I'm not. A sub-par roster and a sub-par coaching staff usually produces these results.

And given the performance at First Niagara Center today, it's worth the risk.
- buffalofan19

Yea, if we get McDavid it will be worth it.

I just honestly cannot wait to see competitive hockey again. It's wearing on me. I see the big picture, but I usually really enjoy watching the Sabres. This makes it tough to look forward to

No, that's a good album.
- SABRES 89

I heard it many times growing up, sharing a room with my older brother. This Sabre team makes me think of Cold Gin more, "Oh, it's cold gin time again"...

I blame Nolan. I thought that he is the king of coaching "the hardest working team in the NHL" into success.

I don't care what the roster is. Nolan is a God at getting more out of less.

But I have never shook his hand while I was working one morning around the arena as he went into the building.
- rmiethaner

I don't "blame" Coach Theo for much of anything. He's simply a below average coach that road the coattails of superior goaltending in the past (and yes, DiPietro had one of his best years the year he played under him). And his shortcomings are being magnified.

This roster sucks, and there probably aren't many coaches that can do much with it, but I would like to think there's someone out there that could make these guys not look like a deer in the headlights, especially offensively.

I really wouldn't be so hard on him except for the fact that I was told by many people over the summer that Magic Man was going to transform the likes of Stafford and Stewart into commodities that GM's will overpay for at the trade deadline, despite the fact that his track record with offensive players is zilch. The only way a GM overpays for either of those two guys is if he's intentionally trying to get a pink slip.

I don't "blame" Coach Theo for much of anything. He's simply a below average coach that road the coattails of superior goaltending in the past (and yes, DiPietro had one of his best years the year he played under him). And his shortcomings are being magnified.

This roster sucks, and there probably aren't many coaches that can do much with it, but I would like to think there's someone out there that could make these guys not look like a deer in the headlights, especially offensively.

I really wouldn't be so hard on him except for the fact that I was told by many people over the summer that Magic Man was going to transform the likes of Stafford and Stewart into commodities that GM's will overpay for at the trade deadline, despite the fact that his track record with offensive players is zilch. The only way a GM overpays for either of those two guys is if he's intentionally trying to get a pink slip.
- buffalofan19

Stafford averages close to 18-20 goals and 45-50 points a year.

You really think it's far fetched we get something for him at the deadline?

Every single year players of his caliber net good returns.

Stafford averages close to 18-20 goals and 45-50 points a year.

You really think it's far fetched we get something for him at the deadline?

Every single year players of his caliber net good returns.
- sbroads24

I said people claimed GM's will overpay for him. I don't consider a 4th, or possibly even a low 3rd (given that it would probably be a playoff team that would trade for him) overpayment.

It also depends on how saturated the market is as well. If it's anything like last year, he'll be even lower on the totem pole.

"No way we'll end up like Edmonton!"


*ends up like Edmonton*

"No way we'll end up like Edmonton!"


*ends up like Edmonton*
- CaptainRivet

To be fair, the Sabres haven't been at this game as long as Edmonton has.

It's a big IF, but hypothetically, the Sabres landing McDavid means that they landed a player that's going to be better than any of the first round picks the Oilers got over the years.

I said people claimed GM's will overpay for him. I don't consider a 4th, or possibly even a low 3rd (given that it would probably be a playoff team that would trade for him) overpayment.

It also depends on how saturated the market is as well. If it's anything like last year, he'll be even lower on the totem pole.
- buffalofan19

A 4th?

Lets look at 2013, since 2014's deadline was flooded with wingers.

Raffi Torres for a 3rd
Derek Roy for a 2nd and a prospect
Ryan Clowe for 2 2nd and a 3rd
Martin Erat for Forsberg
Jagr for a 1st and roster player

There is no way he gets only a 4th.

I said people claimed GM's will overpay for him. I don't consider a 4th, or possibly even a low 3rd (given that it would probably be a playoff team that would trade for him) overpayment.

It also depends on how saturated the market is as well. If it's anything like last year, he'll be even lower on the totem pole.
- buffalofan19

I think he'll be up there with names like Glencross and Burrows at TDL.

With supposed deep pool next year I wonder how willing teams will be with picks

Didn't see it all, but I thought Neuvirth looked pretty stinking solid.

Just blame Nolan right?
Pea sized brain people or poop stirrers blame Nolan for the suck that this team is.
I mean look at the allstar roster Nolan has been blessed with.
So, why not blame Nolan for Zadarov's position right now, right?
(frank) , I blame Nolan for cpa's sitting at the end of bars nightly too.
- BuffaloHardHat

You're better than that.

