Im certain they've got a win streak or 2 left in them but I still can't see them picking that low (though the standings are still very close in the bottom 10). If they do wind up there I hope they move the pick for an nhl player instead.
- Sabresfan-365

A lot of teams just quit after the trade deadline to get to the lowest point... I don't see that happening with this team. I can see some other teams completely nose diving down below us. I'll put biggest bets on probably 6-8 to pick. But the lottery means we can move ANYWHERE technically.

7-2 USA...

It's better to win bronze than lose gold...

Better to win the last game than lose it IMO
- Stripes77

could have been worse, on a plane saturday

I hope and pray that we come out of left field and get Drouin but I just don't see what we have that they would want... or really know what they are looking for. We have a bunch of extra 2nd and 3rd rounders but that doesn't cut it for Drouin.... we have guys like Moulson/Foligno that we'd love to trade and get something for but that won't cut it.

i could see TB wanting a young stud like Bailey or Baptiste but.. who knows... I would assume that McCabe, Psysk, Ruhwedel, or Guhle might be in there too?
- JVince11

I think it would also require the Sabres taking a bad contract back as well.

Ennis and a 2nd for Drouin and Carle

But like you said it's probably not enough

Before worrying about signing a UFA forward, they need to pray they get a top 5 pick to draft a top line winger.

With that hole filled, they can take a more active stance in free agency and with making moves.

A lot of teams just quit after the trade deadline to get to the lowest point... I don't see that happening with this team. I can see some other teams completely nose diving down below us. I'll put biggest bets on probably 6-8 to pick. But the lottery means we can move ANYWHERE technically.
- JVince11

Yep, three chances, I'm optimistic.

Looking at cost compared to probable performance, the two in bold are the only two that are interesting.
- kingcong39

I see Eriksson wanting to g to a team like LA to fill where they will let Lucic go or something like that. I don't know if we will be that "destination"

Boedker is the wild card. I see Arizona wanting to resign him but who knows how much he likes it there.

Still like Ladd and Okposo the best.

I think it would also require the Sabres taking a bad contract back as well.

Ennis and a 2nd for Drouin and Carle

But like you said it's probably not enough
- Stripes77

you'd need to add mccabe IMO

Minion gets the start tonight

I see Eriksson wanting to g to a team like LA to fill where they will let Lucic go or something like that. I don't know if we will be that "destination"

Boedker is the wild card. I see Arizona wanting to resign him but who knows how much he likes it there.

Still like Ladd and Okposo the best.
- JVince11

Ladd is going to want a giant deal and Okposo won't be far behind, and I don't like the idea of that at all.

Before worrying about signing a UFA forward, they need to pray they get a top 5 pick to draft a top line winger.

With that hole filled, they can take a more active stance in free agency and with making moves.
- kingcong39

Even if they don't, still a few options through trade route. But I would prefer the top 5 pick too.

you'd need to add mccabe IMO
- homiedclown

No deal for me.

IIHF didn't give it to him
- Sabresfan-365

Just checked the score, figured it'd be 2-1 or 2-0, but 7-1?

If only we had some of those yesterday. Guess it was the hot goalie after all.

I think it would also require the Sabres taking a bad contract back as well.

Ennis and a 2nd for Drouin and Carle

But like you said it's probably not enough
- Stripes77

I forgot about Ennis... boy has he just plummeted in this new regime!!

I don't get to watch a ton of TBL hockey.. is Carle the worst contract?? I would assume that Filppula is another?

They have to resign Namestnikov, Kucherov, Stamkos, and Killorn. Then Palat and Tj next year too. THATS A LOT OF MONEY!!!!

I read somewhere on Twitter that NYR is hard wanting Drouin.

Even if they don't, still a few options through trade route. But I would prefer the top 5 pick too.
- Sabresfan-365

A few options as in somebody like Eberle, for example, for the 8th, 9th, or 10th overall, plus?

Ladd is going to want a giant deal and Okposo won't be far behind, and I don't like the idea of that at all.
- kingcong39

Ladd is 30... Okposo will be 28... I bet you are right.

I'd love them on a 5x5 deal a helluva lot more than Moulson.

JC!! About freakin' time!
This should have been realized about 29 games ago.

