Also, I must have missed the memo where he said he was done.
- Slump Buster

Pretty much done. Waiting on Vesey and looking for this year's Coliacovo are all that he has left on his plate this summer.

I was called an IDIOT last week
- SABRES 89

Just played 2 kiss songs on jukebox for you

I honestly thought Kane's game came along quite nicely last year. Started off with rust from not having played for a long time coming off of major shoulder surgery, on a new team with necessarily a new coach/system. Kane on his off-wing could be interesting, but most of the bonehead shots that ended up back in his own zone drastically dropped off the last few months. Either way, we need help on the right side. Okposo is the only legit top 6 RW we have. I like Reinhart there, but he seems like the kind of guy who could succeed anywhere.

I think you're right about Bogo. I said it earlier that because he likes to hit people he gets pegged as a shutdown defender when that's never been his game. He's an offensive defenseman.
- Wetbandit1

I could see Reinhart back at center
Feeding Kane on a "3rd" line could create issues for ppl
And give us another line that can score
We've got at least 2 wingers in Bailey & Nylander that should be ready for top9 action by next year, maybe sooner?

Is the team goal to make the playoffs? Of course. But it isn't to make the playoffs while jeopardizing the future. None of the guys listed are upgrades.
- Slump Buster

It's a stated goal this year, it's "our goal is 95 points and a playoff berth." Bylsma said 95 points and the playoffs. And Murray agreed, while not necessarily knowing where he got 95 points from.

That wasn't the case last year, last year it was more like "would we like to make the playoffs? Sure." And obviously the two previous years the goal was to finish last.

Well said.

I used the OJ comparison, because it really shows the difference in the burdens of being found guilty in civil vs criminal trial. I mean, sure there were numerous, shall we say "difficulties" in the criminal trial, but I think that more than anything highlights the difference between the two.

I think he really had no choice but to counter sue. If someone says you raped them and they sue you for it, if you're innocent you sue the piss out of them. Or if you're trying to appear innocent you sue right back.

It's a tough sell to be sure with having no recollection of the incident at first, but it could just be repressed because of trauma, and she's just starting to remember what actually happened, but that's for a psychiatrist to decide. But it has been repeatedly shown that a good number of people do not remember the actual traumatic event until far later, if at all. And being she had a head injury it's all the more likely she didn't remember until recently.
- Wetbandit1

Feet on the air wouldn't be able to tell you, because his egghead professors don't know poop about the real world, but a real practicing litigator would tell that repressed memory stuff plays on network television, in the Bronx, and on the Wedt Coast, but upstate NY juries turn up their noses at it.

GMTM simply has not done enough to get this team to the playoffs.

Okposo was a good add, but the Sabres need much, much more.

Adding Kulikov to the blue line would have been fine if it didn't come at the expense of Pysyk, who might have been the 2nd best dman on the team.

There are still plenty of UFA options out there. Hurdler, Pirri and Vrbata would provide the team with forward depth they desperately need.

Instead, GMTM is content to hope that internal options can deliver.

And the goaltending depth is abysmal. Lehner cannot be counted on to stay healthy and Nilsson is a sieve.

Expect this team to take a step back this season and the seat that Murray sits upon to get very, very hot.
- Losman

Everybody just relax.

It's a stated goal this year, it's "our goal is 95 points and a playoff berth." Bylsma said 95 points and the playoffs. And Murray agreed, while not necessarily knowing where he got 95 points from.

That wasn't the case last year, last year it was more like "would we like to make the playoffs? Sure." And obviously the two previous years the goal was to finish last.
- Wetbandit1

I hope the owner holds someone accountable when this team falls woefully short of 95 points.

To come close to that number they'll need 70 starts from Robin Lehenr because they aren't going to win many games with Nilsson between the pipes. And even a career year from Lehner might not be enough as there simply isn't enough scoring on the roster.

No QB for the PP either.

This team will be a bottom feeder yet again.

Feet on the air wouldn't be able to tell you, because his egghead professors don't know poop about the real world, but a real practicing litigator would tell that repressed memory stuff plays on network television, in the Bronx, and on the Wedt Coast, but upstate NY juries turn up their noses at it.
- Der Kaiser

Thankfully, I have no idea what WNY juries do and do not turn their noses up at. I'm just speculating wildly like everyone else. And I did say it was a hard sell. I don't believe it ever goes to trial. This or the bar incident.

I hope the owner holds someone accountable when this team falls woefully short of 95 points.

To come close to that number they'll need 70 starts from Robin Lehenr because they aren't going to win many games with Nilsson between the pipes. And even a career year from Lehner might not be enough as there simply isn't enough scoring on the roster.

No QB for the PP either.

This team will be a bottom feeder yet again.
- Losman

EVERYBODY JUST RELAX!

EVERYBODY JUST RELAX!
- Der Kaiser

Yea seriously

Why do u think he needs a reduced role then?
2nd pair is what he's been since he got here
- jdfitz77

He's played as the #2. In some games #1.

He needs to literally be the 3rd or 4th option.

Yea seriously
- Sabresfan-365

But that's just boring.

EVERYBODY JUST RELAX!
- Der Kaiser

I'm relaxed. Just being realistic about this team's prospects for the upcoming year.

Think about it. Last year we added O'Reilly, Eichel, Kane and Reinhart at the same time. That infusion of talent propelled the team to a big point increase.

