proved this last year, you just have to get in and be hot at the right time.

Ya know... if I didnt know any better... I'd say you like Doan. You really REALLY like him. Hopefully he reads these blogs so he knows to stay the (frank) away from buffalo.
- Deadmau55

Hey, there is a hockey rule that when your team wins the cup you can't talk trash for 1 season.

does anyone know the ducks cap sitiuation for next year? their getting rid of ryan because they cant afford perry and getzlaf next year. (just dont sign selanne and koivu) I'd trade ANYONE off the sabres roster for getzlaf,yes anyone including any one of the 2 kids we drafted this year.
i like ennis but i can help but think he's going to turn out like afinogenev or connolly. either sign him or trade him dont nickel or dime him. thats what garth should be writting about. and who will be gm next year. you know darcy and lindy told terry we would be winning cups in 3 years. i'm sure its the same crap larry and darcy told tommy g when he own the team.

"And as LA proved this last year, you just have to get in and be hot at the right time."
your wrong la is a great team playing the wrong system under terry muarry, switch out the coach and look what happen. plus their gm isnt in love with his draft picks.
What will do wonders for the sabres this season is not having to play all those back to back games this year.

Who is Shane Doan ?

Good points, however I will take issue in that there is no finite amount of time that rebuilding takes. There is no doubt that the club as a whole has the potential to become much better in a few years time, as they are young as a whole and a few years of maturation could probably do them good. However, that is not proof that they can not contend at any point before that maturation is complete.
The club suffered through an abnormal amount of injuries, many of which were inflicted upon its best players; Myers, Ehrhoff, Miller, Ennis, Vanek, Roy. Even so they were good enough at the end to pull themselves within a few points of the playoffs. It is unlikely that they will suffer through nearly as many long term injuries, especially to key players.
Hodgson replaces roys scoring. A full year of a more mature Foligno. Ott takes over the toughness role vacated by Gaustad. Vanek will be healthier. knock on wood. Leino almost has to have a better year statistically, same with Gerbe. Myers more mature, Leino Ehrhoff and Hodgson have more time to adjust to and learn the system.

Everything points to us being better. And two games better probably means playoffs. And as LA proved this last year, you just have to get in and be hot at the right time.
- Sabretooter

Great points, that's my thought too. Our team at the end of the year was a lot different than the team to start the season, and is a better gauge of how our team will be next year. Yes, our team with Roy, hecht, boyes, gaustad, adam sucked, and our record reflected that. But the last part of the season, with ennis healthy and moved to center, foligno up, hodgson here, leino back at wing, and miller healthy was awesome, and our record also reflected that.
A lot of people talk about how we didn't make the playoffs last year and were not doing enough to change that, but most of the change happened in-season, it was a very different make-up than what it started at. I think with the roster we have now we could easily make the playoffs, and like you said all we need is miller to be hot(and when miller is on his "a" game, he's easily a top 3 goalie), and anything could happen.

Love to have him on my team but any GM that pays what he's asking is paying WAAAAAY too much. $5.5M per is what he'd be worth, MAX.

I hope Darcy goes a different route.

What exactly would you call what Colorado has been doing for like 5+ years?
- HonkFortheGoose

To be fair Colorado has been rebuilding for 3 years not 5.. Sakic on Colorado's roster = at least a somewhat competitive team. He was injured, we got Duchene, he retired and it was time to rebuild. Unfortunately we overachieved one year and didn't get Hall or Seguin, but then again would we have Landeskog now?

Hishon's injury had a pretty devastating ripple effect that people don't really realize either. He would at least have a year in the AHL by now if not for that and was at times almost a 2 PPG player in junior.

Buffalo's draft this year could be as good or better than Colorado's in 2009 (Duchene & O'Reilly) and you guys didn't even have to really tank to make it happen. Count yourselves lucky because Buffalo may just be one of those teams like Ottawa that is able to rebuild on the fly if things pan out.

It's still a rebuild when you turn over that much of your NHL roster.

RE: Another Doan blog by Garth

CON: an article on the Webster Block would be more interesting.

PRO: No new news for the Sabres. So we have to keep talking about nothing.

Love to have him on my team but any GM that pays what he's asking is paying WAAAAAY too much. $5.5M per is what he'd be worth, MAX.

I hope Darcy goes a different route.
- Pairo11

Doan is 35 right now, so we are willing to pay a RW 7.5 mil when he is 39, but we arent willing to pay a 7.7 mil cap hit for Vincent Lecavalier b/c his contract extends until he is 39, and he's a Center which is a position of true need for the team

Doan should have been asking for that coin 4 years ago instead of staying in Phoenix, some stupid GM will pay it , hopefully not our stupid GM

Love to have him on my team but any GM that pays what he's asking is paying WAAAAAY too much. $5.5M per is what he'd be worth, MAX.

