Ehrhoff isn't an albatross. That's just sour grapes talking. With his cap hit, he's easily movable. There were many suitors for him at the deadline, but he wasn't a focal point for Murray. He could very well get moved this offseason and probably for a decent haul.
- HonkFortheGoose

No sour grapes at all. He is 31 and I just think his contract is way too long and he isn't the same player he was 2 years ago. I think you will have a very exciting team in a few years and wish you the best. Lastly we are brothers in our hatred of the Leafs.

No sour grapes at all. He is 31 and I just think his contract is way too long and he isn't the same player he was 2 years ago. I think you will have a very exciting team in a few years and wish you the best. Lastly we are brothers in our hatred of the Leafs.
- Grumpy13

We're twin franchises as well.

I hate your franchise moderately less than I do the other 28 in the NHL.

No sour grapes at all. He is 31 and I just think his contract is way too long and he isn't the same player he was 2 years ago. I think you will have a very exciting team in a few years and wish you the best. Lastly we are brothers in our hatred of the Leafs.
- Grumpy13

He's already 3 years into that contract. So 7 more years isn't really that bad when you take into account he'll be 38 at the end of it. It's more than feasible that he'll play for the duration of it.

He's had a rough year, but that's mostly because the team he's on is in the middle of a rebuild. He's frustrated and it's obvious, but you can't really blame the guy.

He still shows flashes of what he can do if he can put the mess around him behind him and just play his game.

Besides, if you guys could manage to move Luongo, I'm sure we can find someone to take Ehrhoff if we really need to.

My mock 10:
Oilers win Lotto

Oilers - Reinhart
Sabres - Ekblad
Panthers - Draisaitl
Islanders - Bennett
Flames DelColle
Hurricanes - Nylander
Jets - Virtanen
Ducks - Ehlers
Predators - Perlini
Nucks- HoSang

My mock 10:
Oilers win Lotto

Oilers - Reinhart
Sabres - Ekblad
Panthers - Draisaitl
Islanders - Bennett
Flames DelColle
Hurricanes - Nylander
Jets - Virtanen
Ducks - Ehlers
Predators - Perlini
Nucks- HoSang
- Mentalorgasm5

Oilers are either taking Ekblad or Draisaitl.

Oilers are either taking Ekblad or Draisaitl.
- ystoil

not according to this mock

He's already 3 years into that contract. So 7 more years isn't really that bad when you take into account he'll be 38 at the end of it. It's more than feasible that he'll play for the duration of it.

He's had a rough year, but that's mostly because the team he's on is in the middle of a rebuild. He's frustrated and it's obvious, but you can't really blame the guy.

He still shows flashes of what he can do if he can put the mess around him behind him and just play his game.

Besides, if you guys could manage to move Luongo, I'm sure we can find someone to take Ehrhoff if we really need to.
- HonkFortheGoose

We paid him the bulk of the money up front too. So he will carry the 4 mil cap hit but bot the 4 mil paycheck. Perfect for a team like Florida or Pheonix.

From Sabres.com http://sabres.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/preview?id=2013021155&navid=DL|BUF|home

Sabres forward Marcus Foligno (lower body) was injured on his first shift Thursday and did not return.
Defenseman Henrik Tallinder (lower body) did not play.
Forward Chris Stewart (ankle) skated with the team and may play again this season.
Forwards Torrey Mitchell (undisclosed), Kevin Porter (lower body), Drew Stafford (undisclosed) and Zenon Konopka (back),
defensemen Alexander Sulzer (upper body) and
Tyler Myers (midsection) and
goalies Michal Neuvirth (lower body) and
Jhonas Enroth (lower body) are out.

From Sabres.com http://sabres.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/preview?id=2013021155&navid=DL|BUF|home

Sabres forward Marcus Foligno (lower body) was injured on his first shift Thursday and did not return.
Defenseman Henrik Tallinder (lower body) did not play.
Forward Chris Stewart (ankle) skated with the team and may play again this season.
Forwards Torrey Mitchell (undisclosed), Kevin Porter (lower body), Drew Stafford (undisclosed) and Zenon Konopka (back),
defensemen Alexander Sulzer (upper body) and
Tyler Myers (midsection) and
goalies Michal Neuvirth (lower body) and
Jhonas Enroth (lower body) are out.
- cabin

out of all the injured players probably the only ones we really miss are Neuvirth, Myers and Stafford..

wow stafford, never thought i would say that

My mock 10:
Oilers win Lotto

Oilers - Reinhart
Sabres - Ekblad
Panthers - Draisaitl
Islanders - Bennett
Flames DelColle
Hurricanes - Nylander
Jets - Virtanen
Ducks - Ehlers
Predators - Perlini
Nucks- HoSang
- Mentalorgasm5

ok, I'll bite. Worst possible scenario for the Sabres

ok, I'll bite. Worst possible scenario for the Sabres
- RynoBull

I feel that the Sabres would take Bennett over Ekblad at 2 and hope that Sam2 can overcome the hype that he won't play center in the NHL. Stay in Juniors another year, get stronger at Center and then come up in 2015.

