let me guess.
Replace Larsson, Girgensons, moulson
with
Malone, Bailey, Baptiste

And this team is 20-30 points better next season.

Did people forget this team finished with 25 wins. a 15 win improvement is still a sub .500 hockey team.

The changes that are needed are drastic. Changing the 4th line is not drastic.

Dahlin is drastic, but he is not enough.

Then there is the you cant trade ROR because Middlestadt isn't ready, but Middlestadt is going to make a huge impact. Which one is it? not ready, or huge impact?
- ImThatGuy

Casey needs a short term (1-2 yr) guardian. It's that simple.

I have to side with your best buddy and ask yo_u the question then. How does this team get better without shaking up the players that, or are supposed to, make the most impact?
- TheSabresTaco

Expected Changes in Top 6 = 33% -> 50%
- 1st LW
- 2nd LW
- ROR (50/50, or maybe 75/25)

Expected Changes in Top 2 Pairs = 25%
- Dahlin

Expected Changes in G's = 100%
- Lehner
- Johnson's Johnson

Expected Changes in Bottom 6 = 33% -> 50%
- one of Larsson / Girgs
- Nolan
- Pouloit

Expected Change in 3rd Pairing/7th D = 66%
- Gorges / Antipin
- Fedun / Beaulieu

1) Better than Falk, Fedun or Tennyson already = upgrade
2) Upgrade from Larsson or Josefson = upgrade
3) Ullmark should help for some games and I expect Lehner to be better if back or an upgrade to be signed
4) Pilut, Dahlin, Guhle...it isn't just one player.
5) Mittelstadt, Dahlin and a full year of Guhle is something. We still don't know what other trades will be made, any UFA signings or how guys like Malone, Olofsson or Asplund will do
6) Too early

Some are unproven theories and others are fact. We will get better incrementally this year, the question is how much...
- RhinoFan

25 wins. changing the bottom 6 maybe gets us to 30.

So your statement suggests for us to simply leave everything in place and let the pieces fall where they may? Or, instead, trade assets that do not fall into that long term model you have suggested to get other long term pieces.
- TheSabresTaco

How’s is adding dalhin and Casey letting it fall where they may.. they should be two more core pieces moving forward.

I have never seen that.

There was one expret that said ROR is a cap dump, but one here. no one has typed those words.
- ImThatGuy

I wasn't very clear, my bad. I meant move ROR and a Moulson for example for a couple seconds and prospects

Skinner is not coming for less than 7x7 imo. It's at best a lateral move, and I personally believe that with the secondary characteristics that ROR brings (no penalties, FOs, pk), it's actually a pretty bad move
- jcragcrumple

What if his FO and PK abilities are replaced with a player that is half the price, while Skinner signs for Okposo money. Are these things possible?

Tell me how you're sure this happens without changing a core piece. You think people just want our garbage?
- TheSabresTaco

First of all,
That still leaves FIVE REASONS we will improve

Secondly,
Explainations to points you’ve challenged

Defense much improved
-do u really not think that adding Dahlin, Guhle & Nelson full time isn’t gonna help the defense?!
It gets Falk, Tennyson, Beaulieu, etc off the ice for guys that are actually good
That’s a big difference right there

Integration of more speed into the lineup
-why is this difficult?
As i said, even if it’s just secondary players like Guhle, Bailey & Baptiste... it helps the TEAM play the style they want
Yeah, ROR & Okposo & Sam still aren’t fast
Well, they also aren’t brutally slow like some suggest. And they all still produce regardless. And adding speed around them will even help.

Getting rid of dead weight
-it’s pretty obvious that all the AHL scribe we were playing last year aren’t gonna see the ice this season. Criscuolo, Griffith, etc
Guys like Moulson & Gorges & Pouliot are gone
Guys like Larsson, Girgs, Beaulieu, etc can be dumped for a late round pick, sit in the press box, or even sent down to Roch
And after this year...
Pommer is gone, Bogo could be gone, Okposo can be potentially moved, and so on


Go back to the opening night roster from last year,
and tell me how many will be there this year

That’s A LOT of change

I have never seen that.

There was one expret that said ROR is a cap dump, but one here. no one has typed those words.
- ImThatGuy

There’s a transfer station at Ogden, new ownership though so you have to provide city of Buffalo residence. First 2500lbs free.

