It's off balance because the bottom 6 is awful.

If Pouliot and Okposo were on the 3rd line, and the 4th line had actual NHL players, and if we had defense worth paying to see, this is a marginal playoff team.

Add, don't subtract
- jcragcrumple

The top 6 isnt that much better (compared to good teams)

We don't have players that score 5 on 5.

Kane, Eichel and Pominville do.

ROR and Reinhart are bottom 6 players offensively at 5 on 5 again this season.

They aren't, don't worry.
- SABRES 89

That's good to hear

Im open to anyone other than Eichel being moved.

I'm tired of ROR saying he played terrible needs to be better. He has said that about 100 times now dating back to last year.

It's getting old.

Okposo with a terrible need to be moved contract.

Kane wont be here next year, from all the looks of it.

Team is in 29th place.

Its garbage now, start over.
- ImThatGuy

fixed

They aren't, don't worry.
- SABRES 89

Well there he is !!!
Good to hear from you 89 ...

Oh yeah... 8 - 0 Bolts

They aren't, don't worry.
- SABRES 89

I thought I saw you in the other thread...

welcome back, little bird

That's good to hear
- jcragcrumple

If they try and move out a contract like Okposo for example, it will cost to move him. Either young player or picks to add in a sweetener. A guy like Bailey might need to be included.

He's trying to figure out a way to move out Murray's mistakes, don't believe all the Kane hype either. If he wanted to move him, he could have already.

Well there he is !!!
Good to hear from you 89 ...

Oh yeah... 8 - 0 Bolts

- 22sabresQ

oh my

He has 16 points in 24 games, with Pouliot (a 3rd liner) and Okposo who has suddenly - and thankfully - come to life. He's doing fine, and his attitude is refreshing. You should read Moulson's comments today. He's talking about how he needs confidence and "hopefully" he can score a goal. ROR is doing pretty well for a second line center with underachieving wingers.
- jcragcrumple

And he is a minus 16 which is in the bottom 5% of the league

I thought I saw you in the other thread...

welcome back, little bird
- Michael Pachla

Thank you, very good blog as always.

And he is a minus 16 which is in the bottom 5% of the league
- lulags

He also has a 63% defensive zone start percentage and the goalies have a 83% save percentage while he's on the ice

he asked to be the go to defensive player on a terrible team and you're upset about his +/-?

odd gripe

fixed
- Michael Pachla

What are your feelings on O'Reilly and Okposo?

- Darcy Regier


We're done with that phase. There's no more moves made for the future of the franchise. All moves made now need to be made for next year. Hold on to the draft picks and hit on them
- jcragcrumple

This team might as well re-build. What they have is not working.

13 points out of a playoff spot already and only 25% of the way through the season. They are not making it this year, and signing more high priced players to over-paying contracts is not going to help.

Locking up a core that has you in 29th place is a bad idea.

This team might as well re-build. What they have is not working.

13 points out of a playoff spot already and only 25% of the way through the season. They are not making it this year, and signing more high priced players to over-paying contracts is not going to help.

Locking up a core that has you in 29th place is a bad idea.
- ImThatGuy

I don't believe the core players are the problem. The lack of depth, an actual 4th line, 2 top 4 D and a second line winger are. The players we have that you're referencing are fine imo

I don't believe the core players are the problem. The lack of depth, an actual 4th line, 2 top 4 D and a second line winger are. The players we have that you're referencing are fine imo
- jcragcrumple

God's work.

Thank you, very good blog as always.
- SABRES 89

Welcome back 89'. Hope the desert is treating you well.

I don't believe the core players are the problem. The lack of depth, an actual 4th line, 2 top 4 D and a second line winger are. The players we have that you're referencing are fine imo
- jcragcrumple

Changing the 4th line is not going to do a damn thing.

You could trade 4th and 5th rd picks right now for 4th liners and it wont change a damn thing.

Girgeosons, Larsson, Pouliot, Nolan are fine bottom 6 players.

Bold moves is what you need, we have enough bottom 6 players.

The top 6 isnt that much better (compared to good teams)

We don't have players that score 5 on 5.

Kane, Eichel and Pominville do.

ROR and Reinhart are bottom 6 players offensively at 5 on 5 again this season.
- sbroads24

Ask Granny Hawkins what she thinks.

Changing the 4th line is not going to do a damn thing.

You could trade 4th and 5th rd picks right now for 4th liners and it wont change a damn thing.

Girgeosons, Larsson, Pouliot, Nolan are fine bottom 6 players.

Bold moves is what you need, we have enough bottom 6 players.
- ImThatGuy

I object. In fact, I strenuously object.

I still think the Sabres forwards are decent to good and the entire problem is Scandella is just solid and not great, and they have been rotating 6 different 5/6th defensemen in the top 4

Changing the 4th line is not going to do a damn thing.

You could trade 4th and 5th rd picks right now for 4th liners and it wont change a damn thing.

Girgeosons, Larsson, Pouliot, Nolan are fine bottom 6 players.

Bold moves is what you need, we have enough bottom 6 players.
- ImThatGuy

Pouliot, Pominville and Okposo are good third line players.

The highlighted guys are just attrocious. Their poor performance means overplaying other guys and tiring them out. I agree we need and 2RW and 2LW.

Instead of spending assets to move the core guys, free up 20 million with Bogosian, Moulson, Gorges, Larsson, Girgensons, Nolan and Antipin.

Culture change overnight with opportunities for young players and FAs.

I object. In fact, I strenuously object.
- Der Kaiser

He's right, though. The Kings found a way to win a Cup with Jordan Nolan on their roster. When your Top 6 is worth being taken seriously, you can still be effective with any or all of those players on it.

He's right, though. The Kings found a way to win a Cup with Jordan Nolan on their roster. When your Top 6 is worth being taken seriously, you can still be effective with any or all of those players on it.
- buffalofan19

It's also true we have the worst bottom six in the league

I don't believe the core players are the problem. The lack of depth, an actual 4th line, 2 top 4 D and a second line winger are. The players we have that you're referencing are fine imo
- jcragcrumple

AND a #1 goaltender

We'll, see that is where a business thinks differently than a fan...especially a non-paying fan.

I happen to be in the same camp as you, burn it with a complete rebuild...
Next year all about:
- get rid of all the boat anchors (Moulson, Bogo, Gorges, Okposso, Girgensons, Larsson, etc)
- let the younger of the kids develop in Rochester (Mittlestadt, Pu, Asplund, etc.)
- bring up the older of the Kids to play meaningful minutes (Bailey, Baptiste, eRod, Guhle maybe)
- Plug holes with incentive laden 1 year deals

2019 - is the year that 2016 should have been with turning the ship around
- IonSabres

It's not the NFL, only ELC's have incentive heavy contracts. Whether it's something they CAN do is irrelevant. It doesn't happen. You CAN offersheet any eligible RFA, but it almost never happens.

It's not the NFL, only ELC's have incentive heavy contracts. Whether it's something they CAN do is irrelevant. It doesn't happen. You CAN offersheet any eligible RFA, but it almost never happens.
- Wetbandit1

I believe veterans over a certain age can have incentive laden contracts as well.