I don’t see complaining. It’s absolutely a concern. It’s possible to look big picture and not just one season.

Sure the Sabres can make the playoffs and maybe even win a playoff round, but what happens if Staal wants to play closer to home or just retire?

What happens when Hall puts up 85 points and the Sabres can’t pay him?

Like it’s cool to be happy with Hall. But also be wondering what happens after one season?

It’s almost like the Pegulas want to distract the fan base for a year and worry about the rest later. That’s not a smart way to build a team especially a team like Buffalo that has some pretty glaring needs.
- Stripes77

What’s the point in worrying about any of that now?

And even if there was legitimacy to that discussion,
there’s certainly no point in the day after day after day after day after day after day, etc etc etc etc etc
of constantly being negative & complaining


Of course the Sabres are a work in progress
And we all know Hall could move on after this year, and Staal isn’t a longer term solution
But that doesn’t mean they aren’t good move that we can be positive about either

We’ve had a new GM for a couple months
EXACTLY how fast is he supposed to turn us into a Cup Contender???

Any rumors or anything goalie wise?

I’m guessing the RFAs are the holdup?
- Sabretooth9

The sky is falling bc some Buff news reporter supposedly said we are gonna start the season with Ullmark & Hutton

I don’t see complaining. It’s absolutely a concern. It’s possible to look big picture and not just one season.

Sure the Sabres can make the playoffs and maybe even win a playoff round, but what happens if Staal wants to play closer to home or just retire?

What happens when Hall puts up 85 points and the Sabres can’t pay him?

Like it’s cool to be happy with Hall. But also be wondering what happens after one season?

It’s almost like the Pegulas want to distract the fan base for a year and worry about the rest later. That’s not a smart way to build a team especially a team like Buffalo that has some pretty glaring needs.
- Stripes77

I think this point would have more merit if we had mortgaged the future to acquire those two like the Coyotes did with Hall. As it is, we lost essentially nothing and improved the team for a year. If they need to be replaced next year, we'll have the same amount of assets we would have otherwise had.

That’s the worst case scenario. Nothing was lost and we (hopefully) had a fun year

Thats a pretty good worst case scenario. The other worst case scenario might involve flipping Hall for a 1st.

The sky is falling bc some Buff news reporter supposedly said we are gonna start the season with Ullmark & Hutton
- jdfitz77

I was just naturally curious if 89 heard anything. But okay!

Who said what about the goalies?

I think this point would have more merit if we had mortgaged the future to acquire those two like the Coyotes did with Hall. As it is, we lost essentially nothing and improved the team for a year. If they need to be replaced next year, we'll have the same amount of assets we would have otherwise had.

That’s the worst case scenario. Nothing was lost and we (hopefully) had a fun year

Thats a pretty good worst case scenario
- jcragcrumple

It’s a great top 6

I look at it this way -

The Sabres got worse defensively, and stayed the same in goal

They got a lot better offensively (Probably, Hall isn’t the most durable, and Staal is very old)

Because they’ve refused to move D men, again, or change goalies, they’ve gone from a 25th place team to probably 20th. Right now they project at 82-85 points

Could Hutton not completely blow and they get to 90-92? Maybe

I was just naturally curious if 89 heard anything. But okay!

Who said what about the goalies?
- Sabretooth9

???
Someone posted something in the last blog i think
I didn’t pay it much attn

All they said (*that i noticed) was Vogel(?) said we were keeping Ullmark & Hutton

It’s a great top 6

I look at it this way -

The Sabres got worse defensively, and stayed the same in goal

They got a lot better offensively (Probably, Hall isn’t the most durable, and Staal is very old)

Because they’ve refused to move D men, again, or change goalies, they’ve gone from a 25th place team to probably 20th. Right now they project at 82-85 points

Could Hutton not completely blow and they get to 90-92? Maybe
- sbroads24

I've seen the 85 point projection as well. That's fair and fine but I think theyll be better. For one thing if Eichel gets hurt, the Sabres won't be chucking games into the trashcan. We have Staal, Cozens and Hall who used to play center when RNH got hurt.

The defensive point i assume refers to Selke Larry, but with the addition of an actual 2nd line, his minutes would have diminished anyway.

I personally have never thought the goaltending is as bad as everyone thinks.

They need to trade one RHD yesterday and one tomorrow. They probably won't for whatever reason. Totally mystifying to me there

I've seen the 85 point projection as well. That's fair and fine but I think theyll be better. For one thing if Eichel gets hurt, the Sabres won't be chucking games into the trashcan. We have Staal, Cozens and Hall who used to play center when RNH got hurt.

The defensive point i assume refers to Selke Larry, but with the addition of an actual 2nd line, his minutes would have diminished anyway.

I personally have never thought the goaltending is as bad as everyone thinks.

