Guess what next year is for Stafford?
- benny948

Make him C and trade him at the deadline....for a first rounder.

30 goals!
- benny948

Well, i'd say we better trade him before he helps us next year to finish better than we want, but if the lottery is changed anyway, f@&k it, whatever happens, happens.

Mor bad years than good years. His best year he was often injured but had like 4 hat tricks. Now he is having a good 1/2 year. Far too much inconsistancy in his play.
- RynoBull

Agree with most of that but something tells me that as long as Nolans here he will continue to thrive.

Make him C and trade him at the deadline....for a first rounder.
- RynoBull

i hope the oilers move him somewhere in the offseason (khl maybe) so i never have to hear his name again. we cant score goals and we are desperate for a #1 center, so lets trade something useful to the second worst team in the league so they can give us their 6th best forward- that they dont want anymore.
- rover16

Nowwww you're gettin' it!

It's always the people that know the least about prospects and draft picks that love to senselessly bash them. Do some quick research, watch some guys play a few games, and then you can bash all you want. Nothing is ever positive in this place anymore. Why don't some of you be a bit hopeful? We all know this franchise has poop on us on a regular basis, but things are finally looking like they will be done PROPERLY.

They do, in fact. But they don't have an Ekblad
- Powerslave

I like the looks of Edmonton from what Ive seen.Give them a few more years and yes maybe Ekblad.They have so much young talent at the forward ranks if they could just straighten out Yaks

Wasn't Grigorenko sent back their ?
- buffalo 1

To the KHL?

It's always the people that know the least about prospects and draft picks that love to senselessly bash them. Do some quick research, watch some guys play a few games, and then you can bash all you want. Nothing is ever positive in this place anymore. Why don't some of you be a bit hopeful? We all know this franchise has poop on us on a regular basis, but things are finally looking like they will be done PROPERLY.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Hey I've always been on your side regarding this issue.

Anyone else think they would be better off sending Lieuwen back to Rochester to right the ship there and recall Hackett for here? This team is already a mess, so what difference will that make? Might as well give Rochester the best shot they have.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yes. Went to the game yesterday and Hackett looked awful. Amerks could make a serious run in the playoffs. I'd hate to see them lose a playoff spot because of Hackett playing the last 15 games.

Wasn't Grigorenko sent back their ?
- buffalo 1

Grigorenko is in the Q. And tearing it up...as he should.

Grigorenko is in the Q. And tearing it up...as he should.
- jacquescloutier

You would know - clearly your name is very french!

It's always the people that know the least about prospects and draft picks that love to senselessly bash them. Do some quick research, watch some guys play a few games, and then you can bash all you want. Nothing is ever positive in this place anymore. Why don't some of you be a bit hopeful? We all know this franchise has poop on us on a regular basis, but things are finally looking like they will be done PROPERLY.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

I forgot to post this on March 13, like I had planned: It is from JT on a private email to me on March 13 2008:


Ryno, I wanted to let you know why I've decided not to participate in the conversations on the board, because I consider you to be one of my friends here. Until recently, I've enjoyed coming onto the board and discussing the Sabres, even with the doom & gloomers. It's just gotten to be much lately. My wife is just recovering from breast cancer and now needs spinal surgery that may leave her paralyzed, and I come on to the board Monday to read "we should tank to get the pick" or "it's all over" or my personal favorite, "play T-Bo for the rest of the season, what difference does it make?" Understandably, I hope, all the talk of giving up was simply too depressing. I hope you and my other friends on here understand. JT

Somethings never change.

It's always the people that know the least about prospects and draft picks that love to senselessly bash them. Do some quick research, watch some guys play a few games, and then you can bash all you want. Nothing is ever positive in this place anymore. Why don't some of you be a bit hopeful? We all know this franchise has poop on us on a regular basis, but things are finally looking like they will be done PROPERLY.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

I found Vanek's interview comments from yesterday most shocking. He said he didn't want to resign here because when he asked what direction the franchise was headed no one had any answers. That was AFTER Darcy and co. took the mic and told us they were in a full rebuild mode.

I think we are very lucky to have had Lafontaine, as big of debacle as it was, he got us Murray. Who I believe is the only person who has any idea what they are doing down there.

Otherwise the FNC is full of retarded suits that are great and spending money and putting on a lot of meaningless pomp and circumstance.

I forgot to post this on March 13, like I had planned: It is from JT on a private email to me on March 13 2008:


Ryno, I wanted to let you know why I've decided not to participate in the conversations on the board, because I consider you to be one of my friends here. Until recently, I've enjoyed coming onto the board and discussing the Sabres, even with the doom & gloomers. It's just gotten to be much lately. My wife is just recovering from breast cancer and now needs spinal surgery that may leave her paralyzed, and I come on to the board Monday to read "we should tank to get the pick" or "it's all over" or my personal favorite, "play T-Bo for the rest of the season, what difference does it make?" Understandably, I hope, all the talk of giving up was simply too depressing. I hope you and my other friends on here understand. JT

Somethings never change.
- RynoBull

Im not sure I understand your post but first I hope things get better for JT and family. Life can be overwhelming at times.

