For the package I put together he might...
But even if not...
Just substitute a stud defenseman who might be
- jdfitz77

The Sabres think they already have their stud in Myers. They also think they have a solid cast around him w/ Regehr and Ehrhoff. Leopold is serviceable (although I'd move him) and with McNabb on the horizon, they're all set on d. They need to focus on there offense. They need centers and a physical winger or 2 would be nice

I still think we look extremely weak up the middle. I never see Ennis being a #1 and at best I see Adam as a borderline #2 probably best suited for wing. I also don't like tying up all that money on wing. If we get Parise, Vanek needs to go. I'm all for moving Vanek even if we don't get Parise

Also, that's to much money on d IMO
- RayHatesDomi

But which of those lines is our #1?
I'm not sure why ppl get so fixated on needing a true #1 center
Let me ask you this?
Do those top 3 lines look like they can score & play reasonably well in all 3 zones?
I think so
What more can we ask?
And that "third" line might actually work out to be our actual #1 line anyways

i'm no Darcy apologist, but seriously?

the dude might be guilty of holding on to players for too long, but he's not a blithering or drooling idiot.
- EricNearBuffalo

I haven't seen anything to prove otherwise in a looonnnggg time.

But which of those lines is our #1?
I'm not sure why ppl get so fixated on needing a true #1 center
Let me ask you this?
Do those top 3 lines look like they can score & play reasonably well in all 3 zones?
I think so
What more can we ask?
And that "third" line might actually work out to be our actual #1 line anyways
- jdfitz77

The reason people are fixated on a true #1 center because in a way, it's a lot like qb in the nfl. Sure, every now and then a team that doesn't have a top qb wins the super bowl but that's more the exception than the rule. Same thing can be said regarding cup winners and top centers

I haven't seen anything to prove otherwise in a looonnnggg time.
- RayHatesDomi

If you really think about it, how many great GM's are there in the league? Some teams have better scouts but I haven't seen a trade in a while that has made me go wow that was an awesome move.

The Sabres think they already have their stud in Myers. They also think they have a solid cast around him w/ Regehr and Ehrhoff. Leopold is serviceable (although I'd move him) and with McNabb on the horizon, they're all set on d. They need to focus on there offense. They need centers and a physical winger or 2 would be nice
- RayHatesDomi

Regehr is still good, but on the decline...
And I did qualify my plan by saying "2yrs from now" and Regehr might not even re-sign here or we might not want him anymore

And Myers is still very young and inconsistent as is McNabb
Let them be the second pair & get a true #1 in here and take the pressure off needing them to develop immediately

i'm sure they'll snag something decent with it being the eventual rebirth of a legendary casino.
- EricNearBuffalo

These corp. suck, they are runing Vegas. I'd move back home if I could make the same money there as I can here.

These corp. suck, they are runing Vegas. I'd move back home if I could make the same money there as I can here.
- SABRES 89

now if only we could get the Mafia back in charge...

The reason people are fixated on a true #1 center because in a way, it's a lot like qb in the nfl. Sure, every now and then a team that doesn't have a top qb wins the super bowl but that's more the exception than the rule. Same thing can be said regarding cup winners and top centers
- RayHatesDomi

I disagree
Boston did it without last year
IMO, there isn't a direct correlation between "superstar" center and being a "great" team
As long as you roll 3 lines that score and have good goaltending and a solid top4 defense...
that's enough to have a LEGIT shot

To go back to football,
No one considered ELI a stud, but the giants had a good offense that put up points
And they beat the team with the stud who's offense put up more points...
Much like Boston did to Vancouver

I'm just saying, there's more than ONE way to build a championship team

now if only we could get the Mafia back in charge...
- EricNearBuffalo

That is correct, the Mafia museum just opened down town last week.

If you really think about it, how many great GM's are there in the league? Some teams have better scouts but I haven't seen a trade in a while that has made me go wow that was an awesome move.
- BigStew

Pitt getting Neal last year was pretty nice. So was getting Kunitz a few years ago. What Philly got for Forsberg a few years ago was pretty nice. Hell, what they got for Carter and Richards last year was pretty nice.

