any offer that a team would consider taking for a top 3 pick would not be worth making by the other team.

even offers that a top 3 team would reject probably arent worth it on both sides

8, vanek, armia, catennaci would probably get you a top 3 pick which isnt even worth it for the sabres
- robz228

Correct. Essentially 3 #1 picks and a 3rd.

i think 4 is totally achievable. But look at nashvilles situation, they traded away whats-his-name and need a scorer. they are on a tight budget. why would they pass up on Barkov who seems to be exactly their type of player even if they were offered vanek and a pick?
- robz228

Agreed as Nashville is a team that needs to make the "Sexy, Bold" move at this moment.

That said, they would be better off just taking Barkov and calling it a day.

i think 4 is totally achievable. But look at nashvilles situation, they traded away whats-his-name and need a scorer. they are on a tight budget. why would they pass up on Barkov who seems to be exactly their type of player even if they were offered vanek and a pick?
- robz228

100% agree, would have to be a hell of a deal for them to move

IM just hoping Monahan falls to us if not take shinkaruk

if they trade do like they did last year trade minny and a 2nd to get player they want 9-13 range

Like I said, no realistic offer.


Darcy isn't going to move Miller in division so TB and FLA are out and Colorado would be foolish to move out of the top spot.

In other words dream over.
- dadeadhead

Not that I think that Buffalo has anything Tampa or Florida wants bad enough to lose those top picks over, but I think the fact that you now play teams in your own division four times instead of six changes the entire dynamic of the "to trade within your division or not to trade within your division" dynamic.

Not that I think that Buffalo has anything Tampa or Florida wants bad enough to lose those top picks over, but I think the fact that you now play teams in your own division four times instead of six changes the entire dynamic of the "to trade within your division or not to trade within your division" dynamic.
- buffalofan19

I don't think it's the head to head matchups as much as it is the playoff format. It's division based instead of seeds. You now don't want to strengthen your division at all

I don't think it's the head to head matchups as much as it is the playoff format. It's division based instead of seeds. You now don't want to strengthen your division at all
- sbroads24

I said it changes the dynamic of the conversation, not that it means nothing. I believe that this realignment may make some teams more willing to trade within their division and others less inclined to do so. Personally, the whole anti- trading within your division bothers me. If you can improve your own team by trading within the division, you should do so. Worry about making your own team better, not about what it does to someone else.

I said it changes the dynamic of the conversation, not that it means nothing. I believe that this realignment may make some teams more willing to trade within their division and others less inclined to do so. Personally, the whole anti- trading within your division bothers me. If you can improve your own team by trading within the division, you should do so. Worry about making your own team better, not about what it does to someone else.
- buffalofan19

I agree make your team better worry about others later

any offer that a team would consider taking for a top 3 pick would not be worth making by the other team.

even offers that a top 3 team would reject probably arent worth it on both sides

8, vanek, armia, catennaci would probably get you a top 3 pick which isnt even worth it for the sabres
- robz228

Holy overpayment batman

IM just hoping Monahan falls to us if not take shinkaruk

if they trade do like they did last year trade minny and a 2nd to get player they want 9-13 range
- hubie

If Nichushkin, Monahan or Lindholm dont fall to us, we should be taking Rasmus Ristolainen at #8.

Our defensive pipeline is pretty bare, and we have quality forward depth in Armia, Larsson, Grigorenko, Girgensons, Catenacci. Any of those we can convert to wingers.

I wouldnt even hate if Zadarov was available at 16 and Sabres went 2 defensemen.

I said it changes the dynamic of the conversation, not that it means nothing. I believe that this realignment may make some teams more willing to trade within their division and others less inclined to do so. Personally, the whole anti- trading within your division bothers me. If you can improve your own team by trading within the division, you should do so. Worry about making your own team better, not about what it does to someone else.
- buffalofan19

I agree, if your making a trade you should be going into the trade convinced your making your team better, either now or in the future. So division trading in a sense should not make a difference. I just think that now division games will actually mean more because your not just competing for the division lead but also 2nd place too.

We need to get tougher players!
I have been watching the playoffs, and teams like the Senators are big and tough, and look at what they did to Montreal.
Enough getting midget players like Ennis and Gerbe!!
WE NEED SIZE AND GRIT!

We need to get tougher players!
I have been watching the playoffs, and teams like the Senators are big and tough, and look at what they did to Montreal.
Enough getting midget players like Ennis and Gerbe!!
WE NEED SIZE AND GRIT!
- Sabresfan88

To steal sloppys terminology .....


That's what she said !!

