Michael Pachla: Building the 2015-16 Buffalo Sabres roster--Ryan O'Reilly

I still can't believe he's actually a sabre

you have one hell of a player in ROR, and I think he will be awesome for the Sabres.

The vast majority of the distractions are done with him. He has the contract he wants, the role he wants, as long as the court case doesn't cause any issues, there shouldn't be any off ice drama distracting the team any longer.

Only thing I can think of that might be a distraction is if his Dad starts to chime in again about who the captain of the team should be. He was very vocal when they made Landeskog the C.

you have one hell of a player in ROR, and I think he will be awesome for the Sabres.

The vast majority of the distractions are done with him. He has the contract he wants, the role he wants, as long as the court case doesn't cause any issues, there shouldn't be any off ice drama distracting the team any longer.

Only thing I can think of that might be a distraction is if his Dad starts to chime in again about who the captain of the team should be. He was very vocal when they made Landeskog the C.
- DDM-Coga

It sounds like the plan is to make him part of the leadership in some form. I don't know if he'll get the C though.

I still can't believe he's actually a sabre


timing is everything...also liked what he said about having assets and moving them and one of the perks of drafting well is to have the assets to pull off a deal like that (and the Kane deal)

you have one hell of a player in ROR, and I think he will be awesome for the Sabres.

The vast majority of the distractions are done with him. He has the contract he wants, the role he wants, as long as the court case doesn't cause any issues, there shouldn't be any off ice drama distracting the team any longer.

Only thing I can think of that might be a distraction is if his Dad starts to chime in again about who the captain of the team should be. He was very vocal when they made Landeskog the C.
- DDM-Coga

thx, sub-eater...methinks if his dad tries to get too close, the sabres' larry playfair might be called upon to intervene

It sounds like the plan is to make him part of the leadership in some form. I don't know if he'll get the C though.
- Sabresfan-365

Honestly, I think you just make him the C as soon as Gio retires. You have invested so much in ROR in the trade and the contract. For all intents and purposes you have hitched your wagon to him so might as well go all in and give him the C as well.

I don't see it going over too well that him being passed over by a younger player being named a C if that happens. He won't say anything but its his dad that will be the distraction. And now that he has a larger eastern media coverage to speak to, it would be annoying if he starts chirping again about his son bc you know you will get guys like Cox and Simmons just running to him to get sound bytes

Honestly, I think you just make him the C as soon as Gio retires. You have invested so much in ROR in the trade and the contract. For all intents and purposes you have hitched your wagon to him so might as well go all in and give him the C as well.

I don't see it going over too well that him being passed over by a younger player being named a C if that happens. He won't say anything but its his dad that will be the distraction. And now that he has a larger eastern media coverage to speak to, it would be annoying if he starts chirping again about his son bc you know you will get guys like Cox and Simmons just running to him to get sound bytes
- DDM-Coga

Agreed, and i wouldn't be opposed to it. I just think at the end of the day it's Eichel's team and if he's as good as they say giving the C to O'Reilly over him will probably drum up more controversy/bad press than whatever O'Reilly's dad says to the media.

thx, sub-eater...methinks if his dad tries to get too close, the sabres' larry playfair might be called upon to intervene
- Michael Pachla

I hope he stays away and shuts up this time around, but you guys have both his sons now. So he might be even more of a subtweeting Richard questioning managements and coaches abilities

I hope he stays away and shuts up this time around, but you guys have both his sons now. So he might be even more of a subtweeting Richard questioning managements and coaches abilities
- DDM-Coga

yikes...forgot about that

yikes...forgot about that
- Michael Pachla

Probably part of the negotiations, it's why i initially hated the deal. Why put yourself in a position of weakness like that.

Probably part of the negotiations, it's why i initially hated the deal. Why put yourself in a position of weakness like that.
- Sabresfan-365

I really don't think it will matter all that much...don't forget, winning cures all

yikes...forgot about that
- Michael Pachla

Cal shouldn't see any NHL time unless you guys are serious injury trouble or near the bottom of the standings when it comes to playoff push time.

But if he does, I pray for comment section

I really don't think it will matter all that much...don't forget, winning cures all
- Michael Pachla

After the last 3 years this is basically a foreign concept to me

Cal shouldn't see any NHL time unless you guys are serious injury trouble or near the bottom of the standings when it comes to playoff push time.

But if he does, I pray for comment section
- DDM-Coga

His own goal in game 82 will bring us Matthews, Murray will look like a genius.

I still can't believe he's actually a sabre


timing is everything...also liked what he said about having assets and moving them and one of the perks of drafting well is to have the assets to pull off a deal like that (and the Kane deal)
- Michael Pachla

That Kane deal is still hilarious to me. The hilarious part is that Myers was involved after like 2 years of Sabres fans here talking about how Murray would only trade him for a major overpayment

That Kane deal is still hilarious to me. The hilarious part is that Myers was involved after like 2 years of Sabres fans here talking about how Murray would only trade him for a major overpayment
- rangerdanger94

I bet Murray believes it was

That Kane deal is still hilarious to me. The hilarious part is that Myers was involved after like 2 years of Sabres fans here talking about how Murray would only trade him for a major overpayment
- rangerdanger94

Not sure what your point is. We traded a guy that half of the fans were didn't like (Myers), a guy that all of the fans didn't like (Stafford) and some second-tier prospects for two high-end players entering their prime. I was a big Myers fan but I'd make that trade all day long.

Well, I for one thought at the time we had over-paid in the Kane deal, but now looking at it a few months later and trying to put myself in Murray's shoes, I also believe that he may have felt he had gotten a hell of a deal.

He got two top five overall picks and a goalie prospect for:
Stafford- who was done here and would have been a rental at the deadline maybe garnering us a 2nd round pick at best.
Armia- who after four years of being drafted is leaning more towards bust than boom.
Lemieux- which I really liked and hated to see go, but rumors has it he wouldn't sign so what are you going to do with him then?
Myers- who is a really good defensemen, but also a wus. He had the same term as Bogo so it was pretty much a wash. I do think Myers is better the Bogo but Bogo has toughness which we really needed.
And finally the first round pick which would be up to Winnipeg to determine if it will end up being boom or bust.

All and all I think the deal was fair on both sides.

I don't think the court results will have any impact on hockey. I'm looking forward to watching this new group build their chemistry.

I'm fired up to see oReilly in the Sabre jersey.

I'm optimistic that he'll be everything Murray hopes he'll be Ennis vouching for him means a lot in my book.

I'm fired up to see oReilly in the Sabre jersey.

I'm optimistic that he'll be everything Murray hopes he'll be Ennis vouching for him means a lot in my book.
- Der Kaiser

What are ideal top two lines?

What are ideal top two lines?
- washedup20

It might be kind of fun to see Eichel and Reinhart playing on the third line with Gionta. I'd like to see Gus playing with Ennis and Moulson on the second line (and playing against other second lines). Of course, someone will need to play top-line wing.

What are ideal top two lines?
- washedup20

Kane - ROR - Reinhart
Moulson - Eichel - Ennis

Not sure what your point is. We traded a guy that half of the fans were didn't like (Myers), a guy that all of the fans didn't like (Stafford) and some second-tier prospects for two high-end players entering their prime. I was a big Myers fan but I'd make that trade all day long.
- Slump Buster

The high end guys we acquired both have issues.

Bogosian hasn't been very good, and Kane had attitude/consistency issues. In a perfect world we got two high end players

In reality, I think Lemiuex and Myers will have a similar impact to what Kane/Bogo have here, and Armia/1st rounder could end up tipping the scales.

The only safe impact player we acquired is ROR