I have never seen that.

There was one expret that said ROR is a cap dump, but one here. no one has typed those words.
- ImThatGuy

Someone suggested that yesterday I believe.

Can people stop this. Faceoff % is nearly a pointless stat.

95% of faceoffs don't mean a damn thing.
- ImThatGuy

huh? Did you every hear of puck possession, that leads to offense..

What if his FO and PK abilities are replaced with a player that is half the price, while Skinner signs for Okposo money. Are these things possible?
- TheSabresTaco

Skinner is a better scorer, same age, with less backage than Kane, I doubt he's taking less money and term than Kane

But yet you want to trade our top RHD for a winger and have Bogo be our best RHD.

And also want to trade our top FO guy and 2C so that a kid w/ 6 games under his belt is our 2C.


- JVince11

this is better than trying to trade a 7.5M 3C next year

Can people stop this. Faceoff % is nearly a pointless stat.

95% of faceoffs don't mean a damn thing.
- ImThatGuy

I'm pretty sure possession is 9/10ths of the law...

And also being in possession of the puck is pretty important to score or not allow a score but... that's just me.

huh? Did you every hear of puck possession, that leads to offense..
- hehateme

So the Sabres were one of the best puck possession teams in the NHL then?

I mean they had the best FO guy.

Casey needs a short term (1-2 yr) guardian. It's that simple.
- TheSabresTaco

Patches and Okposo will do just fine

this is better than trying to trade a 6M 3C next year
- Shadman306

FTFY

How’s is adding dalhin and Casey letting it fall where they may.. they should be two more core pieces moving forward.
- gordong

So add Dahlin and Casey and don't change out any players? Don't utilize ROR's current value before teams view him as too slow for the league? And hold onto his 7.5 mil inability to score in 5v5? Why wouldn't you want to utilize that asset to bring back a great pick and or a great winger that can help a team that can't score?

1) Dahlin
2) Mittelstadt
3) better goalie play
4) much improved defense, which also helps the offense- since they’ll be able to get the puck up the ice
5) integrating players with speed that can actually play the system Botts & Housley want
6) getting rid of the “dead weight” that provides little to no production

ALL of that is being done
And i don’t see how anyone can argue those things won’t help

Also,
Continued growth from young players
Sam & Okposo not being terrible for the first half of the season


So that’s 8 reasons right there why “this team should get better”
- jdfitz77

We have a Goalie?

I'm pretty sure possession is 9/10ths of the law...

And also being in possession of the puck is pretty important to score or not allow a score but... that's just me.
- JVince11

See above. based on ROR FO% the Sabres should have been the best team in the league with puck possesion then.

FTFY
- JVince11

Hes still 7.5 against the salary cap.

So the Sabres were one of the best puck possession teams in the NHL then?

I mean they had the best FO guy.
- ImThatGuy

I see, your that guy...... Makes sense.

So the Sabres were one of the best puck possession teams in the NHL then?

I mean they had the best FO guy.
- ImThatGuy

Good grief... you are just being sarcastic dumbass today.


bye felicia

let me guess.
Replace Larsson, Girgensons, moulson
with
Malone, Bailey, Baptiste

And this team is 20-30 points better next season.

Did people forget this team finished with 25 wins. a 15 win improvement is still a sub .500 hockey team.

The changes that are needed are drastic. Changing the 4th line is not drastic.

Dahlin is drastic, but he is not enough.

Then there is the you cant trade ROR because Middlestadt isn't ready, but Middlestadt is going to make a huge impact. Which one is it? not ready, or huge impact?
- ImThatGuy

Casey will make a big impact but not this year... most likely. I disagree drastic changes are not needed, your talking about a young group of kids. Let them grow, they are all still getting better. And YES AS FOR THE BOTTOM 6 forwards they can all go .... our bottom 6 is total crap.

See above. based on ROR FO% the Sabres should have been the best team in the league with puck possesion then.
- ImThatGuy

bro, a bunch of AHL'ers where trying to be NHL players.. Your better then this.

See above. based on ROR FO% the Sabres should have been the best team in the league with puck possesion then.
- ImThatGuy

You cannot seriously be this dense of a person are you???


I mean, clearly, your hatred for ROR runs VERY deep but there is no physical hockey fan that misunderstands the game this poorly is there?