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

Feel for you Bud . I lost a pet I was very close to in December . Still not really over it. Hurts

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.
- adambuffalo

I have included him in my comments...

Really want one of Matthews, Laine, Puljujarvi, or Tkachuk.

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.
- adambuffalo

Or be responsible and don't get so hammered that you can't get to work the next morning.

I have included him in my comments...

Really want one of Matthews, Laine, Puljujarvi, or Tkachuk.
- JVince11

If the Sabres pick is 5, Trade it.

Kane bashing? I think Kane Fact'ing is more accurate. He had a chance after 5 years with Atlanta/Winnipeg to enter a new dressing room and turn things around. How is he doing? He loves being talked about and if hockey is involved that's a bonus. The necklace with his # and name on it is hilarious, posting the photos himself is funnier. It's too bad as the talent is there, the brain and heart are somewhere else.

Kane bashing? I think Kane Fact'ing is more accurate. He had a chance after 5 years with Atlanta/Winnipeg to enter a new dressing room and turn things around. How is he doing? He loves being talked about and if hockey is involved that's a bonus. The necklace with his # and name on it is hilarious, posting the photos himself is funnier. It's too bad as the talent is there, the brain and heart are somewhere else.
- jjonah

If the Sabres pick is 5, Trade it.
- ImThatGuy

Why though??

Chychurn could be that top pairing quality guy that we want to pair with Risto into the future though??

Why though??

Chychurn could be that top pairing quality guy that we want to pair with Risto into the future though??
- JVince11

In terms of what we need and how fast, I would use pick 5 to trade to Anaheim or Minnesota for a already proven young d-man, + their first.

Minnesota is in cap hell, maybe you could swing more out if it, and take a contract back like say Vanek.......

In terms of what we need and how fast, I would use pick 5 to trade to Anaheim or Minnesota for a already proven young d-man, + their first.

Minnesota is in cap hell, maybe you could swing more out if it, and take a contract back like say Vanek.......
- ImThatGuy

YOU DIE IN A HOLE SIR!!!! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!!!!

In terms of what we need and how fast, I would use pick 5 to trade to Anaheim or Minnesota for a already proven young d-man, + their first.

Minnesota is in cap hell, maybe you could swing more out if it, and take a contract back like say Vanek.......
- ImThatGuy

I get it... the whole "more ready" thing.

But why would Minnesota want to trade Dumba or Brodin who are already NHL ready in addition to their first to basically start over with a guy like Chychurn or even Nylander etc?? Unless their plan was to use that #5 and trade into the top 3 or 4 it doesn't make sense to me.

Same goes for Anaheim. Why would they trade Lindhold or Vanatan to basically restart that process besides "they will demand big RFA contracts".

I get it... the whole "more ready" thing.

But why would Minnesota want to trade Dumba or Brodin who are already NHL ready in addition to their first to basically start over with a guy like Chychurn or even Nylander etc?? Unless their plan was to use that #5 and trade into the top 3 or 4 it doesn't make sense to me.

Same goes for Anaheim. Why would they trade Lindhold or Vanatan to basically restart that process besides "they will demand big RFA contracts".
- JVince11

That's not enough?

That's not enough?
- jochfr

Not to a team that has 9M in cap space now and another 9.5M falling off after this season.

Rakell and F. Anderson are they only other RFAs.

THey are more than fine money wise.


In fact, I said hte other day that they are my front runners to get Stamkos.

Not to a team that has 9M in cap space now and another 9.5M falling off after this season.

Rakell and F. Anderson are they only other RFAs.

THey are more than fine money wise.


In fact, I said hte other day that they are my front runners to get Stamkos.
- JVince11

But don't they have a strict internal budget/cap?

But don't they have a strict internal budget/cap?
- jochfr

I'll call Murray and ask....

lol Idk.

If they do... I'm sure paying Perry, Getzlaf, and Kesler 23.75M of it alone wasn't in the plan.

and another 14.95 to Bieksa, Fowler, Stoner, and Despres.

Gibson only making 2.3M for the next 3 years is nice too.

