That would be a next year thing IMO
- sbroads24

Probably right but as of right now it looks like we're out of this year options unless theyd be willing to move someone in that top 4. Nobody out there is a top pairing guy and if you cant have a team full of mid pairing guys. Fowler, Kulikov, Gorges, Bogosian, Franson. You gotta move 2 in that scenario imo or you end up screwing mccabe over.

Nah they're regressing. Adding good players and good players growing and getting better means that we get worse, didn't you get the memo?
- Zschalberg

It's not a stretch to think that Buffalo has the worst goaltending depth in the league. And we don't exactly have the market cornered on stalwart defence men. And our young forwards aren't yet able to play effectively at both ends of the rink.

Frankly, I don't think we have the firepower up front to compensate for what is likely to be a bottom 5 team in goals against.

Eichel and Reinhart are good bets to progress as players. But overall, the team could easily regress and we could once again be in the mix for a top pick in the draft.

Offer sheet Hampus

Regardless of the outcome, I still like aggressiveness GMTM displayed in trading one of our 3rds to try and get Vesey to Buffalo.

It's not a stretch to think that Buffalo has the worst goaltending depth in the league. And we don't exactly have the market cornered on stalwart defence men. And our young forwards aren't yet able to play effectively at both ends of the rink.

Frankly, I don't think we have the firepower up front to compensate for what is likely to be a bottom 5 team in goals against.

Eichel and Reinhart are good bets to progress as players. But overall, the team could easily regress and we could once again be in the mix for a top pick in the draft.
- Losman

The Oilers, Flames, Islanders, and Panthers rebuilds are perfect examples of how a real rebuild happens. Teams typically take 1 step forward and 2 steps back for about 5-10 years before they truly start picking it up.

William Thomas ‏@WillT808080 · 4h4 hours ago

Jimmy Vesey to announce decision today by 1PM ET. Per sources, decision is between New Jersey and Buffalo.#VeseyWatch #Vesey



WHO IS THIS GUY?!? Haha!

122 points over the past two years.
- sbroads24

While that stat is HEAVILY slanted to his season two years ago, where he put up numbers well above and beyond anything he had produced at the NHL level to that point, I agree.

He would be a potential 20 goal 50 point winger that the team badly needs.

I can't ever see him getting close to that 76 point mark ever again.

Looks like an anomaly/outlier compared to the norm for him.

William Thomas ‏@WillT808080 · 4h4 hours ago

Jimmy Vesey to announce decision today by 1PM ET. Per sources, decision is between New Jersey and Buffalo.#VeseyWatch #Vesey



WHO IS THIS GUY?!? Haha!
- Cup Crazy '07

We are in it until he signs with another team

Twitter is saying he's signing with the Rag's but nothing confirmed.

The Rags ?? Really ??


#NoLogic

Twitter is saying he's signing with the Rag's but nothing confirmed.

The Rags ?? Really ??


#NoLogic
- Pairo11

I told you guys after you acquired his rights

It was fairly obvious

We are in it until he signs with another team
- cabin

Thats a troll account, sorry my man

The Oilers, Flames, Islanders, and Panthers rebuilds are perfect examples of how a real rebuild happens. Teams typically take 1 step forward and 2 steps back for about 5-10 years before they truly start picking it up.
- rangerdanger94

They'll be better than last year, not a playoff team as of now but better.

I told you guys after you acquired his rights

It was fairly obvious
- rangerdanger94

I posted way back when we got his rights that the kid wants to play under bright lights on a big stage.

I had heard that is why he passed on a good hockey situation in Nashville.

Toronto, New York and Chicago. It had to be one of those cities.

GMTM should have retained the pick.

I posted way back when we got his rights that the kid wants to play under bright lights on a big stage.

I had heard that is why he passed on a good hockey situation in Nashville.

Toronto, New York and Chicago. It had to be one of those cities.

GMTM should have retained the pick.
- Losman

And it begins.

And it begins.
- buffalokb

I posted way back when we got his rights that the kid wants to play under bright lights on a big stage.

I had heard that is why he passed on a good hockey situation in Nashville.

Toronto, New York and Chicago. It had to be one of those cities.

GMTM should have retained the pick.
- Losman

There it is.

And it begins.
- buffalokb

Agreed.

I think it was a classy, low-risk move that puts Buffalo on the hockey map in the hockey world. People in-the-know took notice. It created a ripple effect.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

There it is.
- CaptainRivet

And I'm the wet blanket

It's not a stretch to think that Buffalo has the worst goaltending depth in the league. And we don't exactly have the market cornered on stalwart defence men. And our young forwards aren't yet able to play effectively at both ends of the rink.

Frankly, I don't think we have the firepower up front to compensate for what is likely to be a bottom 5 team in goals against.

Eichel and Reinhart are good bets to progress as players. But overall, the team could easily regress and we could once again be in the mix for a top pick in the draft.
- Losman

Plow blindly forward, friend. Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead.!

(Please explain what changes in the lineup will drop us from the 16th best in goals against to bottom five.)

Agreed.

I think it was a classy, low-risk move that puts Buffalo on the hockey map in the hockey world. People in-the-know took notice. It created a ripple effect.

Hindsight is always 20/20.
- Pairo11

I don't know. If it's true that he balked at Nashville because of market-size, then why would he want to come to Buffalo?

Please explain this "ripple effect" to me?

Plow blindly forward, friend. Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead.!

(Please explain what changes in the lineup will drop us from the 16th best in goals against to bottom five.)
- SomeoneGerman

Mainly because Johnson was surprisingly dependable between the pipes.

Lehner has proven nothing in this league and Nilsson is a complete sieve.

Mainly because Johnson was surprisingly dependable between the pipes.

Lehner has proven nothing in this league and Nilsson is a complete sieve.
- Losman

Have you forgotten what people like you were saying last year about our goaltending?

I don't know. If it's true that he balked at Nashville because of market-size, then why would he want to come to Buffalo?

Please explain this "ripple effect" to me?
- Losman

Was it confirmed that he bailed on Nashville because of market-size ? Because if this is the case then GMTM threw away the pick.

What I mean by 'ripple effect' is that with the past regime; players/agents/fans just tossed off the Sabre organization as a whole as not even being an option. By GMTM throwing his hat into the ring it basically lets player/agents, etc. know that he's a player. He's ready, willing and able to make a move to make the team better.

Moving forward - if any free agents, etc. are available they'll at the very least listen to Buffalo whereas that did not happen in the past. Brad Richards, for instance, (bad example) I'm sure openly laughed when his agent got the call.

Have you forgotten what people like you were saying last year about our goaltending?
- SomeoneGerman

No. We were saying that Lehner couldn't be depended upon (which was correct) and that Johnson was a sieve.

And then Johnson went and had a career year.

Maybe lightning strikes again and Nilsson surprises big time. Maybe Lehner finally stays healthy and plays 65 games.

But those are pretty big maybe's for a team that is aiming for 95 points.

I'll happily come on here and eat crow in February if we are anywhere near a playoff spot. But I really don't see it. Only Toronto keeps us from the cellar of the Northeast is my prediction.

While that stat is HEAVILY slanted to his season two years ago, where he put up numbers well above and beyond anything he had produced at the NHL level to that point, I agree.

He would be a potential 20 goal 50 point winger that the team badly needs.

I can't ever see him getting close to that 76 point mark ever again.

Looks like an anomaly/outlier compared to the norm for him.
- kingcong39

Wouldn't need him to. Just the 45-50 he seems to average the last 4 years or so