- DDM-Coga

You're mixing your metaphors there. I'm not sure what that means. You wouldn't touch someone on a high horse with a 10' pole?

I know it's probably been discussed already, but this is the first time I've been able to get on today. Looks like Uncle Bryan won't be returning any favors, so much for Hoffman for spare parts

just thought I'd stop by to publicly thank Gary Bettman and the NHL for blacking out both of the last two games of the season on me that took place 3000 miles away.
Cant wait to find out what else i don't get to see in the playoffs!
Next year, im paying for gamecenter with a pre paid card and doing the remote VPN thing....I assume alabama or arkansas gets 100% of all NHL games....I'll set up my IP address there.....

just thought I'd stop by to publicly thank Gary Bettman and the NHL for blacking out both of the last two games of the season on me that took place 3000 miles away.
Cant wait to find out what else i don't get to see in the playoffs!
Next year, im paying for gamecenter with a pre paid card and doing the remote VPN thing....I assume alabama or arkansas gets 100% of all NHL games....I'll set up my IP address there.....
- seedy

Last 2 Sabres games?

There's gonna be a really good player available @ 8. The ONLY issue is that player won't be an NHL ready guy likely. If TM can move that pick and an asset or two for a player that is ready NOW .......... I can see him doing that. But only in that scenario.

Buffalo is at the point were we need to take the next step and have a team that has depth to be playoff ready next year. The door is now open .......prospects do not accomplish that.
- fastek

That's why we package the pick.

GMTM is a merchant. He's a natural born buyer and seller.

I meant NHL ready NOW.........

Whoever gets drafted at 8 will more than likely be an NHL player ... just a matter of when.

The only guarantees however stop at the 5 spot in most years so you do have a point.
- fastek

Im not talking about "nhl ready now", the statement that whoever is drafted at 8 will more than likely be an nhl player (or an impact player) is false.

Look at the list since 2000. They need a surefire top pairing guy, not a maybe one day he might be semi good.

I know it's probably been discussed already, but this is the first time I've been able to get on today. Looks like Uncle Bryan won't be returning any favors, so much for Hoffman for spare parts
- Wetbandit1

Dorian and Murray worked closely together, i have not given up hope

Last 2 Sabres games?
- Buffalo--Sabres

Both games tonight and the Blue Jackets game.
when theres only 2 games on total and you black them both out, you're just begging me to circumvent your system. Why the FCC isn't all over this, I'll neer know. But im done playing by the NHL rules. you can rent a VPN in another state for $20/year and log in through it. Thats the route im going next year.

I'm indifferent to it. I don't see it changing anytime soon, I think the higher ups like it as part of the whole "next chapter" thing.
- chilliard77

I guess I'm not really sure what you mean by the "next chapter" thing. The song is 20 years old.

Im not talking about "nhl ready now", the statement that whoever is drafted at 8 will more than likely be an nhl player (or an impact player) is false.

Look at the list since 2000. They need a surefire top pairing guy, not a maybe one day he might be semi good.
- Sabresfan-365

Funny how the NHL draft is such a crapshoot and how most players drafted turn out to be nothing. Not sure why that is but I've wondered such things over the years. Perhaps it's why after the first few guys go off the board everyone just drafts the best guy available and hopes for the best. Sure seems like that.

I guess I'm not really sure what you mean by the "next chapter" thing. The song is 20 years old.
- Wetbandit1

It's a reference to all the next chapter commercials they show with Jack, Sam, O'Reilly, and Kane. They're trying to build up a brand and new traditions. I think the goal song is supposed to be part of that to go along with the "next chapter" of Sabres hockey.

I guess I'm not really sure what you mean by the "next chapter" thing. The song is 20 years old.
- Wetbandit1

I'm just thankful it's no longer Blur's "Song #2". That one far outstayed it's welcome, to the point of comedy.

Im not talking about "nhl ready now", the statement that whoever is drafted at 8 will more than likely be an nhl player (or an impact player) is false.

Look at the list since 2000. They need a surefire top pairing guy, not a maybe one day he might be semi good.
- Sabresfan-365

Most teams in the lottery are not in Buffalo's position IMO in that they are not just a piece or two from becoming a contender.

I agree we need immediate help as opposed to being in the mode of rebuilding for the future like the Leafs, Columbus, Vancouver etc . might be. Those teams would be happy with a pick at 8. Two years ago so would we and the thought of moving it would have been absurd.

Im not talking about "nhl ready now", the statement that whoever is drafted at 8 will more than likely be an nhl player (or an impact player) is false.

Look at the list since 2000. They need a surefire top pairing guy, not a maybe one day he might be semi good.
- Sabresfan-365

We went through this last year with the Lehner pick. People thought we were giving up a way to print money. When in reality at that spot it's like trying to hit a single number on a roulette wheel. It's not the NFL where you're more than likely getting a pretty damn good player no matter where you pick in the first round. Unless you're the Bills and pick Aaron Maybin over Brian Orakpo, or Mike Williams over Bryant McKinnie, but at least we didn't end up with Joey Harrington that year. Or basically giving up the pick we could've used to pick Aaron Rodgers to pick JP Losman the year prior. Plus all the other guys they inexplicably picked in the intervening years.

