can't have it both ways though. i think the big moves come after we pick top 10 next year
- Sabresfan-365

Then we have the same situation as Murray.

i would think that if GMJB thought we were further along he wouldn't have picked the longer term project in the 1st round like he did.. but maybe i am wrong
- IndianaSabresFan

There's no one besides the top 2 ready for this coming season. Maybe some of those guys are ready in year 2. I don't see Casey playing NCAA in year 3. He's either in Buffalo Year 3 (19-20) or in Rochester in Year 2 (18-19)

We are 30% for Kovalchuck on the chart.
- SABRES 89

There's no one besides the top 2 ready for next year. Maybe some of those guys are ready in year 2. I don't see Casey playing NCAA in year 3. He's either in Buffalo Year 3 (19-20) or in Rochester in Year 2 (18-19)
- TheSabresTaco

no i didn't think any of them are getting past 9 games that were available.. but i thought a few of them might be ready next year for the AHL at least. from what i read Casey has a longer projected development than the others.. but if he works out could be a good one.

Be patient...but I want it now?
- gcomella34

Cutting dead weight makes us better now, and later.

He needs to get rid of players who aren't in the long term plans.

There is no reason to have all of 28,22,26,63,82,4,47 taking up roster spots if they aren't going to be here 2-3 years from now.

I'd imagine a couple of them are here for a few years, but not all of them

i wouldn't read too much into that, i think they were just looking for the best player/highest ceiling
- Sabresfan-365

Exactly. If you're drafting for 'need', you're already too late.

BPA is the way to go.

Then we have the same situation as Murray.
- sbroads24

i dont follow?

Is it true Okposo has played some time at LW? Maybe we could take a shot at a slightly used Iginla to play with Jack.

Okposo-ROR-Reinhart
Kane-Eichel-Iginla
Foligno-Larsson-Baptiste
Bailey-Erod-girgs

Moulson

i dont follow?
- Sabresfan-365

To quote Mike from Breaking Bad

"No half measures"

Either you are going to try and get better, or you are going to try for a top 3 pick.

Nothing in-between

GMJB said he believes in building though the draft so I don't expect much come Saturday. But I do believe that a couple kids from Rochester might take the needed step this year.
I think we might see a lot of player movement for Rochester to get them back to being competitive.

To quote Mike from Breaking Bad

"No half measures"

Either you are going to try and get better, or you are going to try for a top 3 pick.

Nothing in-between
- sbroads24

there's really not much they can do right now to get markedly better and become a playoff team.

And too much talent on their to really tank.I think he's just waiting for younger players to develop and to have accumulated enough assets through trades like Kane and whatever else they could move at the dead line. Maybe they get lucky with the lottery too who knows.

there's really not much they can do right now to get markedly better and become a playoff team.

And too much talent on their to really tank.I think he's just waiting for younger players to develop and to have accumulated enough assets through trades like Kane and whatever else they could move at the dead line. Maybe they get lucky with the lottery too who knows.
- Sabresfan-365

Maybe our new coaching staff turns this team into a playoff team this year. Maybe our Core stays healthy. Maybe Eichel Puts up 80 points, ROR puts up 70, Kane scores 30, Okposo nets us 65, Antipin pans out, Bogos turns it around.

there's really not much they can do right now to get markedly better and become a playoff team.

And too much talent on their to really tank.I think he's just waiting for younger players to develop and to have accumulated enough assets through trades like Kane and whatever else they could move at the dead line. Maybe they get lucky with the lottery too who knows.
- Sabresfan-365

Then you pick which direction you want to go in and go 100%.

If you don't think there is any chance at playoffs, you move Kane, Lehner, Foligno etc.

If you do think there is a chance then you add to the roster.

No scenario where this roster stays the same ends well for this GM

Then you pick which direction you want to go in and go 100%.

If you don't think there is any chance at playoffs, you move Kane, Lehner, Foligno etc.

If you do think there is a chance then you add to the roster.

No scenario where this roster stays the same ends well for this GM
- sbroads24

True, but I don't think the fan base has the stomach to watch us dump productive players for a mini tank and waste another year. I sure dont

Then you pick which direction you want to go in and go 100%.

If you don't think there is any chance at playoffs, you move Kane, Lehner, Foligno etc.

If you do think there is a chance then you add to the roster.

No scenario where this roster stays the same ends well for this GM
- sbroads24

i cant see ownership letting him do that

True, but I don't think the fan base has the stomach to watch us dump productive players for a mini tank and waste another year. I sure dont
- jcragcrumple

I personally don't have the stomach for another 8th overall pick.

Maybe our new coaching staff turns this team into a playoff team this year. Maybe our Core stays healthy. Maybe Eichel Puts up 80 points, ROR puts up 70, Kane scores 30, Okposo nets us 65, Antipin pans out, Bogos turns it around.
- lulags

new coaching staff isnt suddenly going to take this team from 5th last to playoffs. Pachla's blog just had beaulieu(a guy with red flags) and Bogosian(literal dead weight) in his top four.

That doesnt get you very far.

I personally don't have the stomach for another 8th overall pick.
- sbroads24

Flyers just missed the playoffs and got 2nd pick. Its just bad luck

new coaching staff isnt suddenly going to take this team from 5th last to playoffs. Pachla's blog just had beaulieu(a guy with red flags) and Bogosian(literal dead weight) in his top four.

That doesnt get you very far.
- Sabresfan-365

I am not saying we do not need to add, which we have, but I believe the new staff will absolutely have a positive impact on our current players. also, health was a huge concern last year.

Then you pick which direction you want to go in and go 100%.

If you don't think there is any chance at playoffs, you move Kane, Lehner, Foligno etc.

If you do think there is a chance then you add to the roster.

No scenario where this roster stays the same ends well for this GM
- sbroads24

It is hard to just move "everybody" you dont see here in a few years and devlop your players. So cant have both (unless you then sign more players that you dont see here in 3 years).

But to your point, the offseason is the best time to make trades. In season is real tough to get that to work out. I say trade some guys and take back high salaried players (with this being their last year of their deals) to increase the return.

It is hard to change a team through the draft in just one year. The more I read / see of Mittelstadt, dude looks legit. Seems like this line might be straight nuts?

Nylander Eichel Mittelstadt

new coaching staff isnt suddenly going to take this team from 5th last to playoffs. Pachla's blog just had beaulieu(a guy with red flags) and Bogosian(literal dead weight) in his top four.

That doesnt get you very far.
- Sabresfan-365

I really liked Pach's use of the 10-11 team as a parallel. By almost every measure (except goaltending), i think the projected 17-18 roster has more talent. I wouldn't say it's impossible to make the playoffs. By the way, why did Ruff start Enroth in such an important game? weird.

I personally don't have the stomach for another 8th overall pick.
- sbroads24

But we COULD win the lottery! lol, me too, sick of this talk.

Flyers just missed the playoffs and got 2nd pick. Its just bad luck
- lulags

And then traded a great center. Way to step forward and then step backwards two steps (short term).

new coaching staff isnt suddenly going to take this team from 5th last to playoffs. Pachla's blog just had beaulieu(a guy with red flags) and Bogosian(literal dead weight) in his top four.

That doesnt get you very far.
- Sabresfan-365

Confidence is a powerful tool and we were seriously lacking in the confidence department last year. This is a fresh start for all, including a couple of guys would will be dumped if they do not respond, so let's see how it goes. I have better faith this year than I did last 2.

I am not saying we do not need to add, which we have, but I believe the new staff will absolutely have a positive impact on our current players. also, health was a huge concern last year.
- lulags

we're going to be better, just not sure it will be enough