Couldn't agree more!

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All you Buffalo fans thought Babcock was signing in Buffalo. How'd that go?

- claude1971

How is Steven Stamkos doing?

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All you Buffalo fans thought Babcock was signing in Buffalo. How'd that go?

- claude1971

Yawn, you are last place. Next year you will be close to last place. Your team is terrible and Babcock did nothing to help.


PS. How long before you run Mathews out of town like every other talented player you had?

The move by the Sabres to trade for his negotiating rights was a good one I think. Just not sure I would view him as some autmoatic top 3-6 forward that you plug in for a decade and he scores 20-30 every year...tougher with college players usually. That said he sure looks the part.

Will be hard for him to resist going to Boston.
- jjonah

from everything I've read and heard he's improved his game immensely over the last two years and a lot of it has to do with off-season conditioning, work and proper eating habits...will his college success translate to the nhl?...it's anybody's guess but based upon his progress, I believe most would consider him to have a top-nine floor right now...with upside

The blog I read lays out from what is known so far why the Sabres might have the upper hand ... Not that he is, else the percentage would be 100%. Of course that is personal opinion based on logic.
If family is so important, when Daddy comes out and says he doesn't think the Bruins are the best fit, well I would think that opinion weighs heavily...by extension, if Boston media is considered bad...whoa, check out the fans and media in Toronto..albeit, Toronto is fast on the rise.
The Bruins on the other hand seem to have questionable decision making in their management ranks and are building for a short-term win now approach...the the enviable fall for several seasons while they rebuild...my opinion. Not sure a young FA would desire that environment.
I sense TOand B-Lo are his eventual landing spot based on a young up&coming roster, each with a terrific stud center in development....and hope that Buffalo's environment is more comfortable for a young player with high expectations attached.

the sabres have just as much to offer, if not more, than any other team in the running...am of the opinion that having a friend like Eichel, who's one of the most promising forwards in the game, is a big factor...the hypothesis is: if he wants to strike out on his own--start charting his own life--he won't be able to do it in boston or Toronto as family's too close...having a friend in the city where he can start living on his own certainly helps the sabres cause...especially when it's eichel.
- Michael Pachla

what about the hawks?

The blog I read lays out from what is known so far why the Sabres might have the upper hand ... Not that he is, else the percentage would be 100%. Of course that is personal opinion based on logic.
If family is so important, when Daddy comes out and says he doesn't think the Bruins are the best fit, well I would think that opinion weighs heavily...by extension, if Boston media is considered bad...whoa, check out the fans and media in Toronto..albeit, Toronto is fast on the rise.
The Bruins on the other hand seem to have questionable decision making in their management ranks and are building for a short-term win now approach...the the enviable fall for several seasons while they rebuild...my opinion. Not sure a young FA would desire that environment.
I sense TOand B-Lo are his eventual landing spot based on a young up&coming roster, each with a terrific stud center in development....and hope that Buffalo's environment is more comfortable for a young player with high expectations attached.
- IonSabres

well said, ion

what about the hawks?
- rinaldo

who wouldn't want to go there?...do they have room in the top-six and/or the cap-space?

.....or if he wants to play LW:

* With two sure-fire HOF'ers, each who have recently won three Stanley Cups
* To fill out what could quite possibly be the most dominant top-6 league wide
* Also at times with the league's reigning Art Ross and Hart trophy winner
* Out front of the team's best defence, including a two-time Norris winner
* And have one of only two, two-time, salary cap era goalies backstopping you
* In front of the league's largest crowds, in one of the country's largest cities
* With a good chance to win a Stanley Cup very soon

....he can choose the Chicago Blackhawks. Then if things do not meet expectation, he can sign as a FA with his hometown B's and wear the Gold and Black.

well said, ion
- Michael Pachla

Love ya brother...best damn blogger on HB and blows away other media types we are forced to read!
Keep up the GREAT work and Happy 4th Pach!'Merica...enough said!
Oh, and Vote Trump to make America even better

