Lombardi should not be dismissed as a replacement g.m.! They need to hear his ideas for the club, and go on and listen to the other candidates, it should be a complete process leaving no stone unturned,and you guys should be excited about this off season! your turn next season to surprise and hopefully go to a round of playoffs (maybe more?) very exciting time for buffalo, new g.m.,coach, some players, the draft, nylander, free agency, trades!

So you don't think Bishop is an upgrade over Lehner ?
- 22sabresQ

Can we say no to both ..

Larsson will be gone IMO. I like him, but the bottom of the lineup needs speed
- sbroads24

I don't see Larsson as being slow, he is one of those players who doesn't look like he's skating hard, but he has sneaky speed, He is a real SOB to play against, good on faceoffs and he was just starting to figure out where to go to score goals when he took the cheap shot from McQuade that ended his season. What? no penalty, what a shock

As I sit here today, my ideal forward lineup for next year looks something like this,
Nylander-Eichel-Baptiste
Kane-O'Reilly-Okposo
Carrier-Reinhart-Fasching
Foligno-Larsson-Rodrigues
Girgensons-Bailey
It's time for some these kids to show what they got, there is talent there, it just needs to be nurtured.
- macman9

Nylander wont be here .. I think we really need to trade for an upgrade forward like one of our posters here Rick Nash would look good

Ugh... I was almost going to say that Murray would never go for it.

But, I guess if we could sign Bishop to a reasonable contract and then flipped Lehner for an asset, maybe a 2nd rounder, it might not be a bad option.
- sskkoo1

no way, similar career numbers and Lehner is 5 years younger hitting his prime 3mil cheaper.. Fix the D and i am positive his GAA will be more like 2.30.. We also could not score 5 on 5...

I agree with you that Nylander on Jacks wing should look good! Start the two of them together right from the get go,Jacks elite and needs a top goalscorer with speed then get someone who can bang and work the boards on the other wing! There this stuff is easy peasy

Nylander wont be here .. I think we really need to trade for an upgrade forward like one of our posters here Rick Nash would look good
- GERBE!!!75PTS

I know you're kidding right!......

no way, similar career numbers and Lehner is 5 years younger hitting his prime 3mil cheaper.. Fix the D and i am positive his GAA will be more like 2.30.. We also could not score 5 on 5...
- hehateme

You wait til the end of summer when no one wants bishop, cause of injuries and money, then sign him to a show me deal! Again easy peasy!

Nylander wont be here .. I think we really need to trade for an upgrade forward like one of our posters here Rick Nash would look good
- GERBE!!!75PTS

That seems pretty definitive, I would think that would all depend on the type of off- season he has. He needs to get stronger and that is certainly doable.
Haven't we had enough of over priced old players, I'm sure if Nash has any limited movement clause in his contract, we aren't near the top of the list. I would rather offer sheet a guy like Victor Ardvadsson

Nylander wont be here .. I think we really need to trade for an upgrade forward like one of our posters here Rick Nash would look good
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Oh shat I thought you ment trade Nylander!

I agree with you that Nylander on Jacks wing should look good! Start the two of them together right from the get go,Jacks elite and needs a top goalscorer with speed then get someone who can bang and work the boards on the other wing! There this stuff is easy peasy
- MR.Hunter

I also think Baptiste could thrive with Eichel, he is a finisher, he scored 44 goals playing on a line with Connor McDavid.

As I sit here today, my ideal forward lineup for next year looks something like this,
Nylander-Eichel-Baptiste
Kane-O'Reilly-Okposo
Carrier-Reinhart-Fasching
Foligno-Larsson-Rodrigues
Girgensons-Bailey
It's time for some these kids to show what they got, there is talent there, it just needs to be nurtured.
- macman9

its hard for me to picture us in the playoffs next year with this line up..

then again, I have to imagine the upside would be higher than- Moulson, Gionta, Deslauriers and maybe even ennis. Still not saying much tho

Larsson will be gone IMO. I like him, but the bottom of the lineup needs speed
- sbroads24

One more thing about Larsson, 7 game winners out of 16 goals the last 2 years

I know you're kidding right!......
- MR.Hunter

About nylander ?

As I sit here today, my ideal forward lineup for next year looks something like this,
Nylander-Eichel-Baptiste
Kane-O'Reilly-Okposo
Carrier-Reinhart-Fasching
Foligno-Larsson-Rodrigues
Girgensons-Bailey
It's time for some these kids to show what they got, there is talent there, it just needs to be nurtured.
- macman9

d

Your ideal team would be the same players that failed last year in a different configuration?

We need some roster turnover and whoever gets the GM job isn't going to just run out GMTMs guys and expect to win.

That seems pretty definitive, I would think that would all depend on the type of off- season he has. He needs to get stronger and that is certainly doable.
Haven't we had enough of over priced old players, I'm sure if Nash has any limited movement clause in his contract, we aren't near the top of the list. I would rather offer sheet a guy like Victor Ardvadsson
- macman9

I would feel really bad if we did that to Nashville lol

But if we're talking offer sheets lets send

one of those to the Oilers for Leon draisaitl

its hard for me to picture us in the playoffs next year with this line up..

then again, I have to imagine the upside would be higher than- Moulson, Gionta, Deslauriers and maybe even ennis
- MCGUIZZY

It's hard for me to picture the playoffs with any lineup, at least next year. I guess that would depend on how much we improve our defense.

It's hard for me to picture the playoffs with any lineup, at least next year. I guess that would depend on how much we improve our defense.
- macman9

Well i guess my point is that we need to add better/proven players throughout the line up. Not just defense

I would feel really bad if we did that to Nashville lol

But if we're talking offer sheets lets send

one of those to the Oilers for Leon draisaitl
- GERBE!!!75PTS

That would fine also, But I don't think you have to pay as much for Ardvadsson

I don't see Larsson as being slow, he is one of those players who doesn't look like he's skating hard, but he has sneaky speed, He is a real SOB to play against, good on faceoffs and he was just starting to figure out where to go to score goals when he took the cheap shot from McQuade that ended his season. What? no penalty, what a shock
- macman9

Foligno-Larsson-Gionta line was playing well too
They even got some tough defensive assignments & stayed fairly productive scoring goals
Larsson was on pace for 14goals & Foligno had 13, Gionta 15

Seems like a pretty good 4th line to me...
But their production would obviously drop with reduced ice time

A David Pastrnak offer sheet could be our redemption for not giving one to Kucherov

Just saying

Michael Pachla: Dean Lombardi shouldn't be dismissed out of hand
- Michael Pachla

Nice blog


Dare I say

Solid

I think Nylander could work on the nhl team next year in a sheltered role but its very tempting to leave him in the AHL another year and slide the ELC one more time.


Assuming the development goes well youd be getting a top 6 forward at rookie money for 3 years right around the time you expect to compete. Thats the kind of flexibility this team desperately needs.

A David Pastrnak offer sheet could be our redemption for not giving one to Kucherov

Just saying
- MCGUIZZY

the amount youd have to give to get boston to say no, to a division rival no less...just dont think itll happen.

A David Pastrnak offer sheet could be our redemption for not giving one to Kucherov

Just saying
- MCGUIZZY

The only problem is does he want to come here but I'm all for it

And plus we all know Boston is going to try to sign Jack eichel to an offer sheet

And I don't care if we ruin the relationship with Boston