Let me ask you this Broads... what is your on-ice opinion of Kane?
- TheSabresTaco

When healthy he's excellent. Rare talent.

No we didn't tank, we just sucked
- uf1910

Agreed.

My disagreement with the Kane trade aside, I don't see anything "impressive" about what Murray has done.

He didn't pull off a Gaustad type trade, or even get decent value for any player moved yesterday.

He did his job. He moved a couple FA's that any GM/team would move in our situation
- sbroads24

depends where you're coming from

no he is not

you have so much to learn
- homiedclown

Yet he has a hawks image etc .. Like really homie ?


Is it my job to find out who is real etc ?

HardHat wanted change, now he doesn't like it, wanted Darcy gone, now he doesn't like it, want McEichel, but want to play good, wanted to tank in the begininng of the year, now he says it's wrong. I give up.
- SABRES 89

Fixed for accuracy

It was a discussion about next season
- stashu

sorry...my bad

People wanted change, now they don't like it, wanted Darcy gone, now they don't like it, want McEichel, but want to play good, wanted to tank in the begininng of the year, now they say it's wrong. I give up.
- SABRES 89

Boom, so true! These Buffalo sports writers drive me nuts (Harrington & Gleason). Didn't they bag on Regier because he stood pat and didn't trade some of his key UFA's

The Pens got Crosby, Malkin and Fleury by losing, not winning. How hard is this to figure out.

Agreed.
- BuffaloHardHat

Can you please name better ways to get all-star talent. Or are you going to avoid the questions like you always do?

I'm not enamored with the Kane trade honestly.

I also feel that was a deal that we won't see the total outcome for 3ish years.
- dadeadhead

I am probably in the minority, but I don't care if every piece we traded away is an All-Star for years as long as Kane and Bogo play up to their potential

There is a middle ground between being really bold, and being really conservative.

Personally I wanted to go after Kane. But I didn't think he was a break the bank to get kind of player.

Darcy would have never considered it, Murray was willing to do anything to get him.

I would have been in the middle
- sbroads24

What's the middle ground of doing it and not doing it? APATHY?

Name them, the floor is yours.
- ImThatGuy

I said how in the post.

When healthy he's excellent. Rare talent.
- sbroads24

Then that's the type of player you pay above market price to acquire.

I said how in the post.
- BuffaloHardHat

I'll wait...

hire right managment = cop out answer.


Give me your plan on how to get a guy like Crosby or Tavares without picking top 2.

the floor is yours.

There is a middle ground between being really bold, and being really conservative.

Personally I wanted to go after Kane. But I didn't think he was a break the bank to get kind of player.

Darcy would have never considered it, Murray was willing to do anything to get him.

I would have been in the middle
- sbroads24

Which I was too. However when you think about how he answered the questions about Kane it makes sense. He got who he wanted. Had he waited until the summer there would have been more teams involved so the price would have gotten even higher. He did in fact pay a high price to get him. Now fast forward to the summer imagine the price that would have had to have been paid to get him...so its either pay a high price for him when he did or pay an ever higher price in the summer (and might not have gotten him).

It's bold I applaud him for having a back bone and going after a player he wanted like he did, but I can also reserve the right to be skeptical that he overpaid for the wrong player. That will be seen in a season or two.

There is a middle ground between being really bold, and being really conservative.

Personally I wanted to go after Kane. But I didn't think he was a break the bank to get kind of player.

Darcy would have never considered it, Murray was willing to do anything to get him.

I would have been in the middle
- sbroads24

Maybe it's just not what we're used to after so long with Darcy.

Murray reminds me of young Brian Burke.

Boom, so true! These Buffalo sports writers drive me nuts (Harrington & Gleason). Didn't they bag on Regier because he stood pat and didn't trade some of his key UFA's

- Dannymik

It's not just Buffalo sports writers.

For the anti-tank crowd:

What should have the Sabres done differently this year? What would have made you feel better about this year?

Call-up Psyk earlier? Don't trade UFA's?

What am I missing? The Sabres stink. Darcy drafted 150 players in 16 years and 4 of them turned into all-stars. As a result, we have a crappy team, which takes time to turn around. It is as simple as that.

The fact that people are on their high horse and preaching how morally bankrupt the Sabres are is comical. This team stinks and was going to stink no matter what.

Tim Tebow disagrees


Choir boys do not win titles
- homiedclown

Ask any Pats fan if they care about inflategate or spygate.

I can't imagine what they'll be saying about this team tonight on NBC Sports... it's going to be comical.

- Dannymik

The Arizona GM tooks his tank comments to a new level. Not only did he say he was doing it, he said that he wished that he had done it earlier in the year. No mention of it nationally.

I said how in the post.
- BuffaloHardHat

If the percentage on hitting on franchise talent was higher when drafting above top 5 than within top 5, then I will join your side immediately.

I am probably in the minority, but I don't care if every piece we traded away is an All-Star for years as long as Kane and Bogo play up to their potential
- Pierceme69

I'm not saying who won or lost the trade.

IMO in the end it will come down to good hockey trade and one that all players involved needed.

The Arizona GM tooks his tank comments to a new nevel. Not only did he say he was doing it, he said that he wished that he had done it earlier in the year. No mention of it nationally.
- Slump Buster

Arizona radio was talking spring training baseball yesterday.... That is how much they deserve McDavid.

Great article Michael - always blows me away how quickly you can put these together.

It's an embarrassment how the Buffalo media, and a large portion of the fan base have reacted to the trade deadline. Buffalo news stinks in general, but how does anyone expect to get to the bottom of the standings with class? There's nothing classy about a poor product. Murray took guys that were going to leave for NOTHING in the post-season, and receive a return on them. Not great - but picks are picks, and when Murray's bread and butter is inside the draft-room, I'm comfortable with that.

The Sabres already got our blockbuster trade with Kane and Bogo - what did this fan base really expect? Seriously? The saying is old because it applies - If you want to make an omelette, you have to break a few eggs.
- Poopspawn

thx, swannie...nice post too

(i'm kinda hungry for some reason)

Excellent blog as usual Michael. Not sure if or how you get compensated to write about the Sabres but if I was your boss, you'd get a raise!

Regarding those puritans who are offended by what the Sabres are doing to achieve their goal of drafting McEichel, just relax. They aren't breaking any laws and nobody is getting hurt. Also, does anyone remember if there was a such hue and cry when the Indy Colts "sucked for Luck"? If there was, do you think the Indy Colt fans (or organization) today care about what might have said about them a few years ago? All they care about today is the fact that there team is likely a perennial playoff team and potential AFC champion for years to come - with Andrew Luck at the helm.

With Tampa losing the other night to Florida, I imagine they will want to take it out on our boys. I am calling it 7 to 1 for the Lightning with Cody H scoring our loan goal. I am also predicting that Nolan doesn't finish the game. After physically assaulting our two "net minders", he will be escorted out of the rink between the 2nd and 3rd periods by Tampa's finest.