Nylander has completed 3 professional seasons and therefore is not eligible to return.

Yep... jump off the bridge bc we kept Elie to play in Rochester
Makes sense
- jdfitz77

when did he get sent down?


I am not the one who said we are going to build a fast upbeat north south team


I am not the one who said from this day forward money is no object for the sabres

So almost two thirds of the league has made the same number of trades as us.

I feel better.
- RhinoFan

more like 1/3


as 2 teams need to make a trade


it was all phil's fault, the cup is coming folks

You're just cycling between two points.

Here's what you said:

"I think the plan is that we don’t have anyone else RIGHT NOW that can do it
So until we do... Larsson & Girgs are it

I’m sure Botts would like some quality 2way forwards for the middle6"

It seems to imply that you think that's a realistic outcome whether it's June 26,July 26 or September 26. I am hyper aware of what day it is btw
- jcragcrumple

If the middle 6 is changed, but Larsson is still on the team, is that a nightmare scenario?

I think the point is that the time for changing the NHL roster hasn't really come up yet. As homie said only 12 trades have happened thus far, plenty of those were minor league deals as well.

You qualify them in case you can't sign or trade for better replacements. Worst case scenario you have to bury them in the minors for a year and pay maybe 500k of their cap hits.

So almost two thirds of the league has made the same number of trades as us.

I feel better.
- RhinoFan

How many of those teams have been good or are good though?

You're just cycling between two points.

Here's what you said:

"I think the plan is that we don’t have anyone else RIGHT NOW that can do it
So until we do... Larsson & Girgs are it

I’m sure Botts would like some quality 2way forwards for the middle6"

It seems to imply that you think that's a realistic outcome whether it's June 26,July 26 or September 26. I am hyper aware of what day it is btw
- jcragcrumple

don't spend money
don't move draft picks
don't make any trades


remain calm

all is well

If the middle 6 is changed, but Larsson is still on the team, is that a nightmare scenario?

I think the point is that the time for changing the NHL roster hasn't really come up yet. As homie said only 12 trades have happened thus far, plenty of those were minor league deals as well.

You qualify them in case you can't sign or trade for better replacements. Worst case scenario you have to bury them in the minors for a year and pay maybe 500k of their cap hits.
- RhinoFan

I would rather sign an undrafted college kid then see elie play another game for the sabres


in this case, the unknown is better then the known

If the middle 6 is changed, but Larsson is still on the team, is that a nightmare scenario?

I think the point is that the time for changing the NHL roster hasn't really come up yet. As homie said only 12 trades have happened thus far, plenty of those were minor league deals as well.

You qualify them in case you can't sign or trade for better replacements. Worst case scenario you have to bury them in the minors for a year and pay maybe 500k of their cap hits.
- RhinoFan

No, if he's playing 8-10 mins a night with Okposo whoever, IDGAF.

But we can't just say "oops, no better options. Gotta play him 14 mins a night again"

I would rather sign an undrafted college kid then see elie play another game for the sabres


in this case, the unknown is better then the known
- homiedclown

Agreed. Throw in Girgs, Larsson, Sobotka and Scandella to that list. None of them should be in a Sabres uniform come October.

How many of those teams have been good or are good though?
- Carubba-Kaleta

teams I thought a few weeks ago that we should be better then this fall, are probably now better then us, or will be by july 1st

florida, rangers, devils, flyers



bottom 3 come down to red wings, sens and us in the east and it's literally a coin toss


it could change in a week


or they could all decide to sign elsewhere

more like 1/3


as 2 teams need to make a trade


it was all phil's fault, the cup is coming folks
- homiedclown

You're right, didn't think of that however, SJ, CHI, NJ and CAR have been in multiple. It's actually more like half.

It's no matter though, we had basically 3 trades where a player worth a damn was given: PK, Miller and Trouba. PK at 9M isn't great given our cap situation in a couple years, Miller I think was too expensive not worth it and Trouba wasn't coming here...

