Some disconcerting comments from Chad Cassidy about Armia:

“He has to make sure it is important to him,” Cassidy said. “If it isn’t important to him, the rest doesn’t really matter. He has got to make sure he comes to the rink and if he wants to be an NHL player he has to be a lot more consistent.”

The Amerks have lost 8 straight and they are now out of playoff position. They really could use the Remparts to lose tonight so they can get Grigs in there.

Some disconcerting comments from Chad Cassidy about Armia:

“He has to make sure it is important to him,” Cassidy said. “If it isn’t important to him, the rest doesn’t really matter. He has got to make sure he comes to the rink and if he wants to be an NHL player he has to be a lot more consistent.”

The Amerks have lost 8 straight and they are now out of playoff position. They really could use the Remparts to lose tonight so they can get Grigs in there.
- Pierceme69

This was one of the reasons he fell out of the top 10 in his draft year. Hopefully he can turn it around, he's got plenty of time to do so.

John Scott..on. The. First.

Line.

Can anyone help me pick up my brain fragments?

My latest Sabres rebuild plan (draft edition), target these guys:



Nick Foligno, Clbs. - at 26 yrs, he's a young utility player who this organization can grow with. His game is Hecht-esque, and his versatility would help stabalize this young group.

He's spent time with Tim Murray in Ottawa, and there's an even more obvious Buffalo connection with his younger brother already here on the squad. It seems N. Foligno fits this rebuilding effort seamlessly. (Two 2nd rd picks should be enough to land N. Foligno via trade).



Brad Marchant, Bos.- He's young, tough, & he scores goals. He's also a former player of Nolan's from juniors. Marchant could easily be groomed into a gritty second line winger in Buffalo. Would the Bruins maybe move him for a d-man like Erhoff?



Sam Bennett - A heart & soul type of kid, who is an excellent skater. I got to believe Teddy Nolan would love this kid. Now land another blue chip forward like Dal Colle with the NYI pick... Girgensons/Benett/Dal Colle!!!

Carried over from the last thread...

What if the guy Murray likes best isn't Reinhart?
Or what if it is, but whoever picks 2nd wants to trade up for Ekblad?
Maybe Murray actually like Nylander the best
I've seen reports where scouts actually feel he has the most talent, just has attitude issues which drops him

I wouldn't mind us trading down if Murray can still get HIS guy and acquire more assets in the process
- jdfitz77

Yea, I'm sure Murray wants a guy with attitude problems over a guy that's a polar opposite. Cause..you know.. he hasn't mentioned once about "we want guys who want to be here, want to play hard, 100% effort...."

John Scott..on. The. First.

Line.

Can anyone help me pick up my brain fragments?
- TheSabresTaco

Taco - clearly John Scott has proved his considerable worth by his significant scoring prowess to earn the top line position...other GMs must be salivating ... Time to package him with Stafford to the Preds who, except for last night, are struggling to score...we may be able to get there 2014 1st out of them. Trade when your aset values are high!

Another thing that didn't see any action because it was towards the tail end of the last thread... did anyone see Bob McKenzie's tweet about the Isles owner?

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie · 3h
NYI owner Charles Wang in talks to sell majority stake in NHL franchise. Nothing done yet, no telling if it gets done, but talks underway.

Wonder what this would mean if it happens before June 1st.... Could be major organizational overhaul if Wang leaves and new owner gives Garth the boot..
- bluengold12

There's not a chance in hell Garth gets the boot before the draft. (From a new owner)

Taco - clearly John Scott has proved his considerable worth by his significant scoring prowess to earn the top line position...other GMs must be salivating ... Time to package him with Stafford to the Preds who, except for last night, are struggling to score...we may be able to get there 2014 1st out of them. Trade when your aset values are high!
- IonSabres

Well he did score that goal that one time a few months ago. Yea, I see your point. He's been in a mini slump lately, but I don't see why we couldn't at least get a late first out of him.

Nine more games .

Hey if he can get to the front of the net or clear a path for Ennis and stafford I could care less what line he is on.

Time to start an offshoot discussion from this whole Nylander suggestion.

“It’s just one of those things (that) in order to rebuild and to retool, you rebuild and retool with the right people, and it’s never changed from 20 years ago to today,” Nolan said. “You need the right people with the right makeup with the right character with the right drive and ambition. You don’t just show up.” - Ted Nolan

- I'm of the mindset that Tim Murray is on the same page with Nolan. He's said things that line up with Nolan's mind frame. This leads me to believe, that with the first pick, they're NOT going the Grigorenko route. Best pure talent, doesn't possess the work ethic to develop that talent into pure skill. I haven't done much reading on Nylander to be honest so it's speculative that either A) he takes shifts off B) not the greatest team mate or leader in the room C) Floats like Leino D) Thinks he's good enough. If any or all of the above is true, good riddance and I strongly believe Murray feels the same.
- Nolan and Murray, like I said, are on the same page. I believe Nolan was hinting..strongly hinting..that Leino does not have a place on this team. He clearly doesn't give a poop, which is fine because he's terrible anyways. This is no where close to a Beezer #CONFIRRMED, but I'd bet a solid $500 that Leino gets bought out pending a clean bill of health.
- As far as who we draft...we're getting a highly talented character guy. That's Reinhart, Ekblad or Bennett. God willing it's one of the two forwards.

