I think we can be a playoff team as early as 2015-16 honestly. IF we suck enough next year to get McDavid or Eichel.
- Homer

Stewart, Stafford, & Mezaros will all be shopped at the deadline & some kids will get a look.

Hopefully that's enough to sink the ship.

Not happening... Wish it would. Would be incredible if it does happen but I think he gets signed to an extension this summer. Now if he does make it to the start of the season without a contract then maybe... maybe... we could overpay 8-10 million a year for 10 years..
- bluengold12

I don't think that's over paying at all. He wants the max, which is 12.4 per. 8-10 would be a bargain

Stewart, Stafford, & Mezaros will all be shopped at the deadline & some kids will get a look.

Hopefully that's enough to sink the ship.
- SuperCat

agree, Im just afraid we wont suck enough. And its soooo hard for me to want them to lose

I don't think that's over paying at all. He wants the max, which is 12.4 per. 8-10 would be a bargain
- Homer

Ah.. didn't know that.. well we'd have to give him that then 12 million or something.. but again I say 70% he signs extension with Towes this summer.

Ah.. didn't know that.. well we'd have to give him that then 12 million or something.. but again I say 70% he signs extension with Towes this summer.
- bluengold12

I agree, but 25M per on 2 players in a lot, but I still think they do it too

Out. Play nice.

I agree, but 25M per on 2 players in a lot, but I still think they do it too
- Homer

Prob settle for $10 mill a pop. With the cap going up, it should be a "be all, end all".

I'm amazed when I see these ESPN "cap-ologyst" build a basketball team with three $20 mill superstar.

I never said we wouldn't be awful. Not once. Ever.

However, this team is different from the one that limped home with 2 wins in 20 last season. Much different.

Moulson. What'd he score 11 for us while he was here? He's good for 25.

Gionta. He's good for 15.

Gorges. Steadying influence. With him and Meszaros in, and Soft-linder and McStain out, we will be better defensively.

McMuscle. A 4th liner who can actually skate and play the game a bit. (cough, cough...Scott...cough, cough)

Reinhart. Already better than the D'Agostikonopkomarkleinoscottosaurus that we put on the ice last season.

Ennis, Hodgson, Girgensons will all be better offensively.

Again, never said we wouldn't be awful. I said we wouldn't be as awful. And we won't.
- grand-magus

I know...
What I'm saying is we will again finish last
(unless the NYI do)

What u predict for Moulson & Gionta is pretty close to what we lost each year from Vanek

Gorges & Gionta were so good, that the Habs felt they needed to move on to get better... So I'm gonna wait and see how thu actually produce for us. I'm a bit more skeptical than u as far as their "on ice" value goes

Reinhart prob isn't on the team this year... Don't know why you're making that assumption... Most of Murray's comments make it seem like he's actually more likely to go back to juniors

McCormick blows... Yes, he's better than Scott... But that doesn't mean he's actually gonna make this team better at scoring or defense... He's a banger that can skate better than Scott, but there's also a reason he cleared waivers when we sent him down to Roch last year

How many more goals do u see out of Hodgson, Girgensons, etc?
I don't think it'll be a huge improvement... IMO, that production will be erased by the more goals we let in bc of average goaltenders (at best) instead of Miller

It'll be better to watch, bc I think we will give a good effort most nights...
But we are still gonna lose... A LOT

Not happening... Wish it would. Would be incredible if it does happen but I think he gets signed to an extension this summer. Now if he does make it to the start of the season without a contract then maybe... maybe... we could overpay 8-10 million a year for 10 years..
- bluengold12

How is it that ppl haven't heard about the limit on length of contracts yet?
A free agent can resign with his current team for a Mac of 8yrs
A different team for 7yrs

No more crazy contracts allowed

http://youtu.be/SyjehBU3yM4

Enjoy .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ6vX7fl0Yw

If we are resigning ott I think the plan is to have 1 of grigorenko or reinhart playing 3rd line center. Would explain why we offered a 2 year contract.
Moulson ennis stafford
Hodgson Girgenson gionta
Ott reinhart/grigorenko Stewart
Foligno McCormick deslaurier
X larsson Flynn

Myers/Gorges
Pysyk/Meszaros
Risto/Weber
Chad can't spell his last name

The thought of Risto playing with Weber makes me nervous but I bet the shelter Risto a bit so that means sheltering Weber as well. It could make Weber into a serviceable NHL D!
- Stripes77

There's 4 flaws with this statement.

A) I've got that feeling Pysyk plays over Risto
B) Weber is
C) And forever will be
D) Subpar

3 showers and I still have sand in my ears
- cabin

At least you don't have sand in your va......

Barry Melrose, from NHL.com:

BIG ADDITIONS IN BUFFALO

The Buffalo Sabres made some key moves when they added Brian Gionta and Matt Moulson in free agency. If you look at the Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo is basically going to be Edmonton East for this season and maybe one or two after that. The Sabres have a lot of high draft picks this season and next season. They're completely re-tooling. They don't want to take as long as Edmonton, though. They want to be like the Colorado Avalanche and have a quick turnaround, and that's where Gionta and Moulson come in.

The Sabres will have a lot of young kids, and they needed someone to come in there that doesn't accept losing. The needed someone who can teach those kids to win. If you've ever seen Gionta play, he plays hard every night. He's always been able to overcome the "too small" peg, both in college and the NHL. He'll be a leader and an important piece of that puzzle, and Moulson will help play that role also. Moulson is a little younger, and a potent guy offensively. He doesn't look like he'll be past his prime when this team should start to get good again, and he'll provide an important bridge to the next era of Sabres hockey.

