I can't wait until McCabe plays again and haters will be distracted by him again and Risto will be "he's playing fine but I still want a 2nd line center for him."
- GilPerreault11

As long as Ristolainen leads this team in ice time, this team will be nowhere near a cup contender.

Our head coach, the leader and teacher said, he doesn't want to comment on the hit and he will let the league handle it.


And we wonder why nobody did anything after the hit also wonder why this team still stinks.
- SABRES 89

So it's the coach's fault there was no reaction on the ice. Because he didn't react by blaming the refs in a postgame. Okay got it. Coach's fault, not the players.

Jokiharju looks to be the the most solid of these guys from the perspective of the combination of ZS and GA/60 metrics provides us. Scandella is playing well, looks like resolving his foot issue has allowed him to pick-ups his game a bit.
Since the two are often a pair, coupled with Scandella's experience on the PK, it makes me wonder if the smart play for Botts is to resign Scandy to a 2 year deal at a reasonable price and shop McCabe .
Hmmm.
Or, maybe he could tell Krueger to start playing McCabe on the 3rd pairing with Joker to see of that combo works, as a test to see what happens if he deals Scandy as some rumors have indicated he is willing to do.
- IonSabres

Oh god please no. Sell high. I've hated Scandella for a couple years now and I think everyone else on this board has as well. He's got 20 decent games under him this year. If anything, sell high now. I will puke if he gets a two year contract extension. Also, McCabe may not be playing great now, but I still like McCabe. I'd like to see him with someone other than Risto.

I have never watched a minute of any Star Wars, now even if I wanted to, I couldn't catch up because they release new stuff every 5 minutes. I'm over it without ever being in it.

On top of what Fitz said to add to your misleading stats, when you play some of the most mins in the league and are the predominant PK D you will have more goals scored against you. But put any of that D besides Risto on the number 1 D and have them play 22-25 mins a night against the other team's top lines and have them hold the fort for the PK and let's see the numbers.
- GilPerreault11

Those numbers are 5 on 5 only.

But hey, someday when we actually have our #1 D playing as our #1 D and you see that all these excuses were never valid, you'll probably pretend you didn't really like Ristolainen that much.

As soon as Skinner starts scoring a bunch i'm sure you will forget you compared him to Drew Stafford

Oh god please no. Sell high. I've hated Scandella for a couple years now and I think everyone else on this board has as well. He's got 20 decent games under him this year. If anything, sell high now. I will puke if he gets a two year contract extension. Also, McCabe may not be playing great now, but I still like McCabe. I'd like to see him with someone other than Risto.
- Angler

IMO, the Sabres need to rid themselves of McCabe and Bogo immediately. We all know their history - marginal to bad players who get injured. It's only a matter of time before one or both of them are injured for the remainder of the year.

The Sabres also need to jettison themselves of UFA Scandella. And Sheary. And Vesey. And Larsson. And Girgs. And Wilson. Unfortunately Sobotka is now on IR so we can't send him to Rochester.

That leaves Risto. Trade his as well. We have stunk with him for the past 6 years, we can stink without him moving forward. Time for a MAJOR purge. If the Sabres are going to stink again, I at least want to look at new stinky players, not the same retreads.

IMO, the Sabres need to rid themselves of McCabe and Bogo immediately. We all know their history - marginal to bad players who get injured. It's only a matter of time before one or both of them are injured for the remainder of the year.

The Sabres also need to jettison themselves of UFA Scandella. And Sheary. And Vesey. And Larsson. And Girgs. And Wilson. Unfortunately Sobotka is now on IR so we can't send him to Rochester.

That leaves Risto. Trade his as well. We have stunk with him for the past 6 years, we can stink without him moving forward. Time for a MAJOR purge. If the Sabres are going to stink again, I at least want to look at new stinky players, not the same retreads.
- SabreWest

I agree with you on all of these players except I don't have a hatred for McCabe. If he stays around on the left side after getting rid of Scandella and Risto, I'm fine with that. If he was to be moved, so be it.

I mean Sober Lehner is good Lehner, imagine if we had Sober Lehner last year? Easily a playoff team.

I'm not saying Murray was good, but not everything he did sucked.
- Wetbandit1

Definitely not a "sober" bandit post.

The islanders play a defensive system. Why wouldnt they resign him?

Those numbers are 5 on 5 only.

But hey, someday when we actually have our #1 D playing as our #1 D and you see that all these excuses were never valid, you'll probably pretend you didn't really like Ristolainen that much.

As soon as Skinner starts scoring a bunch i'm sure you will forget you compared him to Drew Stafford
- sbroads24

You are always so angry, it's only a game you have no control over, unless you buy season tickets which you don't and then you have a very small say.

Anyway, another twisted post. Do you always have to twist your posts to try to win? There is another issue for another day...anyway I compared contract year production for players not players themselves. Happy Thanksgiving if you can.

IMO, the Sabres need to rid themselves of McCabe and Bogo immediately. We all know their history - marginal to bad players who get injured. It's only a matter of time before one or both of them are injured for the remainder of the year.

