Go look them up yourself on TSN transactions.
They're there.
- BuffaloHardHat

No one was as active as Murray last summer. He said at the beginning of the year he wanted to assess what he had at the beginning of the year before he made more moves. Seems like trade deadline is time for movement again. Then at the draft . You don't make trades to keep fans happyso they have something to talk about . You make them if the deal is right and it will improve the team. There really has not been that much movement in the league.

Not lofty expectations for me at all coming into this season.

But, for Tim to have just sat on his hands while other GM's have been making deals since the beginning of the season irks me a bit. There have been deals out there to be made and that much is clear.

If you ask me, after some of the questionable deals he has made thus far he is now waiting for that perfect deal.
Some here might call it the Darcy effect.

Next year is put up or shut the (frank) time for Tim!
I'm tired of him yapping his mouth.
I want to see marginal improvement in this team in the standings, not just what just about everyone here says when they are trying to have Murray's back, which is, "they do look better on ice than last years team".
Some games yes, some games no and why shouldn't they look better than a team that was designed to tank, look at last years roster.

And everyone blamed last season on Coach Nolan.
Look at the talent that poor guy had to work with last season, it's laughable!

My point?

Like SP stated, that team was designed to "tank" last season.
This team in the standings after all of the moves Tim has made, this years team in the standings is not far off from where they sat last season.
Please stop with the "eye test" defecation or that they look better than last year.

Again, tough not to look better then last years team that was.... as ALL OF YOU ADMIT or boasted about, designed to tank.

So, I ask you, who is at fault for where we sit in the standings once again this season, who?
The eye test defecation is bullshat especially when comparing it to last years team, straight up bullshat!

Does the responsibility fall in most people heres hero Tim Murray's lap or is it Disco Dan OR.....or is it Sabretooth?
I'm just so sick of seeing people here type that this team is so much better than last years team, it's laughable really.
Look at the standings and tell me how much better this Sabres team is comparatively speaking to being at or near the bottom of the standings after all the moves just about everyones hero here Tim Murray has made.
Yep!
- BuffaloHardHat

nobody's at fault for where they are in the standings (save for maybe the schedule maker who made it tough on them)...it's just a natural progression out of the abyss...that was the whole point

but they're a much better club...how much better is this year then last?... eye-test be damned, if my numbers are correct, at this point in the season the sabres have:

--six more wins, or a 40% increase
--14 more points, or a 42% increase
--a +66 in goal differential or 75% tighter

--a pk that was 29th (74.1%) that is now 16th (80.8%)
--a powerplay that was 30th (11.2%) but is now 6th (20.8%)

*shrugs*

Im indifferent either way, tbh he's like 10th on the to do list for this team.
- Sabresfan-365

i'm down with your indifference, 365...he's not that important moving forward, but he's a real good piece if he comes in at the right price and term

nobody's at fault for where they are in the standings (save for maybe the schedule maker who made it tough on them)...it's just a natural progression out of the abyss...that was the whole point

but they're a much better club...how much better is this year then last?... eye-test be damned, if my numbers are correct, at this point in the season the sabres have:

--six more wins, or a 40% increase
--14 more points, or a 42% increase
--a +66 in goal differential or 75% tighter

--a pk that was 29th (74.1%) that is now 16th (80.8%)
--a powerplay that was 30th (11.2%) but is now 6th (20.8%)

*shrugs*
- Michael Pachla

When are you going to learn? Facts have no place here or with disgruntled Sabre fans!

nobody's at fault for where they are in the standings (save for maybe the schedule maker who made it tough on them)...it's just a natural progression out of the abyss...that was the whole point

but they're a much better club...how much better is this year then last?... eye-test be damned, if my numbers are correct, at this point in the season the sabres have:

--six more wins, or a 40% increase
--14 more points, or a 42% increase
--a +66 in goal differential or 75% tighter

--a pk that was 29th (74.1%) that is now 16th (80.8%)
--a powerplay that was 30th (11.2%) but is now 6th (20.8%)

*shrugs*
- Michael Pachla

Very good analysis Boos. Contradicts all the baseless spewing crap.

You don't make trades to keep fans happy
- Maximum Signal

So wrong!
The NHL is a business.
Owning the Buffalo Sabres is a business, the entertainment business!
And please spare me from telling me about your business again, please.
It most certainly is about keeping the fans happy.
That's why in shootouts you have Eichel, Reinhart and Girgensons as your shooters and not Gionta, Kane and a very tired O'Reilly.

nobody's at fault for where they are in the standings (save for maybe the schedule maker who made it tough on them)...it's just a natural progression out of the abyss...that was the whole point

but they're a much better club...how much better is this year then last?... eye-test be damned, if my numbers are correct, at this point in the season the sabres have:

--six more wins, or a 40% increase
--14 more points, or a 42% increase
--a +66 in goal differential or 75% tighter

--a pk that was 29th (74.1%) that is now 16th (80.8%)
--a powerplay that was 30th (11.2%) but is now 6th (20.8%)

*shrugs*
- Michael Pachla

More excuses.
The standings and where they sit once again are the facts!
Take a look at where we sit again, go ahead as compared to a team that tanked last season.
Those are facts and not excuses.
But now the schedule is an excuse ?
I'm done with this.
I've proved my point.

More excuses.
The standings and where they sit once again are the facts!
Take a look at where we sit again, go ahead as compared to a team that tanked last season.
Those are facts and not excuses.
But now the schedule is an excuse ?
I'm done with this.
I've proved my point.
- BuffaloHardHat

you picked a "maybe" to jump all over?

