Sabres are taking too long. Soon all these young players are going to start cashing out on individual performance and the cap is going to explode without them finding any success.
- Glak18

Just like the oilers. Eichel bailed on them, and others might.

Buffalo looks the same as always. Talented but loose as any goose
- Just5

🪿

He needs to be on the PP
- Just5

Worth a shot. PP jus has too many shooters on the half boards- Atkinson, Tippett, and Forester. Brink is the only guy that can make a decent pass.

I really have no idea what to think of this Sabres team. Loaded with high draft picks and they still suck year after year. The Flyers just steamrolled them in these two games and by rights both games should have ended up 5-1 in their favor. And no, it's absolute bullsh!t that the Sabres are taking them lightly. The tankers are NOT happy tonight.
- Phillywhiteout

The Sabres were brutally bad in the first period. Even in the previous game, which they won, they weren't good. They played in the first period like it was an all star game. They were better in the 2nd period and in the 3rd, the Flyers switched to a 1-2-2 and still equaled them in shot attempts and scoring chances.

They’ve already signed all the guys that matter lol. They need more, the team needs to figure out the goalie and get some guys to help the core. The home grown guys they have are good but they need more, this isn’t it
- ClaudeFather

They are spending at least 18 million just to get their RFAs signed next year...then if they decide to fill out the roster still.

All these pay days and they haven't even made the playoffs yet


They need to hope Quinn and some of these young guys cool off so they can sign them to a bridge to keep them.

5 players making 7m or more a year, 5 players! That doesn't even include Mittelstadt and what he gets...which I don't see why he wouldn't get what Cozen got.

Darn, LaZy HaZe 😴 scored 😆

Did he get benched and torts called the league to take away his assist and give it to ND? Haha
- Hextall271

They are spending at least 18 million just to get their RFAs signed next year...then if they decide to fill out the roster still.

All these pay days and they haven't even made the playoffs yet


They need to hope Quinn and some of these young guys cool off so they can sign them to a bridge to keep them.

5 players making 7m or more a year, 5 players! That doesn't even include Mittelstadt and what he gets...which I don't see why he wouldn't get what Cozen got.
- Glak18

This is the problem I have. They’re paying top dollar to lock guys up that are unproven. Total gamble. It’s like the leafs. You’ve go what? 40 mil in 4 forwards that have gotten you 1 playoff round win since they entered the league. Buffalo the same. Madness.

This was the first game I was able to see from beginning to end, and while I know we won't be contenders, it was nice to see a big win! Great seeing the kids out there and hope Ersson gains some confidence and is ready to fill in regularly while Hart is out.

This is the problem I have. They’re paying top dollar to lock guys up that are unproven. Total gamble. It’s like the leafs. You’ve go what? 40 mil in 4 forwards that have gotten you 1 playoff round win since they entered the league. Buffalo the same. Madness.
- Hextall271

Sadly people keep thinking the cap is going to rise and keep rising. I remember last year the prediction was 4 million and the year before that they were saying 4 million...because TV CONTRACT. Yet the growth has been about 1 million a year. I just keep waiting for this explosion in cap, but I'm learning not to hold my breath.

This is the problem I have. They’re paying top dollar to lock guys up that are unproven. Total gamble. It’s like the leafs. You’ve go what? 40 mil in 4 forwards that have gotten you 1 playoff round win since they entered the league. Buffalo the same. Madness.
- Hextall271

Wouldn't it be ironic if the extensions given to Sanheim and Farabee given out by Fletcher turn into relative bargains.

This is the problem I have. They’re paying top dollar to lock guys up that are unproven. Total gamble. It’s like the leafs. You’ve go what? 40 mil in 4 forwards that have gotten you 1 playoff round win since they entered the league. Buffalo the same. Madness.
- Hextall271

It's hard to disagree with the Sabres signing Power, Dahlin and Thompson to long term deals. They're in solid shape cap wise.

Sadly people keep thinking the cap is going to rise and keep rising. I remember last year the prediction was 4 million and the year before that they were saying 4 million...because TV CONTRACT. Yet the growth has been about 1 million a year. I just keep waiting for this explosion in cap, but I'm learning not to hold my breath.
- Glak18

No, that's not correct. It was always stated that the cap wasn't going to go up much for this season unless the players finished paying back the escrow they owed to the owners. Which they weren't predicted to do and it didn't happen. If escrow was fully paid back, then it would've gone up about 4M or so. The only thing that has stopped cap growth was the pandemic. It's going to go up significantly for 24/25.

