So...who's between the pipes again? And uh, who's playing defense? lol
- rawwdogg88

Goal is definitely a huge question mark right now. But the Defense is actually pretty solid. Yes, there's a lot of youth back there and we have to expect growing pains, but the guys they have back there are more than capable of getting the job done.

Goal is definitely a huge question mark right now. But the Defense is actually pretty solid. Yes, there's a lot of youth back there and we have to expect growing pains, but the guys they have back there are more than capable of getting the job done.
- HonkFortheGoose

Potentially it's really solid, but all of them have to actually take the next step still. With how great Keith and Hedman have been this post season, it makes me wonder if Ristolainen is in fact ever going to be on their level

I have to note, Pach, that a discussion of last year's second overall pick was something I expected to read about in a blog with that title. Why devote such little time to a guy we talked about all year last year?
- Der Kaiser

*shrugs*

idk, schultzie...that's what's coming out right now, I guess

Potentially it's really solid, but all of them have to actually take the next step still. With how great Keith and Hedman have been this post season, it makes me wonder if Ristolainen is in fact ever going to be on their level
- sbroads24

I think so. Do you remember how Hedman looked his first few seasons? He had a few rough years. I think Risto has looked better than he did initially.

I think so. Do you remember how Hedman looked his first few seasons? He had a few rough years. I think Risto has looked better than he did initially.
- HonkFortheGoose

agreed

and I am a big fan of Hedman

making chicken cacciatore today!

making chicken cacciatore today!
- gerbe75pts

http://wivb.com/2015/06/0...ly-doing-donuts-with-car/

http://wivb.com/2015/06/0...ly-doing-donuts-with-car/
- cabin

happiest mug shot ever?

agreed

and I am a big fan of Hedman
- homiedclown

I was actually starting to wonder if Hedman was going to turn into the player they thought he was going to be when they drafted him. But he definitely has now. I just think it took longer than they thought it would. That's not uncommon on defense though.

I was actually starting to wonder if Hedman was going to turn into the player they thought he was going to be when they drafted him. But he definitely has now. I just think it took longer than they thought it would. That's not uncommon on defense though.
- HonkFortheGoose

he really started to turn it around his 4th year, he was showing glimpses in his third year til injuries set in

now if he is healthy for a full season, he probably will be in the conversation for the norris for the next 8-12 years, if not a finalist

he really started to turn it around his 4th year, he was showing glimpses in his third year til injuries set in

now if he is healthy for a full season, he probably will be in the conversation for the norris for the next 8-12 years, if not a finalist
- homiedclown

I think he will win one.

I would take him over Erik Karlsson or Subban any day

I was actually starting to wonder if Hedman was going to turn into the player they thought he was going to be when they drafted him. But he definitely has now. I just think it took longer than they thought it would. That's not uncommon on defense though.
- HonkFortheGoose

if you like risto's progress more than hedman's at the same age, just think where Ristolainen will be four years from now

if you like risto's progress more than hedman's at the same age, just think where Ristolainen will be four years from now
- Michael Pachla

I hope so. I think Risto grew leaps and bounds this year. He still made mistakes at times, but every guy does. I could probably pick out a few that Keith made last night. They're human, so it's going to happen.

if you like risto's progress more than hedman's at the same age, just think where Ristolainen will be four years from now
- Michael Pachla

that is the one problem

so many times over the past 15 years, we expected sabres to take that second or third step

management rewarded players with contracts based on potential and it never happened

I really hope risto, foligno and a few others take that next step

coho gets his head out of his ass

and ennis continues to be ennis

I hope so. I think Risto grew leaps and bounds this year. He still made mistakes at times, but every guy does. I could probably pick out a few that Keith made last night. They're human, so it's going to happen.
- HonkFortheGoose

I remember a game vs florida, risto was by far out best d man for 58 minutes of the game

a 2 minute segment he was an echl d man and the panthers grabbed 2 quick goals


I am not worried about him, just hope he takes that step to be a legit top pair d man

I remember a game vs florida, risto was by far out best d man for 58 minutes of the game

a 2 minute segment he was an echl d man and the panthers grabbed 2 quick goals


I am not worried about him, just hope he takes that step to be a legit top pair d man
- homiedclown

He played the full 60 minutes? Thats impressive.

