I have little problems with Bogo, other than his contract. his is a 2nd pairing d-man. He played well towards the end of the season, hopefully he can keep that up.

Risto needs to take the steps this year to become a first pairing guy, i think he will.

Lehner needs to prove his last two injuries were flukes and he can play consistent.

I'm excited, but also have questions about players.

Mainly the guy we are playing 5+mm to be a top line winger, but is performing like Drew Stafford.
- ImThatGuy

Stafford was making 4M when he was here. I never really care about the salary a guy makes unless we're prohibited from doing something else because of it. It's not like if Kane was being paid 3M we would have done something big this offseason and that 2M difference handcuffed us.

As poorly as Kane played he still got 20 goals. If he takes a step forward I'm happy. I hope he does and hopefully he can reel in some of those wide shots and not try to take the impossible shot when his linemates are players like Jack, ROR, or Samsonite.

By all means, though, I get why people want more from him. I just want to see more than 1 season before I want him out. Just my 2 pence

Was hoping for a better review.
- cabin

It's getting slaughtered in reviews. That makes me sad. Still gonna watch it. Not gonna pay for it though.

piss boy says we wasted 2 first round picks on a goalie and the lion eater.
- TheSabresTaco

Like I said, if putting blind trust in someone with a good, even great, track record can turn out to be a mistake, then a rookie GM shouldn't be without scrutiny either. That's why I don't buy into "well Murray knows him from Ottawa" or "Murray scouted him in Anaheim" as if he is the gold standard for scouting. He seems like a good one, but he has a long way to go before being considered the best at it. He proves that by results in the win column. Those aren't there yet. Until they are, I have no issue with fans being sick of the "there's always next year" mentality.
- buffalofan19

How can you say they aren't there? We improved by 27 points last season. I'd say that's adding some results to the win column. You're acting like another season has gone by and we already missed the playoffs. Murray has been here for what 2-2.5 years? He took over a horrible team that he decided to finish rebuilding, and yeah, he took some risks in his trades that he made. At the end of the day we improved the team even with the trades we made. I'm not saying that Kane and Bogosian are better than the players we gave away, but we made an improvement in the standings. I'd give it another year before people get down Murray's throat.

I do get your point about people anointing Murray as the best GM, which I would have to agree is far from true. Every GM is going to make a move that comes with some scrutiny. I'm just glad that Darcy isn't at the helm anymore.

Also, the summer isn't even over yet, so I don't know why everyone is freaking out and saying how our bottom 6 is garbage. Franson was signed when last summer? I'm pretty sure it was sometime in September. Either way, let's not overreact here people. (This part of the post was a general post from the last couple days...it has nothing do with your post buffalofan19)

you forgot not drafting the chicken, girgens being great and/or invisible, and the fragile goalie that we gave a first rd draft pick for
- homiedclown

Also:
Plane tracking
The Hoff(man)
COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYONE'S "SOURCES" BEING WRONG

I'm staying away from the Kane stuff, because, fun.. but I really feel like a lot of people don't realize that Lehner's leg injury was a direct result of a lack of proper conditioning, from his concussion. He has a full summer to work out, get in shape and keep his muscles loose. I'd be willing to bet (not JR style because that means I auto-lose) that he comes into campe in much better shape and even quicker. He's a good player and a fierce competitor who's had some bad luck. Doesn't help when dippoop MacArthur plows his head into a post.
- TheSabresTaco

Didn't he have to end the season for a surgery? Could that hurt him at all as far as conditioning this summer?

If he can play like he did this year on little conditioning and through the pain he was reportedly in I'd love to see him at closer to 100%.

you forgot not drafting the chicken, girgens being great and/or invisible, and the fragile goalie that we gave a first rd draft pick for
- homiedclown

A) JVince knows it is improper to end a sentence with a preposition, bumhole.

B) We could have gotten TJ Brennan with that pick.

This reminds me of when a choice few (365, you and myself) hated the Nolan hire from day 1, and were told to let it go, only to have 95% of everyone on the same side a year later
- sbroads24

I think most, like myself didn't care about the Nolan hire, because we were smart enough to see they were trying to lose. It didn't matter who the coach was.

How can you say they aren't there? We improved by 27 points last season. I'd say that's adding some results to the win column. You're acting like another season has gone by and we already missed the playoffs. Murray has been here for what 2-2.5 years? He took over a horrible team that he decided to finish rebuilding, and yeah, he took some risks in his trades that he made. At the end of the day we improved the team even with the trades we made. I'm not saying that Kane and Bogosian are better than the players we gave away, but we made an improvement in the standings. I'd give it another year before people get down Murray's throat.

I do get your point about people anointing Murray as the best GM, which I would have to agree is far from true. Every GM is going to make a move that comes with some scrutiny. I'm just glad that Darcy isn't at the helm anymore.

Also, the summer isn't even over yet, so I don't know why everyone is freaking out and saying how our bottom 6 is garbage. Franson was signed when last summer? I'm pretty sure it was sometime in September. Either way, let's not overreact here people. (This part of the post was a general post from the last couple days...it has nothing do with your post buffalofan19)
- Grizzly12

With the assets he had when he took over, any one of us could have improved the team. It was impossible not to.

Not saying Murray hasn't done well in a few areas, but he also hasn't accomplished anything yet.

I know I apparently have a blind hate for Murray, but I love his draft this year.

Also, people are sort of forgetting Guhle. He could be D man number 5 to start the year
- sbroads24

I love the draft and getting the pylon from the panthers

Jesus it's barely 10 am and I can see where this day is going...

