i'm not a fan of giving out big contracts to players that play very good in the system they are in, he's a product of playing in Tampa IMO. There is a lot of talent there.
- SABRES 89

Ok, fair enough

I'd still be thrilled to get Kucherov,
But it's obviously super unlikely anyways

Me either. Check out my location 89.
- Pierceme69

Very nice, where you staying ?

Ok, fair enough

I'd still be thrilled to get Kucherov,
But it's obviously super unlikely anyways
- jdfitz77

Even if we got him and i'm sure we won't, we would probably only gain 1 point according to some writers.

I just hope there is going to be accountability IF this team finds itself at or near the bottom of the Atlantic this season.

Bylsma and Murray both seem to think this team has 95 point potential. While that is a stretch, a solid 85-90 points should be the goal and at the very least some meaningful hockey in February and March. I don't need this team to make the playoffs. Just be within a few points by mid March so the kids can get some experience playing under pressure in the home stretch.

Having said this, the pundits and so-called experts are calling for another long season for Buffalo. I can't blame them. We have two big question marks for goalies, not much depth on the blueline and are depending on too many has-beens and never-weres up front.

Should this team regress, I think the seat is going to get very warm for GMTM and Bylsma will be the scapegoat.
- Losman

Why are you preparing for failure?

Even if we got him and i'm sure we won't, we would probably only gain 1 point according to some writers.
- SABRES 89

Meh
I'm not concerned at all about the writers not giving us respect.
Even though I think we'll be better than they're all predicting...
It's not surprising to me at all.
We'll have to start winning if we wanna get respect
And if we still don't, then fine
We can play with that underdog chip on our shoulder

I guess someone had to win that Monday Night football game.

Risto should've been signed months ago
Obviously we still need to get him signed asap
And if Kucherov is a possibility...
u make the Cap room
Trade a couple guys for scraps if that's what u have to do
Not that complicated
- jdfitz77

Yeah, but he's not the only one. There are guys as/if not more important to their teams that have yet to sign, and Gaudreau just signed today.

We are going to finish 8th in the conference and make the playoffs.

Risto will solidify his position as the #1D.

Eichel and Reinhart will shine.

Ennis and Kane will have bounce-back seasons.

Lehner will prove he is a #1 Goalie.

And for (frank)s sake we will finish above the (frank)in leafs.

Now lets play some (frank)ing hockey!

I just hope there is going to be accountability IF this team finds itself at or near the bottom of the Atlantic this season.

Bylsma and Murray both seem to think this team has 95 point potential. While that is a stretch, a solid 85-90 points should be the goal and at the very least some meaningful hockey in February and March. I don't need this team to make the playoffs. Just be within a few points by mid March so the kids can get some experience playing under pressure in the home stretch.

Having said this, the pundits and so-called experts are calling for another long season for Buffalo. I can't blame them. We have two big question marks for goalies, not much depth on the blueline and are depending on too many has-beens and never-weres up front.

Should this team regress, I think the seat is going to get very warm for GMTM and Bylsma will be the scapegoat.
- Losman

They're saying that because their algorithms are very flawed and don't take into account young players and tanking. 2 things the Sabres have in spades the last 3 years which is the basis of many of these "predictions".

We are going to finish 8th in the conference and make the playoffs.

Risto will solidify his position as the #1D.

Eichel and Reinhart will shine.

Ennis and Kane will have bounce-back seasons.

Lehner will prove he is a #1 Goalie.

And for (frank)s sake we will finish above the (frank)in leafs.

Now lets play some (frank)ing hockey!
- feetontheair22

This one still gets me. He was coming off of major surgery, to a new town, new teammates, new coaches.

All in all he had a good season. Was it spectacular? Obviously not, but he put in 20 goals in 65 games, and when he finally started passing the puck his assist numbers started creeping up. Is there more room for improvement? Absolutely, but to say he had a bad season is ignoring a lot of variables that had a significant impact upon his season.

I guess someone had to win that Monday Night football game.
- doppelthat

Wow Greg Olsen had himself a game. 9 for 181 and his long was only 34.

Wow Greg Olsen had himself a game. 9 for 181 and his long was only 34.
- Wetbandit1

Yes, Olsen knows how to football, the Bucs secondary, outside of Grimes, does not know how to football.

