I really don't understand sometimes. I think most are very Happy with the development of the the young players. And drafting and building up the pipeline. But very rarely do teams have the assets and Cap space like the Sabres had and have and very good hockey players become available, let alone very young hockey players for pretty cheap prices. 1 move would not have killed the progress of these young players or the number 1 rated pipeline. I get what they are doing, but more good hockey players help your team and if the prospects prosper it gives you more assets to use down the road for other pieces needed to fill a area of need. Complacency!!
- Buff36

I can speak only for myself.
I am not against making a trade, pure and simple. So there is that.

I am also fine using the next year to evaluate the still very young core and new players added to the roster.

I also believe that having a stable of horses on ELC's to be added in waves over the next several years is very advantageous to the club. In fact, I believe it is the best way to improve and establish a longer-lasting open window to compete. The financial flexibility achieved by having a number of skilled players on ELC and Bridge contracts also enables the organization to wheel and deal when the time is right.

All is not lost because they believe it is more prudent to allow the timeline to drive those types of investments for another year or more.

All is not lost because they believe it is more prudent to allow the timeline to drive those types of investments for another year or more.
- IonSabres

we have seen casey and joker for almost 200 games for each


at some point it should be obvious they do not have the "it" factor

you just saw a team get the best goalie in free agency and win the cup that year

wings hossa

nieds signed with ducks

bruins chara


that's with 5 minutes of thoughts
- homiedclown

Kuemper was traded to Colorado not a Free Agent

The Bruins didn’t win it in Chara’s first year in Boston. Took 5 years.

Hossa was cup chasing signing 1 year deals with contenders.

Nieds they won it his second year but that team was pretty much ready to win when he signed.

The Bruins didn’t win it in Chara’s first year in Boston. Took 5 years.

Hossa was cup chasing signing 1 year deals with contenders.

Nieds they won it his second year but that team was pretty much ready to win when he signed.
- Stripes77

those are 3 hall of famers that signed as free agents and impacted the club though

each of them signed for big money, it's not like spezza signing for the min

I mean he uses the draft to point out ovie when he was drafted 15 years earlier so if it takes chara 5 years to win the cup, that should also be applied IMO



I feel shame on kuemper

I am on the back half, I would like to see both my favorite teams win the Big One. One team seems to have put the Turbo Charger on and is ready to rock. The other seems like Groundhog Day
- Buff36

NHL and NFL are completely different environments in which NFL can more quickly turn the boat around.


Yes, it has been frustrating watching Pegula, Murray and Botts continue to screw things up for 4 or 5 years.

It looks like Adam's has convinced the Pegulas to build from within, rather than the knee-jerk reactions of the past...which btw does include the last ditch effort to placate Jack through the Hall signing during the We trust in Krueger campaign.

you just saw a team get the best goalie in free agency and win the cup that year

wings hossa

nieds signed with ducks

bruins chara


that's with 5 minutes of thoughts
- homiedclown

Colorado traded for Kuemper if that is what you are alluding to.

I can speak only for myself.
I am not against making a trade, pure and simple. So there is that.

I am also fine using the next year to evaluate the still very young core and new players added to the roster.

I also believe that having a stable of horses on ELC's to be added in waves over the next several years is very advantageous to the club. In fact, I believe it is the best way to improve and establish a longer-lasting open window to compete. The financial flexibility achieved by having a number of skilled players on ELC and Bridge contracts also enables the organization to wheel and deal when the time is right.

All is not lost because they believe it is more prudent to allow the timeline to drive those types of investments for another year or more.
- IonSabres

Are you ok with using the 2023-2024 season as well to continue to evaluate all the young players without any significant moves?

I'm with Lunaion in that I can easily see this evaluation period lasting longer than the upcoming season before any firm long term decisions are made, as the current management seems to be under no pressure and have very little desire to make long term decisions on any players anytime soon.

Colorado traded for Kuemper if that is what you are alluding to.
- Pegullaville

nothing on the 3 high priced free agents?


I mean it is what you were asking for

we have seen casey and joker for almost 200 games for each

at some point it should be obvious they do not have the "it" factor
- homiedclown

The above could be the potential negative impact of Tage having a miracle out of almost nowhere season like he did last season, in that an already cautious approach that fears giving up on young players too soon turns into an extremely cautious approach.

Are you ok with using the 2023-2024 season as well to continue to evaluate all the young players without any significant moves?

