Depends on how far back you go. First off, miller would have stayed if we showed even a hint of competing. 3 yr deal and we have a more than capable goalie. Second, we could have traded a low 1st and/or prospects for an NHL player that another team was willing to move. Based on the cap of many teams there would have been options there. I'm not talking older players either. E.Kane, Eberle, B.Schenn. There wouldn't be a shortage of interest if we offer up some of our youth. The strategy they chose was to only acquire picks/prospects. That makes the rebuild take 2-3 extra years. If we don't get a top 2 in this draft we'll be lucky to make the playoffs by 2018
- Khymlev13

So you're saying you wanted them to sell off our future so that we could maybe squeak into the playoffs now? I'll pass....

Yea you are right he should have let Miller walk for nothing. That would have worked out well....
- Cheeseballin

By the time they had to make a decision on miller they made the right trade. But that's only because they gave away pominville without getting back an NHL player. The Vanek trade at least got moulson. Great move by darcy.

O.H, Original Hipster
- Buffalo-Sabres

Depends on how far back you go. First off, miller would have stayed if we showed even a hint of competing. 3 yr deal and we have a more than capable goalie. Second, we could have traded a low 1st and/or prospects for an NHL player that another team was willing to move. Based on the cap of many teams there would have been options there. I'm not talking older players either. E.Kane, Eberle, B.Schenn. There wouldn't be a shortage of interest if we offer up some of our youth. The strategy they chose was to only acquire picks/prospects. That makes the rebuild take 2-3 extra years. If we don't get a top 2 in this draft we'll be lucky to make the playoffs by 2018
- Khymlev13

I am a huge Miller fan, and would usually agree, but goaltending has been the least of our worries this season.

Vanek wanted out because Pominville was moved and Miller followed both.

So in essence, you wanted Pominville kept, Sekera kept, Miller resigned, Vanek resigned to a huge deal, and pretty much the same team just with the addition of a Jordan Eberle?

So you're saying you wanted them to sell off our future so that we could maybe squeak into the playoffs now? I'll pass....
- HonkFortheGoose

Yes, squeak in now and then have your GM make you better the next year. Fans here are delusional. Do you realize that even if we do improve we're not going from 30th to 5th in a year? We'll probably be fighting for 8th multiple years because that's a very common theme for teams in the NHL. After 2003 we should have blown it up, right? Or we could make some good trades and get into back to back conference finals. Do you regret not tanking then?

Yes, squeak in now and then have your GM make you better the next year. Fans here are delusional. Do you realize that even if we do improve we're not going from 30th to 5th in a year? We'll probably be fighting for 8th multiple years because that's a very common theme for teams in the NHL. After 2003 we should have blown it up, right? Or we could make some good trades and get into back to back conference finals. Do you regret not tanking then?
- Khymlev13

They did this year after year after year under Darcy. I don't want them to just be a playoff contender. I want them to be a Stanley Cup contender. Maybe you're ok with just being average and getting ousted in the 1st round every year, but I want more than that.

I am a huge Miller fan, and would usually agree, but goaltending has been the least of our worries this season.

Vanek wanted out because Pominville was moved and Miller followed both.

So in essence, you wanted Pominville kept, Sekera kept, Miller resigned, Vanek resigned to a huge deal, and pretty much the same team just with the addition of a Jordan Eberle?
- sbroads24

The sabres and Rangers were in similar spots 4-5 years ago. The sabres sold off their pieces and the Rangers traded their high priced players and replaced them with players like nash and st louis. All I'm saying is there were dozens of alternatives to the way we did this and if we don't get a top 2 I can't imagine any alternative being worse

They did this year after year after year under Darcy. I don't want them to just be a playoff contender. I want them to be a Stanley Cup contender. Maybe you're ok with just being average and getting ousted in the 1st round every year, but I want more than that.
- HonkFortheGoose

What is it about this plan that makes you think they will be a SC contender? The biggest flaw in all of this is the assumption that it's going to work. You can mention pitt and chi and I can mention Edm, nyi, fla.

What is it about this plan that makes you think they will be a SC contender? The biggest flaw in all of this is the assumption that it's going to work. You can mention pitt and chi and I can mention Edm, nyi, fla.
- Khymlev13

There's no guarantee, but at least it's a different plan than they had before. The previous plan didn't work, so it was time to try something new.

The sabres and Rangers were in similar spots 4-5 years ago. The sabres sold off their pieces and the Rangers traded their high priced players and replaced them with players like nash and st louis. All I'm saying is there were dozens of alternatives to the way we did this and if we don't get a top 2 I can't imagine any alternative being worse
- Khymlev13

Who would you rather be right now, The Rangers or the Lightning?

The Islanders or the Flyers?
The Blackhawks or the Canucks?

