you can't keep tanking for players, that shows the league Buffalo is still a bad place to play. Enough with the tanking talk, start building already as of today and stop with all this " 3 more years crap".
- SABRES 89

And strive for just making the playoffs or build a true Stanley cup contender . Because those teams are usually built around several top picks.

If you trade your franchise goaltender, it's almost always a good idea to get another one back as insurance, unless you have an absolute stud in the wings. The Sabres don't have that. Jake Allen would basically be a throw in. That being said, I think they can do better than Ty Rattie as a centerpiece.
- buffalofan19

They want to gives us Allen and say Stewart or Oshie? i'm good with it.

And strive for just making the playoffs or build a true Stanley cup contender . Because those teams are usually built around several top picks.
- Maximum Signal

They won't keep tanking, it's not going to happen.

Will be interesting to see if Reinhart, Ekblad and McDavid make the Canadian junior team. They have 25 players still with three cuts to make.
- 100goalseason

Reinhart will make it. Ekblad will make it. The only way McDavid doesn't make it is if he all of a sudden looks overwhelmed, or Brent Sutter takes a Ted Nolan approach with young kids, which I doubt will happen.

Btw, I highly doubt Canada doesn't win the World Juniors this year. That team is very deep, and after being shut out last year, you know they did some serious soul searching over the past year, kind of like the US did after the disaster in 2012.

They won't keep tanking, it's not going to happen.
- SABRES 89

Here is hoping !

They won't keep tanking, it's not going to happen.
- SABRES 89

There isnt enough talent on this roster to not be a top 5 team next year unless there is some huge spending spree that wont happen

Here is hoping !
- Maximum Signal

It's a serious game of roulette. I wouldn't blame them if they stayed out of it. If you don't end up with the kid, you've thrown away two years for almost nothing.

Here is hoping !
- Maximum Signal

You keep hoping

Will be nice to se reinhart and Mc David on the same line
- hubie

A preview of what's to come with the Sabres.

Reinhart will make it. Ekblad will make it. The only way McDavid doesn't make it is if he all of a sudden looks overwhelmed, or Brent Sutter takes a Ted Nolan approach with young kids, which I doubt will happen.

Btw, I highly doubt Canada doesn't win the World Juniors this year. That team is very deep, and after being shut out last year, you know they did some serious soul searching over the past year, kind of like the US did after the disaster in 2012.
- buffalofan19

I think two of the three make it. Sutter has said age does not come into factor when picking players, just what they bring to the ice. At the same time he also likes players that have been in the tournament before and know what to expect. Reading between the lines, I think it means the younger guys will have to really outplay the 18 and 19 year olds to make the team.
But there is also talk all three will be on the team as they want to groom them for next year's tournament, which is co-hosted by Toronto and Montreal.

A preview of what's to come with the Sabres.
- 100goalseason

I dream of Eichel-McDavid-Reinhart pp unit in our future

It's a serious game of roulette. I wouldn't blame them if they stayed out of it. If you don't end up with the kid, you've thrown away two years for almost nothing.
- buffalofan19

How do you envision a quick turnaround at this point ? I hate losing as much as the next person . But if there is a purpose . At this point , why not ? Build another team that makes the playoffs only to exit the playoffs in the first round ? Screw it , embrace the tank job !

Build a Pittsburgh or Chicago like yearly powerhouse That is done with several top 5 picks nowadays. Everybody has all the advanced scouting now . Those diamonds in the rough no one else notices are not easy to get anymore.

Found it....

30th place: 25.0%
29th place: 18.8%
28th place: 14.2%
27th place: 10.7%
26th place: 8.1%
25th place: 6.2%
24th place: 4.7%
23th place: 3.6%
22th place: 2.7%
21th place: 2.1%
20th place: 1.5%
19th place: 1.1%
18th place: 0.8%
17th place: 0.5%
- cabin

Yeah the format sucks now, Buffalo sports luck will rear it's ugly head and take away the #1 for sure.

They won't keep tanking, it's not going to happen.
- SABRES 89

Well, maybe not on purpose...

How do you envision a quick turnaround at this point ? I hate losing as much as the next person . But if there is a purpose . At this point , why not ? Build another team that makes the playoffs only to exit the playoffs in the first round ? Screw it , embrace the tank job !

Build a Pittsburgh or Chicago like yearly powerhouse That is done with several top 5 picks nowadays. Everybody has all the advanced scouting now . Those diamonds in the rough no one else notices are not easy to get anymore.
- Maximum Signal

There are enough peices that the turnaround wont take 5 years. The biggest wildcard is the goalie going forward.

you can't keep tanking for players, that shows the league Buffalo is still a bad place to play. Enough with the tanking talk, start building already as of today and stop with all this " 3 more years crap".
- SABRES 89

We're not doing this on purpose, we're just not good. And yes, we do need this to happen.

Yeah the format sucks now, Buffalo sports luck will rear it's ugly head and take away the #1 for sure.
- sambarugh

Throw in the Isle pick and we are over 30% so thats a start

How do you envision a quick turnaround at this point ? I hate losing as much as the next person . But if there is a purpose . At this point , why not ? Build another team that makes the playoffs only to exit the playoffs in the first round ? Screw it , embrace the tank job !

Build a Pittsburgh or Chicago like yearly powerhouse That is done with several top 5 picks nowadays. Everybody has all the advanced scouting now . Those diamonds in the rough no one else notices are not easy to get anymore.
- Maximum Signal

If you get a guy like McDavid, and he really is that good, you've accelerated the rebuild process. If you don't end up getting him, you've set yourself back for an even longer rebuild. You can make your team more competitive through good trades and solid depth FA signings.

It's a serious game of roulette. I wouldn't blame them if they stayed out of it. If you don't end up with the kid, you've thrown away two years for almost nothing.
- buffalofan19

I guess at the end of the day, even if you luck out of 1st overall and don't trade back up, you'll still draft extremely high and get a great player.

If you get a guy like McDavid, and he really is that good, you've accelerated the rebuild process. If you don't end up getting him, you've set yourself back for an even longer rebuild. You can make your team more competitive through good trades and solid depth FA signings.
- buffalofan19

Guy Like McDavid locks you in the playoffs for the next decade

Throw in the Isle pick and we are over 30% so thats a start
- hubie

With the luck in this town we could have a 98% chance and still lose.

I guess at the end of the day, even if you luck out of 1st overall and don't trade back up, you'll still draft extremely high and get a great player.
- sambarugh

I agree say 2 and 5 you would still get some good peices that can pair with this years 1st.

Sure you may not be instant hit but would be pretty good in say 3 years

With the luck in this town we could have a 98% chance and still lose.
- sambarugh

Cant think like that you gonan be positive

We're not doing this on purpose, we're just not good. And yes, we do need this to happen.
- sambarugh

Its pretty obvious the direction we were headed with this team. We've literally sold off all our assets. We dont have anything desirable anymore on offense (in terms of NHL players) outside of Moulson, and had Darcy been the GM you bet your ass Moulson would be out the door by TDD.

This was completely done on purpose. And the more I think about it, the more I think Pegula was initially alright with it. But the fan in him caved into pressure and fired Darcy because the fanbase became restless. Why else would he turn to hire Lafontaine and Nolan?

They want to gives us Allen and say Stewart or Oshie? i'm good with it.
- SABRES 89

Id be fine with the original have Allen and Enroth battle for playing time as they say competition raises your play.
Ratteie im fine with, yes id prefer stewart or ohsie but those are important peices of what they are doing right now. Toss in a few picks and chips to move for other assests.