Do you think the Finns are ready to step right in into the NHL . Risto needed and AHL season . Armia needed a few. Have they already fufilled their mandatory military service? Moulson is a tough on a buyout barely gets us any relief . Maybe Terry can talking him into retire and give him big money to work somewhere in his empire. LOL. You still have Gionta for another year as well . To tell you the truth I like him on the third line now.
- Maximum Signal

I think Puljujarvi is ready
He's very smart
Not sure about his service requirements, but Barkov was able to come over right away
I do think Fins have a bit of an issue adjusting to this style game right away though
Barkov only scored 8 goals as a rookie, and he's obviously a great talent
16 in his 2nd, and on pace for mid20s this year
He's missed though, in full seasons he would've been on pace for...
12, 16, & 31 goals this year

While I do think Puljujarvi (and possibly Laine) are physically ready, they prob will need time to adjust & grow into the North American style game
So we should probably temper any expectations,
And it would prob be better to start him on the 3rd line than in the top6
Barkov-like projections make sense to me
He was quite the talented prospect as well. Ppl called me crazy for liking him more than MacKinnon

If we could have a year of


Eichel Stamkos Puljujarvi

Kane ROR Reinhart

Ennis Girgs Bailey

Baptiste Foligno Fasching
- Herzeleid

I just wrote about Puljujarvi being ready, but prob not for the top line
Fasching is DEFINTELY not ready & will need AHL time. And with his top6 potential, it would make more sense to keep him in the top3 in Rochester playing top minutes then on the 4th line here

Yeap i agree.

I am not worried about it, i just hope it never happens at a critical time. I would imagine it rubs a few people the wrong way in the locker room but I will save being upset about something like this for when it actually matters.
- ieetbred

Pretty much how I feel about it as well. And I would guess most people as well. You know what they say, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

I think Puljujarvi is ready
He's very smart
Not sure about his service requirements, but Barkov was able to come over right away
I do think Fins have a bit of an issue adjusting to this style game right away though
Barkov only scored 8 goals as a rookie, and he's obviously a great talent
16 in his 2nd, and on pace for mid20s this year
He's missed though, in full seasons he would've been on pace for...
12, 16, & 31 goals this year

While I do think Puljujarvi (and possibly Laine) are physically ready, they prob will need time to adjust & grow into the North American style game
So we should probably temper any expectations,
And it would prob be better to start him on the 3rd line than in the top6
Barkov-like projections make sense to me
He was quite the talented prospect as well. Ppl called me crazy for liking him more than MacKinnon
- jdfitz77

That's because you are. But Barkov went 2nd for a reason, he's a very good player, but he's not better than MacKinnon.

That's because you are. But Barkov went 2nd for a reason, he's a very good player, but he's not better than MacKinnon.
- Wetbandit1

I'm not so sure about that
Barkov is on pace for more goals this year
And true power forwards are hard to find
I also think Barkov's style game will translate better in the playoffs

MacKinnon might be more dynamic,
But I'd still take Barkov

I'd have taken Seth Jones 1st in that draft though
And actually would've taken Monahan over MacKinnon as well

But really,
U could put those 4 in any order & I wouldn't argue to hard one way or the other
I'd have thrown in Drouin at the time too

After that top5...
I really like Lindholm, and said all along that Ristolainen was the #2 defenseman in the draft, possibly #1

Pretty damn good draft

That's because you are. But Barkov went 2nd for a reason, he's a very good player, but he's not better than MacKinnon.
- Wetbandit1

I'm going to disagree with you here and that's very hard for me ..but barkov is a better player then Mack

I'm going to disagree with you here and that's very hard for me ..but barkov is a better player then Mack
- gerbe75pts

I actually had MacKinnon 5th in that draft
Don't remember why I didn't like him
I think it was actually more liking the other guys so much

Sounds like Lindback fell off a toilet too.

www.espn.go.com/nhl/story...ury?ex_cid=espnapi_public

From here on out, I'd like to see the Sabres...

1) trade McGinn, Legwand, Weber, C.Johnson, Franson & Moulson (if possible) for whatever picks we can get
* more ammo for trades

2) draft in the top5, preferably top3
* I'm looking for a forward here, but if Chuchrun is there at 5 I'm very ok with him being the guy we take

3) trade Fasching + (picks, or prospects like Karabacek, Carrier, or even both) for a good young defenseman (Fowler, Trouba, etc)
* even if we get Chychrun
* yeah, I'd rather trade Fasching than Girgensons or Ennis

4) sign Stamkos
* I'm not too worried about the cap, I think we can make it work just fine

5) make the playoffs next year, maybe pull an upset or 2?
* with added scoring, defense & Lehner continuing to play well, I think we def make it


All of that seems at least "fairly" plausible IMO

So a sad post:

Looks like my buddy Jackson my be very close to passing(Jackson is a 10 year old lab/pit mix). I'm posting here because he's an avid hockey fan.

I got him during in 2006 during the playoff series against Philly. What an exciting time. Spring was in the air, I had an awesome apartment on Hertel ave and the Sabres were stomping the Flyers. His first or second night with us was game 5, April 30th, a 3-0 win. Every time we scored, we went nuts and so did he. Jumping over couches and going crazy. I still remember the look in his eyes like "I barely know you, or why are we going crazy? Oh who cares let's go crazy!". Then a few days later the game 6 series clincher, a 7-1 Buffalo win. When the game concluded I took him outside for a pee. It had been a spectacular warm spring day, and after he did his business we sat out on the back steps watching the rest of the twilight disappear from the sky. You could hear Sabres fans cheering, hooting, beeping their horns and generally going crazy in every direction. Jackson was a little guy then still and I remember him wimpering and crawling up into my arms. He was confused about his new surroundings and all this craziness.

