i'm thinking that it was more of a financial decision...I don't have any hard proof but there a couple of things that don't make sense for an owner willing to spend money....like why were they so worried about the salary cap when they could've created room by putting mccormick on ltir?...instead they penny-pinched the cap by moving players up and down daily
- Michael Pachla

I also never understood why they didn't put McCorrmick on long term. I don't get why there is no rule in the CBA that lets teams terminate contracts of players who everyone knows will not be returning. Pronger's contract I believe has still been own by Arizona to this day and he's been finished for like 5 years now.

us grant was an alcoholic and he lead the union army to victory...mickey mantle was a drunk as well...

your point?
- Michael Pachla

I bought a lottery ticket that paid $10 earlier this week ...

PS - Mark Pysyk offered to sign 2 contracts with me.

Michael Pachla: Broadcaster Don Stevens talks of Amerks, Sabres management, and prospects
- Michael Pachla

Awesome article Pach. Really like hearing Stevens on the radio and value his opinion. Feel my assessment of Nylander, Baptiste and Bailey is in line with his. I for one am not at all impressed with our Nylander. You can't beat AHL goalies, good luck beating NHLers on the regular. Bailey may be the fastest guy in the NHL, but he gets out of control. Austin sounds like a replica of McNabb. Really like E-Rod and maybe Schneider deserves more of a shot. I thought he had the most points on the team and was up there amongst the AHL leaders.


FYI, E-Rod was the Sabres' rookie of the year. Don't know if everyone caught that.

I bought a lottery ticket that paid $10 earlier this week ...
- Der Kaiser

but did you save money on car insurance?

Awesome article Pach. Really like hearing Stevens on the radio and value his opinion. Feel my assessment of Nylander, Baptiste and Bailey is in line with his. I for one am not at all impressed with our Nylander. You can't beat AHL goalies, good luck beating NHLers on the regular. Bailey may be the fastest guy in the NHL, but he gets out of control. Austin sounds like a replica of McNabb. Really like E-Rod and maybe Schneider deserves more of a shot. I thought he had the most points on the team and was up there amongst the AHL leaders.


FYI, E-Rod was the Sabres' rookie of the year. Don't know if everyone caught that.
- Hatboro_Swords

stevens gushed over Schneider...really would like to see him back with the Amerks...mentioned they could really use a jody gage-type scorer on the team

I know people are going to dislike this but I think one of the two is going to be gone for a defenseman
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Wouldn't bother me.

Give me Estephen, Asplund, Pu, Possler, Stevens, and Borgen on the Amerks this season, and I'll be a happy camper.
- sskkoo1

None of these guys will be on the Amerks next season

stevens gushed over Schneider...really would like to see him back with the Amerks...mentioned they could really use a jody gage-type scorer on the team
- Michael Pachla

I really don't get why Schneider is so blacklisted? He's been an almost ppg player in the AHL for years and never gets a chance in the show. What more does this guy have to do to prove he should be given a stretch in the NHL? Hell, we gave Grant a shot.

None of these guys will be on the Amerks next season
- MCGUIZZY

Sure I can see Borgen and Pu going back to juniors, but Possler needs to be signed or we lose his rights, and Asplund was thought of by Murray to possibly making the team. I can see none of these guys being in Rochester next season, but I'd hate to lose Posslers right without giving him a look.

None of these guys will be on the Amerks next season
- MCGUIZZY

Asplund and Possler I think will depend on the new GM.

yet baptiste had more goals and the same number of points in less games
- Michael Pachla

And when I called him the better prospect everyone laughed

Sure I can see Borgen and Pu going back to juniors, but Possler needs to be signed or we lose his rights, and Asplund was thought of by Murray to possibly making the team. I can see none of these guys being in Rochester next season, but I'd hate to lose Posslers right without giving him a look.
- sskkoo1

Its been said by his coach that borgan is going back. An artical stated that asplud will play another year. Pu too young to play in AHL. Possler I just dont see coming. We will see what the new GM will do with him.


On the bright side we should see:

Florentino
Stephens
Estephan
POssibly Peterson
Fasching
Sean Malone
CJ Smith

Long shots:
Max Willman
Judd Peterson
Conor Hurley
Brown

Asplund and Possler I think will depend on the new GM.
- RhinoFan

Theres an article out there saying hes playing another year with his current team. Who knows with Possler..He hasnt shown his face in Buffalo since he was drafted..

Theres an article out there saying hes playing another year with his current team. Who knows with Possler..He hasnt shown his face in Buffalo since he was drafted..
- MCGUIZZY

Yeah I'd read that as well, but I think will come down to the new GM's feelings on development at home vs abroad. Who knows really with Possler, like you said he hasn't even shown up for a development camp to date I believe. I'm not waiting for him to show up, but if the new guy can swing a deal to get him, I'd prefer him over a Justin Vaive type.

Its been said by his coach that borgan is going back. An artical stated that asplud will play another year. Pu too young to play in AHL. Possler I just dont see coming. We will see what the new GM will do with him.


On the bright side we should see:

Florentino
Stephens
Estephan
POssibly Peterson
Fasching
Sean Malone
CJ Smith

Long shots:
Max Willman
Judd Peterson
Conor Hurley
Brown
- MCGUIZZY

Did we ever find out why Hurley got shut down halfway through the season? Said it was a personal reason I believe, but never heard if it worked itself out or not.

