Because playing 22 and 28 in the offensive zone is a waste of everyone's time. -10, on pace for 8 points while getting 3rd line minutes. If that's acceptable, then he's doing terrific. Congrats to us
- jcragcrumple

Let me just walk through this for a sec...

Berglund
-expected to score around 20goals
-was thought to be our 2C until Mitts was ready
-has been bumped down the lineup
-making roughly the same as Girgs & Larsson combined

Girgs & Larsson
-most wanted gone, combined wouldn’t even be expected to hit 20goals, probably about half that- MAYBE a couple more
-in the past, have definitely been useless in the wrong roles
-this year, at least playing effectively in their roles in the majority of games

So my question is...
why are u so focused on the parts of that line that have EXCEEDED expectations,
and not more p!ssed about the guy who has been EXTREMELY UNDERWHELMING???

Because playing 22 and 28 in the offensive zone is a waste of everyone's time. -10, on pace for 8 points while getting 3rd line minutes. If that's acceptable, then he's doing terrific. Congrats to us
- jcragcrumple

I just think you're looking this all wrong. Stop focusing on Larsson and think about why Phil plays them so much. 2 of their lines are terrible defensively, to the point where they break the line up in key situations. 1 is mediocre. You're calling their best defensive line the problem, when the reality is that it's the solution to a bigger problem.

The general consensus i keep hearing is that they’re gonna let Gardner walk or trade him

Kapanen they’ll sign to a smaller bridge deal
With Marner, they might have a “Nylander situation” all over again, trying to get him as cheap as possible

They’ve definitely got some issues to work around, but I’m sure they’ll work it out for the most part
- jdfitz77

even if they let Gardner walk they are still in a world of poop.

I really can't wait to see how Tronna handles sigining Matthews, Marner, Kapanen & Gardiner.. They all ready have 57 Mil locked up for next year but will have 10 RFA/UFA's.. Matthews gets a min of 12 (right?) Marner gets Nylander money (7Mil) Kapanen maybe 5 Mil and Gardiner 5 Mil? That puts them at 86 Mil, that would be over the projected cap and they still would have 5 unsigned spots .. They are so screwed...
- hehateme

On Leaf threads everything is completely kosher. They’ll be able to sign them all and even go after a big name next year.

Tavares will kill them in a couple years IMO. They’ll trade Nylander.

Let me just walk through this for a sec...

Berglund
-expected to score around 20goals
-was thought to be our 2C until Mitts was ready
-has been bumped down the lineup
-making roughly the same as Girgs & Larsson combined

Girgs & Larsson
-most wanted gone, combined wouldn’t even be expected to hit 20goals, probably about half that- MAYBE a couple more
-in the past, have definitely been useless in the wrong roles
-this year, at least playing effectively in their roles in the majority of games

So my question is...
why are u so focused on the parts of that line that have EXCEEDED expectations,
and not more p!ssed about the guy who has been EXTREMELY UNDERWHELMING???
- jdfitz77

The problem on this team is simple. We have no play making number 2 center right now. Mitts while I think he will be good is still only 19 and on the smaller side. Berglund (yuck).. We need to trade for someone like Jeff Carter or an actual #2 center, Losing ROR hurts in this aspect.

On Leaf threads everything is completely kosher. They’ll be able to sign them all and even go after a big name next year.

Tavares will kill them in a couple years IMO. They’ll trade Nylander.
- Pairo11

i really don't see how they are going to afford all that firepower. I guess they can do it and field literally no D at all. They would have to win 8-7 every game, (kinda doing that now)

the biggest problem with the sabres, is they really are not in a win now position due to murray

have a lot of bad contracts, mostly due to murray


and do not have the prospects to be able to trade for short term help, mostly due to murray

the prospects we hoped would help a few years ago, bailey, baptiste, guhle and nylander are not on the roster, just not good enough or in baptiste's case moved on

murray pretty much ignored getting quality d men in the draft and few of his picks made outside the first fail to become decent prospects

then you look at molson, bogo, and okposo are really bad contracts, murray

assuming skinner signs, that trade becomes a home run, but still a chance he walks

the pilut signing was a great pick up, IMO we need to find ways to get more of them

the wild trade was parts for parts and even though pommer is a bad cap hit, we were in a position to absorb it, but scandella has been a huge disappointment

the ror trade, berglund and the pod racer have been meh at best, and we still have 15 more mil of them on the books after this season

49 contracts in the organization, hopefully down to 38 or 39 after this season to finish this mess murray made and start to turn the page



on the surface it's not as bad as it was, but when you take a deeper look, it's still a mess


middle 6 on the current roster is brutal

a few bad contracts

a few busts in rochester they should not offer a contract to once they expire

but the good is goaltending depth in the pipeline and finally have some D depth building in the pipeline


ain't got sh!t up front in the pipeline thanks to murray


right now, the best course is to get skinner locked up and addition by subtraction

rant over

even if they let Gardner walk they are still in a world of poop.
- hehateme

They'll figure it out and will be fine. Face it, our hated rivals to the north just might be cup contenders for a while. Tough pill to swallow, but we all should be used to horrible things when it comes to being a Buffalo sports fan. I'm numb to it all.

