That D pairing you just mentioned, get's us smoked.
- SABRES 89

Not really

There is still learning for Pilut to do but if you need a 2C and Minny needs defensemen

You would absolutely trade McCabe and a pick (not 1st rounder) for Coyle

hutton 1 win in last 9 starts

lehner won his last 5 starts
- homiedclown

Not sure why they aren't playing Ullmark more at this point.

Not sure why they aren't playing Ullmark more at this point.
- Frizzlefry

He's been sick/hurt hence the Wedgewood call ups

Even if I wanted to torture myself sitting through a boring, non-rivalry game, Doc Emmerick makes it completely impossible to tolerate more than 30 seconds of the broadcast

Dude has probably touched more boys than all the Catholic Priests combined
- BeadyEyedDouche

Dont underestimate the Catholic church.

Mike Kelly
‏Verified account @MikeKellyNHL
17m17 minutes ago

The Bruins win knocks the Sabres into a Wild Card spot. Just over a month ago, Buffalo was 1st in the Atlantic Division, 9 points clear of 9th place. That lead is down to 2, over the Islanders, who have 2 games in hand.

Mike Kelly
‏Verified account @MikeKellyNHL
17m17 minutes ago

The Bruins win knocks the Sabres into a Wild Card spot. Just over a month ago, Buffalo was 1st in the Atlantic Division, 9 points clear of 9th place. That lead is down to 2, over the Islanders, who have 2 games in hand.
- Stripes77

Well that makes the 1st day of a new year sound like a toilet flushing .

Assuming your top 4 is:

Risto Pilut
Bogo Dahlin

You're going to get a better forward for McCabe than you would Scandella

This team needs scoring and needs it bad

The remaining blue liners:

Bowl-U, Scandella, Hunwick, Guhle, Nelson

can round out the bottom pair
- Stripes77

Very underwhelming options but I get your point.

He's been sick/hurt hence the Wedgewood call ups
- Stripes77

That's just this weekend. I meant in general.

Not really

There is still learning for Pilut to do but if you need a 2C and Minny needs defensemen

You would absolutely trade McCabe and a pick (not 1st rounder) for Coyle
- Stripes77

IDK, Coyle feels like more of he same...he is going to get you
- 15 to 20 G's,
- 20 to 25 A's
That is a cross of a 2C and a good 3C....is that what the Sabres really need?
I know he has a decent contract and it won't cost a ton, but I'd rather keep McCabe and look elsewhere. Seems like a safe Darcy trade.

I'd be looking for a true 2C that can compete well with the likes of Matthews/Tarvares and Point/Stamkos. Might be better to make a hockey trade in the offseason rather than a patch now.
Or they may have a very young one in Mitts and they need to let him bake more

Dont underestimate the Catholic church.
- Frizzlefry

Don't underestimate Doc Emmerick

IDK, Coyle feels like more of he same...he is going to get you
- 15 to 20 G's,
- 20 to 25 A's
That is a cross of a 2C and a good 3C....is that what the Sabres really need?
I know he has a decent contract and it won't cost a ton, but I'd rather keep McCabe and look elsewhere. Seems like a safe Darcy trade.

I'd be looking for a true 2C that can compete well with the likes of Matthews/Tarvares and Point/Stamkos. Might be better to make a hockey trade in the offseason rather than a patch now.
Or they may have a very young one in Mitts and they need to let him bake more
- IonSabres

To add to what you said, if I am giving up assets, I'd rather get somebody who is better then decent, such as Brayden Schenn.

Coyle is far from a no brainer move IMO.

Let's be reasonable. Mostly because Terry Pegula isn't.

That 10-game win streak was the worst possible thing that we could have had happen this season. It changed expectations.

As a testament to the hypocrisy of the casual Buffalo sports fan, before the 10-game streak, tickets on StubHub were going for $60.00 in the 100 levels, and around $25.00 in the 300's.

After the streak, the tickets SKY-ROCKETED to $65.00 in the 300's and pushing $100.00+ in the 100's.

We have the team we deserve until further notice...

But as far as our roster, prospect and draft-pick resources goes, it is really time to start considering a trade of Ristolainen.

We have our franchise defenseman. Until this season, the majority of posters were calling Ristolainen a #4. He is on pace for 50-points, a career high. He is signed to a friendly contract.

Which is why you trade him now. Don't worry about Skinner. Don't worry about our cap situation. It will work itself out.

You know what won't? Losing Eichel, for any amount of time. What else? We have no center depth, no winger depth... but all of a sudden, we have extra bodies on defense.

