Who knows if/when/what level Okposo will ever play in the NHL again. Going into next year, Reinhart is the only proven commodity for a top-6 wing. It is dire at that position
- jcragcrumple

I believe he will be an amnesty buyout post lockout

I believe he will be an amnesty buyout post lockout
- Sabresfan-365

Depending how this goes, it could be a savard situation

nah man this team is close, we lose by one goal. We just need to keep adding. We can just add a couple top 4 d-men, top 6 wingers, and a starting goaltender this off season.
- Sabresfan-365

Lol
I think that both opinions are probably a bit extreme

We’ve been playing decent hockey & beating good teams...
but...
we still obviously have major holes that need to be filled

There’s a handful of guys Murray picked/signed that we are about to find out about

Guhle, Bailey, Baptiste, Fasching, Cj Smith, E Rod, Nylander...
these guys are all about to become players for us that can fill a roll,
(which specific role that ends up being is key)
Or they’re gonna be gone within 2-3years

Murray SUCKED with the moves he made for the Sabres
Maybe if these young guys turn into something, we can look back & day that at least he did “something” right

Who knows if/when/what level Okposo will ever play in the NHL again. Going into next year, Reinhart is the only proven commodity for a top-6 wing. It is dire at that position
- jcragcrumple

True
Lot of “what ifs” though

I still think Bailey & Baptiste can be decent players for us
But i think I’m in the severe minority there
Also looking forward to seeing what Olofsson can do once he finally comes over

Depending how this goes, it could be a savard situation
- jcragcrumple

yeah that too

True
Lot of “what ifs” though

I still think Bailey & Baptiste can be decent players for us
But i think I’m in the severe minority there
Also looking forward to seeing what Olofsson can do once he finally comes over
- jdfitz77

I think he's ready to be next to Eichel, but he's not proven. The left side is a wasteland though. Nylander probably isn't ready, and who knows about Mittelstadt. Bailey is ready for 3rd/4th line LW duties. Right now, Wilson is the best LW RFA or under contract guy for next year

From that same podcast...

“The job is even bigger than Botterill thought it would be”
“At EVERY, SINGLE, LEVEL, there are problems with the Buffalo Sabres”

Just goes to show how much GMTM really did screw things up

“Raw deal” my ass
F U Timmy... F U
- jdfitz77

And some people think we will have 90 points next year

Lol
I think that both opinions are probably a bit extreme

We’ve been playing decent hockey & beating good teams...
but...
we still obviously have major holes that need to be filled

There’s a handful of guys Murray picked/signed that we are about to find out about

Guhle, Bailey, Baptiste, Fasching, Cj Smith, E Rod, Nylander...
these guys are all about to become players for us that can fill a roll,
(which specific role that ends up being is key)
Or they’re gonna be gone within 2-3years

Murray SUCKED with the moves he made for the Sabres
Maybe if these young guys turn into something, we can look back & day that at least he did “something” right
- jdfitz77

Regardless, I don't see a single core level player in that group. His moves have forced the organization to do this the hard way by adding through the high picks. This years and next years have to be hits if they want to turn things around in 2 years. Hopefully after that they start seeing some rewards from guys picked by new management in rounds 2-7.

I think he's ready to be next to Eichel, but he's not proven. The left side is a wasteland though. Nylander probably isn't ready, and who knows about Mittelstadt. Bailey is ready for 3rd/4th line LW duties. Right now, Wilson is the best LW RFA or under contract guy for next year
- jcragcrumple

I think there's something like a 60% chance we end up with a high end winger post draft so there's that

I think he's ready to be next to Eichel, but he's not proven. The left side is a wasteland though. Nylander probably isn't ready, and who knows about Mittelstadt. Bailey is ready for 3rd/4th line LW duties. Right now, Wilson is the best LW RFA or under contract guy for next year
- jcragcrumple

I think Nylander has been playing RW for Rochester too
And Mittelstadt is a RH shot
Who knows if either of them can even play LW?
Especially at the NHL level

And some people think we will have 90 points next year



- gerbe75pts

IF everything falls into place (ex: Toronto)...

But i think we can say that’s probably unlikely for next year

I think Nylander has been playing RW for Rochester too
And Mittelstadt is a RH shot
Who knows if either of them can even play LW?
Especially at the NHL level
- jdfitz77

Not good.

