HardHat revisited.
- Der Kaiser

Don't say it !!!!

Probably, but it's not like he's gonna say something negative if he doesn't like them
Although, he doesn't have to "not like them" necessarily
The question is,
"Does he see them as part of the Sabres in the future?"
BC if not,
Then they're trade bait
He might like them, but he might like Fasching, Carrier, guys he could draft in the 2nd round this year, etc etc etc even more

I'm not saying one way or the other
The point is, which assets does he see being here 5yrs from now, and who is expendable?
- jdfitz77

I brought up something this morning that touched on this, where I mentioned I could see one or two of those RWers placed into a trade down the road. But now you're asking a question that I don't even think Murray knows. They're young guys that haven't skated a single second, professionally.

Dion!!!
- jochfr

A true number 1 defenseman for the Amerks

I know some (prob most) ppl will hate this idea...
But I'd let Hodgson play RW in the top6 next season
1) we aren't making the playoffs IMO, and prob not all that close
2) last year aside, Hodgson has shown his offensive talent. Murray even said he'd be doing better if he didn't get his pp time taken away & wasn't buried on the 4th line. I have faith he can rebound & be a 20goal scorer again
3) I'm not a fan of buying him out, esp if he rebounds like I think, he'll then have decent trade value
4) even if we can get a "Sharp" type guy, will he be happy here? Is he gonna be a good leader, or end up like Ehrhoff? There's no way to know. It's worth the risk if it's bringing in a younger guy like Marchand, Simmons, JVR, etc... But guys that old want a chance to win NOW, and I'd rather not give up assets (even a 2nd) for someone that won't be here 3yrs from now. My age limit would be in the 28-30 range at the oldest
- jdfitz77

I like this, as of right now I'd send sam to rochester and slot grigo in the 2c spot give these two the chance to earn it. At this rate neither are worth much of anything on the trade block so i guess there's less of a risk just to keep them

I know some (prob most) ppl will hate this idea...
But I'd let Hodgson play RW in the top6 next season
1) we aren't making the playoffs IMO, and prob not all that close
2) last year aside, Hodgson has shown his offensive talent. Murray even said he'd be doing better if he didn't get his pp time taken away & wasn't buried on the 4th line. I have faith he can rebound & be a 20goal scorer again
3) I'm not a fan of buying him out, esp if he rebounds like I think, he'll then have decent trade value
4) even if we can get a "Sharp" type guy, will he be happy here? Is he gonna be a good leader, or end up like Ehrhoff? There's no way to know. It's worth the risk if it's bringing in a younger guy like Marchand, Simmons, JVR, etc... But guys that old want a chance to win NOW, and I'd rather not give up assets (even a 2nd) for someone that won't be here 3yrs from now. My age limit would be in the 28-30 range at the oldest
- jdfitz77

I share this view.

I like this, as of right now I'd send sam to rochester and slot grigo in the 2c spot give these two the chance to earn it. At this rate neither are worth much of anything on the trade block so i guess there's less of a risk just to keep them
- yen6d1

In the relatively short term, I share this view, too.

Here's my take...

Murray wants to speed up the rebuild, but he's not going to make moves just to try and make the playoffs this upcoming year. This next season should be all about evaluating all the young, talented assets they've acquired and figuring out what holes still exist and where they have an overabundance of talent.

He wants to build a perennial contender, has said as much, and is smart enough to know that selling the farm for this upcoming year is only going to delay that goal. I honestly don't expect a ton of player movement within the organization this offseason. I could see a trade of some sort going down near/at the draft and a FA signing or two. The trade could be a big one, but still have the end goal in sight. But any trade they make using their young assets/draft picks isn't going to be for a guy that's close to 30, as it just doesn't fit timeline wise, IMO.

Probably, but it's not like he's gonna say something negative if he doesn't like them
Although, he doesn't have to "not like them" necessarily
The question is,
"Does he see them as part of the Sabres in the future?"
BC if not,
Then they're trade bait
He might like them, but he might like Fasching, Carrier, guys he could draft in the 2nd round this year, etc etc etc even more

I'm not saying one way or the other
The point is, which assets does he see being here 5yrs from now, and who is expendable?
- jdfitz77

Considering how often Murray has seen McDavid play this year, he should have a really good idea of whether or not he likes Baptiste at this point. And if he doesn't like him, then I have to start to question his opinion because the games I've seen Baptiste in, he's been a guy I'm pretty excited to have in the system.

In the relatively short term, I share this view, too.
- Der Kaiser

Same, you never know..he could pull a risto and come back in great shape and force them to give him a spot. Imo i think it's between him and grigo to battle it out for that last center spot. Grigo was sharp at the dot last year which could help us in a huge area of need.

Here's my take...

Murray wants to speed up the rebuild, but he's not going to make moves just to try and make the playoffs this upcoming year. This next season should be all about evaluating all the young, talented assets they've acquired and figuring out what holes still exist and where they have an overabundance of talent.

He wants to build a perennial contender, has said as much, and is smart enough to know that selling the farm for this upcoming year is only going to delay that goal. I honestly don't expect a ton of player movement within the organization this offseason. I could see a trade of some sort going down near/at the draft and a FA signing or two. The trade could be a big one, but still have the end goal in sight. But any trade they make using their young assets/draft picks isn't going to be for a guy that's close to 30, as it just doesn't fit timeline wise, IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think he's going to make that one relatively big name move for a top 6 winger and one other secondary move, maybe for a PK specialist.

