I didn't think it was possible but In just 12 months the oilers have managed to out suck last years sabres.
- Sabresfan-365

no, you pointed out 3 or 4 cup teams have a #2, and we got one
I was just trying to make a point that it's not doom and gloom if the sabres do not get a top 6 pick in this draft

pipeline is full, the cherry on top is if a few 4th-7th rd picks turn out to be diamonds in the rough
- homiedclown

Its not all doom n gloom...
But like u said, our pipeline is deep with talented prospects
Imagine adding a McDavid/Eichel to what we already have!
That's why so many are excited
One of them could be that final piece of the puzzle

I am not sure the pens would have won any of the cups the last 5 years even if MAF was playing elite

The pens never seem to click as a team over the recent years when it counts.

Their bottom 6 has been brutal the last few years

The D seems to lack the grit needed


They could very well have the 2 best players in the games, but the team chemistry seems to be lacking

just my 2 cents
- homiedclown

I see your point there...
But with how awful Fleury has been for them in the playoffs, that's the glaring #1 reason IMO
Team chemistry, lack of depth, and even coaching prob played into it as well
Also, their defense has gotten progressively less defensive, and softer as well. That works Ok in the reg season, but is a killer come playoff time.
So I guess there's lots of reasons for their failures...
Fleury still sticks out as #1 to me though

I see your point there...
But with how awful Fleury has been for them in the playoffs, that's the glaring #1 reason IMO
Team chemistry, lack of depth, and even coaching prob played into it as well
Also, their defense has gotten progressively less defensive, and softer as well. That works Ok in the reg season, but is a killer come playoff time.
So I guess there's lots of reasons for their failures...
Fleury still sticks out as #1 to me though
- jdfitz77

this!!!


Fleury was the biggest season

I just doubt that would have won a cup even if fleury was playing at an all star level

Very much disagree with what you said about Zadorov. He is a great player regardless of who he is paired with. Obviously Risto and him have had great chemistry but to say Zadorov wouldn't be here without Risto is Bogus. Zadorov has worked hard this year and has the talent to be here. He also has the maturity level to be here too which you seem to question. Put him with Myers and he'd be just as good as he is now.

Very much disagree with what you said about Zadorov. He is a great player regardless of who he is paired with. Obviously Risto and him have had great chemistry but to say Zadorov wouldn't be here without Risto is Bogus. Zadorov has worked hard this year and has the talent to be here. He also has the maturity level to be here too which you seem to question. Put him with Myers and he'd be just as good as he is now.
- SabresOnAWarpath

I was one of the people who LOVED the Zadorov pick
But he's still got A LOT to prove
I think you're a little over the top heaping so much praise on him already
As for your suggestion he plays with Myers,
I'd love that idea. He brings a physical style that Myers tends to shy away from
I think they'll end up being a great 2nd pair for us
Top pair...
McCabe & Ristolainen
I love their upside & are well rounded guys that seem not to phase too easily
So that leaves Georges with Pysyk for my ideal defense, until we have another youngster that comes up & is ready to take the place of Georges
I like the look of that defense

pipeline is full, the cherry on top is if a few 4th-7th rd picks turn out to be diamonds in the rough
- homiedclown

You nailed it Homie. Possler and Florentino are two who could fit that. I'd even include 3rd round picks. The 2013 draft is looking very, very strong.

How many teams have won a cup the last ten years w/o a number one overall on their team?
A few kings teams
A duck team
Bruins
Canes?
Red wings


Just a thought

I'd rather have over achievers like girgens then some of the lazy first rd picks
- homiedclown

Myers for Beleskey, Smith-Pelley, Kerdiles and a 1st (???)

(.. puts on blindfold, lights smoke and puts back to the wall)

Some Hackett info (from D&C):

By the end of the month or by the first week of January, Hackett is hoping to be ready to play in game.

"There's no timetable (for medical clearance) but it's feeling good so far," the fifth-year veteran said Tuesday after the Sabres morning skate.

Hackett would presumably join the Rochester Americans when doctors say he can play a game. They originally told him the knee would be ready for the stress and workload of a hockey game in six to nine months.

Also, Schaller sent back down, McCormick is cleared to play tonight.

Schaller took the same route to Buffalo had (sic) Brian Flynn did. Flynn wasn’t drafted out of Maine, signed as a free agent, played in Rochester and now has 121 NHL games in. Schaller said he has always kept Flynn’s journey in mind, “Yes, absolutely. Flynn’s a good guy and he’s worked hard to get here and hopefully I can do the same thing.”

