Solid write up Mike. Honestly though I think there should be concern more than praise on stepping up for Buffalo. WHY did they come out so damn sluggish and play mediocre for the majority of that game when they are further along with talent? Toronto dictated for most of the 1st and 2nd periods until Buffalo finally woke up and decided to get into the game. Pysyk's goal JUST got over that goal line and while luck plays a factor, if I was a Buffalo fan I'd be more upset and worried about their performance than happy on a comeback win in a shootout.

For Toronto, hey best hockey they have played and sooner or later though the kids have to find a way to push through and finish a game with a win. Liking we are sitting with 1 goal losses and all but c'mon!! Gotta find a way to win one here and there!

Least both team's futures are looking brighter.
- Roadrunner75

meh....I'm not too concerned. We're still not officially out of the rebuild so the fact that we were outplayed for a few periods by a team earlier along in the same process isn't really a worry. You just don't want to see that become a trend is all....and I don't think we're seeing that with this team

'm not a Kane fan, but there's a good article on him on ESPN this morning. BTW, Sabres probably win tonight, as NYRs are coming with a very depleted team. I suppose getting to .500 would better than the potential draft pick damage we do by doing so?? Maybe by actually trying, he lottery gods will look nicely upon us??
- turbo044

a top-three pick would work for me

who owns the chiefs?
- homiedclown

OWNS, OWNS!

a top-three pick would work for me
- Michael Pachla

Trade the pick! Its most likely going to fall in the 6-10 range.

Trade the pick for a top 3 d-man. Hi STL or Anaheim. I'm looking at you.

Then look at getting a winger in a trade or sign Stamkos.

Boom, this team could compete for the 6-8 spot next year.

I'm okay with his completely wrong opinions. I'm more concerned about the fact that he can't write worth crap. The thread probably got removed because he got called out on being a horrible writer and since that is 100% accurate HB wanted to protect Garth.

I'm not sure why HB has so much love for Garth, maybe he's been here since the beginning and they didn't have the reputation to have quality writers. Buffalo isn't one of the most popular teams and he is a horrible writer yet he still gets a block at the top of the page.

Seriously, Garth can't spell and he has no sense of grammar. His blogs are random thoughts spewed all over the place full of typos and random errors. When you try and read his work it feels like reading something written by a child with ADHD who has really really fat fingers.
- Allan Bester

While you are correct about Garth being completely wrong all the time and a Homer... The Sabres blogs (Pachs) is actually one of the most popluar on the entire site and has some of the highest totals daily vs any other so....

Are you based in Toronto? Why's it 'cool' to think about relevancy for Toronto or Edmonton? who gives a crap. If i was a sabres fan i'd want more of the same from mlse and the idiots in toronto... Edmonton has sucked so long and gotten so many top picks, i hope they keep suffering personally. top picks are sucked into that blackhole to waste away their talent.

i hope neither of those clubs becomes relevant or anything else anytime soon (next 1000 years)...
- kaptaan

You don't like Rivalries in sports? Isn't that what makes it even more entertaining?

You don't like Rivalries in sports? Isn't that what makes it even more entertaining?
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

To be fair, there is something about totally dominating a team that's really enjoyable as well.

To be fair, there is something about totally dominating a team that's really enjoyable as well.
- Sabresfan-365

Right. But if you blow out a team that you play once a year or don't care about is it as satisfying as beating a rival?

a top-three pick would work for me
- Michael Pachla

Top5 is my cut off
I'm ok with us getting Tkachuck or Chychrun

Anything after pick 5 & I'd probably try to trade it

Right. But if you blow out a team that you play once a year or don't care about is it as satisfying as beating a rival?
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I dont disagree (in fact you're probably right) there's just something about owning a team that's a lot of fun

Trade the pick! Its most likely going to fall in the 6-10 range.

Trade the pick for a top 3 d-man. Hi STL or Anaheim. I'm looking at you.

Then look at getting a winger in a trade or sign Stamkos.

Boom, this team could compete for the 6-8 spot next year.
- ImThatGuy

Wouldn't rule out a bottom 5 finish just yet. 4 point separating them and 2nd last

Wouldn't rule out a bottom 5 finish just yet. 4 point separating them and 2nd last
- Sabresfan-365

Problem is some teams are falling and falling fast and we have picked up 15 in the last 12.... Think its time for s'more call ups.

thx for reeding...imo, it's simply a part of the process...they're a very young team who are trying to learn how to win after the franchise did a lot of losing the past two years...

