I just know how this press conference is gonna go

"We think this is a move that benefits us not only this year, but sets us up for years down the road"

Meanwhile, season ticket holders who thought they'd at least get to see Sammy go deep now get to watch Tyrod attempt to figure out the 10-15 yard range which he hasn't been able to do yet.

This move should have been made in the spring. if i were a ticket holder, I would be FURIOUS that what i bought actually isn't what i bought

It's like going to a U2 concert, and at the last minute, they say, "Well U2 isn't here, but you get to see Coldplay and you can't get your money back"
- jcragcrumple

Football teams make trades
I think you're way overexaggerating here

Yep
That's very fair to say

But I'm talking about if WE traded Kane away NOW


Regardless
Trading Sammie potentially helps us get a QB

If u think we need to get a QB in this nextbdraft,
then you should like the moves
- jdfitz77

I like the fact that they got a reasonable return considering his injury problems the last two seasons...

I like that they're out from under that whaley trade-up for Sammy...

I like that they got a serviceable cornerback who might fit well in lynn's d-scheme

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/the-curious-case-of-rasmus-ristolainen-what-role-is-sabres-d-man-best-suited-for

Curious case of Rasmus Ristolainen.
- Der Kaiser

i was going to post but i saw people lining up with wet blanket pics

I don't hate the trade.

I hate that another one of my favorite players to watch is gone.

If this happened two months ago, meh. But right as I was getting ready for the season.
- sbroads24

this is usually a strong motivator for disliking the move

So then he needs to prove it!

He has not to this point were it counts, and that is on the field production they are equal or Matthews is better.
- sabreswarpath

He has proved it
Only injuries have held Sammie back,
not his on field play

Do u even watch football?
Just stop

I like the fact that they got a reasonable return considering his injury problems the last two seasons...

I like that they're out from under that whaley trade-up for Sammy...

I like that they got a serviceable cornerback who might fit well in lynn's d-scheme
- Michael Pachla

Agree
But all those are secondary reasons behind acquiring assets to potentially move up for a QB

What most of us thought when we traded back for the extra 1st,
was just confirmed by these 2 trades

Football teams make trades
I think you're way overexaggerating here
- jdfitz77

Trading your team's (arguably) most talented player on the eve of the season is another tone dead Pegula move.

I respect the guy, but he doesn't understand optics at all. Fans bought tickets based on a team that doesn't exist anymore

I don't hate the trade.

I hate that another one of my favorite players to watch is gone.

If this happened two months ago, meh. But right as I was getting ready for the season.
- sbroads24

That's fair to say

i was going to post but i saw people lining up with wet blanket pics
- Sabresfan-365

I read it as good news.

As I read it, the article says that only reason anyone would be down on Rasmus is because fancy stats might get their knickers in a knot, but even using fancy stats he is better than Matthias Ekholm (from the amazing Nashville Predators D) and Risto's "driving possession" stats are probably as they are because he was forced to play in an overly conservative style by the Maniac Bylsma and that Housely will likely loosen him up.

Its' all good bro.


PPS - nobody ever won a hockey game by possessing the puck (unless and until the biscuit goes in the basket)

pay watkins 15 mil after this season

or let him walk


or move him for a nickle db and pick 35


what would you do?



pay darby 10 mil in 2 years


or move him for pick 75 and a wr that catches 65-75 balls and gets 800-1000 yards per year


what would you do


it's a cap era
- homiedclown

Weren't you just saying yesterday that a pick at the end of the 3rd round means nothing when we were talking about compensation picks?

I read it as good news.

As I read it, the article says that only reason anyone would be down on Rasmus is because fancy stats might get their knickers in a knot, but even using fancy stats he is better than Matthias Ekholm (from the amazing Nashville Predators D) and Risto's stats are probably as they are because he was forced to play in an overly conservative style by the Maniac Bylsma and that Housely will likely loosen him up.

Its' all good bro.
- Der Kaiser

in a single fancy stat presented there, yes. There a lot of pieces to the whole picture. That would be my argument for him. That usage, role and coaching have produced a worst case scenario for him.

They asked an offensive d-man to play like a defensive specialist. No reason why he cant produce 5v5 as well in the right role

Trading your team's (arguably) most talented player on the eve of the season is another tone dead Pegula move.

I respect the guy, but he doesn't understand optics at all. Fans bought tickets based on a team that doesn't exist anymore
- jcragcrumple

It's not the "eve" of the season
With Sammie's injury history, those who bought tix couldn't do so with expectations he'd definitely be in the lineup

Also Sammie is very talented...
but he's no Rice, Moss, or even OBJ

What's the saying...
the name on the front is more important than the name on the back?

Fans didn't buy Sammie Watkins season ticket...
they bought BUFFALO BILLS season tix


TRADES HAPPEN

in a single fancy stat presented there, yes. There a lot of pieces to the whole picture. That would be my argument for him. That usage, role and coaching have produced a worst case scenario for him.

