The common consensus on this board is that Defense doesn't matter now because you need to outscore your opponent in today's NHL, that this grind 'em down style doesn't work anymore.

Then everyone says Defense is our problem and we need to trade Kane for a D-man.

It's so contradictory.

I think in the playoffs, depth on D is more important than depth on O. But to get to the playoffs, you need to have a powerhouse offense.

I'm so (frank)ing confused.

All I know is this team is a nightmare right now and the coach is a moron. You can coach up your D to play at a higher level, but our JAMOKE of a coach insists on making guys adhere to his system, which is straight out of 1998. The guy is clueless.

Name a comparable player to Kane in the league and if the Sabres had drafted Kane would you be so quick to trade him for a top 4 D?
- GilPerreault11

Chris Kreider

I don't get it, you put risto in the scrub category yet defence isn't our problem?
- Sabresfan-365

much like your sarcastic post was misunderstood, so did you misunderstand my "scrub" comment.


I think Risto is a legit #1. Not elite. Yet. But he's a legit #1 IMO.

Defense is not our problem. I don't need my defense to score. I need them to lay dudes out, block shots and clear the (frank)ing crease. They don't. I think that's on our coach.

Name a comparable player to Kane in the league and if the Sabres had drafted Kane would you be so quick to trade him for a top 4 D?
- GilPerreault11

I suggested they should be open to trading Reinhart for a d-man so im going to go ahead and say yes.

Comparable to Kane? I get it its a unique blend of power/size and speed and great forechecking ability. When he's on, he's ON. But when he's off, he really hurts this team. I know that style of play is hard to come by, but is it an absolute necessity to have someone like that to win? Or is it having a balanced top 6 and top 4? And i think fixing the hole left on the wing by Kane's departure would be easier to solve than the problems on defence.

much like your sarcastic post was misunderstood, so did you misunderstand my "scrub" comment.


I think Risto is a legit #1. Not elite. Yet. But he's a legit #1 IMO.

Defense is not our problem. I don't need my defense to score. I need them to lay dudes out, block shots and clear the (frank)ing crease. They don't. I think that's on our coach.
- BeadyEyedDouche

yea thats my bad i misunderstood.

WHo were they and what year did he draft them?
- Larsson_fan

Eric Cornel, Vaclav Karabacek, Brendan Lemieux ( not with us )

We are the lowest scoring blue line, while at the same time giving up the most shots.

Also, my response had nothing to do with Draisaitl and Reinhart. It was about the fact that it's irrelevant that 23 and 15 are young
- sbroads24

Scoring from D is not the primary problem from the D, playing in their own end is. You always look at scoring and never look at a players whole game and that is why much of what you write is often frivolous. By the way, a players experience or lack thereof being irrelevant is a new theory.

much like your sarcastic post was misunderstood, so did you misunderstand my "scrub" comment.


I think Risto is a legit #1. Not elite. Yet. But he's a legit #1 IMO.

Defense is not our problem. I don't need my defense to score. I need them to lay dudes out, block shots and clear the (frank)ing crease. They don't. I think that's on our coach.
- BeadyEyedDouche

It's not 1980 anymore. Skilled defense leads to offense

Scoring from D is not the primary problem from the D, playing in their own end is. You always look at scoring and never look at a players whole game and that is why much of what you write is often frivolous. By the way, a players experience or lack thereof being irrelevant is a new theory.
- GilPerreault11

We aren't going to remotely agree on this.

I suggested they should be open to trading Reinhart for a d-man so im going to go ahead and say yes.

Comparable to Kane? I get it its a unique blend of power/size and speed and great forechecking ability. When he's on, he's ON. But when he's off, he really hurts this team. I know that style of play is hard to come by, but is it an absolute necessity to have someone like that to win? Or is it having a balanced top 6 and top 4? And i think fixing the hole left on the wing by Kane's departure would be easier to solve than the problems on defence.
- Sabresfan-365

We'll disagree on most of what you wrote and Kane is one of the few players who plays hard most nights.

murray tried trading three second rounders to get back into the lower first round and it didn't work...

I understand the value of a second-rounder--mike weber was a second rounder, but so were jake McCabe and Brendan guhle...

here's the gist: people are ready to sell high on kane with many feeling that a top-four d-man would be adequate in return...Kulikov, imo, is a top-four d-man, yet a kane for Kulikov trade would be a ridiculous proposition in the eyes of many...however some would be willing to trade Kulikov for a second, which wouldn't even come close to kanes worth or probably even kulikov's worth
- Michael Pachla

Way too much logic for a Saturday!

