come on man, they traded for a player who was out for the year............they traded away all their goalies who could stop a puck, and brought in arguably the 2 worst goalies in the entire league.

your team is tanking, it's the right thing to do.................just own it.
- sensarmy_11

Alrite, this is as much as you're going to get.

Evander Kane was traded for because his value was less while he was injured. He's 23 and has a very long career ahead of him. We were and are going no where this year, so how does this move NOT make sense? "Tanking" or not, this is a brilliant move.

Trading Stewart, Stafford, Neuvirth, Enroth, Mitchell...all UFAs with value. Guys who could potentially walk at the end of the year. So let's say the Sabres are..umm..going (frank)ing no where this year. Why lose them for absolutely nothing when you can get assets for them? Again, smart move by Murray.

Trading Flynn? Well, apparently he has little to do with the future's success. Therefore, he was given away for an asset.

We've completely gutted this team spare a few undesirable free agents. All for the future. We've done nothing wrong, this team was not going to walk into free agency and sign a bunch of Malkins because ffs they weren't available. You don't build a team through FA anymore. It's all about drafting and smart trading. Murray, in all honesty, was not trying to win a cup this year. Because he knew he couldn't. This team lacks a (frank)load of talent. So what do you do? You build through the draft. With picks. That you pick up by trading expiring contracts. Murray is not tanking, the Sabres are not tanking, the fans simply want to tank to win the ultimate prize.

That's all you get.

The two goalies that were traded were both pending UFA's. Murray got something of value for them instead of just letting them walk away for nothing at th end of the year. It's what any smart GM would do. Especially if he didn't feel that either one was in his plans going forward.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think the argument was, though, that they could have got more for them than they did. Whether that's actually true or not, we'll probably never know.

Make no mistake. This "complete and total rebuild" happened when it did with McEichel in mind. There's no way you can tell me with a straight face the plan was to build this team around Sam Reinhart.

Signing a few third-tier "name" players that were, let's face it, pretty much over-the-hill, and not real difference makers on their own was a veiled attempt at not openly admitting to tanking, nothing more.

Like I've said for a while now. Let's not kid ourselves. The Sabres did this on purpose, and anyone with a remote ability to read between the lines could see it. They're taking a road that we all knew would be unpopular. Acting surprised that the national media and fans aren't taking kindly to it is somewhat disingenuous. Also, let's be honest, if the Philadelphia Flyers or Boston Bruins did what the Sabres did, both on and off the ice, we'd be calling bullpoop as well. It's just the nature of what has/had to be done.
- buffalofan19

imo, you're a little off as to those players...more than one voice in the media looked at the sabres as on the upswing with their off season moves and that run in November had people taking notice...

that being said, I hear ya

Why not just keep all of them (Bogosian, Pysyk, McCabe, Ristolainen, Zadorov, Ruhwedel) and sign Green anyway?

Then attempt to jettison Gorges, Weber, or both.
- kingcong39

IMO trading for ROROROROROROROROROROROR before July 1st is stupid. You can't negotiate.

So if you are making a play for him after you are moving prospects/players.

Colorado needs steady top 4 defensemen. I'm not a huge ROR guy but that wouldn't shock me if it happened

come on man, they traded for a player who was out for the year............they traded away all their goalies who could stop a puck, and brought in arguably the 2 worst goalies in the entire league.

your team is tanking, it's the right thing to do.................just own it.
- sensarmy_11

Murray wanted Kane going back to last offseason. I see what you're saying, but you're not reading the whole story. You've merely picked out one chapter of it.

Alrite, this is as much as you're going to get.

Evander Kane was traded for because his value was less while he was injured. He's 23 and has a very long career ahead of him. We were and are going no where this year, so how does this move NOT make sense? "Tanking" or not, this is a brilliant move.

Trading Stewart, Stafford, Neuvirth, Enroth, Mitchell...all UFAs with value. Guys who could potentially walk at the end of the year. So let's say the Sabres are..umm..going (frank)ing no where this year. Why lose them for absolutely nothing when you can get assets for them? Again, smart move by Murray.

Trading Flynn? Well, apparently he has little to do with the future's success. Therefore, he was given away for an asset.

We've completely gutted this team spare a few undesirable free agents. All for the future. We've done nothing wrong, this team was not going to walk into free agency and sign a bunch of Malkins because ffs they weren't available. You don't build a team through FA anymore. It's all about drafting and smart trading. Murray, in all honesty, was not trying to win a cup this year. Because he knew he couldn't. This team lacks a (frank)load of talent. So what do you do? You build through the draft. With picks. That you pick up by trading expiring contracts. Murray is not tanking, the Sabres are not tanking, the fans simply want to tank to win the ultimate prize.

That's all you get.
- TheSabresTaco

cap'n taco gettin' it on...

nice

Murray wanted Kane going back to last offseason. I see what you're saying, but you're not reading the whole story. You've merely picked out one chapter of it.
- HonkFortheGoose

it goes back farther than that, goosie and what cap'n taco said about opportunity is true

IMO trading for ROROROROROROROROROROROR before July 1st is stupid. You can't negotiate.

So if you are making a play for him after you are moving prospects/players.

Colorado needs steady top 4 defensemen. I'm not a huge ROR guy but that wouldn't shock me if it happened
- sbroads24

imo, you're a little off as to those players...more than one voice in the media looked at the sabres as on the upswing with their off season moves and that run in November had people taking notice...

that being said, I hear ya
- Michael Pachla

The Sabres knew they weren't going to make a material difference. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind about that. Whether the media did or didn't in that case is irrelevant. Eventually, everybody figured out what they did. Some just couldn't come to grips that the Sabres would actually do what seemed unfathomable. Neither Moulson nor Gionta made that forward group any less underwhelming than it had been for years, and that includes the time the likes of Vanek and Pominville were still here.

