I think development is just as important, maybe even moreso
- Michael Pachla

By all means draft defensemen this year...lots of them

But you have to put the best team on the ice in Buffalo this year

Well one of us can have opinions & still be polite
- jdfitz77

GMTM is gone because the D sucked last and he latched onto d*ckhead Dan as a coach. past is the past, we move on. Sergachev over Nylander would have made a lot of sense, but if Alex develops anything like William has, GMTM made the right choice.

So waste years of his ELC in Rochester?

Nobody is saying Guhle is a top pairing guy.

But he should be a 4/5 guy to start and see how he handles it.

He has been in the system for a bit now. Adding weight seems to be almost everyone's reasoning for sending him to Rochester...well you don't add weight during the season, you do that in the off season.

If he is in Buffalo and looks like a dumpster fire then by all means send him to Rochester to work on his game, but as almost every reporter that covers the Sabres has been saying he is ready for the NHL game.

The blue line was one of the main reasons the Sabres were bad last year, here is a guy that improves it but lets send him to Rochester? That doesn't make sense.

Risto McCabe
Antipin Bogo
Guhle Fedun
Gorges

or

Risto McCabe
Antipin Bogo
Gorges Fedun

The top option looks a helluva lot better than the bottom option...

Even if Botterill can poach a team that is going to lose a defensemen in expansion

Risto McCabe
Antipin Player X
Guhle Bogo
Gorges

Risto McCabe
Antipin Player X
Gorges Bogo

The lineup looks better with Guhle in it.
- Stripes77

OR...

(new guy) - Risto
McCabe - (new guy)
Antipin - Bogo
Falk
*Guhle will be up soon enough when Bogo gets hurt

Let me ask this...
if we only bring in 1 guy in the top4 like u suggest
What if Guhle struggles & Bogo gets hurt (or just keeps sucking)?
Then we have:
new guy - Risto
McCabe - Antipin (who's not a sure thing)
Falk - Fedun

Hello top10 pick once again

GMTM is gone because the D sucked last and he latched onto d*ckhead Dan as a coach. past is the past, we move on. Sergachev over Nylander would have made a lot of sense, but if Alex develops anything like William has, GMTM made the right choice.
- turbo044

I like Nylander
But there's a reason we are thin on defense
Gotta draft & develop

I think development is just as important, maybe even moreso
- Michael Pachla

Fair...
but obviously easier to develop better talent than worse

OR...

(new guy) - Risto
McCabe - (new guy)
Antipin - Bogo
Falk
*Guhle will be up soon enough when Bogo gets hurt

Let me ask this...
if we only bring in 1 guy in the top4 like u suggest
What if Guhle struggles & Bogo gets hurt (or just keeps sucking)?
Then we have:
new guy - Risto
McCabe - Antipin (who's not a sure thing)
Falk - Fedun

Hello top10 pick once again
- jdfitz77

Wait so you're all about drafting defense right?

Where the hell are the Sabres adding 2 top 4 defensemen this year and still having draft picks to draft D?

Also Gorges isn't going anywhere and he plays the 3rd pairing role just fine.

By all means draft defensemen this year...lots of them

But you have to put the best team on the ice in Buffalo this year
- Stripes77

For me, that means bringing in 2 more top4 defensemen

For me, that means bringing in 2 more top4 defensemen
- jdfitz77

You can't do both

You're more than likely trading your first round pick this year to get one top 4 d, and if you're trying to add another you're likely moving Kane and the 2nd round pick to get even someone that might resemble a 2nd pairing guy.

By all means draft defensemen this year...lots of them

But you have to put the best team on the ice in Buffalo this year
- Stripes77

they can...key for Rochester will be to surround youngins with quality vets...

from 2013-15 veteran drew bagnall mentored a both Risto and McCabe...last year they had no one as respected as him on the back-end

they can...key for Rochester will be to surround youngins with quality vets...

from 2013-15 veteran drew bagnall mentored a both Risto and McCabe...last year they had no one as respected as him on the back-end
- Michael Pachla

Amerks just fired Lambert?

MORE NEW HEAD COACHES! YAY!

Lambert has been fired in Rochester (not surprised)

Hire Tockett as HC in Buffalo hire Housley as HC in Rochester!

