If I see one more person on here say that whoever we draft will be automatically in Juniors next year because Murray and Nolan like to groom them I may go insane...

People cant seem to understand this and are going to be in for a very, very rude awakening....

If you play well enough to make the team you are going to make the team... it's really that simple..

Murray isn't just going to hand out spots to rookies like Darcy and Rolston did but he's not an idiot either where he wont ice the team that's best.. If Reinhart or Bennett are drafted and ready to play they will play

We couldn't get first this year, can we afford to be that bad again and not come away with the ultimate prize?
- Buffalo-Sabres

If you draft Ekblad, the worst you end up with is 2nd. Then you get Eichel, who is also supposed to be a game changer. Ekblad and Eichel together is a more than adequate reward to come away with after two unbearable seasons that we are coming out of.

people need to stop using colorado as a "you never know what happens" example.

THEY ARE THE EXCEPTION. NOT THE RULE.

look at their last 5 seasons. they are the anomaly. Their point totals have fluctuated WILDLY and last season was absolutely an exception.

Tampa was in the ECF the year boston won. that was what, 3 years ago? again, exceptions dont make rules. there are many many many more examples of teams that do not follow this trend.

So what you are saying is one change to a coach made them how many points better? Yet the Sabres despite having the ability to make many changes with many assets and young players are a guarantee to finish bottom 5? I don't see how they can risk going through 3 vital years of a rebuild (2013 included) and not get an impact forward
- sbroads24

Did you ignore all the players I listed? How many players on Buffalo come CLOSE to that list? Maybe Ennis? Maybe Hodgson? Myers.

Sacco was an awful coach that couldnt utilize his players well. Everyone thought it was goaltending and defense. They basically added MacKinnon and now they win a division. The difference? Roy.


Doesnt matter what coach you put in Buffalo, they lack the talent. And its going to remain that way next year. Murray has all but said that much...

Difference is that Colorado already had some of those impact forwards on their roster already. The Sabres don't have anyone close, even Hodgson or Ennis.
- buffalofan19

Ok, so the explanation for them being the 2nd worst team in 2013 is....?

This is my point.. Things in the NHL change, teams start hot, start cold, get injuries, have suprise young players, have players do well in contract years, get hot goaltending.

We need a forward... We can't wait and praywe are the worst, chances are other teams are eyeing McDavid

If I see one more person on here say that whoever we draft will be automatically in Juniors next year because Murray and Nolan like to groom them I may go insane...

People cant seem to understand this and are going to be in for a very, very rude awakening....

If you play well enough to make the team you are going to make the team... it's really that simple..

Murray isn't just going to hand out spots to rookies like Darcy and Rolston did but he's not an idiot either where he wont ice the team that's best.. If Reinhart or Bennett are drafted and ready to play they will play
- bluengold12

If that were really true, Ristolainen and Pysyk would not have been in Rochester, and McBain and Weber would have been (after they didn't clear waivers, of course).

Ok, so the explanation for them being the 2nd worst team in 2013 is....?

This is my point.. Things in the NHL change, teams start hot, start cold, get injuries, have suprise young players, have players do well in contract years, get hot goaltending.

We need a forward... We can't wait and praywe are the worst, chances are other teams are eyeing McDavid
- sbroads24

coach, injuries, shortened season.

they are the exception.

Ok, so the explanation for them being the 2nd worst team in 2013 is....?

This is my point.. Things in the NHL change, teams start hot, start cold, get injuries, have suprise young players, have players do well in contract years, get hot goaltending.

We need a forward... We can't wait and praywe are the worst, chances are other teams are eyeing McDavid
- sbroads24

I would agree, but to me, the only forward that can make the kind of difference that the Sabres need is Reinhart. After that, you have a bunch of guys that can turn out to be solid. They don't need solid. They need great.

people need to stop using colorado as a "you never know what happens" example.

THEY ARE THE EXCEPTION. NOT THE RULE.

look at their last 5 seasons. they are the anomaly. Their point totals have fluctuated WILDLY and last season was absolutely an exception.

Tampa was in the ECF the year boston won. that was what, 3 years ago? again, exceptions dont make rules. there are many many many more examples of teams that do not follow this trend.
- Putzfrau

Ok then. Tell me where Anaheim finished in 2012, and where they finished in 2013. I can list numerous examples

Montreal went from 15th to what 3rd in the conference?

If that were really true, Ristolainen and Pysyk would not have been in Rochester, and McBain and Weber would have been (after they didn't clear waivers, of course).
- buffalofan19

That was this year when the team was all ready an absolute mess when Nolan and Murray inherited it.. Also those were defenseman... Ristolainen and Pysyk will both be in Buffalo next year full time though you can book that

Colombus picked second in 2012, and pushed for a playoff spot in 2013.

Ok then. Tell me where Anaheim finished in 2012, and where they finished in 2013. I can list numerous examples

Montreal went from 15th to what 3rd in the conference?
- sbroads24

Anaheim had difference makers on their roster (Perry, Getzlaf, even Selanne). The Sabres don't and still won't have anywhere near that type of talent. Even Montreal has at least potential difference makers, though they're very young.

