Jesus. Makes you wonder what was going on with murray
- jcragcrumple

Not sure if it's just me, but that article seems like it ends really abruptly. I feel like I'm missing something somewhere.

Not sure if it's just me, but that article seems like it ends really abruptly. I feel like I"m missing something somewhere.
- HonkFortheGoose

Eichel said he enjoys Botterill’s personality. “He can talk to you about things other than hockey,” Eichel said. “You don’t mind running into him in the hallway.”

That makes it sound like he avoided disco and Murray like a kid avoids a drunk stepdad coming home late

Jesus. Makes you wonder what was going on with murray
- jcragcrumple

I don't know if it was a direct shot at Murray, but more or less it seems JB is a lot more prepared for this job than Murray was

Jesus. Makes you wonder what was going on with murray
- jcragcrumple

I miss murrency, but not nearly as much as I miss good hockey played in this town. Please let us be good this year.

I miss murrency, but not nearly as much as I miss good hockey played in this town. Please let us be good this year.
- LandlordTom

I think we're going to be.

2016-17 Ottawa Senators Top 9: Total Points = 326
McArthur (4), Turris (55), Hoffman (61), Ryan (25) Pageau (33), Stone (54), ZSmith (32), BRassard (39) Pyatt (23)

2016-17 Nashville Predators Top 9: Total Points = 286
Forsberg (53) Sissons (10), Aberg (2) Arvidsson (61), Fisher (42), Neal (41), Watson (17), Jankrok (31) Smith (29).

2016-17 Anaheim Ducks Top 9: Total Points = 320
Ritchie (28), Getzlaf (73), Perry (53), Cogliano (35), Kesler (58), Silfverberg (49), Kase (15), Thompson (2), Wagner (7).

Points produced in '16-'17 by this year's Buffalo Sabres Top 9: Total 328
Giregenson (16), ROR (55), Okposo (45), Kane (43), Eichel (57), Pominville (47), Pouiot (14) Reinhart (47), Baptiste (4)

I miss murrency, but not nearly as much as I miss good hockey played in this town. Please let us be good this year.
- LandlordTom

agreed x 9000

Fans are gonna be pumped up. when they announce the starting lineup on that first game, pominville is gonna get huge love from the fans.

I just hope the arena can provide some energy to the players and vice versa, which i think will happen. Let's gooooooooo

agreed x 9000

Fans are gonna be pumped up. when they announce the starting lineup on that first game, pominville is gonna get huge love from the fans.

I just hope the arena can provide some energy to the players and vice versa, which i think will happen. Let's gooooooooo
- jcragcrumple

It's possible. If the product on the ice is better, then the overall vibe in the arena will be better. I went to the Prospects game against Boston and during the 3rd period when things opened up a bit the crowd was super into it.

I think we're going to be.

2016-17 Ottawa Senators Top 9: Total Points = 326
McArthur (4), Turris (55), Hoffman (61), Ryan (25) Pageau (33), Stone (54), ZSmith (32), BRassard (39) Pyatt (23)

2016-17 Nashville Predators Top 9: Total Points = 286
Forsberg (53) Sissons (10), Aberg (2) Arvidsson (61), Fisher (42), Neal (41), Watson (17), Jankrok (31) Smith (29).

2016-17 Anaheim Ducks Top 9: Total Points = 320
Ritchie (28), Getzlaf (73), Perry (53), Cogliano (35), Kesler (58), Silfverberg (49), Kase (15), Thompson (2), Wagner (7).

Points produced in '16-'17 by this year's Buffalo Sabres Projected Top 9: Total 328
Giregenson (16), ROR (55), Okposo (45), Kane (43), Eichel (57), Pominville (47), Pouiot (14) Reinhart (47), Baptiste (4)
- Der Kaiser

Fixed.

We don't know 100% who the Top 9 will be yet.

They need to sweep Miami, win one against NE, beat the Jets again. That puts us at 6.




Need to win 3 of TB,OAK,CIN,IND,ATL,NO, LAC, KC.

IMO, chalk up losses to KC and ATL.

It's plausible to get to 9.

Good news is we have lost to an NFC team, not any AFC teams yet
- sbroads24

easily done


dolphins are a mess
jets are a mess
pats cant stop anyone

begals, colts (w/o luck), chargers

tampa looks like crap so far
saints blah
raiders sucked sunday


if the d brings it, and they find a way to move the ball more like the bronco game than the panther game, it could be a decent year

It's possible. If the product on the ice is better, then the overall vibe in the arena will be better. I went to the Prospects game against Boston and during the 3rd period when things opened up a bit the crowd was super into it.
- HonkFortheGoose

as long as Housley rips them when they don't go all out, this team could be as fun to watch as the team that lost to the canes in the ECF's

easily done


dolphins are a mess
jets are a mess
pats cant stop anyone

begals, colts (w/o luck), chargers

tampa looks like crap so far
saints blah
raiders sucked sunday


if the d brings it, and they find a way to move the ball more like the bronco game than the panther game, it could be a decent year
- homiedclown

This screwed me over in one of my fantasy leagues this week.

I had a very miserable week in fantasy overall though. 3 teams, 3 losses.

as long as Housley rips them when they don't go all out, this team could be as fun to watch as the team that lost to the canes in the ECF's
- homiedclown

The way I look at it, even if they end up still losing more than they win, with the style game they're going to be playing, the games should be much more entertaining most of the time. There's always going to be a few snooze fests during the year though.

as long as Housley rips them when they don't go all out, this team could be as fun to watch as the team that lost to the canes in the ECF's
- homiedclown

should we start making sure the defense washes their equipment??

should we start making sure the defense washes their equipment??
- IndianaSabresFan

Only if they retained equipment from high school

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
(All data taken from Left Wing Lock).