.....or if he wants to play LW:

* With two sure-fire HOF'ers, each who have recently won three Stanley Cups
* To fill out what could quite possibly be the most dominant top-6 league wide
* Also at times with the league's reigning Art Ross and Hart trophy winner
* Out front of the team's best defence, including a two-time Norris winner
* And have one of only two, two-time, salary cap era goalies backstopping you
* In front of the league's largest crowds, in one of the country's largest cities
* With a good chance to win a Stanley Cup very soon

....he can choose the Chicago Blackhawks. Then if things do not meet expectation, he can sign as a FA with his hometown B's and wear the Gold and Black.
- blackhawk24

never heard them mentioned in the conversation

Love ya brother...best damn blogger on HB and blows away other media types we are forced to read!
Keep up the GREAT work and Happy 4th Pach!'Merica...enough said!
Oh, and Vote Trump to make America even better
- IonSabres

thx...have a great holiday as well

who wouldn't want to go there?...do they have room in the top-six and/or the cap-space?
- Michael Pachla

i would say yes they have both.....good organizations always find ways to make it work if that is the route they decide to pursue.

So what happens when/if he struggles and doesnt produce? what does the team do sicne they "promised" him top 6 role? say in training camp and pre season games he doesn't show much and isn't ready?

who wouldn't want to go there?...do they have room in the top-six and/or the cap-space?
- Michael Pachla

Yes, and yes.

I figure he's slot left side, centered by Toews with Hoss right flank. Call it first or second line, I don't mind. Other top-6 line is Anisimov centering Panarin and Kane.

It's an ELC so the only sticking point could be the bonus structure. Not a cake walk. Not by any means. Bowman has some work to do with a few backup plans.

i would say yes they have both.....good organizations always find ways to make it work if that is the route they decide to pursue.

So what happens when/if he struggles and doesnt produce? what does the team do sicne they "promised" him top 6 role? say in training camp and pre season games he doesn't show much and isn't ready?
- rinaldo

if I were Vesey, Chicago's No. 1 on my list...period...but they've not been mentioned and, he said he'd like to stay in the northeast

.....or if he wants to play LW:

* With two sure-fire HOF'ers, each who have recently won three Stanley Cups
* To fill out what could quite possibly be the most dominant top-6 league wide
* Also at times with the league's reigning Art Ross and Hart trophy winner
* Out front of the team's best defence, including a two-time Norris winner
* And have one of only two, two-time, salary cap era goalies backstopping you
* In front of the league's largest crowds, in one of the country's largest cities
* With a good chance to win a Stanley Cup very soon

....he can choose the Chicago Blackhawks. Then if things do not meet expectation, he can sign as a FA with his hometown B's and wear the Gold and Black.
- blackhawk24

He has stated he would like to stay in the Northeast, so I don't see him going to a West Coast team.

Also, even though he is a cheap contract, from what I understand with bonuses he could make north of 3M in his first year. I think that is all you guys have in space, so something would have to go in order to even take him on I think. Either way with Panarin becoming a free agent next year, I'd imagine you guys wouldn't want to go that close to the cap ceiling. Not sure of the exact rules of it all or the max contract so if this is wrong I apologize and resort to the Northeast reasoning only, but I just don't see it being them unelss they are ready to see Panarin walk next year (no way that happens).

Yes, and yes.

I figure he's slot left side, centered by Toews with Hoss right flank. Call it first or second line, I don't mind. Other top-6 line is Anisimov centering Panarin and Kane.

It's an ELC so the only sticking point could be the bonus structure. Not a cake walk. Not by any means. Bowman has some work to do with a few backup plans.
- blackhawk24

Chicago right now should be every players first choice...that said, Vesey mentioned in an article that he'd like to stay in the northeast...fwiw

He has stated he would like to stay in the Northeast, so I don't see him going to a West Coast team.