So nice to have hockey on all day now that football is over.
Friends invited me to a bachelor (ish) party tonight.
Im like, nope, im having a "hockey day."

It's not 1980 anymore. Skilled defense leads to offense
- sbroads24

Okay but when you have ONE legit Top-2 guy and ONE legit second pairing guy, you need to adjust your coaching.

Why the (frank) anyone thinks its a bad idea to finish your check is beyond me.

But if I'm a coach and I have this D-Core, my system isn't MAKE A BREAKOUT PASS AS SOON AS YOU GET THE PUCK AND PANIC WHEN ITS INTERCEPTED.

I look at my roster and I say (frank) me. I gotta figure this out.

And going on 2 years now, my solution is to (frank)ing hit the guy with the puck, keep the crease clear and block the perimeter shots. Let the forwards rush up the ice and handle the puck for more than .5 seconds and have my defense play a 1 - 1 system. 1 guy stay at home, one guy join the rush.

You have to create a hybrid trap system with the current make-up on this roster.

3-1-1. It can't be worse than what we're currently doing. And I have no clue what the current system is other than panic and get rid of the puck as soon as you get it. Dump and chase bullpoop.

We aren't going to remotely agree on this.
- sbroads24

Go read John Dewey and Experience and Education and get back to me

And regarding defensemen he has to be strong in his own end and be able lead in the outlet, transitionally but not every D is going to be an offensive D but he should be able to play strong positionally in his own end.

We'll disagree on most of what you wrote and Kane is one of the few players who plays hard most nights.
- GilPerreault11

fair enough, just one of many viewpoints

Trade Deadline Moves:
Kulikov for a Solid Prospect
Gionta for a 2nd
Franson for a 2nd
Gorges for 3rd
Nilsson for 3rd

At Expansion Draft:
Package Kane, Baptiste and 2nd for young top pairing LHD.
Package Ennis, Solid Prospect and 2nd for top 6 LW.
Send 2017 2nd ans 3rd to LV to take Moulson

Draft BPA at 5 or 6 -let's face it we could use help all around.

Resign Gionta for 1 year
Resign Fedun for 2 years

Trade Deadline Moves:
Kulikov for a Solid Prospect
Gionta for a 2nd
Franson for a 2nd
Gorges for 3rd
Nilsson for 3rd

At Expansion Draft:
Package Kane, Baptiste and 2nd for young top pairing LHD.
Package Ennis, Solid Prospect and 2nd for top 6 LW.
Send 2017 2nd ans 3rd to LV to take Moulson

Draft BPA at 5 or 6 -let's face it we could use help all around.

Resign Gionta for 1 year
Resign Fedun for 2 years
- IonSabres

might be reaching here...

Pretty quiet for a game night...

5-4 Sabres

Anyone else catch this story online? Pretty awesome.

https://www.nhl.com/sabre...-eichel-tower/c-286625906

Trade Deadline Moves:
Kulikov for a Solid Prospect
Gionta for a 2nd
Franson for a 2nd
Gorges for 3rd
Nilsson for 3rd

At Expansion Draft:
Package Kane, Baptiste and 2nd for young top pairing LHD.
Package Ennis, Solid Prospect and 2nd for top 6 LW.
Send 2017 2nd ans 3rd to LV to take Moulson

Draft BPA at 5 or 6 -let's face it we could use help all around.

Resign Gionta for 1 year
Resign Fedun for 2 years
- IonSabres

The homerism is strong with this one, my god. You really think these guys are worth those returns and they will actually happen? Yikes.

5-1 sabres


one leaf player gets a broken leg

another leaf player gets concussed


F@ck the leafs and leaf nation

We will lose tonight. Probably like 5-0. I hope not because (frank) Toronto and (frank) the Leafs but...

2-1 shootout win



yea i said it

Trade Deadline Moves:
Kulikov for a Solid Prospect
Gionta for a 2nd
Franson for a 2nd
Gorges for 3rd
Nilsson for 3rd

At Expansion Draft:
Package Kane, Baptiste and 2nd for young top pairing LHD.
Package Ennis, Solid Prospect and 2nd for top 6 LW.
Send 2017 2nd ans 3rd to LV to take Moulson

Draft BPA at 5 or 6 -let's face it we could use help all around.

Resign Gionta for 1 year
Resign Fedun for 2 years
- IonSabres

You should send Pegula your resume.

We will lose tonight. Probably like 5-0. I hope not because (frank) Toronto and (frank) the Leafs but...
- BeadyEyedDouche

I actually really hope ORilley has a fire lit under his a$$ considering some of his quotes in the BN today.
I'd like to see an angry game out of him and Jack tonight.