That is an uninspiring group. Maybe Green? Maybe.

I would add keeping the Sabres 2nd round pick next year as well with where they will likely be drafting (top 5).
- kingcong39

Can't keep everything (but I know what you are saying, that's why I said 1st rounder in 2016), here are a few more D this upcoming year....

Zbynek Michalek (age 32)
Johnny Oduya (age 33)
Marc Methot (age 30)
Paul Martin (age 34)

Can't keep everything (but I know what you are saying, that's why I said 1st rounder in 2016), here are a few more D this upcoming year....

Zbynek Michalek (age 32)
Johnny Oduya (age 33)
Marc Methot (age 30)
Paul Martin (age 34)
- Lilroot9

if he dosent resign hes an idiot

if he dosent resign hes an idiot
- hubie

Why? Don't think he could get more $$ from TM (or some one else)?

I could see him being a target if available. (but I am sure other teams would do the same).

Just a reminder, nobody I say NOBODY on the Patriots has any clue as to why the balls were deflated.
- SABRES 89

Is it really that big of a deal? I mean, this thing is being way blown out of proportion. ESPN is basically telling me that the reason the Patriots are such a good team is because Brady throws deflated balls... lol what?

Brad Johnson came out and admitted he paid $7500 of his own money to ball boys IN THE SUPERBOWL 10 years ago, to alter the game balls to his liking. Aaron Rodgers says he likes his balls PAST the upper limit of being inflated, and he feels the referees deflate the balls.

This is such a non issue its not even funny. That Colts played a good one. Create a controversy and get everyone away from talking about how they got stomped so they dont have to answer to it.

With the type of cap room they are going to have next year, who cares? Just keep the contract short.
- buffalofan19

It takes two to get a deal done though. If Boychuk wants nothing less than 5-6 years, It is going to be hard to convince him otherwise with 10+ other teams competing for his services.

There seems to be a kind of myth surrounding the Sabres and their supposed depth at D.

Do they have depth overall between prospects and the NHL players? Yes. Is it high end depth? Let's dig deeper.

Myers, Ristolainen, Zadorov - you could easily make the argument that they comprise 3/4 of the top 4 going forward; however, only 2 of them belong in the top 4 at the moment, and you could even make the point that Ristolainen would benefit from spending half the time in games as part of the 5/6 pairing. Zadorov has a long way to go and Myers is already clearly there. For at least next year, that means you have a player for each of your 3 pairings, unless Zadorov spends at least some time in the AHL, which would gretly help.

Weber, Meszaros, Benoit, Strachan - none of them are better then a 6 or really a 7, or even an 8th that shuttles between the AHL and NHL when injuries happen. Nothing worth keeping after this year.

Gorges - bottom pairing, straight up, and no more than that. Would a bottom pairing of Gorges and Zadorov be terrible? Far from it.

McCabe, Ruhwedel, Pysyk - they are, to me, your bottom 3 D men going forward, meaning the 4, 6, & 5 in that order. I think if your bottom pairing is Pysyk & Ruhwedel, you are in very good shape going forward. Yes, neither are big hitters or physical, however, both can get the puck out of the zone with ease and have a top quality first pass, and with competent forwards, that is all they will need to be strong players. I believe Ruhwedel is very underrated. Will any of them be here next year?

Brycen Martin & Anthony Florentino - I believe both picks will end up being steals in the long term, but it could easily take 2 to 3 years before that comes to fruition.

If you trade Myers for next year and don't resign any of the 3 useless players on D they currently have filling a uniform, next years top 6 could look like the following in no particular order:

Gorges, McCabe, Pysyk, Ristolainen, Zadorov, Weber, Ruhwedel

I hope I am not alone when I say that is a SCARY defense to have. It's very young and the veterans are subpar.

If the goal is another top 3 pick next year, you trade Myers and roll with the defense above. Otherwise, trading Myers will cause havoc with your D in a year you are supposed to be finally improving.
- kingcong39

We dont lack depth at the NHL level. Myers, Risto, Zadorov, Pysyk as a top 4 for the next 7-8 years at least... the only depth we lack will be in Rochester. We dont have many guys that will be leaving their junior or college ranks with talent to step in and play on the farm.

Eberle for Pysyk, Foligno and the blues first rd pick

yes or no?
- homiedclown

No. Not a fan of Eberle either.

Im willing to trade Foligno though.

Why? Don't think he could get more $$ from TM (or some one else)?

I could see him being a target if available. (but I am sure other teams would do the same).
- Lilroot9

EK made him worth a dam, think it would be pretty foolish career wise to not play with EK

No. Not a fan of Eberle either.

Im willing to trade Foligno though.
- theblueandgold

Hes good but you can find his type all over

Is it really that big of a deal? I mean, this thing is being way blown out of proportion. ESPN is basically telling me that the reason the Patriots are such a good team is because Brady throws deflated balls... lol what?

Brad Johnson came out and admitted he paid $7500 of his own money to ball boys IN THE SUPERBOWL 10 years ago, to alter the game balls to his liking. Aaron Rodgers says he likes his balls PAST the upper limit of being inflated, and he feels the referees deflate the balls.

This is such a non issue its not even funny. That Colts played a good one. Create a controversy and get everyone away from talking about how they got stomped so they dont have to answer to it.
- theblueandgold

Agreed.

Is it really that big of a deal? I mean, this thing is being way blown out of proportion. ESPN is basically telling me that the reason the Patriots are such a good team is because Brady throws deflated balls... lol what?

Brad Johnson came out and admitted he paid $7500 of his own money to ball boys IN THE SUPERBOWL 10 years ago, to alter the game balls to his liking. Aaron Rodgers says he likes his balls PAST the upper limit of being inflated, and he feels the referees deflate the balls.

