i have stats i dont understand that back this up
- Sabresfan-365

I wish I knew the stats.

Im not sure what hes done that would make me believe he can be part of a cup contending core.
- Sabresfan-365

Oh now its a "cup contending core" ok. Hes a young highly drafted player. Hes part of the core. We dont know how anyone will perform in the playoffs at this point. Its possible that your definition of core and mine are different. Thats fine.

sabres pick Kea in the 3rd round when players like Gostisbehere and Parayko are on the board

Oh now its a "cup contending core" ok. Hes a young highly drafted player. Hes part of the core. We dont know how anyone will perform in the playoffs at this point. Its possible that your definition of core and mine are different. Thats fine.
- MCGUIZZY

my group of a core


top 3 centers
top 4 d men
2 wingers
maybe a goalie

Oh now its a "cup contending core" ok. Hes a young highly drafted player. Hes part of the core. We dont know how anyone will perform in the playoffs at this point. Its possible that your definition of core and mine are different. Thats fine.
- MCGUIZZY

yea i think thats it.

I dunno i look at what the hawks worked with, 5 notable guys

toews,kane,hossa,seabrook,keith.

which of these is reinhart? These guys pre anchoring contract/in prime killed it. Reinharts very good but hes not toews, kane or hossa.

Eichel, ROR and Risto I can buy. The rest? dont really strike fear into another team.

sabres pick Kea in the 3rd round when players like Gostisbehere and Parayko are on the board
- homiedclown

I choose not to get upset about any players past the 2nd round. I do think the 1st and the second round are the most crucial to get right. And if you miss on either of those I think it deserves legitimate criticism.

I choose not to get upset about any players past the 2nd round. I do think the 1st and the second round are the most crucial to get right. And if you miss on either of those I think it deserves legitimate criticism.
- MCGUIZZY

Lemieux, Cornel, Karabacek

We should get Jacob Moverare out of LA. That's the guy we should be looking at. Could be Karlsson 2.0.

yea i think thats it.

I dunno i look at what the hawks worked with, 5 notable guys

toews,kane,hossa,seabrook,keith.

which of these is reinhart? These guys pre anchoring contract/in prime killed it. Reinharts very good but hes not toews, kane or hossa.

Eichel, ROR and Risto I can buy. The rest? dont really strike fear into another team.
- Sabresfan-365

Well he may not be = to any of those guys but hes a piece of the puzzle thats young and id like to think he will get better. I see him more as a David Krejci type. Someone not as flashy but will be very important to have long term in your "core"

That's where you are wrong

There are 3 maybe 4 teams that are selling 1 defensemen so 3 or 4 players

There are at least10 teams that are going to try to improve their blue line.
- Stripes77

Anaheim, Minny, Carolina, NyI, Pitt, Chicago, Cbus, Dallas, Habs, Ottawa, San Jose, StL, Caps, Winnipeg...

ALL have a 4th (some 5th & even 6th) defenseman they can't protect
As for who is buying...

I left out Nashville bc I think they go 4-4-1,
But they'll lose a forward they'd like to keep (Jarnkrok or Wilson probably)

U hear a team like Edmonton for example,
but then would they not protect Klefbom ?

Not all these teams that want to improve defense have open slots as far as Expansion is concerned

Lemieux, Cornel, Karabacek
- homiedclown

*pukes*


Connor Hurley too

The Ducks either get Bieksa to agree to waive his ntc in order to be exposed or they buy him out. Injured or not. I believe Vatanen is traded.
- poisondhearts37

i thought there is a problem buying bieksa out because he is over 35. Anyone?

my group of a core


top 3 centers
top 4 d men
2 wingers
maybe a goalie
- homiedclown

Eichel, O'Reilly, Reinhart
Ristolainen, ?????, ?????, McCabe
Okposo, Kane, Nylander
Maybe Lehner

*pukes*


Connor Hurley too
- MCGUIZZY

I hated the Hurley pick
Wanted Santini

i thought there is a problem buying bieksa out because he is over 35. Anyone?
- rover16

That only applies if you're 35 when u sign the deal
He was 32/33

After watching the Pens game last night, I'm not so sure that we ARE that far off:

I thought the thing that held us back all year was defense. It did. We had too many AHL caliber players getting big minutes on the big club. At the same point, the defenders that the Pens have...are lackluster at best. Maata looked so-so at best (goofed a couple of times) and Gleason/Hainsey looked just solid enough not to be lost.

