I looked at that tonight. If this team is like Chicago, they will be in the Conference Finals next season and win the cup the year after that.
- rmiethaner

A few more moves this season and they very well be a serious playoff contender next year. Did you look how many years they stunk before they started hitting picks . The rebuild started even before they got Toews.

http://www.hockeydb.com/s...cago-blackhawks-5218.html

Wow, can't wait
- Sabresfan-365

It will be glorious.

Wow, can't wait
- Sabresfan-365

Sure, but that means we are leapfrogging over teams like Florida, the Islanders, teams that have been building the right way for a few years now.

A few more moves this season and they very well be a serious playoff contender next year. Did you look how many years they stunk before they started hitting picks . The rebuild started even before they got Toews.
- Maximum Signal

Wasn't that the "tear down" the rebuild started when they got Kane. They won the cup shortly after.

Hope we are ready

I agree our two weekest links right now are Gionta and Moulson . I also have faith Kane and Ennis are going to turn it around or be moved when the time is right . Kane needs to be re educated it seems because I see all the tools . Here is hoping he can mature on and off the ice. While Ennis just seems to trying to grasp the new system and the last few games I actually liked what I saw till the Great 8 went head hunting.
With Gionta . He aged a little faster than anticipated. I still think you talk him into early retirement and give him a title with the Amerks. Everyone wins and the prodigal son returns home . I will be Honest . I don't know what to do with Moulson if he does not turn it around because we hardly gain anything from a buyout and he has a no trade clause.
- Maximum Signal

We need to bring back Gilbert Perrault to teach him how to shoot accurately. I thought the Jets fans were just female doging because they didn't like the guy, but goddamn is he an inaccurate shooter. He's like Zhitnik, shoot it a 100mph and hope for the best, but most of the time it rings around the boards and back into our end. WTF!

A few more moves this season and they very well be a serious playoff contender next year. Did you look how many years they stunk before they started hitting picks . The rebuild started even before they got Toews.
- Maximum Signal

Oh, yeah, they were terrible.

I am not expecting the Sabres to be like them, and will not be upset about this season.

But next year, playoffs are a must, and dare I say at least a first round playoff victory.

Wasn't that the "tear down" the rebuild started when they got Kane. They won the cup shortly after.

Hope we are ready
- sbroads24

Did you look at the 5 years before they got Kane?

Oh, yeah, they were terrible.

I am not expecting the Sabres to be like them, and will not be upset about this season.

But next year, playoffs are a must, and dare I say at least a first round playoff victory.
- rmiethaner

The same way I feel. Hopefully TMGM makes those last couple moves needed.

Sure, but that means we are leapfrogging over teams like Florida, the Islanders, teams that have been building the right way for a few years now.
- sbroads24

That's true, but there're also teams falling out. The Bruins' window seems to be half shut and closing quickly at the moment, sure they can score, but they've also allowed one more goal than the Sabres have in one less GP, the Pens are a hot mess, Tampa and Ottawa could go either way, the Flyers are in free fall, their only saving grace is goaltending, Detroit is Detroit, in the middle of it, and the Devils are better than everyone thought and could be a team to watch as early as this year. I see the East, aside from the top 3 or 4 teams, being wide open for the next few years. Now's our chance.

We need to bring back Gilbert Perrault to teach him how to shoot accurately. I thought the Jets fans were just female doging because they didn't like the guy, but goddamn is he an inaccurate shooter. He's like Zhitnik, shoot it a 100mph and hope for the best, but most of the time it rings around the boards and back into our end. WTF!
- Wetbandit1

We need a shooting coach . Other teams do it.

Sure, but that means we are leapfrogging over teams like Florida, the Islanders, teams that have been building the right way for a few years now.
- sbroads24

In all seriousness as bad as it looks, i think the right deal on D can put this team close to that position.

The wingers? Well that's why you tank for Eichel, because now instead of looking for another top winger, you just have to find someone who doesn't suck like Moulson and Gionta (ok that's a stretch but you get what im saying). I think they'll get into the buy low market and see if putting said winger with Eichel can resurrect or kick start that players career.

Did you look at the 5 years before they got Kane?
- Maximum Signal

No. Of course he didnt. I remember a HNIC episode where they were talking about the team moving to another city they were so bad.
Seems like the tank worked out just fine for them.

No. Of course he didnt. I remember a HNIC episode where they were talking about the team moving to another city they were so bad.
Seems like the tank worked out just fine for them.
- seedy

I don't get the 5 years before Kane point. What is the relevance?

I don't get the 5 years before Kane point. What is the relevance?
- sbroads24

they drafted and developed Keith and Seabrooks before Kane Toews. When you have 2 Top pairing D with over a 100 AHL games experience and a full year of NHL experience.

After a decade of missing the playoffs and being a dumpster fire team, they collected all the pieces and had them ready for when they added Kane Toews to the fold. It was the perfect storm.

