Someone in our division NAILED last night. 71+ points from 4 players... Scrivens, Hall, Zuccarello and Yakopov (sorry, a 5th guy had 1 and a 6th had 0 for not playing)
- stashu

WOWZA

I'm expecting a Geno Smith-esque performance from the Buffalo Sabres tonight.

The march to McEichel will be back on course after a brief detour.

I'm expecting a Geno Smith-esque performance from the Buffalo Sabres tonight.

The march to McEichel will be back on course after a brief detour.
- buffalofan19

I'm amused that Rex Ryan is saying that Geno isn't playing this upcoming week because he has a shoulder injury.

I think my shoulder would hurt after throwing interceptions on 3 consecutive drives to start a game too.

I'm amused that Rex Ryan is saying that Geno isn't playing this upcoming week because he has a shoulder injury.

I think my shoulder would hurt after throwing interceptions on 3 consecutive drives to start a game too.
- HonkFortheGoose

That team is a mess. Still, unless the Bills end up making the playoffs this year, I would think they would have to throw a Brinks truck at Ryan should be become available.

Hodgson?
Stewart & Moulson too old?
There's some other quality prospects u left off that list
Larsson, Catenacci, Possler, Fasching, Bailey, Carrier, Hurley, Cornel, Karabacek

Ppl talk like we're thin at forward and that's simply not true at all
We are actually VERY DEEP
It's just a matter of whether or not any develop into true top line talent
- jdfitz77

There is no question that there will be some vets in the top 9 because it can't all be kids but I think my post was more about recognizing the kids that eventually will come and talk about Nich for Myers. I don't see Hodgson here and Staff and Stewart will be dealt by the deadline so they won't be part of the future. I could likely see Moulson playing with Girgs and Armia and if we get Nich (who knows) or Reinhart with Ennis and Eichel/MacDavid. All of the other kids might or might not develop into NHL players and if not you go find some vets. The future looks promising.

That team is a mess. Still, unless the Bills end up making the playoffs this year, I would think they would have to throw a Brinks truck at Ryan should be become available.
- buffalofan19

Honestly, while Rex has his issues, I think the main problem there is the GM. Their secondary is AWFUL and he did pretty much nothing to fix it. I think the personnel that's there just isn't good enough to get the job done, and it's the GMs fault.

The only other thing I can think of is guys won't sign there because they don't want to play under Rex.

Does Eichel stay in college? Or does he go NHL Right away?

Honestly, while Rex has his issues, I think the main problem there is the GM. Their secondary is AWFUL and he did pretty much nothing to fix it. I think the personnel that's there just isn't good enough to get the job done, and it's the GMs fault.

The only other thing I can think of is guys won't sign there because they don't want to play under Rex.
- HonkFortheGoose

Rex Ryan has yet to have a good quarterback in his Jets tenure. Granted, the Bills don't really have one either, not long term anyway.

Does Eichel stay in college? Or does he go NHL Right away?
- ImThatGuy

I'm good with either. They seem to get great training in College and come out prepared.

Rex Ryan has yet to have a good quarterback in his Jets tenure. Granted, the Bills don't really have one either, not long term anyway.
- buffalofan19

The 2013 QB class has turned out exactly like the experts said. No surprises there.

I'm good with either. They seem to get great training in College and come out prepared.
- Buffalo-Sabres

I am not. If they draft a guy that is "Generational" and he decides to stay in college for another 2 years what good does that do the Sabres?

The 2013 QB class has turned out exactly like the experts said. No surprises there.
- Buffalo-Sabres

I wouldn't be surprised to see Eichel look "better" than McDavid in the first year or two, maybe even three. Remember, Ovechkin looked like he was the more "successful" one than Crosby in their rookie years and even the year following. I think that had to do with the fact that Ovechkin played against men in the KHL while Crosby's junior opponents were much younger. Once Crosby got by that barrier, however, there was no question who the better of the two is. I think we will see the same thing happen here.

The 2013 QB class has turned out exactly like the experts said. No surprises there.
- Buffalo-Sabres

What does it say for the class that the supposedly best quarterback in the draft (Manuel, at least that's how the order panned out) wasn't even the best quarterback on his own team?

What does it say for the class that the supposedly best quarterback in the draft (Manuel, at least that's how the order panned out) wasn't even the best quarterback on his own team?
- buffalofan19

Until Manuel is actually allowed to pass the ball 35-45 times a game regularly like Orton is, I can't see how you can say one is better than the other. Manuel can throw, it's just a matter of the garbage play calling and all of those atrocious lateral/sideline passes we try.

Until Manuel is actually allowed to pass the ball 35-45 times a game regularly like Orton is, I can't see how you can say one is better than the other. Manuel can throw, it's just a matter of the garbage play calling and all of those atrocious lateral/sideline passes we try.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Orton only threw the ball 17 times on Sunday and looked better than Manuel ever has. Granted, experience has a lot to do with it, and ultimately, long term, the Bills need much better than both, but Orton has been able to make throws, even basic throws that Manuel hasn't been able to on a consistent basis since he got into the league. Perhaps that changes with repetition, but right now, there's no way that this team is 5-3 with Manuel under center. It wouldn't matter who called the plays.

