But then there's Ottawa and Nashville

Ottawa has Karlsson

Nashville has 3 guys who are number 1's really
- Stripes77

Unless you draft a Karlsson you dont get that guy. Same with Nashville, where did they get all the D? The draft in the last 7 years. (Yes Subban was a trade, but they traded a top end D man and pay $9m for Subban)

But what do your forwards look like?
- Lilroot9

Vanek -Eichel-Baptiste
Ennis-ROR-Okposo
Foligno/Carrier-Larsson-Gionta
Foligno/Carrier-Girgensons-Bailey/Fasching

Unless you draft a Karlsson you dont get that guy. Same with Nashville, where did they get all the D? The draft in the last 7 years. (Yes Subban was a trade, but they traded a top end D man and pay $9m for Subban)
- Lilroot9

I get what you're saying and I agree but there will always be talk of ways to get that number one guy in Buffalo

Vanek -Eichel-Baptiste
Ennis-ROR-Okposo
Foligno/Carrier-Larsson-Gionta
Foligno/Carrier-Girgensons-Bailey/Fasching
- Pegullaville

There are 3 guys in your top 3 that don't belong there

Vanek -Eichel-Baptiste
Ennis-ROR-Okposo
Foligno/Carrier-Larsson-Gionta
Foligno/Carrier-Girgensons-Bailey/Fasching
- Pegullaville

We are a worse team in this scenario

I get what you're saying and I agree but there will always be talk of ways to get that number one guy in Buffalo
- Stripes77

We can talk about it for sure, but I dont know how you get a top 2 D man without giving up TONS. Not your scrap heap of Kane and a 1st. I like Kane, but he is not getting you that top end D man. How about a Taylor Hall for a D man? Who is our Taylor Hall (quick answer is we dont have one, besides untouchable Eichel).

There are 3 guys in your top 3 that don't belong there
- Stripes77

Baptiste has the speed to play there. Take Rust, Sheary, and Guentzel off Pittsburgh and I guarantee you we don't know the names of any of those 3 guys. Eichel can carry the weight by himself on his own line. ROR and Okposo are 50+ point guys on your 2nd line.

Basically an AHL player that excelled in the KHL.... Do we really think his game will translate now?
IDK. Maybe.
- jochfr

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ts/pdisplay.php?pid=81455

he did play in the AHL when he was younger. not terrible numbers. but yeah who knows.

EXGMTM joining Fletcher in Minny
- Stripes77

so it has become a lot tougher to trade with minny now i would think

Baptiste has the speed to play there. Take Rust, Sheary, and Guentzel off Pittsburgh and I guarantee you we don't know the names of any of those 3 guys. Eichel can carry the weight by himself on his own line. ROR and Okposo are 50+ point guys on your 2nd line.
- Pegullaville

I think a guy like Baptiste is someone id want to add into the line up later in the year. Not pencil him in the top 6 right now. I think if you go into the year with him there you are worse.

Baptiste has the speed to play there. Take Rust, Sheary, and Guentzel off Pittsburgh and I guarantee you we don't know the names of any of those 3 guys. Eichel can carry the weight by himself on his own line. ROR and Okposo are 50+ point guys on your 2nd line.
- Pegullaville

So because Baptiste has the speed means he ends up on the first line?

Vanek doesn't belong anywhere near a NHL top 6

Ennis is not a top 6 forward either.

Eichel should be able to carry the weight himself but that doesn't mean you just plug and play other guys.

Pittsburgh also has guys like Malkin and Kessel to fall back on if the Crosby line isn't producing. The Sabres do not have that kind of depth.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=81455

he did play in the AHL when he was younger. not terrible numbers. but yeah who knows.
- IndianaSabresFan

I think I want Chris Lee as a 2 year Stop gap.

I dont think I draft a D unless I am sure he is going to be a stud. Take a top winger to sub in with Eichel or O'Reilly in a few years at a low cap hit. Rinse, repeat.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=81455

he did play in the AHL when he was younger. not terrible numbers. but yeah who knows.
- IndianaSabresFan

Can his 36 year old body take the punishment of an 82 game season?

