I'd really like to see 2 trades, both for top 4 d men and a top 5 pick in the draft for a winger


I am not sold on pysyk or mccabe for 20 plus minutes a night on a team competing

of course if they signed yandle, they are 1 trade away
- homiedclown

Same was said of Risto. I think they can be next year, if we can get another top pairing guy it makes it easier on those two as well.

nobody's at fault for where they are in the standings (save for maybe the schedule maker who made it tough on them)...it's just a natural progression out of the abyss...that was the whole point

but they're a much better club...how much better is this year then last?... eye-test be damned, if my numbers are correct, at this point in the season the sabres have:

--six more wins, or a 40% increase
--14 more points, or a 42% increase
--a +66 in goal differential or 75% tighter

--a pk that was 29th (74.1%) that is now 16th (80.8%)
--a powerplay that was 30th (11.2%) but is now 6th (20.8%)

*shrugs*
- Michael Pachla

to back these points further...
Add Moulson scoring what he did last year (13)
and Ennis (23) on this team this year and we have at least a couple more wins in those 1 goal games putting us in 25th? 24th? which would be an improvement on paper as well as via the "eye test."
Murray has no crystal ball that told him Mouslon would suck, Ennis would fall off his toilet and his starting goalie was going to miss 40-something games.
it's nobodys "fault"....except may be Ennis.

So, it's 63 and sunny out....im going outside.

More excuses.
The standings and where they sit once again are the facts!
Take a look at where we sit again, go ahead as compared to a team that tanked last season.
Those are facts and not excuses.
But now the schedule is an excuse ?
I'm done with this.
I've proved my point.
- BuffaloHardHat

The standings is the only fact that is relevant to the performance of our hockey club? I see your passion and desire to succeed, but really? If the end result was the only thing that mattered, then things we use and take for granted, like...oh I don't know, sidewalks and driveways would be nothing more than surfaces made of stone and cement. We all know that the sidewalk is important mainly because of what it allows people to do...to walk to the store, to go to see loved ones without getting mowed down in the street, etc, not to mention there are stories behind the men and hard work (which we are frequently reminded of here) that made the sidewalk, that mixed, poured and shaped the concrete. The same with a team of 20+ individuals playing a game...there are all kinds of stories to be told and facts to be dissected that for us, the passionate, are important.

The persecution complex you and Panacea display here is both fascinating and nauseating. I choose to be optimistic, and in no way do I expect the same from others. But the dogged "if you can't see my point of view, you're an unreasonable idiot (or hypocritical psycophant, or whatever)" stuff is really tiresome.

No, but saying there isn't ever moves to be made is silly
- sbroads24

But saying if they had made any of those moves this team would be better is just as silly. Im sure there are other names out there being discussed but of the trades that have happened this season none of them strike me as improvements short or long term.

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
- Michael Pachla

Good read (reed) Mike. My thoughts are in line with yours. I figured we'd draft top 10 again, probably 7-ish. Might be top 5 but I'm ok with it. I had the offense and defense backwards as well. Anyone who thought we'd be in, or challenging for, a playoff spot was delusional. I'm just enjoying watching the kids grow.

The standings is the only fact that is relevant to the performance of our hockey club? I see your passion and desire to succeed, but really? If the end result was the only thing that mattered, then things we use and take for granted, like...oh I don't know, sidewalks and driveways would be nothing more than surfaces made of stone and cement. We all know that the sidewalk is important mainly because of what it allows people to do...to walk to the store, to go to see loved ones without getting mowed down in the street, etc, not to mention there are stories behind the men and hard work (which we are frequently reminded of here) that made the sidewalk, that mixed, poured and shaped the concrete. The same with a team of 20+ individuals playing a game...there are all kinds of stories to be told and facts to be dissected that for us, the passionate, are important.

The persecution complex you and Panacea display here is both fascinating and nauseating. I choose to be optimistic, and in no way do I expect the same from others. But the dogged "if you can't see my point of view, you're an unreasonable idiot (or hypocritical psycophant, or whatever)" stuff is really tiresome.
- LandlordTom

You realize that last years roster may have been one of the worst rosters ever assembled by and for the Buffalo Sabres?
We finished at the bottom of the standings.
As we did the year prior.

Now, people want to keep comparing this years team/rosters performance (on ice) to last years after all of the moves Murray has made.
You don't see my point, or anything wrong with being happy/optimistic when comparing this years team to last years team especially when they sit at the bottom of the standings once again and most of you are comparing this team to one of the worst rosters ever assembled in Sabres uniforms?

I can't make the horse drink.

instead of trying to hold on to a 1 goal lead, I would like to see this team go all out and try to get 2 more goals when up by one.

It seems like a slow death when they change their game plan
- homiedclown

Totally. There are a couple examples this year of them keeping the pedal to the metal for close to 60 minutes, but not enough for my liking, too.

Having said that, I'm not blaming the GM or coach for being tools who don't know hockey.

I've made the point about how many regulation wins a couple times now because I think it's very relevant we don't have 15-20 OT games like some teams do. To me, that many OT games screams of a playing-not-to-lose mentality, which I feel Ted Nolan coached due to his egregious lack of talent. I like my team playing to win.

all I got from this was the 2014-15 sabres were a really bad team

much worse than the bankrupt sabres
- homiedclown

Smart post hdc.

I can't make the horse drink.
- BuffaloHardHat

I have been waiting for a reason to post this

I can't make the horse drink.
- BuffaloHardHat

No, but you have to accept that there's more than one pond to drink from. It is impossible to NOT compare this team to last years' because that's one way of gauging progress. Not the only way, but a very real one, including the final standings (no, the season does not end in February).

