It was said that he could be ready, not that he's a sure thing.

I don't see where he is a difference maker on our roster. I don't see our roster as a positive learning experience for a young defenseman.
- keptupl8

Stop. Putting talented people in your lineup and giving them a chance to succeed.
The way we have been doing it is not working..... Its just not.. We have been doing it the same way forever u have to earn it. its crap. Put your most talented hard working players in the lineup period

yup let the 8th pick play 8 mins a game on the 3rd or 4th line instead of 1st line minutes in the A. that will totally help his development.

christ look what you guys did to myers. the kid had a good rookie season and picked up a ton of bad habits and now looks like he doesnt even know basic defensive fundamentals.
- rangerdanger94

The ahl would not have fixed those bad habits. It would have been easier for him.
Its Ruffs fault on bad habits

not sure I will let u know this year. How does it help beating up on lesser talented players. Corey tropp does not blow knee if not stuck in dregs of ahl
- hafgod

Right! Maybe if he were on the Sabres he could have had a career ending concussion instead.

Can't compete in the division we are in with a team full of kids.
- SABRES 89

Everybody on this site says we are tanking anyway. our gm has said it. Suffering.
The raised season ticket prices more suffering. Need a little joy on the titanic

How slow 3 years great. There is limited talent on the team. Does anyone watch them play. 2nd worst team in regulation....... Give me sabres that have become nhl stars by palying in rochester since Darcy been here.
Miller and pommer only ones I can think of 15 years of not rushing players
- hafgod

Vanek too, but I get your point...
I think the argument can be made both ways
It really comes down to the individual player

Ristolainen is "NHL ready"
But starting in Rochester wouldn't necessarily hurt him either
Let's see how he looks in preseason

I also think its time for McNabb & Pysyk to be here full-time
So if Ristolainen makes the team,
I really hope it's McBain that becomes the #7 guy and not one of them
I wanna see what McNabb & Pysyk can do with a full year of consistent playing time

Can't compete in the division we are in with a team full of kids.
- SABRES 89

your right, they cant. And thats what most of us (and likely Darcy secretly) wants.

They basically want to throw the kids in and say "sink or swim"

If they are competitive, and somehow sneak into the playoffs, awesome. Thats 1 year closer to a run and valuable experience for a young team.

If they dont play well, then its just more assets from dumps and a couple more top young players (through draft) to add to the team.

Everybody on this site says we are tanking anyway. our gm has said it. Suffering.
The raised season ticket prices more suffering. Need a little joy on the titanic
- hafgod

The difference between the Sabres ship sinking and the Titanic is..................................................They found the Titanic.

Stop. Putting talented people in your lineup and giving them a chance to succeed.
The way we have been doing it is not working..... Its just not.. We have been doing it the same way forever u have to earn it. its crap. Put your most talented hard working players in the lineup period
- hafgod

There is not a successful NHL team that does this. None. Every team develops guys in the minors. The closest team to your approach is the Islanders, and they still have guys who they are slow-playing in the minors. They also drafted in better positions than we did. Top 5 guys should be able to play sooner. How many of those are we stunting in the minors?

Stop? Stop what? Making sense?

Right! Maybe if he were on the Sabres he could have had a career ending concussion instead.
- keptupl8

If you like the way sabres do things its no argument here. We will be doing the same things next year. When Risto plays in Finland this yearcan have the perfect argument play in the ahl. Bring him up at 23. Just think top players should play at an elite level. Not juniors or the garbage ahl. Less talented players should play there to improve deficiancies in there game

your right, they cant. And thats what most of us (and likely Darcy secretly) wants.

They basically want to throw the kids in and say "sink or swim"

If they are competitive, and somehow sneak into the playoffs, awesome. Thats 1 year closer to a run and valuable experience for a young team.

If they dont play well, then its just more assets from dumps and a couple more top young players (through draft) to add to the team.
- CaptPantalones

When you do that to young kids you ruin them and then if you try and move them because they didn't succeed, you get crap for them. So how is what Darcy wants to do a positive? he's ruining young good players by putting them in a win now or else situation.

perfect trade partner for the Sabres. Wings need D, have too many forwards

http://www.freep.com/arti...130706/SPORTS05/307060055

If you like the way sabres do things its no argument here. We will be doing the same things next year. When Risto plays in Finland this yearcan have the perfect argument play in the ahl. Bring him up at 23. Just think top players should play at an elite level. Not juniors or the garbage ahl. Less talented players should play there to improve deficiancies in there game
- hafgod

The Red Wings disagree

There is not a successful NHL team that does this. None. Every team develops guys in the minors. The closest team to your approach is the Islanders, and they still have guys who they are slow-playing in the minors. They also drafted in better positions than we did. Top 5 guys should be able to play sooner. How many of those are we stunting in the minors?