What is it about this plan that makes you think they will be a SC contender? The biggest flaw in all of this is the assumption that it's going to work. You can mention pitt and chi and I can mention Edm, nyi, fla.
- Khymlev13

Because it is going to work

We are nothing like Edmonton. In fact, you bringing up Edmonton is funny considering you mentioning if we don't end up with a #1 or #2 pick this becomes an organizational failure. Edmonton had 3 straight number 1 picks. They also had an awful draft record in other rounds and a horrible team surrounding those picks. The Sabres are nothing like them in the slightest

What is it about this plan that makes you think they will be a SC contender? The biggest flaw in all of this is the assumption that it's going to work. You can mention pitt and chi and I can mention Edm, nyi, fla.
- Khymlev13

If the Sabres land McDavid or Eichel, they will be landing a generational talent. The Sabres need a player to build a franchise around, and these players sound like the closest they are going to get. Is it a guarantee? No. Is it worth the risk? Absolutely.

Emelin - 6'2" - 217 lbs
Gionta - 5'7" - 176 lbs

I hate to defend a Canadian and I do hope he gets suspended just cause, but I believe it would be the wrong call.

That was a hit on a short player that was leaning by a much taller player standing up.

Gionta should know better than to be coming up the boards with his head down.

Sabres 4 Canadians 2 for their next game.

There's no guarantee, but at least it's a different plan than they had before. The previous plan didn't work, so it was time to try something new.
- HonkFortheGoose

New GM = something new. How long does it take expansion teams to become SC contenders? 7 years at the earliest? We are an expansion team. I'd take playoff appearances and offseason tinkering over a 50 point season any day because it's a lot more likely to move from middle of the pack to top than bottom to top.

Emelin - 6'2" - 217 lbs
Gionta - 5'7" - 176 lbs

I hate to defend a Canadian and I do hope he gets suspended just cause, but I believe it would be the wrong call.

That was a hit on a short player that was leaning by a much taller player standing up.

Gionta should know better than to be coming up the boards with his head down.

Sabres 4 Canadians 2 for their next game.
- currphij

Why does it matter that he's smaller than the guy? You still can't hit them in the head, whether they're shorter, taller, or the same size.

New GM = something new. How long does it take expansion teams to become SC contenders? 7 years at the earliest? We are an expansion team. I'd take playoff appearances and offseason tinkering over a 50 point season any day because it's a lot more likely to move from middle of the pack to top than bottom to top.
- Khymlev13

We are not an expansion team. Expansion teams have no prospect pool to pull from. There's no depth to the organization. We have a ton of that right now. I want to finally get a generational talent and be a legit contender. You can't get that unless you draft high, and drafting high means the team looks bad for the whole season.

Because it is going to work

We are nothing like Edmonton. In fact, you bringing up Edmonton is funny considering you mentioning if we don't end up with a #1 or #2 pick this becomes an organizational failure. Edmonton had 3 straight number 1 picks. They also had an awful draft record in other rounds and a horrible team surrounding those picks. The Sabres are nothing like them in the slightest
- sbroads24

We are like them in that we have a rather horrible team. We just don't have the #1 picks that they do. I said its a huge failure if we don't get 1/2 because that's the entire purpose of the tank. I'm against the tank but hoping we get a top 2 because I don't see how hanifin is going to turn things around.

New GM = something new. How long does it take expansion teams to become SC contenders? 7 years at the earliest? We are an expansion team. I'd take playoff appearances and offseason tinkering over a 50 point season any day because it's a lot more likely to move from middle of the pack to top than bottom to top.
- Khymlev13

No we are not..... Expansion teams don't have the best group of young players in hockey like we do.

Why does it matter that he's smaller than the guy? You still can't hit them in the head, whether they're shorter, taller, or the same size.
- HonkFortheGoose

Doesn't matter when a Sabre is the offending player .

We are like them in that we have a rather horrible team. We just don't have the #1 picks that they do. I said its a huge failure if we don't get 1/2 because that's the entire purpose of the tank. I'm against the tank but hoping we get a top 2 because I don't see how hanifin is going to turn things around.
- Khymlev13

Yea we are actually better than them despite them having 3 number 1 picks.

Why does it matter that he's smaller than the guy? You still can't hit them in the head, whether they're shorter, taller, or the same size.
- HonkFortheGoose

If size mattered, Myers would have never been suspended.....twice

We are not an expansion team. Expansion teams have no prospect pool to pull from. There's no depth to the organization. We have a ton of that right now. I want to finally get a generational talent and be a legit contender. You can't get that unless you draft high, and drafting high means the team looks bad for the whole season.
- HonkFortheGoose

Back to my point- if we don't get a top 2 we don't get a generational talent. Thus the year was a waste of time and money (season tix aren't cheap). I'm not sure how that can be disputed. Now if we get a top 2 it's a wait and see. Maybe there will be a light from this dread. But everything hinges on getting one of those two players.

Would Edmonton be better if they chose Ristolainen over Nurse?

Emelin - 6'2" - 217 lbs
Gionta - 5'7" - 176 lbs

I hate to defend a Canadian and I do hope he gets suspended just cause, but I believe it would be the wrong call.

That was a hit on a short player that was leaning by a much taller player standing up.

Gionta should know better than to be coming up the boards with his head down.

Sabres 4 Canadians 2 for their next game.
- currphij

ya know, y'all are right...

that dumbass Gionta...just because he's a little bit off-balance and a touch out of control, there absolutely no reason he should be targeting emelin's elbow with his head

Yea we are actually better than them despite them having 3 number 1 picks.
- sbroads24

So is hanifin going to be worth it? Because that is creeping to be our reality.