Way to put Nate Mackinnon on a list of better NHL C's than Hodgson. The kid hasn't even played a shift in his first camp yet.
- golfingsince

Bust!

Well then it's also worth pointing out that about half the people on that list are younger or the same age
- MattDuchene9

Couturier, Duchene, Nugent Hopkins, Huberdeau, Mackinnon.

5/15 and mackinnon hasn't played a single game in the nhl.

god it would be funny if the Sabres ended up being a good team this year, sure I know it's unlikely but would be pretty hilarious.

god it would be funny if the Sabres ended up being a good team this year, sure I know it's unlikely but would be pretty hilarious.
- MikeyOz

Being a good team and winning games are sometimes entirely different issues.

I actually think that there is a very real possibility that the Sabres will be a very good young team with high skill levels, fun for the fans, even though, they will not win a lot of games.

A lot of people slag Garth for his upbeat, optimistic outlook on all things Sabre. But, I believe his tone and content are perfect for the Sabres of this season. As a fan, you can make everything about winning (Al Davis). Or, you can look at this year as season 1 in the building of an elite talent base. If you take the second approach, I think you will find that the Sabres will be a talented, highly entertaining and they will leave you excited for the future.

Back to my argument about Pysyk(sorry haven't been here much to defend myself).


I called him and a few others in the system scrubs. A scrub to me is someone no one outside of Buffalo has really heard of and isn't a proven commodity. Basically, if there was a game tomorrow, the opposition doesn't think of him as a threat. In fact, less than a threat, barely a factor.


Pysyk played 19 games and was a minus 7. And that's at the end of the season where the team mostly looked better. But for some reason where ready to assume he's a stud. My knock wasn't on Mark Pysyk my knock was on Sabres fans. We're just as bad as Darcy.

And that's you to NF. Calling me out over a guy who played 19 games and was a minus 7. Seriously?
- Buffalo--Sabres

Wait wait......Let me say it........

+/- is a crap stat. It doesn't tell the whole story. Just because he was -7 doesn't mean those goals were his fault.

Miller let in the goals, why should the defense get penalized for millers short comings. Pysyk would have been a +10 if it wasn't for Miller. Same for every defensmen on the Sabres.

I'm not sure whether or not the expectations for Pysyk are too lofty, but he is right in one regard. The Sabres do not have one prospect or one player in the system right now that I feel confident will be an absolute superstar. The last time the Sabres rebuilt (call it 03 or 04ish), they drafted Vanek. Briere showed the potential to be dominant. People had high hopes for Miller despite his meltdown, and they went out and got a guy in Drury that showed he could play big when it counted. The Sabres don't have any of that. Their goaltending pool is so-so. The closest thing to a potential elite scorer they have is Grigorenko who seems to be mired with red flags. The next best thing seems to be Armia who also has question marks surrounding his desire to be great. They look strongest on defense, but even then, I see a bunch of solid players but really no superstars, not even Ristolainen, who sounds more and more like he will develop, but also peak earlier than most. I understand that it's more exciting watching younger kids try to make their way into established NHLers than watching the same group of veterans fail in the same way year after year, but I do believe that people's expectations (not necessarily yours) are way too high, at least with this group as it is now.
- buffalofan19

We signed Tropp for only one year?
Weird
I'd have signed him for like 3, and given him more $$$
Around 1mil
Or maybe his agent was like, we'll sign cheap this year & then cash in a little better after this season?
Regardless,
Under .6mil for a guy that could very well score 15+ and play on the wing w Hodgson & Vanek is a great deal
Now we just need to sign Hodgson...
And trade Vanek & Miller...
ASAP

I can see trading Miller for the return Darcy wants being tough
But Vanek?
80% of the league should be lining up to make offers for him
Unless its out there that Vanek isn't going to extend with anyone and he's def going to free agency?
That's the only thing I can figure

Wait wait......Let me say it........

+/- is a crap stat. It doesn't tell the whole story. Just because he was -7 doesn't mean those goals were his fault.

Miller let in the goals, why should the defense get penalized for millers short comings. Pysyk would have been a +10 if it wasn't for Miller. Same for every defensmen on the Sabres.
- RynoBull

+1000 Everyone blames the defense. They don't play goalie .

