You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. I'm not saying he isn't a great GM. What I'm saying is that I doubt even he is able to mold such a great team out of so many late rounders again. When it's time to acquire the heirs to Zetterberg, Datsyuk, etc., he's going to get them much earlier in the draft, not in the late rounds again. They'll probably be more than suitable replacements. They just won't be 6th or 7th rounders.
- buffalofan19

definetly, not to mention all the guys who come up spend several seasons in the ahl.
Ablekader etc those earlier picks that they hit on

Guys fall in the drafts all the time. Datsyuk fell off a cliff because he was Russian and was considered risky. Teams knew his skill level to an extent. Holland pulled the trigger and hit gold.
- sbroads24

Put it this way. When you look at Ken Holland's team in 15 years, and the similar list of names that make that team what it is, you're going to see many more "1's" and "2's" on the list than the one that's posted above.

I don't think it's "dumb luck" that he has hit on so many draft picks. The luck part comes that nearly all of his main cogs have not come from the first round, or even first two rounds. I think Ken Holland still has the capability of building a good team, but I think his next generation is going to come more from the earlier rounds.
- buffalofan19

16 years as their GM, and hes only ever had seven 1st round picks (highest was #19 overall) yet they still win cups, are still competitive, and mostly do it from home grown talent....


Thats not even luck, thats a well oiled machine.

See Edmonton!

Next
- Irish 14

See Chicago and Pittsburgh...

Right on topic:hockeynews

For example, the Buffalo Sabres have $28.6 million invested in 10 players for 2014-15, so they must spend at least $25 million to get above the cap floor. Even if they only re-sign their restricted free agents (which includes Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and Jamie McBain), they’ll still have to invest more to plug the remaining gaps in their lineup and stay within the cap limits.
The Sabres could achieve that goal by re-signing unrestricted free agents like Ryan Miller and Matt Moulson. However, if they’re traded or depart in July via free agency they’ll have to be replaced, which could make the Sabres active in the free agent market.

See Chicago and Pittsburgh...
- rmiethaner

Holland Loves the Sweeds

Right on topic:hockeynews

For example, the Buffalo Sabres have $28.6 million invested in 10 players for 2014-15, so they must spend at least $25 million to get above the cap floor. Even if they only re-sign their restricted free agents (which includes Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and Jamie McBain), they’ll still have to invest more to plug the remaining gaps in their lineup and stay within the cap limits.
The Sabres could achieve that goal by re-signing unrestricted free agents like Ryan Miller and Matt Moulson. However, if they’re traded or depart in July via free agency they’ll have to be replaced, which could make the Sabres active in the free agent market.
- Irish 14

Like I was saying!!

Right on topic:

For example, the Buffalo Sabres have $28.6 million invested in 10 players for 2014-15, so they must spend at least $25 million to get above the cap floor. Even if they only re-sign their restricted free agents (which includes Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and Jamie McBain), they’ll still have to invest more to plug the remaining gaps in their lineup and stay within the cap limits.
The Sabres could achieve that goal by re-signing unrestricted free agents like Ryan Miller and Matt Moulson. However, if they’re traded or depart in July via free agency they’ll have to be replaced, which could make the Sabres active in the free agent market.
- Irish 14

couldnt be farther from the truth. so risky he went undrafted two years in a row
- hubie

Am I thinking Zetterberg?? One of them fell a few rounds.

I just looked at Datsyuk, apparently the scout that discovered him was over seas to scout the one and only Dimitri Khalinin

I absolutely 100% agree with you.........

- rapperray

In the spirit of discussion here is my rebuttal to what we should do between now and next October.

- Hire a competent GM.
- Trade Miller yesterday
- Lose as many games as possible
- Draft Reinhart
- Move Moulson for a 1st and flip that with whatever it takes to move into a position to draft Dal Colle
- Re sign Ott
- Re sign Scott
- Buy out Leino
- Buy out Stafford
- Aquire whatever Free Agents it takes to sneak above the cap floor. They will all be irrelevant anyway.
- Review goalie situation in 2015

In the spirit of discussion here is my rebuttal to what we should do between now and next October.

- Hire a competent GM.
- Trade Miller yesterday
- Lose as many games as possible
- Draft Reinhart
- Move Moulson for a 1st and flip that with whatever it takes to move into a position to draft Dal Colle
- Re sign Ott
- Re sign Scott
- Buy out Leino
- Buy out Stafford
- Aquire whatever Free Agents it takes to sneak above the cap floor. They will all be irrelevant anyway.
- Review goalie situation in 2015
- sambarugh

What????? Irrelevant ?

