Adam Schefter‏@AdamSchefter

Buffalo Bills and WR Stevie Johnson are on the verge of a five-year contract that is likely to be completed in the next 24 hours.

Playstation network down. Sofaking bored.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Its now back up and running.

Adam Schefter‏@AdamSchefter

Buffalo Bills and WR Stevie Johnson are on the verge of a five-year contract that is likely to be completed in the next 24 hours.
- GilPerreault

thanks for the news gil

Its now back up and running.
- dadeadhead

i used to rely on that stuff, glad i slowed down substantially

Adam Schefter‏@AdamSchefter

Buffalo Bills and WR Stevie Johnson are on the verge of a five-year contract that is likely to be completed in the next 24 hours.
- GilPerreault

That's too bad. My 49ers were looking to steal him from you guys, hopefully we will be going after Bowe or Vincent Jackson. Congrats on the contract.

Maybe we will get a Bills vs 49ers super bowl soon.

exactly, the two firsts and possible roy or something could definitely get us into a spot to draft galynchuck or we can trade for someone like statsny( just a thought)
- gerbe42

I really don't like the stastny idea...
But, ya... Point is that we'll have options...
We also have a lot of defensemen prospects that could be used as chips

I really don't like the stastny idea...
But, ya... Point is that we'll have options...
We also have a lot of defensemen prospects that could be used as chips
- jdfitz77

yeah i know, just an example basically but you have to admit he would be a better option than roy. As long as the d prospect isnt someone named mcnabb im ok with that

yeah i know, just an example basically but you have to admit he would be a better option than roy. As long as the d prospect isnt someone named mcnabb im ok with that
- gerbe42

His career numbers aren't that different than Roy. Roy also makes 2 million less and is on the last year of his deal. Roy also has been more durable over his career than Stastny has. Last year was an anomaly for Roy in that he had the season ending injury.

yeah i know, just an example basically but you have to admit he would be a better option than roy. As long as the d prospect isnt someone named mcnabb im ok with that
- gerbe42

I'm sure I'm in the minority...
But I'd rather have Roy
I just can't get over stastny's 6.6mil cap hit
And this is now his 4th subpar year in a row

I'd much rather get a "pavelski" who's not only better IMO, but also at 4.0mil has a good number
I'd rather trade Roy for some young center & a pick or prospect than overpay & put ourselves in worse shape with more bad contracts
Maybe to Chicago...
Didn't they draft that McNeil guy we both liked last year?

His career numbers aren't that different than Roy. Roy also makes 2 million less and is on the last year of his deal. Roy also has been more durable over his career than Stastny has. Last year was an anomaly for Roy in that he had the season ending injury.
- HonkFortheGoose

meh.... maybe both of you are right^

i just am sick of roy skating around so often and losing the puck, he doesnt seem to help out the people on his line as much as a number 1 center should. i think we could find a better guy that can fit in than roy

meh.... maybe both of you are right^

i just am sick of roy skating around so often and losing the puck, he doesnt seem to help out the people on his line as much as a number 1 center should. i think we could find a better guy that can fit in than roy
- gerbe42

You're right. We probably can. But to me, Stastny isn't that guy. I'm not saying he's a bad player, but he's not really the guy that I think would be the best fit.

time for bed though, 7 comes early

You're right. We probably can. But to me, Stastny isn't that guy. I'm not saying he's a bad player, but he's not really the guy that I think would be the best fit.
- HonkFortheGoose

fair enough, theyre definitely better choices out there. We will have to see come july

You're right. We probably can. But to me, Stastny isn't that guy. I'm not saying he's a bad player, but he's not really the guy that I think would be the best fit.
- HonkFortheGoose

I Get what "gerbe" is saying about Roy
I just wanna see us make a choice we get hamstrung by just bc we wanna be rid of Roy so badly
It's not enough to just get ANOTHER guy...
Let's get the RIGHT guy...
And if the right guy isn't available...
Let's trade for some young guys who have the potential to be the guys we're looking for

