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Forums :: Blog World :: Michael Pachla: Robin Lehner's steely-eye shutout at Columbus
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homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Feb 20 @ 12:42 PM ET
anyone else watch vinyl?


weird show so far
Sabresfan-365
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Lockport, NY
Joined: 12.09.2012

Feb 20 @ 12:43 PM ET
agreed, and it's a good sign
- homiedclown


It's why I want them finishing bottom 5. If not, might be forced to move somebody they'd rather not to land a top pair D.....hint/wink/nudge.
IonSabres
Buffalo Sabres
Location: I said that months ago, keep up!, FL
Joined: 03.10.2013

Feb 20 @ 12:48 PM ET
Im obviously exaggerating the whole "it's the end of the world if we don't pick top 5" but I feel they need to come out of this draft with an elite player. Drafting outside the top 5 doesn't get you that unless you trade it and even then I don't know if it will be enough.
- Sabresfan-365


I have this feeling Murray finds a way into the top 3 somehow...won't be easy, but I believe he knows that is the best route to add a top 3.
sskkoo1
Buffalo Sabres
Location: You are all Weirdos, NY
Joined: 06.06.2012

Feb 20 @ 12:48 PM ET
Im obviously exaggerating the whole "it's the end of the world if we don't pick top 5" but I feel they need to come out of this draft with an elite player. Drafting outside the top 5 doesn't get you that unless you trade it and even then I don't know if it will be enough.
- Sabresfan-365


I agree. We're so close to the end of the season and we can easily add another top talent to go with what we already have, why throw that away? If we don't take one of the players at the top of the draft you know Toronto will be. I don't want to see Matthews or the one of the Fins beating us for years to come because they play for Toronto and we picked 10th in the 2016 draft. Losing to Toronto for the next decade will not be eased by saying, "Well, at least we had good team chemistry for the last 25 games of the 2015/16 season."
Sabresfan-365
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Lockport, NY
Joined: 12.09.2012

Feb 20 @ 12:49 PM ET
I agree. We're so close to the end of the season and we can easily add another top talent to go with what we already have, why throw that away? If we don't take one of the players at the top of the draft you know Toronto will be. I don't want to see Matthews or the one of the Fins beating us for years to come because they play for Toronto and we picked 10th in the 2016 draft. Losing to Toronto for the next decade will not be eased by saying, "Well, at least we had good team chemistry for the last 25 games of the 2015/16 season."
- sskkoo1


Great post, 100% agree.

The fans here are insufferable as it is, imagine if it actually worked out for them?
Sabresfan-365
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Lockport, NY
Joined: 12.09.2012

Feb 20 @ 12:52 PM ET
I have this feeling Murray finds a way into the top 3 somehow...won't be easy, but I believe he knows that is the best route to add a top 3.
- IonSabres


There's a part of me that believes he'll try to make whatever move is necessary too. I just question whether he'll be able to pull it off.

He tried really hard in 14 to get larkin with the picks and it didn't work out.
sbroads24
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We are in 30th place. It's 2017 , NY
Joined: 02.12.2012

Feb 20 @ 1:03 PM ET
There's a part of me that believes he'll try to make whatever move is necessary too. I just question whether he'll be able to pull it off.

He tried really hard in 14 to get larkin with the picks and it didn't work out.

- Sabresfan-365

Could you imagine if Darcy was able to land Domi in 13 and Murray landed Larkin in '14?
Michael Pachla
Buffalo Sabres
Location: solid!!!
Joined: 09.05.2007

Feb 20 @ 1:04 PM ET
I agree. We're so close to the end of the season and we can easily add another top talent to go with what we already have, why throw that away? If we don't take one of the players at the top of the draft you know Toronto will be. I don't want to see Matthews or the one of the Fins beating us for years to come because they play for Toronto and we picked 10th in the 2016 draft. Losing to Toronto for the next decade will not be eased by saying, "Well, at least we had good team chemistry for the last 25 games of the 2015/16 season."
- sskkoo1

the players are playing the game to their talent-level...

wadr, I'd like to see you approach lehner with that train of thought...nothing personal
mhp
Buffalo Sabres
Location: PROUD MEMBER OF RED SOX NATION SINCE 1975!!!! , SD
Joined: 01.14.2008

Feb 20 @ 1:06 PM ET
Sugar Ray Lehner
Michael Pachla
Buffalo Sabres
Location: solid!!!
Joined: 09.05.2007

Feb 20 @ 1:08 PM ET
Sugar Ray Lehner
- mhp


sweet
Sabresfan-365
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Lockport, NY
Joined: 12.09.2012

Feb 20 @ 1:08 PM ET
Could you imagine if Darcy was able to land Domi in 13 and Murray landed Larkin in '14?
- sbroads24


This is exactly what Im getting at.

