It absolutely is. Still doesn't make them good though.

14-13-3 in the final 30 games.
- Sabresfan-365

It's all gonna turn on whether Murray was legit in his comments regarding extending McGinn this week.

If he keeps McGinn, I think this team could go between 75 and 80 points. I don't know if that would be best for the speed of the rebuild.

But the team is sneaky good already, and getting better fast.

Does Ennis still fit in with this team?

am looking for a big jump next season where the critique will become more harsh
- Michael Pachla

It undeniably will become more harsh towards Tim and Disco Dan, and it damn well should.

This team is better than its record.

The nattering nabobs of negativism be damned. (Credit Spiro Agnew).
- Der Kaiser

To be fair, does he really want credit for that ?

Color me unimpressed.

Does Ennis still fit in with this team?
- CaptainRivet

I would like to think he still can, if he wants to be here moving forward. I'm not sure though, about him being in the top six. Having him on the third line with a guy like McGinn could really provide a scoring threat outside of the top six.

Does Ennis still fit in with this team?
- CaptainRivet

He has speed.
"Speed kills".

Does Ennis still fit in with this team?
- CaptainRivet

when the kid is on his game he's pat kane lite....I see no reason to move him

Ugh!

Another comparison to the team last year. As if it means something to be better than a team that was designed to tank. All I hear are people trying to justify that we aren't as bad as a team that was put together with the goal of finishing last to get Eichel or McDavid. Terrible argument, terrible take.

Posts arguing that we have more regulation wins than teams ahead of us in the standings, as if that matters.

The fact is that we traded away two first round picks, the 31st overall in the second, Armia, Compher, Grigorenko, Zadorov and Myers for players that are supposed to make us better now.

We added Eichel, Reinhart, O'Reilly, Kane, McGinn, McCabe, Pysyk Franson and we are still tied for last place.

Time to stop making excuses. Time to stop making arguments that we are better because we stand better than a historically bad team designed to tank. This falls on management and coaching and Pegula.

The expectations are too low from so many. We gave up a lot of our assets and future for players who are supposed to make us better now. If being tied for last place, but having more points than a team designed to tank, is your idea of improvement, then you need to raise your expectations.
- SabresPanacea

Ugh!

Another comparison to the team last year. As if it means something to be better than a team that was designed to tank. All I hear are people trying to justify that we aren't as bad as a team that was put together with the goal of finishing last to get Eichel or McDavid. Terrible argument, terrible take.

Posts arguing that we have more regulation wins than teams ahead of us in the standings, as if that matters.

The fact is that we traded away two first round picks, the 31st overall in the second, Armia, Compher, Grigorenko, Zadorov and Myers for players that are supposed to make us better now.

We added Eichel, Reinhart, O'Reilly, Kane, McGinn, McCabe, Pysyk Franson and we are still tied for last place.

Time to stop making excuses. Time to stop making arguments that we are better because we stand better than a historically bad team designed to tank. This falls on management and coaching and Pegula.

The expectations are too low from so many. We gave up a lot of our assets and future for players who are supposed to make us better now. If being tied for last place, but having more points than a team designed to tank, is your idea of improvement, then you need to raise your expectations.
- SabresPanacea

my overall expectations for where they would end up are right in line with where I thought they'd be at the beginning of the season...got the offense and defense backwards but...

*shrugs*

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=71483

as for giving up "a lot of our assets?"...that's the price of doing business

PS: Nice blog Mike
- 51_Killer

killer, dude...like...thx

It's all gonna turn on whether Murray was legit in his comments regarding extending McGinn this week.

If he keeps McGinn, I think this team could go between 75 and 80 points. I don't know if that would be best for the speed of the rebuild.

But the team is sneaky good already, and getting better fast.
- Der Kaiser

See i interpreted that much differently than everyone else. The way i read it was yea id love to have him back but im not paying him UFA money so either he caves or he's gone.

75-80 pts is where a lot of us had them at the beginning of the year. The question is where does that put you? Some years it's 3rd last other it's 6th or 7th last.

It undeniably will become more harsh towards Tim and Disco Dan, and it damn well should.
- BuffaloHardHat

I guess I just didn't come into this season with lofty expectations, but watching this team develop has raised my expectations for next season quite a bit

See i interpreted that much differently than everyone else. The way i read it was yea id love to have him back but im not paying him UFA money so either he caves or he's gone.

75-80 pts is where a lot of us had them at the beginning of the year. The question is where does that put you? Some years it's 3rd last other it's 6th or 7th last.
- Sabresfan-365

squarely in the bottom-third?



edit: and yes, 365, that's the way I interpreted it as well...if they can come together on dollars and term then it's a done deal...my question would also be, will that deal be done before the deadline as an extension or on july 1 as a free agent singing after trading him away?

I guess I just didn't come into this season with lofty expectations, but watching this team develop has raised my expectations for next season quite a bit
- Michael Pachla

You sir are in touch with reality . The ones that are so disappointed seem not to be.

squarely in the bottom-third?



edit: and yes, 365, that's the way I interpreted it as well...if they can come together on dollars and term then it's a done deal...my question would also be, will that deal be done before the deadline as an extension or on july 1 as a free agent singing after trading him away?
- Michael Pachla

It's always tricky with bottom 6 forwards because you want to keep/reward them for their play but those are players that are so interchangeable especially on good teams.

Have to ask yourself why pay 3.5 mil to mcginn when a year from now Fasching could do the same work, save 2.5 mil and obtain a relatively good draft pick?