The Sabres also need to jettison themselves of UFA Scandella. And Sheary. And Vesey. And Larsson. And Girgs. And Wilson. Unfortunately Sobotka is now on IR so we can't send him to Rochester.

That leaves Risto. Trade his as well. We have stunk with him for the past 6 years, we can stink without him moving forward. Time for a MAJOR purge. If the Sabres are going to stink again, I at least want to look at new stinky players, not the same retreads.
- SabreWest

We gotta start over again! Again!

we finally get skinner on the line we've all been craving

over/under 10 goals tonight for skinner-larsson-sheary??

we finally get skinner on the line we've all been craving

over/under 10 goals tonight for skinner-larsson-sheary??
- robz228

In all seriousness, if they're gonna do this, why is Mittelstadt here?

we finally get skinner on the line we've all been craving

over/under 10 goals tonight for skinner-larsson-sheary??
- robz228

That's embarrassing.

That's embarrassing.
- Khmylev

for the opposing goalie, it will be. i agree.

Definitely not a "sober" bandit post.

The islanders play a defensive system. Why wouldnt they resign him?
- Boss34

They tried to, but Lehner wanted a multi year deal, which they didn't want to offer. So then he took a 1 year deal somewhere else because a man's gotta eat

They tried to, but Lehner wanted a multi year deal, which they didn't want to offer. So then he took a 1 year deal somewhere else because a man's gotta eat
- jcragcrumple

And, uh, drink as well.

In all seriousness, if they're gonna do this, why is Mittelstadt here?
- jcragcrumple

vogl reports him on the wing so some people are getting their wish

You are always so angry, it's only a game you have no control over, unless you buy season tickets which you don't and then you have a very small say.

Anyway, another twisted post. Do you always have to twist your posts to try to win? There is another issue for another day...anyway I compared contract year production for players not players themselves. Happy Thanksgiving if you can.
- GilPerreault11

That's an odd sentiment. Not angry in the least.

And if you think I am being misleading, I'm always welcome to any evidence that he is "good". I can't really find any though

I think a "#1" D man who's on pace for under 30 points, playing top minutes, primarily with the Eichel line, who's scored on more than he's on the ice for goals for, or goals he contributes to is pretty bad for the Sabres.

for the record rogue one was outstanding from start to finish


I guess that is why I am so over the current star wars trilogy


the last jedi was brutal


solo was better then the critics and mass think, but there is no way solo should be better then force awakens and last jedi, but it is
- homiedclown

Disney really screwed up the newest trilogy. It’s embarrassing. George Lucas should be so mad he sold it off.

Disney really screwed up the newest trilogy. It’s embarrassing. George Lucas should be so mad he sold it off.
- Sabretooth9

Somehow, I doubt it.

In all seriousness, if they're gonna do this, why is Mittelstadt here?
- jcragcrumple

Skinner can’t be happy...... the bruins have pasta Bergeron and Marchand locked and loaded on a line.

Why can’t Ralph “try” it for a couple games. You lost 12 out 14 games (I think). You have nothing to lose because you are already losing

Skinner can’t be happy...... the bruins have pasta Bergeron and Marchand locked and loaded on a line.

Why can’t Ralph “try” it for a couple games. You lost 12 out 14 games (I think). You have nothing to lose because you are already losing
- Sabretooth9

This is where the coach is starting to lose me already.

He seems way too stubborn in keeping things a certain way with a LOSING (frank)ING TEAM!

vogl reports him on the wing so some people are getting their wish
- robz228

This is a real monkey's paw scenario

I was thinking about the Sabres’ lack of response to Jack, Dahlin, and Sobotts getting smoked.

Perhaps part of it is the fact we have so many pending free agents on the team. Many of these guys already have a foot out of the door here. They don’t want to take themselves off the ice through injury, penalty or suspension.

Comes down to money and looking out for yourself. It’s not a compelling argument for an agent to say, “you need to pay my client top dollar. He got his face caved in by Cernak and missed six games.”

What does surprise me a little, is how poorly some of these pending free agents are producing though. But I’m sure the agent’s argument will be, “my client played for the Sabres. What did you expect him to produce?”

I was thinking about the Sabres’ lack of response to Jack, Dahlin, and Sobotts getting smoked.

Perhaps part of it is the fact we have so many pending free agents on the team. Many of these guys already have a foot out of the door here. They don’t want to take themselves off the ice through injury, penalty or suspension.

Comes down to money and looking out for yourself. It’s not a compelling argument for an agent to say, “you need to pay my client top dollar. He got his face caved in by Cernak and missed six games.”

What does surprise me a little, is how poorly some of these pending free agents are producing though. But I’m sure the agent’s argument will be, “my client played for the Sabres. What did you expect him to produce?”
- PrinceChill

What GM is going to look at a heartless, gutless player who won't stick up for his teammates and pay him top dollar?

These players need a wake up call. And so does the GM. Actually, the GM can give these players a wake up call, in the form of a trade.