I don't need Darcy to constantly wow me. I just need him to make moves that improve this team when needed. At the time when Pitt got Kunitz, it wasn't a wow move but, it was a nice pick up. Darcy never makes nice pick ups

I know he got Regehr but, jeez. The owner had to fly to Calgary to convince him to come here. Prior to that, Darcy hadn't made a real significant trade since 2004

I disagree
Boston did it without last year
IMO, there isn't a direct correlation between "superstar" center and being a "great" team
As long as you roll 3 lines that score and have good goaltending and a solid top4 defense...
that's enough to have a LEGIT shot

To go back to football,
No one considered ELI a stud, but the giants had a good offense that put up points
And they beat the team with the stud who's offense put up more points...
Much like Boston did to Vancouver

I'm just saying, there's more than ONE way to build a championship team
- jdfitz77

Boston doing it last year is my point. It happens once in a while, just like in the NFL. Boston is an exception

Look at the centers on the teams that have won post lockout; Staal, Brind'amour, Getzlaf, Datsyuk, Crosby, Malkin, Toews, Sharp. Boston was the exception and even their centers are better than ours

I disagree
Boston did it without last year
IMO, there isn't a direct correlation between "superstar" center and being a "great" team
As long as you roll 3 lines that score and have good goaltending and a solid top4 defense...
that's enough to have a LEGIT shot

To go back to football,
No one considered ELI a stud, but the giants had a good offense that put up points
And they beat the team with the stud who's offense put up more points...
Much like Boston did to Vancouver

I'm just saying, there's more than ONE way to build a championship team
- jdfitz77

Very solid points. But at the same time, there are exceptions to every rule. And to be honest, I'd rather go with the model that's worked 9 times out of ten and not the one that is 1 out of 10. That being said, it doesn't mean it's impossible either.

Regehr is still good, but on the decline...
And I did qualify my plan by saying "2yrs from now" and Regehr might not even re-sign here or we might not want him anymore

And Myers is still very young and inconsistent as is McNabb
Let them be the second pair & get a true #1 in here and take the pressure off needing them to develop immediately
- jdfitz77

That's just not how the Sabres see it. They think Myers is their stud. I'd be stunned if they paid another dman 7 million to come here. I'd rater see that money go to a center. I think our d is fine. Our d looks shaky because our forwards are so bad. Get better forwards and our d gets that much better

Pitt getting Neal last year was pretty nice. So was getting Kunitz a few years ago. What Philly got for Forsberg a few years ago was pretty nice. Hell, what they got for Carter and Richards last year was pretty nice.

I don't need Darcy to constantly wow me. I just need him to make moves that improve this team when needed. At the time when Pitt got Kunitz, it wasn't a wow move but, it was a nice pick up. Darcy never makes nice pick ups

I know he got Regehr but, jeez. The owner had to fly to Calgary to convince him to come here. Prior to that, Darcy hadn't made a real significant trade since 2004
- RayHatesDomi

the convincing came from the fact that Regehr and his wife were expecting a child in a short amount of time, the former owner of the Flames - whom Robyn was close to passed away and basically having to leave everything they knew to try on a new city and new team. wasn't because Darcy was GM or because it was Buffalo.

but hey, i'm unbiased.

the convincing came from the fact that Regehr and his wife were expecting a child in a short amount of time, the former owner of the Flames - whom Robyn was close to passed away and basically having to leave everything they knew to try on a new city and new team. wasn't because Darcy was GM or because it was Buffalo.

but hey, i'm unbiased.
- EricNearBuffalo

The owner also hadto agree to eat Kotaliks deal. The trade didn't just happen because Darcy is a great gm. It happened because he had an owner willing to burn money. He still doesn't get a free pass for the previous 7 years

The owner also hadto agree to eat Kotaliks deal. The trade didn't just happen because Darcy is a great gm. It happened because he had an owner willing to burn money. He still doesn't get a free pass for the previous 7 years
- RayHatesDomi

They essentially had to do that because Calgary wanted Byron. But we only said yes because they were willing to give us a 2nd round pick as well. It was Butler for Regehr and then Byron for Kotalik and a 2nd.

