I don't want any significant changes but IMO whether we finish dead last or not the team will be better

We have more players progressing than we have regressing
- sbroads24

Like who? Do they make up for the full season without a vanek/moulson?

Can you elaborate on the statement?

We won't be worse next year. We almost can't be. If I survived that season I can survive anything as a fan.

I could see moving Erhoff at next years deadline. You could tell he wasn't into it after this years came and went. We fielded a weak defense last year because it wasn't the right time to commit to better players. I'm all for letting the young guys like Risto, Zadorov and McCabe take their time getting ready. Maybe one decent off season acquisition to help stabilize things and this team wont be so bad.
- Buffalo-Sabres

No Miller, Vanek, Moulson, Ott? The better question is how on earth will the Sabres be better?


Oh wait Ekblad will make us better.....

No Miller, Vanek, Moulson, Ott? The better question is how on earth will the Sabres be better?


Oh wait Ekblad will make us better.....
- RynoBull

NO one player can make us a better team next season.

NO one player can make us a better team next season.
- hubie

Callahan, because he's from WNY

could you perhaps elaborate on why you think so?

full season without a vanek/ott/moulson. full season without miller. hypothetically without erhoff.

lets say we even make a big splash. lets say we sign callahan. i still think, on paper at least, we are a worse team next year then this year.

i'd love someone to show me why i might be wrong.

Edit: realize that came off a little poopty, but i was trying to be genuine.
- Putzfrau

I think not skating Leino, Scott, Knopka, and replacing them with anyone who puts the occasional puck in the net is an upgrade.

No Miller, Vanek, Moulson, Ott? The better question is how on earth will the Sabres be better?


Oh wait Ekblad will make us better.....
- RynoBull

Exactly. I'm waiting for someone to answer this.

Exactly. I'm waiting for someone to answer this.
- Putzfrau

By Murray's statements I believe he plans on attempting to field a professional hockey team next year, unlike this past year.

By Murray's statements I believe he plans on attempting to field a professional hockey team next year, unlike this past year.
- Buffalo-Sabres

Any specifics? What about this team wasn't professional?

Like who? Do they make up for the full season without a vanek/moulson?

Can you elaborate on the statement?
- Putzfrau

We started 1-9 with Vanek and Miller.

We beat San Jose easily the night Miller and Ott left.

It's not as cut and dry as you make it out to be. Like I previously said, the standings arent strictly relative to talent level.

Calgary had the worst NHL lineup to start this season and didn't finish last

No Miller, Vanek, Moulson, Ott? The better question is how on earth will the Sabres be better?


Oh wait Ekblad will make us better.....
- RynoBull

These 3 were here when we started 1-9

We started 1-9 with Vanek and Miller.

We beat San Jose easily the night Miller and Ott left.

It's not as cut and dry as you make it out to be. Like I previously said, the standings arent strictly relative to talent level.

Calgary had the worst NHL lineup to start this season and didn't finish last
- sbroads24

Who's saying it's cut and dry? All I'm asking for is something more than vague statements.

I don't think that's unreasonable. I'm at least attempting to support my opinion with relevant information.

Who's saying it's cut and dry? All I'm asking for is something more than vague statements.

I don't think that's unreasonable. I'm at least attempting to support my opinion with relevant information.
- Putzfrau

1-9 to start this season with Miller and Vanek/Moulson and Ott. We didnt continue to only win 10% of our games. How is this not relevant to what you are saying?

Any specifics? What about this team wasn't professional?
- Putzfrau

Ville Leino, Mike Weber, John Scott. A defense where 4 of the six guys would be another teams 6 or 7 guy. They started with 4 teenagers. 3 other guys were waiver wire pick ups. Darcy made no legitimate attempt to field a competitive, professional hockey team.

Who's saying it's cut and dry? All I'm asking for is something more than vague statements.

I don't think that's unreasonable. I'm at least attempting to support my opinion with relevant information.
- Putzfrau

You're so sure you're right about next season, you don't even know who's going to be on the team yet.

No Miller, Vanek, Moulson, Ott? The better question is how on earth will the Sabres be better?


