Michael Pachla: Sabres beginning to figure things out
Two goals and a monster Jake McCabe hit turn the tide as the team is starting to grwo
- Michael Pachla

So, don't fire Blysma?

Don't get too excited. You were playing the Jets. They will be in the bottom three this year at the end.
- justsaying

Aw, c'mon. It's been another crap year and were trying to find something to be happy about. Don't take a third period comeback away from us.

So, don't fire Blysma?
- Canada Cup

Easy now. There's always room to make a reactionary, emotional, mid-season move.

Aw, c'mon. It's been another crap year and were trying to find something to be happy about. Don't take a third period comeback away from us.
- PrinceChill

It ain't taken away from me

Another solid write-up Michael. Thanks for your objective analysis of the situation. You writings tend to tilt towards a "glass half full" thinking vs "the Sabres presently suck and will always suck" thinking. It is refreshing and needed. Negativity is toxic.

On another note, why is there so much hate for Lehner/Nilsson (particularly Lehner)? The Sabres have a .919 save percentage which ranks 6th in the NHL. I think Lehner is turning into that #1 we are all hoping for. In fact, I think goal-tending is probably #3 in terms of our issues to fix moving forward. Priority #1 is fixing the D followed by getting/promoting another Top 6 winger, ideally someone fast who can work well with Jack.

Keep the faith. Go Sabres Go!

Another solid write-up Michael. Thanks for your objective analysis of the situation. You writings tend to tilt towards a "glass half full" thinking vs "the Sabres presently suck and will always suck" thinking. It is refreshing and needed. Negativity is toxic.

On another note, why is there so much hate for Lehner/Nilsson (particularly Lehner)? The Sabres have a .919 save percentage which ranks 6th in the NHL. I think Lehner is turning into that #1 we are all hoping for. In fact, I think goal-tending is probably #3 in terms of our issues to fix moving forward. Priority #1 is fixing the D followed by getting/promoting another Top 6 winger, ideally someone fast who can work well with Jack.

Keep the faith. Go Sabres Go!
- SabreWest

I don't think it's hate, but people are simply upset over the asset management when it comes to our goaltending. Unfortunately, Lehner is going to be the fall guy.

Look at it this way, Murray paid a 1st rounder in a deep draft for a guy who may or may not have been worth it. He then found a guy with the same attributes (Nilsson) who roughly has the same production and only paid a 5th for him. While this is happening, we may also risk losing a good, well-developing goalie prospect (Ullmark) to expansion draft. And, now there's talk of losing yet another good goalie prospect (Petersen) to FA because Murray had to have Lehner and refuses to let any other goalies in the system battle for the #1 spot.

This is a lot to handle from the fan standpoint. Imagine overpaying for a car while you have three really good cars just sitting in your driveway unused. Now imagine that the three unused cars you got for free you were now going to lose since you didn't bother ever using them... And, it's all because you stubbornly took the standpoint of, I'm only going to drive the car I overpaid for because-damn it-I overpaid and now I'm going to get use out of it regardless if I lose the other cars.

It's a bad situation all around.

I don't think it's hate, but people are simply upset over the asset management when it comes to our goaltending. Unfortunately, Lehner is going to be the fall guy.

Look at it this way, Murray paid a 1st rounder in a deep draft for a guy who may or may not have been worth it. He then found a guy with the same attributes (Nilsson) who roughly has the same production and only paid a 5th for him. While this is happening, we may also risk losing a good, well-developing goalie prospect (Ullmark) to expansion draft. And, now there's talk of losing yet another good goalie prospect (Petersen) to FA because Murray had to have Lehner and refuses to let any other goalies in the system battle for the #1 spot.

This is a lot to handle from the fan standpoint. Imagine overpaying for a car while you have three really good cars just sitting in your driveway unused. Now imagine that the three unused cars you got for free you were now going to lose since you didn't bother ever using them... And, it's all because you stubbornly took the standpoint of, I'm only going to drive the car I overpaid for because-damn it-I overpaid and now I'm going to get use out of it regardless if I lose the other cars.

It's a bad situation all around.
- sskkoo1

This. And he gave away the house, the kids, the boat, the dog and the wife over a few other used cars that he liked in Ottawa

From last blog

Speculation but Kris Baker has sources whom he seems confident in.

"Here's what we know: Cal Petersen likely to exit NCAA, can sign a two-year ELC shortly after his season. Will it be with Buff? Maybe."
"If I'm Petersen's agent, I want to know if Sabres are going to commit to a 25-year-old Robin Lehner long term."
"worth noting that I'm not doing my job if only looking at it from Buffalo-based lens. Have to consider all perspectives and situations."
"it's an evolving situation or as CNN would like to say "fluid", but I trust my info and Buff very much alive in the process"

This is from a guy watching Notre Dame game
@SabresProspects watching the ND game. They said Peterson might go the Vessey route. Any thoughts?