They asked an offensive d-man to play like a defensive specialist. No reason why he cant produce 5v5 as well in the right role
- Sabresfan-365

There are two fancy stats where he is better than ekholm : zone entries and zone exits.

Plus he just flat scores more points.

So how is Ekholm elite and Rasmus a tire fire?

There are two fancy stats where he is better than ekholm : zone entries and zone exits.

Plus he just flat scores more points.

So how is Ekholm elite and Rasmus a tire fire?
- Der Kaiser

I don't ever care at all about these types of articles either way
It's completely beyond me why anyone would give a sh!t about what some random writer has to say?

Weren't you just saying yesterday that a pick at the end of the 3rd round means nothing when we were talking about compensation picks?
- Stripes77

This will be 15 to 20 spots higher

There are two fancy stats where he is better than ekholm : zone entries and zone exits.

Plus he just flat scores more points.

So how is Ekholm elite and Rasmus a tire fire?
- Der Kaiser

2 things:

He is a Sabre

He eats Kale

I read it as good news.

As I read it, the article says that only reason anyone would be down on Rasmus is because fancy stats might get their knickers in a knot, but even using fancy stats he is better than Matthias Ekholm (from the amazing Nashville Predators D) and Risto's "driving possession" stats are probably as they are because he was forced to play in an overly conservative style by the Maniac Bylsma and that Housely will likely loosen him up.

Its' all good bro.


PPS - nobody ever won a hockey game by possessing the puck (unless and until the biscuit goes in the basket)
- Der Kaiser

Possession numbers help predict goals. That's why they are used.

Be the best you can at the process and hope for the results.

He has proved it
Only injuries have held Sammie back,
not his on field play

Do u even watch football?
Just stop
- jdfitz77

Watkins best 2 seasons:
65 rec, 965 yds, 6 TDs
60 rec, 1047 yds, 9 TDs

Williams best 2 seasons:
67 rec, 872, 8 TDs
85 rec, 997, 8 TDs

I am not going to even pretend that the to are on the same level when it comes to potential, but results seem that the actual production on the field won't be a huge drop off.

Now, if Watkins is not able to play a full season this year how will this trade be viewed? Consider the pick that was also received, it could end up looking like a brilliant move.

He has proved it
Only injuries have held Sammie back,
not his on field play

Do u even watch football?
Just stop
- jdfitz77

Watkins has more talent, but on field production are what players at that level are judged by.

Thats the point I am making his injuries have hurt his on field play..he needs to prove he can stay on the field and produce which Matthews has done to this point in his career.

As for watching Football I have coached it for 29 years at a high school level so yeah.

On the Darby trade, I often wondered how good he would look if he didn't have Gilmore on the other side? Two years ago I thought he looked great (often better than Gilmore), but so did Gilmore. Last year they both were garbage. Is he good enough to be your top CB? Or is a #2 CB?

There are two fancy stats where he is better than ekholm : zone entries and zone exits.

Plus he just flat scores more points.

So how is Ekholm elite and Rasmus a tire fire?
- Der Kaiser

well a) he's not a tire fire

b) Ekholm is elite defensively because there are 30 other defensive metrics+eye test that would tell you he's very good in his own end.

It's not the "eve" of the season
With Sammie's injury history, those who bought tix couldn't do so with expectations he'd definitely be in the lineup

Also Sammie is very talented...
but he's no Rice, Moss, or even OBJ

What's the saying...
the name on the front is more important than the name on the back?

Fans didn't buy Sammie Watkins season ticket...
they bought BUFFALO BILLS season tix


TRADES HAPPEN
- jdfitz77

Trades happen, but trades that make your team worse after most of the tickets have been sold is dishonest IMO. This is why people don't trust Brandon, and Pegula to a lesser extent. No one can convince me this trade makes us better this year, and people were under the impression that playoffs were still a goal this year

That's obviously not true now

Trades happen, but trades that make your team worse after most of the tickets have been sold is dishonest IMO. This is why people don't trust Brandon, and Pegula to a lesser extent. No one can convince me this trade makes us better this year, and people were under the impression that playoffs were still a goal this year

That's obviously not true now
- jcragcrumple

Playoffs are not out of the question. We are trying to replace a wr with 430 yards last year.

Playoffs are not out of the question. We are trying to replace a wr with 430 yards last year.
- steve5569

Yeah but we both know that's only partially true. I said this a couple pages back, but if you're serious about the playoffs, you make the Darby trade and not the Watkins trade

Watkins has more talent, but on field production are what players at that level are judged by.

Thats the point I am making his injuries have hurt his on field play..he needs to prove he can stay on the field and produce which Matthews has done to this point in his career.

As for watching Football I have coached it for 29 years at a high school level so yeah.
- sabreswarpath

Sure...
but even 1,000yds by Sammie are more valuable than 1,000yds by Matthews
Defenses schem for Sammie, opening other things up
Matthews is just a guy

So the overall numbers don't tell the entire story
Sammie is a much better WR than Matthews
And has ABSOLUTELY shown it