We traded away the selke finalist.

Technically we gave away the vezina finalist
- jcragcrumple

pretty much gave BOTH away. Nice job to the GM

It’s not like ROR suddenly became a better player this year

If there was more talent here...
then he could’ve been used better & had better linemates
i don’t see any reason he couldn’t have been more successful here in the years to come

But I’m sure that’s where we will disagree
- jdfitz77

ROR was having a really good statistical year in Stl and they were near the bottom in early Jan. Binnington comes in and elevated the team (while ROR has around the same pace).

My point? Without Binnington they miss the playoff and ROR doesn’t sniff a Selke. With Binnington ROR is the Selke frontrunner that led stl to a deep playoff run. Amazing how the ROR story could be so much different

pretty much gave BOTH away. Nice job to the GM
- gordong

The guy couldn't stop a beach ball in shootouts and was a dog's breakfast on the ice, but let me guess, you saw through all that, right?

Lehner is a different story what with the drinking and all, but I think the reason we didn't get Selke ROR was because Murray blew his load acquiring 3 good players and as a result, he couldn't surround them with any other talent. As far as ROR wingers go, Scott Wilson < Taresenko
- jcragcrumple

Sure, but was that changing drastically this year?

I get people don’t like the return and he’s just had a career year, but in two years dude will have close to 1000 games under his belt and will start to decline.

I’d still today would’ve made that trade and knew I had cap flexibility and more assets for players who fit 18 year old Dahlin’s prime

Lehner is a direct result of the system in front of him don't kid yourself.

ROR is a very good hockey player, always was. It's just the fact that in a few years he'll decline and the Sabres would be better off with that money spent elsewhere. The Blues are a team that was going for it this year and made multiple additions and he managed to fit in well there.

ROR was having a really good statistical year in Stl and they were near the bottom in early Jan. Binnington comes in and elevated the team (while ROR has around the same pace).

My point? Without Binnington they miss the playoff and ROR doesn’t sniff a Selke. With Binnington ROR is the Selke frontrunner that led stl to a deep playoff run. Amazing how the ROR story could be so much different
- Khymlev13

Binnington and Berube. ROR actually started to decline after his hot start as well back to his Buffalo levels but when he's playing with a guy like Tarasenko its hard not to rack up points.

Eh. I don’t think he repeats this year but I could be wrong.

He’s been excellent this season, but he’s also been fortunate.

When he slowed down Tarasenko got hot, and carried that line.
- sbroads24

I obviously haven’t watched game to game or anything,
but it’s tough to argue with the season he’s had

It was over in Buffalo

You just can't grasp this?
- Boss34

We are talking civilly
Chill out

ROR was having a really good statistical year in Stl and they were near the bottom in early Jan. Binnington comes in and elevated the team (while ROR has around the same pace).

My point? Without Binnington they miss the playoff and ROR doesn’t sniff a Selke. With Binnington ROR is the Selke frontrunner that led stl to a deep playoff run. Amazing how the ROR story could be so much different
- Khymlev13

Regardless of how u twist the story,
he had a great year

Lehner is a direct result of the system in front of him don't kid yourself.

ROR is a very good hockey player, always was. It's just the fact that in a few years he'll decline and the Sabres would be better off with that money spent elsewhere. The Blues are a team that was going for it this year and made multiple additions and he managed to fit in well there.
- Pegullaville

Greiss is a good example of how the NYI system is a huge benefit to goalies.

I don’t want to knock the former Sabres but fans tend to obsess over them. I get it but it drives me nuts. Both guys were here for three absolutely terrible years. Changes had to happen.

If Risto is traded in June and does well on his next team, every take will be about how he’s the best dman and buffalo were stupid to deal him.

Sure, but was that changing drastically this year?

I get people don’t like the return and he’s just had a career year, but in two years dude will have close to 1000 games under his belt and will start to decline.

I’d still today would’ve made that trade and knew I had cap flexibility and more assets for players who fit 18 year old Dahlin’s prime
- sbroads24

That’s still just a guess
And he could’ve been traded in the future

Yeah, i get it... he’s gone

But now we are looking for a guy just like the one we traded away

Apparently he asked out,
and we chose to deal him instead of talking him into staying

Ok...
just sucks we are stuck looking for exactly what we already had

Greiss is a good example of how the NYI system is a huge benefit to goalies.

I don’t want to knock the former Sabres but fans tend to obsess over them. I get it but it drives me nuts. Both guys were here for three absolutely terrible years. Changes had to happen.