I do...no problem with it...but there's been a lot of grandstanding up north and it gets tiresome
- Michael Pachla

really? from who.

i think most teams would do exactly what the sabres are doing, if they were in teh same position.

i sure as hell hope teh sens would.

I think the argument was, though, that they could have got more for them than they did. Whether that's actually true or not, we'll probably never know.
- buffalofan19

Trading goalies never gets you much to be honest. The goalie market is a weird animal and always seems to be less than stellar.

Trading goalies never gets you much to be honest. The goalie market is a weird animal and always seems to be less than stellar.
- HonkFortheGoose

I don't necessarily disagree. However, I'm just point out that the criticism from the pundits wasn't that they traded their goaltenders per se. It was that they traded their goaltenders for a lesser return than they could have. Like you, I'm not sure they're correct, but framing the argument correctly is important here.

I think the argument was, though, that they could have got more for them than they did. Whether that's actually true or not, we'll probably never know.
- buffalofan19

my argument.....at least if that's what he was responding to......was that they traded away good goalies (relatively speaking), and brought in poop goalies. there was absolutely no attempt to get anyone who could stop the puck. they traded for, statistically speaking, two of the absolute worst goalies in the entire league.

that SCREAMS "we want to lose games"

i'm not sure why some people get defensive when others say the sabres are tanking. it's a brilliant move IMO, if you time it right.

the pens have done it twice, and have 3 cups to show for it.

really? from who.

i think most teams would do exactly what the sabres are doing, if they were in teh same position.

i sure as hell hope teh sens would.
- sensarmy_11

Dave Hodge, Mike Harrington, and some others have openly used the words "disgraceful" regarding the tactics the Sabres have employed.

my argument.....at least if that's what he was responding to......was that they traded away good goalies (relatively speaking), and brought in poop goalies. there was absolutely no attempt to get anyone who could stop the puck. they traded for, statistically speaking, two of the absolute worst goalies in the entire league.

that SCREAMS "we want to lose games"

i'm not sure why some people get defensive when others say the sabres are tanking. it's a brilliant move IMO, if you time it right.

the pens have done it twice, and have 3 cups to show for it.
- sensarmy_11

Yes, it does. Ultimately, I wouldn't begrudge the league if they changed things around to prevent another team from doing what the Sabres did. The Sabres have figured out that this system rewards failure. Just make sure the Sabres get McDavid or Eichel first.

my argument.....at least if that's what he was responding to......was that they traded away good goalies, and brought in poop goalies. there was absolutely no attempt to get anyone who could stop the puck. they traded for, statistically speaking, two of the absolute worst goalies in the entire league.

that SCREAMS "we want to lose games"
- sensarmy_11

The funny part about it, is that Lindback hasn't looked like a "poop" goalie. He has a higher save % on a much worse team than he was on in Dallas. Try and figure that out.

I agree in many ways that there was probably some part of the move that involved making the team worse in one way or another. But it certainly hasn't worked out that way if you really look at it.

really? from who.

i think most teams would do exactly what the sabres are doing, if they were in teh same position.

i sure as hell hope teh sens would.
- sensarmy_11

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...logize-Mr-Hodge/209/63845

Dave Hodge, Mike Harrington, and some others have openly used the words "disgraceful" regarding the tactics the Sabres have employed.
- buffalofan19

hodge is a dinosaur, on par with don cherry for his level of retardedness. who cares what he says....he has no clue how the NHL works these days, he's stuck in 1973.

i have no idea who mike harrington is.

Does Garth use two names on here? Other teams defintiely are tanking..but Buffalo is just accused of it hahahahaha

Dave Hodge, Mike Harrington, and some others have openly used the words "disgraceful" regarding the tactics the Sabres have employed.
- buffalofan19

Mike Harrington is a complete joke. The only thing disgraceful is that he's part of the media here in Buffalo.

really? from who.

i think most teams would do exactly what the sabres are doing, if they were in teh same position.

i sure as hell hope teh sens would.
- sensarmy_11

Literally from everyone, even our own "Buffalo News." I'm glad you understand its all in the grand scheme of things... Any team in Buffalo's position would be doing the exact same thing. I truly believe this team will be on the come-up by next year, maybe even fight for a wildcard spot. Imagine all the sh*t were gonna get if we don't get McDavid or Eichel... the league will have a hay day on the Sabres and the fans

Dave Hodge, Mike Harrington, and some others have openly used the words "disgraceful" regarding the tactics the Sabres have employed.
- buffalofan19

harrington
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...off-local-press/209/66873

Yes, it does. Ultimately, I wouldn't begrudge the league if they changed things around to prevent another team from doing what the Sabres did. The Sabres have figured out that this system rewards failure. Just make sure the Sabres get McDavid or Eichel first.
- buffalofan19

they did change it......new draft lottery rules starting next year.

i think the sabres were brilliant in assuring themselves of a generational talent........and not breaking any rules to do it.

We will see how much flack the Leafs get the next 2 seasons. They are on their way via the same road the Sabres went. (well at least they will try)

hodge is a dinosaur, on par with don cherry for his level of retardedness. who cares what he says....he has no clue how the NHL works these days, he's stuck in 1973.

.
- sensarmy_11

Exactly. Hodge is also incredibly unfunny when he tries so hard to be witty