I hope they over achieve and just miss the playoffs and we take the east.
One fan base I've grown sick of on here it's these Sabre fans. They haven't represented themselves all that well for a while now.
- Cptmjl

Seriously. The Vanek trade is about the only thing the Sabres have won since the lockout, they are poised for another lousy season and yet they seem to talk more poop than Kings and Hawks fans put together.

Where did I say it's not a positive? I said HEAR something positive. You don't have to convince me it's just not one of those slam dunk ownership exchanges. What's another two seasons? IDK? I'll get back to you on that in two seasons . I honestly don't want to wait another two seasons. Shoot me. God forbid that gets misconstrued into something negative. I feel like this thread has turned into the liberal press(go ahead and smile X) . I'm sick of this facking gong show. I don't like the fact that Snow has a longer leash now. If it works out. Great. If not I have to watch this circus for another two years. I'm getting old!
- Cptmjl

XxNYIxX

This team is going to be good. The goaltending is dramatically improved, the forward depth is close to the best in the conference and instead of praying that the likes of Donovan or Ness or a retread like Martinek can fill out the blue line, they now have more and much better bets placed on Reinhart, Pokka, Pulock and an intriguing wild card in Brennan.

This team is going to be good. The goaltending is dramatically improved, the forward depth is close to the best in the conference and instead of praying that the likes of Donovan or Ness or a retread like Martinek can fill out the blue line, they now have more and much better bets placed on Reinhart, Pokka, Pulock and an intriguing wild card in Brennan.
- Snowblind

They're all wild cards. That's the problem. No NHL experience is not something I'm hanging my hat on. There's always that chance that it will work but I'd rather hedge my bet if you know what I'm saying? There is a clear need for help on the back end. Still holding out hope for that to happen. It'd be another misstep going into the season without addressing our blue line and once again HOPING the stars align. We've all seen how that worked out before. Working the kids into the line up is a no brainer of course but I'd rather do it slowly with a little help. I(like most on here)believe a top 4 would go a long way. Maybe I'm over valuing it but after what I saw last year(with that same coach btw)I'd feel a hell of a lot more comfortable working those kids in a bottom pairing role and just shat can the likes of Carkner right from the get go.

Dan....Really? You thought the defense we went into the season with last season was good enough? It was clearly a step down from the playoff season. It was clear when you lose Streit and replace him with HIckey. When Amac is playing team leading minutes and people are trying to pump him as a top pair dman worth 5 mill a season...you know your defense sucks. Philly will regret both the Streit and Amac contracts by Christmas.

For this year, we only have 4 legit NHL dmen... Hamonic, deHaan, Viz, Reinhart. Everyone else is a depth dman (6-8) on a decent defensive lineup. Hickey, Brennan, Donovan are AHL callup lifers. Strait is a bottom pair dmen at best...really a 7th dman...that we have playing top 4 minutes. Carkner is a guy you plug into your bottom pair when you think someone needs to stand up to a goon.

The Isles are a single legit TOP 4 dman away from being guaranteed to make the playoffs and TWO legit top 4 dmen away from getting out of the first round.

Their current lineup, even with the improved goaltending, will finish somewhere between 8-12 in the east. Wang and Snow need to decide if they are willing to make a move to get a dman they desperately need. We shall see if they will look to pick a quality dman off a salary cap strapped team or if they stand pat and Wang continues his bargain basement ways.

Dan Petriw: Isles Defense; the weak link?
- Dan Petriw

Absolutely. I don't know which D is Worse: the Flyers' or the Islanders'

Dan....Really? You thought the defense we went into the season with last season was good enough? It was clearly a step down from the playoff season. It was clear when you lose Streit and replace him with HIckey. When Amac is playing team leading minutes and people are trying to pump him as a top pair dman worth 5 mill a season...you know your defense sucks. Philly will regret both the Streit and Amac contracts by Christmas.

