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
- sbroads24

See, there's the difference. I don't think any one of those players are good enough to make even that little of a difference on a team. The only factor that could make them "improve" to the level you are talking about is goal scoring. The Sabres don't have enough of it with that group. It doesn't "scare" me.

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.
- SuperCat

Okay I lied, one last comment

What Eichel is doing on the U-18 team in the USHL is unprecedented. Hes doing a lot better than some of the programs most notable players ever did there (Kane, Kessel).

He was much more impressive than McDavid as a 17 year old playing in the WJC on a weaker team. He really was the key cog in the USA team where McDavid was not for Canada. I know, I know, WJC is not typically the measuring stick.

I have no doubts Eichel would be just as impressive in the CHL as McDavid. I'll be just as happy for Eichel than I would be landing McDavid.

Amerks up 4 - 1 now late in the third.

7 minutes left in the third.

i think right now, truly the only team that is doing poorly and looks to be trending downward is calgary.

and even they look much much better than the sabres. They had 35 wins in a considerably stronger western conference.

See, there's the difference. I don't think any one of those players are good enough to make even that little of a difference on a team. The only factor that could make them "improve" to the level you are talking about is goal scoring. The Sabres don't have enough of it with that group. It doesn't "scare" me.
- buffalofan19

You're also not taking into consideration what other teams rosters might look like at the start of next season for example Vancouver, they are going to be trading a lot of pieces away and probably will be in the McDavid hunt as well there is no guarantee that their roster next year will be better than ours

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
- sbroads24

We don't have Miller. We finished REALLY poorly. Those other teams weren't 14 points behind the 2nd worst team.

You're also not taking into consideration what other teams rosters might look like at the start of next season for example Vancouver they are going to be trading a lot of pieces away and probably will be in the McDavid hunt as well there is no guarantee that their roster next year will be better than ours
- sbroads24

vancouver had 30 more points than buffalo and 40 more goals in a much stronger western conference.

even if neither sedin plays one game next year, i dont think they are as bad.

several players on the sabres would have to literally play out of their mind for us to not be a strong contender for a top pick.

on top of all that, its beneficial to the league for toronto and the sabres to do well. its by far the biggest hockey market in the entire country, dwarfing everyone else massively.

You're also not taking into consideration what other teams rosters might look like at the start of next season for example Vancouver, they are going to be trading a lot of pieces away and probably will be in the McDavid hunt as well there is no guarantee that their roster next year will be better than ours
- sbroads24

If the Sedins, Kesler, and Bieksa all end up off that roster by opening night in October, I will take their "woe is us" crap seriously. Until that happens, I treat it like the boy who cried wolf.

No Armia playing very suspicious....

If the Sedins, Kesler, and Bieksa all end up off that roster by opening night in October, I will take their "woe is us" crap seriously. Until that happens, I treat it like the boy who cried wolf.
- buffalofan19

hodgson produced a season high in points this year at 44. Ennis' season high was 49, his 43 this season isn't that far off.

These players aren't a risk to bust out for 60 or 70 point seasons.

Even if hodge, ennis, staff, AND myers put in 40-50 point seasons we'd still be by far the worst team in the league.

thats the crazy thing. we could see amazing performances from nearly half the players on our team and we'd still be dead last.

No Armia playing very suspicious....
- bluengold12

Would have to think he must be hurt , really unlucky year for him on that front

Looks like Rochester is making the playoffs.

Game just ended. They're in. Armia was healthy scratch.

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.
- SuperCat

How are we sure we will be dead last? What if Myers is good all year? Grigensons continues to improve? Risto? Zadorov? Free agents? We may not have Leino to help us get there.

Looks like Rochester is making the playoffs.
- Herzeleid

MERICA!

How are we sure we will be dead last? What if Myers is good all year? Grigensons continues to improve? Risto? Zadorov? Free agents? We may not have Leino to help us get there.
- Buffalo-Sabres

myers could post a season high in point totals and we'd still be dead last.

Girgenson could post double his points and we'd still be dead last.

Risto and zadorov aren't a risk for 30 or 40 point seasons. Risto played 34 games in buffalo and had a massive 4 total points.

hodge DID post a season high of 44 whopping points. ennis wasn't far off with 43 points.

stafford is a 50 point guy, even in his best seasons.

60 percent of the roster could have their best year ever and we'd still be dead last.

thats how bad we are.

Game just ended. They're in. Armia was healthy scratch.
- Carlo

Source?

Is there a reason why?

Okay I lied, one last comment

What Eichel is doing on the U-18 team in the USHL is unprecedented. Hes doing a lot better than some of the programs most notable players ever did there (Kane, Kessel).

He was much more impressive than McDavid as a 17 year old playing in the WJC on a weaker team. He really was the key cog in the USA team where McDavid was not for Canada. I know, I know, WJC is not typically the measuring stick.

I have no doubts Eichel would be just as impressive in the CHL as McDavid. I'll be just as happy for Eichel than I would be landing McDavid.
- theblueandgold

Well to be perfectly honest, there's no reason why the Sabres should get one of those 2 players.

As of today, they are a historically poor goal producing NHL club...


If this organization doesn't make one single offseason move, they're garunteed to be just as bad next yr (this time going a full yer without the likes of Miller, Vanek, Ott or Moulson).

How are we sure we will be dead last? What if Myers is good all year? Grigensons continues to improve? Risto? Zadorov? Free agents? We may not have Leino to help us get there.
- Buffalo-Sabres

Zadorov will most likely stay in London, and Risto could stay in Rochester.

myers could post a season high in point totals and we'd still be dead last.

Girgenson could post double his points and we'd still be dead last.

Risto and zadorov aren't a risk for 30 or 40 point seasons. Risto played 34 games in buffalo and had a massive 4 total points.

hodge DID post a season high of 44 whopping points. ennis wasn't far off with 43 points.

stafford is a 50 point guy, even in his best seasons.

60 percent of the roster could have their best year ever and we'd still be dead last.

thats how bad we are.
- Putzfrau

Standings aren't relative to strictly talent

Both games close at 3-3, still love playoff hockey.

Standings aren't relative to strictly talent
- sbroads24

but point totals are related to goals scored.


and i've been hearing a lot what a bad goal scoring team we are.


we could have scored 30 more 5 on 5 goals and still have been dead last. we had .5 less goals per game then the next worst team.

and this upcoming year we wont have miller.

we will be absolutely bottom 5 next year, and i feel extremely confident saying we will be right in the mix for the top draft pick. we are that bad.

like i said, 50% of our roster could post season best point totals and we'd probably still be dead last.

vanek with a nasty goal for montreal.

How are we sure we will be dead last? What if Myers is good all year? Grigensons continues to improve? Risto? Zadorov? Free agents? We may not have Leino to help us get there.
- Buffalo-Sabres

Because next year you won't even have half a year of Miller, Ott, Vanek/Moulson...

You keep kids like Ristolienen, Zadorov, whoever you draft 2nd overall, and maybe even Pysyk (early on at least), in Rochester

.
Tim Murray even laid out such a strategy in his end-of-yr presser.