Michael Pachla: Slip-slidin' away. Back-to-back losses against Tampa and Carolina doesn't bode well for Buffalo

We're not pulling off over 50 pts in the next 40 games, it's just reality. Don't ruin the draft position by racing to 9th, keep building the team.

This team just isn't ready to win yet on a full-time basis. The pieces are there and I can see the vision, but they just aren't ready yet.

We're not pulling off over 50 pts in the next 40 games, it's just reality. Don't ruin the draft position by racing to 9th, keep building the team.
- sskkoo1

What's the point of getting good draft picks when they can't develop the ones they got. Bylsma needs to go.

What's the point of getting good draft picks when they can't develop the ones they got. Bylsma needs to go.
- c1067

Agreed. He sucks.

Toronto has a 77% chance at the playoffs today
Buffalo has a 4% chance.

Remember when Eichel came back and we were suddenly going to be good? That was briefly fun.

Seriously, start making moves now, move Franson, Kane, Ennis (if you can) and try and land a top 3 pick. This team needs talent so desperately

60 shades of stink

if you can't move
bogo
franson
gorges
kulikov
ennis
moulson



send them to elmira

I kinda feel we are getting what we deserve for so blatantly tanking during Ted Nolan's tenure.

Keeping Pysyk in the minors when he was clearly an upgrade over Meszaros and Benoit. Trading away goalies when their strong play threatened the tank. Trading for an injured player who couldn't help the team. GMTM did everything he could to sabotage Nolan's coaching tenure and keep the Sabres in 30th.

We went to the bottom purposefully, and in consecutive drafts got good, but not great players. Meanwhile teams like the Jets, Panthers, Oilers and Leafs went about their business and emerged with generational talents.

I wonder what Curtis Lazar would cost us?

We should be dumping the usual free agent suspects such as Franson, Kuli, Gionto and try to get rid of Bogo, Moulson etc. One name that never comes up is Nilsson. He is a UFA as well. We should dump him to a contender who needs goal-tending depth. Plus it will give Lehner a chance to crack 60 games this year and we'll see if he has "#1" written on him or not.

if you can't move
bogo
franson
gorges
kulikov
ennis
moulson



send them to elmira
- homiedclown

Elmira is too good for them they need to go to the Academy of Hockey. You mean Moulson the 5 million dollar 4th liner?

We should be dumping the usual free agent suspects such as Franson, Kuli, Gionto and try to get rid of Bogo, Moulson etc. One name that never comes up is Nilsson. He is a UFA as well. We should dump him to a contender who needs goal-tending depth. Plus it will give Lehner a chance to crack 60 games this year and we'll see if he has "#1" written on him or not.
- SabreWest

I don't mean to he dramatic, but if Lehner isn't a #1 goalie, then that alone should be GMTM's pink slip.

We no longer have a gluten of prospects/picks to acquire a top end D man. We now have to move something of importance, unless Kevin Shattenkirk decide to sign here.

Toronto has a 77% chance at the playoffs today
Buffalo has a 4% chance.

Remember when Eichel came back and we were suddenly going to be good? That was briefly fun.

Seriously, start making moves now, move Franson, Kane, Ennis (if you can) and try and land a top 3 pick. This team needs talent so desperately
- sbroads24

I agree - i think we should move Kane now while his value is relatively high. I don't think he would resign here after next year because he is a big city, bright lights kind of guy. Or if he did, he would make a stupid demand of $6 million+. Plus he is only 10 drinks and a young blonde away from getting into serious trouble again. He could be the key guy in getting us a solid #1/#2 D man. Teams covet guys like him, particularly heading into the playoffs. His role can be filled by Bailey moving forward.

I wonder what Curtis Lazar would cost us?
- homiedclown

Interesting you should bring him up. I would take a flyer on him. Girgs for Lazar straight up? Both former 1st round picks who aren't living up to expectations.

Thought they had some good opportunities, especially in the third, but couldn't bury them. Just can't seem to get it together consistently.

I agree - i think we should move Kane now while his value is relatively high. I don't think he would resign here after next year because he is a big city, bright lights kind of guy. Or if he did, he would make a stupid demand of $6 million+. Plus he is only 10 drinks and a young blonde away from getting into serious trouble again. He could be the key guy in getting us a solid #1/#2 D man. Teams covet guys like him, particularly heading into the playoffs. His role can be filled by Bailey moving forward.
- SabreWest

I personally think that's the plan. Murray is holding out hope someone offers a D man he likes.

McKenzie and Dreger have said that too

I kinda feel we are getting what we deserve for so blatantly tanking during Ted Nolan's tenure.

Keeping Pysyk in the minors when he was clearly an upgrade over Meszaros and Benoit. Trading away goalies when their strong play threatened the tank. Trading for an injured player who couldn't help the team. GMTM did everything he could to sabotage Nolan's coaching tenure and keep the Sabres in 30th.

We went to the bottom purposefully, and in consecutive drafts got good, but not great players. Meanwhile teams like the Jets, Panthers, Oilers and Leafs went about their business and emerged with generational talents.
- Losman

Toronto did the same thing, and they won their lottery. Some mistakes have been made but the tanking was probably the most well though out plan the organization had. This team's defense is embarrassing.

Toronto has a 77% chance at the playoffs today
Buffalo has a 4% chance.

Remember when Eichel came back and we were suddenly going to be good? That was briefly fun.

Seriously, start making moves now, move Franson, Kane, Ennis (if you can) and try and land a top 3 pick. This team needs talent so desperately
- sbroads24

Toronto has little to no dead weight, only guys like Martin and Polak. Laich, Michalek have been cast off

Buffalo has Gionta, Moulson, Ennis, Deslauriers, even though Gionta and Moulson have had reasonably good years, Toronto doesn't have guys like that on the roster eating up cap space. The defense Franson, Bogosian, Gorges, Kulikov it's brutal

I think this season is more of a "show me what you've got" display than anything else. There are too many decisions that need to be made about this organization from top to bottom still. This is what I've learned from the season and what I think should happen:
1. Bylsma needs to get canned. We've seen enough of his "system", the players obviously don't buy into it, and there is too much evidence that he has the exact same issues that got him ran out of town in Pittsburgh. If Iginla says that his system is the most complicated he's ever seen in his career, that doesn't bode well for our guys.
2. Too much dead weight still on the roster. We know who our core is and our prospect pool is crazy thin compared to where it use to be. We need to trade away anyone that isn't in the organization's future plans and restock the cupboard with picks and prospects.
3. Decide on our goalie. I don't think Lehner is the guy, and I think Murray WAY overpaid for him, and it could have terrible repercussions for the organization moving forward. This situation is even more crucial because of Peterson making a decision on what he will be doing. If he doesn't feel that he has a shot with the organization because Lehner is their guy, I could see him going the Vesey route which would suck because I think he's our best goalie prospect. How this situation is handled will tell us a lot about GMTM. If he can admit his fault and move on from Lehner, that will be one thing. But if he's wrong and keeps trying to force Lehner down our throats when he is clearly not a number one guy, then it will push us back even further.
Bottom line is that we aren't making the playoffs, and the decisions that are made over the next 8 months or so will be the true indicator of what direction this organization is headed in.

if you can't move
bogo
franson
gorges
kulikov
ennis
moulson



send them to elmira
- homiedclown

This team just isn't ready to win yet on a full-time basis. The pieces are there and I can see the vision, but they just aren't ready yet.
- The_Inkwell

How the hell are you sir!

I wonder what Curtis Lazar would cost us?
- homiedclown

not much, he stinks

Sabres in on Landeskog..........

Thanks Ek now it won't happen.