I’d rather perpetually rebuild and when we finally make the playoffs be mainstays year in and year out.
- Pegullaville

But oh the pain if the Sabres were Calgary's talent and future with a number one seed first round loss, while getting outplayed, or worse, if the Sabres were like Tampa has been and was this year, and got swept.

It would be UGLY.

I remember people here wanting to go after James Neal.
- Lunaion

You mean the guy who had 25 goals in 71 games in Vegas and was a perennial 20 goal scorer prior to last season?

I’d rather perpetually rebuild and when we finally make the playoffs be mainstays year in and year out.
- Pegullaville

I'd rather start winning now

But oh the pain if the Sabres were Calgary's talent and future with a number one seed first round loss, while getting outplayed, or worse, if the Sabres were like Tampa has been and was this year, and got swept.

It would be UGLY.
- kingcong39

It would be disappointing forsure. However Tampa has the talent to get back next year and give it another run, as does Calgary.

Columbus however might have to win it all this year because they could lose half of their roster in the offseason.

I am very happy to be here.

I'd rather start winning now
- Michael Pachla

Hopefully Botts can make the necessary moves in the offseason and bring in a coaching staff capable of getting us there. I’m not going to complain about picking top 10 again though as the roster we had was completely flawed and any moves that would have gotten us the slightest bit of playoff experience would of hurt us when our actual window has opened. We need to strike when the iron is hot.

You mean the guy who had 25 goals in 71 games in Vegas and was a perennial 20 goal scorer prior to last season?
- Michael Pachla

Yup, like they say, never trust anyone over 30.

Yup, like they say, never trust anyone over 30.
- Lunaion

Yeah. He plays a rough game but that precipitous drop in production can't be blamed on age alone

Why not

Big part of playoff success is that some of these teams started playing playoff hockey a month ago (Columbus, Colorado, Carolina) while others coasted into the playoffs (Tampa and Calgary).

Doesn't usually work past the first round because everyone is in playoff mode by round 2, but upsets in the first round never surprise me.

Yeah. He plays a rough game but that precipitous drop in production can't be blamed on age alone
- Michael Pachla

No, but things compound quickly when you start losing ice time. We've seen it in Mouslon and Okposo and there's warning signs all over this year's group of UFA's.

It would be disappointing forsure. However Tampa has the talent to get back next year and give it another run, as does Calgary.

Columbus however might have to win it all this year because they could lose half of their roster in the offseason.
- Pegullaville

Tampa has had a multi year run of not getting it done with a big time roster, and this year was the most disappointing of those.

Sabres fans would be beyond disappointed and there would be no well, we'll get 'em next year attitude. It would just be a different type of suffering.

No, but things compound quickly when you start losing ice time. We've seen it in Mouslon and Okposo and there's warning signs all over this year's group of UFA's.
- Lunaion

Trades are the way to go, but too is far from easy.

Give him a shot maybe he can run with it. Will be nice to see him starting in the AHL next year and hopefully in Buffalo in a few years from now

I hope the Amerks do, or do not, play UPL based on present and future concerns of the players the organization, and I further hope that they use sound reasoning and judgement to their decision making.

In addition, I hope the sabres make no moves or some limited moves that will harm the team in the present or future, but primarily make some or all of the moves that make them better now and in the medium-to-long term future

The sad thing is is that most of the Marlies NHL ready players were up with the parent club and the Amerks still got owned.

Hopefully Botts can make the necessary moves in the offseason and bring in a coaching staff capable of getting us there. I’m not going to complain about picking top 10 again though as the roster we had was completely flawed and any moves that would have gotten us the slightest bit of playoff experience would of hurt us when our actual window has opened. We need to strike when the iron is hot.
- Pegullaville

I will complain vociferously

I will complain vociferously
- jcragcrumple

I was referring to the 7th overall pick this season in comparison to making short term moves that would possibly detract from our long term vision.

nobody will complain if we pick in the top 10 again? and we wonder why this team never can move forward.....ever. rinse, wash, repeat.

I was referring to the 7th overall pick this season in comparison to making short term moves that would possibly detract from our long term vision.
- Pegullaville

Then I retract my statement

I was referring to the 7th overall pick this season in comparison to making short term moves that would possibly detract from our long term vision.
- Pegullaville

U think our downward spiral could be cause (or at least part of the reason) for Skinner not being signed yet?

Maybe all that losing made him rethink whether or not he could win here
Especially with his old team in the playoffs

I know u don’t wanna sign him...
but how many UFAs out there are also thinking that we aren’t a team that can win soon?

U think our downward spiral could be cause (or at least part of the reason) for Skinner not being signed yet?

Maybe all that losing made him rethink whether or not he could win here
Especially with his old team in the playoffs

I know u don’t wanna sign him...
but how many UFAs out there are also thinking that we aren’t a team that can win soon?
- jdfitz77

I want Skinner resigned, I just think the guy is going to get 8 years and $9-9.5M and I think that he’s going to be overpaid and the last 3 years will be a player we’re are overpaying much like the Leafs are overpaying for a guy like Marleau.

I want Skinner resigned, I just think the guy is going to get 8 years and $9-9.5M and I think that he’s going to be overpaid and the last 3 years will be a player we’re are overpaying much like the Leafs are overpaying for a guy like Marleau.
- Pegullaville

Even if he gets 8mil like u want,
we’d still end up regretting the last 3years if he falls off like u think

That extra mil we could’ve saved isn’t gonna make us feel better if he regresses

Yes it is.

I want Skinner resigned, I just think the guy is going to get 8 years and $9-9.5M and I think that he’s going to be overpaid and the last 3 years will be a player we’re are overpaying much like the Leafs are overpaying for a guy like Marleau.
- Pegullaville

But what I’m interested in is what u think that horrible last 2/3 of the season did to the perception of the Sabres

After that streak,
I feel like players around the league were probably think that we were finally for real

But after the way we ended the season,
i think any UFA is back to wondering what’s wrong here & when will we actually start winning with this young talent we have

And that’s probably enough to make most wanna sign elsewhere


***and that could go for potential coaches too