For this year, we only have 4 legit NHL dmen... Hamonic, deHaan, Viz, Reinhart. Everyone else is a depth dman (6-8) on a decent defensive lineup. Hickey, Brennan, Donovan are AHL callup lifers. Strait is a bottom pair dmen at best...really a 7th dman...that we have playing top 4 minutes. Carkner is a guy you plug into your bottom pair when you think someone needs to stand up to a goon.

The Isles are a single legit TOP 4 dman away from being guaranteed to make the playoffs and TWO legit top 4 dmen away from getting out of the first round.

Their current lineup, even with the improved goaltending, will finish somewhere between 8-12 in the east. Wang and Snow need to decide if they are willing to make a move to get a dman they desperately need. We shall see if they will look to pick a quality dman off a salary cap strapped team or if they stand pat and Wang continues his bargain basement ways.
- islander4cups

You have Strait above Hickey? I strongly disagree.

Dan....Really? You thought the defense we went into the season with last season was good enough? It was clearly a step down from the playoff season. It was clear when you lose Streit and replace him with HIckey. When Amac is playing team leading minutes and people are trying to pump him as a top pair dman worth 5 mill a season...you know your defense sucks. Philly will regret both the Streit and Amac contracts by Christmas.

For this year, we only have 4 legit NHL dmen... Hamonic, deHaan, Viz, Reinhart. Everyone else is a depth dman (6-8) on a decent defensive lineup. Hickey, Brennan, Donovan are AHL callup lifers. Strait is a bottom pair dmen at best...really a 7th dman...that we have playing top 4 minutes. Carkner is a guy you plug into your bottom pair when you think someone needs to stand up to a goon.

The Isles are a single legit TOP 4 dman away from being guaranteed to make the playoffs and TWO legit top 4 dmen away from getting out of the first round.

Their current lineup, even with the improved goaltending, will finish somewhere between 8-12 in the east. Wang and Snow need to decide if they are willing to make a move to get a dman they desperately need. We shall see if they will look to pick a quality dman off a salary cap strapped team or if they stand pat and Wang continues his bargain basement ways.
- islander4cups

yes i thought the d last year was good enough to be at least average...i simply don't understand how donovan is an "ahl lifer" after 50 games in the nhl. i hate to see what is said on this board when other prospects struggle.

Dan....Really? You thought the defense we went into the season with last season was good enough? It was clearly a step down from the playoff season. It was clear when you lose Streit and replace him with HIckey. When Amac is playing team leading minutes and people are trying to pump him as a top pair dman worth 5 mill a season...you know your defense sucks. Philly will regret both the Streit and Amac contracts by Christmas.

For this year, we only have 4 legit NHL dmen... Hamonic, deHaan, Viz, Reinhart. Everyone else is a depth dman (6-8) on a decent defensive lineup. Hickey, Brennan, Donovan are AHL callup lifers. Strait is a bottom pair dmen at best...really a 7th dman...that we have playing top 4 minutes. Carkner is a guy you plug into your bottom pair when you think someone needs to stand up to a goon.

The Isles are a single legit TOP 4 dman away from being guaranteed to make the playoffs and TWO legit top 4 dmen away from getting out of the first round.

Their current lineup, even with the improved goaltending, will finish somewhere between 8-12 in the east. Wang and Snow need to decide if they are willing to make a move to get a dman they desperately need. We shall see if they will look to pick a quality dman off a salary cap strapped team or if they stand pat and Wang continues his bargain basement ways.
- islander4cups

Reinhart has proven nothing yet and could easily start in the ahl.

Hamonic Dehaan
Hickey visnovsky
Strait donovan/Brennan/Carkner could easily be our starting d out of camp. I'd rather see Reinhart but he's not a lock, and can't be considered a legit top 4 when he hasn't played a game.

Dan....Really? You thought the defense we went into the season with last season was good enough? It was clearly a step down from the playoff season. It was clear when you lose Streit and replace him with HIckey. When Amac is playing team leading minutes and people are trying to pump him as a top pair dman worth 5 mill a season...you know your defense sucks. Philly will regret both the Streit and Amac contracts by Christmas.