Nobody will remember the wins in April. Everyone will remember this. We've already missed out twice (well the zads pick became o'reilly but still) but can live with those because we still walked away with potentially elite players.
LandlordTom
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Ice girls, please, NY
Joined: 07.16.2011

Feb 20 @ 1:09 PM ET
Great post, 100% agree.

The fans here are insufferable as it is, imagine if it actually worked out for them?

- Sabresfan-365


Someone posted the odds for 6th-last place as being 6%, and for last-place as being 10%...not exactly a huge difference. Of course, I want the best pick we can get. But we're not talking about a nail-biting plan to tank like last year (thank God) is going to guarantee much of anything. If we were to, hypothetically, trade away so many assets that we get #1 or #2 by sucking the rest of this year and finishing last, then our hockey team is still in a crappy position, even with another shiny new rookie toy next year.
I sure don't have all the nuance down on how this year's lottery is set up, but we're not going to win 4-0 every game from now on. I will enjoy every win we get. Soft tank, no tank, Hank-the-Tank, whatever.
sskkoo1
Buffalo Sabres
Location: You are all Weirdos, NY
Joined: 06.06.2012

Feb 20 @ 1:16 PM ET
the players are playing the game to their talent-level...

wadr, I'd like to see you approach lehner with that train of thought...nothing personal

- Michael Pachla


Of course you can't tell the players to lose, but recent history has shown us that the organization can ice a losing team. Shelf Ennis, shelf Bogo now that he's injured, move the UFA's, make the trades of Foligno, Franson, Larsson if they are the ones to be moved, bring up Rochester prospects and call it evaluating. Things can be done, it's called "tanking" we know how to play the game. Every player at the top of the draft can either be a player that helps us win in the future, or they can be a player that helps us lose in the future because they play for someone else. With so few games left in a playoff less season, where do you want this team to be?
Sabresfan-365
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Lockport, NY
Joined: 12.09.2012

Feb 20 @ 1:17 PM ET
Someone posted the odds for 6th-last place as being 6%, and for last-place as being 10%...not exactly a huge difference. Of course, I want the best pick we can get. But we're not talking about a nail-biting plan to tank like last year (thank God) is going to guarantee much of anything. If we were to, hypothetically, trade away so many assets that we get #1 or #2 by sucking the rest of this year and finishing last, then our hockey team is still in a crappy position, even with another shiny new rookie toy next year.
I sure don't have all the nuance down on how this year's lottery is set up, but we're not going to win 4-0 every game from now on. I will enjoy every win we get. Soft tank, no tank, Hank-the-Tank, whatever.

- LandlordTom


I think it's 7.5% but it goes up after each spot is taken. I don't need them to bottom out (unlikely they will) but don't want them missing out on a shiny new toy. And I don't think a few losses mean that they are in a worse position than if they win those games.
Pope of Pucks
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Miller's Dark Shadows, AZ
Joined: 08.04.2009

Feb 20 @ 1:18 PM ET
anyone know what the status is on Bogosian?
gerbe75pts
Anaheim Ducks
Location: DRAFT COLE CAUFIELD AT 7!!!, CA
Joined: 09.03.2009

Feb 20 @ 1:19 PM ET
McGinn keeps this up he might get us a first rounder
gerbe75pts
Anaheim Ducks
Location: DRAFT COLE CAUFIELD AT 7!!!, CA
Joined: 09.03.2009

Feb 20 @ 1:21 PM ET
Could you imagine if Darcy was able to land Domi in 13 and Murray landed Larkin in '14?
- sbroads24


I'm pretty sure he didn't want Larkin at that pick ..
gerbe75pts
Anaheim Ducks
Location: DRAFT COLE CAUFIELD AT 7!!!, CA
Joined: 09.03.2009

Feb 20 @ 1:22 PM ET
Sugar Ray Lehner
- mhp



He definitely has some Roy In him my dad said
Mentalorgasm5
Buffalo Sabres
Location: "F-" Robert, NY
Joined: 06.29.2007

Feb 20 @ 1:23 PM ET
Yeah, here's what I think. While it's unlikely any of us has a clue about what's inside Darcy's head, and things like the salary cap, NTCs/NMCs, and the declining economy's impact on future revenues make it nearly impossible to trade anyone of any significance, it's not inconceivable that the Sabres could make a mid-season move.

Vanek, Roy, Miller, Pommer are probably not on the block since they represent the young core of this team and are all locked up long-term. We all know Vanek's contract is insane, but given the length and amount of the others, it seems unlikely to me there's a better deal out there. Remember Larry Quinn is a numbers guy, and 5 mil 6 years from now will be looking pretty good. Roy's deal is an especially favorable one for the club. You might even be able to throw Goose into this category b/c his value to the Sabres is high given his hustle and toughness.