This coming year we are adding Okposo and expecting another big jump? That is a lot to ask.

90 points will be a reach, I'm afraid.

The goal isn't to make the playoffs this year. It is to win a championship within 2 or 3 more years. We have a full roster - no reason to get marginal short-term upgrades.

Also, I must have missed the memo where he said he was done.
- Slump Buster

If we don't make the playoffs or come incredibly close, there is an issue. We don't really have too many more improvements we can make to "add" to what's already been brought in.

If we are swapping out guys already acquired by Murray, there is a problem

I'm relaxed. Just being realistic about this team's prospects for the upcoming year.

Think about it. Last year we added O'Reilly, Eichel, Kane and Reinhart at the same time. That infusion of talent propelled the team to a big point increase.

This coming year we are adding Okposo and expecting another big jump? That is a lot to ask.

90 points will be a reach, I'm afraid.
- Losman

The jump would be internally from 15, 55 and 23.

And you need 9 to be what 9 is supposed to be.

I agree on the D. Kuli/Pysyk swap isn't a big upgrade. Just trading Rd for LD

The jump would be internally from 15, 55 and 23.

And you need 9 to be what 9 is supposed to be.

I agree on the D. Kuli/Pysyk swap isn't a big upgrade. Just trading Rd for LD
- sbroads24

I hope the last part is entirely false.

agreed

problem is we have 3 second pair d men and a bunch of 6/7 d men
- homiedclown

Come on...
That's so not true

Risto is about to be a legit top pair guy
McCabe is 2nd pair quality, with the chance to be better
Kulikov & Bogosian are solid 2nd pair guys
Gorges is one of the better 3rd pair guys in the league
I could do without Franson, but as a #6 he's ok
Wouldn't mind bringing in Russell & Weber to round things out though

I hope the last part is entirely false.
- Der Kaiser

I think they just play different styles but not much of an upgrade. Kulikov from what i understand is a turnover machine and had a shooting percentage of literally..literally 1 percent.

How would signing Hudler and/or Vrbata and playing them ahead of Ennis and Moulson hurt the team's development?

If anything, those kind of improvements might at least lead to meaningful games in March and April which would be a great experience for the kids.

As it stands now, this team will likely be buried in the standings by American thanksgiving just like last season.
- Losman

What do u know anyways?
U picked "Losman" as your handle
Hahaha

We'll finish somewhere between 7-10 as is
IMO

What do u know anyways?
U picked "Losman" as your handle
Hahaha

We'll finish somewhere between 7-10 as is
IMO
- jdfitz77

Savage

I hope the last part is entirely false.
- Der Kaiser

Kulikov hasn't been great. He's another guy that could benefit from not being a top pairing D.

I don't mind letting Pysyk go. And if we needed a 2nd pair LD, I think it makes total sense. But I still think we need a top pair guy

I had high hopes for this offseason. I though we would be trading for quality players from teams that were up against the cap like the Blues and Blackhawks. GMTM alluded to that possibility and that he laid some groundwork for deals at the deadline. I can't imagine he was referencing the lateral move that landed us Kulikov.

We still lack a puck-moving dman to QB the pp. We went from having one of the league's more dependable backup goalies to having arguably the league's worst backup.

Okposo was a good add at reasonable July 1 price. Vesey is a pipe dream that I feel has sidetracked Murray's offseason which will be of greater consequence in the short term than the 3rd rounder that was shipped to the Preds.

Kulikov hasn't been great. He's another guy that could benefit from not being a top pairing D.

I don't mind letting Pysyk go. And if we needed a 2nd pair LD, I think it makes total sense. But I still think we need a top pair guy
- sbroads24

Which I honestly don't think we did/do. At this point Id say long term you're better off having McCabe in that role than kulikov and thats without factoring in the salaries.

I had high hopes for this offseason. I though we would be trading for quality players from teams that were up against the cap like the Blues and Blackhawks. GMTM alluded to that possibility and that he laid some groundwork for deals at the deadline. I can't imagine he was referencing the lateral move that landed us Kulikov.

We still lack a puck-moving dman to QB the pp. We went from having one of the league's more dependable backup goalies to having arguably the league's worst backup.

Okposo was a good add at reasonable July 1 price. Vesey is a pipe dream that I feel has sidetracked Murray's offseason which will be of greater consequence in the short term than the 3rd rounder that was shipped to the Preds.
- Losman

I agree about backup goalie
There are some good guys available, but at their Cap hit it makes sense to wait on acquiring any of them

I had high hopes for this offseason. I though we would be trading for quality players from teams that were up against the cap like the Blues and Blackhawks. GMTM alluded to that possibility and that he laid some groundwork for deals at the deadline. I can't imagine he was referencing the lateral move that landed us Kulikov.

We still lack a puck-moving dman to QB the pp. We went from having one of the league's more dependable backup goalies to having arguably the league's worst backup.

Okposo was a good add at reasonable July 1 price. Vesey is a pipe dream that I feel has sidetracked Murray's offseason which will be of greater consequence in the short term than the 3rd rounder that was shipped to the Preds.
- Losman

I was pro trade the pick for a d-man before the draft but if the best it can get you is cam fowler then maybe it wasnt the way to go. Id love to know what came of the Faulk negotiations though.