I consider last night a good step forward despite your well-founded points
- Michael Pachla

Yeah true there so long as Bylsma can figure out and get them going and not having the slow starts all the time I guess is the big thing. I do like the pieces that Buffalo has been putting together though I still think the big thing is going to be solidifying that goaltending. Lehner to me is just not the answer long term but then Leafs are in that same boat there totally too

I think really there are a lot of parallels between the two teams which should really bring back the old rivalries, though with the replay/reviews we won't have the old Aud off the glass but it's a goal stuff like in the old 80's days for entertainment either! ( Think it was Don Edwards in net who went postal when that happened?!)

Top5 is my cut off
I'm ok with us getting Tkachuck or Chychrun

Anything after pick 5 & I'd probably try to trade it
- jdfitz77

Gauthier has looked like a very very good prospect IMO. Same with Joelevi (spelling) the Finn Defender. Top 7-8 you still are getting a blue chip prospect.

Gauthier has looked like a very very good prospect IMO. Same with Joelevi (spelling) the Finn Defender. Top 7-8 you still are getting a blue chip prospect.
- RhinoFan

Nylander as well.

Still think you trade it for 1D if its outside the top 5 though.

Nylander as well.

Still think you trade it for 1D if its outside the top 5 though.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I think if you are sitting 6 or 7 and CAN get what you want plus a pick say 10-15 you might trade down. I think it will just depend on WHO Buffalo tabs as a must have player in the draft for where they sit.

I think being where they are you have a lot of picks and if you can turn that into a solid young asset to have on the big club on the ice and plug a hole, they will likely go ahead and consider that.

Gauthier has looked like a very very good prospect IMO. Same with Joelevi (spelling) the Finn Defender. Top 7-8 you still are getting a blue chip prospect.
- RhinoFan

I think the cut off is at 5
Those guys could all be ready right away

Then there's another group that goes till about 10 or 12 that's still got really nice upside, but need more time to develop most likely

If we pick outside the top5,
I'd love for us to trade it
Trouba? One of the Ducks defenders? Taylor Hall?
Get another young, impact player to add to the "core"

Nylander as well.

Still think you trade it for 1D if its outside the top 5 though.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

What number 1D can you get though? Talks of Lindholm got me excited but it feels like a pipe dream. I would love to get him or shattenkirk, not PK lol, or someone of that caliber for Rasmus to play with, but who is biting without asking for Rhino/McCabe back?

I think the cut off is at 5
Those guys could all be ready right away

Then there's another group that goes till about 10 or 12 that's still got really nice upside, but need more time to develop most likely

If we pick outside the top5,
I'd love for us to trade it
Trouba? One of the Ducks defenders? Taylor Hall?
Get another young, impact player to add to the "core"
- jdfitz77

go big

2016 and 2017 first rd pick for oel

What number 1D can you get though? Talks of Lindholm got me excited but it feels like a pipe dream. I would love to get him or shattenkirk, not PK lol, or someone of that caliber for Rasmus to play with, but who is biting without asking for Rhino/McCabe back?
- RhinoFan

RHD
one year left til he becomes UFA

What number 1D can you get though? Talks of Lindholm got me excited but it feels like a pipe dream. I would love to get him or shattenkirk, not PK lol, or someone of that caliber for Rasmus to play with, but who is biting without asking for Rhino/McCabe back?
- RhinoFan

Lindholm is ideal but i don't see why the Ducks would trade him away. Not sure who to target honestly. Im sure GMTM has a few guys in mind.

go big

2016 and 2017 first rd pick for oel
- homiedclown

Thats alot. Not that it shouldn't be done but two firsts scares me. Maybe that's why I'm not a GM.

I'd like to see our 2nd and 3 3rds rolled up to get back into the 1st round.

While you are correct about Garth being completely wrong all the time and a Homer... The Sabres blogs (Pachs) is actually one of the most popluar on the entire site and has some of the highest totals daily vs any other so....
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Solid blogger. I find it kinda amusing that you guys have possibly the best blogger on this site, as well as the absolute worst.

go big

2016 and 2017 first rd pick for oel
- homiedclown

That would work. I don't see us being in the top 10 picks topic next season.

That would work. I don't see us being in the top 10 picks topic next season.
- cabin

nope, then you got your top pair d men set

sign yandle as a free agent

trade gus and a second to bolts for drouin


sign stamkos


dump moulson, ennis, franson, gorges on draft day for picks/prospects


kane/stamkos/skunk
drouin/eichel/ror
foligno/larsson/fasching
deslaurers/schaller/gionta


oel/risto
yandle/bogo
pysyk'mccabe

lehner/ullmark