way to early

have this conversation in late july once we have a handle on who is behind the bench and what the team is going to look like

if they add a top line winger, and 2 upper end d men a playoff conversation may be justified, right now any playoff talk makes us on par with leaf fans IMO
- homiedclown

I don't think it is. There's really no combination of players available in free agency or the trade market that could make this team a playoff team as early as next year.

I think he stays relatively quiet this summer and sets up for a big 2016

I get your point, but they only improved by 20 points.
- ImThatGuy

Two years away at the minimum... And that is stretching it.
Murray is not this mythical God that will pull off miraculous trades to get this team into the playoffs next year. Free agent crop doesn't seem very promising either.
IDK why anyone is talking playoffs next season when we just finished last two years in a row....

This isn't directed at you or anyone other than the morons that think "we're in next year"....

He's got a micro fracture in his wrist.


But that's not even the point, you have to punish the act not what happened as a result. There's really no good reason why he should be swinging his stick like that on that play.
- Sabresfan-365

Tyler Myers broke his leg, continued to play.
Campbell from the Bees broke his leg, continued to play.


It probably hurt like a SOB, but Meh all he has to do is just go to the bench and not flop through the air and flop around on the ice.

Judgement Day is almost here boys who is ready
- gerbe75pts

Jesus?

Next year doesn't matter about team standings. The only thing that matters is the performance of the players on the ice.

Nobody should expect playoffs next year. Nobody.
- RynoBull

This!

Brandon Spikes you just lost all my respect

I hope the bills never sign you again
- gerbe75pts

?????

I don't think it is. There's really no combination of players available in free agency or the trade market that could make this team a playoff team as early as next year.

I think he stays relatively quiet this summer and sets up for a big 2016
- Sabresfan-365

if you trade for ROR and sign green and martin, that does change things

if you trade for ROR and sign green and martin, that does change things
- homiedclown

But by how much? probably not enough, you're still looking at young team and probably and inexperienced coach.

Hot Post alert:


1st round pick + 3rd round pick + Gelinas + Zajac for McDavid.

Zajac needs new team to renew his career. Will give leadership, defense and quality center for Buffalo. Gelinas young guy with a blast. 2 picks.... NJ gets a center /player we never had. Will alter the franchise in time for Marty to take the reigns from Lou.

Hot Post alert:


1st round pick + 3rd round pick + Gelinas + Zajac for McDavid.

Zajac needs new team to renew his career. Will give leadership, defense and quality center for Buffalo. Gelinas young guy with a blast. 2 picks.... NJ gets a center /player we never had. Will alter the franchise in time for Marty to take the reigns from Lou.
- ImThatGuy

From Frenchies blog the other day...
The All-Overrated Team of 2014-2015

Centre - Travis Zajac

The other option was Ryan Kesler. More controversial, but after having a good chat with my friend, I called it off. Zajac was number two. Zajac has gotten away with being arguably the most overrated centre of all time for years. He made a name for himself riding Parise’s coattails. How do we know he rode them? Well Parise is still a star scoring 30+ goals; Zajac can barely score 20 points. This is a 40 point centre. A centre that is fine defensively. I think he’s overrated in his own zone since many consider him “elite,” but he’s not a liability, just not elite. However, this is a guy playing 20 minutes a night practically. He’s for the entire world to see, a top line centre. He isn’t one. He’s paid like it. He’s reputed to be one. He simply isn’t, he’s a marginal second line centre that is strong defensively. He is the Rich Peverley…the Tyler Bozak…the…well you get it. Now he had 48 points last season so obviously I’m full of it right? Well again, he is the recipient, not the driving force. He is the expected generator of offense on the Devils. He’s paid to do it. He plays to do it. He doesn’t. He’s the most overrated centre in the world, because others who underwhelm at least have criticizers, while Zajac is completely untouched.


http://www.hockeybuzz.com...am-of-2014-2015/155/67905

That would put this team around 90 points. That's a 40 point swing or 20 additional wins. Everyone needs to remember Crosbys first year. That team still finished last place.

Is it possible? I guess, but i dont expect anything near that.
- ImThatGuy

Agree 100% this first round pick next year could be huge (don't trade it).
Look at the teams in the East and try and pick which teams we pass in the standings

Imo: Leafs, devils, canes, sabres/ philly. Next season should be to define and develop the core.

This was on my yahoo home page.

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...res-hockey-145050744.html

So many things wrong with this article. Actually kinda pissed me off reading it, as this person is clueless when it comes to professional sports.

I'd love to know which one of you is Harry Tee?!?!?!

I frequent a very popular Sabres message board. What used to be a fountain of knowledge for me and a way to connect with longtime Sabres fans is now an insufferable cesspool of cultists marching to that single, solitary drumbeat. Openly rooting for the team to lose, berating anyone who expresses even the slightest morsel of happiness at a win, all the while clamoring for growth from the team. What exactly do you think will grow on a team that loses on purpose? How exactly do you plan on dispelling years and decades of losing Buffalo sports culture by losing on purpose? How exactly do you cultivate players like Zemgus Girgensons, Rasmus Ristolainen, Nikita Zadorov and others by doing this? Players across the league who might have decided to sign in Buffalo may have taken fan passion into account along with the loads of cash we'd throw at them, but why would anyone want to play for such ingrates who would start rooting for the other team at the drop of a hat?

Comical that he claims to be a fan since 2008, and is already "giving up" on the team What a joke!

Ps - It's stuff like this that really gives the city (and teams) a bad name/image.