I'd like to believe Jackson always loved hockey. As he got older I think he did because I'd flip the game on and pet him non stop without even knowing. He is like me stress ball during games. He would get hours of pets while a freaked out. When I would swear at the refs he would look up at me like "Dude, what the hell right now?" It puts things in perspective because Jackson doesn't care that Evander Kane didn't show up to practice yesterday or that the Sabres have never won the cup. He just cared about spending time with me and getting a free 3 hour belly rub and picking up snacks when would drop on the floor in between.

Thanks for reading my depressing post. It makes me feel better to have written it. I will always associate Jackson with hockey. Hopefully the vet can do something for him but you know how that goes. When it's time it's time. I'm a better person for having had him.
- Buffalo--Sabres

My heart goes out to you, hopefully the Vet can pull a miracle.

My dog Remy is 10 as well, a Goldendoodle (great freakin dogs btw) ... She has slowed down considerably over the past year...and I know what is coming next...hopefully she has more love to give!

Best of luck to you and Jackson

Holy crap. Just red the past 5 pages . Any way I can get back that 15min?

My heart goes out to you, hopefully the Vet can pull a miracle.

My dog Remy is 10 as well, a Goldendoodle (great freakin dogs btw) ... She has slowed down considerably over the past year...and I know what is coming next...hopefully she has more love to give!

Best of luck to you and Jackson
- IonSabres

I have a 9yr old Jack. No signs of slowing down. But they live too 18 on average. I feel for you guys . Sux when they have to be put down. Ive had my share.

Holy crap. Just red the past 5 pages . Any way I can get back that 15min?
- cabin

Only by giving up the next 30.....

From here on out, I'd like to see the Sabres...

1) trade McGinn, Legwand, Weber, C.Johnson, Franson & Moulson (if possible) for whatever picks we can get
* more ammo for trades

2) draft in the top5, preferably top3
* I'm looking for a forward here, but if Chuchrun is there at 5 I'm very ok with him being the guy we take

3) trade Fasching + (picks, or prospects like Karabacek, Carrier, or even both) for a good young defenseman (Fowler, Trouba, etc)
* even if we get Chychrun
* yeah, I'd rather trade Fasching than Girgensons or Ennis

4) sign Stamkos
* I'm not too worried about the cap, I think we can make it work just fine

5) make the playoffs next year, maybe pull an upset or 2?
* with added scoring, defense & Lehner continuing to play well, I think we def make it


All of that seems at least "fairly" plausible IMO
- jdfitz77

IMO, if the pick falls outside of the top 4, I look at trading it for a young NHL D-man+.

I think you could bring back a haul for pick 5.

Only by giving up the next 30.....
- Havic3814

Damn.

on a more serious note... I've enjoyed watching the last couple of games...Good to see some goals being scored.

What do we think Montreal does? They are only 6 points out of a spot but also only 6 points ahead of us and haven't been able to string any positive consistency lately

on a more serious note... I've enjoyed watching the last couple of games...Good to see some goals being scored.

What do we think Montreal does? They are only 6 points out of a spot but also only 6 points ahead of us and haven't been able to string any positive consistency lately
- Havic3814

Sell. Price is done for the year.

The market is going to be flooded with teams selling this year due to the new lottery rules. Which is going to drive the price down.

I think the NHL's thought of it will discourage tanking is going to backfire. More teams around this time are going to seel, because now they have three shots to win a lottery and move up.

Sell. Price is done for the year.

The market is going to be flooded with teams selling this year due to the new lottery rules. Which is going to drive the price down.

I think the NHL's thought of it will discourage tanking is going to backfire. More teams around this time are going to seel, because now they have three shots to win a lottery and move up.
- ImThatGuy

But you can also slide 3 spots right?

- cabin

Lots of Rochester closing down - 10 to 19 inches falling today.

But you can also slide 3 spots right?
- Havic3814

Correct. I think the teams sitting 6-8 points out will look at it this way. Do you buy rentals costing you assets or do you sell UFA's to be to bring in additional assets and also increase your draft position for a better shot to move up.

Lots of Rochester closing down - 10 to 19 inches falling today.
- Der Kaiser

We got about 3 inches in Albany. currently at about 9 inches for the season.

Lots of Rochester closing down - 10 to 19 inches falling today.
- Der Kaiser

6 in wheatfield this morning . 10 in Kenmore so far.

6 in wheatfield this morning . 10 in Kenmore so far.
- cabin

Makes joke about having inches as well

Enough of the Kane bashing. People making a big story out of nothing. He could have tried to make it back to practice, but what if he did and drove drunk into a Tim Horton's building?

Anyway, anyone that says we should not go after Stamkos needs to just stop. If a guy like him is available, you go after him and find a way to make it work. Kane, Ennis, Bogo will be gone most likely when it comes time to sign the big contracts. I think the people saying not to go after Stamkos are just rationalizing the fact that it's not going to happen.

Lastly, a lot of talk about the Finns in the draft, but I have been very impressed with Matthew Tkachuk. Has 81 points in 43 games with the London Knights adding 70pim and is a +33. I don't understand why he isn't being put in the same grouping as the Finns.