Fun fact, he's this kid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TxGVSw6Ayw


I think Tkachuk is a top 10 pick, but the ceiling is too low to be a top 5 guy, especially with guys like boqvist, zadina and hughes there.
- Sabresfan-365

Yea thats wild. These ranking are hardly set in stone.

Saw this tweet about Boqvist:

"Adam Boqvist currently has 14 goals in Sweden's top junior circuit. That is 2nd all time by a 17 year old d-man behind Lars Jonsson (by 1) and ahead of both Hedman and Erik Karlsson (also by 1) and Adam did it in 10 fewer games than all 3."

Corey Pronman

I never said Sam was a bust .. he's a Drew Stafford
- gerbe75pts



Stafford scored 20 or more goal in a season 4 times in he's 9 seasons in Buffalo..

First 5 year's

13
16
20
14
31

If sam continues at his current pace he will have 2 in 3 seasons...


23
17
17 (2018)

And Stafford played with MUCH better players
- gordong

But those first few seasons Stafford was playing his guitar too much so he didn't have time to score 20 goals.

But those first few seasons Stafford was playing his guitar too much so he didn't have time to score 20 goals.
- doppelthat

So too much tandem bike riding for Jack and sam???

Who
- gerbe75pts

Jiri Novotny’s buddy

So too much tandem bike riding for Jack and sam???
- gordong

I am of the opinion of more tandem bike rides for Jack and Sam will only do them good.

It was the one where it slid across the goal line and the snow stopped it

That would’ve been it for the game
- gerbe75pts

don't think there's a fan in Sabreland who doesn't think the Sabres were due for some puckluck

I would have to think that another concussion for Okposo would leave him with a big decision on whether or not to continue playing.

I cant imagine the issues he had last season plus concussion issues isnt doing some horrible things to his brain/mental health.

That being said what do we do with his spot if he is gone indefinitely.

Jeff Marek says we have tkachuk #2 on our list, it's already cooked


In all seriousness though id rather they fall back a bit and get boqvist/hughes. I'm all about BPA so I dont wanna see them in a position to have to pass on it again because the obvious pick is a winger.
- Sabresfan-365

I find it hard to believe that anyone has any inside info on what's going on...botts has been tight-lipped about everything all season long

I would have to think that another concussion for Okposo would leave him with a big decision on whether or not to continue playing.

I cant imagine the issues he had last season plus concussion issues isnt doing some horrible things to his brain/mental health.

That being said what do we do with his spot if he is gone indefinitely.
- Shadman306

Re-sign Leino?

Re-sign Leino?
- doppelthat

burn

Is it not pretty obvious...there are some who are making themselves look good, playing for a new contract and some others who have decided to play better "to be worth their current contract." Just my opinion.
- sabreadvocate1

I guess I am just curious as to why the sudden change is all. Why now?

Again, it's a good point. Just doesn't address the "why now" aspect. It may very well be a multifactorial answer, but you say "decided" as if a light bulb went off for a bunch of our players...did Housley finally go bat poop...did Kane have that much of a negative effect...were we solely depending on Eichel making us a one dimensional team...are they playing for contracts and finally figured out they weren't getting ones with current production? If it isn't Kane going, Eichel's overusage or Housley instilling the fear of God...why now? Why the sudden change?

But those first few seasons Stafford was playing his guitar too much so he didn't have time to score 20 goals.
- doppelthat

Stafford scored 49 goals in his 1st 184 gp (.266)

Skunk 57 in 235 (.243)



(Stirs pot)

yikes, i thought he'd be better
- Sabresfan-365

He's been pretty good, but he's been saddled with trying to clean up Faulk's mistakes for a large part of the year.

Stafford scored 49 goals in his 1st 184 gp (.266)

Skunk 57 in 235 (.243)



(Stirs pot)
- dadeadhead

Tweet that to Kris Baker now and stir a bigger pot.

Gmtm really wanted mcdavid
I'm sure Arizona really wanted eichel.

Hard to argue that the sabres didn't tank for both.
It's not like eichel just popped up and rose thru the ranks to be drafted 2nd.

2015 was calculated ,
So is the tank of 2018

Even if we do not get Dahlin, I'm sure the sabres would love to have any of the top 4

Stafford scored 49 goals in his 1st 184 gp (.266)

Skunk 57 in 235 (.243)



(Stirs pot)
- dadeadhead

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f9rcfJr6p04

Tweet that to Kris Baker now and stir a bigger pot.
- GilPerreault11

He’s actually a friend of mine.

