i am optimistic about the future of the devils. I watched every game this season as miserable as that may sound. Blackwood is the real deal. He put up fantastic numbers and stood on his head. All anyone is talking about is this goaltender in NY. The devils have a terrible record, yet blackwood has a winning record and above league SVV avg on one of the worse defensive and offensive teams in the nhl. If he can get just .25% increase in goal support per game from this season to next and a little help on the back end. This kid can carry us on his back to the playoffs. Those rebuilding edmonton teams never had a Blackwood.

Their is a problem in NJ and it really isnt that far off from being fixed. I read a lot of messages on here from a lot of hockey fans loving to point out how miserable our season was and how terrible our future looks. But As a die hard fan that watched every game I truly don't feel the same way. Bring in a coach that knows how to utilize our talent and we can be as successful as the isles. You can't tell me the Islanders Roster is better than the current NJ roster. They just have a coach that knows how to utilize their talents and push them to use those talents.
- Htowntigers89

The Islanders roster is so far better than the Devils roster. And I wouldn’t trade Sorokin for any player off the NJ roster including Bust Hughes. Blackwood couldn’t carry his pads to the ice

Financially, it's the Coyotes and the Panthers.. Since the world is entering a greater depression, other teams won't be far behind. Risto and Eichel rumoured to want out. Buffalo can't be far behind. Same as NJ.

Really though you guys don't know how bad a spot the Sabres franchise is in Buffalo.

It's a big town with loose lips but no snitches.

Corrupt from the top down. Toxic from the top down. Not only the team itself, but upper management, all the way down to PSE and the arena employees.

If you search our blog you can figure out enough. The owners blatantly thrash their money around all over the place with no rhyme or reason, the owners thought they could buy the cup.

The entire town thought it was going to have a revival simply because a dirty fracking billionaire moved in and bought our precious Sabres and then he squirted all over the Bills, too. "If you build it, they will come". Buffalo's leaders, the city of Buffalo, that is, banked hard on having a wealthy person in town and it blew up in their faces. Buffalo billions scandal, Tesla plant empty after promising 5000+ jobs...

Seriously, if you creep in our blogs you read enough but look at our local news and television. Our people are shot, miserable drunk lumpenproletariat with no moral center or code of ethics except "Chill out and have a drink man jeez" and really thought Buffalo was going through a Renaissance, wow, what a place, nothing but bar culture, maybe you guys should all visit, you know we're open 'til 4AM...


Not disclosing injuries, spending to and then over the cap, horrible production values in the arena, misspelled alumni jerseys, I can go on and on.

A few people in the Sabres blog know some legit stuff, I have posted what I know and have heard and I have posts as far back as 3 years repeatedly stating what eventually leaked this past spring about the toxic environment the Pegulas brought.

Trading Evander Kane for looking at their daughters ass, seriously! RoR traded because Captain Jack didn't like him, money is no object but that 7 million dollar bonus was taking away from the yacht money and that was more important. Hah! Now we know why they don't want a new NFL stadium, too.

My god the rest of you that post here really have no clue just how bad the Sabres are. You wish your team was the sh!t-show that we are. You wish.

Really though you guys don't know how bad a spot the Sabres franchise is in Buffalo.

It's a big town with loose lips but no snitches.

Corrupt from the top down. Toxic from the top down. Not only the team itself, but upper management, all the way down to PSE and the arena employees.

If you search our blog you can figure out enough. The owners blatantly thrash their money around all over the place with no rhyme or reason, the owners thought they could buy the cup.

The entire town thought it was going to have a revival simply because a dirty fracking billionaire moved in and bought our precious Sabres and then he squirted all over the Bills, too. "If you build it, they will come". Buffalo's leaders, the city of Buffalo, that is, banked hard on having a wealthy person in town and it blew up in their faces. Buffalo billions scandal, Tesla plant empty after promising 5000+ jobs...

Seriously, if you creep in our blogs you read enough but look at our local news and television. Our people are shot, miserable drunk lumpenproletariat with no moral center or code of ethics except "Chill out and have a drink man jeez" and really thought Buffalo was going through a Renaissance, wow, what a place, nothing but bar culture, maybe you guys should all visit, you know we're open 'til 4AM...