Boston doing it last year is my point. It happens once in a while, just like in the NFL. Boston is an exception

Look at the centers on the teams that have won post lockout; Staal, Brind'amour, Getzlaf, Datsyuk, Crosby, Malkin, Toews, Sharp. Boston was the exception and even their centers are better than ours
- RayHatesDomi

I what your saying...
I just don't think it matters if your "studs" happen to play LW or center or RW...
Just as long as you're scoring
It just so happens that a lot of very good players are centers

Look at my top9 versus the top9 of any of those cup winners...
And if you disregard specific positions...
It's VERY compatible to any of them
In speed, toughness, scoring, all-around players, etc
Even "leadership" would appear to be quite strong

And it would also be the best 4th line in hockey

The owner also hadto agree to eat Kotaliks deal. The trade didn't just happen because Darcy is a great gm. It happened because he had an owner willing to burn money. He still doesn't get a free pass for the previous 7 years
- RayHatesDomi

and i agree with you on all of that. he shouldn't get a free pass for the previous 7 years - which also come with an asterisk because it dates back to when Tommy G. took ownership and the bottom line was the key.

let's see Darcy get thru a season of having an owner who could care less about the bottom line. if things don't pan out the rest of the way, fine, he can go.

i know all the armchair GMs and coaches think it's so damn easy, but for (frank)s sake, i'd like to see another GM do any better with the same scouting dept. and ownership that Darcy has had for the past 7 years.

That's just not how the Sabres see it. They think Myers is their stud. I'd be stunned if they paid another dman 7 million to come here. I'd rater see that money go to a center. I think our d is fine. Our d looks shaky because our forwards are so bad. Get better forwards and our d gets that much better
- RayHatesDomi

Most offense starts from getting the puck out of your zone effectively & quickly
We do not do that
Better defense also improve better forward play
It's pretty tough for forwards to go on the attack when they spend their entire shift helping a weak defense try to get the puck outta their own end & then have to change as soon as its cleared

I what your saying...
I just don't think it matters if your "studs" happen to play LW or center or RW...
Just as long as you're scoring
It just so happens that a lot of very good players are centers

Look at my top9 versus the top9 of any of those cup winners...
And if you disregard specific positions...
It's VERY compatible to any of them
In speed, toughness, scoring, all-around players, etc
Even "leadership" would appear to be quite strong

And it would also be the best 4th line in hockey
- jdfitz77

That's just where we disagree. Too me, playmaking centers are the most important piece in hockey followed by stud dman. Honestly, the wing is overall, my least important spot. Again, not right or wrong, just my opinion.

Most offense starts from getting the puck out of your zone effectively & quickly
We do not do that
Better defense also improve better forward play
It's pretty tough for forwards to go on the attack when they spend their entire shift helping a weak defense try to get the puck outta their own end & then have to change as soon as its cleared
- jdfitz77

This is a rare time when I actually agree with Jeremy White. It's all about puck possession and the fact that our forwards can rarely control the puck hurts this team and defense more than anything

This is a rare time when I actually agree with Jeremy White. It's all about puck possession and the fact that our forwards can rarely control the puck hurts this team and defense more than anything
- RayHatesDomi

i tend to blame a lack of forward puck possession on stupid toe-drags and passes just inside the blueline that opposition dmen have learned to expect playing against the Sabres.

Very solid points. But at the same time, there are exceptions to every rule. And to be honest, I'd rather go with the model that's worked 9 times out of ten and not the one that is 1 out of 10. That being said, it doesn't mean it's impossible either.
- HonkFortheGoose

Well if chicago will trade us your boy Toews I'm all in...
But isn't it more like we sign our stud in free agency (parise)
And develop a possible #1 in Galchenyuk ?
And if he only plays at a "#2" level, but we also get that outta ennis, adam, or whoever...
Then aren't we still in pretty good shape?

That's just where we disagree. Too me, playmaking centers are the most important piece in hockey followed by stud dman. Honestly, the wing is overall, my least important spot. Again, not right or wrong, just my opinion.
- RayHatesDomi

They're all equally important. If you don't have one or another, the area you have that should be your strength also ends up exposed. That's why they're called a "team." Every player plays an important part. If you have good centers but no wingers, you don't have anyone to put the puck in the net. If you don't have a center to feed the winger, again, the puck doesn't end up in the net. If you're D stinks you end up hemmed into your own end for the entire night and the puck can't end up in the net. Even if you have the best goalie, the scoring output is poor enough that even he looks poor.