Caps
Pens
Lightning
Panthers
Sabres
Everyone else

Calling it.
- feetontheair22

Don't see it

Question is, does changing the GM benefit the team at that point? Will a different GM bring us to the playoffs faster than him at that point in time? Or is it a lateral move? I agree he's on the hot seat if we don't make it and I'd probably fire him but does him being replaced at that moment make any difference short term?
- Zschalberg

his lack of experience is showing

nothing more
nothing less

In that order? That's a big jump from 14th to 4th. Okposo and Kulikov don't put us up 10 spots. Maybe 5, but 10 is hard.
- Zschalberg

Well I have them at 5th behind the caps, pens, lightning, and panthers. And I agree that Okposo and Kulikov don't put us up 10 spots on their own, but when you combine that with Jack, Reinhart, and Risto having a whole nother year of experience its possible.

I'll admit that for my prediction to happen Lehner has to stay healthy and play as well as he is capable of

EDIT: Even if we do finish that high I still think we are a 1st round exit

his lack of experience is showing

nothing more
nothing less
- homiedclown

florida
pens
islanders
tampa
rangers
caps
red wings
bruins
flyers
habs

I doubt we are better than 3 of those teams this fall


- homiedclown

The only ones who I think for sure are better than us are:
Washington
Pittsburgh
Tampa
Florida
Maybe NYR, depending on if the dump Nash or not

I feel we are in the group with all those other teams you named

Don't see it
- Conacher75pts

caps
pens
islanders
panthers
rangers
bolts

thats 6 for sure in

habs, bruins, flyers, red wings

the sabres are trying to get in that group of 4 fighting for 2 spots

everything needs to go right for that to happen IMO where we stand now

- Der Kaiser

sh!tnado

caps
pens
islanders
panthers
rangers
bolts

thats 6 for sure in

habs, bruins, flyers, red wings

the sabres are trying to get in that group of 4 fighting for 2 spots

everything needs to go right for that to happen IMO where we stand now
- homiedclown

I can't believe they'd be done though, especially with what's on the line.

Well I have them at 5th behind the caps, pens, lightning, and panthers. And I agree that Okposo and Kulikov don't put us up 10 spots on their own, but when you combine that with Jack, Reinhart, and Risto having a whole nother year of experience its possible.

I'll admit that for my prediction to happen Lehner has to stay healthy and play as well as he is capable of
- feetontheair22

Yeah, I can't count. I still think it's a bit bullish but I like the optimism. If everything goes right then sure there's no reason we can't. More realistically I think 7th is our ceiling and 9th our probable spot.

Question is, does changing the GM benefit the team at that point? Will a different GM bring us to the playoffs faster than him at that point in time? Or is it a lateral move? I agree he's on the hot seat if we don't make it and I'd probably fire him but does him being replaced at that moment make any difference short term?
- Zschalberg

Depends. All I know is not acting like Darcy Regier shouldn't be a pass for failing to make the postseason 3 and half years into a job. Especially when you mortgaged part of what we were building to speed up the process.

Now, certain things could happen that could be used as an excuse, like an injury to Eichel or Risto...

Well I have them at 5th behind the caps, pens, lightning, and panthers. And I agree that Okposo and Kulikov don't put us up 10 spots on their own, but when you combine that with Jack, Reinhart, and Risto having a whole nother year of experience its possible.

I'll admit that for my prediction to happen Lehner has to stay healthy and play as well as he is capable of

EDIT: Even if we do finish that high I still think we are a 1st round exit
- feetontheair22

The 1st round exit wouldn't be painful to say the least.

Don't see it
- Conacher75pts

I disagree on the Habs being a dumpster fire. I don't think they improved much this year but with a healthy Price they can win games. I think they make the playoffs over us.

Atlantic
(y)Tampa Bay
(x)Florida
(x)Montreal
(x)Detroit
Buffalo
Boston
Ottawa
Toronto

Metro
(y)Washington
(x)Pittsburgh
(x)NY Islanders
(x)NY Rangers
Philadelphia
NJ Devils
Carolina
Columbus

I could see Philly getting in over Detroit but I just don't know enough about either team. I think we end up better than the Devils, Blue Jackets, Toronto, Ottawa, and maybe Boston but that one is harder.

Edit: Forgot Carolina was a team. They go below the Devils.
- Zschalberg

They lost the locker room with the PK trade. They're a mess internally and this is the season it shows on the ice.

It's only a matter of time before Price does this:

Don't you think another team could beat a spare parts deal?