As a long-time, very interested fan of the Sabres and Bills; what has annoyed me over the years is waiting for the new Coaches to figure somethings out...those that we have seen in the past work rather well, but it doesn't dawn on the new Coach for an extended period of time.
Moulson-Larsson-Gionta should have been re-united at the first glimpse of when Gionta and Moulson were struggling...based on some level of success realized last year.
And the same for Eichel with Girgenson and McGinn ... we didn't see it before, but it made too much sense having watched Kane work well with ROR and Skunk...but fail miserably with Eichel.

Hooray for the Coach! no keep it together for longer than the 1st period!
- IonSabres

To me, the bigget problem with coaches overall is they are way, way more likely to start and give more playing time to the player they feel will be least likely to make a mistake as opposed to the player that could potentially make the best plays and biggest impact.

A few options as in somebody like Eberle, for example, for the 8th, 9th, or 10th overall, plus?
- kingcong39

Yea, or they can go cheaper. Keep the pick look for someone who has the talent but value has taken a hit. I always think of the stempniak for steen trade as the example for that. Doesn't have to be that extreme but that's the idea.

you'd need to add mccabe IMO
- homiedclown

Add McCabe get a 3rd rounder back and I would think hard about it or Ennis and McCabe for Drouin and Carle no picks involved.

Still would have to think about it.

The blueline is getting pretty crowded

Risto, Gorges, McCabe, Pysyk, Bogosian, Franson, Weber, Colio

trading the cap hit of Ennis for the cap hit of Carle (while he stinks) you could still make a play for Yandle...losing McCabe might not kill us but I have really liked his game and I am surprised with his offensive ability, he doesn't shy from jumping up in the play.

Ladd is 30... Okposo will be 28... I bet you are right.

I'd love them on a 5x5 deal a helluva lot more than Moulson.
- JVince11

I could handle that kind of deal for either of the two above, but there is no way they are signing for that unfortunately.

A few options as in somebody like Eberle, for example, for the 8th, 9th, or 10th overall, plus?
- kingcong39

I personally really like DeBrincat... only 5'7 but damn can he put the puck in the net. He is more in the 15 range though.


I think a lot of us don't realize that Baptiste, Bailey, and Fashing are all projecting as 2nd line guys. Might not need to go outside the organization or add another blue chipper.

Looks like a Bronze for the United States. Up 7-2 in the 3rd.

Even if they don't, still a few options through trade route. But I would prefer the top 5 pick too.
- Sabresfan-365

Thing is the Sabres are 5 points out of 20th in the NHL. Obviously we aren't tanking this year and I don't think even GMTM wants us to go 0-11-0 again this January. We could very well get hot and move up out of the top 5 draft slots. That said we could also fall into 30th and stay there. I'd be cool with either, really.

Add McCabe get a 3rd rounder back and I would think hard about it or Ennis and McCabe for Drouin and Carle no picks involved.

Still would have to think about it.

The blueline is getting pretty crowded

Risto, Gorges, McCabe, Pysyk, Bogosian, Franson, Weber, Colio

trading the cap hit of Ennis for the cap hit of Carle (while he stinks) you could still make a play for Yandle...losing McCabe might not kill us but I have really liked his game and I am surprised with his offensive ability, he doesn't shy from jumping up in the play.
- Stripes77

Well Weber and Colio are both UFAs after this season... McCabe and Risto are both RFAs. Guys like Donovan and Ruhwedel are RFAs in Rochester.

Some really good D-men avaiable on the UFA market as well.

Add McCabe get a 3rd rounder back and I would think hard about it or Ennis and McCabe for Drouin and Carle no picks involved.

Still would have to think about it.

The blueline is getting pretty crowded

Risto, Gorges, McCabe, Pysyk, Bogosian, Franson, Weber, Colio

trading the cap hit of Ennis for the cap hit of Carle (while he stinks) you could still make a play for Yandle...losing McCabe might not kill us but I have really liked his game and I am surprised with his offensive ability, he doesn't shy from jumping up in the play.
- Stripes77

If we trade mcCabe then it would be NO DOUBT in my mind that we would need to draft a 1st rounder D-Men

I personally really like DeBrincat... only 5'7 but damn can he put the puck in the net. He is more in the 15 range though.


I think a lot of us don't realize that Baptiste, Bailey, and Fashing are all projecting as 2nd line guys. Might not need to go outside the organization or add another blue chipper.
- JVince11

Their performance in Rochester has created some questions. I don't watch the games but the WGR guys who cover it called Baptiste an AHL scorer. Fasching probably prjoects better as a 3rd liner than top 6.