I'd prefer that but either way will make me happy. It is always nice to beat them at their best but my hatred for them and NYR knows no boundaries. Whatever it takes for them to suck I support it

I am an awful person.. I know
- Bob Habib

i hear ya.

Eichel would be a complete moron to do that.
- MJL

I agree but He may not have another choice... if it involves your back or next that's a big deal.

How do you think this will end?

I'm torn between two sides here. Have to give Fletcher credit for being aggressive. He was mandated to make moves. If the moves don't work out, does team management share in the blame? If this doesn't work out then really for me it starts with the firing of Hextall and the announcement by upper level management that they were going to be a cap team that was going to aggressively try to win. There will be plenty of blame to go around. It also depends on where the bar for success is. I believe this team is going to be a good team and a more exciting team to watch play. Is making the playoffs and selling some tickets enough? For me it's not but it might be for management.
- MJL

They have been a cap team from day 1 the cap was implemented. Why do you continue to try to spin this otherwise? They didnt need announce it as it was well known.

They have always tried to win except the Saint Ronnie years.

Lol
- funmaster18

He's not wrong.

;-)

I'm torn between two sides here. Have to give Fletcher credit for being aggressive. He was mandated to make moves. If the moves don't work out, does team management share in the blame? If this doesn't work out then really for me it starts with the firing of Hextall and the announcement by upper level management that they were going to be a cap team that was going to aggressively try to win. There will be plenty of blame to go around. It also depends on where the bar for success is. I believe this team is going to be a good team and a more exciting team to watch play. Is making the playoffs and selling some tickets enough? For me it's not but it might be for management.
- MJL

lolololol

I’m Team Eichel. Buffalo isn’t just cutting off their nose, they cut off their ears and are pulling out their teeth one by one and will follow up by ripping out their fingernails. I think an intervention is in order to save my Buffalo fan friend so they can remain a hockey fan. I’m thinking of pushing Seattle on them, new franchise and all. Maybe they can start over there.

The longer this goes, the worse it is for the Sabres. Unless they really don’t care at all about their team perception from players in the league, or those to be drafted.

This goes beyond getting assets for Jack Eichel.
- FlyerFan3260

Sabres didn't exactly have a sterling reputation prior to this latest drama, so really what's the difference? Pegulas don't give a (frank).

I was a big fan of Pryor and his drafting and scouting team but so far I am much happier with the picks that CF and his crew have made. The players he traded up to grab are full of potential.
I like hexy too but I dispise the crest he works for so by nature I have to cheer against them. I was a hexy supporter for the most part though.
I like that you have moral loyalty to those guys, Bill. It says a lot about you, sir!
- Bob Habib

Not a single player Fletcher has drafted has made any real impact yet. For one it's two soon. Hextall drafted Hart, the teams #1 goalie. Provorov, the teams top defenseman. Farabee who has a real chance to be a strong all around player and a 30 goal scorer. Konecny who already has been a 24 goal, 60 point player with the potential for more. Frost who has a chance to be a top 6 center. Sanheim, who is a top 4 defenseman. Not to mention players like Allison and Lindblom.

I don't see how the players that Fletcher drafted have more potential.

I agree but He may not have another choice... if it involves your back or next that's a big deal.

How do you think this will end?
- Bob Habib

It is a big deal which is exactly why he should do what feels is best. Sabres management are being idiots here

I’m Team Eichel. Buffalo isn’t just cutting off their nose, they cut off their ears and are pulling out their teeth one by one and will follow up by ripping out their fingernails. I think an intervention is in order to save my Buffalo fan friend so they can remain a hockey fan. I’m thinking of pushing Seattle on them, new franchise and all. Maybe they can start over there.
- NC Flyers Fan

I’m also with Eichel. Buffalo has been a bad team for along time and now they’re just flat out proving again that they’re all around a bad organization. I get that some believe it’s not the surgery but I believe it’s all of it. The surgery stuff just sheds more light on it. They’re a losing organization that won’t back their Captain and best player. Neck surgery. His neck is kinda important to his game. Give it to him.

I’m also with Eichel. Buffalo has been a bad team for along time and now they’re just flat out proving again that they’re all around a bad organization. I get that some believe it’s not the surgery but I believe it’s all of it. The surgery stuff just sheds more light on it. They’re a losing organization that won’t back their Captain and best player. Neck surgery. His neck is kinda important to his game. Give it to him.
- SuperSchennBros

Yep, anyone listen to the interview with Eichel’s doctor a while back? I think it was Friedman’s 31 thoughts podcast. Yes, July 31. Honestly, I fail to see the Sabres argument here and no matter what other issues might exist, this is an ugly way of handling thing and not good for hockey.

Yep, anyone listen to the interview with Eichel’s doctor a while back? I think it was Friedman’s 31 thoughts podcast. Yes, July 31. Honestly, I fail to see the Sabres argument here and no matter what other issues might exist, this is an ugly way of handling thing and not good for hockey.
- NC Flyers Fan

100%

There are a lot of smiles in the pictures from the first day of training camp.