Funny how the NHL draft is such a crapshoot and how most players drafted turn out to be nothing. Not sure why that is but I've wondered such things over the years. Perhaps it's why after the first few guys go off the board everyone just drafts the best guy available and hopes for the best. Sure seems like that.
- fastek

That's why you HAVE to be a team that finds players throughout the draft. And to figure out which of your picks won't pan out, before the rest of the league does. Development is crucial, and I'm happy the Sabres are no longer a penny-pinching organization in that regard.

Most teams in the lottery are not in Buffalo's position IMO in that they are not just a piece or two from becoming a contender.

I agree we need immediate help as opposed to being in the mode of rebuilding for the future like the Leafs, Columbus, Vancouver etc . might be. Those teams would be happy with a pick at 8. Two years ago so would we and the thought of moving it would have been absurd.
- fastek

Thought of moving it outright would have been absurd. Definitely would have paid big time to move up though.

We went through this last year with the Lehner pick. People thought we were giving up a way to print money. When in reality at that spot it's like trying to hit a single number on a roulette wheel. It's not the NFL where you're more than likely getting a pretty damn good player no matter where you pick in the first round. Unless you're the Bills and pick Aaron Maybin over Brian Orakpo, or Mike Williams over Bryant McKinnie, but at least we didn't end up with Joey Harrington that year. Or basically giving up the pick we could've used to pick Aaron Rodgers to pick JP Losman the year prior. Plus all the other guys they inexplicably picked in the intervening years.
- Wetbandit1

The value in known vs unknown is often overlooked. I disliked the lehner trade because i didnt believe investing a 1st rounder in goaltending was wise but that is a perfect example of trading the unknown for the known (at least to murray).

just thought I'd stop by to publicly thank Gary Bettman and the NHL for blacking out both of the last two games of the season on me that took place 3000 miles away.
Cant wait to find out what else i don't get to see in the playoffs!
Next year, im paying for gamecenter with a pre paid card and doing the remote VPN thing....I assume alabama or arkansas gets 100% of all NHL games....I'll set up my IP address there.....
- seedy

Every playoff game is televised on one of the NBC networks

I thought it was bullpoop that Datsyuk would go home. I didn't realize it was because of his family I figured he thought he could make more there which is a joke. The KHL will probably fold in the next 5 years. It started with them not paying the foreign players, now they can barely afford to play the domestic third line type guys. They are in a bad way.

For those of you in the bracket challenge. You can now fill out your brackets. You have until Wednesday at 6:59PM Eastern Time to complete them.

For those of you not in the bracket challenge; what the (frank) are you waiting for?! Sign up here:

Password is hockeybuzz league name is Hockeybuzz2 if the link doesn't work for you. We're up to 12 so far let's keep going!

http://bracketchallenge.nhl.com/#/league/129172

I poop you not, I just read this on Yahoo. On Pat Kane:

Chicago is deep on talent though, and Kane might even trail Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews in terms of value to the Blackhawks. His second half (33 points in 29 games) has been good but not great.
- Yahoo via Jonas Siegel The Canadian Press

Maybe not in 1985, but today that's fantastic production.

For those of you in the bracket challenge. You can now fill out your brackets. You have until Wednesday at 6:59PM Eastern Time to complete them.

For those of you not in the bracket challenge; what the (frank) are you waiting for?! Sign up here:

Password is hockeybuzz league name is Hockeybuzz2 if the link doesn't work for you. We're up to 12 so far let's keep going!

http://bracketchallenge.nhl.com/#/league/129172
- Wetbandit1

Joined.

We went through this last year with the Lehner pick. People thought we were giving up a way to print money. When in reality at that spot it's like trying to hit a single number on a roulette wheel. It's not the NFL where you're more than likely getting a pretty damn good player no matter where you pick in the first round. Unless you're the Bills and pick Aaron Maybin over Brian Orakpo, or Mike Williams over Bryant McKinnie, but at least we didn't end up with Joey Harrington that year. Or basically giving up the pick we could've used to pick Aaron Rodgers to pick JP Losman the year prior. Plus all the other guys they inexplicably picked in the intervening years.
- Wetbandit1

If this were the case scouts should probably look at maybe 15 prospects every year and then just throw a dart at a list of names after them.

If you are a good GM, or have a good scouting system, you can hit more than you miss.

I mean, our leading scorer was a 2nd round pick, our leading scorer the past 2 years (Ennis) was a late 1st rounder.

McCabe was a 2nd rounder. Pysyk a late 1st.

People act like there are 5 players in each draft that become NHL'ers

I poop you not, I just read this on Yahoo. On Pat Kane:



Maybe not in 1985, but today that's fantastic production.
- Wetbandit1

Yahoo anything…

Joined.
- chilliard77

So did I. Let's have some fun.