I just hope he can poach that top 6 winger from a cap-strapped team or from a GM willing to take a bottom 6 forward of need with a combination of 2nd/3rd round draft picks/prospect.

Is Eichel a bust yet?

I know some (prob most) ppl will hate this idea...
But I'd let Hodgson play RW in the top6 next season
1) we aren't making the playoffs IMO, and prob not all that close
2) last year aside, Hodgson has shown his offensive talent. Murray even said he'd be doing better if he didn't get his pp time taken away & wasn't buried on the 4th line. I have faith he can rebound & be a 20goal scorer again
3) I'm not a fan of buying him out, esp if he rebounds like I think, he'll then have decent trade value
4) even if we can get a "Sharp" type guy, will he be happy here? Is he gonna be a good leader, or end up like Ehrhoff? There's no way to know. It's worth the risk if it's bringing in a younger guy like Marchand, Simmons, JVR, etc... But guys that old want a chance to win NOW, and I'd rather not give up assets (even a 2nd) for someone that won't be here 3yrs from now. My age limit would be in the 28-30 range at the oldest
- jdfitz77

You mean the team's best defenseman?

I know some (prob most) ppl will hate this idea...
But I'd let Hodgson play RW in the top6 next season
1) we aren't making the playoffs IMO, and prob not all that close
2) last year aside, Hodgson has shown his offensive talent. Murray even said he'd be doing better if he didn't get his pp time taken away & wasn't buried on the 4th line. I have faith he can rebound & be a 20goal scorer again
3) I'm not a fan of buying him out, esp if he rebounds like I think, he'll then have decent trade value
4) even if we can get a "Sharp" type guy, will he be happy here? Is he gonna be a good leader, or end up like Ehrhoff? There's no way to know. It's worth the risk if it's bringing in a younger guy like Marchand, Simmons, JVR, etc... But guys that old want a chance to win NOW, and I'd rather not give up assets (even a 2nd) for someone that won't be here 3yrs from now. My age limit would be in the 28-30 range at the oldest
- jdfitz77

If they can't find a fit in the trade market I'd be ok with Ennis at RW1 and Hodgson at RW2.

I think he's going to make that one relatively big name move for a top 6 winger and one other secondary move, maybe for a PK specialist.

I just hope he can poach that top 6 winger from a cap-strapped team or from a GM willing to take a bottom 6 forward of need with a combination of 2nd/3rd round draft picks/prospect.
- Pairo11

I think if the market allows for that, he'll do it. But I think he has the flexibility to not force the issue this summer. Do we need a guy for that spot? Yes. If it doesn't happen this year is it going to harm the team in the future? No.

I think if the market allows for that, he'll do it. But I think he has the flexibility to not force the issue this summer. Do we need a guy for that spot? Yes. If it doesn't happen this year is it going to harm the team in the future? No.
- HonkFortheGoose

Agree completely.. If he forces the issue and makes a move just to make a move he's giving up assets he'll need over the next 2-3 years for a player that won't get us over the hump.

One plug can't fix this leaky ship.

Is Eichel a bust yet?
- RynoBull

No - at the young age of only 18 he is ranked among the top 10 at the IIHF championships.












In PIM.

All I know is ROR = Datsyuk.

All I know is ROR = Datsyuk.
- DynamicThreads

ROR has a better flow.

It was the second example after colorado who went from second last with 39 points in a shortened season to 112 next year.
- ASU_Sabres14

Go look at the roster from the team and Tell me the injuries they had that year that's why they finished 2nd last

I don't know that that's a good idea either. All that manages to accomplish is stunting the development of one of the young guys since that vet guy is taking one of their spots on the roster.

The only way they get experience, is playing. If they're sitting in the press box, that's not going to do much for them.

Who do you propose gets to be the guy that sits for the vet guy they bring in?
- HonkFortheGoose

I would be all for getting rid of one of or both Gorges and Weber in favor of signing someone like Mike Green.

Defense wins championships
- ASU_Sabres14

Maybe you're following the wrong team maybe New Jersey is your calling jk

I would be all for getting rid of one of or both Gorges and Weber in favor of signing someone like Mike Green.
- kingcong39

I would love me some mike green please make it happen

Personally not a huge fan of jake Mccabe. And maybe we could acquire a true number one dman. Not sure what the market is like rn for those guys.
- ASU_Sabres14

Good luck trying to find one without blowing up the team

Number one defenseman don't grow on trees. They are such a rare find just like a number one center

Remember the Sabres were rumored trying to trade Tyler Myers for but they couldn't get a sniff of?

"Senior vice president Jim Devellano says the Detroit Red Wings are extremely disappointed with former top prospect Anthony Mantha.
"Very, very, very disappointing," Devellano told Keith Gave of FOX Sports Detroit. "And I say that with a lot of sadness.
"Coming out of junior, we had such high hopes for him."
The Red Wings will likely shop Mantha around in the offseason."

From Complete Hockey on Facebook

I would love me some mike green please make it happen
- gerbe75pts

Thats not the type of green you need. Stick to leafy vegetables.