As far was this place being negative, when your this bad(and holy poop are we bad) places like this can only be one of 2 things, negative or empty.

I found Vanek's interview comments from yesterday most shocking. He said he didn't want to resign here because when he asked what direction the franchise was headed no one had any answers. That was AFTER Darcy and co. took the mic and told us they were in a full rebuild mode.

I think we are very lucky to have had Lafontaine, as big of debacle as it was, he got us Murray. Who I believe is the only person who has any idea what they are doing down there.

Otherwise the FNC is full of retarded suits that are great and spending money and putting on a lot of meaningless pomp and circumstance.
- Buffalo-Sabres

I would take anything that guy says with a giant grain of salt. This is the guy who despite being one of 2 noteworthy Austrian players, choose to get drunk and embarrass his team and have his coach call him being named captain a "mistake".
Vanek is looking to go to Minnesota and float for the final few years of his career. It wouldnt suprise me at all if he retires at 33-34.

Im not sure I understand your post but first I hope things get better for JT and family. Life can be overwhelming at times.

As far was this place being negative, when your this bad(and holy poop are we bad) places like this can only be one of 2 things, negative or empty.
- Buffalo-Sabres

I disagree. There's plenty of good things we can talk about. Like the fact that Lieuwen stopped all of the pucks he faced last night in his first ever NHL action.

Or the good things that the prospects are doing in their respective leagues.

The problem is that most are so focused and stuck on how bad we are, they can't look past it to see the good that is right in front of them as well.

I would take anything that guy says with a giant grain of salt. This is the guy who despite being one of 2 noteworthy Austrian players, choose to get drunk and embarrass his team and have his coach call him being named captain a "mistake".
Vanek is looking to go to Minnesota and float for the final few years of his career. It wouldnt suprise me at all if he retires at 33-34.
- sbroads24

I feel like he's just trying to make himself look better. His overall reputation has taken quite a hit this year. Between coming out and saying he didn't want to stay here through a rebuild, refusing to sign an extension with the Isles, and the Olympic thing, he's probably trying to do some damage control and make it look like he had no choice but to not resign here.

Personally, I'm glad he's gone.

I would take anything that guy says with a giant grain of salt. This is the guy who despite being one of 2 noteworthy Austrian players, choose to get drunk and embarrass his team and have his coach call him being named captain a "mistake".
Vanek is looking to go to Minnesota and float for the final few years of his career. It wouldnt suprise me at all if he retires at 33-34.
- sbroads24

I agree, a part of me thinks he's got a big chip on his shoulder these days. I didn't follow that Olympic story that close but I didn't realize he got drunk and bashed the coach. What a "captain".

I feel like he's just trying to make himself look better. His overall reputation has taken quite a hit this year. Between coming out and saying he didn't want to stay here through a rebuild, refusing to sign an extension with the Isles, and the Olympic thing, he's probably trying to do some damage control and make it look like he had no choice but to not resign here.

Personally, I'm glad he's gone.
- HonkFortheGoose

I have lost a ton of respect for him. As much as I thought he was over rated here as a player, I always thought he was a good character guy. Now I'm not so sure.

I disagree. There's plenty of good things we can talk about. Like the fact that Lieuwen stopped all of the pucks he faced last night in his first ever NHL action.

Or the good things that the prospects are doing in their respective leagues.

The problem is that most are so focused and stuck on how bad we are, they can't look past it to see the good that is right in front of them as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

Oh sure I know. My point is its unrealistic to think anywhere Sabres fans gather in Public or online there won't be tons of negativity. We are at the very bottom of the lowest rut you can be in. Honestly I think 2002 was WAAAYYYYY more depressing.

Im not sure I understand your post but first I hope things get better for JT and family. Life can be overwhelming at times.

As far was this place being negative, when your this bad(and holy poop are we bad) places like this can only be one of 2 things, negative or empty.
- Buffalo-Sabres

It didn't, it really didn't.

I feel like he's just trying to make himself look better. His overall reputation has taken quite a hit this year. Between coming out and saying he didn't want to stay here through a rebuild, refusing to sign an extension with the Isles, and the Olympic thing, he's probably trying to do some damage control and make it look like he had no choice but to not resign here.

Personally, I'm glad he's gone.
- HonkFortheGoose

When he left part of me held onto hope we'd throw a nice contract at him come July, now I couldn't care less. I think he's got a big dose of reality coming his way in the future.

Oh sure I know. My point is its unrealistic to think anywhere Sabres fans gather in Public or online there won't be tons of negativity. We are at the very bottom of the lowest rut you can be in. Honestly I think 2002 was WAAAYYYYY more depressing.
- Buffalo-Sabres

Sure it was worse, but we didn't have a place like this to consolidate the negative vibes.

I agree, a part of me thinks he's got a big chip on his shoulder these days. I didn't follow that Olympic story that close but I didn't realize he got drunk and bashed the coach. What a "captain".
- Buffalo-Sabres

Everyones a hypocrite. We all get drunk and bash the coach.