For fun, based on who is signed for next year, a couple of guesses, and the 5 popular names, here's what next years forward group could look like.

Kane- O'Reilly - Okposo
Nylander - Eichel - Reinhart
Foligno - Larsson - Fasching
Baptiste - Girgensons - Carrier

Bailey, Ennis, Moulson

I'm not entirely sure they get rid of Kane, but I agree that he's a 2nd or 3rd liner and not a first.

Do you replace Foligno with someone like Bailey playing on his off wing, that way you free up more money to get that top level LW, while offloading Kane?

Moulson and Ennis need to go, as everyone agrees and knows.
- kingcong39

I would rather have COR than girgens

gus has fallen that far down my list

You're talking about me!!!!


- mes418

I may have heard you on the internet radio a few weeks ago

It isnt any ones fault on here. It has been so long since we have been in the playoffs. Imagine that a miracle happened and we made the playoffs. Do we all remember what the playoffs are all about. Skating,hitting tenacity etc. how many of our players are built for playoff hockey. We have a mishmash of garbage
- Buffalo39

making the playoffs two years after being at the bottom of the league for two straight seasons is an accomplishment, imo

In happy sunshine and rainbow land, next years Sabres

Nylander* Eichel C Okposo A
Baptiste* O'Reilly A Reinhart
Foligno Larsson Kane
Carrier* Girgensons* Bailey/Fasching*

Guhle Ristolainen
McCabe Shattenkirk
Kulikov* Franson*

Lehner
FA*

* = interchangeable with FA or other player

Maybe Kane can hit the net easier from his off wing

Wanted to put Reinhart at center and roll 3 lines but I like Kane and Larssons chemistry

In happy sunshine and rainbow land, next years Sabres

Nylander* Eichel C Okposo A
Baptiste* O'Reilly A Reinhart
Foligno Larsson Kane
Carrier* Girgensons* Bailey/Fasching*

Guhle Ristolainen
McCabe Shattenkirk
Kulikov* Franson*

Lehner
FA*

* = interchangeable with FA or other player

Maybe Kane can hit the net easier from his off wing

Wanted to put Reinhart at center and roll 3 lines but I like Kane and Larssons chemistry
- chilliard77

oh baby

In happy sunshine and rainbow land, next years Sabres

Nylander* Eichel C Okposo A
Baptiste* O'Reilly A Reinhart
Foligno Larsson Kane
Carrier* Girgensons* Bailey/Fasching*

Guhle Ristolainen
McCabe Shattenkirk
Kulikov* Franson*

Lehner
FA*

* = interchangeable with FA or other player

Maybe Kane can hit the net easier from his off wing

Wanted to put Reinhart at center and roll 3 lines but I like Kane and Larssons chemistry
- chilliard77

Probably add in a few good cheap depth forwards (Eaves, Parenteau, Condra, etc) and we'd be headed in the right direction

oh baby
- Sabresfan-365

I know they are your bottom 2 d men. They would be very expensive and they are not very good.77 and 6. I agree,you need to get free agents in.. the kulikov trade wasnt good

I know they are your bottom 2 d men. They would be very expensive and they are not very good.77 and 6. I agree,you need to get free agents in.. the kulikov trade wasnt good
- Buffalo39

I like Franson at >2 mil for the 3rd pair. I put Kulikov there because I didn't have anybody else in mind.

I like Franson at >2 mil for the 3rd pair. I put Kulikov there because I didn't have anybody else in mind.
- chilliard77

Fedun looked better then franson..he is slow

oh baby
- Sabresfan-365

And I'm more excited about getting rid of Gorges, and Bogosian than adding Shattenkirk

Fedun looked better then franson..he is slow
- Buffalo39

He's a lot shakier defensively. I wouldn't mind Fedun as #7/8

And I'm more excited about getting rid of Gorges, and Bogosian than adding Shattenkirk
- chilliard77

Oh god i didnt even notice that

And I'm more excited about getting rid of Gorges, and Bogosian than adding Shattenkirk
- chilliard77

How are we going to add shattenkirk in this scenario?