I Get what "gerbe" is saying about Roy
I just wanna see us make a choice we get hamstrung by just bc we wanna be rid of Roy so badly
It's not enough to just get ANOTHER guy...
Let's get the RIGHT guy...
And if the right guy isn't available...
Let's trade for some young guys who have the potential to be the guys we're looking for
- jdfitz77

Agreed. As unhappy as I've been with Roy this year, I'm not about to just get rid of him for the sake of getting rid of him. I feel like they should be able to make a deal with another team that essentially bring in a guy that is going to perform better than Roy, or a guy that has the potential to. They may be more unproven, but there was a lot of that on the roster on 05-06, and that team was electrifying to watch. I think the assets exist for us to do that.

Agreed. As unhappy as I've been with Roy this year, I'm not about to just get rid of him for the sake of getting rid of him. I feel like they should be able to make a deal with another team that essentially bring in a guy that is going to perform better than Roy, or a guy that has the potential to. They may be more unproven, but there was a lot of that on the roster on 05-06, and that team was electrifying to watch. I think the assets exist for us to do that.
- HonkFortheGoose

It will be interesting to see what the Sabres do to strengthen their center position this off season. Hodgson is set, besides that maybe Leino will remain impressive in his shut down, 3rd line, checking position and that will be set. After that a 1st or 2nd line center is needed and maybe a 4th line. The 4th liner, with size can be filled quite easily via FA or a trade. That 1st line or 2A/B center is going to be difficult. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing the Sabres shop Vanek to see what they can get. Of course with his production being down and his salary cap hit being 7+million, that won't be easy either. Maybe the draft picks darcy has will allow him to make some trades for players or move up in the 1st round.

It will be interesting to see what the Sabres do to strengthen their center position this off season. Hodgson is set, besides that maybe Leino will remain impressive in his shut down, 3rd line, checking position and that will be set. After that a 1st or 2nd line center is needed and maybe a 4th line. The 4th liner, with size can be filled quite easily via FA or a trade. That 1st line or 2A/B center is going to be difficult. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing the Sabres shop Vanek to see what they can get. Of course with his production being down and his salary cap hit being 7+million, that won't be easy either. Maybe the draft picks darcy has will allow him to make some trades for players or move up in the 1st round.
- GilPerreault

We also need to get tougher in our top6
And I'd like to swap out Leopold for a tough, stay at home type
I like McNabb as much as anyone else...
But let's not put too much on him too quickly
We've seen what that's done to Myers to some degree already

It will be interesting to see what the Sabres do to strengthen their center position this off season. Hodgson is set, besides that maybe Leino will remain impressive in his shut down, 3rd line, checking position and that will be set. After that a 1st or 2nd line center is needed and maybe a 4th line. The 4th liner, with size can be filled quite easily via FA or a trade. That 1st line or 2A/B center is going to be difficult. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing the Sabres shop Vanek to see what they can get. Of course with his production being down and his salary cap hit being 7+million, that won't be easy either. Maybe the draft picks darcy has will allow him to make some trades for players or move up in the 1st round.
- GilPerreault

In general the team is in a good place right now. They have pieces they can move to help acquire the pieces they need. I feel like we may see Darcy active leading up to the draft this year. I feel like that's the time they will need to really try and accomplish making the changes that this team needs in the center department.

Finding a 4th line guy shouldn't be too hard. That would be toward the bottom of my list of things I needed to find if I were the GM.

We also need to get tougher in our top6
And I'd like to swap out Leopold for a tough, stay at home type
I like McNabb as much as anyone else...
But let's not put too much on him too quickly
We've seen what that's done to Myers to some degree already
- jdfitz77

I get the feeling that the D is going to stay the way that it has been this year. I'm ok with it. I don't know why everyone's always looking to dump Leopold. I think he's been solid. I see Brennan being brought up as the 7th guy. McNabb stays down in Rochester unless there's a a few injuries. At least, that's what I would do.

dont even know why the sabres need to fight for the playoffs this year, does the answer rhyme with wherehoff and weino?