Until Manuel is actually allowed to pass the ball 35-45 times a game regularly like Orton is, I can't see how you can say one is better than the other. Manuel can throw, it's just a matter of the garbage play calling and all of those atrocious lateral/sideline passes we try.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Orton Passed 17 times Sunday. Manuel throws balls that will get receivers decapitated. Cant have that.

Until Manuel is actually allowed to pass the ball 35-45 times a game regularly like Orton is, I can't see how you can say one is better than the other. Manuel can throw, it's just a matter of the garbage play calling and all of those atrocious lateral/sideline passes we try.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

The amount of praise Orton is getting is insane IMO.

We still suck on 3rd down.
We don't score much more.
We still get bailed out by our defense.
With the exception of the Jet game which I'm convinced Bill Joe Hobert would have won we still turn the ball over.
We take more sacks with Orton

Orton is doing a few things a 10 year vet should do. But to act like the difference has been night and day is just wrong.

On Sunday we had 3 drives start in the Jets territory that ended with no points. If we are playing any other team we might lose that game.

Nice article by Bob McKenzie on some Juniors looking to be returned this week, include both of Buffalo's:

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/...-different-teams-1.117970

The amount of praise Orton is getting is insane IMO.

We still suck on 3rd down.
We don't score much more.
We still get bailed out by our defense.
With the exception of the Jet game which I'm convinced Bill Joe Hobert would have won we still turn the ball over.
We take more sacks with Orton

Orton is doing a few things a 10 year vet should do. But to act like the difference has been night and day is just wrong.

On Sunday we had 3 drives start in the Jets territory that ended with no points. If we are playing any other team we might lose that game.
- sbroads24

Orton is not Tom Brady. That's not news. We once lost a game at home to the Browns 6-3 against a QB who went 2 of 17. I prefer winning.

I am not. If they draft a guy that is "Generational" and he decides to stay in college for another 2 years what good does that do the Sabres?
- ImThatGuy

Patience my friend

Orton is not Tom Brady. That's not news. We once lost a game at home to the Browns 6-3 against a QB who went 2 of 17. I prefer winning.
- Buffalo-Sabres

I do too. However Manuel was 2-2.

Orton has had the luxury of playing the Vikings and Jets in 2 of his 3 wins.

Manuel starts came against teams with a record of 16-14
Orton's competition has a record of 15-15

Nice article by Bob McKenzie on some Juniors looking to be returned this week, include both of Buffalo's:

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/...-different-teams-1.117970
- stashu

At the risk of starting a pissing match, I still find it a bit baffling how the Sabres' rookies, who play one of the league's worst teams, if not the worst team, averages at least 3 minutes of ice time less than anybody else. Granted, some comparisons are apples and oranges (i.e. Ekblad is a defenseman so of course he's going to get more time), but in a throw away year like this, I'd rather see the younger guys play in every opportunity possible just to see what they can do. "Sheltering" them with fourth line minutes doesn't really give a full evaluation.

EDIT: also, this paragraph here sums up why "burning the first year of an entry level contract" isn't really a big deal:

If a player goes back to junior in a burned first year of an entry-level deal, it's difficult to earn the bonuses available to him. It also makes it more difficult for a player with a lesser body of entry-level work (two years instead of three) to hit a home run in the player's second NHL contract, much more likely to have to take a lower-value bridge deal than a long-term, big dollar pact.

That's why I don't think the Sabres are really hurt that much by the Grigorenko debacle.

I do too. However Manuel was 2-2.

Orton has had the luxury of playing the Vikings and Jets in 2 of his 3 wins.

Manuel starts came against teams with a record of 16-14
Orton's competition has a record of 15-15
- sbroads24

The problem, like I said at the beginning, is that both of Manuel's good games came when everything seemed to be going right. The running game was phenomenal. They were lights out defensively. Special teams was pretty much great too. When even one facet of the game faltered, so did Manuel. Ultimately, I think the bleeding can be stopped with experience, but in a year when you absolutely need to win games, there's really no time for it. The fact that nobody really put up much of a stink when the decision was made to bench the guy tells me everything.

The problem, like I said at the beginning, is that both of Manuel's good games came when everything seemed to be going right. The running game was phenomenal. They were lights out defensively. Special teams was pretty much great too. When even one facet of the game faltered, so did Manuel. Ultimately, I think the bleeding can be stopped with experience, but in a year when you absolutely need to win games, there's really no time for it. The fact that nobody really put up much of a stink when the decision was made to bench the guy tells me everything.
- buffalofan19

Orton has been competent, and I don't mean to sound like I am complaining about him, because I think he has earned the right to start the rest of the season.

My point is that we have been very fortunate so far when he has been in.

Our two most impressive wins as a team came with Manuel. I just am dumbfounded the praise Orton is getting as if he is winning these games singlehandedly

Until Manuel is actually allowed to pass the ball 35-45 times a game regularly like Orton is, I can't see how you can say one is better than the other. Manuel can throw, it's just a matter of the garbage play calling and all of those atrocious lateral/sideline passes we try.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Stop making excuses for the guy, he sucks and had his chances. The only reason play calling was different is because they had to coddle the guy.