my biggest issue with this team


so many of them under performed

the first 12 games or so it was eichel, kane, pommer and that's it

after that it was jack gripping his stick tight on an island alone


then skunk turns it on after the first of the year


but all in all more often then not, the 19 guys on the ice severely under performed
- homiedclown

A brilliant assessment. I can't believe it took someone so long to come to this conclusion.

clay and hughes would need to restructure IMO
- homiedclown

Clay already did once

Hughes we should just get rid of
Our pass rush specialist has been averaging 5 sacks a year

Put his $$$ towards Dez (or whoever)

I think the only reason Buffalo added guys like Pouliot, Nolan, Josefson, etc, was so they could keep guys like Bailey, Baptiste, Smith, Ghule, etc. in the AHL for as long as they could. There is a reason those guys only got 1 or 2 year contracts. They were stopgap players. With these young guys making the jump next year and some of them needing to stay with the Sabres, there isn't any need to add those type of stopgap players. We are in a position now that we can cycle in and out our own players the next few years with what we have in the AHL now and the guys coming over next year. We already have enough "Veterans" (most either aren't that great, are on bad contracts, or both) but we have enough of them that our team will not be made up of just kids.

If we keep drafting well and signing young college players with promise the Sabres can continue to cycle in their own talent and when it is time to go for the cup grab a guy or two who will put us over the top. Until then I don't really see a need for Buffalo to go out and sign any marginal NHLers to 1 year contracts, and I think this was Bott's plan all along which is why even guys like Larson and Girgs only got 2 year contracts, because hopefully by the time their contract is up (I'd prefer trading them) there will be guys ready to take their place.
- Sabrehagan

^this guys gets it

Post more!

One of those guys, Bryant or Beckham, will not play for their current team week 1.
- Wetbandit1

Sounds like they’re both moving

He hasn't been Dez in 3 seasons either.
- dadeadhead

I think prescott is the most over rated qb's in the nfl

I also wouldn't mind Buffalo taking a chance on Philipp Grubauer from Washington or even Antti Raanta in goal next season splitting time with Ullmark. From what I have noticed on some boards is that most Capital fans don't see Washington keeping Grubauer, especially if they want to re-sign Carlson. The Capitals also have that other Goalie coming over next season who they plan on having him being Holtby's replacement, so Grubauer wouldn't even have a spot next year, unless they trade Holtby, which I Highly doubt. One thing I am sure of is that as much as I like Ullmark he will need someone to split time with. Playing him as our only starter next year may be too much to through at him too soon.

Well i didn’t see that coming!

Vancouver is now 5pts ahead of us
I’d say they’re out of reach
They were the team i was most worried about too

Arizona & Ottawa still 3pts ahead
I’d say that 1 more win from each of them should put us in the clear

I don’t see us winning 3 more games
- jdfitz77

Ottawa now becomes the greatest concern. I watched them tonight and as soon as they went up 2-1 you could almost see a difference. They could have scored 6 goals tonight if they wanted to. Even in the pre-game they discussed draft lottery and where Ottawa was etc.

Arizona might win out as good as they are playing. You don't need to worry about them. Vancouver found a little some/some this past week. They host Arizona soon.

I think prescott is the most over rated qb's in the nfl
- homiedclown

He struggled this past season
Let’s see if he bounces back
He does look great at times

^this guys gets it

Post more!
- jdfitz77

Yeah but "just any veterans" to fill the gap can be disastrous as well ............ as that is partly to blame for the mess they are in. You've gotta get the "right" vets. Well .... let's back up ... first you need to find people to bring in that will at least play to expectations once they arrive. That's a start ............

I also wouldn't mind Buffalo taking a chance on Philipp Grubauer from Washington or even Antti Raanta in goal next season splitting time with Ullmark. From what I have noticed on some boards is that most Capital fans don't see Washington keeping Grubauer, especially if they want to re-sign Carlson. The Capitals also have that other Goalie coming over next season who they plan on having him being Holtby's replacement, so Grubauer wouldn't even have a spot next year, unless they trade Holtby, which I Highly doubt. One thing I am sure of is that as much as I like Ullmark he will need someone to split time with. Playing him as our only starter next year may be too much to through at him too soon.
- Sabrehagan

Ppl are gonna start to think you’re my alternate account
Hahaha

Raanta will have his choice where to go,
he’s the top UFA goalie on the market

Grubauer could probably be had for a pick
Or maybe they’d be interested in someone like Larsson or Fasching, etc

Ottawa now becomes the greatest concern. I watched them tonight and as soon as they went up 2-1 you could almost see a difference. They could have scored 6 goals tonight if they wanted to. Even in the pre-game they discussed draft lottery and where Ottawa was etc.

Arizona might win out as good as they are playing. You don't need to worry about them. Vancouver found a little some/some this past week. They host Arizona soon.
- fastek

I agree about Ottawa being our greatest concern

I don’t see us winning 3 more games though
That means 1 more win from the Sens & we should likely be safe

Yeah but "just any veterans" to fill the gap can be disastrous as well ............ as that is partly to blame for the mess they are in. You've gotta get the "right" vets. Well .... let's back up ... first you need to find people to bring in that will at least play to expectations once they arrive. That's a start ............
- fastek

Unfortunately, to add new vets we would need to get rid of the ones we have now and I do not see that happening. Most of their contracts are basically immovable and until they play them out or get bought out we are stuck with them. No point adding any new ones, that we don't even know will be of any help, until the old ones are gone.

