Lynn's offense was quite successful, and a lot of teams took notice. There's no reason to think he can't be successful here or anywhere else for that matter. My glass is usually half full.

Hire the right people, get good results. McDermott could be as, more or less successful than Lynn. They're both fresh looks when it comes to head coaching. If Lynn hires a pair of quality coordinators, we might actually look like a team that can beat the (frank)ing Jets and Dolphins without squirting poop all over the field.
- TheSabresTaco

Lynn was successful in the running game with the best mobile QB in the game and one of the best RBs this decade. Either Lynn didn't know how or care to use the pass game correctly or he just shielded Tyrod. I don't know what the answer is to that but either way I'm not as impressed with Lynn as others. McDermott seems like he comes from a winning pedigree and if he can get McCoy who made Tim freaking Tebow look good imagine what he could do here.

Well obviously otherwise we wouldn't disagree

im tired and under caffeinated so im probably not getting my point across the way id like to so ill try and simplify.


We overpaid for players that good rebuilding teams get without overpaying for. That leaves them enough assets/cap space to overpay for in critical areas, such as a top pairing d-man.

leafs had guys in house, we had guys in house too. Maybe you make the ROR trade no matter what. But maybe you get creative/smarter when trying to add a winger mid pairing d-man? Maybe you look to europe like Toronto did.

Maybe you don't enter a goaltending market when its at its worst for buyers, maybe you wait a year.
- Sabresfan-365

I like your wish list.

I just don't see it happening in real life.

Fair enough, but this is the first round vs pick 51 onwards. Im not so sure Murray would have gone straight for a d-man if he believed there was someone better overall available.
- Sabresfan-365

To be fair, I was not a fan of the trade at the time. I was really pulling for them to draft Carlo with one of our other 1sts. I was just pointing out that the number of other 1sts traded and specifically what the trades were could be considered much worse than TMGMs trades.

"It could be worse"

Your Buffalo Sabres expectations ladies and gentlemen
- sbroads24

Lynn's offense was quite successful, and a lot of teams took notice. There's no reason to think he can't be successful here or anywhere else for that matter. My glass is usually half full.

Hire the right people, get good results. McDermott could be as, more or less successful than Lynn. They're both fresh looks when it comes to head coaching. If Lynn hires a pair of quality coordinators, we might actually look like a team that can beat the (frank)ing Jets and Dolphins without squirting poop all over the field.
- TheSabresTaco

maybe, but what about throwing sex toys on the field?

Fair enough, but this is the first round vs pick 51 onwards. Im not so sure Murray would have gone straight for a d-man if he believed there was someone better overall available.
- Sabresfan-365

Murray was quoted previously saying he really liked Travis Konecny.

He's who I thought we would take at 21 (prior to Lehner)

maybe, but what about throwing sex toys on the field?
- IonSabres

McCoy could probably make that guy a better thrower than Tyrod

Murray was quoted previously saying he really liked Travis Konecny.

He's who I thought we would take at 21 (prior to Lehner)
- sbroads24

"We aren't trading Myers"

I like your wish list.

I just don't see it happening in real life.
- Der Kaiser

That's fair and I accept that its not an easy task.

I think a better management group could have made it happen though.

Sort of, you're very close.

My issue lies within the middle step. I believe management chose to spend a poop ton of assets too early but the bigger problem is that they spent it on areas that a good rebuilding team gets through the draft OR in creative signings/trades, NOT OVERPAYMENTS

Take for example the often argued trades of Kane/Bogo, Lehner and even ROR. Using our division rivals as an example here because they'll help illustrate my point.

Nikita Zaitsev was practically unknown a year ago, literally. Never heard of him, until Friedman mentioned the leafs were signing him. This year, his first year in north america, has numbers worthy of being a second pair d-man. all at an ELC cap hit. His slot on the leafs is where Bogosian slots here.

The role of second line centre and shelterer for top draft pick(ROR's spot) held by a leafs draft pick, Nazem Kadri. Despite being a poop head, great two way game, signed to a reasonable contract.

James Van Riemsdyk, from the old group yes. Acquired at his lowest point (buy low) for Luke Schenn (aka the leafs tyler myers). No additional prospects, picks involved. The leafs have not only gotten more scoring out of him than we have with Kane, they will likely get major value for him at the deadline should they chose to move him.


