Kane, Ennis, Moulson will occupy the top six winger spots for a while. That leaves one spot open. Hodge could still take that spot or another winger propect like Baptitste in a couple years could. Grigorenko has never played winger I don;t know how well that woudl work out either.
- Cheeseballin

All i'm getting from this is that we have too many forwards and we don't need any more

I'd like Baptiste on the 3rd line at some point. I also really dislike Moulson taking up a spot for some reason and hope he is gone in a couple years when our other guys come up.

You wont change my mind and I wont change yours. Im done with this.

I'm excited about the Bills and Sabres going forward more than I have been in a long time, and Grigs has 1 fraction of 1% to do with that.
- Homer

Keeping Grigorenko at this point hardly makes sense. The team still has holes to fill, even after McEichel, and Grigorenko still has value and plays a position that this team all of a sudden has a lot of depth at. His biggest contribution will be getting someone coming this way who plays a position of need.

Keeping Grigorenko at this point hardly makes sense. The team still has holes to fill, even after McEichel, and Grigorenko still has value and plays a position that this team all of a sudden has a lot of depth at. His biggest contribution will be getting someone coming this way who plays a position of need.
- buffalofan19

Does he really have any value at this point?

Keeping Grigorenko at this point hardly makes sense. The team still has holes to fill, even after McEichel, and Grigorenko still has value and plays a position that this team all of a sudden has a lot of depth at. His biggest contribution will be getting someone coming this way who plays a position of need.
- buffalofan19

Which he won't bring in at this point. Best they can do is Hodgson type trade for him. Unless a clear upgrade is available on the wing, I'd slot him there and see what he can do. Then maybe you can make him the centrepiece of a much larger deal.

Keeping Grigorenko at this point hardly makes sense. The team still has holes to fill, even after McEichel, and Grigorenko still has value and plays a position that this team all of a sudden has a lot of depth at. His biggest contribution will be getting someone coming this way who plays a position of need.
- buffalofan19

It's almost like moving from center to wing is a foreign concept to some of you guys.

I know people in the organization including current players,that thinks he stinks, I'll believe them over you.
- Homer

I'm still waiting

All i'm getting from this is that we have too many forwards and we don't need any more

- Herzeleid

Not a bad problem to have. 99% sure this was GMTM's plan all along. Get the best talent you can, make them fight for spots.

Not a bad problem to have. 99% sure this was GMTM's plan all along. Get the best talent you can, make them fight for spots.
- seedy

True but this was a joke about an earlier conversation on trading Grigs and Pysyk for RoR. It`s good to have a lot of forwards but not if you have to get rid of a D-man to add another one (on top of getting rid of a forward already in the trade).

True but this was a joke about an earlier conversation on trading Grigs and Pysyk for RoR. It`s good to have a lot of forwards but not if you have to get rid of a D-man to add another one (on top of getting rid of a forward already in the trade).
- Herzeleid

we'll have a logjam to be sure. and if thats the case, the guy the Sabres don't want in their lineup isn't going to command much value. I'm kind of over the ROR thing. If Murray HAS to have him, so be it. I wonder if we'll see Rinehart in Roc next year due to said logjam. Let him play there while Murray assess guys like Gringo and CoHo for 20 games or so playing with capable linemates. Now that the tank is over, it's going to be a really interesting offseason.

We might be like the florida panthers next year that should be the goal I hope..

Then playoffs after that
- gerbe75pts

Totally agree
Ppl are expecting WAY too much
Not only will there be chemistry issues with there being about 1/3 roster turnover, there's also likely a new coach with different systems, and all these young guys aren't gonna be all-stars... Even McDavid will struggle at times & be inconsistent

80pts would be an amazing year
I'd say more like 70pts, and that's still a heck of an improvement

Pretty much agree with the sentiment about next year. Only way we do better than that is if everything clicks and we get some other FA's if we somehow manage to grab another TOP offensive type player could help a little further.

The defense should start looking pretty good in the very short term future especially if the offense is able have more puck possession.

Nice Write Up JD, like the way you see the future pieces, I wouldn't want to give up on Grigerenko just yet, I agree, I have seen Grigerenko handle the corners with his size and still get the puck on the tape, I would want Samson at the Center, Grigs has shown he has started to see the ice better like last night as he found the open ice in the dirty area and potted his second in 2 games!

