AO gives you one of the 2 best goal scorers in the game and pretty much ensures your a top 8 pp team for the next 5 years
- homiedclown

I see your point and agree with it however, trading for AO now IMO would change what they are trying to do. Picks and players would have to go back and it might take to much for the Sabres to part with.

IMO McNabb is nothing more than a 5-6 guy anyway... So he basically moved 2 2nds for him.. He must have really liked him but the Sens refused to draft him
- sbroads24

exactly how I see the trade

Case in point. The Penguins were awful when they had Crosby in his first year. This team needs more than Crosby, a lot more.
- Stripes77

flip side to this

when the pens got good, they were able to use their picks and stack their d for the next ten years


something darcy was unable to do to keep the team competitive

Vets that will cost assets . Need to build up assets before you start trading them all . Time to go after any vets is after next season. You calling some one better is priceless. Not bitter at all here just realistic.
- Maximum Signal

What you need realilze is......... this is all about opinion's not who's right or wrong, bitter or not bitter. I have my opinion's and you have your's, i'm not right or wrong for mine and you aren't right or wrong for your's. Let it go already.

I see your point and agree with it however, trading for AO now IMO would change what they are trying to do. Picks and players would have to go back and it might take to much for the Sabres to part with.
- SABRES 89

I just think this off season, AO could be had for 60 cents on the dollar

Yes... Although I hate the Schenn's and think they are over rated
- sbroads24

Luke might be but not his brother, I like both Luke is a hard hitting D man and his brother would be a nice addition.

I just think this off season, AO could be had for 60 cents on the dollar
- homiedclown

Maybe, his contract makes it that way.

the team lacks elite talent up front

staal, ovechkin gives them that
plus the second pick in the draft


when the sabres were good in the post lockout years, briere was fringe elite talent
vanek had his best year on the third line
pommer and roy were complementary players
- homiedclown

You draft the talent up front and develop them . That way you are not giving away your future for limited results now . That is what Murray has done in all franchises has has had a part in rebuilding . You make the trades or sign the FA's as the final piece to the puzzle . We are not there it .

flip side to this

when the pens got good, they were able to use their picks and stack their d for the next ten years


something darcy was unable to do to keep the team competitive
- homiedclown

Right but remember of those 150 goals that were scored this year 24 of them were scored by players that aren't here anymore (Vanek, Moulson, Ott)

So you are talking about needing to find someone to score at least 100 goals to be middle of the pack.

They aren't going to be very good next season

Edit: Without giving up those high end D prospects you are talking about that we already have (which neither of us want to) you aren't going to get those types of difference makers

Luke might be but not his brother, I like both Luke is a hard hitting D man and his brother would be a nice addition.
- SABRES 89

I think Philly is definitely a destination for Hoff. Although they did just extend McDonald

Right but remember of those 150 goals that were scored this year 24 of them were scored by players that aren't here anymore (Vanek, Moulson, Ott)

So you are talking about needing to find someone to score at least 100 goals to be middle of the pack.

They aren't going to be very good next season

Edit: Without giving up those high end D prospects you are talking about that we already have (which neither of us want to) you aren't going to get those types of difference makers
- Stripes77

The reality is that, if this team is going to be competitive in the next couple of years, at least one of that "stack" (McCabe, Ristolainen, Zadorov, Pysyk, possibly even Myers depending on the situation) is going to be moved for forward help. If they hold on to all of them, you have Darcy Regier all over again. If there's a forward that Murray really wants to get his hands on, he's going to move somebody.

I think Philly is definitely a destination for Hoff. Although they did just extend McDonald
- sbroads24

Yep, it mentioned a replacement for Timonen I guess they think he's done.

The reality is that, if this team is going to be competitive in the next couple of years, at least one of that "stack" (McCabe, Ristolainen, Zadorov, Pysyk, possibly even Myers depending on the situation) is going to be moved for forward help. If they hold on to all of them, you have Darcy Regier all over again. If there's a forward that Murray really wants to get his hands on, he's going to move somebody.
- buffalofan19

I have no doubt one of them will be moved in the future for scoring, just not in the next season. Nothing drastic is going to happen until after the 2015 draft. They will be bad this coming season. That's my point on it

The reality is that, if this team is going to be competitive in the next couple of years, at least one of that "stack" (McCabe, Ristolainen, Zadorov, Pysyk, possibly even Myers depending on the situation) is going to be moved for forward help. If they hold on to all of them, you have Darcy Regier all over again. If there's a forward that Murray really wants to get his hands on, he's going to move somebody.
- buffalofan19

I hate to almost sound naive, but I think one will be moved because they all are going to be incredibly good, and too good to be the 4th-5th or even 6th guy on a team.