Not disclosing injuries, spending to and then over the cap, horrible production values in the arena, misspelled alumni jerseys, I can go on and on.

A few people in the Sabres blog know some legit stuff, I have posted what I know and have heard and I have posts as far back as 3 years repeatedly stating what eventually leaked this past spring about the toxic environment the Pegulas brought.

Trading Evander Kane for looking at their daughters ass, seriously! RoR traded because Captain Jack didn't like him, money is no object but that 7 million dollar bonus was taking away from the yacht money and that was more important. Hah! Now we know why they don't want a new NFL stadium, too.

My god the rest of you that post here really have no clue just how bad the Sabres are. You wish your team was the sh!t-show that we are. You wish.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I grew up in Buffalo until I finished college a couple of years ago and having witnessed all of this over the years as well, there is zero doubt Buffalo is the most in trouble as a franchise.

They're not going to relocate or anything like that, but the corruption and complete loss of their fans' trust is so bad and I see no end in sight to that. If Jack were an UFA I'd bet good money on him running away as fast as he could.

I'm a Leafs fan who hates Buffalo, and yet even still I feel so bad for their fans because it's just pathetic what they have to put up with.

And what did fans have available to them to ease the pain for years? Watching the Bills be the laughing stock of the NFL (minus the Browns) for years and years while praying for the Lord and Savior Pegula family to save the day.

No sports fans deserve the suffering Buffalo fans have had.

Even the Cubs fans at least had other good sports teams to follow.

San Jose.

Mother of god they're going to SUCK in the next 5-10 years. Hahahahahah I live here.. wish me to tell you why?

Without a doubt the Dallas Stars . The Benn Seguin , Pavelski contracts will keep them non contenders our massive rebuilders . Just barely enough to make the playoffs and if they can find anyone to touch them they will get little back in return ... Habs , Leafs , Sharks and Zona would be up there close to them ... call it a tie .

It depends on your definition of trouble.

In general, I would put the Toronto Maple Leafs high on the list of "teams in trouble". They have a motivation problem, a salary problem, a leadership/prima-donna problem in Matthews, a defense problem, and a fan-base that has been heaving unrealistic expectations upon their shoulders for quite a while.

It is really unfortunate that a stand-up guy like Tavares has to deal with this circus. Who will they blame "this time"? Is the question.
- JLO961

Toronto's decline will begin next year. They're fixable if they suck it up and trade one of the big contracts to afford three or four depth players instead of trading all the depth to keep the top heavy roster.
- DarthProbert

Can’t say this more plainly...Krueger is a HORRIBLE coach...he was an assistant under tom renney...probably the worst coach in the nhl in the last 25 years.

Total coaching putridness personified.

It depends on your definition of trouble.

In general, I would put the Toronto Maple Leafs high on the list of "teams in trouble". They have a motivation problem, a salary problem, a leadership/prima-donna problem in Matthews, a defense problem, and a fan-base that has been heaving unrealistic expectations upon their shoulders for quite a while.

It is really unfortunate that a stand-up guy like Tavares has to deal with this circus. Who will they blame "this time"? Is the question.
- JLO961

They are going to have some cap juggling.
I don't like the starting goalie.

That is the sum of the "trouble". The rest of your crap is too stupid to even address.

Ryder and Halak don't play for the Habs anymore. We don't have what it takes to get a franchise center anymore...

In all seriousness, Buffalo needs to make the playoffs, Prospects/picks aren't enough and the best offensive talents on the team (Domi/Drouin) aren't going to cut it unless it's also KK/Suzuki and a 1st. Even then, that's a tough sell for Buffalo.
- muffin_man

... unless Eichel puts Buffalo in a tough spot. They might be forced to listen to offers.


Eichel would look damn good in Montreal. It would take a lot, for sure, but I have to think Bergevin would be all in if Eichel was willing to go to Montreal.

... unless Eichel puts Buffalo in a tough spot. They might be forced to listen to offers.


