we want to win cup(s)? look any team can spend money, make trades and put together a 6th seed playoff team that might win a series, but thats not why tore this whole thing down to build around eichel.

If players become available who can be part of a cup contending core im all for it but if not there's no sense in rushing things just to lose in 5 in the first round.
- Sabresfan-365

Like Nashville did? 16th seed
Obviously they have a superior defense, but we are much stronger at Center, & our wingers at least rival theirs... and we have possibly 4 top6 quality wingers on the way soon

Or Ottawa? 13th seed, came within 1 goal of beating the back to back Cup champs & almost everyone predicted they'd get whipped in round 1... heck, they barely made the playoffs

Besides Karlsson, I'd take our entire roster over theirs if we fix our defense

Or Toronto? 30th last year, 15th this year & gave the Caps a run for their $$
I'm good with our roster vs theirs also

Or Edmonton? 29th last year, almost won't the division this year & took the Ducks to 7 games... besides McDavid & Draisaitl, again is like our lineup with the defense fixed



The difference between winning & losing is smaller than ever
And we are not as far away as you'd think

Like Nashville did? 16th seed
Obviously they have a superior defense, but we are much stronger at Center, & our wingers at least rival theirs... and we have possibly 4 top6 quality wingers on the way soon

Or Ottawa? 13th seed, came within 1 goal of beating the back to back Cup champs & almost everyone predicted they'd get whipped in round 1... heck, they barely made the playoffs

Besides Karlsson, I'd take our entire roster over theirs if we fix our defense

Or Toronto? 30th last year, 15th this year & gave the Caps a run for their $$
I'm good with our roster vs theirs also

Or Edmonton? 29th last year, almost won't the division this year & took the Ducks to 7 games... besides McDavid & Draisaitl, again is like our lineup with the defense fixed



The difference between winning & losing is smaller than ever
And we are not as far away as you'd think
- jdfitz77

Okay a couple of things,

Nashville was only a 16th seed on paper, that lineup in front of rinne was great and they wound up looking great once their 7 million dollar goalie got his head out of his ass.

Ottawa? The team that faced boston without 2 of their best d-man and then the middling rangers who still think girardi and staal are solid d-men.

I wouldnt take our roster over torontos. better goalie, better d-core, and better wingers.

And yes we're defenitely just like edmonton except for the potentially best player in the world the potentially next evgeni malkin and the fact that they actually have a good group of young d-men who can move the puck. not to mention that talbot was basically lights out after the first 2 months or so.

We dont have a draisaitl or klefbom and its not going to happen in one off season

bottom line, i dont see the need to set lofty expectations and rush things for a new GM trying to change the culture of the team.

sure they could move 8th for one d-man and nylander for another, good chance neither are guys. It may get you to the 2nd round, maybe even a conf final appearance if we're lucky. I personally don't want that to be our ceiling.

We need to find our next Jochen Hecht. Now that guy should have been el capitan instead of Pomminville and co.

I wouldn't mind Vanek for a year while Nylander develops fully.
- Wetbandit1

For what?
PP is already good

I thought we wanted to get faster?
Play Bailey &/or Baptiste over Vanek
They're ready
Maybe not ready to score 20+
But they can play at this level

I want absolutely nothing to do with Vanek

I have said I'd take Pommer back,
but that's in a trade where we also get a defenseman & get a discount for taking Pommer's salary off their hands

bottom line, i dont see the need to set lofty expectations and rush things for a new GM trying to change the culture of the team.

sure they could move 8th for one d-man and nylander for another, good chance neither are guys. It may get you to the 2nd round, maybe even a conf final appearance if we're lucky. I personally don't want that to be our ceiling.
- Sabresfan-365

You're arbitrarily setting a ceiling for us without any evidence that we can't do better than what you're thinking

Sure... maybe it does only get us to the 2nd round THIS year
Why does that mean we can't continue to get better?