More excuses.
The standings and where they sit once again are the facts!
Take a look at where we sit again, go ahead as compared to a team that tanked last season.
Those are facts and not excuses.
But now the schedule is an excuse ?
I'm done with this.
I've proved my point.
- BuffaloHardHat

Which is? By the way still waiting to hear which move specifically murray should have made from all the transactions he missed out on

nobody's at fault for where they are in the standings (save for maybe the schedule maker who made it tough on them)...it's just a natural progression out of the abyss...that was the whole point

but they're a much better club...how much better is this year then last?... eye-test be damned, if my numbers are correct, at this point in the season the sabres have:

--six more wins, or a 40% increase
--14 more points, or a 42% increase
--a +66 in goal differential or 75% tighter

--a pk that was 29th (74.1%) that is now 16th (80.8%)
--a powerplay that was 30th (11.2%) but is now 6th (20.8%)

*shrugs*
- Michael Pachla

I commented in your previous blog that if they finish this month generally where they are now in terms of points out of the playoffs they will make a run in March for the wildcard. Whether people want that or not I don't know, but their March schedule is very friendly to the tune of 13 of 15 games against teams that are currently not in the playoffs.

nobody's at fault for where they are in the standings (save for maybe the schedule maker who made it tough on them)...it's just a natural progression out of the abyss...that was the whole point

but they're a much better club...how much better is this year then last?... eye-test be damned, if my numbers are correct, at this point in the season the sabres have:

--six more wins, or a 40% increase
--14 more points, or a 42% increase
--a +66 in goal differential or 75% tighter

--a pk that was 29th (74.1%) that is now 16th (80.8%)
--a powerplay that was 30th (11.2%) but is now 6th (20.8%)

*shrugs*
- Michael Pachla

What are we comparing this to though? I'm slowly coming around on the future of this team, but still....they have a ton of holes.

Even the great O'Reilly isn't as good as he was to start.

I get the patience aspect, but I still see very little that indicates this team will be "something special" like I have read, without another series of moves that pan out.

I commented in your previous blog that if they finish this month generally where they are now in terms of points out of the playoffs they will make a run in March for the wildcard. Whether people want that or not I don't know, but their March schedule is very friendly to the tune of 13 of 15 games against teams that are currently not in the playoffs.
- Pierceme69

You realize teams look at us and think we are apart of an easy scheduling right?

What are we comparing this to though? I'm slowly coming around on the future of this team, but still....they have a ton of holes.

Even the great O'Reilly isn't as good as he was to start.

I get the patience aspect, but I still see very little that indicates this team will be "something special" like I have read, without another series of moves that pan out.
- sbroads24

This. I see the makings of a good team in a couple of seasons. The problem is that after the last 3 years, anything less than great should be considered unacceptable.

What are we comparing this to though? I'm slowly coming around on the future of this team, but still....they have a ton of holes.

Even the great O'Reilly isn't as good as he was to start.

I get the patience aspect, but I still see very little that indicates this team will be "something special" like I have read, without another series of moves that pan out.
- sbroads24

The real patience comes in waiting for those moves to be made. Because we are no longer dealing from a position of surplus/strength, the next big trade has to be almost perfect, best chance likely comes on draft day.

This. I see the makings of a good team in a couple of seasons. The problem is that after the last 3 years, anything less than great should be considered unacceptable.
- buffalofan19

Agreed, pivotal off season coming up. It is however encouraging to see the core playing up to standards. This would be much harder to put up with if one Risto, ROR, Reinhart or Eichel were woefully underachieving.

Michael Pachla: Of the Buffalo Sabres present 28th place standing. Plus some prospect stats
- Michael Pachla

instead of trying to hold on to a 1 goal lead, I would like to see this team go all out and try to get 2 more goals when up by one.

It seems like a slow death when they change their game plan

Does Ennis still fit in with this team?
- CaptainRivet

they are still a run of the mill team speed wise, so yes a focused Ennis fits in

nobody's at fault for where they are in the standings (save for maybe the schedule maker who made it tough on them)...it's just a natural progression out of the abyss...that was the whole point

but they're a much better club...how much better is this year then last?... eye-test be damned, if my numbers are correct, at this point in the season the sabres have:

--six more wins, or a 40% increase
--14 more points, or a 42% increase
--a +66 in goal differential or 75% tighter

--a pk that was 29th (74.1%) that is now 16th (80.8%)
--a powerplay that was 30th (11.2%) but is now 6th (20.8%)

*shrugs*
- Michael Pachla

all I got from this was the 2014-15 sabres were a really bad team

much worse than the bankrupt sabres

The "company line?"

Ummm, the team IS better than the standings suggest...anyone who thinks this team has not improved, and should be in the bottom 3, hasn't watched many games.

The real patience comes in waiting for those moves to be made. Because we are no longer dealing from a position of surplus/strength, the next big trade has to be almost perfect, best chance likely comes on draft day.
- Sabresfan-365

I'd really like to see 2 trades, both for top 4 d men and a top 5 pick in the draft for a winger


I am not sold on pysyk or mccabe for 20 plus minutes a night on a team competing

of course if they signed yandle, they are 1 trade away

I'd really like to see 2 trades, both for top 4 d men and a top 5 pick in the draft for a winger


I am not sold on pysyk or mccabe for 20 plus minutes a night on a team competing

of course if they signed yandle, they are 1 trade away
- homiedclown

No way I put Keith Yandle ahead of Pysyk and McCabe, they could both be better than he ever was.

they are still a run of the mill team speed wise, so yes a focused Ennis fits in
- homiedclown

We've been agreeing a lot.

Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones
Carl Hagelin for David Perron
- sbroads24

For what we'd have to give up? Would it really make us better?

No way I put Keith Yandle ahead of Pysyk and McCabe, they could both be better than he ever was.
- DJshnooks

Based on what?

For what we'd have to give up? Would it really make us better?
- Sabresfan-365

No, but saying there isn't ever moves to be made is silly