This guy snaps his fingers.

I am 100% finding out who Boss and Fitz are.

Stripes.

You let this stuff happen. Then disappear when it really gets out of hand.

I told you earlier Boss was due for a meltdown.

You could have fixed it then.

You know God damn well that outing someone’s legal name on here is one of the biggest no-nos and you do nothing about it.
- 3rd GM's the charm

You caused the meltdown. Grow up.

I warned you several times. Grow up.

I was on the ice coaching my kid. I can’t be on here 24/7 nor should I. How come it’s always you arguing with someone? You and Fitz? You and Boss?

Common denominator here…

We getting tee shirts?

I survived the 2023 trade deadline!
- ImThatGuy

I look at things quite differently, and I'm not a believer in schedules in terms of a team's progress or improvement, as there's far too many factors to plan on a set schedule of improvement from year to year.

Just look at this season as an example.

Much of the NHL in terms of your team's best chances of winning is determined by how much production a team can extract from their team cap hit. Especially how much production they are getting from their top players compared to the cost of their cap hit.

- Dahlin $6M cap, $10M production
- Tage $1.4M cap, $11M+ production
- Tuch $4.75M cap, $9M production
- They're also getting a career year out of Skinner, and quality production from Power while on his ELC

That's a pretty damn strong set of plus production.

All waiting does is waste that plus production this season, and beyond this season, you're hoping all the players above reach the same level of production going forward collectively.

The biggest factor to me is Tuch. He's only got 3 more seasons on his current high value deal, and do you really want to extend him to a lengthy deal when he's 30?

Tuch's production combined with the deals Tage and Cozens signed are why I'd be going for it now.

Especially with how deep the draft is this year in the 1st and 2nd round.

The Sabres could have a miraculous run to the Eastern Conference Finals and still get a high end prospect with their first round pick.
- kingcong39

Wouldn’t have one if they dealt it for Chychrun or Meier.

I also hate to be a Debbie downer, but I don’t think acquiring Chychrun or Meier, heck even both, gets you past either Boston or Carolina in the first round.

Would I have made that Chychrun deal ? Probably.

Do I think it’s the end of the world here in Sabres land ? No I do not.

Salary cap flexibility and draft picks will still be here in the offseason and most of their growth to becoming a cup contender will come from within regardless.

Stripes, it's probably best if you just nuke the thread and those of us left move to the Ottawa thread. They deserve it

Stripes, it's probably best if you just nuke the thread and those of us left move to the Ottawa thread. They deserve it
- lacaprup

It’s possible. I don’t like doing it. I’ve only shut one down before.

Well this is all disappointing…

I know. I know. Couple days left.

Talk about wasting a great year from the kids.

Zero reinforcements, from a hockey prospective, when the holes have been glaring for a year and will continue to hold this team back.

Adam’s if Stillmen is all you’ve got, you are straight up bad at your job.

Good work re-signing 2 players….

It’s possible. I don’t like doing it. I’ve only shut one down before.
- Stripes77

It’s possible. I don’t like doing it. I’ve only shut one down before.
- Stripes77

No, then I have to talk to my Wife

Wouldn’t have one if they dealt it for Chychrun or Meier.

I also hate to be a Debbie downer, but I don’t think acquiring Chychrun or Meier, heck even both, gets you past either Boston or Carolina in the first round.

Would I have made that Chychrun deal ? Probably.

Do I think it’s the end of the world here in Sabres land ? No I do not.

Salary cap flexibility and draft picks will still be here in the offseason and most of their growth to becoming a cup contender will come from within regardless.
- Swedish_Jesus

Getting players like Chychrun or Meier isn't just about this season, but you know that.

Wouldn’t have one if they dealt it for Chychrun or Meier.

I also hate to be a Debbie downer, but I don’t think acquiring Chychrun or Meier, heck even both, gets you past either Boston or Carolina in the first round.

Would I have made that Chychrun deal ? Probably.

Do I think it’s the end of the world here in Sabres land ? No I do not.

Salary cap flexibility and draft picks will still be here in the offseason and most of their growth to becoming a cup contender will come from within regardless.
- Swedish_Jesus

About that most of their growth will come from within comment: which players are you talking about?

