If you had to pick a name, who is the prototypical "average" NHL forward?
- jcragcrumple

hecht, okposo, foligno

OBJ, cooks and diggs already signed extensions


- homiedclown

Do you really think any one of them would sign here even if the Bills went after them and offered them going rate +20%?

Patrick Peterson wants to be traded.

Nate Peterson for Patrick Peterson seems fair to me. I GUESS we can add a few first round picks to balance it out.
- TheSabresTaco

I doubt he’d wanna come here, but...
If we could get him, and draft a stud pass rusher, then we should have a pretty damn good defense

Then spend all that Cap $$$ to help out the offense

Legit playoff team
As long as Allen works out

OBJ, cooks and diggs already signed extensions


- homiedclown

WRs tend to be available through trade
Could’ve had Landry for a 2nd & Gordon for a 5th

WRs tend to be available through trade
Could’ve had Landry for a 2nd & Gordon for a 5th
- jdfitz77

Amari Cooper, who had less than 700 yards last year and has 280 this year, cost a first. At least the Bills aren't the only team to dump offensive players when they're in desperate need of offense.

WRs tend to be available through trade
Could’ve had Landry for a 2nd & Gordon for a 5th
- jdfitz77

we are at the point where I honestly feel the bills brass deserve what we see on the field right now and should be on the hot seat

Amari Cooper, who had less than 700 yards last year and has 280 this year, cost a first. At least the Bills aren't the only team to dump offensive players when they're in desperate need of offense.
- Wetbandit1

I think that’s more the extreme case than the norm though
Dallas is just dumb

we are at the point where I honestly feel the bills brass deserve what we see on the field right now and should be on the hot seat
- homiedclown

With all the dead Cap $$$ we had...
we weren’t gonna be able to address both sides of the ball for this season
Wood & that psycho retiring/quitting really hurt us offensively

Hopefully with all this Cap space we can address the offense after this season

I think some on here were very naive thinking the Bills would be good
We were set up to take a step back this year

I think that’s more the extreme case than the norm though
Dallas is just dumb
- jdfitz77

Sure, until the next one we won't know. But for the moment guys aren't going to get moved cheaply.

With all the dead Cap $$$ we had...
we weren’t gonna be able to address both sides of the ball for this season
Wood & that psycho retiring/quitting really hurt us offensively

Hopefully with all this Cap space we can address the offense after this season

I think some on here were very naive thinking the Bills would be good
We were set up to take a step back this year
- jdfitz77

Easily could've drafted a few WRs before the 6th round.

I really don't get all the hate for Sam R. What is wrong with a player who has improved his point totals every single year since he came into this league and has done it on a horrible team with really not a lot around him..

he is not or ever is going to be an Eichel, Matthews or McDavid but a lot of Sabres fans want him to be. He will be a 50-60 PT guy..

What is wrong with that???
- hehateme

What's wrong with that?
Nothing, if true...but it hasn't happened yet.
So it isn't true.

He proved he can, when he is motivated to do so.

However, the fact is he does not live up to his capabilities...that is THE issue IMO.
He had one 3 month period of play that exceeded expectations, but over the full season it resulted in modest improvement over two seasons of subpar performance.
Ya-frakin-hoo-ey.
Will the real Sam Please stand up (ever see To Tell The Truth?)

In Actuality, he is a 40-45 point player so far...could be 50-60 like you projected...when consistently motivated to do so.
That ain't no narrative...those are the indisputable realities, the facts.

He looks GREAT near the net on the PP, he is a set-up machine there no doubt.
But that is 3 -4 minutes on many nights...the other 14 on 5v5 is as important if not moreso.
I hope he finds a productive chemistry with Mitts and Sheary...that line just feels right to me...and he becomes a 50-60 producer like you say. H is onnotice with a bridge deal, so far his bet on himself is losing.

Miller still has glove side problems.....

With all the dead Cap $$$ we had...
we weren’t gonna be able to address both sides of the ball for this season
Wood & that psycho retiring/quitting really hurt us offensively

Hopefully with all this Cap space we can address the offense after this season

I think some on here were very naive thinking the Bills would be good
We were set up to take a step back this year
- jdfitz77

Been beating that drum myself for many months.
Every year, the hype machine helps their Marketing efforts to experience terrific success...there is very substantial buy-in by the fanbase fueled by the media.
The evidence was clear after Screw-lose and Woods retired.

They planned this pure and simple from then on. They may not be purposely tanking, actually very close to losing with dignity than not (except the D occassionally forgets to show up for quite awhile).

It is going to cost ALOT to upgrade that O through FA, if they once again invest in the D early on in the draft.
They need what ....?
-OL-LG
-OL-RG
-OL-RT
-OL-C (at least 3 of the 4 OL positions)
-WR-#1
-WR-#2

Man,that's alotof bread.

Miller still has glove side problems.....
- Pope of Pucks

Dude, this is funny...don't take it the wrong way, i dont mean to be nasty

But
Let it go!!!

I must say, this board is many times more fun when you combine
- residual anesthesia
- couple bourbons
- little, very small toke

Isn't it wonderful?!

Easily could've drafted a few WRs before the 6th round.
- Wetbandit1

Like who EXACTLY?

Could’ve taken Coutee or Callaway instead of Harrison Phillips late in round3
But even they’ve only made minimal impact

Other than that,
there was no one of any significance picked
Wasn’t a good year for WRs

Sure, until the next one we won't know. But for the moment guys aren't going to get moved cheaply.
- Wetbandit1

Supposedly there’s gonna be a bunch of trades

Judging the price tag by Dallas’ overpayment probably isn’t accurate

Not that anyone cares...but im in the NO LIKEY Sam camp. Not because hes not a good hockey player. Hes a ok hockey player that plays a boring game. 45-60 point player.