So all the assets and prospects that have been shipped out int he last few trades for you guys, in the hawks case, they were developed and ready to for prime time once they add the elite talent.

Risto is there currently, but other than that, whats the D situation like for you guys? If the pipeline is now tapped out, jumping to the next level might take a bit longer since its now on the hopes that the current core guys progress their games to the next level

they drafted and developed Keith and Seabrooks before Kane Toews. When you have 2 Top pairing D with over a 100 AHL games experience and a full year of NHL experience.

After a decade of missing the playoffs and being a dumpster fire team, they collected all the pieces and had them ready for when they added Kane Toews to the fold. It was the perfect storm.

So all the assets and prospects that have been shipped out int he last few trades for you guys, in the hawks case, they were developed and ready to for prime time once they add the elite talent.

Risto is there currently, but other than that, whats the D situation like for you guys?
- DDM-Coga

Possibly above average at best. Not great.

Risto, like you said, is fine. McCabe getting better. Pysyk being the puck mover. And hopefully Guhle capitalizes on his preseason success.

Five and six dont matter to me. Would be nice to get that top d man kid in the draft.

they drafted and developed Keith and Seabrooks before Kane Toews. When you have 2 Top pairing D with over a 100 AHL games experience and a full year of NHL experience.

After a decade of missing the playoffs and being a dumpster fire team, they collected all the pieces and had them ready for when they added Kane Toews to the fold. It was the perfect storm.

So all the assets and prospects that have been shipped out int he last few trades for you guys, in the hawks case, they were developed and ready to for prime time once they add the elite talent.

Risto is there currently, but other than that, whats the D situation like for you guys? If the pipeline is now tapped out, jumping to the next level might take a bit longer since its now on the hopes that the current core guys progress their games to the next level
- DDM-Coga

I still don't get what that has to do with us.

Did the Hawks trade all of their picks and prospects like the Sabres did ?

The two teams aren't even similar anymore

Possibly above average at best. Not great.

Risto, like you said, is fine. McCabe getting better. Pysyk being the puck mover. And hopefully Guhle capitalizes on his preseason success.

Five and six dont matter to me. Would be nice to get that top d man kid in the draft.
- rmiethaner

Your D need to catch up to you forwards in terms of impact. Risto is only one guy and still learning, he can't shoulder the load alone.

I think it might take longer than probably expect about the offseason you guys just had, but if your D isn't mature and the Goalie situation is unresolved. Could be an up and down season or 2

Your D need to catch up to you forwards in terms of impact. Risto is only one guy and still learning, he can't shoulder the load alone.

I think it might take longer than probably expect about the offseason you guys just had, but if your D isn't mature and the Goalie situation is unresolved. Could be an up and down season or 2
- DDM-Coga

Scoring goals is my bigger worry.

I still don't get what that has to do with us.

Did the Hawks trade all of their picks and prospects like the Sabres did ?

The two teams aren't even similar anymore
- sbroads24

I dunno but now looking at all that, Hawks were handing a golden goose with how it all turned out for them after a decade of being an embarrassment. Won the Kane draft, stealing him away from Philly, Toews dropping down to third with Pitts taking J Staal in front of him.

Cant believe their fan base now talks so much poop about Oilers, Avs, Sabres, etc about being lottery pick franchises. (frank) that

Scoring goals is my bigger worry.
- rmiethaner

if Kane would start playing with a normal length stick he might start to hit the net for once

if Kane would start playing with a normal length stick he might start to hit the net for once
- DDM-Coga

What is up with the Oilers thread? That is the weirdest place on this whole site.

What is up with the Oilers thread? That is the weirdest place on this whole site.
- rmiethaner

I forgot I was posting in there too...time to gif it up again
Its just a fun place, guys just like testing the limits of what they can get away with on this site

Kill him?
- IonSabres

Whoa whoa whoa. Nobody is saying that we should do that. Are you saying we should do that? Maybe we should do that.

Whoa whoa whoa. Nobody is saying that we should do that. Are you saying we should do that? Maybe we should do that.
- rover16

McNabb is playing more and playing top minutes but lets not act like he is lighting the league on fire.

The Kings blue line has been a mess all year with pair shuffling.

Playing with Doughty is probably going to get McNabb a big raise, but unlike Risto he hasn't done it strictly on his own merit.
- Stripes77

I don't necessarily think McNabb is a "top pair" defenseman, but he's holding his own playing against other teams' best and earning the big raise he's going to get.

Meanwhile,
We're still looking for a LH top 4 defenseman
And waiting to see IF Fasching will ever make it to the NHL & how good he'll be
My biggest problem with the trade was that Mcnabb was never really goven a chance on the Sabres by Murray. And since we were so horrible, there was nothing to lose by letting him play & finding out what we had.

Sh!tty trade IMO