Totally. There are a couple examples this year of them keeping the pedal to the metal for close to 60 minutes, but not enough for my liking, too.

Having said that, I'm not blaming the GM or coach for being tools who don't know hockey.

I've made the point about how many regulation wins a couple times now because I think it's very relevant we don't have 15-20 OT games like some teams do. To me, that many OT games screams of a playing-not-to-lose mentality, which I feel Ted Nolan coached due to his egregious lack of talent. I like my team playing to win.
- LandlordTom

I blame the coach a little

He is holding them back once they got a one goal lead, as if dom was in net

in ot, he had kane with 2 d men


in the shootout, riding gionta, who will not be a part of this team moving forward instead of putting a kid out there

let eichel lead the charge in the shoot out, he is the future, let him set the tone

But saying if they had made any of those moves this team would be better is just as silly. Im sure there are other names out there being discussed but of the trades that have happened this season none of them strike me as improvements short or long term.
- Sabresfan-365

I'd package pysyk plus for a top 4 dman

and I like pysyk

I'd package pysyk plus for a top 4 dman

and I like pysyk
- homiedclown

I think much like the top 6 vs bottom 6 (or even top line vs rest of forwards) as long as your top pair is very very good the rest of the defenders end up looking better too. Things like matchups, special teams zone starts all become that much easier for the 2nd and 3rd pair when your top pair is taking care of all the tough minutes (and doing a good job).

But saying if they had made any of those moves this team would be better is just as silly. Im sure there are other names out there being discussed but of the trades that have happened this season none of them strike me as improvements short or long term.
- Sabresfan-365

There are always ways to improve. I'm not saying they should have, but there are usually opportunities.

No, but you have to accept that there's more than one pond to drink from. It is impossible to NOT compare this team to last years' because that's one way of gauging progress. Not the only way, but a very real one, including the final standings (no, the season does not end in February).
- LandlordTom

LT, I respect your optimism, I really do. I wish I had it to be honest.
If I didn't I wouldn't say it.
But, it's an unfair comparison IMO, to one of the worst rosters ever to wear Sabres uniforms.
Of course this years team should look better than last years team.
They damn well should after all the moves everyones favorite GM made. (not mine of course.)
I guess, this reminds me of one of my favorites from a group called Asia back in the day, "Only time will tell".
But clearly I am not as optimistic as you.

I have been waiting for a reason to post this
- homiedclown

No, but you have to accept that there's more than one pond to drink from. It is impossible to NOT compare this team to last years' because that's one way of gauging progress. Not the only way, but a very real one, including the final standings (no, the season does not end in February).
- LandlordTom

out

myers
flynn
mitchell
staff
gringo
benoit
stewart
goalies
mezz


in
ror
kane
skunk
eichel
ror
franson
goalies
mcginn
coli

over 40% of the roster turned over

I think much like the top 6 vs bottom 6 (or even top line vs rest of forwards) as long as your top pair is very very good the rest of the defenders end up looking better too. Things like matchups, special teams zone starts all become that much easier for the 2nd and 3rd pair when your top pair is taking care of all the tough minutes (and doing a good job).
- Sabresfan-365

who is that one guy to play with risto then?

IMO it's not yandle

who is that one guy to play with risto then?

IMO it's not yandle
- homiedclown

Oh we don't have him yet, that's been my point basically all season. That player will be the final piece to the core imo.

I thought about Lindholm but i read that Claude Lemieux is officially his agent now so that's not happening

Lookin forward to watching the game tonight

wonder if Catenacci will embrance the opportunity

All I care about is one thing. Can you build a cup contending team out of these pieces? I think Murray can, but with the Kane trade, Moulson contract, Lehner trade, it puts doubt in my mind that he's the guy to do it.

You can argue semantics, standings, improvement all you want, but if we aren't on a trajectory from 30th to 1st, it's all meaningless.

out

myers
flynn
mitchell
staff
gringo
benoit
stewart
goalies
mezz


in
ror
kane
skunk
eichel
ror
franson
goalies
mcginn
coli

over 40% of the roster turned over
- homiedclown

Let's not forget :
Tyson Strachan - 46 games
Cody Hodgson - 78 games
Zac Dalpe - 21 games
Matt Ellis - 39 games
and then to finish Nolan's career Jerry D'amigo for 9 games.

Who cares...finish last for the next 4 years if it gets us a cup or two.

Anybody remember how long LA or Chi or Pit were bad for? NO you have forgotten because nobody cares. How about Florida...who had the first pick last year?

Murray is doing the rebuild perfectly. The young core is already there and we have the resources to keep it as long as we want. Risto Eichel and Reinhart are all 21 and under and is O'Reilly 25 yet? This is a freaking dream come true. Show some appreciation for god's sake.

Who cares...finish last for the next 4 years if it gets us a cup or two.

Anybody remember how long LA or Chi or Pit were bad for? NO you have forgotten because nobody cares. How about Florida...who had the first pick last year?

Murray is doing the rebuild perfectly. The young core is already there and we have the resources to keep it as long as we want. Risto Eichel and Reinhart are all 21 and under and is O'Reilly 25 yet? This is a freaking dream come true. Show some appreciation for god's sake.
- tim212

This x10. Edmonton will soon join this.

All I care about is one thing. Can you build a cup contending team out of these pieces? I think Murray can, but with the Kane trade, Moulson contract, Lehner trade, it puts doubt in my mind that he's the guy to do it.

You can argue semantics, standings, improvement all you want, but if we aren't on a trajectory from 30th to 1st, it's all meaningless.
- sbroads24

Out of curiosity anyone know the duration of Murray's contract? For some reason im thinking 4 years. Which in other words means make the playoffs next year or get fired.