Ristolainen does not make or break this team.

Seguin, Kane, yeah, there's some big names out there and we might not need or be looking for a big name, but the best way to land one of them is to flip them Ristolainen, especially if GMJB wants to hold onto those 4 first round picks... Which is very unrealistic to expect those 4 picks hit and turn into NHL players within the next 3 years.

Look at our history of 1st round picks and tell me it's worth it to wait until Eichel is 25 for any of them to be relevant. Tim Murray built a team to win before it had any right to, the last thing we need is for GMJB to take too long to build that team. Skinner can be a long-term solution on Eichel's wing, but as we will see soon if Eichel misses significant time, we are going to need a guy behind Eichel to make Skinner's role work to any capacity. Reinhart seems to be a 50-point guy without an Eichel, and close to a .ppg guy with him, so we're in the same boat with him as we are with Skinner... They are COMPLIMENTARY PLAYERS.

Our entire prospect depth right now is littered with complimentary players and our organizational make-up now has exactly TWO players that are game-breakers, Eichel and Dahlin.

What we lack utterly, however, is good role-players... and as much as I dislike him, only one role player comes to mind right now, and that's Johan Larsson. It PAINS me to say this, but he is a perfect 4th-liner and penalty killer. He plays a quiet, methodical, consistent game but he should NEVER sniff top-6 minutes.

We have depth on defense right now, surprisingly. Don't trade McCabe. His value doesn't warrant the return we would get, which would be negligible. We can bank more on one of the guys in Rochester working out when we only have to worry about 6 roster spots.

We need a legit 2nd line center, another threat on the wing, and a few solid role-players. I do give GMJB some credit here, he swung and missed bringing in Sheary, Sobotka and Berglund, so that should tell you all you need to know about considering a Coyle, Zucarello, Carter type of trade...

We need to take a swing at a big name, an established player. There is no reason to sit on 4 first round picks right now when you can package a defenseman like Ristolainen with one of them and land a legit name.

Mike Kelly
‏Verified account @MikeKellyNHL
17m17 minutes ago

The Bruins win knocks the Sabres into a Wild Card spot. Just over a month ago, Buffalo was 1st in the Atlantic Division, 9 points clear of 9th place. That lead is down to 2, over the Islanders, who have 2 games in hand.
- Stripes77

Yep that’s some depressing news you don’t want to hear for the new year ..

But On the bright side it’s a new year they can start fresh and start winning again

Let's be reasonable. Mostly because Terry Pegula isn't.

That 10-game win streak was the worst possible thing that we could have had happen this season. It changed expectations.

As a testament to the hypocrisy of the casual Buffalo sports fan, before the 10-game streak, tickets on StubHub were going for $60.00 in the 100 levels, and around $25.00 in the 300's.

After the streak, the tickets SKY-ROCKETED to $65.00 in the 300's and pushing $100.00+ in the 100's.

We have the team we deserve until further notice...

But as far as our roster, prospect and draft-pick resources goes, it is really time to start considering a trade of Ristolainen.

We have our franchise defenseman. Until this season, the majority of posters were calling Ristolainen a #4. He is on pace for 50-points, a career high. He is signed to a friendly contract.

Which is why you trade him now. Don't worry about Skinner. Don't worry about our cap situation. It will work itself out.

You know what won't? Losing Eichel, for any amount of time. What else? We have no center depth, no winger depth... but all of a sudden, we have extra bodies on defense.

Ristolainen does not make or break this team.

Seguin, Kane, yeah, there's some big names out there and we might not need or be looking for a big name, but the best way to land one of them is to flip them Ristolainen, especially if GMJB wants to hold onto those 4 first round picks... Which is very unrealistic to expect those 4 picks hit and turn into NHL players within the next 3 years.

Look at our history of 1st round picks and tell me it's worth it to wait until Eichel is 25 for any of them to be relevant. Tim Murray built a team to win before it had any right to, the last thing we need is for GMJB to take too long to build that team. Skinner can be a long-term solution on Eichel's wing, but as we will see soon if Eichel misses significant time, we are going to need a guy behind Eichel to make Skinner's role work to any capacity. Reinhart seems to be a 50-point guy without an Eichel, and close to a .ppg guy with him, so we're in the same boat with him as we are with Skinner... They are COMPLIMENTARY PLAYERS.

Our entire prospect depth right now is littered with complimentary players and our organizational make-up now has exactly TWO players that are game-breakers, Eichel and Dahlin.