So what we know is Bakers speculation/rumblings he's hearing plus the national guys at Notre Dame broadcast apparently said something which I do not know the exact wording of but would like to
- bluengold12

they need to change the rules


if you will not sign the entry level deal with the team that drafts you, you must sit out a year before you become a free agent

imagine if eichel played for 3 years in college and then signed with another team in august

Michael Pachla: Sabres beginning to figure things out
Two goals and a monster Jake McCabe hit turn the tide as the team is starting to grwo
- Michael Pachla

I wonder what the sabres record is with falk and fedun in the lineup together


the eye test says they are better with them vs the deplorables (gorges, franson and bogo)


did you mean to spell grow as grwo?

they need to change the rules


if you will not sign the entry level deal with the team that drafts you, you must sit out a year before you become a free agent

imagine if eichel played for 3 years in college and then signed with another team in august
- homiedclown

can't imagine the players would go for that. Plus its not guys like eichel and hanifin that do that. staying means waiting longer for that pay day that they know is coming because they're super talented.

I think at best they'll introduce some sort of compensation scheme

can't imagine the players would go for that. Plus its not guys like eichel and hanifin that do that. staying means waiting longer for that pay day that they know is coming because they're super talented.

I think at best they'll introduce some sort of compensation scheme
- Sabresfan-365

I think if your drafted, that is where you play

if you don't like it, go overseas

If Cal Petersen decides to leave school after his junior year, the only team he can sign with is Buffalo until August 15, 2018. Per CBA they own his rights until after his 4th year of college. He's a Junior now. He would become a UFA after 8/15/18. I just read through it and have been chatting on a Sabres site about this very issue. Kris Baker isn't correct.

I think if your drafted, that is where you play

if you don't like it, go overseas
- homiedclown

they'd come off looking so bad. The ncaa players choose not to sign an elc which is their right and then continue pursuing an education of some sort. Now the league should put some sort of ultimatum on that?

The PR nightmare from that isnt worth changing the rule on the occasional vesey or schultz.

If Cal Petersen decides to leave school after his junior year, the only team he can sign with is Buffalo until August 15, 2018. Per CBA they own his rights until after his 4th year of college. He's a Junior now. He would become a UFA after 8/15/18. I just read through it and have been chatting on a Sabres site about this very issue. Kris Baker isn't correct.
- mhp

That's what i was trying to get at yesterday but i dont use the words so good


I thought that was part of the reason Vesey chose to stay that extra year so he could finish school and have that option to hit FA

That's what i was trying to get at yesterday but i dont use the words so good


I thought that was part of the reason Vesey chose to stay that extra year so he could finish school and have that option to hit FA
- Sabresfan-365

Exactly. If Petersen chooses to leave ND he would have to sit for 17 months or so before he goes to UFA, which he won't. My belief is if he leaves ND he will sign with Buffalo.

Now if he stays for his senior season, that's where it will get tricky for Buffalo.

If Cal Petersen decides to leave school after his junior year, the only team he can sign with is Buffalo until August 15, 2018. Per CBA they own his rights until after his 4th year of college. He's a Junior now. He would become a UFA after 8/15/18. I just read through it and have been chatting on a Sabres site about this very issue. Kris Baker isn't correct.
- mhp

Well researched, mhp. Thank you for doing your homework and letting the rest of us cheat off of you in homeroom.

Exactly. If Petersen chooses to leave ND he would have to sit for 17 months or so before he goes to UFA, which he won't. My belief is if he leaves ND he will sign with Buffalo.

Now if he stays for his senior season, that's where it will get tricky for Buffalo.
- mhp

Thats where you'd hope some sort of decision on lehner would have been made. I mean if lehners his guy at least try and get some sort of value for Cal like the preds did with Vesey.

Well researched, mhp. Thank you for doing your homework and letting the rest of us cheat off of you in homeroom.
- PrinceChill

This.

If Cal Petersen decides to leave school after his junior year, the only team he can sign with is Buffalo until August 15, 2018. Per CBA they own his rights until after his 4th year of college. He's a Junior now. He would become a UFA after 8/15/18. I just read through it and have been chatting on a Sabres site about this very issue. Kris Baker isn't correct.
- mhp

That's what I thought. That a college kid had to complete all 4 years of school in order to win his UFA status, per CBA.

Well researched, mhp. Thank you for doing your homework and letting the rest of us cheat off of you in homeroom.
- PrinceChill

You're welcome, happy to help.

Well, if Petersen's rights are with Buffalo until the summer of 2018 than we should definitely know by then if Lehner is our long term guy or not. If, he's even questionable like he is now, than the answer is NO and give Petersen a shot.

You're welcome, happy to help.
- mhp

Why would Baker have this wrong? Guy seems to know his stuff

Why would Baker have this wrong? Guy seems to know his stuff
- bluengold12

did he actually say petersen is leaving this year? i dont think he was specific just saying in general

Thats where you'd hope some sort of decision on lehner would have been made. I mean if lehners his guy at least try and get some sort of value for Cal like the preds did with Vesey.
- Sabresfan-365

I would think it's up to Cal first. His season ends in mid March or so and he has to then decide what he will do. They don't have to re-sign Lehner till the summer. So it's your move first Cal. We'll see what happens.

Why would Baker have this wrong? Guy seems to know his stuff
- bluengold12

Don't know. If I was on twitter I'd call him out on it.