Myers for Beleskey, Smith-Pelley, Kerdiles and a 1st (???)

(.. puts on blindfold, lights smoke and puts back to the wall)
- Pairo11

Why would the Sabres do that? going to take more then that to get Myers. Dial tones are very common these days.

yeah, he's a jerk
- homiedclown

Damn him!

Very much disagree with what you said about Zadorov. He is a great player regardless of who he is paired with. Obviously Risto and him have had great chemistry but to say Zadorov wouldn't be here without Risto is Bogus. Zadorov has worked hard this year and has the talent to be here. He also has the maturity level to be here too which you seem to question. Put him with Myers and he'd be just as good as he is now.
- SabresOnAWarpath

Zadorov came in to camp out of shape and was benched in traverse city because of it...was risto the only reason Zadorov is where he is?...no...but, imo, risto/Zadorov is yin/yang...don't think he'd have the same chemistry with myers or anybody else...just an opinion

Zadorov came in to camp out of shape and was benched in traverse city because of it...was risto the only reason Zadorov is where he is?...no...but, imo, risto/Zadorov is yin/yang...don't think he'd have the same chemistry with myers or anybody else...just an opinion
- Michael Pachla

You and your facts

With all the rumors going around about the salary cap not rising for next year and staying at $69M, does that gave TM the green light to poach a quality player from a team in cap trouble in the offseason or even the trade deadline?

Why would the Sabres do that? going to take more then that to get Myers. Dial tones are very common these days.
- SABRES 89

Looking at Martinez's extension, I again am confused why we "need" to trade Myers at all.

Murray is asking high, and he should - it's on another GM to make an offer we can't refuse. The worst case situation is we have Myers and his tied-for-26th highest NHL salary for a few more years.

Looking at Martinez's extension, I again am confused why we "need" to trade Myers at all.

Murray is asking high, and he should - it's on another GM to make an offer we can't refuse. The worst case situation is we have Myers and his tied-for-26th highest NHL salary for a few more years.
- nfph

there you go again...making sense

Looking at Martinez's extension, I again am confused why we "need" to trade Myers at all.

Murray is asking high, and he should - it's on another GM to make an offer we can't refuse. The worst case situation is we have Myers and his tied-for-26th highest NHL salary for a few more years.
- nfph

After next season I bet that is barely even top 50.

With all the rumors going around about the salary cap not rising for next year and staying at $69M, does that gave TM the green light to poach a quality player from a team in cap trouble in the offseason or even the trade deadline?
- kingcong39

I like your thinking...what ever happened to war sabres?

With all the rumors going around about the salary cap not rising for next year and staying at $69M, does that gave TM the green light to poach a quality player from a team in cap trouble in the offseason or even the trade deadline?
- kingcong39

I made a post last week that due to the Canadian dollar, chances are pretty good that the cap remains next year at 69M. The Sabres have plenty of cap space and teams like Philly, Chicago and Los Angeles are already in cap jail.

After next season I bet that is barely even top 50.
- ImThatGuy

Interesting look at the D UFAs for next year.

A lot of these guys are long in the tooth, some will be retiring (Timmo). But I think Myers will be tied in the 30s by the end of the next feeding frenzy. By the time that contract is up, he'll be well past 50th.

http://www.capgeek.com/fr...osition_id=D&fa_type_id=2

I made a post last week that due to the Canadian dollar, chances are pretty good that the cap remains next year at 69M. The Sabres have plenty of cap space and teams like Philly, Chicago and Los Angeles are already in cap jail.
- mhp

yup...some others too, like boston...kinda like carl soderberg

Interesting look at the D UFAs for next year.

A lot of these guys are long in the tooth, some will be retiring (Timmo). But I think Myers will be tied in the 30s by the end of the next feeding frenzy. By the time that contract is up, he'll be well past 50th.

http://www.capgeek.com/fr...osition_id=D&fa_type_id=2
- nfph

darcy done did good

Looking at Martinez's extension, I again am confused why we "need" to trade Myers at all.

Murray is asking high, and he should - it's on another GM to make an offer we can't refuse. The worst case situation is we have Myers and his tied-for-26th highest NHL salary for a few more years.
- nfph

Murray is doing exactly what he should: waiting for a GM to get seriously desperate and offer the moon, at which point he can decide whether to take the offer or not.

darcy done did good
- Michael Pachla

Careful, that kind of language will get you a visit from these guys



The only quibble I have with Darcy is we could have signed Myers to that contract this year, instead of throwing it on his shoulders before he could legally drink alcohol.