It's hard to disagree with the Sabres signing Power, Dahlin and Thompson to long term deals. They're in solid shape cap wise.
- MJL

They’re paying for the hope of success. Not for actua success. Just like the leafs.

No, that's not correct. It was always stated that the cap wasn't going to go up much for this season unless the players finished paying back the escrow they owed to the owners. Which they weren't predicted to do and it didn't happen. If escrow was fully paid back, then it would've gone up about 4M or so. The only thing that has stopped cap growth was the pandemic. It's going to go up significantly for 24/25.
- MJL

AND that increase is determined by revenue...determined when the playoffs finish. So when people say "we expect" that's just as bad as someone assuming.

The kid stood up for himself. I think he earned some respect. Aggressive unnecessary hit by Hathaway.
- Just5

Along as he doesn’t try to earn some respect to often I guess. He gave a pretty good cross check before he got tune up.

They’re paying for the hope of success. Not for actua success. Just like the leafs.
- Hextall271

Exactly and what is the trend with athletes...

When it's time for a new contract...performance normally goes up and when they get paid....they don't meet expectations. That's a big risk for a team that hasn't even started the struggles of the playoffs.

As for Buffalo their prospect system looks amazing, but they have been doing this for over a decade now with no progress.

The Sabres were brutally bad in the first period. Even in the previous game, which they won, they weren't good. They played in the first period like it was an all star game. They were better in the 2nd period and in the 3rd, the Flyers switched to a 1-2-2 and still equaled them in shot attempts and scoring chances.
- MJL

This is actually my argument about the tanking that everyone wants (well not everyone). The Sabres seem like they have been tanking forever and they still suck. They've missed the playoffs 12 straight years and look like they are on their way to 13. I'll be surprised if their coach isn't removed soon cause either they are playing uninspired/confused hockey or the Flyers are better than we think.

They’re paying for the hope of success. Not for actua success. Just like the leafs.
- Hextall271

Success is about the team. Dahlin at 22 puts up 15 goals and 58 assists as a defenseman. That's not actual success? Thompson is a 47 goal 94 point player? Power has a 35 point season as a 19 year old defenseman? No brainer signings.

AND that increase is determined by revenue...determined when the playoffs finish. So when people say "we expect" that's just as bad as someone assuming.
- Glak18

Revenue can be projected pretty easily based on trends. What you said simply wasn't accurate. Cap projections made by the league well before the end of the season are generally pretty accurate. Again, the only thing that stopped cap growth was a world wide pandemic.

This is actually my argument about the tanking that everyone wants (well not everyone). The Sabres seem like they have been tanking forever and they still suck. They've missed the playoffs 12 straight years and look like they are on their way to 13. I'll be surprised if their coach isn't removed soon cause either they are playing uninspired/confused hockey or the Flyers are better than we think.
- Phillywhiteout

Since 2000 (23 freaking years) and they have made the playoffs 5 times. How can you not draft top talent during that time and build success...yet I don't even know if they make the playoffs this year AGAIN.

They’re paying for the hope of success. Not for actual success. Just like the leafs.
- Hextall271

It is better than paying for past success.....

This is actually my argument about the tanking that everyone wants (well not everyone). The Sabres seem like they have been tanking forever and they still suck. They've missed the playoffs 12 straight years and look like they are on their way to 13. I'll be surprised if their coach isn't removed soon cause either they are playing uninspired/confused hockey or the Flyers are better than we think.
- Phillywhiteout

The Sabres are just playing pond hockey and just falling back on their skill. In two games, I haven't seen much defensive structure.

Success is about the team. Dahlin at 22 puts up 15 goals and 58 assists as a defenseman. That's not actual success? Thompson is a 47 goal 94 point player? Power has a 35 point season as a 19 year old defenseman? No brainer signings.
- MJL

I don't think anyone is arguing those specific players, but winning teams find a way to keep space for other important areas, unlike the Leafs as an example, or use assets in strength areas to fill out the needs, which Edmonton does not do.

Winning the lottery and getting a generational talent makes the process EASIER, but if you can't build around it then it's incompetence.

I don't think anyone is arguing those specific players, but winning teams find a way to keep space for other important areas, unlike the Leafs as an example, or use assets in strength areas to fill out the needs, which Edmonton does not do.

Winning the lottery and getting a generational talent makes the process EASIER, but if you can't build around it then it's incompetence.
- Glak18

The Sabres have some issues and areas they need to improve but the cap is not a problem for them. They're in good shape there.