I'll call Murray and ask....

lol Idk.

If they do... I'm sure paying Perry, Getzlaf, and Kesler 23.75M of it alone wasn't in the plan.

and another 14.95 to Bieksa, Fowler, Stoner, and Despres.

Gibson only making 2.3M for the next 3 years is nice too.
- JVince11

Minnesota or St.Louis are the teams I would target. Both in serious cap trouble.

You aren't a professional hockey player that can be targeted.

This is where the assumption of a Low IQ comes to play. He's either the unluckiest guy I have ever heard of, or he just isn't very smart.

It's been now 4 or 5 incidents where he has made the news for off ice instances.

Tell me how many Sidney Crosby or Jonathon Toews have been involved in.

Unfortunately Kane must be latin for "Wrong place, wrong time"
- sbroads24

To be fair, it seems like for every Crosby or Toews, there is a Kane (take your pick of the two of them).

Also, seeing what just came out about Peyton Manning, potentially, makes me think the ones that you hear nothing about while they are playing doesn't mean they are choir boys.

Minnesota or St.Louis are the teams I would target. Both in serious cap trouble.
- ImThatGuy

Dear lord are you right. We'd have to take back a bad contract to get those talents though.

Koivu I bet would be the first one Minny would want gone w/ Granlund and Coyle their future 1 and 2.

I had no idea how much money Minney' had invested in Suter, Brodin, Scandella, and Spurgeon. WOW. Dumba an RFA is HUGe for them.

I'd happily take Pommer back from Minnesota though. HAPPILY

Minnesota or St.Louis are the teams I would target. Both in serious cap trouble.
- ImThatGuy

I still can't believe that the Blues gave Stastny 7M for 4 years. WOW.

I bet they trade Backes if they can't resign him. Steen and Berglund plus Lehtera will have to be their 3 Cs even though I'd take Backes over all 3 of them most likely.

They are fine up front though... Tarasenko, Lehtera, Schwartz (RFA), Jaskin (RFA), Rattie (RFA). Still have Barbashev in the system too.

Schmaltz on D in the sytem too. Damn they are STACKED but very to heavy.

YIKES. Lots of BIG TIME RFAs to resign plus top heavy contracts. If I was them... I'd try to move Stastny and Boumeester first. Berglund being hurt all year hasn't helped either.

Dear lord are you right. We'd have to take back a bad contract to get those talents though.

Koivu I bet would be the first one Minny would want gone w/ Granlund and Coyle their future 1 and 2.

I had no idea how much money Minney' had invested in Suter, Brodin, Scandella, and Spurgeon. WOW. Dumba an RFA is HUGe for them.

I'd happily take Pommer back from Minnesota though. HAPPILY
- JVince11

Ugh. Pommer is done. He should retire. Cripes, Legwand is more useful than him.

Ugh. Pommer is done. He should retire. Cripes, Legwand is more useful than him.
- sippyd

Oh well then.... I haven't watched him this year a ton but assumed he was still playing like he had been the past 2 years for them with 60+ points.

Yikes... nvm perhaps

Dear lord are you right. We'd have to take back a bad contract to get those talents though.

Koivu I bet would be the first one Minny would want gone w/ Granlund and Coyle their future 1 and 2.

I had no idea how much money Minney' had invested in Suter, Brodin, Scandella, and Spurgeon. WOW. Dumba an RFA is HUGe for them.

I'd happily take Pommer back from Minnesota though. HAPPILY
- JVince11

I would be real cautious taking a bad contract back. We would be in the same boat in 2 yrs.

Oh well then.... I haven't watched him this year a ton but assumed he was still playing like he had been the past 2 years for them with 60+ points.

Yikes... nvm perhaps
- JVince11

Read its been 20 something games without a goal.

I hear its a ice globe in buffalo too bad

Ugh. Pommer is done. He should retire. Cripes, Legwand is more useful than him.
- sippyd

He went downhill so fast, honestly it's shocking. I can't imagine him next season if what happened to him this season.

I hear its a ice globe in buffalo too bad
- gerbe75pts

Nope. Just snow. nothing to bad.