Eichel would look damn good in Montreal. It would take a lot, for sure, but I have to think Bergevin would be all in of Eichel was willing to go to Montreal.
- Aetherial

What? Eichel is OBVIOUSLY going to TO for Barrie and Freddie. They will then take Gibson from Anaheim for Morgan Reilly and rule the NHL for 15 years.

Are you joking?

Isn't Edmonton also in "trouble?" Tremendous contract for Draisatl, but utter busts with Puhljujarvi (sp?), Yakupov. RNH is a very decent player but he plays with either McDavid or Draisatl and he is on that ridiculous pp, so his numbers are inflated and he is arguably an underachiever based on draft position. In spite of several high picks (Nurse, Larrson), there does not look to be any emerging studs on D? No free agent signings of impact, mostly over the hill players like Neal, Gagner.

I don't follow your team closely, so this is just me thinking out aloud. In spite of a huge string of very high picks, and a pair of superstars, this does not look like a contending team now or in the near future.

Correct me if I am wrong.
- PT21

You obviously haven’t watched Nugent-Hopkins play. I think the oilers are further ahead than you think. D is decent and some good ones in the pipeline. When you have Mcdavid, Draisaitl and nuge plus some very serviceable forwards, I wouldn’t call them in trouble. Time will tell obviously, but they have a lot more than a lot of teams out there

Really though you guys don't know how bad a spot the Sabres franchise is in Buffalo.

It's a big town with loose lips but no snitches.

Corrupt from the top down. Toxic from the top down. Not only the team itself, but upper management, all the way down to PSE and the arena employees.

If you search our blog you can figure out enough. The owners blatantly thrash their money around all over the place with no rhyme or reason, the owners thought they could buy the cup.

The entire town thought it was going to have a revival simply because a dirty fracking billionaire moved in and bought our precious Sabres and then he squirted all over the Bills, too. "If you build it, they will come". Buffalo's leaders, the city of Buffalo, that is, banked hard on having a wealthy person in town and it blew up in their faces. Buffalo billions scandal, Tesla plant empty after promising 5000+ jobs...

Seriously, if you creep in our blogs you read enough but look at our local news and television. Our people are shot, miserable drunk lumpenproletariat with no moral center or code of ethics except "Chill out and have a drink man jeez" and really thought Buffalo was going through a Renaissance, wow, what a place, nothing but bar culture, maybe you guys should all visit, you know we're open 'til 4AM...


Not disclosing injuries, spending to and then over the cap, horrible production values in the arena, misspelled alumni jerseys, I can go on and on.

A few people in the Sabres blog know some legit stuff, I have posted what I know and have heard and I have posts as far back as 3 years repeatedly stating what eventually leaked this past spring about the toxic environment the Pegulas brought.

Trading Evander Kane for looking at their daughters ass, seriously! RoR traded because Captain Jack didn't like him, money is no object but that 7 million dollar bonus was taking away from the yacht money and that was more important. Hah! Now we know why they don't want a new NFL stadium, too.

My god the rest of you that post here really have no clue just how bad the Sabres are. You wish your team was the sh!t-show that we are. You wish.
- BeadyEyedDouche

suck it beady

Any of the teams that consistently rely on revenue sharing.

Florida Arizona New Jersey Islanders Carolina etc.

It depends on your definition of trouble.

In general, I would put the Toronto Maple Leafs high on the list of "teams in trouble". They have a motivation problem, a salary problem, a leadership/prima-donna problem in Matthews, a defense problem, and a fan-base that has been heaving unrealistic expectations upon their shoulders for quite a while.

It is really unfortunate that a stand-up guy like Tavares has to deal with this circus. Who will they blame "this time"? Is the question.
- JLO961

a team with a core signed long-term of matthews/marner/tavres/nylander/rielly/muzzin/andersen, and just signed lehtonen and drafted sandin and robertson the last 2 years and has the largest operational budget in the nhl is in the most trouble..

.please look at all cap sitautions. the oilers are in worst shape. more than half the nhl is right at the cap max with the leafs.

hocley wise san jose is in big trouble. aging team and so many long term deals to old players.

business wise arizona and florida are in big, big trouble.