God in humanity Independence Day 2 just completely sucked a$$ beyond all means.
- JVince11

yeah, the first one is one of my favorites

the last one, was down right brutal


they should have paid will smith and done it right

It's getting slaughtered in reviews. That makes me sad. Still gonna watch it. Not gonna pay for it though.
- TheSabresTaco

an hour into it, I was begging for credits to appear

Jesus it's barely 10 am and I can see where this day is going...
- Stripes77

When Murray announces the Vesey signing at 2:30 it will make everything better.

Jesus it's barely 10 am and I can see where this day is going...
- Stripes77

I brought back 12 lbs of hot dogs
3 cases of pizza logs
3 jars of ted's sauce
3 jars of reid's sauce
2 jars of millers horseradish
1 big jar of weber's mustard
1 jar of weber's tomato relish
2 jars of pure syrup

First, any of the insiders here know if we are still looking at a D-man? I've been on Fowler for a while, and would be more than open to moving a first if that is what they need.

Secondly, as I've said before, I don't believe Vesey signs with us, but honestly, having heard a lot of the things being said, I hope he doesn't. I truly wonder how it could affect the team having a kid signed that basically feels he's entitled to top 6 minutes and PP time. Free agency aside, I don't like that attitude - he hasn't played a single game yet, as is expecting these things. How could that affect the psyche of guys like Larsson and Girgensons (assuming he's not moved)?

First, any of the insiders here know if we are still looking at a D-man? I've been on Fowler for a while, and would be more than open to moving a first if that is what they need.

Secondly, as I've said before, I don't believe Vesey signs with us, but honestly, having heard a lot of the things being said, I hope he doesn't. I truly wonder how it could affect the team having a kid signed that basically feels he's entitled to top 6 minutes and PP time. Free agency aside, I don't like that attitude - he hasn't played a single game yet, as is expecting these things. How could that affect the psyche of guys like Larsson and Girgensons (assuming he's not moved)?
- Cup Crazy '07

If Vesey is that good....who cares IMO

First, any of the insiders here know if we are still looking at a D-man? I've been on Fowler for a while, and would be more than open to moving a first if that is what they need.

Secondly, as I've said before, I don't believe Vesey signs with us, but honestly, having heard a lot of the things being said, I hope he doesn't. I truly wonder how it could affect the team having a kid signed that basically feels he's entitled to top 6 minutes and PP time. Free agency aside, I don't like that attitude - he hasn't played a single game yet, as is expecting these things. How could that affect the psyche of guys like Larsson and Girgensons (assuming he's not moved)?
- Cup Crazy '07

I think he does, and he should be in the top 6. I don't care HOW it affects Larsson or Girgensons. Vesey should make players like them step up or step off.

My 2 cents.

First, any of the insiders here know if we are still looking at a D-man? I've been on Fowler for a while, and would be more than open to moving a first if that is what they need.

Secondly, as I've said before, I don't believe Vesey signs with us, but honestly, having heard a lot of the things being said, I hope he doesn't. I truly wonder how it could affect the team having a kid signed that basically feels he's entitled to top 6 minutes and PP time. Free agency aside, I don't like that attitude - he hasn't played a single game yet, as is expecting these things. How could that affect the psyche of guys like Larsson and Girgensons (assuming he's not moved)?
- Cup Crazy '07

Ruhwedel demanding games in the NHL as a condition of signing. Nelson demanding games in the NHL as a condition of signing. Its one of the things that happens in the college free agency context these days. If you don't like the demand, you don't have to sign the free agent.

I think he does, and he should be in the top 6. I don't care HOW it affects Larsson or Girgensons. Vesey should make players like them step up or step off.

My 2 cents.
- mattsox

Fair enough - do you think it would leave a sour taste in the mouths of the vets who wouldn't be threatened?

I'm just asking for opinions.

Ruhwedel demanding games in the NHL as a condition of signing. Nelson demanding games in the NHL as a condition of signing. Its one of the things that happens in the college free agency context these days. If you don't like the demand, you don't have to sign the free agent.
- Der Kaiser

I know Guhle isn't a college player, but I wonder if that is why Murray was so quick to sign him to an ELC?

I brought back 12 lbs of hot dogs
3 cases of pizza logs
3 jars of ted's sauce
3 jars of reid's sauce
2 jars of millers horseradish
1 big jar of weber's mustard
1 jar of weber's tomato relish
2 jars of pure syrup
- homiedclown

Nice!

A friend of mine is in Buffalo now. They drove so he's bringing me back 10 lbs of dogs some bison chip dip, loganberry, and a 30 pack of blue light just because

When Murray announces the Vesey signing at 2:30 it will make everything better.
- Der Kaiser

Wishful thinking IMO.

I think he does, and he should be in the top 6. I don't care HOW it affects Larsson or Girgensons. Vesey should make players like them step up or step off.

My 2 cents.
- mattsox

Also, I just wonder how our offseason plans are affected by his delay (8/15) in signing. That is the frustrating part to me. I'd almost want to give him permission to meet with his other teams of interest so he can make a decision sooner...

First, any of the insiders here know if we are still looking at a D-man? I've been on Fowler for a while, and would be more than open to moving a first if that is what they need.

Secondly, as I've said before, I don't believe Vesey signs with us, but honestly, having heard a lot of the things being said, I hope he doesn't. I truly wonder how it could affect the team having a kid signed that basically feels he's entitled to top 6 minutes and PP time. Free agency aside, I don't like that attitude - he hasn't played a single game yet, as is expecting these things. How could that affect the psyche of guys like Larsson and Girgensons (assuming he's not moved)?
- Cup Crazy '07

I couldn't give a rats ass how it affects 2 4th line players. Are they decent, sure, but they're nothing special where I'd care if they were upset about this.