For this year, we only have 4 legit NHL dmen... Hamonic, deHaan, Viz, Reinhart. Everyone else is a depth dman (6-8) on a decent defensive lineup. Hickey, Brennan, Donovan are AHL callup lifers. Strait is a bottom pair dmen at best...really a 7th dman...that we have playing top 4 minutes. Carkner is a guy you plug into your bottom pair when you think someone needs to stand up to a goon.

The Isles are a single legit TOP 4 dman away from being guaranteed to make the playoffs and TWO legit top 4 dmen away from getting out of the first round.
There were quite a few people that were ok with our defense last yr. There seems to be this comfort level thst people get rt before the season starts. Idk whether its a kind of acceptance. Our defense will be better alone just with the goaltending
Their current lineup, even with the improved goaltending, will finish somewhere between 8-12 in the east. Wang and Snow need to decide if they are willing to make a move to get a dman they desperately need. We shall see if they will look to pick a quality dman off a salary cap strapped team or if they stand pat and Wang continues his bargain basement ways.
- islander4cups

[quote=Isles_since_6]
Same thing happened to me.

yes i thought the d last year was good enough to be at least average...i simply don't understand how donovan is an "ahl lifer" after 50 games in the nhl. i hate to see what is said on this board when other prospects struggle.
- Dan Petriw

I agree. I see potential in him. Needs some time and some direction more importantly.

Isles in their fishsticks jersey on nhl network. Mario's 500th goal at the coli

yes i thought the d last year was good enough to be at least average...i simply don't understand how donovan is an "ahl lifer" after 50 games in the nhl. i hate to see what is said on this board when other prospects struggle.
- Dan Petriw

Still have hopes for Donovan, I see good things coming for him.

Reinhart has proven nothing yet and could easily start in the ahl.

Hamonic Dehaan
Hickey visnovsky
Strait donovan/Brennan/Carkner could easily be our starting d out of camp. I'd rather see Reinhart but he's not a lock, and can't be considered a legit top 4 when he hasn't played a game.
- Isles_since_6

They're missing an entire top pair.

Seriously. The Vanek trade is about the only thing the Sabres have won since the lockout, they are poised for another lousy season and yet they seem to talk more poop than Kings and Hawks fans put together.
- Snowblind

Not true on the haven't won anything since the lockout. See the first two years after. That comment shouldn't be made from inside of a glass house. I was just jabbing some good fun into a brutal august waiting for hockey.

Islanders will be good if they find D or have D step up. Johnny T has some good bloodlines and his uncle is a God in the lacrosse world around buffalo. Probably my favorite player 80 games out of the year (minus the 2 he plays against buffalo).

Current team that you guys have will be good enough to be on the bubble for sure. Lottery team if the injury bug happens. In my eyes, buffalo signed themselves out of last place. They went all defense and proven defense. Meszaros and gorges are considerable upgrades to tallinder and that other turd who I can not remember while typing this. Offensively they replaced vanek with able bodies that will play defense And create turnovers, in turn scoring chances hopefully. I was hurt with parting ways with vanek but that passed. There is no way they score as little as last year. Give up more goals most likely, but scoring garbage goals should be there. Stafford is in a contract year and when he wants to play he puts his big boy pants on dramatically.


So good luck and let's get the season started. No big hopes on this end other than to see some good fights and drink some beer.

Isles in their fishsticks jersey on nhl network. Mario's 500th goal at the coli
- Vukota

I was at that game. Either that one or when he scored five goals I cant remember which is which or if they're the same

Major issues I see from last season:

Defense was middle of the pack in shots against, but allowed what seemed like a lot of shots from good scoring positions

Goaltending was iffy at best, and frequently after one goal we’d allow 2-3 more quickly, resulting in a lot of blown third period leads

Carkner, Martinek, Ness all played regular shifts far too many times last season. That’s half your defense made up of players who have no business on an NHL team.

