My money is on donovan. I honestly think this kid finally gets a decent shot this year and if he was paired with anyone other than carkner I think he'd look a heck of a lot better. Also would help if they gave him a real shot, instead of sending him down for one mistake when the team as a whole was screwing up all over the ice all game, every game.

If no trades are made, I see our defense breaking camp like this:

hamonic dehaan
visnovsky hickey
strait donovan

carkner

likely keeping 2 extra forwards unless they show some stones and send some one way contracts down in conacher/cmac/boulton

carkner should really be one of the nhl contracts sent down to bridgeport though. He was absolutely awful for the entirety of last season. It's too difficult to dress a defenseman as our fighter, and leaves the other 5 playing too many minutes.


***for the record, I'm not suggesting this is a good defense. It's a patchwork one with the potential for a ton of mistakes, injuries and could cost us a shot at the playoffs, but it's what I expect we'll see if reinhart isn't ready and if no trade is made.
- Isles_since_6

I think you might be right on how camp might break out, but I think Cmac & Carkner get waived an pass thru. Boulton would be the hold over on fighting. But if Strait gets off poorly, I could see him also being waived after. Only going by Snow utilizing the 2way contracts and waivers to his advantage in early part of season.

Edit: I also think the 1st 20 games will be a short leash for players/coaches

One Goalie, Five defensemen, Nine forwards, who do we save.
*Players who played less than two seasons cannot be taken (Strome)

One Goalie, Five defensemen, Nine forwards, who do we save.
*Players who played less than two seasons cannot be taken (Strome)
- Danformo

really this would be kind of easy if expansion happened at the end of this year. Carkner and Visnovsky would be ufa's, and we can protect everyone else and the kids are exempt. Goaltending is easy as well as Halak would be protected.

Up front, we might lose someone like matt martin, but after last year where he seemed more intent on counting up his hits after the puck was long gone, I can accept that. I can't see us losing anyone else.

My money is on donovan. I honestly think this kid finally gets a decent shot this year and if he was paired with anyone other than carkner I think he'd look a heck of a lot better. Also would help if they gave him a real shot, instead of sending him down for one mistake when the team as a whole was screwing up all over the ice all game, every game.

If no trades are made, I see our defense breaking camp like this:

hamonic dehaan
visnovsky hickey
strait donovan

carkner

likely keeping 2 extra forwards unless they show some stones and send some one way contracts down in conacher/cmac/boulton

carkner should really be one of the nhl contracts sent down to bridgeport though. He was absolutely awful for the entirety of last season. It's too difficult to dress a defenseman as our fighter, and leaves the other 5 playing too many minutes.


***for the record, I'm not suggesting this is a good defense. It's a patchwork one with the potential for a ton of mistakes, injuries and could cost us a shot at the playoffs, but it's what I expect we'll see if reinhart isn't ready and if no trade is made.
- Isles_since_6

If history teaches us anything, one of the B'port defensemen would have to amaze everyone at camp to earn a starting spot. Garth & Cappy would rather a crappy veteran start over a kid on the bubble of being ready for the big show. Despite what we all see as logical doesn't guarantee the decision-makers will have the same feelings. Regardless of what the opening- night roster looks like, we are still at the mercy of unpredictible management decisions.

Oduya + Sharp for Nielsen + de Haan
- rangerdanger94

exactly where is the improvement that would for improve the isles defensive depth?

thats my point. A-Mac cost a second and fourth. Someone that you might actually want to fill out your top four would cost more than that. I'm not saying its going to cost de Haan and a second, but its going to be more than a 2 and a 4. I just don't see the point of trading one of our top prospects or young players for a d-man to "fill out our top four" if that guy is only signed for one year.
- Jethro09

different scenarios

amac considered top 4...younger, cheaper and plenty more years to play
boychuk/oduya also top 4 and proven, but older, expensive, on the back-9 of their career and on teams that are up against the cap.

Why not just buy out Josh Bailey...it's a wasted roster slot. Nothing more needs to be said.
- bhockey47

One Goalie, Five defensemen, Nine forwards, who do we save.
*Players who played less than two seasons cannot be taken (Strome)
- Danformo

the children

the children
- LetsGoIsles

they're small, dirty, noisy and they leave fingerprints on electronics. Trade em to buffalo

If no defenseman is acquired we all just need to pray no injuries occur and that one of our younger dmen decides to make an impact just like dehaan did last year. That is the absolute best case scenario. But sadly that only makes our defense mediocre at best if u want my honest opinion.

And wow I am beyond tired of reading sabres fans. I'm at the point where I'm starting to hope that whoever the sabres draft early in next years draft turns into one of the biggest busts in the history of the league. And not because of injury like Dipi. I'm talking about a flat out old school bust. 1 goals 3 assists in 246 career AHL games after not making the team his rookie season out of training camp.

Congrats to you guys who predicted dee Karl writing an entire story about peter ruttgaizer leaving. When I saw she posted that story I lost my poop. (frank)in awesome. But the new girl is quite the eye candy.

Congrats to you guys who predicted dee Karl writing an entire story about peter ruttgaizer leaving. When I saw she posted that story I lost my poop. (frank)in awesome. But the new girl is quite the eye candy.
- Dedshark

Yes she is!!

Yes she is!!
- kasperrko

Creepy stalker.

Creepy stalker.
- Cptmjl

Creepy McCreepster

Creepy stalker.
- Cptmjl

Yes she is!!
- kasperrko

i fear for this poor girl.

i fear for this poor girl.
- LetsGoIsles

she will be fine. She was in the Michigan State locker room for interviews and has been destroyed on social media. I am sure she will be ok

she will be fine. She was in the Michigan State locker room for interviews and has been destroyed on social media. I am sure she will be ok
- kasperrko

I believe he was referring to your obsession.

I believe he was referring to your obsession.
- Cptmjl

I don't have an obsession with her at all. Don't even know her. Just happy to have someone better than that Peter guy who screwed up all the time

I don't have an obsession with her at all. Don't even know her. Just happy to have someone better than that Peter guy who screwed up all the time
- kasperrko

Isn't that her in your avatar?

Isn't that her in your avatar?
- Cptmjl

Who da fuq is she? Poor Peter he fit in well with these guys

I don't have an obsession with her at all. Don't even know her. Just happy to have someone better than that Peter guy who screwed up all the time
- kasperrko

Wait so you put her in your avatar because she dethroned Peter? What if DP took over the job?

Wait so you put her in your avatar because she dethroned Peter? What if DP took over the job?
- mighty13duck

I don't have an obsession with her at all. Don't even know her. Just happy to have someone better than that Peter guy who screwed up all the time
- kasperrko

correct me if im wrong but i dont recall your last avatar being peter ruttgaizer...

correct me if im wrong but i dont recall your last avatar being peter ruttgaizer...
- LetsGoIsles

It was DP and Wang