our 2nd to 4th d men are brutal

our top 3 lines is lacking killer instinct

our pk sucks

we have a few crap contracts on the team

we don't have a true number 1 goalie so we need to lean on a 2 goalie system

our coach is clueless


all in all this is an ok team some nights, brutal other nights


if it wasn't so many simple mistakes, it would be an easier pill to swallow

From last blog

Fedun and Falk are UFA's and wont be protected in no realm of possibility would Austin be protected by Murray over Bad gosian so I wouldn't even consider it. I get it. You're losing someone. Likely one of Carrier or Ennis but maybe Murray trades one of them too. I'd rather lose Carrier with the hope Vegas takes Bogosian or Gorges

Therefore..

O'Reilly, Okposo, Risto, McCabe, Foligno, Kane, Larsson Carrier/Ennis (Depending on how Ennis finishes season)

Trade one of Girgensons/Larsson. For this example trade Girgensons

Would leave Vegas with Moulson, Deslauries, Bogosian, Gorges, Carrier/Ennis
- bluengold12

If I am Murray, I am trying to Kane now while he is hot (12 goals in 21 games) for a Top 3 D-man. There is no way Kane is staying in Buffalo after his contract is up, even if he is a perfect role model off the ice. LA/NYC/Vegas - that's where he's headed if he gets to free agency.

If I am Murray, I am trying trade Kane now while he is hot (12 goals in 21 games) for a Top 3 D-man. There is no way Kane is staying in Buffalo after his contract is up, even if he is a perfect role model off the ice. LA/NYC/Vegas - that's where he's headed if he gets to free agency.
- SabreWest

our 2nd to 4th d men are brutal

our top 3 lines is lacking killer instinct

our pk sucks

we have a few crap contracts on the team

we don't have a true number 1 goalie so we need to lean on a 2 goalie system

our coach is clueless


all in all this is an ok team some nights, brutal other nights


if it wasn't so many simple mistakes, it would be an easier pill to swallow
- homiedclown

There's a lot of addition by subtraction that can be done here though. main difficulty will be adding the right pieces to the D

if you looked at a list of guys on this team it doesnt come out so bad, there's obviously talent.

Problem is when you fill in the positions and realize most of the talent is up front.
- Sabresfan-365

This should be the blueprint

Line 1
Lw - Bonafide top LW goal scorer
C O'Reilly
RW Okposo
Line 2
Flashy,fast and skilled LW (Nylander?)
C Eichel
RW Reinhart
Line 3
LW Kane
C Gritty yet skilled two way center who can win faceoffs and create offense
RW Bigger, checking type RW who can skate and chip in the occasional goal
Line 4
LW Foligno
C Veteran who can still skate and chip in on the PK bring leadership for cheap
RW Younger energy type guy who isn't a liability
Top Pairing Defense
LD Tall, smart, defensively sound with high hockey IQ and an ability to clear the puck from the zone and shut down top lines
RD Risto
Second Pairing Defense
LD McCabe
RD Stay at home defenceman, reliable and a solid P/M rating
Third Pairing Defense
LD Guhle
RD Another calm presence on D maybe a vet who has some playoff experience on a short term contract

A few hints that this team is in fact "bad"

Corsi For% - 26th
Goals for % -22nd
Shots against per 60- 26th
Shots for per 60- 25th
Goals for 5 on 5- 29th


This team is awful 5 on 5. And it shows in the standings

[quote=SabreWest]
you know you can always just edit the original post

I'm with you Pach, and yes, incomplete is a good word for this team.

Not sure how much trigger pulling we are going to see from GMTM this next 5+ weeks, but staying status quo will put us further behind the eight-ball to get a sniff at the playoff. I don't believe we get more than two wins in a first-round playoff series, but it will be valuable experience for the youngins.

We are in desparate need of another D-man to slot the defence we have better. Its like earlier in the year with all of the injuries. Most on this board were agreeing that many of the players were playing a line or two above where they should have been and were looking bad because of it. One more defensive body from another club, will be necessary to slot our D-corps better. This team as-is could easily make a couple of streaks to get them into the ... playoffs ... as Pach pointed out, there are 7 teams in this schmozzle in the middle of the pack.

I'm looking forward to hopefully more than just rumors coming from GMTM to give us another step up in the re-build.

This should be the blueprint

Line 1
Lw - Bonafide top LW goal scorer
C O'Reilly
RW Okposo
Line 2
Flashy,fast and skilled LW (Nylander?)
C Eichel
RW Reinhart
Line 3
LW Kane
C Gritty yet skilled two way center who can win faceoffs and create offense
RW Bigger, checking type RW who can skate and chip in the occasional goal
Line 4
LW Foligno
C Veteran who can still skate and chip in on the PK bring leadership for cheap
RW Younger energy type guy who isn't a liability
Top Pairing Defense
LD Tall, smart, defensively sound with high hockey IQ and an ability to clear the puck from the zone and shut down top lines
RD Risto
Second Pairing Defense
LD McCabe
RD Stay at home defenceman, reliable and a solid P/M rating
Third Pairing Defense
LD Guhle
RD Another calm presence on D maybe a vet who has some playoff experience on a short term contract
- bluengold12

