and 2 years, not 1
- homiedclown

I said 2 yrs.

After all the pre-expansion hype, post-expansion hype, pre-draft hype, and post-draft hype, I'm not holding my breath for much franchise-altering action on the 1st, especially from the Sabres.
- PrinceChill

I'm sure if something is there they will move but, he's patient.

I said 2 yrs.
- SABRES 89

I read (red) that later


Literally soda flew out my nose when I heard it driving home this morning

lehner's shootout save % says otherwise
- homiedclown

I'm not concerned about this. He'll probably progress to the mean. And maybe if they can inch higher than 24th in goals scored, we won't have to worry about the shootout so much.

And maybe if they can inch higher than 24th in goals scored
- PrinceChill

one more reason to extend Kane

I'm sure if something is there they will move but, he's patient.
- SABRES 89

I'm certainly not clamoring for a big July 1st signing. The options are a little sparse and massive overpayments are typically what we see on this day.

Previously, I was expressing frustration with the way media and fans alike insisted there would be some sort of historical, never-before-seen player movement. What a letdown. And there I was, hitting refresh like a rodent pressing a bar waiting for a food pellets. Suckered again.

I'm certainly not clamoring for a big July 1st signing. The options are a little sparse and massive overpayments are typically what we see on this day.

Previously, I was expressing frustration with the way media and fans alike insisted there would be some sort of historical, never-before-seen player movement. What a letdown. And there I was, hitting refresh like a rodent pressing a bar waiting for a food pellets. Suckered again.
- PrinceChill

the team was such a mess

with so much talent (top 40 picks) on the roster


my guess is it's proceed with caution, at least til the christmas trade freeze

one more reason to extend Kane
- homiedclown

I am down with the Clown on this, for sure. Full seasons of Baptiste, Bailey, and Rodriguez combined MIGHT equal Kane's 28 goals.

Goalie is the very least of the Sabres' worries. Or at least, it should be.
- PrinceChill

Idk about that
Lehner had 1 decent year
And a good part of the season was spent playing VERY defensively to try & keep the score down bc Jack, Kane & O'Reilly were out with injuries


Goaltending wasn't so hot the last half of the year

tough question

1. eichel needs to be the number 1 center

2. penalty kill has to improve

3. goalies need to be more clutch

4. the 2 best wingers needs to play with Jack
If it's Kane and Okposo, fine
If it's Bailey/Nylander and Reinhart fine


5. Gionta needs to come back on a year deal and give up the C. He was probably our best player on the bottom 6


6. A kid needs to step up, for top 9 from the rochester core and you need to have difference makers ready to come up and round out your roster on the cheap.

7. They need a winning culture now, not 2 years from now. Otherwise why keep Okposo and Kane
- homiedclown

Definitely don't agree with #4

Crosby doesn't play with Pitt's best wingers
Toews doesn't play with PK88
And there's lots more examples

Idk about that
Lehner had 1 decent year
And a good part of the season was spent playing VERY defensively to try & keep the score down bc Jack, Kane & O'Reilly were out with injuries


Goaltending wasn't so hot the last half of the year
- jdfitz77

Goal scoring wasn't so hot ALL year. And the less said about last year's defense, the better. I think we're fine with the goalies we have right now.

the team was such a mess

with so much talent (top 40 picks) on the roster


my guess is it's proceed with caution, at least til the christmas trade freeze
- homiedclown

Honestly, I'm fine with a cautious approach. Let's see how the new coaches do. See how the defense comes together, and we can see an uptick in O, before we start plunking down big bucks in FA.
As much as I want to see improvement in blue and gold, just as much I need to see more development in Rochester. It's absolutely essential.

Definitely don't agree with #4

Crosby doesn't play with Pitt's best wingers
Toews doesn't play with PK88
And there's lots more examples
- jdfitz77

I'd like us to have a getz-perry or seguin-benn combo for the next 5 years

Goal scoring wasn't so hot ALL year. And the less said about last year's defense, the better. I think we're fine with the goalies we have right now.
- PrinceChill

Based on what?
Goalies numbers were good in the first half,
when we held back offensively

But when Jack, Kane & Oreilly got healthy, we played more offensively
And we were top10 in the league in scoring

But what happened to goals allowed?
It went way up

So what's gonna happen when J Botts & Housley have us attacking even more?