If Risto is traded in June and does well on his next team, every take will be about how he’s the best dman and buffalo were stupid to deal him.
- Khymlev13

Because trading away good players is generally a bad idea

Because trading away good players is generally a bad idea
- jdfitz77

Traded away a good player (ROR)

Traded for a good player (Skinner)

Traded away a good player (ROR)

Traded for a good player (Skinner)
- Khymlev13

Well that’s a wash
Obviously we want to continue to ADD good players without giving more up

Regardless of how u twist the story,
he had a great year
- jdfitz77

I’m not a ROR hater and I’m not trying to twist the story. It’s actually the opposite. If ROR got 70 points and Stl finished 23rd in the league, he’d be tagged as a team killer.

Car made a much worse trade with us but they had a better team so it’s easier for them to forget it.

Traded away a good player (ROR)

Traded for a good player (Skinner)
- Khymlev13

I also want to know why the Sabres trading away a good player means they’re royally (frank)ed?

Boston traded Seguin for basically nothing and are perennial contenders

Like we got fleeced on the ROR for this specific year, but hit a home run on the Skinner trade for this specific year.

In two years they can look totally different

That’s still just a guess
And he could’ve been traded in the future

Yeah, i get it... he’s gone

But now we are looking for a guy just like the one we traded away

Apparently he asked out,
and we chose to deal him instead of talking him into staying

Ok...
just sucks we are stuck looking for exactly what we already had
- jdfitz77

I would take a 23 year old ROR tomorrow.

By the time Dahlin is 22, Eichel will be 25-26 and ROR would be 31 and that to me isn't ideal as he would not be the player we would need at that time.

I would take a 23 year old ROR tomorrow.

By the time Dahlin is 22, Eichel will be 25-26 and ROR would be 31 and that to me isn't ideal as he would not be the player we would need at that time.
- Pegullaville

No offense, because you and I agree in many ways on how to build a team, but what is this fixation with young players?

You NEED veterans to show these kids the way, and the ones they had/have aren't pulling their weight in that regard, I get that, but your fixation on player's ages baffles me.

Look at any of these teams advancing, and you're going to see a few 31 year old players on every single one of them.

I’m not a ROR hater and I’m not trying to twist the story. It’s actually the opposite. If ROR got 70 points and Stl finished 23rd in the league, he’d be tagged as a team killer.

Car made a much worse trade with us but they had a better team so it’s easier for them to forget it.
- Khymlev13

Again,
He had a great year & is a really good player

I know he’s gone
But we need more good players
Plain & simple

I also want to know why the Sabres trading away a good player means they’re royally (frank)ed?

Boston traded Seguin for basically nothing and are perennial contenders

Like we got fleeced on the ROR for this specific year, but hit a home run on the Skinner trade for this specific year.

In two years they can look totally different
- sbroads24

Exactly. We don’t know how the trade will pan out 3 years down the line but we knew it would sting in year one. But it’s not a franchise killing trade. Colorado trades us ROR without any immediate help and look where they are today (and how far Compher has progressed)

I also want to know why the Sabres trading away a good player means they’re royally (frank)ed?

Boston traded Seguin for basically nothing and are perennial contenders

Like we got fleeced on the ROR for this specific year, but hit a home run on the Skinner trade for this specific year.

In two years they can look totally different
- sbroads24

You’re exaggerating here
No one has said that

Again,
He had a great year & is a really good player

I know he’s gone
But we need more good players
Plain & simple
- jdfitz77

100%

With Rochester choking, hopefully this puts the Taylor to the Sabres speculation to bed. If Botts is watching the series, he should be focusing his attention on the Marlies coach if anyone.

No offense, because you and I agree in many ways on how to build a team, but what is this fixation with young players?

You NEED veterans to show these kids the way, and the ones they had/have aren't pulling their weight in that regard, I get that, but your fixation on player's ages baffles me.

Look at any of these teams advancing, and you're going to see a few 31 year old players on every single one of them.
- Powerslave

I think it is very important to have veterans. I just think with the way the game is going, especially in three years time, I don't think ROR will be as effective once he gets over the age of 30 to be worth the kind of money he is making.

I would take a 23 year old ROR tomorrow.

By the time Dahlin is 22, Eichel will be 25-26 and ROR would be 31 and that to me isn't ideal as he would not be the player we would need at that time.
- Pegullaville

Sure
But he could’ve been a bridge till Mitts became a legit 2C and Asplund developed into a good 3C

And many on here want to go after Duchene...
He’s the same age as ROR

Maybe we should’ve traded him for a younger version of himself,
but that’s not what happened