Time to start an offshoot discussion from this whole Nylander suggestion.

“It’s just one of those things (that) in order to rebuild and to retool, you rebuild and retool with the right people, and it’s never changed from 20 years ago to today,” Nolan said. “You need the right people with the right makeup with the right character with the right drive and ambition. You don’t just show up.” - Ted Nolan

- I'm of the mindset that Tim Murray is on the same page with Nolan. He's said things that line up with Nolan's mind frame. This leads me to believe, that with the first pick, they're NOT going the Grigorenko route. Best pure talent, doesn't possess the work ethic to develop that talent into pure skill. I haven't done much reading on Nylander to be honest so it's speculative that either A) he takes shifts off B) not the greatest team mate or leader in the room C) Floats like Leino D) Thinks he's good enough. If any or all of the above is true, good riddance and I strongly believe Murray feels the same.
- Nolan and Murray, like I said, are on the same page. I believe Nolan was hinting..strongly hinting..that Leino does not have a place on this team. He clearly doesn't give a poop, which is fine because he's terrible anyways. This is no where close to a Beezer #CONFIRRMED, but I'd bet a solid $500 that Leino gets bought out pending a clean bill of health.
- As far as who we draft...we're getting a highly talented character guy. That's Reinhart, Ekblad or Bennett. God willing it's one of the two forwards.
- TheSabresTaco

I agree with all of this. Part of me thinks we trade some of our picks for veteran talent as well.

The title of this blog bothers me.

The title of this blog bothers me.
- sbroads24

It's that time of year again, the lines are made up and the points just don't seem to matter.

I agree with all of this. Part of me thinks we trade some of our picks for veteran talent as well.
- jaumiller

I agree that it should be done, but there's infinite possibilities and I don't want to deal a wad of picks for some slobknob named Leino...not saying that'll happen. It's just a risk that bothers me a little.

The title of this blog bothers me.
- sbroads24

For 9 remaining games, would you take John Scott on the first line if that meant Leino was scratched for those games?

One has nothing to do with the other, but I'd sign up for that

For 9 remaining games, would you take John Scott on the first line if that meant Leino was scratched for those games?

One has nothing to do with the other, but I'd sign up for that
- keptupl8

I'd rather see Doug Allen do the anthem in nothing but his bow tie than watch Scott stumble back and forth for 9 games.

Are we awesome yet ?

(I tapped my ruby slippers 3 times while saying "There's no coach like Nolan. There's no coach like Nolan").

If Ville Leino is somehow "injured" at the end of the year causing us to not be able to buy him out it will be the newest low of lows that we cant even buy out the biggest FA bust in team history... with 9 games left I wish we could just bench him for the reaming games so he doesn't get hurt but with so many other injuries he'll have to play.. hopefully he stays healthy...
- bluengold12

Pun intended ?

Pun intended ?
- Pairo11

John Scott..on. The. First.

Line.

Can anyone help me pick up my brain fragments?
- TheSabresTaco

He almost scored, the net minder had to make a great save or he would have 2 more than Ville.
I know that Scott on the first line is horrible but I don't get the hate for this guy, he is not all together useless.

I'm not sure Scott should be on any line. I hope Nolan doesn't sign that contract, he lets personality determine who plays, not if they help the team win or not. Did that with Hasek of all people.

He almost scored, the net minder had to make a great save or he would have 2 more than Ville.
I know that Scott on the first line is horrible but I don't get the hate for this guy, he is not all together useless.
- leonwaldo420

It's beyond horrible. It's unprofessional. He's an awful hockey player

I don't personally hate him at all. I hate that he's playing for the Sabres on a nightly basis and getting moved up the lineup for "trying"

He almost scored, the net minder had to make a great save or he would have 2 more than Ville.
I know that Scott on the first line is horrible but I don't get the hate for this guy, he is not all together useless.
- leonwaldo420

Agreed, he's not the fastest skater but I wouldn't be either if I was that big. I think as long as you have an offensive type d man that can join the rush playing with them while he's out there you could be ok. Just get Scott in front of the net and screen the goalie. That's honestly how I score most of my goals when I play, get to the front and hope it hits me

It's beyond horrible. It's unprofessional. He's an awful hockey player

I don't personally hate him at all. I hate that he's playing for the Sabres on a nightly basis and getting moved up the lineup for "trying"
- sbroads24

Would you rather Leino gets hurt and we are stuck with him for god knows how long ?