And with that happy note, back to my desk, where I'm sure I'll collapse at in the future. And then finally, sweet sweet merciful death ...

They'll figure it out and will be fine. Face it, our hated rivals to the north just might be cup contenders for a while. Tough pill to swallow, but we all should be used to horrible things when it comes to being a Buffalo sports fan. I'm numb to it all.

And with that happy note, back to my desk, where I'm sure I'll collapse at in the future. And then finally, sweet sweet merciful death ...
- kritter65

They will have to play iron man hockey, they will have all there money tied up in 10 players...

even if they let Gardner walk they are still in a world of poop.
- hehateme

Are u counting Horton’s $$$ going on IR for them?
Bc by my count,
they’ll have around 10mil for:
-backup goalie
-Kapanen OR Gardner
-3 or 4 bottom6 forwards
-2 or 3 bottom4 defensemen

So it’ll be tough for sure,
but idk that they’re totally screwed

Just gonna have to lean heavily on their top talent, and hope some kids can come up & help out on cheap contracts

They do have Liljegren (1st round pick a couple years ago) and the 2 Swedes on defense that they signed a couple years ago

So they could bring those guys up & try to shelter them a bit

Depth could certainly be what hurts them
Especially in the playoffs

Matt Hunwick will be sent to the Amerks today and will play at least one game, maybe two. Marco Scandella is close to returning to practice.

Don't know how he'll fit in when ready.

Also, with Miller hurt, Anaheim claimed Johnson.

I really can't wait to see how Tronna handles sigining Matthews, Marner, Kapanen & Gardiner.. They all ready have 57 Mil locked up for next year but will have 10 RFA/UFA's.. Matthews gets a min of 12 (right?) Marner gets Nylander money (7Mil) Kapanen maybe 5 Mil and Gardiner 5 Mil? That puts them at 86 Mil, that would be over the projected cap and they still would have 5 unsigned spots .. They are so screwed...
- hehateme

They are all going to take hometown discounts to stay.

Matthews 8 X 9.5
Marner 7 X 5.5
Kapanene 7 X 2
Gardiner 7 X 5

The general consensus i keep hearing is that they’re gonna let Gardner walk or trade him

Kapanen they’ll sign to a smaller bridge deal
With Marner, they might have a “Nylander situation” all over again, trying to get him as cheap as possible

They’ve definitely got some issues to work around, but I’m sure they’ll work it out for the most part
- jdfitz77

Ive heard this as the main point as well, but regardless of his skills they'd be out a top 4 dman which they have to replace, those cost roughly around 4-5 mill on the cap.
They have cap issues coming for sure.

They are all going to take hometown discounts to stay.

Matthews 8 X 9.5
Marner 7 X 5.5
Kapanene 7 X 2
Gardiner 7 X 5
- ImThatGuy

I think the NHL PA would have something to say about this.....

The problem on this team is simple. We have no play making number 2 center right now. Mitts while I think he will be good is still only 19 and on the smaller side. Berglund (yuck).. We need to trade for someone like Jeff Carter or an actual #2 center, Losing ROR hurts in this aspect.
- hehateme

No one wants me to get started on that topic
😂😂😂
I’ll agree to agree with you, for sure

As for Carter... idk?
He’s not really a playmaker,
more of a scorer (like Skinner)
Problem is that he turns 34 on Jan1 and we’d have him for 3 years after this
Also, only 6goals in 31games this season
Could just be bc the Kings have been so terrible
But i think he’d be a really risky guy to acquire
Could be another “Berglund” type that we end up wanting gone not too long after we see he’s not the scorer we were hoping for

i really don't see how they are going to afford all that firepower. I guess they can do it and field literally no D at all. They would have to win 8-7 every game, (kinda doing that now)
- hehateme

Marleau has one more year so he’ll be gone after that. Gardiner and Hainsey are UFA’s after this year. Hainsey is gone and they may be able to pitch something to Gardiner. But the big problem, obviously, is Marner/Matthews/Kapanen. Gotta think Kap is trade bait. M and M will take up (IMO) $23M. I think Matthews gets $13 and Marner gets $10. And then their goalie is only signed for 2 more years.

