Tyrod to Chicago
Sam Bradford to Buffalo....
- sbroads24

Minny already said they are bringing him back next year.

Minny already said they are bringing him back next year.
- Mentalorgasm5

Philly said he was there starter 2 weeks before the regular season. If Bridgewater is healthy (Big IF) then Bradford won't stay

We aren't the same as the other teams though. We chose, and boasted about speeding up the process.

Rebuilding started when we traded Paul Gaustad and had 2 1st rounders in 2012. Then 2 1sts in 2013, 2nd overall in 14, and 15, now 8th in 16.

People like to pretend we haven't been rebuilding for 5+ years already
- sbroads24

Of course you have, and thats where the issues lie . Youre on the same pace as everyone else that rebuilt around a generational talent.7-10 years. All I asked was an example of a team that that tore down a roster and rebuilt in 5 years and was a cup champion. It has never happened, why is that an expectation?

Philly said he was there starter 2 weeks before the regular season. If Bridgewater is healthy (Big IF) then Bradford won't stay
- sbroads24

I think they are not counting on Bridgewater. He might be donzo

Of course you have, and thats where the issues lie . Youre on the same pace as everyone else that rebuilt around a generational talent.7-10 years. All I asked was an example of a team that that tore down a roster and rebuilt in 5 years and was a cup champion. It has never happened, why is that an expectation?
- Larsson_fan

Because there are many people who have unrealistic expectations. Doesn't mean they're right. Just happens to be how they are.

Of course you have, and thats where the issues lie . Youre on the same pace as everyone else that rebuilt around a generational talent.7-10 years. All I asked was an example of a team that that tore down a roster and rebuilt in 5 years and was a cup champion. It has never happened, why is that an expectation?
- Larsson_fan

what do edmonton fans think about the hall trade, now that they have had half a season with larsson?

Of course you have, and thats where the issues lie . Youre on the same pace as everyone else that rebuilt around a generational talent.7-10 years. All I asked was an example of a team that that tore down a roster and rebuilt in 5 years and was a cup champion. It has never happened, why is that an expectation?
- Larsson_fan

No one is asking for a cup champion right now, how about compete for a playoff spot?

And a few of those teams, (Pitt, CHI) won cups with their young guys on ELC's

what do edmonton fans think about the hall trade, now that they have had half a season with larsson?
- rover16

I think most fans agree it was a lopsided trade, that has benefitted the Oilers. Depends how you look at it.Overall it has been positive:

-Larsson is a legit top 4 Dman, capable of top pair minutes in a strictly shut down role.
-Allows lesser players to play down the line up, not in positions they are incapable of.
- Allowed us to sign a top pair winger that brings a different element in Lucic.

-Hall> Lucic, Hall>Larsson, Hall
- there were suspicions that Hall had a negative impact on the room. Totally unsubstantiated but the bottom line is we have the 11th best record in the league at XMas...not the 29th or 30th.

No one is asking for a cup champion right now, how about compete for a playoff spot?

And a few of those teams, (Pitt, CHI) won cups with their young guys on ELC's
- sbroads24

Yeah but your not taking the broadview. A playoff spot 2 years after being dead last isnt realistic.Those teams stunk for a very long time, developed players for years in the minors before those kids won cups. Your also expecting some sort of steady, gradual improvement,which history has shown also doesnt happen.

Its more like:
poop
poop
poop
poop
poop
Playoffs
Cup final.

Yeah but your not taking the broadview. Those teams stunk for a very long time, developed players for years in the minors before those kids won cups. Your also expecting some sort of steady, gradual improvement,which history has shown also doesnt happen.

Its more like:
poop
poop
poop
poop
poop
Playoffs
Cup final.
- Larsson_fan

Again, teams like Chicago and Pittsburgh didn't spend boatloads of assets and cash on trades and FA. That matters.

Remember how long EDM was criticized for not making trades?

Because there are many people who have unrealistic expectations. Doesn't mean they're right. Just happens to be how they are.
- HonkFortheGoose

Totally unrealistic. The only way I can see a team winning a cup 5 years after a rebuild starts is to A) Hit at least 1 generational talent. B) Have at least 2-3 sleeper picks already developed off the roster prior to rebuild, c) gain maximum return on all shipped out talent at tear down d) zero bust picks e) win every trade.

I would say a, b and D are mostly luck, and C and E are unrealistic.

Again, teams like Chicago and Pittsburgh didn't spend boatloads of assets and cash on trades and FA. That matters.

Remember how long EDM was criticized for not making trades?
- sbroads24

Ummm..yes they did. What the Hell were Hossa, Campbell, sopel, Ladd...ect or Guerin, Roberts, Palffy, and Gonchar?

Totally unrealistic. The only way I can see a team winning a cup 5 years after a rebuild starts is to A) Hit at least 1 generational talent. B) Have at least 2-3 sleeper picks already developed off the roster prior to rebuild, c) gain maximum return on all shipped out talent at tear down d) zero bust picks e) win every trade.

