I'm really pulling for him to have a breakout year... I think he has it in 'em.
- BareMetal

he averaged .5 ppg last year


pretty much already broke out

Bring me Varly!
- Powerslave

I brought that up on draft day
There’s no way the AVs would wanna pay over 10mil for their goalies
Gotta assume they’d like to move him
And bc he’s at 5.9mil,
can’t imagine it would cost much
Maybe a 3rd round pick?

They got insanely lucky this draft
I still can’t believe it

Not only did Wahlstrom fall to them (which is freaking nuts)...
they got 2 RH defensemen to also fall to them in Dobson (top5 talent) and Wilde (late teens / early20s)
They’re gonna be set on the right side for years
That’s amazing considering how many teams are always looking for RH defensemen

None of those guys should’ve fallen to them
To get all 3 is nuts
- jdfitz77

perception and reality are 2 different things though

pretty sure the teams above them scouting those kids pretty hard and passed

Moving to Texas next month for a new job, very excited to be in the land of BBQ and Tex Mex.

But man will I miss good pizza and wings. (and snow)
- Shadman306

I was in Dallas a few weeks back... man, so hot and super humid.

I don't think I could hack it down there.

If you're looking for good BBQ though, check out Hard 8. Excellent Texas BBQ.

I brought that up on draft day
There’s no way the AVs would wanna pay over 10mil for their goalies
Gotta assume they’d like to move him
And bc he’s at 5.9mil,
can’t imagine it would cost much
Maybe a 3rd round pick?
- jdfitz77

or sign bernier for 2.5 per for 2 years

I haven't backread, but for those thinking Sam is going to only get like $3M you're on (frank)ing drugs, JT Miller just signed for 5 years and $26.5M. For 23 goals and 58 points between the Rangers and Lightning. Sam had 25 and 50 for the Sabres. Sam is also 3 years younger.
- Wetbandit1

I’m under the assumption that Sam is getting a bridge deal though
1year, 3.5-4mil (maybe 2yrs)

After that terrible 1st half,
I doubt we want to give him 5x5

Oh that's what the real fans understand? Got it. You must not be from Buffalo then because if you were, you'd understand that pretty much nothing has ever gone as planned like ever. "Real fans" is such a cop out argument. Similar to someone insisting someone's else's opinion being ignorant.

I appreciate GMTM for all he tried to make happen. Don't think he was given a fair shake. Probably because he was too brash and spoke his mind. Hopefully Botts' style proves to be methodical and not lethargic.
- Hatboro_Swords

GMTM tried an accelerated rebuild that failed
And wasted TONS of assets trying to do so
Literally ever move he made for our defense was a disaster

Even a fool can see that objectively
Idk why u refuse to admit the obvious?

He was fired...
Bc he did a terrible job

he averaged .5 ppg last year


pretty much already broke out


- homiedclown

He's really fun to watch play. I want to see him put together a 70-75 game season. Because he's so thin, I think he's gonna be susceptible to injury. If he can do that, he should be able to put up 18+25-30 in a middle-6 role

They got insanely lucky this draft
I still can’t believe it

Not only did Wahlstrom fall to them (which is freaking nuts)...
they got 2 RH defensemen to also fall to them in Dobson (top5 talent) and Wilde (late teens / early20s)
They’re gonna be set on the right side for years
That’s amazing considering how many teams are always looking for RH defensemen

None of those guys should’ve fallen to them
To get all 3 is nuts
- jdfitz77

Draft did fall nicely to them but it's very premature to say it will set them up for years. You never know how 18 year olds will pan out and Wilde was taken off a lot of teams draft boards for a reason

I was in Dallas a few weeks back... man, so hot and super humid.

I don't think I could hack it down there.

If you're looking for good BBQ though, check out Hard 8. Excellent Texas BBQ.
- BareMetal

Ill be in Austin, its only above 100 for a couple months a year. I think I can handle it, it cant be any worse than 20-30 degrees from november-march can it?

Go back and look at the post someone made with the assets GMTM gave up and what came back and then tell me he didnt get a fair shake.

He tried to kick the rebuild into overdrive and got taken behind the shed on every single trade he made.