Another important thing about Gionta is he's a western New York kid. He wanted to go there. That's important. They need people that want to go to Buffalo again. The Sabres realize they can't just put 20 high draft picks on the ice and expect to win. Edmonton has proven that doesn't work. The Sabres needed to add some good veteran leadership, and that's what they accomplished.

They needed to spend money.

If you're gonna reward a guy, might as well be somebody who lays it all on the line, night in & night out. And Cody McKormick is a warrior.

Also consider TM wanted to assemble a stout Bottom-6...

Foligno/Girgensons/Stewart, Delauriers/McKormick/Kaleta is all that & a bag of chips!!
- SuperCat

This is not a reason to spend 1.5M. If you need to spend money, you pull a Florida Panthers. Fact is, once we sign Ennis, we'll be over the floor without McCormick's help.

Don't think we'll see scoring till Armia & Grigorenko (if he pans out) arrive in 2016.
- sippyd

+1

Be patient on Grigs everyone..it's gonna happen..

hahahahaha

The Many Faces of Tim Murray

http://www.buffalonews.co...ES&ArtNo=707009999&Ref=PH

Bang on - Barry Melrose:
The Sabres realize they can't just put 20 high draft picks on the ice and expect to win. Edmonton has proven that doesn't work. The Sabres needed to add some good veteran leadership, and that's what they accomplished.

What I have been saying all along!

I know...
What I'm saying is we will again finish last
(unless the NYI do)

What u predict for Moulson & Gionta is pretty close to what we lost each year from Vanek

Gorges & Gionta were so good, that the Habs felt they needed to move on to get better... So I'm gonna wait and see how thu actually produce for us. I'm a bit more skeptical than u as far as their "on ice" value goes

Reinhart prob isn't on the team this year... Don't know why you're making that assumption... Most of Murray's comments make it seem like he's actually more likely to go back to juniors

McCormick blows... Yes, he's better than Scott... But that doesn't mean he's actually gonna make this team better at scoring or defense... He's a banger that can skate better than Scott, but there's also a reason he cleared waivers when we sent him down to Roch last year

How many more goals do u see out of Hodgson, Girgensons, etc?
I don't think it'll be a huge improvement... IMO, that production will be erased by the more goals we let in bc of average goaltenders (at best) instead of Miller

It'll be better to watch, bc I think we will give a good effort most nights...
But we are still gonna lose... A LOT
- jdfitz77

I don't think you're being fair to these two players. Gorges was traded for two reasons. The first reason was to shift leadership to the younger guys like Pacioretty, Eller, Desharnais, Gallaghar etc.. The second reason was so that they could balance their defense out with Mike Weaver and Tom Gilbert, as odd that may seem. He's very respected by his teammates, coaches, management and fans. He's a talented player that has been an absolute rock for them for years. He played big minutes with PK Subban. Nope, he's not going to produce offense, but he's going to be one of our best defenders.

Gionta had a lot of the same respect if not more than Gorges in the leadership department. Murray's not an idiot, he didn't pay this guy 4.25M to score. He'll add secondary offense in the range of 35-45 points but most importantly you're getting a leader on and off the ice and a gamer to set an example.

These signings are not akin to Leino/Ehrhoff of 2011. They're not brought in to deliver offense. They're here to deliver proven intangibles this team sorely needs.

I don't think you're being fair to these two players. Gorges was traded for two reasons. The first reason was to shift leadership to the younger guys like Pacioretty, Eller, Desharnais, Gallaghar etc.. The second reason was so that they could balance their defense out with Mike Weaver and Tom Gilbert, as odd that may seem. He's very respected by his teammates, coaches, management and fans. He's a talented player that has been an absolute rock for them for years. He played big minutes with PK Subban. Nope, he's not going to produce offense, but he's going to be one of our best defenders.

Gionta had a lot of the same respect if not more than Gorges in the leadership department. Murray's not an idiot, he didn't pay this guy 4.25M to score. He'll add secondary offense in the range of 35-45 points but most importantly you're getting a leader on and off the ice and a gamer to set an example.

These signings are not akin to Leino/Ehrhoff of 2011. They're not brought in to deliver offense. They're here to deliver proven intangibles this team sorely needs.
- TheSabresTaco

Nice job Taco! Well said, you need character/experience guys around these young players.

edit: Total offense yards cracked me up

Nice job Taco! Well said, you need character/experience guys around these young players.
- Irish 14

Thanks Irish.

GMs, coaches and especially players/ex-players keep harping on the importance of on and off ice leadership and there's still fans who don't believe in it yet. I played sports in high school and college so by no means have I ever been paid to do so, but I've seen the difference a few leaders can make.

Yeah, there comes a point where you've got some old greybeard in the room who can't do anything else but talk, and that's when you cut the cord. But these two guys here have plenty of game left in their systems, especially Gorges. I'm very excited to see the impact these two have outside of the stat sheet.

edit: Total offense yards cracked me up
- Sabresfan-365

The Canadians have football? And what the hell is that other nation and why are they trying?

The Canadians have football? And what the hell is that other nation and why are they trying?
- TheSabresTaco

Looks like the football powerhouse of Kuwait