Depends on the D man I suppose
- sbroads24

Fasching +
I've been saying all along he's our best trade piece

I can't believe they'd be done though, especially with what's on the line.
- Sabresfan-365

we are at the point now, where mostly all you see are vets looking for a job on the cheap

and we already have too many bodies with the big club as it is

his lack of experience is showing

nothing more
nothing less
- homiedclown

Agreed. I just don't know if pulling that plug helps at that point. If we wanted a different direction we should have done it 2 years ago. If a new GM comes in and decides some of the pieces aren't his we could extend the rebuild. If he comes in and says "I like what we have in place here, let's just add to it" then it's just GMTM's strategy just with a different person behind the wheel. Of course he could make a move GMTM wouldn't but there's no guarantee of that (for me, of course. He could lay out his plan to the Pegula's and that's why they'd make the move).

we are at the point now, where mostly all you see are vets looking for a job on the cheap

and we already have too many bodies with the big club as it is
- homiedclown

Im thinking more in the trade market. Not unlike the isles towards training camp when they pulled off the boychuk/leddy deals.

Depends. All I know is not acting like Darcy Regier shouldn't be a pass for failing to make the postseason 3 and half years into a job. Especially when you mortgaged part of what we were building to speed up the process.

Now, certain things could happen that could be used as an excuse, like an injury to Eichel or Risto...
- sbroads24

right now you need

okposo to net 35
eichel to take over the top line and get 85 points
reinhart to take the next step and be a fringe 70 point player
ennis needs to stay healthy and pop 20 plus and play focused
moulson needs to be moved or a 20 goal scorer
risto to take 2 more steps
lehner to be healthy and a top 10 goalie
bogo to play up to potential
kane to be a fringe 60 point scorer


a lot needs to fall into place

Fasching +
I've been saying all along he's our best trade piece
- jdfitz77

I'm willing to trade him if Bailey pans out. Bailey is 6' 3", 210 lbs, is fast, and put up good numbers in the AHL. If he plays as a 2nd line player then I can trade Fasching. I don't think he gets traded until the deadline or next year though. He's had like 8 games but he's still very unproven.

Fasching +
I've been saying all along he's our best trade piece
- jdfitz77

but if you add that piece or 2, you need guys like fasching on the bottom of your roster

not foligno and girgens making 5 mil plus

right now you need

okposo to net 35
eichel to take over the top line and get 85 points
reinhart to take the next step and be a fringe 70 point player
ennis needs to stay healthy and pop 20 plus and play focused
moulson needs to be moved or a 20 goal scorer
risto to take 2 more steps
lehner to be healthy and a top 10 goalie
bogo to play up to potential
kane to be a fringe 60 point scorer


a lot needs to fall into place
- homiedclown

If all of that happens that is a contending team. A Cup contending team.

right now you need

okposo to net 35
eichel to take over the top line and get 85 points
reinhart to take the next step and be a fringe 70 point player
ennis needs to stay healthy and pop 20 plus and play focused
moulson needs to be moved or a 20 goal scorer
risto to take 2 more steps
lehner to be healthy and a top 10 goalie
bogo to play up to potential
kane to be a fringe 60 point scorer


a lot needs to fall into place
- homiedclown

Sabres had 201 goals last year. Detroit and Philly had 211 and 214 respectively. Those were the low end so let's say they need 230. That's 30 more goals that they need. If Ennis can pop in 20 and Okposo can get 30 and Eichel and Sam progress you have your extra 30. I don't think you need all of those things to happen, just a few of them. If all of that happens not only are you making the playoffs but you're finishing 4-6 in the conference.

One more win per month and we were in the playoffs. We did all of that with Johnson in net most of the season (who played very well, however). Things have to go right but the list isn't as long to me.

Middle of the pack in the NHL if I recall last year, and they haven't done anything to get worse IMO (on paper of course, which is what stat nerds live by)
- stashu

pysyk hero chart made them swoon bc of his shot suppression.

Its guys like the Pens blogger Wilson who puts up a chart and says yes this guy is good, the Pens should get him. Those are the worst stat guys out there

4th, 5th, 8th, whatever. Counting is hard. That's why I'm not a countant.
- Zschalberg

http://youtu.be/fkPJ3aENjvM

Depends. All I know is not acting like Darcy Regier shouldn't be a pass for failing to make the postseason 3 and half years into a job. Especially when you mortgaged part of what we were building to speed up the process.

Now, certain things could happen that could be used as an excuse, like an injury to Eichel or Risto...
- sbroads24

Kind of an oxy moron there. if we make the playoffs this year. getting those better players would cost and waiting to build through more drafts would take time and no playoffs for a couple more years imo.