This "ceiling" only exists bc YOU are placing it there

Tell me what u predicted Edmonton & Toronto would do this year...
then tell me what u predicted Nashville & Ottawa would do in the playoffs...

I bet it all would've been VERY similar to the things you're saying about the Sabres right now...
true or false?

a few more teams asked about lehner today, so I was told


nucks, colorado, yotes
- homiedclown

But, but, but Lehner stinks. Doesn't he?

[quote=jdfitz77]
@jdfitz and small differences.

Can I get a witness?
Can I get a hallelujah?
Can I get an amen??!!

You're arbitrarily setting a ceiling for us without any evidence that we can't do better than what you're thinking

Sure... maybe it does only get us to the 2nd round THIS year
Why does that mean we can't continue to get better?

This "ceiling" only exists bc YOU are placing it there

Tell me what u predicted Edmonton & Toronto would do this year...
then tell me what u predicted Nashville & Ottawa would do in the playoffs...

I bet it all would've been VERY similar to the things you're saying about the Sabres right now...
true or false?
- jdfitz77

Yes. Because of course once we add 2 dmen we will stop any other efforts to improve and run into a ceiling.

You don't want lehner at 4.5, but have no problem paying one if the stars goalies more than that?
- Mentalorgasm5

Lehner would be long term. Stars goalie is one year. You could probably get them to eat salary too.

be prepared to pay 5 mil plus then
- homiedclown

Is this the same as when Girgensons was going to be paid $3.5M...?

Is this the same as when Girgensons was going to be paid $3.5M...?
- kingcong39

Ugh. The overpayment of the bottom 6 players was unbelievable under GMTM.

And most of the defensemen as well.

Ugh. The overpayment of the bottom 6 players was unbelievable under GMTM.

And most of the defensemen as well.
- mattsox

My post was total sarcasm as we were told over and over that Girgensons would cost $3M-$3.5M and he ended up costing all of...$1.15M last season.

I'll believe it when I see it regarding Lehner getting paid $5M.

My post was total sarcasm as we were told over and over that Girgensons would cost $3M-$3.5M and he ended up costing all of...$1.15M last season.

I'll believe it when I see it regarding Lehner getting paid $5M.
- kingcong39

I agree with the Lehner thing. Bishop is much more accomplished than Lehner is. He simply doesn't have the contractual pull. If he re-signs here, 3.5x2. That pay raise will include dialogue that says something along the lines of "he earned this raise and we're excited to see him grow"

Any discussion of Lehner just shows how spoiled Sabres fans have been when it comes to goalies. He's good. I can't believe people see Nilsson as a potentially better goalie.

I agree with the Lehner thing. Bishop is much more accomplished than Lehner is. He simply doesn't have the contractual pull. If he re-signs here, 3.5x2.
- TheSabresTaco

That's pretty much exactly where I think he will land.

Maybe $3.75M. Maybe.

That said, I think he far from sucks like most everyone else seems to think.

Ugh. The overpayment of the bottom 6 players was unbelievable under GMTM.

And most of the defensemen as well.
- mattsox

I am confused. Are you joking? Who did he overpay?

Let's be fair here:

Tyler Ennis: 5 years $23 mil ($4.6 average) 2014 contract was given
2012-2013 (lockout year) 47 games 31 points
2013-2014 78 games 46 points

Matt Moulson: 5 years $25 mil ($5 average) 2014 contact was given
2012-2013 47 games 44 points
2013-2014 75 games (Islanders, Sabres, Wild) 51 points

Foligno: 2 years $3.750 ($1.875 average) 2014 contact was given
2013-2014 74 games 19 points

1 year $2.25 2016 contract was given
2015-2016 75 games 23 points

Girgensons: 1 year $1.15 in 2016
2015-2016 71 games 18 points

Most other guys are FA's and that is a slightly different story. So we are talking about an RFA (Lehner), and I know Murray is now not giving contracts, so it is a moot point.

But who did Murray over pay on that was a bottom 6 or D man?

