That IMO was all fine and good 20 years ago but with how the NHL is more level due to the salary cap and the difference between a great goalie and an average goalie is about 35 goals against per season I would rather have someone as mentality stable (oxymoron considering we are talking about a goalie) as possible
- Stripes77

i hear ya, but i don't think tim Thomas was all that stable as compared to tuuka rask...just sayin

Look to the Dallas Stars, I found that out last night. Not saying it will happen but from what I was told last night it's possible.
- SABRES 89

hoff, staff and a second for benn

i hear ya, but i don't think tim Thomas was all that stable as compared to tuuka rask...just sayin
- Michael Pachla

Tim Thomas also had the best blue line in front of him with a Norris Candidate playing huge minutes. Will the Sabres blue line eventually have that? Maybe but how bad he struggled in Rochester and him only being called up because both Sabres goalies got hurt scares me away

hoff, staff and a second for benn
- homiedclown

I didn't hear any names but they want a D man that can log 22-25 minutes a game.

Nice job. Thank you for real content/analysis, not just an observation and a poll "What do you think?"

It will be wonderful to have a reason to come back again and read blogs relating to the Sabres.

Tim Thomas also had the best blue line in front of him with a Norris Candidate playing huge minutes. Will the Sabres blue line eventually have that? Maybe but how bad he struggled in Rochester and him only being called up because both Sabres goalies got hurt scares me away
- Stripes77

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/tea...stics/?hubname=nhl-sabres


the stats are not that bad for being on the worst team in the nhl

NHL.com's Mike Morrelle thinks Ekblad is a slam dunk for the Sabres if he's there at #2 or Sam..

http://video.sabres.nhl.c...id=1018&id=622775&lang=en

Tim Thomas also had the best blue line in front of him with a Norris Candidate playing huge minutes. Will the Sabres blue line eventually have that? Maybe but how bad he struggled in Rochester and him only being called up because both Sabres goalies got hurt scares me away
- Stripes77

point being, both Thomas and rask had the same d in front of them...i hear what you're sayin, though...i just like Hackett's demeanor...yeah, he had a rough time in Rochester and didn't blow anyone away in buffalo, but i'd give him at least a one year shot...i guess i'm just old school

Nice job. Thank you for real content/analysis, not just an observation and a poll "What do you think?"

It will be wonderful to have a reason to come back again and read blogs relating to the Sabres.
- Der Kaiser

appreciate that, schultzie

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/statistics/?hubname=nhl-sabres


the stats are not that bad for being on the worst team in the nhl
- homiedclown

.908? Say he averages that a full season or even played half a season he is tied with Tim Thomas at 38th in the league of goalies that played at least 28 games. Yuck

Neuvirth and Enroth 1a 1b going into the yeah I would like Neuvirth to distance himself from Enroth though.

.908? Say he averages that a full season or even played half a season he is tied with Tim Thomas at 38th in the league of goalies that played at least 28 games. Yuck

Neuvirth and Enroth 1a 1b going into the yeah I would like Neuvirth to distance himself from Enroth though.
- Stripes77

the best goalies in the nhl have a .915 save % on that sabres team

Anyone think EDM. would trade the 3rd pick for StL first next year plus 2 seconds this year?

i hear ya, but i don't think tim Thomas was all that stable as compared to tuuka rask...just sayin
- Michael Pachla

Rask is FAR from stable!

Youtube his meltdown while playing for Providence!


(I agree with your point tho...just a bad example. Rask is an example of why goalies who are a bit nuts are awesome!)

the best goalies in the nhl have a .915 save % on that sabres team
- homiedclown

.898 in Rochester though

.898 in Rochester though
- Stripes77

agreed

Anyone think EDM. would trade the 3rd pick for StL first next year plus 2 seconds this year?
- Powerslave

No. That st louis pick will likely be 20+. To give up #3 for 20-25 and two 2nds doesn't seem like a good trade on their end.

Would you take that if someone proposed that to Buffalo?

NHL.com's Mike Morrelle thinks Ekblad is a slam dunk for the Sabres if he's there at #2 or Sam..

http://video.sabres.nhl.c...id=1018&id=622775&lang=en
- GilPerreault11

Ugh. Thats fine, if murray thinks the other forwards are duds and ekblad is something special, but that pushes the rebuild back one full year. Unless grigorenko develops into a viable number 2, we dont have two top line centers. I think they have to grab one this year and one next year. Then use the isles pick on a winger that can finish. Im not gonna be mad if they draft him, it just doesnt make a whole lotta sense though.

.908? Say he averages that a full season or even played half a season he is tied with Tim Thomas at 38th in the league of goalies that played at least 28 games. Yuck

Neuvirth and Enroth 1a 1b going into the yeah I would like Neuvirth to distance himself from Enroth though.
- Stripes77

+1

Anyone think EDM. would trade the 3rd pick for StL first next year plus 2 seconds this year?
- Powerslave

Edmonton fans have a bigger inferiority complex about size than sabres fans do. Not sure if thats the direct result of playing in the western conference, or years of drafting smallish skilled forwards and not surrounding them with any toughness. If you wanna get edmontons pick, id start with foligno, kea, and the isles pick next year. If I was edmontons gm, the st louis pick next year and two seconds this year is an offer that gets a block put on your phone number.

agreed
- homiedclown

Hutchinson pitched a gem

No. That st louis pick will likely be 20+. To give up #3 for 20-25 and two 2nds doesn't seem like a good trade on their end.

Would you take that if someone proposed that to Buffalo?
- stashu

I don't know.

I'm not a GM.

What I do know, though, is that Edmonton is lacking both a second and third round pick this year.

If Murray gets another pick in the 1st round this year I would love it to be between 7-10. Hopefully to snag Jake Virtanen. He could be the best player in this draft. Kids an animal. Maybe Ehrhoff and the Blues 1st+. Draft Bennet at 2, send him the juniors. (Hopefully) get McDavid in 2015. (Hopefully) this makes Kane want to come here.

Kane-McDavid-Bennet first line in 15-16 season

Michael Pachla: Sabres may be leaning towards quality over quantity at the draft
- Michael Pachla

i will admit i rarely read the blogs on this site except maybe the first paragraph or so.. but you have been able to get me to read the whole thing.. nicely done.

and i agree we have way too many prospects without a full NHL team. i am not sure we move Enroth though, i think he needs to stay and split time with Neuvirth and hackett should be moved. Leuy and Makarov need more time in the AHL before they are ready.

Ugh. Thats fine, if murray thinks the other forwards are duds and ekblad is something special, but that pushes the rebuild back one full year. Unless grigorenko develops into a viable number 2, we dont have two top line centers. I think they have to grab one this year and one next year. Then use the isles pick on a winger that can finish. Im not gonna be mad if they draft him, it just doesnt make a whole lotta sense though.
- rover16

The Sabres have no business taking Ekblad

I don't know.

I'm not a GM.

What I do know, though, is that Edmonton is lacking both a second and third round pick this year.
- Powerslave

None of us are GMs and you asked us if your deal sounded OK, hence why I turned it around to ask you if you think it would sound good if that offer was being made to "your" team.

Them lacking a 2nd and a 3rd this year is offset by having #3 overall. If they do your trade, they have no 1st this year (not just ANY first, but #3).

I keep the 1st if I'm them.