Hey thats good. Plenty of teams/people would take that from players anyday. But im not in the show me that you can score points then clarify you a good hockey player. Too many aspects of the game a player has to be good at to be considered a good hockey player.

Yes when you have elite skill you can only be good at one of two things and you will be good/great. Sorry sam is not so he needs to be good at many. We will go over these later children....

Main point: F building a team that is just ok. I want a PLAYOFF team!! I want Ryan Kesler type wingers in the playoffs not someone that wont finish a check or fight for a puck. Question is where does Sam fit on this team....

3rd line (checking line). No no i dont think so

1st line. Let me laugh a second. Eichel and skinner are great players. Imagine a eichel/skinner/Sam line in the playoffs. Yea thats game 6 first round exit.

2nd line. Now thats a possibility. But the linemates needs to fit his strenghts. Which honestly are not much

- Does not win puck battles
- Does not score 5v5
- Does not finish checks
- SLOW
- Does not make his linemates better


If building a playoff team, that sounds like a player I dont want. Yea now all the people are gonna be like well, Kessel dosent check or Eichel dosent finish checks, Well those are great/elite players with at least some elite skills. Need players like that to win. If Sam had one elite skill id find room for him on a playoff team.

Im not ok with mediocre anymore. We have a core that many teams would be jealous of. Start building on top of that now and dont wait to hope a player will turn into something they are not. Either they fit or find someone that will.

Been beating that drum myself for many months.
Every year, the hype machine helps their Marketing efforts to experience terrific success...there is very substantial buy-in by the fanbase fueled by the media.
The evidence was clear after Screw-lose and Woods retired.

They planned this pure and simple from then on. They may not be purposely tanking, actually very close to losing with dignity than not (except the D occassionally forgets to show up for quite awhile).

It is going to cost ALOT to upgrade that O through FA, if they once again invest in the D early on in the draft.
They need what ....?
-OL-LG
-OL-RG
-OL-RT
-OL-C (at least 3 of the 4 OL positions)
-WR-#1
-WR-#2

Man,that's alotof bread.
- IonSabres

The best players are all DL pass rushers this year
Maybe the WR from Ole Miss is worth a top10 pick, but he’s it
And i don’t think u should ever draft an OL that high
U can find them later

If u don’t wanna use our top pick on a pass rusher, we could try to trade down
But that might not be possible
There’s probably no Top10 QBs,
and that’s almost always the position teams would trade up for
Especially that high in the draft

Not that anyone cares...but im in the NO LIKEY Sam camp. Not because hes not a good hockey player. Hes a ok hockey player that plays a boring game. 45-60 point player.

Hey thats good. Plenty of teams/people would take that from players anyday. But im not in the show me that you can score points then clarify you a good hockey player. Too many aspects of the game a player has to be good at to be considered a good hockey player.

Yes when you have elite skill you can only be good at one of two things and you will be good/great. Sorry sam is not so he needs to be good at many. We will go over these later children....

Main point: F building a team that is just ok. I want a PLAYOFF team!! I want Ryan Kesler type wingers in the playoffs not someone that wont finish a check or fight for a puck. Question is where does Sam fit on this team....

3rd line (checking line). No no i dont think so

1st line. Let me laugh a second. Eichel and skinner are great players. Imagine a eichel/skinner/Sam line in the playoffs. Yea thats game 6 first round exit.

2nd line. Now thats a possibility. But the linemates needs to fit his strenghts. Which honestly are not much

- Does not win puck battles
- Does not score 5v5
- Does not finish checks
- SLOW
- Does not make his linemates better


If building a playoff team, that sounds like a player I dont want. Yea now all the people are gonna be like well, Kessel dosent check or Eichel dosent finish checks, Well those are great/elite players with at least some elite skills. Need players like that to win. If Sam had one elite skill id find room for him on a playoff team.

Im not ok with mediocre anymore. We have a core that many teams would be jealous of. Start building on top of that now and dont wait to hope a player will turn into something they are not. Either they fit or find someone that will.
- ZiggyBuff

Ok...
but it’s not like we can trade Sam for Kucherov

If you had to pick a name, who is the prototypical "average" NHL forward?
- jcragcrumple

If these stats are right, and still relevant - they’re from 2015-16, Sam produces at a rate exactly between the average 1st line winger and 2d line winger.

https://hfboards.mandator...rage-by-position.2103903/

If these stats are right, and still relevant - they’re from 2015-16, Sam produces at a rate exactly between the average 1st line winger and 2d line winger.

https://hfboards.mandator...rage-by-position.2103903/
- Der Kaiser

Thank you Cabie for bringing some sanity to the room.

I must object to the posters position that Sam doesn't make players around him better? His hockey IQ and passing is excellent.

Watch him in the corners using his frame to shield defenders. To suggest that he is "Losing" on the Bet on himself 8 games into the season?

So we played the best two road games in about 6 years and NOW we are back on the bash sam bandwagon??? Man this place...

Thank you Cabie for bringing some sanity to the room.

I must object to the posters position that Sam doesn't make players around him better? His hockey IQ and passing is excellent.

Watch him in the corners using his frame to shield defenders. To suggest that he is "Losing" on the Bet on himself 8 games into the season?
- MEBSabresFAN

I’m happy to help.

Ok...
but it’s not like we can trade Sam for Kucherov
- jdfitz77

Yup I know that. But if he doesent fit team mold which I dont think he does for Botts then look to make your team better.

I really hope we make the playoffs this year and then we get to see what Sam really is. Hope Im wrong. But iv seen 4 years of someone that I see disappearing in tough games or the playoffs.