Cody Hodgson did a good job last year he is also working hard to become better. I do not think its out of the realm of good faith to give him a 2 to 3 year deal worth 3 to 4 Mill a year. Cody is not top 15 however you can argue he is top 20 from what we seen last year. A small 2 to 3 year deal is reasonable because it will give the Sabres time to see if he continues to grow without locking themselves up to a long term contract. Now after that deal he is a point per game Center, putting 80 to 100 points up per year +30 then lets talk about a maxed out contract.

Wait wait......Let me say it........

+/- is a crap stat. It doesn't tell the whole story. Just because he was -7 doesn't mean those goals were his fault.

Miller let in the goals, why should the defense get penalized for millers short comings. Pysyk would have been a +10 if it wasn't for Miller. Same for every defensmen on the Sabres.
- RynoBull

The goalie isnt the reason the Sabres were the 29th ranked puck possession team. Furthermore, Miller isnt the reason he was seeing the most shots against per game in the NHL this season.

Blaming Miller is absolutely idiotic.

Looks like I left just in time last night



I was feeling pretty 89 last night.

+1000 Everyone blames the defense. They don't play goalie .
- cabin

I think my sarcasim didn't register. Sorry Cabin.

I think my sarcasim didn't register. Sorry Cabin.
- RynoBull

It did with me.


This whole argument about prospects is so pointless you can tell its August. Pysyk being compared to Numinnen is just a comparison. Style of play. That's it, no one knows how his career ends up right now. It's just player projections. They are fun to read and speculate about sometimes.

Cody Hodgson did a good job last year he is also working hard to become better. I do not think its out of the realm of good faith to give him a 2 to 3 year deal worth 3 to 4 Mill a year. Cody is not top 15 however you can argue he is top 20 from what we seen last year. A small 2 to 3 year deal is reasonable because it will give the Sabres time to see if he continues to grow without locking themselves up to a long term contract. Now after that deal he is a point per game Center, putting 80 to 100 points up per year +30 then lets talk about a maxed out contract.
- hambolt

You could argue he is but he's not. We still need a number 1 IMO. Grigorenko could be but who knows

just saw this ..

might be old for some

I think my sarcasim didn't register. Sorry Cabin.
- RynoBull

- cabin

We signed Tropp for only one year?
Weird
I'd have signed him for like 3, and given him more $$$
Around 1mil
Or maybe his agent was like, we'll sign cheap this year & then cash in a little better after this season?
Regardless,
Under .6mil for a guy that could very well score 15+ and play on the wing w Hodgson & Vanek is a great deal
Now we just need to sign Hodgson...
And trade Vanek & Miller...
ASAP

I can see trading Miller for the return Darcy wants being tough
But Vanek?
80% of the league should be lining up to make offers for him
Unless its out there that Vanek isn't going to extend with anyone and he's def going to free agency?
That's the only thing I can figure
- jdfitz77

Who in the hell or I should say why is Tropp worth 1 mill a year? what has he done for that amount of money? no way he's lucky they signed him at all

Looks like I left just in time last night



I was feeling pretty 89 last night.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Talk about me when i'm here, not when i'm not.

<>
- gerbe75pts

You know it !!!!

Who in the hell or I should say why is Tropp worth 1 mill a year? what has he done for that amount of money? no way he's lucky they signed him at all
- SABRES 89

Especially coming off a pretty bad knee injury... I'd like to see how he rebounds from that this year. Last year I think he only played like 6 games after the injury or total, IDK.

Talk about me when i'm here, not when i'm not.
- SABRES 89

Your attitude sucks!

Just cuz he's the #1 in Buffalo doesn't mean he's anywhere near the top 15.
- golfingsince

This from a guy who's team signed Tim Connoly.

This from a guy who's team signed Tim Connoly.
- seedy

Darcy said Connoly and Roy were two of the top twenty centers in the NHL...

Darcy said Connoly and Roy were two of the top twenty centers in the NHL...
- jochfr

It says a lot when a team signs a guy Darcy gives up on....for MORE money!