What we lack utterly, however, is good role-players... and as much as I dislike him, only one role player comes to mind right now, and that's Johan Larsson. It PAINS me to say this, but he is a perfect 4th-liner and penalty killer. He plays a quiet, methodical, consistent game but he should NEVER sniff top-6 minutes.

We have depth on defense right now, surprisingly. Don't trade McCabe. His value doesn't warrant the return we would get, which would be negligible. We can bank more on one of the guys in Rochester working out when we only have to worry about 6 roster spots.

We need a legit 2nd line center, another threat on the wing, and a few solid role-players. I do give GMJB some credit here, he swung and missed bringing in Sheary, Sobotka and Berglund, so that should tell you all you need to know about considering a Coyle, Zucarello, Carter type of trade...

We need to take a swing at a big name, an established player. There is no reason to sit on 4 first round picks right now when you can package a defenseman like Ristolainen with one of them and land a legit name.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Sure big names are great and probably could help us but I think you have to put their age in the factor Kane ( going to be 31) Jamie Benn ( going to be 30) Seguin 26 perfect age ) but these players are going to cost a ton that we can’t afford at this time imo

We Shouldn’t be going for this quick fix trying to trade for Star players that are struggling we’re going to end up back Where TM left us imo

To add to what you said, if I am giving up assets, I'd rather get somebody who is better then decent, such as Brayden Schenn.

Coyle is far from a no brainer move IMO.
- kingcong39

Just read of pressure going up in Edmonton...Chia making moves

RNH, Puljajarvi, Ethan Bear
For
Okposo, McCabe, Nylander

Add to it as necessary

Sure big names are great and probably could help us but I think you have to put their age in the factor Kane ( going to be 31) Jamie Benn ( going to be 30) Seguin 26 perfect age ) but these players are going to cost a ton that we can’t afford at this time imo

We Shouldn’t be going for this quick fix trying to trade for Star players that are struggling we’re going to end up back Where TM left us imo
- gerbe75pts

TM obliterated our prospect and pick pool for complimentary players.

I think Ristolainen and a 1st could land you a Seguin or Draisaitl. And I think a trade like that alone would do more for this team than keeping that 1st and Risto.

Honestly, people said Skinner would cost an arm and a leg, people thought Taylor Hall would land a gold-mine of a return, and we can easily take a run at a few pending UFA's and be fine next season.

Pending UFA's we should realistically target:

Tyler Myers (Yes, I'm serious, pair him with Dahlin)
Jakob Silfverberg
Jordan Eberle
Mark Stone
Artemi Panarin
Kevin Hayes
Wayne Simmonds

Just to name a few that are pending.

Just read of pressure going up in Edmonton...Chia making moves

RNH, Puljajarvi, Ethan Bear
For
Okposo, McCabe, Nylander

Add to it as necessary
- IonSabres

No way EDM does this

And no way I want RNH anywhere on this team

Just read of pressure going up in Edmonton...Chia making moves

RNH, Puljajarvi, Ethan Bear
For
Okposo, McCabe, Nylander

Add to it as necessary
- IonSabres

Who is Ethan Bear?


Edit: nvm.

That's his real name, lol.

Who is Ethan Bear?
- Powerslave

just some indigenous prospect

he's no Trygve Many Guns

I also wouldn't call Iafallo a sure thing, either. He has exactly a year and a half of NHL hockey under his belt, and has just matched a career high with 9 goals.
- Powerslave

Good post

Although at 9 goals he would sadly be tied with pommer as our 3rd highest goal scorer

No way EDM does this

And no way I want RNH anywhere on this team
- BeadyEyedDouche

Kind of surprised by your rea tion to not want him around...why is that?

36 points playing with Lucic and Puljujarvi; 14G / 22A
Two way player
Decent contract for 2 more seasons.

never should have happened on new years day


should have made a deal with nhlpa and done it christmas day
- homiedclown

👍

Christmas would clash with the nfl sometimes though

We need to shift the focus off of the Sabres and onto Jimmy and Lockport IMO

Just read of pressure going up in Edmonton...Chia making moves

RNH, Puljajarvi, Ethan Bear
For
Okposo, McCabe, Nylander

Add to it as necessary
- IonSabres

Garth, is that you?

👍

Christmas would clash with the nfl sometimes though
- Boss34

Not really, maybe 1 NFL Game

if Christmas is on a Sunday, pretty sure most of the games are moved to Saturday

last thing people want to do on New Years is sit on the couch unless they want to watch college football


everyone I know down here got out of the house

hell I opened up my fish room today for walk ins, made $400 while I got work done