Freddy Andersen. Rough start in his first month as a leaf, Vezina numbers since. Acquired using the 30th pick and a 2nd rounder. Signed to a pricey cap hit but hey, they dont have too many burdening contracts.

Addressing these secondary areas through the draft or creative/smart moves has now put the leafs not only in a higher spot in the standings but in a better position to address the exact same needs we do as they have far more cap space and assets to do so.
- Sabresfan-365

I understand what you are saying, but dont agree with most of what you are saying....

Nikita Zaitsev, I am sure many teams wanted him. Let's just say the Sabres wanted him and asked to sign him, would he choose the Sabres or the Leafs? Toronto will always have a leg up on free agent signings (the lower end ones, with less money). Also, he is RFA this year and will start asking for more and more money. He is 25 years old, so he will want money soon or wont sign, I am sure.

Kadri, we over paid for a strong #1 Center that was 24 years old, by trading a bunch of meh pieces (O'Reilly), but Kadri was a #7 overall pick, so I guess we could have taken someone like him at some point, but not every draft is their a stud #1-2 Center available at 7 overall (and it may take years to develop that player also as Kadri was drafted in 2009).

JVR, they traded low on that one, I think we did that with Cody Hodgson, but it did not work out (at all), so that one might favor Toronto.

Andersen, so you say the Sabres should not have traded anything for a goalie and yet the Leafs traded 3 picks for one, granted he might have "vezina numbers" right now, but they seem to fall apart late in the 3rd a lot and his cap hit is icing on the cake as most people here dont want a goalie at that price.

Lehner 2.53 gaa .921 save % $2.25, cap hit
Andersen 2.69 gaa .918 save % $5m cap hit

All while most the feeling here is the D is horrible here in Buffalo. Not to mention all the D injuries we have had this year. The Leafs have played 7 D men all year (one only played 1 game), so no injuries on D basically. Sabres have had 11 D men play. Yea.

I understand the Leafs are scoring more and have a better record, but to say they are way a head of us is not correct. They have some nice players, correct. So do we.

What's wrong with Lynn?
- TheSabresTaco

Jets game was really eye-opening lol it seems the players didn't even want to play for him

Murray was quoted previously saying he really liked Travis Konecny.

He's who I thought we would take at 21 (prior to Lehner)
- sbroads24

He also like samsonov so who knows

I feel like he definitely would have taken Roslovic at 25 though, he was so far away BPA it just made way too much sense.

McCoy could probably make that guy a better thrower than Tyrod
- bluengold12

I'm still waiting for the metaphoric corksoaker to throw first two heaters past me so I can sit on the curve.

Hope your time away has been refreshing.
- Der Kaiser

More than you'll ever imagine. I'm just sad I missed out on a ton of overwhelming positivity and acceptance of our managerial and player staff on our favorite sports teams.

Lynn was successful in the running game with the best mobile QB in the game and one of the best RBs this decade. Either Lynn didn't know how or care to use the pass game correctly or he just shielded Tyrod. I don't know what the answer is to that but either way I'm not as impressed with Lynn as others. McDermott seems like he comes from a winning pedigree and if he can get McCoy who made Tim freaking Tebow look good imagine what he could do here.
- bluengold12

Lynn didn't use his offense, he just tweaked Roman's. But it was also said he would focus on being a HC and bring in an OC to run the offense and Gus Bradley to DC.

I understand what you are saying, but dont agree with most of what you are saying....

Nikita Zaitsev, I am sure many teams wanted him. Let's just say the Sabres wanted him and asked to sign him, would he choose the Sabres or the Leafs? Toronto will always have a leg up on free agent signings (the lower end ones, with less money). Also, he is RFA this year and will start asking for more and more money. He is 25 years old, so he will want money soon or wont sign, I am sure.

Kadri, we over paid for a strong #1 Center that was 24 years old, by trading a bunch of meh pieces (O'Reilly), but Kadri was a #7 overall pick, so I guess we could have taken someone like him at some point, but not every draft is their a stud #1-2 Center available at 7 overall (and it may take years to develop that player also as Kadri was drafted in 2009).

JVR, they traded low on that one, I think we did that with Cody Hodgson, but it did not work out (at all), so that one might favor Toronto.

Andersen, so you say the Sabres should not have traded anything for a goalie and yet the Leafs traded 3 picks for one, granted he might have "vezina numbers" right now, but they seem to fall apart late in the 3rd a lot and his cap hit is icing on the cake as most people here dont want a goalie at that price.