I just did a 20 team, yes 20 teams! draft. I inherited the worst team from last year. Rounds 11-17(underlined) were the keepers from last years team He had to put them there because there were draft pick trades from last year I guess. Had to keep 6 skaters and 1 goalie. I had 1st pick, snake draft. I could've had Price, but I figured keeping Matthews for as long as I'm in the league seemed a better move. I'm not expecting much this year as I've never done more than a 12 team league before. Roster is as follows 4C 3LW 3RW 6D 2F 2G 2BN:

1. (1) Auston Matthews C
2. (40) Kyle Turris C
3. (41) Rickard Rakell C
4. (80) Cam Ward G
5. (81) Morgan Rielly D
6. (120) Oscar Klefbom D
7. (121) Tyler Ennis C,LW
8. (160) Mike Fisher C
9. (161) Tyler Myers D
10. (200) Jannik Hansen RW
11. (201) Phil Kessel RW
12. (240) Brad Marchand LW
13. (241) Zach Parise LW
14. (280) Tyson Barrie D
15. (281) Jordan Eberle RW
16. (320) Mike Hoffman LW
17. (321) Brian Elliott G
18. (360) Michael Frolik C,RW
19. (361) Alexander Nylander LW
20. (400) Justin Braun D
21. (401) Shea Theodore D
22. (440) Jake McCabe D
23. (441) Brett Connolly RW
24. (480) Christopher Tanev D
25. (481) Hudson Fasching RW
26. (520) Andreas Athanasiou C

This one still gets me. He was coming off of major surgery, to a new town, new teammates, new coaches.

All in all he had a good season. Was it spectacular? Obviously not, but he put in 20 goals in 65 games, and when he finally started passing the puck his assist numbers started creeping up. Is there more room for improvement? Absolutely, but to say he had a bad season is ignoring a lot of variables that had a significant impact upon his season.
- Wetbandit1

No, he had a bad season. I'm not sure how it can be spun any other way. He had a handful of solid games, and is a positive player on the PK and in terms of posession.

But he scored like a 3rd liner, and was played like a 1st liner. And that's just on the ice.

I'm expecting a good year from him. It's a career saving year

Yeah, but he's not the only one. There are guys as/if not more important to their teams that have yet to sign, and Gaudreau just signed today.
- Wetbandit1

There's also plenty of guys that signed a while ago
Maybe my perception is off,
But it doesn't seem that Murray has any sense of urgency with these kinda thimgs

We are going to finish 8th in the conference and make the playoffs.

Risto will solidify his position as the #1D.

Eichel and Reinhart will shine.

Ennis and Kane will have bounce-back seasons.

Lehner will prove he is a #1 Goalie.

And for (frank)s sake we will finish above the (frank)in leafs.

Now lets play some (frank)ing hockey!
- feetontheair22

Love the optimism!
However...
If any of those things don't work out, we could very well miss
I like the direction we're headed though!

There's also plenty of guys that signed a while ago
Maybe my perception is off,
But it doesn't seem that Murray has any sense of urgency with these kinda thimgs
- jdfitz77

He's not going to come out in public and say he's panicking. That would be dumb.

I'm definitely concerned at this point as to what the holdup is, but I'm still confident he can come and step right in when he does sign. He's practicing with the team, he knows the system.

This was an odd year because of the World Cup. I think there was some sort of unofficial moratorium on moves of that magnitude. Because of the amount of guys that are/were unsigned through the WCH. What with a lot of teams missing key guys from the front office.

Swept no less. If there is any sports god the Indians and Cubs will play in the WS.
- Pierceme69

jays and cubs

jays in 6

I can't stand anything Boston
- SABRES 89

f@ck brad park

He's not going to come out in public and say he's panicking. That would be dumb.

I'm definitely concerned at this point as to what the holdup is, but I'm still confident he can come and step right in when he does sign. He's practicing with the team, he knows the system.