Reasonable thinking would say the goaltending will be more like the 2nd half of the season than the 1st half

Idk about that
Lehner had 1 decent year
And a good part of the season was spent playing VERY defensively to try & keep the score down bc Jack, Kane & O'Reilly were out with injuries


Goaltending wasn't so hot the last half of the year
- jdfitz77

lehner's career high was 36 nhl games before he played in 59 last season

he looked wore down on more then a few games the last few months

I think it's girgens and foligno moving forward, beyond 2017-18

or kane

As much as I want to see improvement in blue and gold, just as much I need to see more development in Rochester. It's absolutely essential.
- PrinceChill

it was nice hearing the new assistant gm talk about rochester in detail and attending games there

the team was such a mess

with so much talent (top 40 picks) on the roster


my guess is it's proceed with caution, at least til the christmas trade freeze
- homiedclown

I think a lot of what we saw last year was a system woefully inappropriate for the talent on the team. And when they were allowed to play uptempo they had all those 3rd period comebacks, the team never went away. The pieces are there, it's up to the coach to utilize them effectively.

lehner's career high was 36 nhl games before he played in 59 last season

he looked wore down on more then a few games the last few months
- homiedclown

To be fair, the whole team looked worn down from that Chicago game leading into the bye week to the end of the season.

I'd like us to have a getz-perry or seguin-benn combo for the next 5 years
- homiedclown

I'm not opposed, but it's not necessary either

We could also do the 3 scoring line approach instead
Maybe Bailey & Baptiste can play with Jack and be our version of Sheary & Guentzil?

Maybe not...
I'm just saying we don't necessarily have to have our 2 best wingers with Jack, then our next best 2 with O'Reilly, and so on

I think it's girgens and foligno moving forward, beyond 2017-18

or kane
- homiedclown

Not sure what u mean here...

Are u saying if we keep Kane, then u think Girgs & Foligno will be gone?
Idk... maybe
Neither of them cost that much
So unless we are bringing in high prices guys that put us near the Cap ceiling,
I could see all 3 still here if they're playing well[/img]

To be fair, the whole team looked worn down from that Chicago game leading into the bye week to the end of the season.
- Wetbandit1

I think a lot of it was mental
Playing from behind all year takes a toll
As did the roller coaster between getting close to 8th,
then taking a step or 2 back

Especially when a big part of the team is so young

Based on what?
Goalies numbers were good in the first half,
when we held back offensively

But when Jack, Kane & Oreilly got healthy, we played more offensively
And we were top10 in the league in scoring

But what happened to goals allowed?
It went way up

So what's gonna happen when J Botts & Housley have us attacking even more?

Reasonable thinking would say the goaltending will be more like the 2nd half of the season than the 1st half
- jdfitz77

If the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres end up in the top 10 in goals scored, I will be absolutely floored.
If Lehner is the source of most of the Sabre's problems, that's good cuz replacing one guy should be easy. And l I hope Botts recognizes that quickly. The solution? Start Ullmark all year? FA goalie like Johnson or Niemi?

If the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres end up in the top 10 in goals scored, I will be absolutely floored.
If Lehner is the source of most of the Sabre's problems, that's good cuz replacing one guy should be easy. And l I hope Botts recognizes that quickly. The solution? Start Ullmark all year? FA goalie like Johnson or Niemi?
- PrinceChill

It's not that simple is what I'm saying

I was just pointing out that the goaltending wasn't as good when we started playing a more offensive game last year
And it sounds like we will play more offensively this year is well

So idk if the goaltending is really all that set?
Defense is gonna have to be better to help them out

I could see someone ponying up an extra 3rd, I guess. I like Kane and would prefer to keep him.

But as many here are quick to remind, Kane takes photos with stacks of cash, has legal and civil problems, shoots wide from the boards, and takes penalties.
- PrinceChill

And above all .... he's big in the pants.