I am so behind on hockey from being on vacation...

I was wondering why ROR wasn't in the lineup then saw he was traded.

Buffalo thoughts on trade? Obviously not as close as a haul the Toronto...I mean Buffalo fans were asking for.
- Glak18

Weren't you the one who said the sabres would have to give up a pick unless they retained half the salary?

As per the video hi-light that Pach attached to this column, i was at that game in Vancouver last season when he scored. I have always liked Baptiste, even more so than Bailey. Baptiste has the speed and size that we are looking for. However, the poor guy never seems to catch a break from the coaches. They play him with scrubs for 9 minutes a game. Put Eichel out there with Nolan and Larsson and let's check out his stats.

I hope Baptiste is given a fair chance to play in the top 9. Otherwise, i see him getting sent down and getting claimed off waivers. And yes, it wouldn't surprise me if he turns into the next Paul Byron that somebody else noted.

As per the video hi-light that Pach attached to this column, i was at that game in Vancouver last season when he scored. I have always liked Baptiste, even more so than Bailey. Baptiste has the speed and size that we are looking for. However, the poor guy never seems to catch a break from the coaches. They play him with scrubs for 9 minutes a game. Put Eichel out there with Nolan and Larsson and let's check out his stats.

I hope Baptiste is given a fair chance to play in the top 9. Otherwise, i see him getting sent down and getting claimed off waivers. And yes, it wouldn't surprise me if he turns into the next Paul Byron that somebody else noted.
- SabreWest

I really hope maybe the stealth tank was real.

This hope is probably unwarranted and stems from me wanting to see these types of combos run next season, I really want to see these players get a shot in the top 6 for more than a game or two.

I think if he can stay clean (as the rumors were) the same way he was the second half of the season last year he might be able to pull off playing center.
- Shadman306

What were the rumors?

Michael Pachla: What's in store for Shady McCoy? Taking a page out of the ROR handbook, he vows to "be better"
- Michael Pachla

Line 1: Sheary-Eichel-Reinhart

Sheary has proven he can play with top players. Reinhart and Eichel have proven they can put productive stretches on the ice together.

Line 2: Berglund-Mitts-Thompson/Bailey/Baptiste

Berglund had 17 goals in only 57 games last season. 55% in the dot and can be defensively responsible on a line featuring two young guns.

Line 3: Erod-Sobotka-Okposo

Good shutdown/energy line that can be good in the transition game. Sobotka is a pest to play against and his speed along with Erod’s will be welcomed in the bottom 6.

Line 4: Wilson-Girgensons-Pominville

Giving Girgensons a defined role as a defensive forward that hits and bangs could be beneficial to him as he has tried to be pigeonholed to be something he’s not.

Extras: CJ Smith, O’Regan, Bailey, Baptiste, Thompson (if not on 2nd line).

If both Larsson and Girgensons are either AHL bound or traded I can see Erod as the 3rd line Centre and Sobotka manning the 4th line and one of the above extras playing the LW on the 3rd line.

What were the rumors?
- doppelthat

The rumors were that Reinhart was doing a little too much partying the first half of the year

Line 1: Sheary-Eichel-Reinhart

Sheary has proven he can play with top players. Reinhart and Eichel have proven they can put productive stretches on the ice together.

Line 2: Berglund-Mitts-Thompson/Bailey/Baptiste

Berglund had 17 goals in only 57 games last season. 55% in the dot and can be defensively responsible on a line featuring two young guns.

Line 3: Erod-Sobotka-Okposo

Good shutdown/energy line that can be good in the transition game. Sobotka is a pest to play against and his speed along with Erod’s will be welcomed in the bottom 6.

Line 4: Wilson-Girgensons-Pominville

Giving Girgensons a defined role as a defensive forward that hits and bangs could be beneficial to him as he has tried to be pigeonholed to be something he’s not.

Extras: CJ Smith, O’Regan, Bailey, Baptiste, Thompson (if not on 2nd line).

If both Larsson and Girgensons are either AHL bound or traded I can see Erod as the 3rd line Centre and Sobotka manning the 4th line and one of the above extras playing the LW on the 3rd line.
- Pegullaville

Sign me up.

Im a huge proponent of giving these kids a real shot with our talented centers. Bailey, Baptiste, o’reagan, olofsson, and many others. We waste everyone’s time with the Pouliots who are just placeholders. Give these kids a real chance to showcase their skills. Not fourth line minutes with cement shoe skaters. Give them at least 20 consecutive games to figure it out and not bury them on the depth chart are healthy scratch them. It’s time we start to develop and properly assess all these young kids that we bury in Rochester so we can have 1 year vets with nothing to play for take their roster spot. You want to change the attitude of this locker room, play the guys fighting for jobs and not those who are entitled to them because they’re veterans. That’s why college football is fun to watch, they’re playing for their careers. We need that motivation in the locker room and not the endless cycle of complacent vets like Pouliot, nolan, Larsson and others that we know don’t have a future here when we’re trying to compete.