Right on topic:

For example, the Buffalo Sabres have $28.6 million invested in 10 players for 2014-15, so they must spend at least $25 million to get above the cap floor. Even if they only re-sign their restricted free agents (which includes Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and Jamie McBain), they’ll still have to invest more to plug the remaining gaps in their lineup and stay within the cap limits.
The Sabres could achieve that goal by re-signing unrestricted free agents like Ryan Miller and Matt Moulson. However, if they’re traded or depart in July via free agency they’ll have to be replaced, which could make the Sabres active in the free agent market.
- Irish 14

Buyout Leino and Stafford with compliance buyouts and SIGN ALL THE FREE AGENTS!

Am I thinking Zetterberg?? One of them fell a few rounds.

I just looked at Datsyuk, apparently the scout that discovered him was over seas to scout the one and only Dimitri Khalinin
- sbroads24

All these guys who are due to guys like Jim NIll who we could have had but didnt makes me want to cry

Put it this way. When you look at Ken Holland's team in 15 years, and the similar list of names that make that team what it is, you're going to see many more "1's" and "2's" on the list than the one that's posted above.
- buffalofan19

I know but your acting as if his formula to success was solely hitting on late round picks. Their system of letting guys develope, making the right trades and FA signings, drafting as a whole, scouting, everything they do organizationally has been pretty impressive

What????? Irrelevant ?
- Irish 14

Yes, any Free Agent we sign in 2014 will be essentially irrelevant because by the time we will be competitive, they will be gone unless we sign them long term.

In the spirit of discussion here is my rebuttal to what we should do between now and next October.

- Hire a competent GM.
- Trade Miller yesterday
- Lose as many games as possible
- Draft Reinhart
- Move Moulson for a 1st and flip that with whatever it takes to move into a position to draft Dal Colle
- Re sign Ott
- Re sign Scott
- Buy out Leino
- Buy out Stafford
- Aquire whatever Free Agents it takes to sneak above the cap floor. They will all be irrelevant anyway.
- Review goalie situation in 2015
- sambarugh

I support this

esp if they sign a bunch of free agents to 1 year deals and can move them at the deadline in 2015

Yes, any Free Agent we sign in 2014 will be essentially irrelevant because by the time we will be competitive, they will be gone unless we sign them long term.
- sambarugh

No comment

In the spirit of discussion here is my rebuttal to what we should do between now and next October.

- Hire a competent GM.
- Trade Miller yesterday
- Lose as many games as possible
- Draft Reinhart
- Move Moulson for a 1st and flip that with whatever it takes to move into a position to draft Dal Colle
- Re sign Ott
- Re sign Scott
- Buy out Leino
- Buy out Stafford
- Aquire whatever Free Agents it takes to sneak above the cap floor. They will all be irrelevant anyway.
- Review goalie situation in 2015
- sambarugh

When do we turn off the losing switch?

Yes, any Free Agent we sign in 2014 will be essentially irrelevant because by the time we will be competitive, they will be gone unless we sign them long term.
- sambarugh

Lets hope so. I really don't want to go on a spending spree that will make us average

I support this

esp if they sign a bunch of free agents to 1 year deals and can move them at the deadline in 2015
- homiedclown

No, no! FA like Ryan Callahan you can build around. Even though I don't see the Rangers letting him go, but that has to be the thinking. Look to win next year!

You go girl!!
- sambarugh

Hey you got a problem when someone points out when you're being a jack a$$, I got a novice idea for you, don't be a jack a$$.

Right on topic:

For example, the Buffalo Sabres have $28.6 million invested in 10 players for 2014-15, so they must spend at least $25 million to get above the cap floor. Even if they only re-sign their restricted free agents (which includes Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and Jamie McBain), they’ll still have to invest more to plug the remaining gaps in their lineup and stay within the cap limits.
The Sabres could achieve that goal by re-signing unrestricted free agents like Ryan Miller and Matt Moulson. However, if they’re traded or depart in July via free agency they’ll have to be replaced, which could make the Sabres active in the free agent market.
- Irish 14

The cap floor was reported to be around 52 mil. It wont be hard to get to the cap floor IMO.

McNabb 1.25
Scott. .75
Foligno 2.0
Ennis 4.5
Ott 5.0
#1 pick 3.775

That's 17.275 right there and they still need to sign/call up 6 players. Those 6 players will come in around 10-12 mil. Cap floor reached.

When do we turn off the losing switch?
- Buffalo-Sabres

Day 1 of the 2015/16 season.

definetly, not to mention all the guys who come up spend several seasons in the ahl.
Ablekader etc those earlier picks that they hit on
- hubie

Not to mention the Wings were always the first team to really set up shot over seas and scout like nobodies business. I would think teams especially now we all of these big pocket owners would be sending scouts all over the world to find the next Zetteberg and Datsyuk