Getting players like Chychrun or Meier isn't just about this season, but you know that.
- kingcong39

or bo

Well this is all disappointing…

I know. I know. Couple days left.

Talk about wasting a great year from the kids.

Zero reinforcements, from a hockey prospective, when the holes have been glaring for a year and will continue to hold this team back.

Adam’s if Stillmen is all you’ve got, you are straight up bad at your job.

Good work re-signing 2 players….
- Gr8daygo

At this point I think we just enjoy the ride. It is what it is. Management doesn't think they can do it this year and they're right about that. They aren't going to get rid of future assets at this time and are sticking with what they have and looking for growth as the way forward.

Defensive UFAs this season: Dumba, Klingberg, Graves, TVR, Schenn, Gudas. Maybe we grab one of those veteran guys to play with power/Dahlin

- ImThatGuy

About that most of their growth will come from within comment: which players are you talking about?
- kingcong39

Better start on Defense quick, gonna be 3 or 4yrs

About that most of their growth will come from within comment: which players are you talking about?
- kingcong39

Growth using linear

See:
Power
Samuelson
Dahlin
Cozens
Krebs
Mitts

Etc

Better start on Defense quick, gonna be 3 or 4yrs
- Buff36

stillman is watching

Growth using linear

See:
Power
Samuelson
Dahlin
Cozens
Krebs
Mitts

Etc
- ImThatGuy

Cozens is on pace for a 30-40 season. Is he an 80 to 90 point player?

How much more growth does Dahlin have in him?

Getting players like Chychrun or Meier isn't just about this season, but you know that.
- kingcong39

I absolutely know that, it’s just tough to move a first round pick in a draft class like this without the certainty of an extension.

Neither Meier or Chychryn came with an extension. As much as they’d help Buffalo today, their best days are coming tomorrow.

Ottawa very well could be trading two top 15 selections in back to back years for players that may not be on their roster come 2025 which is a huge risk. Everyone always likes to think of the best case scenario, but never the worst.

There are going to be some studs in that 15-20 range this year that can be the guy that comes in on the ELC when the Sabres are in their window.

They could also make me happy and acquire my dark horse target all along in Nick Schmaltz for a 2nd and a 3rd by Friday and I’ll be content.

Whether the Sabres make the playoffs or don’t make the playoffs I’ve seen enough to assure me we are in for a good decade of hockey

Cozens is on pace for a 30-40 season. Is he an 80 to 90 point player?

How much more growth does Dahlin have in him?
- kingcong39

5 more years

Better start on Defense quick, gonna be 3 or 4yrs
- Buff36

That’s my big concern and why I wanted Chicken. They haven’t drafted a lot of D the last couple of years and the cupboard is bare.

Cozens is on pace for a 30-40 season. Is he an 80 to 90 point player?

How much more growth does Dahlin have in him?
- kingcong39

It took Dahlin how many years to get to this level?

I absolutely know that, it’s just tough to move a first round pick in a draft class like this without the certainty of an extension.

Neither Meier or Chychryn came with an extension. As much as they’d help Buffalo today, there best days are coming tomorrow.


- Swedish_Jesus

chicken man is under contract for 28 more months

literally could probably flip him at the deadline in 24 months for more that what you pay to get him today

At this point I think we just enjoy the ride. It is what it is. Management doesn't think they can do it this year and they're right about that. They aren't going to get rid of future assets at this time and are sticking with what they have and looking for growth as the way forward.

Defensive UFAs this season: Dumba, Klingberg, Graves, TVR, Schenn, Gudas. Maybe we grab one of those veteran guys to play with power/Dahlin
- Zschalberg

I get that. But it is still disappointing with what the forwards have done. There is zero faith in any goalies for at least 2-3 years. And the d… maybe they sign one but it’ll probably be Johnson. Then next year, “what do you expect, he’s learning”…

I went into this year just wanting them to be fun to watch. But they became to fun, now I want a couple tweaks. I just want a goalie and a d man that’s better than joker.

I still don’t think that’s too much…

That’s my big concern and why I wanted Chicken. They haven’t drafted a lot of D the last couple of years and the cupboard is bare.
- Stripes77

if johnson signs, it changes things for next year, but still would need 1 more