Yeah I'd read that as well, but I think will come down to the new GM's feelings on development at home vs abroad. Who knows really with Possler, like you said he hasn't even shown up for a development camp to date I believe. I'm not waiting for him to show up, but if the new guy can swing a deal to get him, I'd prefer him over a Justin Vaive type.
- RhinoFan

Yea I mean i would love to see both here and Oloffson. Maybe the new GM can make it happen.

Imagine having Nylander, Asplund, Oloffson and Possler here next year...

Did we ever find out why Hurley got shut down halfway through the season? Said it was a personal reason I believe, but never heard if it worked itself out or not.
- RhinoFan

Nah didnt really hear much. He was having a decent season tho

that's the thing...I just don't get it...for a guy who wasn't afraid to make many big moves, why did he sit tight, especially once the injuries started hitting and he was sucking the life out of the Amerks
- Michael Pachla

Because it's a lot easier to get other GM's to say yes to you when you are offering more than anyone else.

Once he depleted his arsenal, he was screwed.

Asplund and Possler I think will depend on the new GM.
- RhinoFan

Asplund is staying overseas this year..

And we have never seen possler yet lol

Because it's a lot easier to get other GM's to say yes to you when you are offering more than anyone else.

Once he depleted his arsenal, he was screwed.
- sbroads24

I wonder how this team would have performed/looked like the last 2 years without the ROR and Kane trades?

Moulson/Eichel/Okposo
Ennis/Reinhart/Grigorenko
Foligno/Girgensons/Gionta
Deslauriers/Larsson/Fasching

Ristolainen/Myers
McCabe/Zadorov
Gorges/Franson

Lehner
Nilsson

Say hello to one of Matthews/Laine and Nico/Patrick.

However, the real question is and yeah, hindsight is 20/20 but given the last 2 seasons, moving forward, what would be the better roster? ROR and Kane helped us become mediocre faster but in the long run... I'm not so sure that was a good idea.

If GMTM wanted to do a complete teardown and rebuild, he souldn't have rushed it the way he did and sold the vision of not 2 drafts to build the team but 3 or 4. He half assed both the teardown and the buildup. He relied too heavily on the Reinhart/Eichel drafts to pan out and didn't even consider a 3rd or 4th year of bottom-feeding in order to have a core of players between 18 and 22 moving forward from this point.

Now we have Kane, 1-year left, ROR 7x7 no defensive depth (supposedly) and a stripped farm team.

Damn.

Asplund is staying overseas this year..

And we have never seen possler yet lol
- GERBE!!!75PTS

This was under the old regime. I'm just of the mind that a GM, who thought the AHL was the better place for development, would potentially try to persuade one or both. Not saying that I think the AHL IS better for development, but even if the new GM wanted more depth, signing Asplund gives a little help to RCH if we need as many callups as this year. There are reasons why this could change.

This was under the old regime. I'm just of the mind that a GM, who thought the AHL was the better place for development, would potentially try to persuade one or both. Not saying that I think the AHL IS better for development, but even if the new GM wanted more depth, signing Asplund gives a little help to RCH if we need as many callups as this year. There are reasons why this could change.
- RhinoFan

Honestly I think he just wants to be in the NHL and not in AHL that's probably the problem
I'm looking at from his standpoint he's probably making a great living ... I'm not trying to burn Rochester Arena but that place is a poophole

Honestly I think he just wants to be in the NHL and not in AHL that's probably the problem
I'm looking at from his standpoint he's probably making a great living ... I'm not trying to burn Rochester Arena but that place is a poophole
- GERBE!!!75PTS

This is true, but I think I could sell a young player on the idea that if he signs and plays in Rochester he's right down the road for a call up..."if you want to make the NHL the fastest, sign here son."

That type of thing. And you are probably 100% right, just saying the changing of the guard could cause some unexpected changes.

I wonder how this team would have performed/looked like the last 2 years without the ROR and Kane trades?

Moulson/Eichel/Okposo
Ennis/Reinhart/Grigorenko
Foligno/Girgensons/Gionta
Deslauriers/Larsson/Fasching

Ristolainen/Myers
McCabe/Zadorov
Gorges/Franson

Lehner
Nilsson

Say hello to one of Matthews/Laine and Nico/Patrick.

However, the real question is and yeah, hindsight is 20/20 but given the last 2 seasons, moving forward, what would be the better roster? ROR and Kane helped us become mediocre faster but in the long run... I'm not so sure that was a good idea.

If GMTM wanted to do a complete teardown and rebuild, he souldn't have rushed it the way he did and sold the vision of not 2 drafts to build the team but 3 or 4. He half assed both the teardown and the buildup. He relied too heavily on the Reinhart/Eichel drafts to pan out and didn't even consider a 3rd or 4th year of bottom-feeding in order to have a core of players between 18 and 22 moving forward from this point.

Now we have Kane, 1-year left, ROR 7x7 no defensive depth (supposedly) and a stripped farm team.

Damn.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I don't miss anything we've sent TBH (minus #21 overall we sent to Ottawa). Yea, now we're lacking depth but the pieces we got in return helped. Although it is going to be tough when Kane gets traded/leaves. Just because he was short term and some of the pieces from that trade could pan out to be long term for Winnipeg.

I also never understood why they didn't put McCorrmick on long term. I don't get why there is no rule in the CBA that lets teams terminate contracts of players who everyone knows will not be returning. Pronger's contract I believe has still been own by Arizona to this day and he's been finished for like 5 years now.
- sskkoo1

There was simply no need to.