They need to trade one RHD yesterday and one tomorrow. They probably won't for whatever reason. Totally mystifying to me there
- jcragcrumple

It’s still MONTHS till next season starts

I don’t see complaining. It’s absolutely a concern. It’s possible to look big picture and not just one season.

Sure the Sabres can make the playoffs and maybe even win a playoff round, but what happens if Staal wants to play closer to home or just retire?

What happens when Hall puts up 85 points and the Sabres can’t pay him?

Like it’s cool to be happy with Hall. But also be wondering what happens after one season?

It’s almost like the Pegulas want to distract the fan base for a year and worry about the rest later. That’s not a smart way to build a team especially a team like Buffalo that has some pretty glaring needs.
- Stripes77

if money is tight after this season

1. let mccabe walk
2. good chance vegas takes miller
3. hutton off the books and probably 6 k or johansson takes his spot, cheap contract
that puts us at 37 mil on the books

plus hall (hopefully), olofsson, reinhart, dahlin and joker

enough money for them as there should be enough entry level contracts to round out the roster


and if they lock up hall, it would be the perfect offseason to trade olofsson or reinhart if cozens, tage and casey are ready

It’s still MONTHS till next season starts
- jdfitz77

I'm aware of the Earth's rotational position as it relates to the begining of a hypothetical NHL start date. Thank you

The sky is falling bc some Buff news reporter supposedly said we are gonna start the season with Ullmark & Hutton
- jdfitz77

some clown said that months ago

I'm aware of the Earth's rotational position as it relates to the begining of a hypothetical NHL start date. Thank you
- jcragcrumple

I'm aware of the Earth's rotational position as it relates to the begining of a hypothetical NHL start date. Thank you
- jcragcrumple

The. Worst.

I've seen the 85 point projection as well. That's fair and fine but I think theyll be better. For one thing if Eichel gets hurt, the Sabres won't be chucking games into the trashcan. We have Staal, Cozens and Hall who used to play center when RNH got hurt.

The defensive point i assume refers to Selke Larry, but with the addition of an actual 2nd line, his minutes would have diminished anyway.

I personally have never thought the goaltending is as bad as everyone thinks.

They need to trade one RHD yesterday and one tomorrow. They probably won't for whatever reason. Totally mystifying to me there
- jcragcrumple

I think at the very least this keeps Eichel at bay. Which is great.

But at worst, they are an 85 point team who has to re-tool again or rely on heavy contributions from Cozens/Quinn.

It could all be gravy, who knows.

I think at the very least this keeps Eichel at bay. Which is great.

But at worst, they are an 85 point team who has to re-tool again or rely on heavy contributions from Cozens/Quinn.

It could all be gravy, who knows.
- sbroads24

I’m worried this was more to keep Eichel at bay than it was to build a team that will be a year in year out playoff team.

Yes I KNOW ITS EARLY FITZ

But that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of question marks and since as you have said several times it’s the off-season this is what some people like to talk about.

If you don’t like the topic, start your own. This board used to have 3 or 4 topics being discussed at once.

Considering the flat cap and who knows what next season will be like it’s absolutely possible the cap doesn’t raise much if at all again for the 2021-2022 season.

This is where the worry is. Adams and the Pegulas haven’t shown intelligence in their contracts when it comes to getting value. That in turn can make the cap very difficult to navigate.

some clown said that months ago
- homiedclown

Some clown also said there was going to be an internal cap!!!

Just giving you a little crap all in good fun

Some clown also said there was going to be an internal cap!!!

Just giving you a little crap all in good fun
- Stripes77

- homiedclown

Hahahahaha

You know I’m just messing within you!!!

Kuemper for a draft pick and some roster player get it done.

Hahahahaha

You know I’m just messing within you!!!
- Stripes77

Hey Fitz,

You're the worst.

Signed,

Everyone here
- sbroads24

%1,000

So has anyone heard about any contract talks or numbers being discussed before Ullmark, Rhino and Olofsson get to there hearings.

I think at the very least this keeps Eichel at bay. Which is great.

But at worst, they are an 85 point team who has to re-tool again or rely on heavy contributions from Cozens/Quinn.

It could all be gravy, who knows.
- sbroads24

Making the playoffs, next season would help with,:

Overall moral
Ufa signings
Coaching stability
Keeping eichel here and happy
Get some playoff experience
Let young guys grow/develop in a winning environment

So has anyone heard about any contract talks or numbers being discussed before Ullmark, Rhino and Olofsson get to there hearings.
- Buff36

We gotta consult with Fitz to see if this topic is acceptable.

Hall monitor, you still here?

I was just naturally curious if 89 heard anything. But okay!

Who said what about the goalies?
- Sabretooth9

No just what I posted before, they have a number they want to pay for Reinhart, I heard 3 yrs 21 mill for him also. They had interest in Markstrom but no way they are going to pay a goalie 6 mill a yr.