It is a big deal which is exactly why he should do what feels is best. Sabres management are being idiots here
- MJL

Absolutely they are. And the entire league and every single player is watching this unfold. Who would want to play in buffalo after this? They will have to pay top dollar to attract anybody if this is how they treat their star players. What a poop show.

I’m Team Eichel.
- NC Flyers Fan

Regarding the injury, I am, too.

Regarding him as a player, I think he's another Taylor Hall - sulks and gives poor effort when on a bad team. I have no time or tolerance for a player like that.

Regarding the injury, I am, too.

Regarding him as a player, I think he's another Taylor Hall - sulks and gives poor effort when on a bad team. I have no time or tolerance for a player like that.
- Scoob

Definitely, I have issue with how the injury was/is handled. You know maybe in another organization, Eichel would not have been given a leadership role. Hard to know what’s what coming out of Buffalo. He is clearly a talented player though.

Regarding the injury, I am, too.

Regarding him as a player, I think he's another Taylor Hall - sulks and gives poor effort when on a bad team. I have no time or tolerance for a player like that.
- Scoob

I hope the player gets healthy and is able to get to the level he should. The only thing I would caution is what has happened behind closed doors…he was paid to be the head guy, the face of the franchise. The Sabres have for all I’ve seen treated this guy fantastic up until this issue… I just think there may be more to the story. I don’t blame the player for wanting to make his own medical decision but I also don’t think the Sabres doctors are morons either.

I hope the player gets healthy and is able to get to the level he should. The only thing I would caution is what has happened behind closed doors…he was paid to be the head guy, the face of the franchise. The Sabres have for all I’ve seen treated this guy fantastic up until this issue… I just think there may be more to the story. I don’t blame the player for wanting to make his own medical decision but I also don’t think the Sabres doctors are morons either.
- landros 2

Well said

Definitely, I have issue with how the injury was/is handled. You know maybe in another organization, Eichel would not have been given a leadership role. Hard to know what’s what coming out of Buffalo. He is clearly a talented player though.
- NC Flyers Fan

Aren't most teams in the league slapping letters on their young franchise players? Seems like standard practice.

If I was Eichel I get the surgery/procedure I want.
The Sabre’s I’m sure have insurance. If it goes badly then he goes on long term IR.
It’s not going to get better as time passes.
Cut your loss trade Eichel and let someone else deal with the medical issues.
The sabres are really making themselves look petty.
Disagree with what a player wants in a case like this all you want but support them in the end.

If I was Eichel I get the surgery/procedure I want.
The Sabre’s I’m sure have insurance. If it goes badly then he goes on long term IR.
It’s not going to get better as time passes.
Cut your loss trade Eichel and let someone else deal with the medical issues.
The sabres are really making themselves look petty.
Disagree with what a player wants in a case like this all you want but support them in the end.
- bird_dog_pa

The team has final say on medical procedures.

Aren't most teams in the league slapping letters on their young franchise players? Seems like standard practice.
- Tomahawk

What should be doesn’t always equal what is.

I would never compare Eichel to Hall in terms of attitude. Eichel has been a captain and has played to his standard for a number of seasons. Hall has jumped from team to team to team in the past couple seasons and has turned his play off and on.

You guys are gonna hate me for bringing this up but I’m noticing a trend in terms of a player with a nagging injury not getting resolved and us as fans calling them babies for not having a better attitude about it. Most recently for us Nolan Patrick.

We as fans should not hold athletes to a standard or our own standards because Joe cutting fish at the fish market isn’t putting his body on the line every night. Joe at the fish market isn’t facing potential injury and surgery yearly because of what he does for a living. Us comparing our daily lives to a pro athletes’ life and how we would handle it is ridiculous.

I would never compare Eichel to Hall in terms of attitude. Eichel has been a captain and has played to his standard for a number of seasons. Hall has jumped from team to team to team in the past couple seasons and has turned his play off and on.

You guys are gonna hate me for bringing this up but I’m noticing a trend in terms of a player with a nagging injury not getting resolved and us as fans calling them babies for not having a better attitude about it. Most recently for us Nolan Patrick.

We as fans should not hold athletes to a standard or our own standards because Joe cutting fish at the fish market isn’t putting his body on the line every night. Joe at the fish market isn’t facing potential injury and surgery yearly because of what he does for a living. Us comparing our daily lives to a pro athletes’ life and how we would handle it is ridiculous.
- SuperSchennBros

Your explanation is a little awkward but i know exactly what youre trying to say and I 100% agree

I would never compare Eichel to Hall in terms of attitude. Eichel has been a captain and has played to his standard for a number of seasons. Hall has jumped from team to team to team in the past couple seasons and has turned his play off and on.

You guys are gonna hate me for bringing this up but I’m noticing a trend in terms of a player with a nagging injury not getting resolved and us as fans calling them babies for not having a better attitude about it. Most recently for us Nolan Patrick.

We as fans should not hold athletes to a standard or our own standards because Joe cutting fish at the fish market isn’t putting his body on the line every night. Joe at the fish market isn’t facing potential injury and surgery yearly because of what he does for a living. Us comparing our daily lives to a pro athletes’ life and how we would handle it is ridiculous.
- SuperSchennBros

There's many things that could kill Joe at the fish market every day