Good Luck to the Rest of the NHL as they try and DEAL with This club moving forward!!!

I think snagging MARCAND from Boston would be SICK! (in a really good way)
- MEBSabresFAN

I like the Marchand idea a lot too
I F-ing hate the rat, but I'd love him if he were a Sabre
And with the kind of Cap trouble they're in, I doubt he'd cost a lot.
Maybe a 2nd & another pick?
Might see a lot of changes in Boston with them missing the playoffs

Pretty much agree with the sentiment about next year. Only way we do better than that is if everything clicks and we get some other FA's if we somehow manage to grab another TOP offensive type player could help a little further.

The defense should start looking pretty good in the very short term future especially if the offense is able have more puck possession.
- MikeyOz

We've gotten good goaltending this year, but none of those guys are under contract with us for next year.
That's a situation that definitely needs to be addressed.
I think we'll end up with someone like Allen or Gibson or Vasilevskiy... And who knows how they'll be in the first year where they're "the man" by themselves?
I'd have faith in any I those guys going forward, but I also would be surprised if they struggle at times going from playing 40games to playing 60+

So who wants to educate me? Who will be back next season?
I assume Meszaros, Weber, Hackett, Kaleta, and Hodgson are all gone. Anyone else?

I miss capgeek

So who wants to educate me? Who will be back next season?
I assume Meszaros, Weber, Hackett, Kaleta, and Hodgson are all gone. Anyone else?

I miss capgeek
- muffin_man

There's always nhlnumbers.com :

http://stats.nhlnumbers.com/teams/BUF?year=2015

There's always nhlnumbers.com :

http://stats.nhlnumbers.com/teams/BUF?year=2015
- kritter65

On the one hand, you're now my hero. On the other hand, (frank) YOU for making me realize Kaleta is back next year

So who wants to educate me? Who will be back next season?
I assume Meszaros, Weber, Hackett, Kaleta, and Hodgson are all gone. Anyone else?

I miss capgeek
- muffin_man

I still think this was a Murphy's Law type season for Hodgson. I would see what he can do while surrounded by a more offensively competent roster, and more competent coaching. The buyout terms are pretty enticing though. The rest of that list needs to be out of there.

I still think this was a Murphy's Law type season for Hodgson. I would see what he can do while surrounded by a more offensively competent roster, and more competent coaching. The buyout terms are pretty enticing though. The rest of that list needs to be out of there.
- buffalofan19

We had that debate last night too. The only way I see him making the team is if Reinhardt isn't strong enough to make the jump. Hodgson needs to be in a top 6 center position. Assuming McEichel has one, I'm not sure where Hodgson or Grigorenko fit in the lineup going forward. You're probably right to give him one more year since he can still be bought out cheaply next year leaving less years of cap penalty when the sabres are competing.

I suspect Benoit is gone too. I was really impressed with Strachan last night. He and Bogosian shut sid down really nicely. Assuming he's not getting more than $1M anywhere else, I'd take him back as a 6-7 dman.

I'm curious if Malkin was as invisible to everyone else as he was to my buddy and I. I see he got 6 shots but we hardly ever noticed him out there.

3-2-1 for points, but they wont do it, the league likes it tight at the wire, 3-2-1 will create more separation.
- Homer

There's a much simpler solution. Call all the penalties again like they did years ago. Yes, equipment, especially on goalies, is too big, but calling all penalties has already shown in the past to greatly increase flow and speed in the game while reducing the constant dump and chase and board play.

Problem is, as you said, the league wants the standings to always be tight and calling all penalties will create a large gulf between the good teams and crap teams.

Bettman thinks having so many mediocre teams with a chance near the end is great. I think it's crap on ice compared to what it used to be.

It's sad watching games and seeing hardly any players coming through the neutral zone with speed.

- homiedclown

Wow. That's almost as bad as the season was.

Wow. That's almost as bad as the season was.
- Der Kaiser

I'll buy all you (frank)ers a drink if we get McDavid.

By the way, when did The Marlboro Inn close up ?

I'll buy all you (frank)ers a drink if we get McDavid.

By the way, when did The Marlboro Inn close up ?
- Pairo11

- homiedclown

Went to the Niagara Gun Range on the Blvd yesterday and drove down Ward Rd for a cold adult beverage. Place is boarded up tighter than a bung barrel.