Stop? Stop what? Making sense?
- keptupl8

Guess I am wrong besides Vanek what scoring we have we developed in last 15 years. Only one Pommer. Either we cant draft or the system dont work

perfect trade partner for the Sabres. Wings need D, have too many forwards

http://www.freep.com/arti...130706/SPORTS05/307060055
- CaptPantalones

Brunner without making a trade we can get, perfect fit to what Darcy is "trying" to do.

perfect trade partner for the Sabres. Wings need D, have too many forwards

http://www.freep.com/arti...130706/SPORTS05/307060055
- CaptPantalones

Miller is going to St Louis or further west "me thinks"

Guess I am wrong besides Vanek what scoring we have we developed in last 15 years. Only one Pommer. Either we cant draft or the system dont work
- hafgod

Roy and Pominville were point producers. And you nailed it... It was the system. That system got fired a few months ago.

Guess I am wrong besides Vanek what scoring we have we developed in last 15 years. Only one Pommer. Either we cant draft or the system dont work
- hafgod

you guys can't draft.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...uffalo_Sabres_draft_picks

god damn that's a bad list

When you do that to young kids you ruin them and then if you try and move them because they didn't succeed, you get crap for them. So how is what Darcy wants to do a positive? he's ruining young good players by putting them in a win now or else situation.
- SABRES 89

they arent in a win now situation tho. Regier knows this. Pegula knows this. I doubt they're going to be told this, but im sure the kids understand that if this season is bad, its not the end of the world.

The kids are going to be free under RR to just play hockey. If they mess up, Rolston isnt the type to yell at them, bench them, or cut their minutes like Ruff was. Hes going to teach them. Sacco is also a very good teacher. This year will be all about teaching younger guys to either help carry a team (in case of more established guys like Myers, Ennis, Hodgson, Weber, etc..) and acclimating other young guys to life in the NHL (Grigs, Pysyk, likely Armia, Larsson, Girgs, maybe Risto)

As many games as they will likely lose, im looking forward to this year because your are going to see a ton of hungry kids play very intense hockey. They may not win a lot, but I expect a lot of competitiveness and a lot of heart. And rough times like this go a long way in building a future contender

they arent in a win now situation tho. Regier knows this. Pegula knows this. I doubt they're going to be told this, but im sure the kids understand that if this season is bad, its not the end of the world.

The kids are going to be free under RR to just play hockey. If they mess up, Rolston isnt the type to yell at them, bench them, or cut their minutes like Ruff was. Hes going to teach them. Sacco is also a very good teacher. This year will be all about teaching younger guys to either help carry a team (in case of more established guys like Myers, Ennis, Hodgson, Weber, etc..) and acclimating other young guys to life in the NHL (Grigs, Pysyk, likely Armia, Larsson, Girgs, maybe Risto)

As many games as they will likely lose, im looking forward to this year because your are going to see a ton of hungry kids play very intense hockey. They may not win a lot, but I expect a lot of competitiveness and a lot of heart. And rough times like this go a long way in building a future contender
- CaptPantalones

Not something I agree with at all but, I don't own the team.

Miller is going to St Louis or further west "me thinks"
- BuffaloHardHat

Im not suggesting Miller. Howard just signed a lengthy extension and is arguably in the same region as terms of talent.

But in terms of who they have on their roster (Brunner and Cleary not counting due to UFA), theyll have 16 forwards with their UFAs. Guys like Emmerton or Eaves could help out.

My personal favorite would be Andersson. Very similar player to Larsson in that hes a tenacious, D first forward

Roy and Pominville were point producers. And you nailed it... It was the system. That system got fired a few months ago.
- keptupl8

Darcy is the syatem. Who got fired. Ruff is just the coach. look at Dallas think the gm there might actually listen to him they have been pretty active

Not something I agree with at all but, I don't own the team.
- SABRES 89

Because your in a win now mode, and I understand that 100%.

But I truly believe there isnt 1 trade or FA signing out there that could make this team a contender this year. Or even next. Its so rare that teams can do that these days.

you guys can't draft.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...uffalo_Sabres_draft_picks

god damn that's a bad list
- rangerdanger94

I agree. Same gm all those bad drafts

The Red Wings disagree
- keptupl8

Datsuk 0 ahl games
Franzen 0 ahl games
Zetterburg 0 ahl games
just sayin

We lost tarnasky and mancari!!

F#ckin darc..... oh wait