Obviously wont happen

OR...

(new guy) - Risto
McCabe - (new guy)
Antipin - Bogo
Falk
*Guhle will be up soon enough when Bogo gets hurt

Let me ask this...
if we only bring in 1 guy in the top4 like u suggest
What if Guhle struggles & Bogo gets hurt (or just keeps sucking)?
Then we have:
new guy - Risto
McCabe - Antipin (who's not a sure thing)
Falk - Fedun

Hello top10 pick once again
- jdfitz77

and this would be bad? We could use one more

Fair...
but obviously easier to develop better talent than worse
- jdfitz77

yup, but it's also good to keep in mind that players develop at a different rate...and i'll also add that it was effed up in buffalo and Rochester last year...to the point where the gm, his top two scouts, the sabres head coach and now the amerks head coach were all fired

Lambert has been fired in Rochester (not surprised)
- Stripes77

Lambert was Bylsma jr. good riddance

Wait so you're all about drafting defense right?

Where the hell are the Sabres adding 2 top 4 defensemen this year and still having draft picks to draft D?

Also Gorges isn't going anywhere and he plays the 3rd pairing role just fine.
- Stripes77

Gorges needs to go
Trade some of the dozen or so forward prospects we have for defense

Also...
if the top4 guys we add are young enough,
We won't have a huge need right away at defense
So I'm ok if we use picks to get young defensemen that'll be here a while
We do have an extra 2nd this year as well

For example:
Brodin(23) - Risto (22)
McCabe (23) - Manson (25)
Antipin (24)

-Guhle (20) coming

Hey... I hate the spot we are in now
But we have to do what we can... it's not an ideal situation
Darcy messed up on building defensive depth as well

Hire Tockett as HC in Buffalo hire Housley as HC in Rochester!

Obviously wont happen
- Stripes77

other way around sounds better to me

and this would be bad? We could use one more
- Sabresfan-365

I'd rather be in the playoffs, wouldn't you?

I'd rather be in the playoffs, wouldn't you?
- jdfitz77

rather build a cup contender tbh

other way around sounds better to me
- MCGUIZZY

Gorges needs to go
Trade some of the dozen or so forward prospects we have for defense

Also...
if the top4 guys we add are young enough,
We won't have a huge need right away at defense
So I'm ok if we use picks to get young defensemen that'll be here a while
We do have an extra 2nd this year as well

For example:
Brodin(23) - Risto (22)
McCabe (23) - Manson (25)
Antipin (24)

-Guhle (20) coming

Hey... I hate the spot we are in now
But we have to do what we can... it's not an ideal situation
Darcy messed up on building defensive depth as well
- jdfitz77

Find me a deal any NHL GM will take for Brodin or Manson using the current Sabres prospect pool...

Be realistic.

Adding one of those guys is going to be tough enough and it's going to cost a lot to do so, there are lots of NHL teams looking for young good defensemen...the price is going to be high.

I'd rather be in the playoffs, wouldn't you?
- jdfitz77

10000% i dont want to pick in top 10 ever again if it was up to me. Other teams find ways to make their team better without them.

If we are picking high again next season its another huge failure. and another year wasted

You can't do both

You're more than likely trading your first round pick this year to get one top 4 d, and if you're trying to add another you're likely moving Kane and the 2nd round pick to get even someone that might resemble a 2nd pairing guy.
- Stripes77

I don't think we have to trade Kane to do that
Yes... our situation sucks bc we haven't been drafting defensemen

So I'd trade a first for a defensemen
And then something like Fasching + 2nd for another

Pick a defenseman with our other 2nd
And both 3rds

10000% i dont want to pick in top 10 ever again if it was up to me. Other teams find ways to make their team better without them.

If we are picking high again next season its another huge failure. and another year wasted
- MCGUIZZY

Other teams have their core in place.

rather build a cup contender tbh
- Sabresfan-365

Top 10 picks are great as long as you select the right player and then develop him


You have to get to the dance to give yourself a chance at the cup.

Try like hell to keep this years first and still get a top 4 D and then draft the right defensemen.

A new coach and a much improved blue line could do wonders...look at Ottawa (granted that's not how I want the Sabres to play) but IF and that is a big IF Botterill can fix the blue line the Sabres can make some noise next year.