We couldn't get first this year, can we afford to be that bad again and not come away with the ultimate prize?
- Buffalo-Sabres

But if you finish last, you're at least drafting (worse case) 2nd overall...

And behind McDavid in next yrs draft is US born Jack Eichel. Eichel is being called "Brett Hull-like" and is considered to be a superstar in waiting.


McDavid is the playmaker, & Eichel is the goal scorer.

Ok then. Tell me where Anaheim finished in 2012, and where they finished in 2013. I can list numerous examples

Montreal went from 15th to what 3rd in the conference?
- sbroads24

look at the previous 4 years before 2012 for anaheim. 89 points, 99 points, 80 points. 2012 was the exception.

Look at montreals. 93 points, 88, 96, 75.

have one bad season is much much different then being bad. those teams had 20x the talent buffalo has now. buffalo isn't have one bad season. they have been steadily and consistently getting worse, while LOSING talent and replacing it with younger growing talent.

Anaheim had difference makers on their roster (Perry, Getzlaf, even Selanne). The Sabres don't and still won't have anywhere near that type of talent. Even Montreal has at least potential difference makers, though they're very young.
- buffalofan19

That's not the point though.

They're being bad then being good again had nothing to do with Getzlaf and Perry

But if you finish last, you're at least drafting (worse case) 2nd overall...

And behind McDavid in next yrs draft is US born Jack Eichel. Eichel is being called "Brett Hull-like" and is considered to be a superstar in waiting.
- SuperCat

I hope that "Brett Hull-like" doesnt mean his playing style and means hes going to be the Brett Hull American of his generation.

That's not the point though.

They're being bad then being good again had nothing to do with Getzlaf and Perry
- sbroads24

You have to have those kind of difference makers to make that kind of improvement. Having them doesn't guarantee improvement, but you still can't pull that off without them.

I hope that "Brett Hull-like" doesnt mean his playing style and means hes going to be the Brett Hull American of his generation.
- theblueandgold

The guy has 2 Stanley Cups on his resume. If that's what the Sabres end up with, I will take it.

Colombus picked second in 2012, and pushed for a playoff spot in 2013.
- sbroads24

Look at the changes the blue jackets did in the 2012-2013 season. they were bad bad bad, talent developed, made appropriate changes, started the turn around.

do you think buffalo has the talent to make that turn around? really? theres a half dozen people on the roster of columbus that are playing better than anyone on the current sabres roster.

everyone thought colubus was going to start getting better. everyone expected them to start to climb. its literally a completely different situation. buffalo now is columbus a decade ago.

I hope that "Brett Hull-like" doesnt mean his playing style and means hes going to be the Brett Hull American of his generation.
- theblueandgold

Hehe, it means Eichel has a lighting quick release on his shot.



They say next year is going to be an amazing draft. So if Buffalo can finish last & garunteed themselves a top 2 pick...

Even if they miss out on the next Crosby (McDavid), they'll still end up with the next Ovechkin (Eichel).

It's definately a good time to be bad, for the Buffalo Sabres.

Alright, I'm off to actually watch some playoff hockey, good debates guys.

You have to have those kind of difference makers to make that kind of improvement. Having them doesn't guarantee improvement, but you still can't pull that off without them.
- buffalofan19

Right, I don't think we can make the playoffs, however I do think that players like Stewart, Girgensons, Ristolainen, Myers healthy, Pysyk playing 20 min instead of Weber, Foligno waking up, other variables as well and we could improve some.

I just don't think you can risk not taking one of the Sam's, or Draisaitl. Our D- Corp will never be the issue with this team

Look at the changes the blue jackets did in the 2012-2013 season. they were bad bad bad, talent developed, made appropriate changes, started the turn around.

do you think buffalo has the talent to make that turn around? really? theres a half dozen people on the roster of columbus that are playing better than anyone on the current sabres roster.

everyone thought colubus was going to start getting better. everyone expected them to start to climb. its literally a completely different situation. buffalo now is columbus a decade ago.
- Putzfrau

My point is that it's unpredictable. That's all.

Please, not 1 single person thought Colorado was a playoff team heading into the year

Damn boys..


Draft Sam Bennett this year & Jack Eichel next year...


And that's our "Toews" & "Kane".

My point is that it's unpredictable. That's all.

Please, not 1 single person thought Colorado was a playoff team heading into the year
- sbroads24

playoffs? maybe not. but no one thought they would be competing for a top pick. Most thought they would at least be in the playoff discussion.

and my point is its really not THAT unpredictable. every example you listed was no unpredictable. you could look at past seasons, look at developing talent, and guesstimate roughly how things would have turned out.

most people thought columbus would be competing for a playoff spot, no one thought anaheim was going for the bottom after one bad season, same with montreal.

your examples were poor ones, and i feel like i adequately explained why.

usually you are spot on, but i think you are really off base with this assessment.

lets put it this way, who do you think looks worse than buffalo for the upcoming season? florida is trending in the right direction, and you have to imagine sooner or later edmonton is going to explode with all that talent. I wouldn't say calgary is trending upward, but they dont look as bad as the sabres on paper.