That's part of the problem, nobody wants any part of players. what we have will not compete with other teams, no matter what we have at the NHL level or AHL playing in the NHL. This team has done nothing for 50 years.
- SABRES 89

Until I see proof otherwise, I'm not holding out hope for anything substantial this year.
I have expressed that sentiment lately.
I see this year as building the depth on Line 3, 3rd pairing, maybe a top 6...3 - 4 underwhelming moves.
Next year is the time to bring in a couple, three more to lug the heavy mail.

Yup think of it in terms of low risk high reward stocks

You can either take one you can only have for 2 years before deciding to invest more in

Or you can have 4 years to decide to invest more in
- Stripes77

Again the last 3 years of forwards drafted.

55% is CHL, 45% is Other leagues.


That translated to 29 players per Gerbes numbers.

Honestly They might surprise us next year and maybe the team we have now will be a Stanley Cup contender

you never know maybe the coach will unlock this team real potential

I disagree with the bust part
- gerbe75pts

I know.
And truly, I do hope he pans out as a middle 6 guy.
Sabres need him to come through big time.
I don't see it, but I am hoping he has the goods.

I know.
And truly, I do hope he pans out as a middle 6 guy.
Sabres need him to come through big time.
I don't see it, but I am hoping he has the goods.
- IonSabres

He has a pretty lethal shot and he was not out of place last year at the end Until he got hurt

Honestly They might surprise us next year and maybe the team we have now will be a Stanley Cup contender

you never know maybe the coach will unlock this team real potential
- gerbe75pts

If things aren't shuffled around in 2 or 3 weeks, I think this roster will sink by Halloween. Krueger likely becomes acting GM due to his history in a management role. Maybe Lindy is brought in as PoHO.

Unless Krueger really is some personnel whisperer

Honestly They might surprise us next year and maybe the team we have now will be a Stanley Cup contender

you never know maybe the coach will unlock this team real potential
- gerbe75pts

We are drinking the same kool aid. Gotta be positive, you never know. It sure beats the doom and gloom. I’d rather be wrong with optimism than right with pessimism.

I can see it now:

- He signs Duchene to a big deal
- He trades for Eakin and Miller from Vegas
- He trades Ristolainen for an impact winger

Everybody still complains because the Duchene deal is too large, the impact winger is overrated, and the Vegas players are meh.
- kingcong39

Was back reading and pretty disappointed with the conversation until this post.

Great job of summing things up!

But do they beat their 5 year Lipper average? That's the real question.
- Wetbandit1

Idk Botts is the one with the finance degree. I just run a hockey rink

Again the last 3 years of forwards drafted.

55% is CHL, 45% is Other leagues.


That translated to 29 players per Gerbes numbers.
- dadeadhead

And with the way the Americans have been dominating the draft lately those numbers are going to change soon.

I mean the skinner deal happened in August.

He has until September to make this roster not look like crap.
- Stripes77

I agree

And with the way the Americans have been dominating the draft lately those numbers are going to change soon.
- Stripes77

And the Euros.


Oh but wait, we need CHL.

That's part of the problem, nobody wants any part of players. what we have will not compete with other teams, no matter what we have at the NHL level or AHL playing in the NHL. This team has done nothing for 50 years.
- SABRES 89

Stop, I became a fan in the mid 70’s during the Cup finals vs. Flyers, French Connection etc.... Each decade (for the most part) they have given the city something to be excited about.

It has been 8/9 years of pretty much status quo, but during that Eastern Conf Finals vs Carolina - Better Days! It was fun, we just want that feeling/playoff atmosphere ever year (it’s tough for many teams). I would say look at St. Louis, that could be Buffalo in a year or 2!

With the Blues winning the Cup, gives me hope like any other city. You have to find the right mix, how goalie etc...... it just needs to gel. Blues were in last place in November, fired their coach and things took off (yes, you can blame Botts for not making a move during the holidays last season).

Sabres time is coming, just like the Bills again (see 1990-1995) it’s been the same for that Bills franchise.

It just goes with:
- Order you finish season (draft picks) - Bills selected bottom for 5/6 years through those glory years. Than that takes another 5/6 year to rebuild......

- Cap issues

- Losing FA (see Briere/Drury)

- both teams are now on the upswing with drafting high top players.

The next 5/6 years both franchises will start to compete in playoffs and that’s all you can ask for as a true fan. It’s sports, it’s a cycle - Pens, Patriots and Golden State are now going to have to rebuild (age etc...)

Well now it's a matter of who would wave to come here in a trade and who will sign here for a reasonable term and cap hit.

Next year's 1st should definitely be on the table, as both a sign we are serious about contending and a sign that the idea of tanking is behind us.

I would love it if Malkin waived but that's never happening. Next year's 1st and Nylander should be able to fetch something, Jesus. OEL out of Arizona isn't so far-fetched, is it?

Stop, I became a fan in the mid 70’s during the Cup finals vs. Flyers, French Connection etc.... Each decade (for the most part) they have given the city something to be excited about.

It has been 8/9 years of pretty much status quo, but during that Eastern Conf Finals vs Carolina - Better Days! It was fun, we just want that feeling/playoff atmosphere ever year (it’s tough for many teams). I would say look at St. Louis, that could be Buffalo in a year or 2!

With the Blues winning the Cup, gives me hope like any other city. You have to find the right mix, how goalie etc...... it just needs to gel. Blues were in last place in November, fired their coach and things took off (yes, you can blame Botts for not making a move during the holidays last season). Sabres time is coming, just like the Bills again (see 1990-1995) it’s been the same for that Bills franchise.