I would say a, b and D are mostly luck, and C and E are unrealistic.
- Larsson_fan

You are the only one saying "winning a cup"

Tampa picked 1 and 2 in 08-09 and went to the ECF shortly after, then picked 3 and went to the cup finals.

LA picked 2 in 2008, made trades (Like the Sabres) and won a cup shortly after.

Ummm..yes they did. What the Hell were Hossa, Campbell, sopel, Ladd...ect or Guerin, Roberts, Palffy, and Gonchar?
- Larsson_fan

Hossa was signed after Chicago made the WCF the previous year.

Ladd was a minor trade, Guerin was a deadline pick up when Pittsburgh was already on their way to the playoffs and went on to win a cup

Again, where are the massive trades in the middle of rebuilds, followed by years of misery?

Again, teams like Chicago and Pittsburgh didn't spend boatloads of assets and cash on trades and FA. That matters.

Remember how long EDM was criticized for not making trades?
- sbroads24

Also..the criticism Edm got for not making trades was stupid. They had a 2 yr window to move Hemsky for a great return the missed on, other than that they had nobody but Penner to trade, and they did, for the pick that became Oscar Klefbom.

Otherwise we had maybe 5 good players of value.yeah..lets trade Taylor Hall for an old ass Bryan Campbell.

I was born and raised in Buffalo so I know the deal but, Ralph Kruger hasn't even been mentioned within the team.
- SABRES 89

I have no sources, only what I hope would happen. Me too, 72 years in Buffalo. AFL championships, French connection, Kelly years and Dominic years were the highlights, not enough time, space, or memory for low lights.

Hossa was signed after Chicago made the WCF the previous year.

Ladd was a minor trade, Guerin was a deadline pick up when Pittsburgh was already on their way to the playoffs and went on to win a cup

Again, where are the massive trades in the middle of rebuilds, followed by years of misery?
- sbroads24

Misery.

Nylander with two goals, nice.

That used to be the case for sure, small cities with owners more interested in profit than going all out. We now have an owner who wants to win above all. It's going to take time because Buffalo has a very bad reputation as a place to play, and that won't change easily. We need to get and keep a top flight coach next, and Mr. Pegula has been trying. Ralph Krueger to Sabers, Bill Cower to Bills.
- Paulfromny

You are the only one saying "winning a cup"

Tampa picked 1 and 2 in 08-09 and went to the ECF shortly after, then picked 3 and went to the cup finals.

LA picked 2 in 2008, made trades (Like the Sabres) and won a cup shortly after.
- sbroads24

Fair enough...but that tampa team was an anomally in the sense that they still had great cup winning talent talent when they drafted Stammer and Hedberg....and LA had spent years developing Brown and Kopitar and others, that wasnt a quick 3 year rebuild.

But I get your point about rushing it, and I agree GMTM made some stupid trades for Lehner and Kane ( the amount of assets he gave up for Kane and Bogo probably will prove to be in hindsight, damn near crippling). The RoR trade was great tho his contract is still a bit high.

Ryan O'Reilly was having a very mediocre season (Injury probably the reason)

Maybe there won't be a huge drop off
- sbroads24

Huh?

18 points in 27 games. That's his normal pace the last few years. And that's with an abysmal SH% of 8.2, more than 2 points lower than his career average.

Projected lineup

82 Marcus Foligno - 15 Jack Eichel - 26 Matt Moulson
28 Zemgus Girgensons - 23 Sam Reinhart - 21 Kyle Okposo
9 Evander Kane - 22 Johan Larsson - 12 Brian Gionta
44 Nicolas Deslauriers - 27 Derek Grant - 48 William Carrier

77 Dmitry Kulikov - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
29 Jake McCabe - 47 Zach Bogosian
4 Josh Gorges - 6 Cody Franson/41 Justin Falk

40 Robin Lehner
31 Anders Nilsson

Byslma breaking up the 3rd just doesn't make sense to me

- Wetbandit1

Cmon Bandit the dude just told us he's 72!!

Fair enough...but that tampa team was an anomally in the sense that they still had great cup winning talent talent when they drafted Stammer and Hedberg....and LA had spent years developing Brown and Kopitar and others, that wasnt a quick 3 year rebuild.

But I get your point about rushing it, and I agree GMTM made some stupid trades for Lehner and Kane ( the amount of assets he gave up for Kane and Bogo probably will prove to be in hindsight, damn near crippling). The RoR trade was great tho his contract is still a bit high.
- Larsson_fan

The Kane trade has been dissected more times than a medical cadaver but the end result got rid of two marginally productive players (Stafford and Meyers) who were good enough to keep us out of last place and therefore, out of the mcdavid/eichel sweepstakes. Overall, I like Kane but I think Meyers would be more beneficial to this team. I don't care at all about Armia, bogo or stafford

Edit: phone auto correct, dammit. Myers

it's fair to criticize a player like him who had a goal-drought like that
- Michael Pachla

If it's his only job to score goals then yes, it's fair, but he did so many other things well, including getting on the score sheet, he just wasn't scoring, and he still ended up higher than his career average(18 in 82 games) in goals(21 in 71).