I don’t think that has to be the case.

We have to remember though, we went through the tank, and suffering to build a cup contending roster, not to just make the playoffs.

It needs some turnover, probably a lot of it if we want to actually contend for a cup
- sbroads24

sure it does...but they're talking about blowing it up now and in effect tanking again

It's all very frustrating, watching a lot of other teams young players start to blossom and our guys just do nothing. hell we have an expansion team full of players from all the other NHL teams that have only been playing together for what 4 months with a 9-4 record and playing more like a team then we are.
- hehateme

frustration rules sabreland right now

Stay the course.

Get healthy and let's see what the D can do. Trading Reinhart isn't going to solve any problems, and i think Botterill knows that. Keep adding pieces. The fourth line needs to be able to play 10 minutes a game and have some modicum of offensive production, which isn't happening right now. This many games in, every player on that line should have 3 points (at least).

Get healthy bodies back, and we'll see a product like we did on opening night. It won't always be wins, but it will be better
- jcragcrumple

So will just be another average team that will be fighting for that wildcard lol

don’t you want to be the team that people look at and say I want my team built like that


Some people thing this team is jsuddenly going to be a juggernaut playoff team. let’s be serious

[img][/img]

this is a pretty level-headed approach
- Michael Pachla

There's a level of frustration, no doubt, but i don't think it's as bad as it seems. Contrary to some thought, we do have good players in the top 6. Add a nice player in the top 6 next year, and Pominville can play a third line role with Reinhart, and hopefully the fourth line gets some speedsters.

The amount of fatigue on the high-end guys is tough right now because Housley is using 3 lines basically.

Just wait until Housley can get a coterie of 4 dmen he can rely on, or at least until we get Bogo, Beaulieu and Risto back.

This sky is not falling, and there's no need to rip anything apart. Add a touch of high end speed, reliablity on the back end, and production in the bottom six, and we're going to be good sooner rather than later.

You already have your two franchise players in place you’re most likely going to draft the defenseman or a winger

It’s just gonna be more of the same until you fix the problems and you can’t do that without Getting rid of the bad contracts moving underachievers etc

The Sabres just have to suck it up and just start over
- GERBE!!!75PTS

imo, the lack of young talent ready to step into an NHL role is hurting this team more than bad contracts

So will just be another average team that will be fighting for that wildcard lol

don’t you want to be the team that people look at and say I want my team built like that


Some people thing this team is jsuddenly going to be a juggernaut playoff team. let’s be serious


- GERBE!!!75PTS[img][/img]

I don't think anyone has said that

sure it does...but they're talking about blowing it up now and in effect tanking again
- Michael Pachla

We are tanking are we not?

So will just be another average team that will be fighting for that wildcard lol

don’t you want to be the team that people look at and say I want my team built like that


Some people thing this team is jsuddenly going to be a juggernaut playoff team. let’s be serious


- GERBE!!!75PTS[img][/img]

I don't agree with that. I don't think our structural problems extend further than bad depth, bad bottom six, injuries and a few missing players. You and I have argued this point to death, but we're never going to agree on one simple point: we do have a bunch of good players here.

And just to preempt this topic: no, i'm not a fan who "accepts mediocrity," this is what i believe to be true.

We are tanking are we not?
- hehateme

who? the sabres?

There's a level of frustration, no doubt, but i don't think it's as bad as it seems. Contrary to some thought, we do have good players in the top 6. Add a nice player in the top 6 next year, and Pominville can play a third line role with Reinhart, and hopefully the fourth line gets some speedsters.

The amount of fatigue on the high-end guys is tough right now because Housley is using 3 lines basically.

Just wait until Housley can get a coterie of 4 dmen he can rely on, or at least until we get Bogo, Beaulieu and Risto back.

This sky is not falling, and there's no need to rip anything apart. Add a touch of high end speed, reliablity on the back end, and production in the bottom six, and we're going to be good sooner rather than later.
- jcragcrumple

OK, let me know when those players drop out of the sky. Much, MUCH easier said then done. You have to draft those players...

Michael Pachla: Shake up or stay the course in Sabreland?
- Michael Pachla

and the tank continues

who? the sabres?
- Michael Pachla

yes, we may not be advertising the Tank like years before, but we are a bottom of the league team...

