Agreed. Then you end up where we are currently, with numerous regrettable contracts.
- Powerslave

It's easy for me to say, sign some 2nd tier guys, for less $ and term.

I feel like we have the star power finally after tanking for so many years.

I still think jbotts is gonna be hitting the college free agent signings hard. Nice to get a vesey or butcher.

Why cant we sign someone tough? Someone to fear?

How many more years of being soft?

It's easy for me to say, sign some 2nd tier guys, for less $ and term.

I feel like we have the star power finally after tanking for so many years.

I still think jbotts is gonna be hitting the college free agent signings hard. Nice to get a vesey or butcher.

Why cant we sign someone tough? Someone to fear?

How many more years of being soft?
- Boss34

I like Simmonds. Alot. Checks all the boxes. His body will start to break down, though. Anyone know what he'll be looking for?

They’re prime to take a step back next season
Could be the next AVs, Jersey, etc

Trotz is a freaking wizard though
- jdfitz77

Isles were better off tanking and getting a top 5 pick. Just like Colorado and New Jersey were last season. Colorado is better off losing the rest of their games this season too. New Jersey is where they should be, playoff experience didn’t help much this year.

Picking top 10 this year is better for the Sabres long term as well then losing in 4 to the Lightning. Patience is a virtue, it’s just a shame years of mismanagement has lost the patience of some of the long standing fans. To blame Botterill for others misfortunes though is wrong.

Isles were better off tanking and getting a top 5 pick. Just like Colorado and New Jersey were last season. Colorado is better off losing the rest of their games this season too. New Jersey is where they should be, playoff experience didn’t help much this year.

Picking top 10 this year is better for the Sabres long term as well then losing in 4 to the Lightning. Patience is a virtue, it’s just a shame years of mismanagement has lost the patience of some of the long standing fans. To blame Botterill for others misfortunes though is wrong.
- Pegullaville

I don't blame Botts, I blame the Pegula's for the mess we are in.

It is very disheartening when the hockey season is over by March or earlier every year for the Sabres. Can the team get a coach that shows some emotion and can motivate the players? Even a tested coach that has won a cup on his own merits and not inherited a team that was in pretty good shape like Dan B. I know you should give coaches four or five years to build a team, however, Housley puts me to sleep just watching him at his press conferences. I think more energy is put forth chewing gum than anything else.

I like Simmonds. Alot. Checks all the boxes. His body will start to break down, though. Anyone know what he'll be looking for?
- Powerslave

Probably too much.
I'd give him a moulson not quite a okposo contract

5 x 5
5.5 x 6

30 years old already.

Maybe I'm a blind fan, but our window starts next year.

If we could give simmonds - use berglund/okposos money

Probably too much.
I'd give him a moulson not quite a okposo contract

5 x 5
5.5 x 6

30 years old already.

Maybe I'm a blind fan, but our window starts next year.

If we could give simmonds - use berglund/okposos money
- Boss34

Question.. if Okposo is sent to Rochester, will his salary count against the cap?

Question.. if Okposo is sent to Rochester, will his salary count against the cap?
- sabreadvocate1

All but $1M something, it goes up every year, but yeah, most of it counts.

Isles were better off tanking and getting a top 5 pick. Just like Colorado and New Jersey were last season. Colorado is better off losing the rest of their games this season too. New Jersey is where they should be, playoff experience didn’t help much this year.

Picking top 10 this year is better for the Sabres long term as well then losing in 4 to the Lightning. Patience is a virtue, it’s just a shame years of mismanagement has lost the patience of some of the long standing fans. To blame Botterill for others misfortunes though is wrong.
- Pegullaville

Isn’t every team that doesn’t win the Cup “better off tanking”?

Isn’t every team that doesn’t win the Cup “better off tanking”?
- PrinceChill

Unless you are Tampa, Boston, Toronto, Washington, Pittsburgh (barely), Winnipeg, Calgary, Nashville, San Jose, Vegas (barely). Then yes.

Unless you are Tampa, Boston, Toronto, Washington, Pittsburgh (barely), Winnipeg, Calgary, Nashville, San Jose, Vegas (barely). Then yes.
- Pegullaville

Unless you are Tampa, Boston, Toronto, Washington, Pittsburgh (barely), Winnipeg, Calgary, Nashville, San Jose, Vegas (barely). Then yes.
- Pegullaville

Are the Sabres going to be in that group next year?

Are the Sabres going to be in that group next year?
- PrinceChill

I didn’t think Calgary would be this year. It depends on the offseason we have and the development of Dahlin, Mittelstadt, Thompson in year 2. Olofason making the team and being a viable top 6 option would go a long way as well. A lot of variables but this league has a lot of parity.