I get the feeling that the D is going to stay the way that it has been this year. I'm ok with it. I don't know why everyone's always looking to dump Leopold. I think he's been solid. I see Brennan being brought up as the 7th guy. McNabb stays down in Rochester unless there's a a few injuries. At least, that's what I would do.
- HonkFortheGoose

I like Leopold fine...
But I think we need to get tougher on the backend
Leo is the logical choice to go because we have younger guys who play a similar style & also bc he'd prob bring the best return
And he has a 3m cap hit and with only 1 year left I don't see us re-signing him with all the young talent we have coming up

The big reason I feel we need to get tougher on defense is because we really can't at forward...
And I mean in the top9... Guys that'll actually play when it matters
All our forwards are small... Or play "small"
And IMO, it's tough to win in the playoffs without some degree of physical play

In general the team is in a good place right now. They have pieces they can move to help acquire the pieces they need. I feel like we may see Darcy active leading up to the draft this year. I feel like that's the time they will need to really try and accomplish making the changes that this team needs in the center department.

Finding a 4th line guy shouldn't be too hard. That would be toward the bottom of my list of things I needed to find if I were the GM.
- HonkFortheGoose

I was mainly looking at the Sabres center depth and that's why I said finding a 4th line center will be easy. When Roy is gone the center depth will be light. I know a 4th line center will be easy to find, but the 1st or 2A/2B won't and if Leino doesn't work out, they may have to find a 3rd line center if Adam is seen as more of a winger like some think he may be .

We also need to get tougher in our top6
And I'd like to swap out Leopold for a tough, stay at home type
I like McNabb as much as anyone else...
But let's not put too much on him too quickly
We've seen what that's done to Myers to some degree already
- jdfitz77

The Sabres have to get bigger this offseason in the forward positions, especially in the middle/center. That makes finding a #1 or 2a/b center to be even more selective. If Darcy can pull that off successfully, he will have earned another contract and I was calling for his head before the trade deadline moves.

The Sabres have to get bigger this offseason in the forward positions, especially in the middle/center. That makes finding a #1 or 2a/b center to be even more selective. If Darcy can pull that off successfully, he will have earned another contract and I was calling for his head before the trade deadline moves.
- GilPerreault

I don't think it HAS to be center where we get bigger
It'd be nice of course
But if I could choose say between getzlaf & pavelski...
I'll take pavelski all day & look to get Dustin brown or Steve Ott even

My offseason wishlist...
1 Galchenyuk
2 d.brown
3 Shea Weber
4 Pavelski
5 Parise
..... I realize we can't do ALL of this... But these are they types of moves I think we need to make

I will give you the short version

For starters, I am not a fan of Miller. I do not hate him, just feel in a cap era he is over paid and used his position of "power" to encourage darcy to bring back an inferior lalime as well as put us in a position to part ways with Biron and go with TBLOW

Perhaps it is because of liking Biron and his attitude when he was a Sabre. Marty would always start the interviews with "I need to do better", where Miller starts them with "we need to do better".

The avatar was changed after the last road trip when the team showed no effort, we have played great since and I do not want to jinx that.

The location was a reaction to him pouting after Goose was traded.

You can make a case of injuries, but if he was more focused we would be playing for the division not clawing to get a chance to sniff 8th place.

He deserves the majority of credit for the recent win streak and has firmly cemented that vanek should be under the microscope instead of him now, but back as recent as a month ago Miller was one of the main reasons we had struggled this year.

Once again, no hate

I just do not want to jinx the winning streak right now with change.

Hope that clears things up
- homiedclown

Not only can you make a case, it's 100% the reason we are fighting for 8th as opposed to a top 3 position. We are 22-9-3 this season when our starting lineup is comprised of 2 or less injury substitutions. That's President's trophy pace play.