God hfboards has been debbie-downerville lately. Cheer me up guys.

Page 1, ROR trade thoughts. I'm happy to be alive.

What were the rumors?
- doppelthat

They are unfounded rumors.

I don't see a reason why this team would retain Hajt and Smith. Smith has an overwhelmingly better resume. Hajt and Payne just.. kinda suck.

Sign me up.
- Shadman306

Not sure you will make the team

Page 1, ROR trade thoughts. I'm happy to be alive.
- TheSabresTaco

The ROR trade will be brought up all year long one way or another, divisive deals tend to do that.

God hfboards has been debbie-downerville lately. Cheer me up guys.
- Tsyolin

Steve Smith hired as assistant coach?

Weren't you the one who said the sabres would have to give up a pick unless they retained half the salary?
- jcragcrumple

That was me. Thank you for bringing that up. Buffalo retained ZERO salary and it cost them with value in return. *giggles*

They basically got Tage Thompson for 2 salary dumps and a 1st for ROR...not #3 overall though.

Soooooo they got at best Brayden Schenn value. Feels good.

God hfboards has been debbie-downerville lately. Cheer me up guys.
- Tsyolin

That was me. Thank you for bringing that up. Buffalo retained ZERO salary and it cost them with value in return. *giggles*

They basically got Tage Thompson for 2 salary dumps and a 1st for ROR...not #3 overall though.

Soooooo they got at best Brayden Schenn value. Feels good.
- Glak18

Our bottom 6 sucked last year. Berglund and Sobotka will help that. Thompson is an intriguing prospect only sighed upon due to recancy bias towards Kyrou and Thomas. We have 3 first round picks next year. The way I see it, we traded our 2nd line C for a 3rd line C, 3rd line LW, prospect with top 6 potential, a first round pick and a 2nd round pick. Also Mittelstadt is now thrusted into a 2nd Line C role and he’s shown more offensive skill in 10 minutes of development camp then ROR showed in the years he was here.

That was me. Thank you for bringing that up. Buffalo retained ZERO salary and it cost them with value in return. *giggles*

They basically got Tage Thompson for 2 salary dumps and a 1st for ROR...not #3 overall though.

Soooooo they got at best Brayden Schenn value. Feels good.
- Glak18

ok, Giggles. so you completely got it wrong

While in Carolina, he was in charge of the team's defensemen and penalty kill and the Canes allowed 28 shots per game, the second-fewest in the league over his tenure. Carolina's figure of 28.9 last season was the best in the NHL.


Gotta like that

ok, Giggles. so you completely got it wrong
- jcragcrumple

Well I wasn't the person who said they have to give up a pick if no salary was retained, but I did state many times ROR value (at least what the Torontallo fans wanted) wouldn't be close UNLESS major salary was retained OR Buffalo added compensation for taking that salary.

So in reality we can agree to agree I was 149.48% RIGHT. Thank you.

Well I wasn't the person who said they have to give up a pick if no salary was retained, but I did state many times ROR value (at least what the Torontallo fans wanted) wouldn't be close UNLESS major salary was retained OR Buffalo added compensation for taking that salary.

So in reality we can agree to agree I was 149.48% RIGHT. Thank you.
- Glak18

Uh, no...definitely no.

Well I wasn't the person who said they have to give up a pick if no salary was retained, but I did state many times ROR value (at least what the Torontallo fans wanted) wouldn't be close UNLESS major salary was retained OR Buffalo added compensation for taking that salary.

So in reality we can agree to agree I was 149.48% RIGHT. Thank you.
- Glak18

By any metric, you were wrong, added nothing to the conversation, and continue that proud tradition today.

Our bottom 6 sucked last year. Berglund and Sobotka will help that. Thompson is an intriguing prospect only sighed upon due to recancy bias towards Kyrou and Thomas. We have 3 first round picks next year. The way I see it, we traded our 2nd line C for a 3rd line C, 3rd line LW, prospect with top 6 potential, a first round pick and a 2nd round pick. Also Mittelstadt is now thrusted into a 2nd Line C role and he’s shown more offensive skill in 10 minutes of development camp then ROR showed in the years he was here.
- Pegullaville

That's one way to look at it for justification. Like I could say the Flyers got TWO 1st round picks and a 3C for Brayden Schenn...Schenn, B.