Admidetly without researching and thinking outloud...if those guys were obvious picks I would contend that nearly 30 other scouting departments missed as well, for if they knew those guys would turn into what they are now, then likely 25 team s would have taken Kucherov, Gost, Grud and others in the 1st round.
I get the point is to hit on 2nd and 3rd rounders, and hopefully we now have the guy who can uncover those gems on a somewhat regular basis. If that is true, then the future looks very bright.
- IonSabres

I'm just trying to say that if you look at the draft history of S.C. winning clubs recently (the last decaded or so), the teams that have been consistently in the playoffs and also in S.C. contention, they all have drafting and development success. They typically make their picks after the Sabres and a lot of times don't even have a first round selection because of having traded it at the trade deadlines. They also don't make nearly as many picks as we do since they are typically buyers at the deadline and we're sellers. But yet, they manage to find NHL caliber talent regularly. Those players don't always stick with them for whatever reason, usually cap issues, but they are the teams that draft consistent late round talent. It may be a really good/lucky scouting department or player development after they're picked or a combination of both most likely. But teams like Chicago, Tampa, Pitt, and Detroit do it consistently, so it can be done. We need to get into the same drafting and developing game they are in. We maybe couldn't before, but since 2011 we can, the gloves are off money wise. Maybe, Murray's picks will have a future stud mixed in there here and there, but the Karabaceks, Cornels, and Hurleys we've selected recently leave a lot to be desired.

How are we going to add shattenkirk in this scenario?
- Buffalo39

Free agency

when did jordie benn become the minute eater d man for the stars?

I wouldn't mind Fedun as #7/8
- chilliard77

now your talking

I'm just trying to say that if you look at the draft history of S.C. winning clubs recently (the last decaded or so), the teams that have been consistently in the playoffs and also in S.C. contention, they all have drafting and development success. They typically make their picks after the Sabres and a lot of times don't even have a first round selection because of having traded it at the trade deadlines. They also don't make nearly as many picks as we do since they are typically buyers at the deadline and we're sellers. But yet, they manage to find NHL caliber talent regularly. Those players don't always stick with them for whatever reason, usually cap issues, but they are the teams that draft consistent late round talent. It may be a really good/lucky scouting department or player development after they're picked or a combination of both most likely. But teams like Chicago, Tampa, Pitt, and Detroit do it consistently, so it can be done. We need to get into the same drafting and developing game they are in. We maybe couldn't before, but since 2011 we can, the gloves are off money wise. Maybe, Murray's picks will have a future stud mixed in there here and there, but the Karabaceks, Cornels, and Hurleys we've selected recently leave a lot to be desired.
- sskkoo1

you need 3 or 4 impact players drafted to sustain anything

hopefully with risto, eichel, reinhart and nylander we have this group

lord knows they struck out with the gringo, kassians and girgens

Free agency
- chilliard77

Unless we vastly overpay,he wont come. Will we even have the cap room

Just to revisit the goaltending discussion. Lehner may not be the reason we are losing, but Nilsson is proving that he can win games behind this team.

Lehner is 1-6-2 .914 with one no decision (game where he was injured) in his last 10
4 points out of 18 possible in his last 10 starts.

Nilsson is 5-2-2 .932 in 9 appearances
12 points out of 18 possible in his 9 games

Just to revisit the goaltending discussion. Lehner may not be the reason we are losing, but Nilsson is proving that he can win games behind this team.

Lehner is 1-6-2 .914 with one no decision (game where he was injured) in his last 10
4 points out of 18 possible in his last 10 starts.

Nilsson is 5-2-2 .932 in 9 appearances
12 points out of 18 possible in his 9 games
- Losman

I hope murray forcing isnt the hand of playing lehner. Why wouldnt you keep playing Nilsson. General managers and coaches always want to prove they are right,even when they are usually wrong

Free agency
- chilliard77

After stamkos , vesey idk

Unless we vastly overpay,he wont come. Will we even have the cap room
- Buffalo39

Did you miss the part about being in "happy sunshine and rainbow land"?

More than likely our 2017-18 opening night roster looks like this

Carrier* O'Reilly Okposo
Kane Eichel Reinhart
Foligno Larsson Gionta
Deslauriers *insert scrub ahl center here* Moulson

Gorges Ristolainen
McCabe Kulikov (fresh 5 mil / 5 yr contract)
Falk* Fedun*

Lehner (fresh 5 mil / 5 yr contract)
*insert tall goalie here*

IR: Bogosian

* = replaceable with guy Murray liked in Ottawa

More than likely our 2017-18 opening night roster looks like this

Carrier* O'Reilly Okposo
Kane Eichel Reinhart
Foligno Larsson Gionta
Deslauriers *insert scrub ahl center here* Moulson

Gorges Ristolainen
McCabe Kulikov
Falk* Fedun*

Lehner
*insert tall goalie here*

IR: Bogosian

* = replaceable with guy Murray liked in Ottawa
- chilliard77

Chill,unfortunately,you are probably more accurate with that lineup. That is not pretty. Wow,we dont have much