Nolan is no great coach. That is something we all know.

Is he at fault? Probably not but lets not kiss his ass either.

He is what he is and won't be here when it really matters cause lets face it, his record since he took over isn't anything to write home about.

Stafford averages close to 18-20 goals and 45-50 points a year.

You really think it's far fetched we get something for him at the deadline?

Every single year players of his caliber net good returns.
- sbroads24

No, no I don't but they won't get a Gaustad return.

When one thinks about Stafford>>>>>>>>>Gaustad by a mile.

"No way we'll end up like Edmonton!"


*ends up like Edmonton*
- CaptainRivet

Edmonton had how many number ones overall in a row?


We still haven't had one since 1987.

There's still time.

I think he'll be up there with names like Glencross and Burrows at TDL.

With supposed deep pool next year I wonder how willing teams will be with picks
- numbear

??????

He's never been traded.


Staff will get at the very least a 2nd.


My guess is a 2nd and a mid prospect.

Same goes for Stewart.

Former 30 goal guys are a premium come the deadline.

Didn't see it all, but I thought Neuvirth looked pretty stinking solid.
- Der Kaiser

I was watching the World Series.


They looked better as a whole than they have though.

I blame Nolan. I thought that he is the king of coaching "the hardest working team in the NHL" into success.

I don't care what the roster is. Nolan is a God at getting more out of less.

But I have never shook his hand while I was working one morning around the arena as he went into the building.
- rmiethaner

Good jab , you got me. Yawn.
You can blame Nolan all you want.
Anyone with average intelligence looks no further than this pathetic roster to have "common sense" to not blame Nolan.
Alas, it is painfully apparent to be not so common.

You're better than that.

Nolan is no great coach. That is something we all know.

Is he at fault? Probably not but lets not kiss his ass either.

He is what he is and won't be here when it really matters cause lets face it, his record since he took over isn't anything to write home about.
- dadeadhead

I'm not kissing his ass DD.
I see stuff like this on big job sites weekly.
The finger pointing when something is wrong and nobody wants to man up.
Happening right now at canal side about a 70' stretch of exposed aggregate heated walk that my company was directed to install at a certain elevation by the surveyor (IGS) and the the construction management company, (Pike).
Now all of a sudden , nobody on either end wants to remember the conversations that were had about that specific portion of sidewalk that is not ADA compliant.
Pike wants my company and the site contractors company (Pinto) to absorb the 15 k to replace it when the entire area is nothing more than a design flaw by the architect which I pointed out way before we poured the concrete.
We won't eat that cost I can tell you that.
My long point?
When Nolan is wrong or the problem, I will have no problem with admitting he is not doing his job.
I am not kissing his ass right now.
But right now with this roster, ugh, this is not his fault.

whoever called the perry 'trick, kudos
- gerbe42

27 HBSL points!!

Not banned anymore! I heard an e3 the Sabres are good this year, any truth to this rumour?

Not banned anymore! I heard an e3 the Sabres are good this year, any truth to this rumour?
- DynamicThreads

That e3 meant error to the 3rd power.

I only saw the 1st last night. Mezarous looked allright. Stood getzlaf, I think, up at center ice. from what I'm reading he had a bad 2nd and 3rd?? Last few games he has been better. Not great or anything but better.

I only saw the 1st last night. Mezarous looked allright. Stood getzlaf, I think, up at center ice. from what I'm reading he had a bad 2nd and 3rd?? Last few games he has been better. Not great or anything but better.
- joshs

The 2nd was bad .We were stuck in our zone for over 2 min, unable to make a change and the players were exhausted. The ducks kept rotating players and sending in fresh skaters. our guys sat in a box formation and the ducks just kept shooting . it was bad.

The 2nd was bad .We were stuck in our zone for over 2 min, unable to make a change and the players were exhausted. The ducks kept rotating players and sending in fresh skaters. our guys sat in a box formation and the ducks just kept shooting . it was bad.
- cabin

Saw that in the first. Seemed to have been a pattern for them I guess.

Saw that in the first. Seemed to have been a pattern for them I guess.
- stashu

The announcers said the Ducks did the same to the Blues the night before.

Saw that in the first. Seemed to have been a pattern for them I guess.
- stashu

What we saw last night was a very good time playing a NOT very good team.