I remember a game vs florida, risto was by far out best d man for 58 minutes of the game

a 2 minute segment he was an echl d man and the panthers grabbed 2 quick goals


I am not worried about him, just hope he takes that step to be a legit top pair d man
- homiedclown

I think the improvement of our forwards will help the D out as well. Our puck possession was awful. Just improving that alone will take some pressure off the backend. That should help the young guys improve their game even more as well.

Pysyk's outlet pass should be a help to that as well.

- homiedclown

we made apple stuffed pistachio pork chops yesterday with three cheese white wine potatoes

that is the one problem

so many times over the past 15 years, we expected sabres to take that second or third step

management rewarded players with contracts based on potential and it never happened

I really hope risto, foligno and a few others take that next step

coho gets his head out of his ass

and ennis continues to be ennis
- homiedclown

it was a regierian thing...he's in Arizona now...btw, yotes have six picks in the first two rounds this year...sound familiar?

it was a regierian thing...he's in Arizona now...btw, yotes have six picks in the first two rounds this year...sound familiar?
- Michael Pachla

Yeah, but he has to know what to do with them now, he doesn't have Devine to lean on anymore.

management rewarded players with contracts based on potential and it never happened

- homiedclown

I get the feeling Murray will not be messing around like that.

Potentially it's really solid, but all of them have to actually take the next step still. With how great Keith and Hedman have been this post season, it makes me wonder if Ristolainen is in fact ever going to be on their level
- sbroads24

Why does it make you wonder that: because he is not there already, or because they seem to be that good?

Doesn't seem like something to be concerned about, especially at this time.

I will be happy with Ristolainen, Bogosian, Pysyk, Zadorov, McCabe, as the core 5 of the 7 D. They will find 2 more, and those 2 will depend on how the core 5 look at various points during their careers.

To me, it's far from a concern.

Finding a true quality top 9 forward group, from top to bottom of the top 9, and then an effective 4th line that is not littered with plugs, is the concern to me.

Goalie is up in the air. Not sure if you actually care or are simply making fun of us, which I don't think you have a leg to stand on. But if it's a legit question, yeah, we'll see. My guess is 65% trade for, 35% UFA goalie next season.

Defense, we have Risto, Bogo, Z, Pysyk, Gorges, Weber and likely a free agent. It's a possibility Z starts in Rochester now that he's eligible to be there. That would cause us to sign a depth and a top 4 guy in the mold of Oduya. A depth guy on a short contract like Benoit or Meszaros from last year would be a simple placeholder for, say, Zadorov.
- TheSabresTaco

Not making fun was just wondering. I mean, if I were you guys i'd bring in a trash can to play goalie and keep tanking for another year or two. Unless you wanna trade us eichel for Schneider lol. And besides bogo I had no clue who the rest of your defenders were. That top 6 for you guys is gonna be pretty dangerous in a couple seasons. You guys just need a goalie

Not making fun was just wondering. I mean, if I were you guys i'd bring in a trash can to play goalie and keep tanking for another year or two. Unless you wanna trade us eichel for Schneider lol. And besides bogo I had no clue who the rest of your defenders were. That top 6 for you guys is gonna be pretty dangerous in a couple seasons. You guys just need a goalie
- rawwdogg88

Indeed we do. I don't think anyone here can even come close to predicting what will happen in June/July, but based on Murray's comments, we get the feeling a young up and coming goalie will be traded for. "young" can be interpreted in many different ways, but for a goalie I assume he would be 27 or younger just based on the core Murray is trying to build here. He would be the oldest future core player on this team.

As far as your tanking point, I think we're all under the assumption based on comments by coaches/management that this team will continue to progress and not bottom out like the last two years. We won't be signing or trading for players for the sole purpose of "winning an extra game or two", but we fully intend on basically landing in the 5-10 spot next season and growing and building off of that.