Does Ennis still fit in with this team?
- CaptainRivet

Nah. Hes a little guy that makes quite a bit for a 20/45 split. He'll get moved out soon.

You sir are in touch with reality . The ones that are so disappointed seem not to be.



- Maximum Signal

thx, max...not sure i'm totally in touch with reality, though

It's always tricky with bottom 6 forwards because you want to keep/reward them for their play but those are players that are so interchangeable especially on good teams.

Have to ask yourself why pay 3.5 mil to mcginn when a year from now Fasching could do the same work, save 2.5 mil and obtain a relatively good draft pick?
- Sabresfan-365

I think murray likes what he brings to the table and I think he'd be a great top-nine moving forward...mcginn's a tough one...am hoping for a trade and re-sign

I guess I just didn't come into this season with lofty expectations, but watching this team develop has raised my expectations for next season quite a bit
- Michael Pachla

Not lofty expectations for me at all coming into this season.

But, for Tim to have just sat on his hands while other GM's have been making deals since the beginning of the season irks me a bit. There have been deals out there to be made and that much is clear.

If you ask me, after some of the questionable deals he has made thus far he is now waiting for that perfect deal.
Some here might call it the Darcy effect.

Next year is put up or shut the (frank) time for Tim!
I'm tired of him yapping his mouth.
I want to see marginal improvement in this team in the standings, not just what just about everyone here says when they are trying to have Murray's back, which is, "they do look better on ice than last years team".
Some games yes, some games no and why shouldn't they look better than a team that was designed to tank, look at last years roster.

And everyone blamed last season on Coach Nolan.
Look at the talent that poor guy had to work with last season, it's laughable!

My point?

Like SP stated, that team was designed to "tank" last season.
This team in the standings after all of the moves Tim has made, this years team in the standings is not far off from where they sat last season.
Please stop with the "eye test" defecation or that they look better than last year.

Again, tough not to look better then last years team that was.... as ALL OF YOU ADMIT or boasted about, designed to tank.

So, I ask you, who is at fault for where we sit in the standings once again this season, who?
The eye test defecation is bullshat especially when comparing it to last years team, straight up bullshat!

Does the responsibility fall in most people heres hero Tim Murray's lap or is it Disco Dan OR.....or is it Sabretooth?
I'm just so sick of seeing people here type that this team is so much better than last years team, it's laughable really.
Look at the standings and tell me how much better this Sabres team is comparatively speaking to being at or near the bottom of the standings after all the moves just about everyones hero here Tim Murray has made.
Yep!

Lehner starts

Weber in, Mccabe out

Catenacci in for injured Foligno

Not lofty expectations for me at all coming into this season.

But, for Tim to have just sat on his hands while other GM's have been making deals since the beginning of the season irks me a bit. There have been deals out there to be made and that much is clear.

If you ask me, after some of the questionable deals he has made thus far he is now waiting for that perfect deal.
Some here might call it the Darcy effect.

Next year is put up or shut the (frank) time for Tim!
I'm tired of him yapping his mouth.
I want to see marginal improvement in this team in the standings, not just what just about everyone here says when they are trying to have Murray's back, which is, "they do look better on ice than last years team".
Some games yes, some games no and why shouldn't they look better than a team that was designed to tank, look at last years roster.

And everyone blamed last season on Coach Nolan.
Look at the talent that poor guy had to work with last season, it's laughable!

My point?

Like SP stated, that team was designed to "tank" last season.
This team in the standings after all of the moves Tim has made, this years team in the standings is not far off from where they sat last season.
Please stop with the "eye test" defecation or that they look better than last year.

Again, tough not to look better then last years team that was.... as ALL OF YOU ADMIT or boasted about, designed to tank.

So, I ask you, who is at fault for where we sit in the standings once again this season, who?
The eye test defecation is bullshat especially when comparing it to last years team, straight up bullshat!

Does the responsibility fall in most people heres hero Tim Murray's lap or is it Disco Dan OR.....or is it Sabretooth?
I'm just so sick of seeing people here type that this team is so much better than last years team, it's laughable really.
Look at the standings and tell me how much better this Sabres team is comparatively speaking to being at or near the bottom of the standings after all the moves just about everyones hero here Tim Murray has made.
Yep!
- BuffaloHardHat

Examples?

I think murray likes what he brings to the table and I think he'd be a great top-nine moving forward...mcginn's a tough one...am hoping for a trade and re-sign
- Michael Pachla

Im indifferent either way, tbh he's like 10th on the to do list for this team.

It's always tricky with bottom 6 forwards because you want to keep/reward them for their play but those are players that are so interchangeable especially on good teams.

Have to ask yourself why pay 3.5 mil to mcginn when a year from now Fasching could do the same work, save 2.5 mil and obtain a relatively good draft pick?
- Sabresfan-365

Funny i was thinking the same thing. Probably throw bailey and baptiste into the same mix. Guess it makes sense to resign mcginn because none of the prospects look like they are gonna be ready by next year. Of course its probably 4/16 for mcginn at least. It would make more sense if he could waive his magic wand and trade moulson and/or gionta.

Examples?
- Sabresfan-365

Go look them up yourself on TSN transactions.
They're there.

Go look them up yourself on TSN transactions.
They're there.
- BuffaloHardHat

Ok but which one of these helps us? So far i see a plethora of fringe nhlers, bottom 6 players and the Johansen trade.