RJ in his early years was very good. Darling, on the other hand, was too much of a homer. As I had stated before Bill Hewitt and Danny Gallivan were really good. You can hear Hewitt doing the play by play on the Sabres-Soviets game in 1976. It's on youtube.
- sabreadvocJate1

Call me crazy but I thought Jim Lorentz was great back in day

Are the Sabres going to be in that group next year?
- PrinceChill

no

I didn’t think Calgary would be this year. It depends on the offseason we have and the development of Dahlin, Mittelstadt, Thompson in year 2. Olofason making the team and being a viable top 6 option would go a long way as well. A lot of variables but this league has a lot of parity.
- Pegullaville

Are the Sabres better off tanking next year too? Is it ever alright to lose in the first round?

Call me crazy but I thought Jim Lorentz was great back in day
- 22sabresQ

I did too, but it's his fault the Sabres have the luck they do, he never should've killed that bat.

Are the Sabres better off tanking next year too? Is it ever alright to lose in the first round?
- PrinceChill

And how would you if you had a team that was going to lose in the 1st round?

Is the gm making that decision?

And how would you if you had a team that was going to lose in the 1st round?

Is the gm making that decision?
- Boss34

I guess it would depend on what it looks like. Nobody thinks the Sabres should’ve loaded up on high priced over-30 vets just to make the playoffs.

But if this years team would’ve made it, only to lose in the first round, and we got to see real substantive growth from young players performing in pressure situations? I would’ve like to have seen that.

Teams don’t go from many consecutive years out of the playoffs, to a very deep run in the span of a year. There’s going to be disappoint and heartbreak in between. I’m tired of feeling resigned to be numb towards the team.

Call me crazy but I thought Jim Lorentz was great back in day
- 22sabresQ

Forgot about Lorentz..you are right.

Are the Sabres better off tanking next year too? Is it ever alright to lose in the first round?
- PrinceChill

When we have a team that can be thought of as a contender then it would be. Did the Wild, Rangers, Habs, Blues ever win anything the last 10 years being the poster children of mediocrity ? You can argue though if any of those teams had a superstar they would have gotten over the hump. The Blackhawks could get Hughes or Kakko this year and all of a sudden can be huge players in the West again.

When we have a team that can be thought of as a contender then it would be. Did the Wild, Rangers, Habs, Blues ever win anything the last 10 years being the poster children of mediocrity ? You can argue though if any of those teams had a superstar they would have gotten over the hump. The Blackhawks could get Hughes or Kakko this year and all of a sudden can be huge players in the West again.
- Pegullaville

The Rangers were in the cup finals in 2014. Even though they didn’t win it, I’ll bet their fans had fun rooting for them.

But I guess one could say they should never have tried to get that far, and instead sold off everything they could for draft picks.

When we have a team that can be thought of as a contender then it would be. Did the Wild, Rangers, Habs, Blues ever win anything the last 10 years being the poster children of mediocrity ? You can argue though if any of those teams had a superstar they would have gotten over the hump. The Blackhawks could get Hughes or Kakko this year and all of a sudden can be huge players in the West again.
- Pegullaville

To some degree I agree with you.

But teams like st. Louis and the wild could get hot with goaltending and make a run.

I'm all for picking 6th overall next year.

Just win some of the home games and play competitive exciting hockey with young players playing key minutes.

Evaluate the tweeter Rochester prospects as well

The Rangers were in the cup finals in 2014. Even though they didn’t win it, I’ll bet their fans had fun rooting for them.

But I guess one could say they should never have tried to get that far, and instead sold off everything they could for draft picks.
- PrinceChill

I’m sure Sens fans had lots of fun in 2017 as well. Were one goal away from the Cup Final. If you’re not first your last. I wonder how many leaf fans will rejoice if they lose again in the first round. Will Caps fans remember all of their President Trophy seasons and 2nd round heartbreaks or do you think the cup win will resonate more ?

I’m sure Sens fans had lots of fun in 2017 as well. Were one goal away from the Cup Final. If you’re not first your last. I wonder how many leaf fans will rejoice if they lose again in the first round. Will Caps fans remember all of their President Trophy seasons and 2nd round heartbreaks or do you think the cup win will resonate more ?
- Pegullaville

Or the 1999 Sabres. It was a fun team to root for and I do have some fond memories of that. But they weren’t first, so I guess they were last.

The Caps are an interesting example. Before winning it, I think most people, and maybe even you, would’ve put them in the “mired in mediocrity” category. Lots of folks said they could never beat the Pens. But they did. I see the Preds and Sharks in the same boat now.