the good signs are there

special teams improved big time
risto, eichel, reinhart proving to be legit pieces moving forward
ror being the real deal


lehner, I can honestly say I was wrong about him


a big step was taken this year, make the 2 or 3 right moves and we will be on track
- homiedclown

There's definitely room for improvement. There are some changes that still need to be made, though I won't say what exactly because that's what Murray gets paid to figure out.

I'm enjoying being able to cheer for my team and be entertained while watching them this year. I'd really like to see them get to 75 points. They're 20 off of that right now. I think a 21 point improvement over last year is a great building block to work from.

I think that win last night passed our point total of last season. still 20 some games left . Yes we are a better team.
I wasn't judging Lehner on a handfull of games. but he did start off pretty bad.
- cabin

I don't think so at all. He played well, but the team in front of him couldn't score goals. If your goalie can't allow 2 goals most nights, you're expecting too much out of him.

The only 2 games I haven't liked Lehner in were the Florida and Philly games last week. Other than those, he's performed as well as you could reasonably expect, IMO.

Michael Pachla: Robin Lehner's steely-eye shutout at Columbus
- Michael Pachla

Lehners no good ! How could TM ever give up a 1st round pick !

I need to see more..

Haiku's for EVERYONE !!!!

how does a player who gets 20 goals a year or more for 20 seasons
30 goals or more 9 times


over 1300 points in the nhl

most pp goals in nhl

name on the cup


not get in the hall of fame?
- homiedclown

Buffalo stigma.

Strange that he DID play for Tonto and still hasn't gotten in.

Buffalo stigma.

Strange that he DID play for Tonto and still hasn't gotten in.
- Pairo11

never thought of that factor

In all seriousness about Lehner I'm happy with what I've seen so far. He covers a lot of net, is competitive is hell, challenges the shooter (sucked bad on the shootout goals) and seems like a great teammate.

BUT... I realize every goalie has to be lucky to be good but in last nights game alone there had to have been 2-3 saves from either a defenseman or an object laying on the ice that stopped the puck. He still puts himself out of position a little too much for my liking.

I hate to sound like the Asshat but I do need to see him sustain this pace. Maybe even for the rest of the season. I think he can only get better. He's a big guy and I think his conditioning will improve. He'll get quicker.

Lehners no good ! How could TM ever give up a 1st round pick !

I need to see more..

Haiku's for EVERYONE !!!!
- Pairo11

Had it been the 2nd round pick that GMTM sent in the ROR deal and that 1st rounder went to get ROR would people still complain?

Again I wasn't thrilled with giving up the 1st for a goalie but hey GMTM knows something we didn't about Lehner

The ONE (frank)IN GAME i don't watch in the past 3 WEEKS!!!

Had it been the 2nd round pick that GMTM sent in the ROR deal and that 1st rounder went to get ROR would people still complain?

Again I wasn't thrilled with giving up the 1st for a goalie but hey GMTM knows something we didn't about Lehner
- Stripes77

I think a big part of what Murray likes about Lehner is his ultra competitive nature. Goalies are typically like that anyway, but Lehner brings it to a whole new level. The tricky part is making sure he's channeling it the right way, which he himself has said is an area he really works on.

Had it been the 2nd round pick that GMTM sent in the ROR deal and that 1st rounder went to get ROR would people still complain?

Again I wasn't thrilled with giving up the 1st for a goalie but hey GMTM knows something we didn't about Lehner
- Stripes77

The market was what it was . Talbot went for a high pick and others too (Eddie Lack ?). If he continues to progress then it was worth it.

Very entertaining game last night. Nice play by Gorges knocking Nick Foligno on his back. Saw the play developing and went in and made a nice, clean hit.

I think a big part of what Murray likes about Lehner is his ultra competitive nature. Goalies are typically like that anyway, but Lehner brings it to a whole new level. The tricky part is making sure he's channeling it the right way, which he himself has said is an area he really works on.
- HonkFortheGoose

He's so damn big.. He reminds me of Olaf Kolzig. If he can improve his conditioning he could be that good and 'Zilla' was pretty damn good for a good stretch back in the late 90's.

LOL ! Really ? You must be very young or watch very few games.....
- 22sabresQ

Great game out of Lehner. Goal from the faceoff dot in our own end. Rhino gets his 18th. McGinn gets 2. Almost a goalie fight. I was entertained throughout. This is hockey I can watch every night.

He's so damn big.. He reminds me of Olaf Kolzig. If he can improve his conditioning he could be that good and 'Zilla' was pretty damn good for a good stretch back in the late 90's.
- Pairo11

Could be real interesting to see what he's like next year when he can actually go into the offseason healthy this year. The fact that all he was able to do for over 3 months last year after the concussion was sit around had to be hard. Then to have the high ankle injury doesn't help matters.

Could be real interesting to see what he's like next year when he can actually go into the offseason healthy this year. The fact that all he was able to do for over 3 months last year after the concussion was sit around had to be hard. Then to have the high ankle injury doesn't help matters.
- HonkFortheGoose

And when they give him a better D group.