I hope Darcy goes a different route.
- Pairo11

Hookers and blow

To be fair Colorado has been rebuilding for 3 years not 5.. Sakic on Colorado's roster = at least a somewhat competitive team.

It's still a rebuild when you turn over that much of your NHL roster.
- Steve-B

Take these 2 statements out of your somewhat wordy post and it exposes the contridiction

The Sabres are at least a somewhat competitive team as long as Miller is here

therefore according to your definition of rebuilding ( as it applys to your favorite team) the Sabres are NOT in the midst of a rebuild

Answer:Hookers and blow
- homiedclown

Question: 7.5 Mil buys alot of these?

RE: Another Doan blog by Garth

CON: an article on the Webster Block would be more interesting.

PRO: No new news for the Sabres. So we have to keep talking about nothing.
- Jacob582

It's funny because there has been little news on the sabres in the last ten days yet huddle wrote a great blog on them the other day

To be fair Colorado has been rebuilding for 3 years not 5.. Sakic on Colorado's roster = at least a somewhat competitive team. He was injured, we got Duchene, he retired and it was time to rebuild. Unfortunately we overachieved one year and didn't get Hall or Seguin, but then again would we have Landeskog now?

Hishon's injury had a pretty devastating ripple effect that people don't really realize either. He would at least have a year in the AHL by now if not for that and was at times almost a 2 PPG player in junior.

Buffalo's draft this year could be as good or better than Colorado's in 2009 (Duchene & O'Reilly) and you guys didn't even have to really tank to make it happen. Count yourselves lucky because Buffalo may just be one of those teams like Ottawa that is able to rebuild on the fly if things pan out.

It's still a rebuild when you turn over that much of your NHL roster.
- Steve-B

I think Regier is rebuilding the roster. Need to after the last two years of "The Core" not getting the job done. I think the goal is like you suggested: rebuilding on the fly like Ottawa and still be in contention. I like the fact that Sabres want to win now, and yet they are still developing players (great draft this year!). Time will tell though.

I really think that many more changes are in the works. Something like 3-4 established players off the roster and 2-3 new. It's just a matter if Regier can convince the trading partners. I say the most likely trading partners would be: Anaheim, Colorado, San Jose, Vancouver and Minnesota.

I forgot about McNabb's hit on Hishon. Hope he continues to improve so he can start his career.

It's funny because there has been little news on the sabres in the last ten days yet huddle wrote a great blog on them the other day
- homiedclown

I was disappointed on his take of Catanacci

the kid is flat out fast, you can't teach fast, that said I do think his ceiling is Roy part 2 , but lets not forget Roy was a pretty solid productive player despite his "flaws"

I was disappointed on his take of Catanacci

the kid is flat out fast, you can't teach fast, that said I do think his ceiling is Roy part 2 , but lets not forget Roy was a pretty solid productive player despite his "flaws"
- billyk

Hope Cat. matures in to a top prospect. It will be interesting to see what he does in his last year in the OHL this fall.

It would be interesting to know what the Sabres thought of him after observing him at Development Camp.

The silence is deafening
- Garth

This from a guy who can't keep quiet when he has nothing to say

This from a guy who can't keep quiet when he has nothing to say
- keptupl8

Never happened before Kevin came along

Doan is 35 right now, so we are willing to pay a RW 7.5 mil when he is 39, but we arent willing to pay a 7.7 mil cap hit for Vincent Lecavalier b/c his contract extends until he is 39, and he's a Center which is a position of true need for the team

Doan should have been asking for that coin 4 years ago instead of staying in Phoenix, some stupid GM will pay it , hopefully not our stupid GM
- billyk

Exactly !

But I don't blame his agent one bit for maxing out on this rare opportunity. It's a very weak UFA market and he's taking the ball and running with it.

Exactly !

But I don't blame his agent one bit for maxing out on this rare opportunity. It's a very weak UFA market and he's taking the ball and running with it.
- Pairo11

hopefully that ball doesn't land in Buffalo

your wrong la is a great team playing the wrong system under terry muarry, switch out the coach and look what happen. plus their gm isnt in love with his draft picks.
What will do wonders for the sabres this season is not having to play all those back to back games this year.
- whatthe

Jay Feaster would disagree with the comment on Sutter. So would the other teams he coached. Quick went a long long way to making Sutter look the part of genius.

hopefully that ball doesn't land in Buffalo
- billyk

Re: Doan

At least we will run up the price on the Rangers and Flyers.

Sabres are not in the top five choices for Doan. No way we are if he is visiting other teams... but NOT Buffalo.

My guess on his team interest in order: Phoenix, Vancouver, Rangers, Kings, Flyers, Habs.