We need to get tougher players!
I have been watching the playoffs, and teams like the Senators are big and tough, and look at what they did to Montreal.
Enough getting midget players like Ennis and Gerbe!!
WE NEED SIZE AND GRIT!
- Sabresfan88

Senators are big and tough?

in the past week, the Avs have sent multiple shock waves across the NHL on the past week.


Amazing.

in the past week, the Avs have sent multiple shock waves across the NHL on the past week.


Amazing.
- bjm1717

It was your fault for actually reading the blog. You've been around long enough to know better than that.

Senators are big and tough?
- BigStew

Comparing to the Sabres, yes
I have no idea which team you are trying to compare them with!

IM just hoping Monahan falls to us if not take shinkaruk

if they trade do like they did last year trade minny and a 2nd to get player they want 9-13 range
- hubie

This I could see happening. I don't see it being smart to give up what it would take to get a top-3 pick, its just too much.


Also, on the VP of hockey operations... not a good move IMO. When you add another 'advisor' or whatever you want to call it at the same organizational level, with similar power it causes more problems. It would be too easy to blame bad decisions on the other individual, the people will not see eye-to-eye on things all the time etc. It wouldn't be a division of labor like you suggest in your blog, it would be another opinion in the boardroom, thereby taking away Darcy's empowerment to make the right decision. Bad organizational structure. Darcy essentially employs people to advise him already, forcing him to make bilateral decisions with someone else is not a good route.

We need to get tougher players!
I have been watching the playoffs, and teams like the Senators are big and tough, and look at what they did to Montreal.
Enough getting midget players like Ennis and Gerbe!!
WE NEED SIZE AND GRIT!
- Sabresfan88

Being reactionary to trends isn't the way to rebuild. Yeah it is important to have size and grit, and we have been addressing that in drafting, trades, and signings. You still need skill.

You need to be visionary, sorry to be corny. You have to think of ways to counter league trends and move your teams in that direction. If you just copy other teams you end up 3 years behind them.

Being reactionary to trends isn't the way to rebuild. Yeah it is important to have size and grit, and we have been addressing that in drafting, trades, and signings. You still need skill.

You need to be visionary, sorry to be corny. You have to think of ways to counter league trends and move your teams in that direction. If you just copy other teams you end up 3 years behind them.
- rsj2588

Like get even bigger than the LA's and Stl's? Maybe we can breed some John Scott sized, Ennis speed and Vanek hands people? Thats visionary for ya.

Being reactionary to trends isn't the way to rebuild. Yeah it is important to have size and grit, and we have been addressing that in drafting, trades, and signings. You still need skill.

You need to be visionary, sorry to be corny. You have to think of ways to counter league trends and move your teams in that direction. If you just copy other teams you end up 3 years behind them.
- rsj2588

I will be visionary for you!!
How about a bunch of suffering Sabres fans whom have been treated to some pathetic hockey teams lately????
Look, the trend is to get bigger!
Look at all the playoff teams, do you see some players in those team like our midgets(Ennis, Gerbe,......)???
Bigger does not mean you don't have to posses skills!
Our issue has been that we have been outmuscled, out worked, out everything lately.

I will be visionary for you!!
How about a bunch of suffering Sabres fans whom have been treated to some pathetic hockey teams lately????
Look, the trend is to get bigger!
Look at all the playoff teams, do you see some players in those team like our midgets(Ennis, Gerbe,......)???
Bigger does not mean you don't have to posses skills!
Our issue has been that we have been outmuscled, out worked, out everything lately.
- Sabresfan88

Use Ottawa as example. That other Sabres fan said "Theyre Big?".

Even theyre smaller guys play with muscle and grit. Steve Ott isnt big. But doesnt get man handled. Just gotta get tougher.

Use Ottawa as example. That other Sabres fan said "Theyre Big?".

Even theyre smaller guys play with muscle and grit. Steve Ott isnt big. But doesnt get man handled. Just gotta get tougher.
- poisondhearts37

You get tougher with player whom are willing to be tough enough!
This Sabres team is not tough enough, as constructed.

I will be visionary for you!!
How about a bunch of suffering Sabres fans whom have been treated to some pathetic hockey teams lately????
Look, the trend is to get bigger!
Look at all the playoff teams, do you see some players in those team like our midgets(Ennis, Gerbe,......)???
Bigger does not mean you don't have to posses skills!
Our issue has been that we have been outmuscled, out worked, out everything lately.
- Sabresfan88

You have to be both, I can deal with Ennis because at least he has skill.

Look at Brian Gionta... leading Montreal with hits and hes their smallest player.

I agree with you guys, all I was saying is that you shouldn't just get big to get big.

You get tougher with player whom are willing to be tough enough!
This Sabres team is not tough enough, as constructed.
- Sabresfan88

5'9 Ennis plays bigger than 6'2 Stafford