Here's what I saw. Ron Hainsey half way through the first OT, had a puck come to him in the air. He had separation enough to put the puck down and play it, but instead he batted it out of the zone. He understands his role is not to possess the puck, but simply to always keep it moving forward...get it out of the zone. It seemed like none of the defenders were making any long lead passes, they were simple outs if anything. Worst case scenario they'd kill the puck by the boards and let one of their talented forwards come dig it out.

The thing that I saw win Pit the game last night was a dazzling offense. Malkin, Crosby, Kessel, Kunitz, Guentzal...they were all flying. They were fast, they forchecked aggressively and as soon as the puck was on there stick they were attacking up ice. I think that we have some forwards in our system that could round out this type of offense. What we need are competent stay at home defenders who can get the puck OUT! No flashy passes or spin-o-ramas...just chips off the glass or hard passes to the wall for breakouts.

With Eichel, RoR, Kane, Risto, Reinhart and Okposo...if we can get even a couple of "decent" defenders to fill holes...I really do think we could make the playoffs next year without significant upgrade. Call me crazy, but out of both teams last night (other than Karlsson and Maata) I didn't see a single defender that impressed me. Bunch of stop gap nobodies and some world class forwards.

yes because there are four picks between 7 and 10 and like 170 something after 15. What are the odds we get one of them? Surest way is via top 10
- Sabresfan-365

I just meant 1st round

GMTM is gone because the D sucked last and he latched onto d*ckhead Dan as a coach. past is the past, we move on. Sergachev over Nylander would have made a lot of sense, but if Alex develops anything like William has, GMTM made the right choice.
- turbo044

There is a lot more to it then that

That only applies if you're 35 when u sign the deal
He was 32/33
- jdfitz77

thank you. i saw somebody on cap friendly mention it, but it might be a glitch in their software

That only applies if you're 35 when u sign the deal
He was 32/33
- jdfitz77

its not when he is bought out as opposed to when it was signed?

I hated the Hurley pick
Wanted Santini
- jdfitz77

It was such an obvious pick. i liked him alot leading up to the draft too

Lemieux, Cornel, Karabacek
- homiedclown

Murray's biggest screw up IMO...
was that 2014 2nd round
Unfreakingbelievable
Ugh

It was such an obvious pick. i liked him alot leading up to the draft too
- MCGUIZZY

I agree
Thought the 2014 2nd round screw ups were obvious too

And I'm talking at that time, not in hindsight

After watching the Pens game last night, I'm not so sure that we ARE that far off:

I thought the thing that held us back all year was defense. It did. We had too many AHL caliber players getting big minutes on the big club. At the same point, the defenders that the Pens have...are lackluster at best. Maata looked so-so at best (goofed a couple of times) and Gleason/Hainsey looked just solid enough not to be lost.

Here's what I saw. Ron Hainsey half way through the first OT, had a puck come to him in the air. He had separation enough to put the puck down and play it, but instead he batted it out of the zone. He understands his role is not to possess the puck, but simply to always keep it moving forward...get it out of the zone. It seemed like none of the defenders were making any long lead passes, they were simple outs if anything. Worst case scenario they'd kill the puck by the boards and let one of their talented forwards come dig it out.

The thing that I saw win Pit the game last night was a dazzling offense. Malkin, Crosby, Kessel, Kunitz, Guentzal...they were all flying. They were fast, they forchecked aggressively and as soon as the puck was on there stick they were attacking up ice. I think that we have some forwards in our system that could round out this type of offense. What we need are competent stay at home defenders who can get the puck OUT! No flashy passes or spin-o-ramas...just chips off the glass or hard passes to the wall for breakouts.

With Eichel, RoR, Kane, Risto, Reinhart and Okposo...if we can get even a couple of "decent" defenders to fill holes...I really do think we could make the playoffs next year without significant upgrade. Call me crazy, but out of both teams last night (other than Karlsson and Maata) I didn't see a single defender that impressed me. Bunch of stop gap nobodies and some world class forwards.
- RhinoFan

eichel and kane are fast. kane might be on the outs. lots of ways to skin a cat, but if you wanna be fast, not sure we have the right horses. nylander should help, then asplund/pu/bailey/baptiste, but our best skill players are not particularly fast.

its not when he is bought out as opposed to when it was signed?
- IndianaSabresFan

I'm pretty sure
Unless it changed?