Are we in last place again?
- jochfr

Tied for 9th.

Tied for 9th.
- nfph

We need to be worse... Auston Matthews FTW!

All it tells me is they sent a plane to pick up a guy that didn't do anything for this team and then after making it sound like we were going for the playoffs, they shipped him out. We look like fools to other players in the league, it doesn't show other players anything. I didn't make that up.
- SABRES 89

with darcy gone and nearly every player from that team gone, it's all water under the bridge...and no, it wasn't just to "pick up a guy," they went there to convince a rugged top-four d-man to waive his no-trade clause and come to buffalo...there was not a d-man like him on the team at the time so it was an upgrade in that area...

and it wasn't like they said ,"oops, sorry it didn't work out see ya, we're going to get the most for you in a trade"...they sent him to los angeles, a team on the rise at the time...he won the cup

they treated him the best they could under the circumstances, imo

Are we in last place again?
- jochfr

Yes, we're winners at last place.

What ever Darcy said about team additions plus Pegula's money worked.
They did him a solid by offering to move him to a contender once he realized he was in non playoff purgatory.
I think the onus is on Darcy for thinking him and Leino were going to save us. But of course, He couldn't snag any top line players. Not sure if no one would come here because of Ruff, Darcy, certain players, or a combination of all 3.
I think that's why Murray is wiping the entire slate clean of anything that existed before him.
- seedy

Players wouldn't come here because of how bad this organization was run and how bad they handled the Briere and Drury disaster. Leino was Darcy's target all along, he had no interest in Brad Richards at all. He didn't do him a solid by moving him, they had to. Once again Darcy looked like a fool to another player and the league.

We need to be worse... Auston Matthews FTW!
- jochfr

three shots at moving up into the top-three in next year's draft...

Matthews looks to be a stud...Jesse Puljujärvi is getting rave reviews as well and defenseman Jakob Chychrun rounds out the top-three...

buffalo can use any of them

Players wouldn't come here because of how bad this organization was run and how bad they handled the Briere and Drury disaster. Leino was Darcy's target all along, he had no interest in Brad Richards at all. He didn't do him a solid by moving him, they had to. Once again Darcy looked like a fool to another player and the league.
- SABRES 89

key word= "was"...gotta at least give them a shot with murray at the helm...

don't you?

three shots at moving up into the top-three in next year's draft...

Matthews looks to be a stud...Jesse Puljujärvi is getting rave reviews as well and defenseman Jakob Chychrun rounds out the top-three...

buffalo can use any of them
- Michael Pachla

Here's to picking in the top 5 again next year....

key word= "was"...gotta at least give them a shot with murray at the helm...

don't you?
- Michael Pachla

Other players in the league will make that decision and as of now, we still look like a poorly run organization. It's going to take more then Eichel and Reinhart and Pegula just throwing money around to change that, that's why we need a very good head coach with a good system.

Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press ranked the places where Babcock will go on WGR today at:

Detroit
Buffalo
Edmonton

That's true, but if Vogl knows... then Sully and Harrington will find out. Then all hell breaks loose.

The Hamilton one is good too, but I don't think he could keep it a secret and then it could blow the whole operation. I don't really think he's in the know. Just my opinion.
- thatsapickle

I think he's the last person cut from 'the know'.

key word= "was"...gotta at least give them a shot with murray at the helm...

don't you?
- Michael Pachla

I think the Regier/Golisano era is what soured players on this team. If you got traded here, you were stuck in limbo because Golisano wasn't going to spend to bring anyone good in. Darcy openly stated he has to manage "within a budget" under Golisano once TPegs too over the team. Once Pegula took over, it was like a shopping spree for Regier. Except he couldn't reach any of the good stuff on the top shelf. I think the difference between Murray and Regier is that Murray will spend when he has to, Regier just spent because he could. I definitely prefer Murrays evaluation of talent (or, lack thereof) over Regiers.

I think the Regier/Golisano era is what soured players on this team. If you got traded here, you were stuck in limbo because Golisano wasn't going to spend to bring anyone good in. Darcy openly stated he has to manage "within a budget" under Golisano once TPegs too over the team. Once Pegula took over, it was like a shopping spree for Regier. Except he couldn't reach any of the good stuff on the top shelf. I think the difference between Murray and Regier is that Murray will spend when he has to, Regier just spent because he could. I definitely prefer Murrays evaluation of talent (or, lack thereof) over Regiers.
- seedy

This is all true. You just left out the part where they had one of the top teams in the NHL for almost 2 full seasons.

Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press ranked the places where Babcock will go on WGR today at:

Detroit
Buffalo
Edmonton
- GilPerreault11

Anyone know where his wife is from?

This is all true. You just left out the part where they had one of the top teams in the NHL for almost 2 full seasons.
- Pierceme69

I don't know what the payroll was, but Golisano inherited what ever the Rigases bought. Once It came time to pay those guys, they were gone. 2 Co-captians come to mind....may be an all star redhead defenceman?

Nick Kypreos @RealKyper
Before granting permission to talk to other teams Babcock turned down #RedWings multi yr deal that would made him highest paid in the #NHL

Nick Kypreos @RealKyper
Before granting permission to talk to other teams Babcock turned down #RedWings multi yr deal that would made him highest paid in the #NHL
- GilPerreault11

Doesn't sound like Detroit is his top choice does it?

Other players in the league will make that decision and as of now, we still look like a poorly run organization. It's going to take more then Eichel and Reinhart and Pegula just throwing money around to change that, that's why we need a very good head coach with a good system.
- SABRES 89

i'm with ya, my brotha...I know you're not a big fan, but that's one of the reasons I want to see the team reel in babcock if possible...instant credibility...

if not, it will be a slow process that can only be helped along by winning, imo

Nick Kypreos @RealKyper
Before granting permission to talk to other teams Babcock turned down #RedWings multi yr deal that would made him highest paid in the #NHL
- GilPerreault11

Got to wonder. He made an obvious comment about the team being 'not that good" after being eliminated. I know it's not that simple, but why aren't the wings bringing players in? I would assume that would solve all of Babcocks problems with them. I know they pride themselves on drafting and development, but sometimes, you got to bring a legit player or two in to fill some gaps. Overpay, deal some assets, whatever.

Doesn't sound like Detroit is his top choice does it?
- Pierceme69

Could still be but he might want to see what's out there and test the market. Why not?

I think the Regier/Golisano era is what soured players on this team. If you got traded here, you were stuck in limbo because Golisano wasn't going to spend to bring anyone good in. Darcy openly stated he has to manage "within a budget" under Golisano once TPegs too over the team. Once Pegula took over, it was like a shopping spree for Regier. Except he couldn't reach any of the good stuff on the top shelf. I think the difference between Murray and Regier is that Murray will spend when he has to, Regier just spent because he could. I definitely prefer Murrays evaluation of talent (or, lack thereof) over Regiers.
- seedy

gonna be interesting to see what murray can do...it ain't a great fa year, but he seems more hell-bent on trading anyways...wonder if he has something up his sleeve with Edmonton (other than Orphen's McDavid rumor)

Got to wonder. He made an obvious comment about the team being 'not that good" after being eliminated. I know it's not that simple, but why aren't the wings bringing players in? I would assume that would solve all of Babcocks problems with them. I know they pride themselves on drafting and development, but sometimes, you got to bring a legit player or two in to fill some gaps. Overpay, deal some assets, whatever.
- seedy

I remember last off season where the wings struck out on a couple of defensemen that they wanted...very unusual

I remember last off season where the wings struck out on a couple of defensemen that they wanted...very unusual
- Michael Pachla

Can't get everyone and it appears Holland is unwilling to take a huge gamble and get them into cap hell for 3 or 4 years if someone doesn't pan out.

Can't get everyone and it appears Holland is unwilling to take a huge gamble and get them into cap hell for 3 or 4 years if someone doesn't pan out.
- BigStew

at one time they could get almost any free agent the wanted...doing some back reading they offered boyle more money than the rangers but he landed in ny...they offered a longer term for ehrhoff at the same salary the penguins signed him for, but he went to Pittsburgh...

perhaps there's something to it...perhaps not

it's just unusual

at one time they could get almost any free agent the wanted...doing some back reading they offered boyle more money than the rangers but he landed in ny...they offered a longer term for ehrhoff at the same salary the penguins signed him for, but he went to Pittsburgh...

perhaps there's something to it...perhaps not

it's just unusual
- Michael Pachla

Some guys are the exception and can put money aside and actually want to win. I would put Boyle and Ehrhoff in that category. Ehrhoff just came off getting paid a zillion dollars by us and Boyle is getting to a stage where he has made a lot of money and wants his best chance at winning. NYR and Pitt were better short term options for winning.

I have a buddy that was an assistant GM for years in the NHL and he told me that for most guys winning is way down on a guys list of places to go as a FA unless they have made a lot of money in their career and just want a chance to win.