Also, even though he is a cheap contract, from what I understand with bonuses he could make north of 3M in his first year. I think that is all you guys have in space, so something would have to go in order to even take him on I think. Either way with Panarin becoming a free agent next year, I'd imagine you guys wouldn't want to go that close to the cap ceiling. Not sure of the exact rules of it all or the max contract so if this is wrong I apologize and resort to the Northeast reasoning only, but I just don't see it being them unelss they are ready to see Panarin walk next year (no way that happens).
- RhinoFan

doesn't that bonus hit the books the following season?

edit: yes

https://theathletic.com/2...hawks-salary-cap-overage/

The Blackhawks also have to take into account their salary cap overage from the 2015-16 season: $3.07 million, according to Blackhawks assistant general manager Norm Maciver on Thursday.

The Blackhawks’ overage amount consists of bonuses earned by Artemi Panarin, Teuvo Teravianen and Michal Rozsival.

This is a Sabre blog for Sabre fans, what do you think he is going to blog about, how horrible he thinks the Sabres are or how he thinks no one will ever come here?

if I were Vesey, Chicago's No. 1 on my list...period...but they've not been mentioned and, he said he'd like to stay in the northeast
- Michael Pachla

Ya know though, Boston to Chicago is what 90 minute direct flight available all times of the day...very convenient.
Boston to Buffalo, not so convenient...layovers or 1 direct flight...I hated going to Boston when I supported the NE in my job...loved going to Chicago.
Boston the NYC...2 hrs? On a fast train (by American standards anyway)
I would think the NE location is overblown a bit ... I can see not wanting Phoenix, Cali and the lot.

i would say yes they have both.....good organizations always find ways to make it work if that is the route they decide to pursue.

So what happens when/if he struggles and doesnt produce? what does the team do sicne they "promised" him top 6 role? say in training camp and pre season games he doesn't show much and isn't ready?
- rinaldo

This is where Q has to be patient and not screw things up like this season post-TDL.

No one believes Vesey is going to just jump in and be all over it like Panarin last season. That ease in which it happened had an element of luck alongside good planning.

But this is Toews and Hossa we are talking about. One of the leagues --- if not the best --- captain, Jonathon Toews, since age 20 and still to this day, one of the best 200' players in the entire league in Hossa. Even at 38, he is very well conditioned.

After the revolving LW door last season, and Toews increasingly frustration at having no LW'er, I believe he would welcome the opportunity. He is very open to new players, especially highly regarded ones, joining the 'Hawks.

You and garth the biggest homers i have ever seen. You think everyone is coming to buffalo. Its comical. That said i think the sabres are in it just more like his third choice.
- legendguy

Laugh fans think everyone is coming to Toronto. Of course he's a homer, he writes as a Sabres blogger. Go enjoy Stamkos in your own blog...Oh wait, he didn't want to kill his career in Toronto

the sabres have just as much to offer, if not more, than any other team in the running...am of the opinion that having a friend like Eichel, who's one of the most promising forwards in the game, is a big factor...the hypothesis is: if he wants to strike out on his own--start charting his own life--he won't be able to do it in boston or Toronto as family's too close...having a friend in the city where he can start living on his own certainly helps the sabres cause...especially when it's eichel.
- Michael Pachla

doesn't that bonus hit the books the following season?

edit: yes

https://theathletic.com/2...hawks-salary-cap-overage/

The Blackhawks also have to take into account their salary cap overage from the 2015-16 season: $3.07 million, according to Blackhawks assistant general manager Norm Maciver on Thursday.

The Blackhawks’ overage amount consists of bonuses earned by Artemi Panarin, Teuvo Teravianen and Michal Rozsival.
- Michael Pachla

Plus the $1.125M Scuderi RSA, which comes off the books after '17.

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All you Buffalo fans thought Babcock was signing in Buffalo. How'd that go?

- claude1971

Valid point. I think there was something out there saying it was done, and then he went to Toronto instead. I could be wrong, but that would be why people thought he was going to buffalo.