You can appreciate his ability to pull the trigger on trades, but the only reason a lot of those happened is because we overpaid on all of them.
- Shadman306

Boom

Tim Murray Trades:

Brendan Lemieux
Joel Armia
Drew Stafford
Tyler Myers
2015 1st round pick
2015 1st round pick
Nikita Zadorov
Mikhail Grigorenko
J.T. Compher
2015 2nd round pick
2016 3rd round pick
Mark Pysyk
2016 2nd round pick
2016 3rd round pick


For
Jason Kasdorf ( no longer with Org)
Zach Bogosian ( Barely plays, boat anchor contract)
Evander Kane ( No longer with Org)
Robin Lehner ( no longer with Org)
David Legwand ( No longer with org)
Ryan O`Reilly ( About to be traded)
Jamie McGinn ( no longer with org)
Jimmy Vesey ( Never played a game)
Dmitry Kulikov ( no longer with org)
2016 2nd round pick (#33-Rasmus Asplund) (Possibly bright spot)
- ImThatGuy

RAW DEAL!

...........

Ill be in Austin, its only above 100 for a couple months a year. I think I can handle it, it cant be any worse than 20-30 degrees from november-march can it?
- Shadman306

You can always put more clothes on, but you can only get so naked

Moving to Texas next month for a new job, very excited to be in the land of BBQ and Tex Mex.

But man will I miss good pizza and wings. (and snow)
- Shadman306

Good luck my man was there for the draft and I nearly died lol maybe it was just those few days but it was like that disgusting heat that you can't breathe

The food was awesome though and the people are very nice

Good luck

It's one example.

Guys still get paid to be physical.
It's still hockey.

You do not need to be a goon, but self toughness is important. Sam needs some protection.

Even guys like okposo do not need protection.
- Boss34

Caps only had Wilson as their only player who made a “physical” impact

I get what you’re saying...
but the “physical” characteristic should come second to either skating or scoring
If not come in 3rd

I like Bailey to play tough with his speed & chip in goals
Baptiste can play with an edge
Girgs & Larsson too, even though most want them gone

Dahlin, Risto & Bogo all are scrappy on defense

It’s not like we are total pushovers

How is Garth allowed to blog?

How is Garth allowed to blog?
- RafiDRW

We all wonder the same thing. Must have some dirt on Ek

Lehner is visiting the redwings

perception and reality are 2 different things though

pretty sure the teams above them scouting those kids pretty hard and passed
- homiedclown

Sure
Mistakenly so imo
Time will tell

RAW DEAL!
- Shadman306

Wait is this really a thing?

Like not joking someone is legit saying Murray got a raw deal?

I miss Fat Bob's so, so much

Anytime a friend asks me where to go to eat in Buffalo, Fat Bob's is always among the top of the list..

That Texas Mac... hot dang
- BareMetal

Always thought their Mac n cheese was overrated
Ballyhoo has my fav Mac in the city
Onion rings at Fat Bobs are amazing
Good food overall for sure
I’m there fairly often

We all wonder the same thing. Must have some dirt on Ek
- Shadman306

It’s pure vomit. Thank god you guys have Pachla

Why are you so ignorant?
Just cant have a normal discussion.

Year to year consistency and 1/2 to 2nd half is different
- Boss34

I tried, you didn't read what I wrote.

You want to talk consistency, but you draw the line where you want and call it inconsistent. One poor half of one of three seasons is not inconsistent. You can draw the line all the way down into within shifts if you want, but that's stupid, because very few, if no, players are that consistent. There aren't even players that are consistent week-to-week. Some players will go oh-fer in one week and then have 5 points the next. Jack was incredibly inconsistent last year going by your definition. he had almost half his total points(25) over a 15 game stretch, and had one stretch where he had 1 goal in 12 games. What matters is he's(Sam) increased his point total in each of his first three seasons. That's the model of consistency.

You don't like the guy, fine, just say that, don't hide behind "toughness", it takes toughness to stand in front of the net on the PP, or "consistency", increasing his point total every year. I (frank)ing hated Eric Lindros, but I never said he wasn't good or worth his contract.

Lehner is visiting the redwings
- Shadman306

If we give him a short, cheap, show me contract, I’m good with that. If he fails, Jack Hughes.