But then there's Ottawa and Nashville

Ottawa has Karlsson

Nashville has 3 guys who are number 1's really

Point being there is no right way to skin a cat...

But Buffalo desperately needs to improve their blue line.
- Stripes77

you take the skin off..

are you including Josi in that nashville #1, because he is worse than franson

you take the skin off..

are you including Josi in that nashville #1, because he is worse than franson
- IndianaSabresFan

Clearly!

I think I want Chris Lee as a 2 year Stop gap.

I dont think I draft a D unless I am sure he is going to be a stud. Take a top winger to sub in with Eichel or O'Reilly in a few years at a low cap hit. Rinse, repeat.
- Lilroot9

Really hope we can grab Tippett in the draft. Heiskanen would be the closest to getting on an NHL roster tho i believe. if we take Liljegren or Heiskanen and they play next year in AHL, they may only need a year

Can his 36 year old body take the punishment of an 82 game season?
- Stripes77

he does have old balls.. probably not

"Bring in Vanek to replace Kane?"
-Kevin Peters

No.

No!

NO!

Reinhart, Kane and 8th overall probably
- Stripes77

done

done
- BeadyEyedDouche

If there was a Kessel on this team I would be on board but with there already being a hole in the top 6 and then removing two more pieces you're looking for 3 forwards in the top 6 to replace...

That is my big hang up

So because Baptiste has the speed means he ends up on the first line?

Vanek doesn't belong anywhere near a NHL top 6

Ennis is not a top 6 forward either.

Eichel should be able to carry the weight himself but that doesn't mean you just plug and play other guys.

Pittsburgh also has guys like Malkin and Kessel to fall back on if the Crosby line isn't producing. The Sabres do not have that kind of depth.
- Stripes77

If Baptiste played a full 82 game season on Eichel's line he gives you 40 points. I'll make a bet on it. Ennis was showing some of the promise he had a couple years ago at the end of the year last year and his speed would go well alongside ROR. Like yea can the roster be upgraded further and more trades can be made. But if OEL can be had for Kane, Reinhart/Nylander and 8th pick I do that all day

If Baptiste played a full 82 game season on Eichel's line he gives you 40 points. I'll make a bet on it. Ennis was showing some of the promise he had a couple years ago at the end of the year last year and his speed would go well alongside ROR. Like yea can the roster be upgraded further and more trades can be made. But if OEL can be had for Kane, Reinhart/Nylander and 8th pick I do that all day
- Pegullaville

You're counting on a rookie, Thomas Vanek who is 33 years old, and Tyler Ennis

Will someone explain to me why people think Tyler Ennis will turn into a top 6 forward? He has played 74 games in the last 2 seasons and has 24 points to show for... it's time to move on from him or at least move on from the concept he is a top 6 forward on this team.

I wouldn't mind a Vanek Ennis and Baptiste 3rd line however

I feel like there's an obsession with getting a top pairing d-man

A.) Nobody is trading one

B.) One guy wont solve the issue. We need to upgrade the D as a whole


Risto is the guy right now. Need to upgrade his supporting cast. That will solve a lot more issue in my opinion
- MCGUIZZY

Hamilton
Jones
Weber
Subban

All traded within the last year or 2

I wouldn't mind a Vanek Ennis and Baptiste 3rd line however
- Stripes77

I'd rather have foligno-larsson and gionta for a year on the 3rd line

You're counting on a rookie, Thomas Vanek who is 33 years old, and Tyler Ennis

Will someone explain to me why people think Tyler Ennis will turn into a top 6 forward? He has played 74 games in the last 2 seasons and has 24 points to show for... it's time to move on from him or at least move on from the concept he is a top 6 forward on this team.

I wouldn't mind a Vanek Ennis and Baptiste 3rd line however
- Stripes77

Like I said it doesn't have to be Vanek, you can find plug and play guys in FA. #1 D-Man aren't. You have two centres in Eichel and O'Reilly who are a GM's wet dream. Like I said if you want make a bet on Baptiste I'm ready. You can make the terms