And some people think we will have 90 points next year



- gerbe75pts

With Tyrod going to Cleveland...
looks like u may be right that they’re gonna take Josh Allen
Of the “top4” QBs, he’s clearly the one who isn’t ready to start in the NFL

Trading for Tyrod doesn’t make much sense if their plan was to draft Rosen or Darnold, who are both ready
Mayfield is probably “ready” to start too

And some people think we will have 90 points next year



- gerbe75pts

“There’s no way Boston is better than us”
“Toronto is taking a step back”
“Bogosian will win a Norris under Housley”

Not good.
- jcragcrumple

Of course this isn’t ideal...
but a line of
Bailey-Eichel-Baptiste
could be a lot more productive than ppl might think

A lot of speed on that line
Can Baptiste “snipe” the set ups from Jack?
Bailey probably doesn’t have the “hockey sense” to be on Jack’s level,
but could he use his speed & physicality to creat space & jam home some rebounds?

Again, not ideal...
but i could see it be successful to a degree
Eichel does tend to make those around him better

I think there's something like a 60% chance we end up with a high end winger post draft so there's that
- Sabresfan-365

I don’t see the problem with resigning Benoit for 2 years

He’s been fine in a 2nd-3rd line role

I don’t see the problem with resigning Benoit for 2 years

He’s been fine in a 2nd-3rd line role
- sbroads24

The problem would be he's below average defensively and has a whopping 18 points but beggars can't be choosers.

Until they find a long term solution im fine with it.

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Two words for that team having the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft - 'good luck'. Andrei Svechnikov extended his pt streak to 20 games last night (21g/19a); Brady Tkchuk is the definition of a 5-tool player at BU; Filip Zadina has 42g/77pts in 54 games in Halifax

This draft looks much stronger than 2014 by a lot so even if they lose the lottery they should get a much better player than Reinhart to add to the core.

The problem would be he's below average defensively and has a whopping 18 points but beggars can't be choosers.

Until they find a long term solution im fine with it.
- Sabresfan-365

Yes, but he is average at least at scoring 5 on 5. He’s fine at 1.5-2 mil per for two years

Of course this isn’t ideal...
but a line of
Bailey-Eichel-Baptiste
could be a lot more productive than ppl might think

A lot of speed on that line
Can Baptiste “snipe” the set ups from Jack?
Bailey probably doesn’t have the “hockey sense” to be on Jack’s level,
but could he use his speed & physicality to creat space & jam home some rebounds?

Again, not ideal...
but i could see it be successful to a degree
Eichel does tend to make those around him better
- jdfitz77

Baptiste would get 20 goals if he played with Eichel all year, and Bailey can play a decent role with better hands than Girgs. I would prefer a more skilled player than Bailey there, but they may have to do it. The center depth will be really good 15/90/O'Regan(or RFA)/71. Goaltending with be fine with Ullmark/Johnson or other, and Guhle should help the D. The biggest question for me is can a couple young guys have a surprising year in the top 6

Baptiste would get 20 goals if he played with Eichel all year, and Bailey can play a decent role with better hands than Girgs. I would prefer a more skilled player than Bailey there, but they may have to do it. The center depth will be really good 15/90/O'Regan(or RFA)/71. Goaltending with be fine with Ullmark/Johnson or other, and Guhle should help the D. The biggest question for me is can a couple young guys have a surprising year in the top 6
- jcragcrumple

I'm not sure of Ulmark until I see him play a full season in the NHL; I'm not sure if Baptiste is a 20 goal scorer next year, if ever. Guhle should improve the D. Mitts should raise the excitement level of the team, he will make mistakes in the D zone and might get high 40ish points his first year. I think we have a ways to go.

And some people think we will have 90 points next year



- gerbe75pts

Sabres “100”.


Jack 200
Sam 70
Mitts 80


We can do this!

I'm not sure of Ulmark until I see him play a full season in the NHL; I'm not sure if Baptiste is a 20 goal scorer next year, if ever. Guhle should improve the D. Mitts should raise the excitement level of the team, he will make mistakes in the D zone and might get high 40ish points his first year. I think we have a ways to go.
- GilPerreault11

He's a good goal scorer. He has the hands and the speed to keep up with Eichel and probably create a few odd-man chances. The assists might not be there, but I'm confident that if he played the whole year there, he'd get 20 goals. He's shown it with Eichel (very small sample) and McDavid. Idk if Housley would do it though

He's a good goal scorer. He has the hands and the speed to keep up with Eichel and probably create a few odd-man chances. The assists might not be there, but I'm confident that if he played the whole year there, he'd get 20 goals. He's shown it with Eichel (very small sample) and McDavid. Idk if Housley would do it though
- jcragcrumple

I hope he does and I hope you are right, I am just not so sure.

The problem would be he's below average defensively and has a whopping 18 points but beggars can't be choosers.

Until they find a long term solution im fine with it.
- Sabresfan-365

No thanks to Pouliot
At his best, he’s “ok”
But since he’s not part of our future,
why not give one of the kids the icetime?

Makes much more sense

18pts...
Now that’s “easy to replace”