Coaching staff looked at a patchwork defense and didn’t start playing a defensive style until after JT got hurt. Strangely enough, that seemed to help our defense and goaltending, although it was far too late.

In order for our defense to hold up this year we need 1 of reinhart, Donovan, czuczman, Mayfield, polock to step up and show they can handly 16-18 minutes a night, and we’ll also need hamonic, dehaan and LV to remain healthy. Asking for all of that is a very big risk, which is why I still think we’ll see a move for a top four defenseman prior to the start of the season, most likely after camp. They’ll take a look at what they see in camp and then make the decision. If they don’t add a top four defenseman we’re an injury away from missing the playoffs and that could easily turn into giving buffalo a good shot at the top pick.

They’ve got to add that one defenseman so we have some depth…right now we have absolutely none.
- Isles_since_6

I couldn't agree more

Still have hopes for Donovan, I see good things coming for him.
- Isles_since_6

- Mike C

Why the thumbs down? Are you hoping he falls flat on his face?

Still have hopes for Donovan, I see good things coming for him.
- Isles_since_6

as you should, he has shown that he is a very good hockey player.. He was not ready for his call up last year.

if after 406 NHL games people haven't given up on Josh Bailey....

Im pretty sure after only 55 NHL games... (where many can make the argument Matt was rushed.. just like Josh) its too early to give up on the kid.

XxNYIxX

as you should, he has shown that he is a very good hockey player.. He was not ready for his call up last year.

if after 406 NHL games people haven't given up on Josh Bailey....

Im pretty sure after only 55 NHL games... (where many can make the argument Matt was rushed.. just like Josh) its too early to give up on the kid.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Agreed. Way too early.

Not for nothing but I wouldn't put too much stock into what BD says. Same guy who said BK wouldn't happen and also that Wang wasn't selling anytime soon and then boom less then a month later he was in spin mode after the sale broke. Does he know some people? Probably but history has shown he is not fully in the loop. nowhere close is more like it.
- Vukota

Anyone who knows any long time season ticket holders knows more than he does...let's just say that, and leave it right there...

as you should, he has shown that he is a very good hockey player.. He was not ready for his call up last year.

if after 406 NHL games people haven't given up on Josh Bailey....

Im pretty sure after only 55 NHL games... (where many can make the argument Matt was rushed.. just like Josh) its too early to give up on the kid.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Not to mention, the kid was paired with someone useless, as opposed to someone who knows what he's doing- this is why we need one more veteran defenseman. Having Hamonic paired with one of the young kids, like de Haan, and then having (much as I hate seeing two smurfs on the ice at the same time, they were probably our best pairing) Visnovsky with Hickey, it helps with the learning curve for the likes of Hickey, de Haan, etc.

On the other hand, if you're going to pair the poor kid with a waste of a clean sweater like Carkner, you're not getting anywhere with him. My only advice for him that I saw as a flaw is that he needs to anticipate when the play is going wrong a little better than he did last year. He got caught flat footed far too often in the center ice area on the transition to defense. Of course so did MacDonald, but this kid can actually move, so it won't be as much of a liability, going forward- he just needs to learn when to back off a little more quickly.

PS- It still boggles my mind that the Flyers gave that guy all that money. What the f**k is wrong with them? I can just picture all of the crappy plays he made last year in my head, like a bad movie.... Thank God he's no longer an option.

We are split in here on if this team is even making the playoffs... this guy thinks we have visions of the cup.. LOFL

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

This team NEEDS another veteran defenseman to make the playoffs this year. NEEDS one. Has needed one for at least four years now. An actual veteran defenseman, who can actually play the position properly- not another Carkner, off the scrap heap, otherwise the defense is going to be crap and kids, like last year. Five years from now, we should be reaping the benefits of those drafts where they picked all of those defensemen. Right now, to go with all of those kids would be a disaster. It's pretty obvious from where I sit...