OK, let me know when those players drop out of the sky. Much, MUCH easier said then done. You have to draft those players...
- hehateme

Pu, Mittelstadt, Baptiste or Nylander could be ready to take a top-six winger role next year. We'll have to wait and see. I'll do my daily plug to waive Moulson and put Baptiste in full-time, starting today

who? the sabres?
- Michael Pachla

eichel
risto
ror
kane
pommer
okposo
scandella
reinhart
mccabe

with these 9 being half your skaters on a nightly basis


there is NO EXCUSE to be a bottom 5 team

Pu, Mittelstadt, Baptiste or Nylander could be ready to take a top-six winger role next year. We'll have to wait and see. I'll do my daily plug to waive Moulson and put Baptiste in full-time, starting today
- jcragcrumple

I am sick of waiting for NEXT year. I have been waiting for next year for 5 years. How much suffering do we have to take...

eichel
risto
ror
kane
pommer
okposo
scandella
reinhart
mccabe

with these 9 being half your skaters on a nightly basis


there is NO EXCUSE to be a bottom 5 team
- homiedclown

and yet here we are.....

eichel
risto
ror
kane
pommer
okposo
scandella
reinhart
mccabe

with these 9 being half your skaters on a nightly basis


there is NO EXCUSE to be a bottom 5 team
- homiedclown

look at the other half and look who teams exploit...plus, you forgot to account for very poor goaltending

There's a level of frustration, no doubt, but i don't think it's as bad as it seems. Contrary to some thought, we do have good players in the top 6. Add a nice player in the top 6 next year, and Pominville can play a third line role with Reinhart, and hopefully the fourth line gets some speedsters.

The amount of fatigue on the high-end guys is tough right now because Housley is using 3 lines basically.

Just wait until Housley can get a coterie of 4 dmen he can rely on, or at least until we get Bogo, Beaulieu and Risto back.

This sky is not falling, and there's no need to rip anything apart. Add a touch of high end speed, reliablity on the back end, and production in the bottom six, and we're going to be good sooner rather than later.
- jcragcrumple

eichel
risto
ror
kane
pommer
okposo
scandella
reinhart
mccabe

with these 9 being half your skaters on a nightly basis


there is NO EXCUSE to be a bottom 5 team
- homiedclown

When you consider that you have to overplay those guys because the other ones can't produce, it's not shocking.

(Most) of those guys are doing fine, the ones you didn't name are garbage.

Let's not forget we have roughly 14 million tied up in guys with 0 points (moulson, gorges, bogo). That's 15% of the cap that can't be used. That's a tough hurdle to overcome

I don't agree with that. I don't think our structural problems extend further than bad depth, bad bottom six, injuries and a few missing players. You and I have argued this point to death, but we're never going to agree on one simple point: we do have a bunch of good players here.

And just to preempt this topic: no, i'm not a fan who "accepts mediocrity," this is what i believe to be true.
- jcragcrumple

- GERBE!!!75PTS

I'd rather be optimistic and wrong than pessimistic and right.


That said, i think i'm optimistic and right

imo, the lack of young talent ready to step into an NHL role is hurting this team more than bad contracts
- Michael Pachla

they both hurt in different ways. the current roster makeup is deplorable. and simultaneously, the lack of high end prospect talent and depth is truly mind boggling.

so in summation:
we are really bad now
AND
we have nothing to look forward to

- GERBE!!!75PTS

I've given you my list before. I'm not going to do it again.


I get it.

In your book, a player is either a superstar or a bum. That's not how hockey works. That's not how life works.

I don't agree with that. I don't think our structural problems extend further than bad depth, bad bottom six, injuries and a few missing players. You and I have argued this point to death, but we're never going to agree on one simple point: we do have a bunch of good players here.

And just to preempt this topic: no, i'm not a fan who "accepts mediocrity," this is what i believe to be true.
- jcragcrumple

I hand you the baton, sir. Carry it as you may.

Good luck and godspeed.

I'd rather be optimistic and wrong than pessimistic and right.


That said, i think i'm optimistic and right
- jcragcrumple

I hand you the baton, sir. Carry it as you may.

Good luck and godspeed.