It's hard to find inspiration in the team in its current state. You can only dress a pig up in lipstick so many ways before it all starts to look the same.
- OnPoint

Just out of curiosity, how many different ways have you tried dressing a pig in lipstick?

My mock 10:
Oilers win Lotto

Oilers - Reinhart
Sabres - Ekblad
Panthers - Draisaitl
Islanders - Bennett
Flames DelColle
Hurricanes - Nylander
Jets - Virtanen
Ducks - Ehlers
Predators - Perlini
Nucks- HoSang
- Mentalorgasm5

I hope and pray your mock is not what happens

Bringing two interesting topics to the discussion today as it is raining and a Friday and I'm bored.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=712635

Latest NHL.COM mock drafts by all three bloggers have us taking Reinhart. Hope they are right

Topic 2..

Jim Matheson ‏@NHLbyMatty
With Calg's win in TBay last night, Oilers guaranteed to finish with 2nd or 3rd pick in June draft unless lottery change.


I didn't think they could change the lottery rules for this year so soon to the draft!! If this happens I will be really pissed.. anyone know if they can change it for this year so soon?

Topic 2..

Jim Matheson ‏@NHLbyMatty
With Calg's win in TBay last night, Oilers guaranteed to finish with 2nd or 3rd pick in June draft unless lottery change.


I didn't think they could change the lottery rules for this year so soon to the draft!! If this happens I will be really pissed.. anyone know if they can change it for this year so soon?
- bluengold12

I am generally wrong all of the time, but I would think they cannot change the draft this year. It would probably have to be next year's draft. Again, I do not know and couldn't find anything in a very brief search.

Topic 2..

Jim Matheson ‏@NHLbyMatty
With Calg's win in TBay last night, Oilers guaranteed to finish with 2nd or 3rd pick in June draft unless lottery change.


I didn't think they could change the lottery rules for this year so soon to the draft!! If this happens I will be really pissed.. anyone know if they can change it for this year so soon?
- bluengold12

i would ass-u-me that this means that the lottery change could bump them up to 1st overall..

I am generally wrong all of the time, but I would think they cannot change the draft this year. It would probably have to be next year's draft. Again, I do not know and couldn't find anything in a very brief search.
- thatsapickle

Considering that the lottery takes place in 11 days, the chances that it changes this year are probably pretty minimal.

Considering that the lottery takes place in 11 days, the chances that it changes this year are probably pretty minimal.
- HonkFortheGoose

I would agree but the guy that posted it is an Edmonton beat writer for the NHL figured he wouldn't just throw something out there if it wasn't at least somewhat possible.

i would ass-u-me that this means that the lottery change could bump them up to 1st overall..
- IndianaSabresFan

I think with the changes from the prior lottery any team can draft 1st right? Or is it still most you can move up is 3 spots?

My mock 10:
Oilers win Lotto

Oilers - Reinhart
Sabres - Ekblad
Panthers - Draisaitl
Islanders - Bennett
Flames DelColle
Hurricanes - Nylander
Jets - Virtanen
Ducks - Ehlers
Predators - Perlini
Nucks- HoSang
- Mentalorgasm5

If the Oilers get 1st, they would be insane to not take Ekblad. Not only is he considered the default #1, but a top D man is exactly what the doctor ordered for them.

Also this is assuming that the Isles keep their pick. I think if its top 5 they will keep it, otherwise they will give it to the Sabres.

I think with the changes from the prior lottery any team can draft 1st right? Or is it still most you can move up is 3 spots?
- bluengold12

any team that's not in the playoffs has a chance. But the worst we can do is two because you can still only fall 1 spot.

I think with the changes from the prior lottery any team can draft 1st right? Or is it still most you can move up is 3 spots?
- bluengold12

no clue.. but i do know that it could move edmonton from 2nd to 1st.. but if they have 2nd to last locked up the farthest they will move down is to 3rd.. therefore they have 2nd or 3rd locked up... unless the lottery changes their position to 1st..

i could be way off base but i think that is what they meant

If the Oilers get 1st, they would be insane to not take Ekblad. Not only is he considered the default #1, but a top D man is exactly what the doctor ordered for them.

Also this is assuming that the Isles keep their pick. I think if its top 5 they will keep it, otherwise they will give it to the Sabres.
- AuthorityHero

He may be the default #1 defenseman, but according to the mock drafts on NHL.com that just got posted, Reinhart is going #1.

any team that's not in the playoffs has a chance. But the worse we can do is two because you can still only fall 1 spot.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yeah, I knew the last part but thanks for reconfirming the first part.

So that still leaves the question on if they can change the rules for this lottery so soon... I would think they wouldn't but I also wouldn't be surprised if it was all ready decided and not released until the end of the season.