The Islanders roster is so far better than the Devils roster. And I wouldn’t trade Sorokin for any player off the NJ roster including Bust Hughes. Blackwood couldn’t carry his pads to the ice
- BringNYIhome

Yeah he can’t carry his pads to the ice because Sorokin doesn’t play in this league. Tell me he’s better after he’s played a game or two in the NHL.

And generally the good goaltenders wear their pads to the ice...

The Islanders roster is so far better than the Devils roster. And I wouldn’t trade Sorokin for any player off the NJ roster including Bust Hughes. Blackwood couldn’t carry his pads to the ice
- BringNYIhome

I would take the Devils roster anyday over the Islanders. There are so many overpaid grinders that are not gamebreakers signed for years to come that will regress soon on the Islanders.

Sens fans shouldn’t like anything about their team until a new owner is brought in. Sure, you have good young talent. But the cheapskate calling the shots will trade them away when he needs to pay them if they’re top-tier players. If they’re not good enough to earn hefty contracts, maybe they stick around... but that’s a plan to be mediocre at best.
- Burnt_juice

I don’t love ownership at all in Ottawa but outside of paying Mark Stone and Alfie, name name another player they should’ve paid long term?

IMO you need to have the 80/20 rule. 20% stars 80% good young talent on good contracts. TO is proof - they have too many stars upfront on big contracts so the supporting cast isn’t good enough. Pretty well 50% of there cap is in 5 players. STL,VGK,AVS all way more balanced.

The Sens only real concern is ownership. I love the look of their young players. And that Chabot contract was a great move.

Teams like Florida and Arizona are just spinning their wheels.

From the business end? Florida may have bright days ahead on the ice, but are they really pulling in crowds?

I'd say Arizona, but they aren't in real trouble as long as Bettman is commish.

I'm gonna go off the script for a moment. Vegas can't be a long term success. What happens in 10 years when they've missed the playoffs 5 of 7 years and have had 2 first round exits? The appeal of a new team is gone and half the crowd leaves after the 3.5 hour pregame show ends? I mean, why not just put a team in New Orleans so Dallas can have a geographical rival? I'm sure spring breakers and Mardi Gras partygoers will flock to the stadium in December!

From the business end? Florida may have bright days ahead on the ice, but are they really pulling in crowds?

I'd say Arizona, but they aren't in real trouble as long as Bettman is commish.

I'm gonna go off the script for a moment. Vegas can't be a long term success. What happens in 10 years when they've missed the playoffs 5 of 7 years and have had 2 first round exits? The appeal of a new team is gone and half the crowd leaves after the 3.5 hour pregame show ends? I mean, why not just put a team in New Orleans so Dallas can have a geographical rival? I'm sure spring breakers and Mardi Gras partygoers will flock to the stadium in December!
- Red001

Honestly, I've been hearing about Florida's "Bright Future" for 15 years. They looked like they were again going to miss the playoffs despite all that money spent on Q and Bob. There are also rumours they may have to cut 10 million from their budget and move some contracts.(Non cap reasons, $ reasons).
I don't really see anything that impresses me about them going forward.

They have to show me more before I fall for the yearly "They'll be better next year". hype.

I don’t love ownership at all in Ottawa but outside of paying Mark Stone and Alfie, name name another player they should’ve paid long term?

IMO you need to have the 80/20 rule. 20% stars 80% good young talent on good contracts. TO is proof - they have too many stars upfront on big contracts so the supporting cast isn’t good enough. Pretty well 50% of there cap is in 5 players. STL,VGK,AVS all way more balanced.
- InglewoodJack77

I can’t name just one. Here are 3 very large blunders:
Erik Karlsson/Mike Hoffman (could have chosen one or the other rather than moving both), Ben Mika Zibanejad, Ben Bishop.

San Jose.

Mother of god they're going to SUCK in the next 5-10 years. Hahahahahah I live here.. wish me to tell you why?
- DutchCanSaveUs

FOR the next 5-10 years.

Yeah he can’t carry his pads to the ice because Sorokin doesn’t play in this league. Tell me he’s better after he’s played a game or two in the NHL.

And generally the good goaltenders wear their pads to the ice...
- Queenie_5_hole

I have photographic evidence of André 'Red Light' Racicot sleeping in his pads.