This was an odd year because of the World Cup. I think there was some sort of unofficial moratorium on moves of that magnitude. Because of the amount of guys that are/were unsigned through the WCH. What with a lot of teams missing key guys from the front office.
- Wetbandit1

What I meant was...
guys like Reilly, Jones, etc were being extended or signed
And when murray would get asked about it (early in the off season), he was just very aloof & would say stuff like:
"We've been in contact, but have talked numbers"
"We'll get in touch with them next week"
"No, we haven't talked yet, but we will be"

Stuff like that
It just appears that he gets around to contract talk when he gets around to it

I'd like to see that attitude change

Guys should be getting signed/extended much sooner imo
And before u say that's not beneficial to the player...
I'd say Girgensons wishes he extended after last season instead of waiting until after this past subpar year. He lost LOTS of $$$

Love the optimism!
However...
If any of those things don't work out, we could very well miss
I like the direction we're headed though!
- jdfitz77

if this team is a bottom 8 team again, murray needs to be shown the door

if this team is a bottom 8 team again, murray needs to be shown the door
- homiedclown

The only was I see us "bottom 8" is of goaltending doesn't work out
I do think it's our biggest question mark though
And if the backup has to play significant time & doesn't perform,
Murray will have to own up to not bringing in someone w a better track record

What I meant was...
guys like Reilly, Jones, etc were being extended or signed
And when murray would get asked about it (early in the off season), he was just very aloof & would say stuff like:
"We've been in contact, but have talked numbers"
"We'll get in touch with them next week"
"No, we haven't talked yet, but we will be"

Stuff like that
It just appears that he gets around to contract talk when he gets around to it

I'd like to see that attitude change

Guys should be getting signed/extended much sooner imo
And before u say that's not beneficial to the player...
I'd say Girgensons wishes he extended after last season instead of waiting until after this past subpar year. He lost LOTS of $$$
- jdfitz77

It's only worth it for both team and player to sign early when the player is established, like with Kane and Toews. Look at how Stamkos almost turned out. You don't think Yzerman wasn't poopting a brick daily? But we'd all be calling for Murray's head if Girgensons signed last year, because he'd likely get $4M. It's just bad business to sign earlier than you have to. You're not going to go up to your boss and say "hey, I know my contract isn't up for another year yet, and I'm still learning the ropes, but I want a massive raise and I want it in writing now." You'd likely get laughed out of the office.

There's a middle ground too though. You can start negotiating a week to 10 days after the season is over once you get done with all the interviews and needs/wants. and have it done before or just after free agency starts. But then none od this happens in a vacuum either. No one wants to be the first signed and leave money on the table. That and the WCH is how we're the day before the season and Kucherov, Trouba, Lindholm, Risto, etc remained to be signed and Gaudreau signed 2 days before the season started.

It's only worth it for both team and player to sign early when the player is established, like with Kane and Toews. Look at how Stamkos almost turned out. You don't think Yzerman wasn't poopting a brick daily? But we'd all be calling for Murray's head if Girgensons signed last year, because he'd likely get $4M. It's just bad business to sign earlier than you have to. You're not going to go up to your boss and say "hey, I know my contract isn't up for another year yet, and I'm still learning the ropes, but I want a massive raise and I want it in writing now." You'd likely get laughed out of the office.

There's a middle ground too though. You can start negotiating a week to 10 days after the season is over once you get done with all the interviews and needs/wants. and have it done before or just after free agency starts. But then none od this happens in a vacuum either. No one wants to be the first signed and leave money on the table. That and the WCH is how we're the day before the season and Kucherov, Trouba, Lindholm, Risto, etc remained to be signed and Gaudreau signed 2 days before the season started.
- Wetbandit1

Disagree with almost all of this
But I don't have the energy to argue back n forth

This one still gets me. He was coming off of major surgery, to a new town, new teammates, new coaches.

All in all he had a good season. Was it spectacular? Obviously not, but he put in 20 goals in 65 games, and when he finally started passing the puck his assist numbers started creeping up. Is there more room for improvement? Absolutely, but to say he had a bad season is ignoring a lot of variables that had a significant impact upon his season.
- Wetbandit1

When I wrote that one I kind of hesitated, but like sbroads said, Kane's ceiling is very high. The kid has tremendous potential. I can't help but wonder if the extra-curricular activities inhibit his focus in reaching that potential.

So when I say bounce back, do I think he'll pot 40? No. Do I think he'll finally put his nightclub demons behind him and get focused back on heading toward being a 40 goal scorer? Yes.