Any discussion of Lehner just shows how spoiled Sabres fans have been when it comes to goalies. He's good. I can't believe people see Nilsson as a potentially better goalie.
- jcragcrumple

I'm not sure what GMJB plan is at Goalie, but it sounds like they're trying to Move Lehner and make one last pitch at Peterson.

So it seems they want to go in a different direction. As to what the final result will be, is anyone's guess, unless they're in the know.

terrorism?
- homiedclown

(frank)ed up landlord

That's pretty much exactly where I think he will land.

Maybe $3.75M. Maybe.

That said, I think he far from sucks like most everyone else seems to think.
- kingcong39

He sucks in the shootout. But no one can prove he's a bad or even below average goalie during game play. Best evidence I've seen from folks here was cherry picking at best.

(Using the past 2 seasons as a benchmark)

I am confused. Are you joking? Who did he overpay?

Let's be fair here:

Tyler Ennis: 5 years $23 mil ($4.6 average) 2014 contract was given
2012-2013 (lockout year) 47 games 31 points
2013-2014 78 games 46 points

Matt Moulson: 5 years $25 mil ($5 average) 2014 contact was given
2012-2013 47 games 44 points
2013-2014 75 games (Islanders, Sabres, Wild) 51 points

Foligno: 2 years $3.750 ($1.875 average) 2014 contact was given
2013-2014 74 games 19 points

1 year $2.25 2016 contract was given
2015-2016 75 games 23 points

Girgensons: 1 year $1.15 in 2016
2015-2016 71 games 18 points

Most other guys are FA's and that is a slightly different story. So we are talking about an RFA (Lehner), and I know Murray is now not giving contracts, so it is a moot point.

But who did Murray over pay on that was a bottom 6 or D man?
- Lilroot9

Moulson and Ennis are over paid for being 3rd 4th liners.

He also inherited some bad contracts in Bogo and Kuli.

Franson was overpaid

Any discussion of Lehner just shows how spoiled Sabres fans have been when it comes to goalies. He's good. I can't believe people see Nilsson as a potentially better goalie.
- jcragcrumple

It's not that they see him as a better goaltender. It's about salary and cap space as well. If Lehner and Nilsson made the same amount of money, most would favor Lehner. The issue is that the gap in salary (more appropriately, potential salary that Lehner is going to command) is wider than the gap in talent.

I am confused. Are you joking? Who did he overpay?

Let's be fair here:

Tyler Ennis: 5 years $23 mil ($4.6 average) 2014 contract was given
2012-2013 (lockout year) 47 games 31 points
2013-2014 78 games 46 points

Matt Moulson: 5 years $25 mil ($5 average) 2014 contact was given
2012-2013 47 games 44 points
2013-2014 75 games (Islanders, Sabres, Wild) 51 points

Foligno: 2 years $3.750 ($1.875 average) 2014 contact was given
2013-2014 74 games 19 points

1 year $2.25 2016 contract was given
2015-2016 75 games 23 points

Girgensons: 1 year $1.15 in 2016
2015-2016 71 games 18 points

Most other guys are FA's and that is a slightly different story. So we are talking about an RFA (Lehner), and I know Murray is now not giving contracts, so it is a moot point.

But who did Murray over pay on that was a bottom 6 or D man?
- Lilroot9

I'm glad you did the work on this post cause I sure as poop wasn't. But I agree. Moulson is the only contract I objected to at the time, but I think he was bribed to play here. He was already slow(ing down) and aging. 5x5 is extremely risking for a non-star. But, I guess the way business needs to be ran sometimes.

Take it or leave it. A source of mine said coach announced next week (wouldn't tell me who). Also said the Sabres have INQUIRED about a blockbuster trade for Kane....Patrick Kane. Yes. Again, no further details on the offer.

Please note: i have no further info. My source does work for the Sabres. Also note the word inquired... meaning it probably won't happen.

just sharing what I have heard.

So Housely or Tocchet?