Max, Kotalik, and Connolly are popular choices for a change of venue, but their UFA status would mean they'd need to go to a contender for the receiving team to be willing to assume the risk. That said, what's the likelihood of a contender sending the Sabres something worthy of a blockbuster? That's not even taking into account Max sucking for the last 2 years, Kotalik getting a reputation of being lazy, and (Tin) Connolly being more fragile than the leg lamp in A Christmas Story. This, coming from the guy who actually owns a Connolly jersey.

As far as young talent at forward goes, Stafford, MacArthur, Paille are the only roster players in that category. They're all tradable, but not enough to bring in an impact player. To me, the Sabres would need to include one of Mancari, Gerbe, or Kennedy to get another team interested. Possible, though Gerbe seems like he's got a future here.

Lastly, if they're really trying to fix the recent injury problem at defense, they're not going to trade any defensemen. Even still, it's more likely they'll do what they did last year and bring in a veteran like Nolan Pratt to temporarily fill the gap until Weber and Sekera are healthy again (a few weeks?). I haven't looked to see who like that is available, but they found someone last year and could probably do it again.

We Sabres fans have gotten used to the fact that Darcy rarely makes any moves. In fact, who really does anymore? I'd love to be wrong, but not at the expense of 26 / 9 / 30 / 29. You can have Peters. Twice.
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Feb 20 @ 1:23 PM ET
anyone know what the status is on Bogosian?
- Pope of Pucks

STINKS
Sabresfan-365
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Lockport, NY
Joined: 12.09.2012

Feb 20 @ 1:25 PM ET
I'm pretty sure he didn't want Larkin at that pick ..
- gerbe75pts



He tried to trade back into the first round for larkin, not at 2nd overall.
Sabresfan-365
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Lockport, NY
Joined: 12.09.2012

Feb 20 @ 1:25 PM ET
Yeah, here's what I think. While it's unlikely any of us has a clue about what's inside Darcy's head, and things like the salary cap, NTCs/NMCs, and the declining economy's impact on future revenues make it nearly impossible to trade anyone of any significance, it's not inconceivable that the Sabres could make a mid-season move.

Vanek, Roy, Miller, Pommer are probably not on the block since they represent the young core of this team and are all locked up long-term. We all know Vanek's contract is insane, but given the length and amount of the others, it seems unlikely to me there's a better deal out there. Remember Larry Quinn is a numbers guy, and 5 mil 6 years from now will be looking pretty good. Roy's deal is an especially favorable one for the club. You might even be able to throw Goose into this category b/c his value to the Sabres is high given his hustle and toughness.

Max, Kotalik, and Connolly are popular choices for a change of venue, but their UFA status would mean they'd need to go to a contender for the receiving team to be willing to assume the risk. That said, what's the likelihood of a contender sending the Sabres something worthy of a blockbuster? That's not even taking into account Max sucking for the last 2 years, Kotalik getting a reputation of being lazy, and (Tin) Connolly being more fragile than the leg lamp in A Christmas Story. This, coming from the guy who actually owns a Connolly jersey.

As far as young talent at forward goes, Stafford, MacArthur, Paille are the only roster players in that category. They're all tradable, but not enough to bring in an impact player. To me, the Sabres would need to include one of Mancari, Gerbe, or Kennedy to get another team interested. Possible, though Gerbe seems like he's got a future here.

Lastly, if they're really trying to fix the recent injury problem at defense, they're not going to trade any defensemen. Even still, it's more likely they'll do what they did last year and bring in a veteran like Nolan Pratt to temporarily fill the gap until Weber and Sekera are healthy again (a few weeks?). I haven't looked to see who like that is available, but they found someone last year and could probably do it again.

We Sabres fans have gotten used to the fact that Darcy rarely makes any moves. In fact, who really does anymore? I'd love to be wrong, but not at the expense of 26 / 9 / 30 / 29. You can have Peters. Twice.

- Mentalorgasm5


God I really hate this post.
Frizzlefry
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Don't get so high and mighty about your superiority over Lockport, NY
Joined: 10.10.2015

Feb 20 @ 1:26 PM ET
anyone else watch vinyl?


weird show so far

- homiedclown


I'd like to but no HBO. The subject interests me. Thought I just read they ordered a second season. Hope it's done well so I can enjoy it in three years on Netflix.

Weird in a good way?
Pope of Pucks
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Miller's Dark Shadows, AZ
Joined: 08.04.2009

Feb 20 @ 1:26 PM ET
STINKS
- homiedclown

Hehe. I should have known better. Does he stink like Sam, like lehner, like Kane or like Weber?
homiedclown
Buffalo Sabres
Location: We want 1, FL
Joined: 02.24.2008

Feb 20 @ 1:26 PM ET
McGinn keeps this up he might get us a first rounder
- gerbe75pts

perron got the oilers a 1st and a player, if mcginn keeps it up, he may get us a first


I'd grab the second today if I could though and move him now, always worry about players with wonky backs

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