So we've missed out on pretty much nothing thus far unless someone is dying to get Justin Braun or Maata...

Agreed. Throw in Girgs, Larsson, Sobotka and Scandella to that list. None of them should be in a Sabres uniform come October.
- SabreWest

if they have the stones to send sobotka, wilson, okposo and elie to rochester


I am fine with larsson and girgens on the 4th line


I just don't see it happening


elie, probably
wilson, who knows, 50/50

I doubt the others go down

Starting to hope we just tank out this year.

You're right, didn't think of that however, SJ, CHI, NJ and CAR have been in multiple. It's actually more like half.

It's no matter though, we had basically 3 trades where a player worth a damn was given: PK, Miller and Trouba. PK at 9M isn't great given our cap situation in a couple years, Miller I think was too expensive not worth it and Trouba wasn't coming here...

So we've missed out on pretty much nothing thus far unless someone is dying to get Justin Braun or Maata...
- RhinoFan

if you let girgens and larsson walk, you have half the money for miller and 1/3 the money for trouba or pk, when you add a rochester kid to the roster with that player

Starting to hope we just tank out this year.
- RhinoFan

I don't think you have to hope. This team is built to tank.

if they have the stones to send sobotka, wilson, okposo and elie to rochester


I am fine with larsson and girgens on the 4th line


I just don't see it happening


elie, probably
wilson, who knows, 50/50

I doubt the others go down
- homiedclown

Wilson and Ellie were both sent down last year. Why would it "take stones" to do that again?

You seem pissed today, but not in the "I'm mad at the Sabres way" more like the "I want to yell about the Sabres way".

Remember...I will never stop loving you.

I don't think you have to hope. This team is built to tank.
- mattsox

Keep makin' noise, keep makin' noise, yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Here we go now, here we go now, here we go now
Here we go now, here we go now
Here we go now, here we go now, here we go now
Here we go now, here we go now
Here we go, here we go, now listen

Wilson and Ellie were both sent down last year. Why would it "take stones" to do that again?

You seem pissed today, but not in the "I'm mad at the Sabres way" more like the "I want to yell about the Sabres way".

Remember...I will never stop loving you.
- RhinoFan

I have a hangover
and I am out of sierra in the fridge

it's a bad day in clownville

Starting to hope we just tank out this year.
- RhinoFan

WGR guys were struggling to name more than 3 teams in the East that will finish below the Sabres in the 2019/2020 standings. Detroit, Ottawa and maybe CLB if all their UFAs leave.

Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if Detroit passes us despite the beatdown we gave them to close out 2018/2019.

if you let girgens and larsson walk, you have half the money for miller and 1/3 the money for trouba or pk, when you add a rochester kid to the roster with that player
- homiedclown

No thanks. Miller fetched too much, trouba wasn't coming here and 3M for those two doesn't get you to 9x3 for PK.

I don't think you have to hope. This team is built to tank.
- mattsox

Good. We'd be out of the basement right now if we could stick to it longer than 2 seasons without going into desperation mode.

Let it ride. Who are the top5 guys next year?

WGR guys were struggling to name more than 3 teams in the East that will finish below the Sabres in the 2019/2020 standings. Detroit, Ottawa and maybe CLB if all their UFAs leave.

Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if Detroit passes us despite the beatdown we gave them to close out 2018/2019.
- Losman

Here's a hot take for you:

I don't actually think we will be bottom 5 even if Botts doesn't make a single damn change. I think Housley was that bad and unlike others, I believe young players improve so we are going to trend up naturally.

Edit: NYR, FLA, MTL and PHI all have the opportunity to bottom out this year as well. DET and OTT are certainly below everyone.

Pekar suffered a training injury and won't participate this week. That's a shame.

Luongo retired
- Stripes77

Hahahahaha how bad does that screw up Vancouvers cap?

I have a hangover
and I am out of sierra in the fridge

it's a bad day in clownville
- homiedclown

That is a rough day. Agreed.

Can always have another stiff one to balance it out.