Lehner 2.53 gaa .921 save % $2.25, cap hit
Andersen 2.69 gaa .918 save % $5m cap hit

All while most the feeling here is the D is horrible here in Buffalo. Not to mention all the D injuries we have had this year. The Leafs have played 7 D men all year (one only played 1 game), so no injuries on D basically. Sabres have had 11 D men play. Yea.

I understand the Leafs are scoring more and have a better record, but to say they are way a head of us is not correct. They have some nice players, correct. So do we.
- Lilroot9

Lilroot9: Hello.

- IonSabres

he did hit the corner of the field though, and low too...only our guy had a chance for it!

Right. We all have to make sacrifices somewhere. I mean usually...

I don't (frank) around when it comes to steak though.
- TheSabresTaco

steak doesnt go in things, it is served to me at a medium rare...if you want to do a peppercorn sauce with it, so be ti, but steak is steak

Pat Jets game was really eye-opening lol it seems the players didn't even want to play for him
- GERBE!!!75PTS

If it was anyone else but you, I'd rip them a new bumhole for using the (frank)ing Jets game as a benchmark.

More than you'll ever imagine. I'm just sad I missed out on a ton of overwhelming positivity and acceptance of our managerial and player staff on our favorite sports teams.
- TheSabresTaco

As far as I know, nobody has complained about Rip Simonick's cap hit just yet.

*** worries that attention has been unduly directed to Rip ***

steak doesnt go in things, it is served to me at a medium rare...if you want to do a peppercorn sauce with it, so be ti, but steak is steak
- DDM-Coga

Well played.

More than you'll ever imagine. I'm just sad I missed out on a ton of overwhelming positivity and acceptance of our managerial and player staff on our favorite sports teams.
- TheSabresTaco

Looks at standings over the last 8 years, shrugs.

Imagine the Bruins prospect pool if they drafted better at 12, 13 and 14 instead of Zboril, DeBrusk and Senyshyn?

Lynn didn't use his offense, he just tweaked Roman's. But it was also said he would focus on being a HC and bring in an OC to run the offense and Gus Bradley to DC.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Lynn is a running back and ex RB coach. I can't see his offense deviating too far from what it was. Who will he bring in as OC. From what John Murphy was saying they think it would probably be the (frank)ing WR coach...

I want a QB guru to come in here and be our OC. Enough of this run first 1960s crap

I understand what you are saying, but dont agree with most of what you are saying....

Nikita Zaitsev, I am sure many teams wanted him. Let's just say the Sabres wanted him and asked to sign him, would he choose the Sabres or the Leafs? Toronto will always have a leg up on free agent signings (the lower end ones, with less money). Also, he is RFA this year and will start asking for more and more money. He is 25 years old, so he will want money soon or wont sign, I am sure.

Kadri, we over paid for a strong #1 Center that was 24 years old, by trading a bunch of meh pieces (O'Reilly), but Kadri was a #7 overall pick, so I guess we could have taken someone like him at some point, but not every draft is their a stud #1-2 Center available at 7 overall (and it may take years to develop that player also as Kadri was drafted in 2009).

JVR, they traded low on that one, I think we did that with Cody Hodgson, but it did not work out (at all), so that one might favor Toronto.

Andersen, so you say the Sabres should not have traded anything for a goalie and yet the Leafs traded 3 picks for one, granted he might have "vezina numbers" right now, but they seem to fall apart late in the 3rd a lot and his cap hit is icing on the cake as most people here dont want a goalie at that price.

Lehner 2.53 gaa .921 save % $2.25, cap hit
Andersen 2.69 gaa .918 save % $5m cap hit

All while most the feeling here is the D is horrible here in Buffalo. Not to mention all the D injuries we have had this year. The Leafs have played 7 D men all year (one only played 1 game), so no injuries on D basically. Sabres have had 11 D men play. Yea.

I understand the Leafs are scoring more and have a better record, but to say they are way a head of us is not correct. They have some nice players, correct. So do we.
- Lilroot9

You're right i wouldnt pay that price for a goalie unless you're getting someone elite but it helped illustrate the point by showing two similar types acquisitions however one team waited.

Zaitsev, maybe he wouldn't have signed here, maybe he would have. Is this type of pursuit not a better option than being saddled with a terrible contract?

The JVR portion alone has put the leafs in a great position, one we might have been able to be in.

They're not way ahead, theyre in a better position to take that next step than we are.