2016-17 Ottawa Senators Top 9: Total Points = 326
McArthur (4), Turris (55), Hoffman (61), Ryan (25) Pageau (33), Stone (54), ZSmith (32), BRassard (39) Pyatt (23)

2016-17 Nashville Predators Top 9: Total Points = 286
Forsberg (53) Sissons (10), Aberg (2) Arvidsson (61), Fisher (42), Neal (41), Watson (17), Jankrok (31) Smith (29).

2016-17 Anaheim Ducks Top 9: Total Points = 320
Ritchie (28), Getzlaf (73), Perry (53), Cogliano (35), Kesler (58), Silfverberg (49), Kase (15), Thompson (2), Wagner (7).

Points produced in '16-'17 by this year's Buffalo Sabres Top 9: Total 328
Giregenson (16), ROR (55), Okposo (45), Kane (43), Eichel (57), Pominville (47), Pouiot (14) Reinhart (47), Baptiste (4)

I don't intend to get into the weeds in specifics regarding games missed, anomalously bad or good seasons, increased roles this year, or any of that stuff. I just did this study to examine whether you may constantly (YES, CONSTANTLY) undervalue the talent on this team.

My conclusion is that Housley may have as much talent in his Top 9 as three of the Stanley Cup semifinalists had last year. And I skipped the Pens because I didn't want to be laughed at for comparing the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Champions.

But this data - as suprising as it is to even me - speaks for itself.
- Der Kaiser

You picked the three teams who are almost entirely built around their defence. Two and a half really but karlsson isnt human. SO either you think our D is on that level (I don't believe you do but just covering my bases here) which is grounds for a psych referral or you've chosen three teams to fit some narrative that Im too hard on a team whose top 6 will probably(but not definitely) have to do the heavy lifting because there isnt as much depth up front or on the blueline.

The two wildcard teams in the east last year were:

NYR: top 9 point total of 414

Laughs: Top 9 point total of 414

This is probably a better benchmark than comparing our top 9 to 2 teams built around a great d-core at both ends of the ice and Erik mother(frank)ing Karlsson

Him and I have a bet. Just trying to figure out the details.

I will have the authority to ban him for an hour whenever I want when I win when he says something negative.

It's a win win for all of us.
- Stripes77

I withdraw my "oh no not the Bills again" comment.

Carry on

You picked the three teams who are almost entirely built around their defence. Two and a half really but karlsson isnt human. SO either you think our D is on that level (I don't believe you do but just covering my bases here) which is grounds for a psych referral or you've chosen three teams to fit some narrative that Im too hard on a team whose top 6 will probably(but not definitely) have to do the heavy lifting because there isnt as much depth up front or on the blueline.
- Sabresfan-365

Dude, there is no question that we have enough talent to be good. Period.

Are we all happy with the team as it is, and are we making the Finals this year with Housley? Of course not, but we are not so talent deprived that given decent injury luck and Housley not pooping the bed we ought to make some noise this year and beyond.

Flip it around: IF we are in the playoffs or at least a bubble team come April will you be crediting Housley (and acknowledge Disco Sucked), OR will it be because we added Scandella, Pouliot, Ocho Cinco and a couple 3rd-pair D?

Edit: Or would you give nobody credit?

You picked the three teams who are almost entirely built around their defence. Two and a half really but karlsson isnt human. SO either you think our D is on that level (I don't believe you do but just covering my bases here) which is grounds for a psych referral or you've chosen three teams to fit some narrative that Im too hard on a team whose top 6 will probably(but not definitely) have to do the heavy lifting because there isnt as much depth up front or on the blueline.
- Sabresfan-365

No. I picked the Stanley Cup semifinalists, nothing more, nothing less.

And the question is whether your post fairly evaluated the offensive talent on the Sabres, when you said there isn't enough talent or depth - AND YOU'RE SAYING IT AGAIN HERE>

And I showed that there is the same talent and depth in offensive talent as three of the four last teams in the show - and haven't bothered yet with the Pens.

EDIT:

So the Pens clearly outscored everybody else in my analysis: their top 9 had 431 total points. And the Caps top 9 had even more, 462.

But if we get a full year out of Eichel, and Girgensons and Baptiste (or whoever else goes there) contributes as we hope, it wouldn't surprise me to see us closer to the 400 than 300.

should we start making sure the defense washes their equipment??
- IndianaSabresFan

You picked the three teams who are almost entirely built around their defence. Two and a half really but karlsson isnt human. SO either you think our D is on that level (I don't believe you do but just covering my bases here) which is grounds for a psych referral or you've chosen three teams to fit some narrative that Im too hard on a team whose top 6 will probably(but not definitely) have to do the heavy lifting because there isnt as much depth up front or on the blueline.
- Sabresfan-365

You're right, but it's still a useful exercise, especially when considering Pouliot, bap and Girgs will all well exceed those point totals. Plus, Jack is probably gonna add at least 20 to that total if he stays healthy.

BUF claims Jordan Nolan on waivers from LAK.

Not sure if this was commented on yet, but girgs and Moulson are alternating on the second PP unit. If girgs wins that job, Moulson probably won't be a regular on this team

BUF claims Jordan Nolan on waivers from LAK.
- yen6d1

BUF claims Jordan Nolan on waivers from LAK.
- yen6d1

Really? Not sure how I feel about this....