It's gonna be really interesting to see who ends up at center next year.
- joshs

IMO Girgensons will be a winger in our top 6 when we are good

Can we please stop with the "certainly you know more than the professionals" crap?? These are personal opinions people post here. If you don't like what they're saying, don't respond.

Anyone throwing out that lame argument must be pretty bland in life because you obviously are unqualified to have ANY OPINION of ANYTHING other than your profession.

I can assume no one here is a scout/coach of professional (high end professional) athletes, so stop all the pretense of bashing other opinions in that way.

Can we please stop with the "certainly you know more than the professionals" crap?? These are personal opinions people post here. If you don't like what they're saying, don't respond.

Anyone throwing out that lame argument must be pretty bland in life because you obviously are unqualified to have ANY OPINION of ANYTHING other than your profession.

I can assume no one here is a scout/coach of professional (high end professional) athletes, so stop all the pretense of bashing other opinions in that way.
- stashu

I am at least a couple hours while im sleeping and dammit . I'm DAMN good at it !!

I just can't remember the blockbuster trade I pulled off.

I am at least a couple hours while im sleeping and dammit . I'm DAMN good at it !!
- cabin

No, I'M BETTER AT IT.

No, I'M BETTER AT IT.




- CaptainRivet

No you are not ... I am !!!

No you are not ... I am !!!


- cabin

Yeah, here's what I think. While it's unlikely any of us has a clue about what's inside Darcy's head, and things like the salary cap, NTCs/NMCs, and the declining economy's impact on future revenues make it nearly impossible to trade anyone of any significance, it's not inconceivable that the Sabres could make a mid-season move.

Vanek, Roy, Miller, Pommer are probably not on the block since they represent the young core of this team and are all locked up long-term. We all know Vanek's contract is insane, but given the length and amount of the others, it seems unlikely to me there's a better deal out there. Remember Larry Quinn is a numbers guy, and 5 mil 6 years from now will be looking pretty good. Roy's deal is an especially favorable one for the club. You might even be able to throw Goose into this category b/c his value to the Sabres is high given his hustle and toughness.

Max, Kotalik, and Connolly are popular choices for a change of venue, but their UFA status would mean they'd need to go to a contender for the receiving team to be willing to assume the risk. That said, what's the likelihood of a contender sending the Sabres something worthy of a blockbuster? That's not even taking into account Max sucking for the last 2 years, Kotalik getting a reputation of being lazy, and (Tin) Connolly being more fragile than the leg lamp in A Christmas Story. This, coming from the guy who actually owns a Connolly jersey.

As far as young talent at forward goes, Stafford, MacArthur, Paille are the only roster players in that category. They're all tradable, but not enough to bring in an impact player. To me, the Sabres would need to include one of Mancari, Gerbe, or Kennedy to get another team interested. Possible, though Gerbe seems like he's got a future here.

Lastly, if they're really trying to fix the recent injury problem at defense, they're not going to trade any defensemen. Even still, it's more likely they'll do what they did last year and bring in a veteran like Nolan Pratt to temporarily fill the gap until Weber and Sekera are healthy again (a few weeks?). I haven't looked to see who like that is available, but they found someone last year and could probably do it again.

We Sabres fans have gotten used to the fact that Darcy rarely makes any moves. In fact, who really does anymore? I'd love to be wrong, but not at the expense of 26 / 9 / 30 / 29. You can have Peters. Twice.

Can we please stop with the "certainly you know more than the professionals" crap?? These are personal opinions people post here. If you don't like what they're saying, don't respond.

Anyone throwing out that lame argument must be pretty bland in life because you obviously are unqualified to have ANY OPINION of ANYTHING other than your profession.

I can assume no one here is a scout/coach of professional (high end professional) athletes, so stop all the pretense of bashing other opinions in that way.
- stashu

I think it's the way some opinions on here are offered up.

There is a way of offering your opinion where you don't come off like a know-it-all douche. Some haven't grasped that concept yet.

Just my opinion, of course.

Yeah, here's what I think. .
- CaptainRivet

I think it's the way some opinions on here are offered up.

There is a way of offering your opinion where you don't come off like a know-it-all douche. Some haven't grasped that concept yet.

Just my opinion, of course.


- grand-magus

Could be posted at the beginning and mid of every blog . Well said.

Can we please stop with the "certainly you know more than the professionals" crap?? These are personal opinions people post here. If you don't like what they're saying, don't respond.

Anyone throwing out that lame argument must be pretty bland in life because you obviously are unqualified to have ANY OPINION of ANYTHING other than your profession.

I can assume no one here is a scout/coach of professional (high end professional) athletes, so stop all the pretense of bashing other opinions in that way.
- stashu

Maybe you are dong exactly what you are telling other people not to do.
edit: sorry wrong post.