It just goes with:
- Order you finish season (draft picks) - Bills selected bottom for 5/6 years through those glory years. Than that takes another 5/6 year to rebuild......

- Cap issues

- Losing FA (see Briere/Drury)

- both teams are now on the upswing with drafting high top players.

The next 5/6 years both franchises will start to compete in playoffs and that’s all you can ask for as a true fan. It’s sports, it’s a cycle - Pens, Patriots and Golden State are now going to have to rebuild (age etc...)
- Irish 14

no I won't stop, i'm 48 and tired of waiting and hearing" another 3-4 years, another 5-6 years". Excuse after excuse with this organization no matter who the owner, GM or head coach is. We can't beat teams like the Islanders , Panthers and Canes and just because the Blues won the cup you see hope for the Sabres................. in 5-6 more years. That's all we hear more years......... This team is filled with next years and next time.

Well now it's a matter of who would wave to come here in a trade and who will sign here for a reasonable term and cap hit.

Next year's 1st should definitely be on the table, as both a sign we are serious about contending and a sign that the idea of tanking is behind us.

I would love it if Malkin waived but that's never happening. Next year's 1st and Nylander should be able to fetch something, Jesus. OEL out of Arizona isn't so far-fetched, is it?
- BeadyEyedDouche

I’ve wanted OEL for years. I just don’t see that happening. I don’t see why Arizona would trade him.

Well now it's a matter of who would wave to come here in a trade and who will sign here for a reasonable term and cap hit.

Next year's 1st should definitely be on the table, as both a sign we are serious about contending and a sign that the idea of tanking is behind us.

I would love it if Malkin waived but that's never happening. Next year's 1st and Nylander should be able to fetch something, Jesus. OEL out of Arizona isn't so far-fetched, is it?
- BeadyEyedDouche

It isn't far fetched at all. But that's mostly cause he's fallen off a cliff since signing his mega deal.

Well now it's a matter of who would wave to come here in a trade and who will sign here for a reasonable term and cap hit.

Next year's 1st should definitely be on the table, as both a sign we are serious about contending and a sign that the idea of tanking is behind us.

I would love it if Malkin waived but that's never happening. Next year's 1st and Nylander should be able to fetch something, Jesus. OEL out of Arizona isn't so far-fetched, is it?
- BeadyEyedDouche

Dzingel via FA and a RW trade would make the season interesting

no I won't stop, i'm 48 and tired of waiting and hearing" another 3-4 years, another 5-6 years". Excuse after excuse with this organization no matter who the owner, GM or head coach is. We can't beat teams like the Islanders , Panthers and Canes and just because the Blues won the cup you see hope for the Sabres................. in 5-6 more years. That's all we hear more years......... This team is filled with next years and next time.
- SABRES 89

I get what you're saying and to a certain extent we all feel that way. But what does it mean? Nothing from 10 years ago or 50 years ago matters. Should we be rushing this because the franchise has largely been a failure? Do we want another Murray to come in and try to force it? The best we can hope for is that Botts is cold and calculated and is the right guy for the job. All of the talk of fourth line centers is meaningless - either we are on the right path or we aren't. I think we are. There is still a lot of time and we still have a lot of space to fill some holes. It might not be a great year this year but it will be better than most think.

Well now it's a matter of who would wave to come here in a trade and who will sign here for a reasonable term and cap hit.

Next year's 1st should definitely be on the table, as both a sign we are serious about contending and a sign that the idea of tanking is behind us.

I would love it if Malkin waived but that's never happening. Next year's 1st and Nylander should be able to fetch something, Jesus. OEL out of Arizona isn't so far-fetched, is it?
- BeadyEyedDouche

Malkin? Um, no. The first should not be moved for anyone older than 28.

Meh, I have those kinda days about 250 times a year.
Hit as a MoFo down here now though.
- IonSabres

Beautiful here today, 78-80 nice stiff breeze. It's been raining like a mofo for weeks.

Malkin? Um, no. The first should not be moved for anyone older than 28.
- Slump Buster

Assuming this team isn't a dumpster fire, that pick has 50% chance of not playing more than 200 games in the league.

You move that for Malkin.

no I won't stop, i'm 48 and tired of waiting and hearing" another 3-4 years, another 5-6 years". Excuse after excuse with this organization no matter who the owner, GM or head coach is. We can't beat teams like the Islanders , Panthers and Canes and just because the Blues won the cup you see hope for the Sabres................. in 5-6 more years. That's all we hear more years......... This team is filled with next years and next time.
- SABRES 89

We just disagree........

I get what you're saying and to a certain extent we all feel that way. But what does it mean? Nothing from 10 years ago or 50 years ago matters. Should we be rushing this because the franchise has largely been a failure? Do we want another Murray to come in and try to force it? The best we can hope for is that Botts is cold and calculated and is the right guy for the job. All of the talk of fourth line centers is meaningless - either we are on the right path or we aren't. I think we are. There is still a lot of time and we still have a lot of space to fill some holes. It might not be a great year this year but it will be better than most think.
- Slump Buster

Agree, good post!

We just disagree........
- Irish 14

Disagree all you want, the proof speaks for itself. This team is still nothing even with Eichel, who they have wasted for 4 years now. We have been watching the truth for years now, listening to all the after game and after season press conferences saying the same crap over and over. The proof is right there.