Zadarov or Pysyk I could see moved with Risto, Myers, and McCabe being the core 3

I have no doubt one of them will be moved in the future for scoring, just not in the next season. Nothing drastic is going to happen until after the 2015 draft. They will be bad this coming season. That's my point on it
- Stripes77

See, that's where I'm not as confident. I'm sure Murray has his list of players he'd like to get his hands on over the next couple of years. If one of those guys happens to be available this season, he'll pull the trigger. At least, that's the impression he has seemed to create.

The reality is that, if this team is going to be competitive in the next couple of years, at least one of that "stack" (McCabe, Ristolainen, Zadorov, Pysyk, possibly even Myers depending on the situation) is going to be moved for forward help. If they hold on to all of them, you have Darcy Regier all over again. If there's a forward that Murray really wants to get his hands on, he's going to move somebody.
- buffalofan19

it may be one more year of this crap on the ice, we will get a better vibe in the next few months


I do expect a few moves though and I would not be shocked to see staff or coho moved in the summer

I hate to almost sound naive, but I think one will be moved because they all are going to be incredibly good, and too good to be the 4th-5th or even 6th guy on a team.

Zadarov or Pysyk I could see moved with Risto, Myers, and McCabe being the core 3
- sbroads24

We don't really know what Murray thinks of these prospects, or how highly he values each one.

Put it this way: if Murray were in charge of last year's draft, do we know he would have picked Ristolainen? Any one of these guys could be more available than we think. It all depends on who Murray is looking to acquire.

See, that's where I'm not as confident. I'm sure Murray has his list of players he'd like to get his hands on over the next couple of years. If one of those guys happens to be available this season, he'll pull the trigger. At least, that's the impression he has seemed to create.
- buffalofan19

In that case even if he does move one of them the player they are getting back isn't going to score 100 goals so they will still be bad.

This was the lowest scoring team in the NHL with 150. Three players that were here scored 24 of them and now they are gone. Until those players are replaced and more talent (more than one player) is added they are going to be a bad team

See, that's where I'm not as confident. I'm sure Murray has his list of players he'd like to get his hands on over the next couple of years. If one of those guys happens to be available this season, he'll pull the trigger. At least, that's the impression he has seemed to create.
- buffalofan19

yeah the only guys murray has inherited on the big club is conacher, fill in player, stewart, and mitchell (throw in contract)

every other skater was a darcy guy

We don't really know what Murray thinks of these prospects, or how highly he values each one.

Put it this way: if Murray were in charge of last year's draft, do we know he would have picked Ristolainen? Any one of these guys could be more available than we think. It all depends on who Murray is looking to acquire.
- buffalofan19

risto and girgens are the only two untouchables IMO

We don't really know what Murray thinks of these prospects, or how highly he values each one.

Put it this way: if Murray were in charge of last year's draft, do we know he would have picked Ristolainen? Any one of these guys could be more available than we think. It all depends on who Murray is looking to acquire.
- buffalofan19

I think everyone (Girgensons included) could be moved if its the right deal.

I just don't see Murray rushing to move a prospect for forward help this offseason.

In that case even if he does move one of them the player they are getting back isn't going to score 100 goals so they will still be bad.


- Stripes77

kings scored 49 more goals then the sabres in 2013-14
wild scored 50

kings scored 49 more goals then the sabres in 2013-14
wild scored 50
- homiedclown

And then remove the 24 scored by Moulson, Vanek, and Ott that havent been replaced they still need to find 75 goals somewhere to get to the Wild and Kings level

Edit: and the Kings and Wild were 1st and 7th in the league in goals against per game while the Sabres were 25th.

I think everyone (Girgensons included) could be moved if its the right deal.

I just don't see Murray rushing to move a prospect for forward help this offseason.
- sbroads24

I don't think it will be a move for the sake of help. It would be more of a "this is a guy I want on my team in the next couple of years, so I'm going to get him now". It doesn't have to be a forward. It could very well be a goaltender, or even another defenseman. The thing we don't realize is that this entire prospect pool is Darcy Regier's handy work. Murray has his own scouting report on these guys, and it might not agree with Regier's.

And then remove the 24 scored by Moulson, Vanek, and Ott that havent been replaced they still need to find 75 goals somewhere to get to the Wild and Kings level

.
- Stripes77

in essence they removed first line lw
second line rw



stewart fills the rw slot