Stafford also had .598 ppg to .545 ppg.

Stafford did play with better players and in a higher scoring league so there is that..

Gmtm really wanted mcdavid
I'm sure Arizona really wanted eichel.

Hard to argue that the sabres didn't tank for both.
It's not like eichel just popped up and rose thru the ranks to be drafted 2nd.

2015 was calculated ,
So is the tank of 2018

Even if we do not get Dahlin, I'm sure the sabres would love to have any of the top 4
- Boss34

If there was no McDavid and he never was born, was not in that draft the Sabres would not have had their tank plan focused on him at least in 2014 and would not have had such an open tank season in 2015 in my opinion. That says they didn't tank for McEichel as much as for McDavid. That is my opinion.

If there was no McDavid and he never was born, was not in that draft the Sabres would not have had their tank plan focused on him at least in 2014 and would not have had such an open tank season in 2015 in my opinion. That says they didn't tank for McEichel as much as for McDavid. That is my opinion.
- GilPerreault11

Perhaps they'd have focused on 2016

If there was no McDavid and he never was born, was not in that draft the Sabres would not have had their tank plan focused on him at least in 2014 and would not have had such an open tank season in 2015 in my opinion. That says they didn't tank for McEichel as much as for McDavid. That is my opinion.
- GilPerreault11

I think the 2015 draft was really something because you had a generational talent and you had an elite talent right behind him.

If it was just McDavid in the draft I don't think teams would have tanked for a 20% chance at him

Same if it was just Eichel

The fact that it had both of them and if you finished in last you were guaranteed one of them is the reason that the Sabres tanked.

McDavid was the ultimate prize but getting Eichel for sure wasn't a bad consolation prize.

I guess I am just curious as to why the sudden change is all. Why now?

Again, it's a good point. Just doesn't address the "why now" aspect. It may very well be a multifactorial answer, but you say "decided" as if a light bulb went off for a bunch of our players...did Housley finally go bat poop...did Kane have that much of a negative effect...were we solely depending on Eichel making us a one dimensional team...are they playing for contracts and finally figured out they weren't getting ones with current production? If it isn't Kane going, Eichel's overusage or Housley instilling the fear of God...why now? Why the sudden change?
- RhinoFan

It was the same deal during the McEichel tank year... guys started playing harder towards the end of the season. They're playing for jobs. They're playing for contracts. Period.

Re-sign Leino?
- doppelthat

to this day I still don't understand how a forward on NHL team that played on the power-play and a regular shift did not score a franking goal the whole year. I mean really nothing off the skate or leg, butt shot NADA.. 58 games played ZERO goals....

to this day I still don't understand how a forward on NHL team that played on the power-play and a regular shift did not score a franking goal the whole year. I mean really nothing off the skate or leg, butt shot NADA.. 58 games played ZERO goals....

- hehateme

Hell, John Scott scored sometimes

He’s actually a friend of mine.

Stafford also had .598 ppg to .545 ppg.

Stafford did play with better players and in a higher scoring league so there is that..
- dadeadhead

You kind of already said it, but Stafford took an extra year AND started off playing for the President Trophy winning team in 06-07...posting a 19.4% shooting percentage almost 9% above his career average.

Samson got one less year and started off playing for an absolute dumpster fire. Not sure you can make the comparisons work as the circumstances were radically different.

Looking at their first three full seasons, Stafford averaged about 37pts, Reinhart will average about 45pts. Reinhart is a bit more than Stafford was IMO. Not leaps and bounds, but better.

I think the 2015 draft was really something because you had a generational talent and you had an elite talent right behind him.

If it was just McDavid in the draft I don't think teams would have tanked for a 20% chance at him

Same if it was just Eichel

The fact that it had both of them and if you finished in last you were guaranteed one of them is the reason that the Sabres tanked.

McDavid was the ultimate prize but getting Eichel for sure wasn't a bad consolation prize.
- Stripes77

This is a good point, but there usually is elite talent at the top of the draft, except a year here and there like Reinhart, Turris, but there is rarely generational talent at the top of the draft when people talk about the expected 1st pick a couple years before. I think the lottery was so new that team's thought that 20% would be good enough to give them a good shot at getting the #1 pick but have now found out since that it's not.