Agreed but I don't expect them to solve all of this in one offseason. Should make the defence a priority though

This should be the blueprint

Line 1
Lw - Bonafide top LW goal scorer
C O'Reilly
RW Okposo
Line 2
Flashy,fast and skilled LW (Nylander?)
C Eichel
RW Reinhart
Line 3
LW Kane
C Gritty yet skilled two way center who can win faceoffs and create offense
RW Bigger, checking type RW who can skate and chip in the occasional goal
Line 4
LW Foligno
C Veteran who can still skate and chip in on the PK bring leadership for cheap
RW Younger energy type guy who isn't a liability
Top Pairing Defense
LD Tall, smart, defensively sound with high hockey IQ and an ability to clear the puck from the zone and shut down top lines
RD Risto
Second Pairing Defense
LD McCabe
RD Stay at home defenceman, reliable and a solid P/M rating
Third Pairing Defense
LD Guhle
RD Another calm presence on D maybe a vet who has some playoff experience on a short term contract
- bluengold12

i don't see anythign about punching people in the face..

your top LD is not going to happen without drafting them

Agreed but I don't expect them to solve all of this in one offseason. Should make the defence a priority though
- Sabresfan-365

i agree.. that is where the biggest holes are

i don't see anythign about punching people in the face..

your top LD is not going to happen without drafting them
- IndianaSabresFan

Agreed

Really, you're better then that. This team is a mess, they implode constantly. 1 good game and then 2 or 3 bad games. They have no consistently.
- SABRES 89

it was a simple question....that's what the blog was about...those are some of the teams grouped together that are seven points apart and many points above two bad teams--Colorado and arizona

i don't see anythign about punching people in the face..

your top LD is not going to happen without drafting them
- IndianaSabresFan

It doesn't necessarily need to be an LD that has to play with Risto. Another perhaps defensively sound guy could create two very good pairings for you. One could be the shut down pair getting the majority of the defensive zone starts the other being the offensive one.

I wouldn't trade Risto for the #1 pick this year, so im guessing Lindholm will be a hard no given his favourable contract. They're going to have to package whatever pick they get with a few other players/picks to get someone to bite. Carolina might be a good trade partner for that.
- Sabresfan-365

I see your point. We would really need to target a team that has good depth and would be willing to make such a trade.

we both are bad teams, we are in this together

we both are bad teams, we are in this together
- DDM-Coga

Exactly. Lets help each other out. You give us Duchene and Barrie we'll give you Moulson and Bogosian and ensure you get one of Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier

I see your point. We would really need to target a team that has good depth and would be willing to make such a trade.
- mattsox

or go door to door (desk to desk i guess on draft day lol) giving teams really big offers. They'll likely have to empty the cupboard to solve this problem.

or go door to door (desk to desk i guess on draft day lol) giving teams really big offers. They'll likely have to empty the cupboard to solve this problem.
- Sabresfan-365

Its sad that the D-Men GMTM brought in to supplement the ones he's traded are overpaid and haven't lived up to any hype. Some of that is due to injuries and some just flat out bad play.

Its sad that the D-Men GMTM brought in to supplement the ones he's traded are overpaid and haven't lived up to any hype. Some of that is due to injuries and some just flat out bad play.
- mattsox

my biggest fear is them overpaying for someone like fowler and passing him off as a top pairing guy. Id honestly take my chances on one of the rookies in this or next years draft before doing something like that.

Just in case anyone wants to get in on the jorts game with Jack

http://www.hm.com/us/product/43728?article=43728-C

my biggest fear is them overpaying for someone like fowler and passing him off as a top pairing guy. Id honestly take my chances on one of the rookies in this or next years draft before doing something like that.
- Sabresfan-365

You mean like they tried to do with Bogosian last year?

Its sad that the D-Men GMTM brought in to supplement the ones he's traded are overpaid and haven't lived up to any hype. Some of that is due to injuries and some just flat out bad play.
- mattsox

who has he brought in:

gorges - sucks
bogosian - mostly sucks
franson - mostly sucks
kulikov - no clue he is always injured
Fulk - meh alright for a #9 guy
fedun - by far his best pick up
nelson - yet to be determined

thats not an impressive list

A few hints that this team is in fact "bad"

Corsi For% - 26th
Goals for % -22nd
Shots against per 60- 26th
Shots for per 60- 25th
Goals for 5 on 5- 29th


This team is awful 5 on 5. And it shows in the standings
- sbroads24

can you run those same numbers either month by month or pre and post eichel's return this season?

who has he brought in:

gorges - sucks
bogosian - mostly sucks
franson - mostly sucks
kulikov - no clue he is always injured
Fulk - meh alright for a #9 guy
fedun - by far his best pick up
nelson - yet to be determined

thats not an impressive list
- IndianaSabresFan

Defenders he's traded

Zadorov - Uninspiring thus far
Myers - Is what he is/Injury prone/second pairing defender
McNabb - Somewhat reliable 3rd pairing defender