I see Carolina are in serious tank mode this year....pretty obvious watching the effortless games from that club. For all of those people that say teams don't tank, because they are professionals, maybe the players don't, but the management does. Tampa was always good at it, now Carolina is playing the same hand. I think the Sabres are legit at trying to win, but their current talent is lacking. You have a reason to be where you are in the standings, Carolina does not.

I think it's the way some opinions on here are offered up.

There is a way of offering your opinion where you don't come off like a know-it-all douche. Some haven't grasped that concept yet.

Just my opinion, of course.


- grand-magus

Some come off as know-it-alls.

Others come off as savages.


People just need to remember that opinions vary.

I see Carolina are in serious tank mode this year....pretty obvious watching the effortless games from that club. For all of those people that say teams don't tank, because they are professionals, maybe the players don't, but the management does. Tampa was always good at it, now Carolina is playing the same hand. I think the Sabres are legit at trying to win, but their current talent is lacking. You have a reason to be where you are in the standings, Carolina does not.
- PrinceLH

I suppose you could blame a lot of their troubles on injuries to key players. I think a healthy canes lineup beats a healthy sabres lineup but they were a team to "keep an eye on" going into the season because of their lack of depth. They're probably one big trade away from securing last place.

I suppose you could blame a lot of their troubles on injuries to key players. I think a healthy canes lineup beats a healthy sabres lineup but they were a team to "keep an eye on" going into the season because of their lack of depth. They're probably one big trade away from securing last place.
- Sabresfan-365

Look at how many 20 goal scorers we have on the roster. Hard to grasp they are were they are at now. something is bound to change.

Look at how many 20 goal scorers we have on the roster. Hard to grasp they are were they are at now. something is bound to change.
- cabin

It was always a stretch to assume all of them would hit 20 goals. And even then, those forwards seem to concede two goals for everyone they score.

A lot of what people expected from our team was "best case scenario" which rarely works out. Players are bound to struggle and the schedule has been tough on them. Keep in mind, the injuries haven't come around yet either.

Once the schedule eases up and call ups are made i imagine they'll look better, but I wouldn't expect too much improvement.

Maybe you are dong exactly what you are telling other people not to do.
- SabresPanacea

No, I'm telling people to stick to talking about the opinion and leave the analysis of the poster out of it. I'm pretty sure we're all here because we have opinions, so knocking a person down for not being an expert on something needs to stop.

It was always a stretch to assume all of them would hit 20 goals. And even then, those forwards seem to concede two goals for everyone they score.

A lot of what people expected from our team was "best case scenario" which rarely works out. Players are bound to struggle and the schedule has been tough on them. Keep in mind, the injuries haven't come around yet either.

Once the schedule eases up and call ups are made i imagine they'll look better, but I wouldn't expect too much improvement.
- Sabresfan-365

Any improvement will be welcomed and might even make beer consumption take a hit.

No, I'm telling people to stick to talking about the opinion and leave the analysis of the poster out of it. I'm pretty sure we're all here because we have opinions, so knocking a person down for not being an expert on something needs to stop.
- stashu

That's your opinion isn't it ?








I like it

Lately I don't see much difference between the 1st & 4th lines.
- sippyd

So right Sip.

Any improvement will be welcomed and might even make beer consumption take a hit.
- cabin

I'll say this much, both sides (pro tank and against tank) really set their respective bars too high.

Expecting this team to just walk away with Mceichel is premature, but making projections like Gionta scoring 15-20 and Reinhart scoring 15 is right up there.

I'll say this much, both sides (pro tank and against tank) really set their respective bars too high.

Expecting this team to just walk away with Mceichel is premature, but making projections like Gionta scoring 15-20 and Reinhart scoring 15 is right up there.
- Sabresfan-365

I my self was hoping for better production off the bat. but it is what it is . They cant go the whole season like this .
Sending Grigo down tamed my expectations.

I my self was hoping for better production off the bat. but it is what it is . They cant go the whole season like this .
- cabin

Saw the bad start coming, the schedule was just set up that way. A lot of playoff contenders looking to make their mark early on, but it does even out later on.

Saw the bad start coming, the schedule was just set up that way. A lot of playoff contenders looking to make their mark early on, but it does even out later on.
- Sabresfan-365

The schedule could be a godsend. Get the powerhouses gone early and get that so called camaraderie built early on with the road trip . These guys don't really know each other . Road trip could bring back a better team.

At my age and what ive been through.. I try to look at any positive I can get . So don't bash me for it . If you knew you would understand .

The schedule could be a godsend. Get the powerhouses gone early and get that so called camaraderie built early on with the road trip . These guys don't really know each other . Road trip could bring back a better team.
- cabin

Agreed, gets the big names and the west coast trip out of the way early. Jan/Feb should have some good (close) games, after that will really depend on the deadline.

Agreed, gets the big names and the west coast trip out of the way early. Jan/Feb should have some good (close) games, after that will really depend on the deadline.
- Sabresfan-365

who knows . this could be our worse losing streak..

On that note. I have 9 shark players vs the Sabres today. I hope we get killed 10-1