Over $41M for 4 players.

the biggest problem with the sabres, is they really are not in a win now position due to murray

have a lot of bad contracts, mostly due to murray


and do not have the prospects to be able to trade for short term help, mostly due to murray

the prospects we hoped would help a few years ago, bailey, baptiste, guhle and nylander are not on the roster, just not good enough or in baptiste's case moved on

murray pretty much ignored getting quality d men in the draft and few of his picks made outside the first fail to become decent prospects

then you look at molson, bogo, and okposo are really bad contracts, murray

assuming skinner signs, that trade becomes a home run, but still a chance he walks

the pilut signing was a great pick up, IMO we need to find ways to get more of them

the wild trade was parts for parts and even though pommer is a bad cap hit, we were in a position to absorb it, but scandella has been a huge disappointment

the ror trade, berglund and the pod racer have been meh at best, and we still have 15 more mil of them on the books after this season

49 contracts in the organization, hopefully down to 38 or 39 after this season to finish this mess murray made and start to turn the page



on the surface it's not as bad as it was, but when you take a deeper look, it's still a mess


middle 6 on the current roster is brutal

a few bad contracts

a few busts in rochester they should not offer a contract to once they expire

but the good is goaltending depth in the pipeline and finally have some D depth building in the pipeline


ain't got sh!t up front in the pipeline thanks to murray


right now, the best course is to get skinner locked up and addition by subtraction

rant over
- homiedclown

Good post sir
Pretty much agree with all of this

They are all going to take hometown discounts to stay.

Matthews 8 X 9.5
Marner 7 X 5.5
Kapanene 7 X 2
Gardiner 7 X 5
- ImThatGuy

No one wants me to get started on that topic
😂😂😂
I’ll agree to agree with you, for sure

As for Carter... idk?
He’s not really a playmaker,
more of a scorer (like Skinner)
Problem is that he turns 34 on Jan1 and we’d have him for 3 years after this
Also, only 6goals in 31games this season
Could just be bc the Kings have been so terrible
But i think he’d be a really risky guy to acquire
Could be another “Berglund” type that we end up wanting gone not too long after we see he’s not the scorer we were hoping for
- jdfitz77

I was just spitballin, This team needs a #2 "rental" play making center until Mitts is ready, that may not be for another year or two. how about #1, a prospect ++ to ANA for Rickard Rakell??

the biggest problem with the sabres, is they really are not in a win now position due to murray

have a lot of bad contracts, mostly due to murray


and do not have the prospects to be able to trade for short term help, mostly due to murray

the prospects we hoped would help a few years ago, bailey, baptiste, guhle and nylander are not on the roster, just not good enough or in baptiste's case moved on

murray pretty much ignored getting quality d men in the draft and few of his picks made outside the first fail to become decent prospects

then you look at molson, bogo, and okposo are really bad contracts, murray

assuming skinner signs, that trade becomes a home run, but still a chance he walks

the pilut signing was a great pick up, IMO we need to find ways to get more of them

the wild trade was parts for parts and even though pommer is a bad cap hit, we were in a position to absorb it, but scandella has been a huge disappointment

the ror trade, berglund and the pod racer have been meh at best, and we still have 15 more mil of them on the books after this season

49 contracts in the organization, hopefully down to 38 or 39 after this season to finish this mess murray made and start to turn the page



on the surface it's not as bad as it was, but when you take a deeper look, it's still a mess


middle 6 on the current roster is brutal

a few bad contracts

a few busts in rochester they should not offer a contract to once they expire

but the good is goaltending depth in the pipeline and finally have some D depth building in the pipeline


ain't got sh!t up front in the pipeline thanks to murray


right now, the best course is to get skinner locked up and addition by subtraction

rant over
- homiedclown

1000 times agreed..... We are still a couple years away.

Matt Hunwick will be sent to the Amerks today and will play at least one game, maybe two. Marco Scandella is close to returning to practice.

Don't know how he'll fit in when ready.

Also, with Miller hurt, Anaheim claimed Johnson.
- adambuffalo

Miller has been great for them the past 2 years
Best backup in the league
And a good mentor for Gibson

Are u counting Horton’s $$$ going on IR for them?
Bc by my count,
they’ll have around 10mil for:
-backup goalie
-Kapanen OR Gardner
-3 or 4 bottom6 forwards
-2 or 3 bottom4 defensemen

So it’ll be tough for sure,
but idk that they’re totally screwed

Just gonna have to lean heavily on their top talent, and hope some kids can come up & help out on cheap contracts

They do have Liljegren (1st round pick a couple years ago) and the 2 Swedes on defense that they signed a couple years ago

So they could bring those guys up & try to shelter them a bit

Depth could certainly be what hurts them
Especially in the playoffs
- jdfitz77

their AHL team has given up the 4th most goal in the AHL this year.... Unless they have total crap in goal those defenseman don't look real good.

I was just spitballin, This team needs a #2 "rental" play making center until Mitts is ready, that may not be for another year or two. how about #1, a prospect ++ to ANA for Rickard Rakell??
- hehateme

Sure, but idk why that work for them?
Not the value,
just that guys like Getzlaf, Kesler, Perry, etc are older- so they’re in win now mode,
and likely not trading a good younger player for futures

But yeah...
if we could actually find a legit 2C,
that would obviously help us quite a bit

their AHL team has given up the 4th most goal in the AHL this year.... Unless they have total crap in goal those defenseman don't look real good.
- gordong

Liljegren is going to be a good defenseman.

their AHL team has given up the 4th most goal in the AHL this year.... Unless they have total crap in goal those defenseman don't look real good.
- gordong

I haven’t paid much attn
Just remember those Swede defensemen being fairly highly touted when they signed them

They definitely have their work cut out for them if Marner & Matthews demand top$$$