I also wouldn't mind Buffalo taking a chance on Philipp Grubauer from Washington or even Antti Raanta in goal next season splitting time with Ullmark. From what I have noticed on some boards is that most Capital fans don't see Washington keeping Grubauer, especially if they want to re-sign Carlson. The Capitals also have that other Goalie coming over next season who they plan on having him being Holtby's replacement, so Grubauer wouldn't even have a spot next year, unless they trade Holtby, which I Highly doubt. One thing I am sure of is that as much as I like Ullmark he will need someone to split time with. Playing him as our only starter next year may be too much to through at him too soon.
- Sabrehagan

I like Grubauer more than Ullmark. His price would be steep.

Yeah but "just any veterans" to fill the gap can be disastrous as well ............ as that is partly to blame for the mess they are in. You've gotta get the "right" vets. Well .... let's back up ... first you need to find people to bring in that will at least play to expectations once they arrive. That's a start ............
- fastek

Fair
But the easiest thing for us to do now is transition guys like E Rod, Baptiste, Bailey, etc into the lineup...
while we let guys like Pouliot & Nolan & Gorges walk

Trade guys who we can
Larsson & Girgensons will obviously be easier to move than Bogo & Pommer

We can’t just drop the 18 guys that struggled at times this year & replace them
Not realistic
Heck, even Jack has struggled

I like Grubauer more than Ullmark. His price would be steep.
- Lunaion

U think so?
He actually hasn’t had the best year

EDIT
My bad... his numbers have gotten better than the last time i checked

The Caps might be losing Beagle
So Girgs or Larsson might be of interest
Add in a pick (2nd?)

Idk... something like that’s my guess

I like Grubauer more than Ullmark. His price would be steep.
- Lunaion

I wouldn't be so sure. He is a RFA that Washington doesn't really want/need and they will need the money to sign more important players so given they don't have the need for him and can't afford to pay him, anyone trading for him is doing Washington a favor basically. I think he can be gotten for a lot less then most think.

I agree about Ottawa being our greatest concern

I don’t see us winning 3 more games though
That means 1 more win from the Sens & we should likely be safe
- jdfitz77

Now that you said that they are going to win 4 out of the remaining 6.

I wouldn't be so sure. He is a RFA that Washington doesn't really want/need and they will need the money to sign more important players so given they don't have the need for him and can't afford to pay him, anyone trading for him is doing Washington a favor basically. I think he can be gotten for a lot less then most think.
- Sabrehagan

It may depend on who else is trying to trade for him

Fortunately for us,
the Caps won’t see us as a threat
And probably won’t want to trade with division rivals like Philly or the Isles who are looking for a goalie

I wouldn't be so sure. He is a RFA that Washington doesn't really want/need and they will need the money to sign more important players so given they don't have the need for him and can't afford to pay him, anyone trading for him is doing Washington a favor basically. I think he can be gotten for a lot less then most think.
- Sabrehagan

I think there is going to be a couple of teams other then us making pitches for him. Could see Carolina, philly, Isles, red wings, pens (Murray insurance) and that’s just off the top of my head

Now that you said that they are going to win 4 out of the remaining 6.
- Pegullaville

Well i guess u can blame me if we do go on a winning streak


I wanna win this lotto for Dahlin even more than i wanted to win the McDavid one

Well i guess u can blame me if we do go on a winning streak


I wanna win this lotto for Dahlin even more than i wanted to win the McDavid one
- jdfitz77

It’s going to come down to the wire. Detroit, leafs, sens are winnable games. Preds, Panthers, lightning could always be a trap game. I’m hoping we don’t win more then 2.

U think so?
He actually hasn’t had the best year

EDIT
My bad... his numbers have gotten better than the last time i checked

The Caps might be losing Beagle
So Girgs or Larsson might be of interest
Add in a pick (2nd?)

Idk... something like that’s my guess
- jdfitz77

His numbers are great and have been for years. His value is probably in the Lehner/Talbot ballpark.

You're trying to dump contracts on a team trying to save money to retain their players. They offer no value here. If it's a player and a pick, it's more like Bailey + a 2nd. I think I'd do that, so it's probably not enough.

It may depend on who else is trying to trade for him

Fortunately for us,
the Caps won’t see us as a threat
And probably won’t want to trade with division rivals like Philly or the Isles who are looking for a goalie
- jdfitz77

The one thing that could either hurt us, help us, maybe not matter at all, is that Grubauer is eligible for arbitration. If he selects to go to arbitration do they just walk away from the offer or try to trade him before he can even choose arbitration and then the new team will have to deal with it, that is if it comes to that. If he goes to Arbitration and the Capitals walk away it may be more difficult to get him as a UFA then again maybe not.

I wouldn't be so sure. He is a RFA that Washington doesn't really want/need and they will need the money to sign more important players so given they don't have the need for him and can't afford to pay him, anyone trading for him is doing Washington a favor basically. I think he can be gotten for a lot less then most think.
- Sabrehagan

I'll admit that I haven't looked at the goalie market at all. If it's weak, you might be right. If he's the #1 guy and there is a market, his value is high. We're talking about him right now, I imagine others are as well.

I think there is going to be a couple of teams other then us making pitches for him. Could see Carolina, philly, Isles, red wings, pens (Murray insurance) and that’s just off the top of my head
- Pegullaville

Well there’s just about zero chance that the Caps will trade with Philly or Pitt,
so i think they can safely be taken off the list
Hopefully they also wouldn’t wanna deal with the Isles being a division rival

Carolina has Darling signed for 4 more years at 4mil, so idk if they’d wanna bring in another goalie they’re gonna have to give 4-5mil to

Detroit could definitely be a team who goes after him

Arizona will need a goalie if they don’t bring back Raanta

Vancouver may be interested in him

Edmonton maybe? They only have Talbot for 1 more year & he’s struggled this season