Reinhart is neither Toews or Kane. Keep trying
- MCGUIZZY

There's also the Pittsburgh Penguins, who seem to be an afterthought in large part because of Fleury's struggles in the playoffs. However, I still think you would be crazy not to pencil them in for another championship or two within the next decade.
- buffalofan19

Hard to think about the fact Crosby and Malkin are on their way to 30.

Crosby will be 28 and Malkin will be 29 over the summer.

They were, he wanted to become Governor.

Keeping the team here was a way he thought could do that.

Lets not make him out to be something great.
- dadeadhead

I don't think she's doing that. Her point is that we knew from day one what we were getting with Golisano as an owner. The team being better than anyone expected coming out of the 2005 lockout actually indirectly caused him to be some sort of villain around these parts.

They were, he wanted to become Governor.

Keeping the team here was a way he thought could do that.

Lets not make him out to be something great.
- dadeadhead

I'm not. But he wasn't the "cheapskate" owner others try to make him out to be either.

Reinhart is neither Toews or Kane. Keep trying
- MCGUIZZY

Meaning top end talent.

Reinhart is top end talent.

Reinhart is neither Toews or Kane. Keep trying
- MCGUIZZY

Toews wasn't Toews at 18. He was the guy taken after Erik Johnson and Jordan Staal

There's also the Pittsburgh Penguins, who seem to be an afterthought in large part because of Fleury's struggles in the playoffs. However, I still think you would be crazy not to pencil them in for another championship or two within the next decade.
- buffalofan19

This gets incredibly exaggerated.

He struggled in the Jackets series which they won, then there offense dried up against the Rags.

Same the year before when Boston ran through them, they couldn't score

I don't think she's doing that. Her point is that we knew from day one what we were getting with Golisano as an owner. The team being better than anyone expected coming out of the 2005 lockout actually indirectly caused him to be some sort of villain around these parts.
- buffalofan19

He was a guy that wanted to become governor, that bought a hockey team hoping for votes, that only wanted to be in the black, and couldn't of given two sh!ts if they won.


That sums up Golisano.

I am thankful he kept the team here.

Toews wasn't Toews at 18. He was the guy taken after Erik Johnson and Jordan Staal
- sbroads24

He also didn't play in the NHL the year after he was drafted. He must be a bust.

I'm not. But he wasn't the "cheapskate" owner others try to make him out to be either.
- HonkFortheGoose

He kind of was though.

He also didn't play in the NHL the year after he was drafted. He must be a bust.
- HonkFortheGoose

IMO Girgensons will be our Toews.

He was a guy that wanted to become governor, that bought a hockey team hoping for votes, that only wanted to be in the black, and couldn't of given two sh!ts if they won.


That sums up Golisano.

I am thankful he kept the team here.
- dadeadhead

This.

I just get aggravated when people complain that he wanted to be in the black at the end of the year. It would be a lot more painful to not have the team here at all. At the end of the day, I'd be fine with things going the same way if they had to do it over again.

Toews wasn't Toews at 18. He was the guy taken after Erik Johnson and Jordan Staal
- sbroads24

He was a better prospect at 18 than reinhart is today

He kind of was though.
- dadeadhead

The Sabres were at or near the Cap every year after 2006. It wasn't that they didn't spend the money. It's that they spent it the wrong way.

IMO Girgensons will be our Toews.
- dadeadhead

That's a pretty bold statement. I think he has a lot of the same leadership qualities and intangibles that Toews does, but I don't know that we'll get that kind of offense from him.

Toews is my favorite player in the league, so if Girgs ends up like him when all is said and done, I'll be a very happy girl.

He was a better prospect at 18 than reinhart is today
- MCGUIZZY

To elaborate...Toews and Reinhart were both scouted highly both in the top of their draft classes both do different things better than the other, however to say he was a better prospect at 18 is just wrong because if he was don't you think he would have played in the NHL right away?

It wasn't even an investment. He never had any intention on making any money off of it, just didn't want to lose money. He knew that to keep the team here until they could find a suitable replacement owner that wouldn't move the team he would need to be cautious and that's what he was. Let's not take the good thing he did and make it sound bad, because it wasn't. His intentions were always clear. People are just jaded because of the series of events that happened a few years after the lockout.

I'll admit, I was upset too, but sports teams are also a business and can be very expensive to run. Who am I to actually tell them how to spend their money?
- HonkFortheGoose

Well said. In addition to that, if other owners would have followed Golisano's lead and not overpay talent by so much the league would be in much better shape and the second lockout would not have happened. We as fans fell victim of his good business intentions. Had we never been that good out of the lockout, we wouldn't even be mad.

That's a pretty bold statement. I think he has a lot of the same leadership qualities and intangibles that Toews does, but I don't know that we'll get that kind of offense from him.

Toews is my favorite player in the league, so if Girgs ends up like him when all is said and done, I'll be a very happy girl.
- HonkFortheGoose

Bingo


The offense will come from others.

Well said. In addition to that, if other owners would have followed Golisano's lead and not overpay talent by so much the league would be in much better shape and the second lockout would not have happened. We as fans fell victim of his good business intentions. Had we never been that good out of the lockout, we wouldn't even be mad.
- Buffalo-Sabres

I really don't buy this line of thinking. The second lockout was all about ego. The players got smacked around hard after the 2005 CBA. It was all about getting restitution. Otherwise, Donald Fehr never would have been hired.

To elaborate...Toews and Reinhart were both scouted highly both in the top of their draft classes both do different things better than the other, however to say he was a better prospect at 18 is just wrong because if he was don't you think he would have played in the NHL right away?
- Stripes77

He already had a year in at UND when drafted.

Bingo


The offense will come from others.
- dadeadhead

His USHL coach compared his leadership to Toews and Messier. I said those were huge expectations and big shoes to fill. He seems to be on his way though.

I really don't buy this line of thinking. The second lockout was all about ego. The players got smacked around hard after the 2005 CBA. It was all about getting restitution. Otherwise, Donald Fehr never would have been hired.
- buffalofan19

A year of no pay will do that to you.

The Union caved.

Its Christmas Eve, you cronies need to lighten up.

Merry Christmas everyone, and may McEichel ever be in your belated Christmas presents.

A year of no pay will do that to you.

The Union caved.
- dadeadhead

It absolutely did, and for good reason. However, it was also hell bent on making sure it wasn't backed into a corner like that ever again. Hence, Donald Fehr.

I really don't buy this line of thinking. The second lockout was all about ego. The players got smacked around hard after the 2005 CBA. It was all about getting restitution. Otherwise, Donald Fehr never would have been hired.
- buffalofan19

From the players perspective yes, but you saw the out of control spending. Everyone saw the lockout coming a mile away. Owners were throwing around NFL type contracts. Golisano saw the writing on the wall. And the problem still exists. You still have the have's and have's not's in the NHL.