But by how much? probably not enough, you're still looking at young team and probably and inexperienced coach.
- Sabresfan-365

your already adding kane, pysyk, reinhart and mceichel to the mix though


and I doubt an inexperienced coach is going to be behind the bench, best coach money can buy will be


again I am not saying the sabres will be contenders for the cup but if you add

1. mceichel
2. reinhart
3. kane
4. another top 6 winger
5. pysyk
6. a pp legit d man
7. another top 4 d man not on the decline

7th or 8th in the east is not an unrealistic goal


once again a conversation that needs to happen in august, not now

From Frenchies blog the other day...
The All-Overrated Team of 2014-2015

Centre - Travis Zajac

The other option was Ryan Kesler. More controversial, but after having a good chat with my friend, I called it off. Zajac was number two. Zajac has gotten away with being arguably the most overrated centre of all time for years. He made a name for himself riding Parise’s coattails. How do we know he rode them? Well Parise is still a star scoring 30+ goals; Zajac can barely score 20 points. This is a 40 point centre. A centre that is fine defensively. I think he’s overrated in his own zone since many consider him “elite,” but he’s not a liability, just not elite. However, this is a guy playing 20 minutes a night practically. He’s for the entire world to see, a top line centre. He isn’t one. He’s paid like it. He’s reputed to be one. He simply isn’t, he’s a marginal second line centre that is strong defensively. He is the Rich Peverley…the Tyler Bozak…the…well you get it. Now he had 48 points last season so obviously I’m full of it right? Well again, he is the recipient, not the driving force. He is the expected generator of offense on the Devils. He’s paid to do it. He plays to do it. He doesn’t. He’s the most overrated centre in the world, because others who underwhelm at least have criticizers, while Zajac is completely untouched.


http://www.hockeybuzz.com...am-of-2014-2015/155/67905
- jochfr

HE Continued:

Not that ridiculous.... Proven 30 yr old center that plays in all positions. Dman when unleashes his potential will have a Weber-like shot, top 6 pick plus later pick. Don't forget buffalo has a lot of great youth already. Don't wanna end up like Edmonton all youth but no game... But we'll see, he'll Devils could get lucky and snah McDavid or Eichel ( who is more of a devil type player anyway)

Brandon Spikes you just lost all my respect

I hope the bills never sign you again
- gerbe75pts

Way to over react to a perfectly legitimate statement.

For those as confused as me, Brandon Spikes said he is confused by the justice system in this country (following the Aaron Hernandez verdict). As am I, for a lot of reasons.

But wow, lost all respect hope the Bills never sign him?

Bennett looked good last night... we might regret picking reihnhart if he doesn't get stronger and fills out more

Bennett looked good last night... we might regret picking reihnhart if he doesn't get stronger and fills out more
- Smittyx36

Bennett looked good last night... we might regret picking reihnhart if he doesn't get stronger and fills out more
- Smittyx36

I don't think so. I think Reinhart will be the better pick down the road.

http://sabresjournal.net/report-sabres-may-seek-savards-contract-from-bruins/
- homiedclown

Makes sense
It seems like we have so many young kids about to step into the lineup we could use the cap hit.
We should be able to get a nice draft pick along with him.
Boston will be desperate to get hit cap hit off the books, they're in major trouble up there.
They're gonna be in a position where they might have to move guys like Eriksson, and possibly even Marchand &/or Lucic.
I really like the idea of Marchand here. Gritty, with decent speed, & is a 20+ goal scorer, maybe a 30goal guy with a center like McDavid or Reinhart. I think he'd also be a good for with Girgensons on the 3rd line too. Seems like the type of player that can move up & down the lineup.

Boston is def a team we can take advantage of.
And their new GM might wanna to some house cleaning there too. Major changes could be happening in Boston.

I don't think so. I think Reinhart will be the better pick down the road.
- thatsapickle

I hope you're right. Would you be happy if he was a 50pt season guy down the road? Or do you expect more?

I don't think so. I think Reinhart will be the better pick down the road.
- thatsapickle

I hope you're right. Would you be happy if he was a 50pt season guy down the road? Or do you expect more?

I hope you're right. Would you be happy if he was a 50pt season guy down the road? Or do you expect more?
- Smittyx36

With the way scoring is trending, I think that's really good from a second line center.

I think you have McEichel at 70-80 and Reinhart at 50-60, you're doing alright.

I hope you're right. Would you be happy if he was a 50pt season guy down the road? Or do you expect more?
- Smittyx36

I hope he ends up like Joe Thornton. A guy who can put up 15-25 goals and 40-50 assists per year.

Makes sense
It seems like we have so many young kids about to step into the lineup we could use the cap hit.
We should be able to get a nice draft pick along with him.
Boston will be desperate to get hit cap hit off the books, they're in major trouble up there.
They're gonna be in a position where they might have to move guys like Eriksson, and possibly even Marchand &/or Lucic.
I really like the idea of Marchand here. Gritty, with decent speed, & is a 20+ goal scorer, maybe a 30goal guy with a center like McDavid or Reinhart. I think he'd also be a good for with Girgensons on the 3rd line too. Seems like the type of player that can move up & down the lineup.

Boston is def a team we can take advantage of.
And their new GM might wanna to some house cleaning there too. Major changes could be happening in Boston.
- jdfitz77

I don't think Marchand is a type of player that GMTM likes!
Too small.

I don't think Marchand is a type of player that GMTM likes!
Too small.
- Sabresfan88

I hope GMT likes players that
A) Score a crap ton
B) Play defense


Regardless of size