It'll only take 1 stinker from Lehner, and guys like Sbroads will be beady-eyed doucheing, first round pick wasting, ect, ect. I think that after the deadline, free agency, and draft, Murray will have us in great shape. It's not reasonable to think that he was going to flip the whole roster in one off season, and make us a contender immediately.

Could be real interesting to see what he's like next year when he can actually go into the offseason healthy this year. The fact that all he was able to do for over 3 months last year after the concussion was sit around had to be hard. Then to have the high ankle injury doesn't help matters.
- HonkFortheGoose

Right. And that gets me back on the conditioning thing. With a head injury and then the high ankle sprain he really had no choice but to sit back and strap on a feed bag. Let's face it. Big people like to eat. He ate for a LONG time without being able to skate and work out.

From the last blogosphere...


Today @ 10:26 AM ET
So, now we have seen Lehner for 10sh games, and is playing above average with a .930+ save percentage. He has played say 7-8 good games, and 1 stinker.
What's everyone's opinion now.

My thought is, if he continues to play like this and plays the 60-65 games per season, I believe the 1st GMTM gave up will be worth it...certainly would be an impact player at a position of need who could steal a lot of games and therefore points in the standings.
Of course, the sample size is still very small, but the look is trending very positive.
Let's hope it continues!

And another from last blog

Another thought I have had for the past several days is, if the Sabres don't land in the top 4 or 5 draft positions; I think GMTM tries to trade up into the 2 slot and picks one of the Finns. I'm thinking it would be our 1st + Ennis...and a 3rd if need be?
So, let's assume after the Lottery results Sabres are picking 6th...do,you try to pull that trade off?

And another from last blog

Another thought I have had for the past several days is, if the Sabres don't land in the top 4 or 5 draft positions; I think GMTM tries to trade up into the 2 slot and picks one of the Finns. I'm thinking it would be our 1st + Ennis...and a 3rd if need be?
So, let's assume after the Lottery results Sabres are picking 6th...do,you try to pull that trade off?
- IonSabres

I know people are down on Ennis but that's a lot just to move up a few spots. Generally don't give up roster players to improve your draft pick by one or two. Rather they move him and/or the pick for an NHLer.

In all seriousness about Lehner I'm happy with what I've seen so far. He covers a lot of net, is competitive is hell, challenges the shooter (sucked bad on the shootout goals) and seems like a great teammate.

BUT... I realize every goalie has to be lucky to be good but in last nights game alone there had to have been 2-3 saves from either a defenseman or an object laying on the ice that stopped the puck. He still puts himself out of position a little too much for my liking.

I hate to sound like the Asshat but I do need to see him sustain this pace. Maybe even for the rest of the season. I think he can only get better. He's a big guy and I think his conditioning will improve. He'll get quicker.
- Pairo11

I have been as positive about him as anyone but he does seem to scramble a lot.

Then again, Brodeur and Hasek both scrambled a lot too, and it didn't stop them from being successful.

(No I'm not comparing Lenner to Hasek or Brodeur. I'm just suggesting technique is not always necessary to success.)

I have been as positive about him as anyone but he does seem to scramble a lot.

Then again, Brodeur and Hasek both scrambled a lot too, and it didn't stop them from being successful.

(No I'm not comparing Lenner to Hasek or Brodeur. I'm just suggesting technique is not always necessary to success.)
- Der Kaiser

He has a lot of shots hit him because he's just so damn big.

I know people are down on Ennis but that's a lot just to move up a few spots. Generally don't give up roster players to improve your draft pick by one or two. Rather they move him and/or the pick for an NHLer.
- Sabresfan-365

I don't get why people are so quick to trade away Ennis....the dude hasn't been health the majority of the year and when he was he happened to have a bad stretch of games....

but when he's on his game...he can be a game changer...this is a guy who scored 46 points (the second most in his career) on LAST YEAR'S Sabres team....

I don't get why people are so quick to trade away Ennis....the dude hasn't been health the majority of the year and when he was he happened to have a bad stretch of games....

but when he's on his game...he can be a game changer...this is a guy who scored 46 points (the second most in his career) on LAST YEAR'S Sabres team....
- feetontheair22

I have a theory that once you learn to live without a guy for an extended period time, just move on.

I know people are down on Ennis but that's a lot just to move up a few spots. Generally don't give up roster players to improve your draft pick by one or two. Rather they move him and/or the pick for an NHLer.
- Sabresfan-365

So I get your point.
That said, the two Finns are expected to be NHL ready...they will of course need time to adjust their game, but skill wise and physical size is there already.
I think the upside would be better for these 2 than some prospect...of course that would depend on who we are speaking of.

I'm not down on Ennis BTW, I have hope that he will regain form and we have a 20G 2nd or 3rd liner on our roster now...for no additional cost. But if he could play a part in getting a top 3 sniper...I'm in.