I'm with Lunaion in that I can easily see this evaluation period lasting longer than the upcoming season before any firm long term decisions are made, as the current management seems to be under no pressure and have very little desire to make long term decisions on any players anytime soon.
- kingcong39

just throw 2 year deals at everyone and bring them back

we have seen casey and joker for almost 200 games for each


at some point it should be obvious they do not have the "it" factor
- homiedclown

Would you have said the same for Tage at this point last year at 150 games?
The honest answer is YES for 97.9% of us.

Imagine your outrage had Adam's traded Tage last season.

Trading Casey now at his lowest point is giving up.
What if Casey and Cozens break out and post 55 points?

The above could be the potential negative impact of Tage having a miracle out of almost nowhere season like he did last season, in that an already cautious approach that fears giving up on young players too soon turns into an extremely cautious approach.
- kingcong39

my fear is we become cap strapped by overpaying to keep our own

I think adams overpaid girgens, joker, bryson and casey

each by about 20 to 25 percent

Would you have said the same for Tage at this point last year at 150 games?
The honest answer is YES for 97.9% of us.

Imagine your outrage had Adam's traded Tage last season.

Trading Casey now at his lowest point is giving up.
What if Casey and Cozens break out and post 55 points?
- IonSabres

tage had played 104 games for the sabres

casey and joker have played almost twice that many


have you seen anything from casey to look like a second line center hoisting the cup?

same for joker, do you see him as a second pair d man hoisting the cup?

Would you have said the same for Tage at this point last year at 150 games?
The honest answer is YES for 97.9% of us.

Imagine your outrage had Adam's traded Tage last season.

Trading Casey now at his lowest point is giving up.
What if Casey and Cozens break out and post 55 points?
- IonSabres

Took less than 2 minutes for my post above to come to fruition 😆😂

Does Tage's breakout feel like a common occurrence, all things considered? One that's repeatable for other prospects?

Took less than 2 minutes for my post above to come to fruition 😆😂

Does Tage's breakout feel like a common occurrence, all things considered? One that's repeatable for other prospects?
- kingcong39

or is it an outlier?

using this all in approach on building within, also means cutting ties with those that are not turning the corner instead of overpaying because they still want to be here

I can speak only for myself.
I am not against making a trade, pure and simple. So there is that.

I am also fine using the next year to evaluate the still very young core and new players added to the roster.

I also believe that having a stable of horses on ELC's to be added in waves over the next several years is very advantageous to the club. In fact, I believe it is the best way to improve and establish a longer-lasting open window to compete. The financial flexibility achieved by having a number of skilled players on ELC and Bridge contracts also enables the organization to wheel and deal when the time is right.

All is not lost because they believe it is more prudent to allow the timeline to drive those types of investments for another year or more.
- IonSabres

And really have no problem with the development of players and ELC's. But the Sabres have a very young team as is. There are going to be waves of prospects coming through in 2yrs. Good and bad situation, but you will have very young players blocking other young players. Decisions will need to be made, and I ? how that will be handled.

and I ? how that will be handled.
- Buff36

the track record is overpay to keep them here a few more years

casey, girgens, joker, and bryson

he has not let any young player walk away or traded them away

nothing on the 3 high priced free agents?


I mean it is what you were asking for
- homiedclown

Hossa didn’t get big dough, he was signing 1 year deals.

I’ll give you Niedermayer and Chara though. However the days of signing those types of talents without giving them 7 years are done.

For every one good free agent signing, I can show you 10 bad ones.

the track record is overpay to keep them here a few more years

casey, girgens, joker, and bryson

he has not let any young player walk away or traded them away
- homiedclown

But then why make all these picks. We can't bring anyone in because we might block a prospect. But will just F@ck ourselves and do it ourselves.

Oh my!!
- Buff36

Yes please

Oh my!!
- Buff36

Yes please (the redhead)0

But then why make all these picks. We can't bring anyone in because we might block a prospect. But will just F@ck ourselves and do it ourselves.
- Buff36

Casey could easily block Kulich or Savoie this fall with inferior play at training camp

Took less than 2 minutes for my post above to come to fruition 😆😂

Does Tage's breakout feel like a common occurrence, all things considered? One that's repeatable for other prospects?
- kingcong39

Thinking Mitts and Joker can continue to develop into solid middle of the roster players is a lot different then thinking they are going to explode as top line players though don’t you think ?

I am pulling for Cam Young first, anyone but Rory 2nd

just say no to the future matt moulsons
- homiedclown

Correct. For all the “the cap only matters to fans” talk on here. It’s a lot different when your high cap players are vasilevsky, kuch, landy, and McKinnon over Molson, Okposo and Skinner.

The cap matters less when you have legit superstars and not guys making 1st line money who should be 3rd liners.