Oh wait Ekblad will make us better.....
- RynoBull

Neuvirth, Larrson, stewart, Deslauriers

Ville Leino, Mike Weber, John Scott. A defense where 4 of the six guys would be another teams 6 or 7 guy. They started with 4 teenagers. 3 other guys were waiver wire pick ups. Darcy made no legitimate attempt to field a competitive, professional hockey team.
- Buffalo-Sabres

Do we always have to pile on Myers?..

You're so sure you're right about next season, you don't even know who's going to be on the team yet.
- Buffalo-Sabres

Again, who's so sure? I'm trying to have a discussion.

Apparently this is the wrong place for that, my mistake.

Do we always have to pile on Myers?..
- RynoBull

Again, who's so sure? I'm trying to have a discussion.

Apparently this is the wrong place for that, my mistake.
- Putzfrau

ok

1-9 to start this season with Miller and Vanek/Moulson and Ott. We didnt continue to only win 10% of our games. How is this not relevant to what you are saying?
- sbroads24

It is.

It's also an extremely small sample size. I'm not saying there's no possibility we are better next year, and I feel like I made that point pretty clearly.

It is.

It's also an extremely small sample size. I'm not saying there's no possibility we are better next year, and I feel like I made that point pretty clearly.
- Putzfrau

Well to be honest I think it's 100% certain we will finish next year with more points than this season. Obviously this is just my opinion, but this season was a trainwreck for the ages, IMO it will and can only get better.

We have some talent on this roster

Ennis, Myers, Hodgson, Pysyk, Risto, Stafford, Stewart, Girgensons are all 1st round picks.

It is.

It's also an extremely small sample size. I'm not saying there's no possibility we are better next year, and I feel like I made that point pretty clearly.
- Putzfrau

My point was, we can be significantly better and still finish 29th.

1-9 to start this season with Miller and Vanek/Moulson and Ott. We didnt continue to only win 10% of our games. How is this not relevant to what you are saying?
- sbroads24

Ok, so I stopped being lazy today:

Ott/Vanek and Moulson = 58 points. Leino doesnt return = 69 points

Lets say that those that stay are 10% more productive across the board. Thats roughly 35 points.

So we need somone (or two people) to give us 34 points just to be as terrible as last year.

I think we can assume that one of Sams can contribute that much

Pick up a FA or two........we have now exceeded our production from 2013..

Now lets see how we can replace Millers 15 wins..... Enroth might be able to do that himself.....

So its probable that they won't be worse, but they probably won't be much better either.

Well to be honest I think it's 100% certain we will finish next year with more points than this season. Obviously this is just my opinion, but this season was a trainwreck for the ages, IMO it will and can only get better.

We have some talent on this roster

Ennis, Myers, Hodgson, Pysyk, Risto, Stafford, Stewart, Girgensons are all 1st round picks.
- sbroads24

Fair enough. I guess I'd just like to know why you think it can only go up from here?

We lost talent and as of yet, haven't gained that back. Cody posted a career high in points totals this past season, where do you expect him to fall next season? Or ennis, what are you expecting from him in this scenario? His 43 (I think) points weren't that far off from career bests. Stafford can be a 50 point guy but that's still only marginally better than he performed this season.

Risto can (and will IMO) continue to improve but honestly I'm not expecting jaw dropping numbers next season.

Myers could realistically have a 40-50 point year and that would be awesome.

Stewart could be hit or miss, as he's been for most of his career. Fingers crossed he has a good season.

Even if everything you've said goes to plan, does it make up for no vanek/moulson/ott? Who's available to sign that could add similar production?

I'm not trying to say IM RIGHT AND EVER ONE IS WRONG. What I'm trying to say is I don't already have this opinion that it can only get better.

I'd like someone to convince me, because I'd prefer to think we won't have another season of this caliber.

Its very depressing to think that the Bills and Sabres are so terrible. Even with the Drafts coming up I assume that the Bills will get it wrong and the Sabres will refuse to pick a Center.
- RynoBull

Tell you the truth the bills are not terrible.... last years draft they did a lot of right things, they have 2 big options for this years draft and elite TE that can stretch the field or a cover LB with blazing speed that could help turn this D into a top 5 in the NFL