This is such a non issue its not even funny. That Colts played a good one. Create a controversy and get everyone away from talking about how they got stomped so they dont have to answer to it.
- theblueandgold

I don't care if it's a big deal it's funny, but you missed that.

We dont lack depth at the NHL level. Myers, Risto, Zadorov, Pysyk as a top 4 for the next 7-8 years at least... the only depth we lack will be in Rochester. We dont have many guys that will be leaving their junior or college ranks with talent to step in and play on the farm.
- theblueandgold

My entire point was if you remove Myers via trade, that depth has suddenly vanished, almost completely, and the defense will be a tire fire next year, worse than this year, IMO.

I would also put McCabe as the 4 and Pysyk as the 5, but that is splitting hairs.

My entire point was if you remove Myers via trade, that depth has suddenly vanished, almost completely, and the defense will be a tire fire next year, worse than this year, IMO.

I would also put McCabe as the 4 and Pysyk as the 5, but that is splitting hairs.
- kingcong39

Trust me, Ive been an advocate of building a defensive core and not getting rid of any of them -- Im one of the biggest proponents for keeping Myers this side of sbroads. Except he'd trade him for Hall, and I wouldnt.

Im a McCabe fan, but Pysyk is so smooth. There are areas I would lean more on Pysyk over McCabe (IE late game situations). Id put McCabe on the PP over Pysyk though...

I don't care if it's a big deal it's funny, but you missed that.
- SABRES 89

Even though I quoted you, I wasnt directly responding to the contect of your post. Just bringing up my opinion on the issue. Sorry you had to be so defensive about it.

I think this entire DeflateGate brings more to light how today's media operates (IE not confirming source credential, reporting anything) over Patriots "cheating" as an organization. I dont think the air pressure in the ball is significant enough to change the outcome of a game -- but ESPN and the media have been nonstop telling me that the last couple days.

Is it really that big of a deal? I mean, this thing is being way blown out of proportion. ESPN is basically telling me that the reason the Patriots are such a good team is because Brady throws deflated balls... lol what?

Brad Johnson came out and admitted he paid $7500 of his own money to ball boys IN THE SUPERBOWL 10 years ago, to alter the game balls to his liking. Aaron Rodgers says he likes his balls PAST the upper limit of being inflated, and he feels the referees deflate the balls.

This is such a non issue its not even funny. That Colts played a good one. Create a controversy and get everyone away from talking about how they got stomped so they dont have to answer to it.
- theblueandgold

This !

What is really embarrassing is the reaction of Buffalo Fans that idiots like Schoop are getting out of them.

Trust me, Ive been an advocate of building a defensive core and not getting rid of any of them -- Im one of the biggest proponents for keeping Myers this side of sbroads. Except he'd trade him for Hall, and I wouldnt.

Im a McCabe fan, but Pysyk is so smooth. There are areas I would lean more on Pysyk over McCabe (IE late game situations). Id put McCabe on the PP over Pysyk though...
- theblueandgold

I don't want Myers gone period. But for Hall it would be easier to accept.

Personally, I see a great top 4 in 2-3 years and a strong group of forwards no matter what.

I'd go the trade route for a winger like Sharp or Eriksson. Maybe even Boedker. I'm with you on Eberle though, he's nothing really that we don't have with Ennis. 63 is developing nicely as a scorer

If Myers return =or > a 1st line scorer then im all for it if not then no

Did anyone watch this Go Pro video? Pretty cool stuff!

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...j-oshie-henrik-lundqvist/

If Myers return =or > a 1st line scorer then im all for it if not then no
- hubie

Trading Myers for a forward just isn't worth it imo

Trading Myers for a forward just isn't worth it imo
- Herzeleid

for a 1st liner who will also allow us to have a real power play id do it.

for a 1st liner who will also allow us to have a real power play id do it.
- hubie

Id still rather keep him until we know where our 1st pick will be. We have the forwards coming with possibly McEichel, Reinhart, Grigs, Armia, on top of Ennis + Girgs. That's just the higher end talent. We don't need anymore forwards imo so unless we're picking Hanifin i'd still keep him (even if we do end up with Hanifin, keeping Myers would make the top 4 an absolute BEAST while still having a really good top 9 and having Pysyk and McCabe on the 3rd pairing).

Id still rather keep him until we know where our 1st pick will be. We have the forwards coming with possibly McEichel, Reinhart, Grigs, Armia, on top of Ennis + Girgs. That's just the higher end talent. We don't need anymore forwards imo so unless we're picking Hanifin i'd still keep him (even if we do end up with Hanifin, keeping Myers would make the top 4 an absolute BEAST while still having a really good top 9 and having Pysyk and McCabe on the 3rd pairing).
- Herzeleid

we somehow need an elite scorer all listed above id not consider elite excetpt for eichel

Id still rather keep him until we know where our 1st pick will be. We have the forwards coming with possibly McEichel, Reinhart, Grigs, Armia, on top of Ennis + Girgs. That's just the higher end talent. We don't need anymore forwards imo so unless we're picking Hanifin i'd still keep him (even if we do end up with Hanifin, keeping Myers would make the top 4 an absolute BEAST while still having a really good top 9 and having Pysyk and McCabe on the 3rd pairing).
- Herzeleid

I don't want McDavid. Sooooo overrated. He cant even punch people in the face right.

Idiot breaks his hand trying to do so.

I don't want McDavid. Sooooo overrated. He cant even punch people in the face right.

Idiot breaks his hand trying to do so.
- ImThatGuy

McDavid isnt a goal scorer hes not going to pot 40

I don't want McDavid. Sooooo overrated. He cant even punch people in the face right.

Idiot breaks his hand trying to do so.
- ImThatGuy

Very good point.