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The numbers are screaming that the Sabres have a guy who is going to be 30 very soon. Who is getting slower by the year each year for the last 4 seasons. Who has a shot that is losing power and speed by the year each and every year for the last 4 seasons. Who this year has even has a slightly declining scoring pace. It sounds just about right that this management group heading the Sabres is going to try to sign him a a massive, cap-eating contract that will hinder them for most of the next decade.

I wouldn't be bothered if a dealt goalie is serviceable or even does well on another team. So what? The strategy that the shallow GM is taking with respect to determining which goalie or goalies to keep is self-defeating. By keeping three of them instead of the usual two goalies on the roster, he is putting all of them in a position to fail because of the lack of steady work. UPL has had enough time to demonstrate what level of goalie he is. There will be games where he will shine, just enough to tantalize you. Then he will revert into true his baseline level of being a pedestrian goalie. If I had to make a judgment on which goalie will turn out to be the best of the current trio, I would say Ellis. But I don't say it with much conviction. It should also be noted that Levi is in Rochester, and it appears he has recently been on a bumpy road. But even so, if the dullard GM keeps two instead of three goalies on the big club roster, he still has a fallback position of bringing up Levi if a goalie is hurt. It shouldn't be a surprise that a third-rate organization with third-rate decision makers make third-rate decisions. When you shoot yourself in the foot it shouldn't be surprised that you limp. A lot of people don't know that the Sabres were the inspiration for the making of a movie. It was called: Dumb and dumber. And unsurprisingly, it had more box office success than the Sabres have had on the ice.

Why would Terry prioritize winning? We have fans on this site that love to justify not winning to get a better pick starting right about this time every season. He can save some money while keeping a core group interested. And no pressure. He’s got to be happy as a clam how this whole thing is working out.

Pat Lafontaine

How can a team that gets more than their share of high draft picks not have high end players? The Sabres don't lack high end players. We have talent. The trouble is that being a high end player doesn't mean a thing if they don't perform to the best of their ability collectively as a group or for whatever reason they are not performing. That, combined with the fact that when it comes to high end players that produce, and picking the right kinds of grinders to compliment those players, or getting us a goalie who can make the big save, this GM consistently fails. Add to that the fact that this coaching staff has yet to accomplish anything with this team and it's a formula for disaster. Anyway, I think we do have high end players, just that some of them don't even need to take a shower after the game.

I think Tuch is still the best winger on this team (I'm couting Tage as a part time center/winger). The team would be worse without him. He's one of the top 25 wingers in the leauge to me RIGHT NOW. But I think he is starting to show the very first hints of 'aging past his prime'. Unless you are a mega superstar (and even some cases with them), we know that MOST forwards (and the averages in the numbers show this) have their peak offense production years between the ages of 24-28. Yeah, some guys hang on to that high level a bit better than others, but once you get to 29-30, your best years are usually behind you (just what the numbers say). This isn't to say they can't have a great/bounce back year once or twice past 30, but normally production has already peaked. So how does this relate to Tuch? Hes 29 now. If the Sabres made the playoffs he woudl be 30 during this years playoffs. The FIRST year of any new contract for him has turning 31 at the end of year 1 of that deal. -Its only 1/4 season, but to my eye, he seems to be having more 'lapses' where he makes bad plays. A handful of more games compared to the last few years where he's just not as noticable. Not much, but enough to notice. -His numbers: Over the last 3 previous seasons, he averaged 33.4 goals per 82 games and +13.8 per 82 on a negative team. This year, his 82 game pace is 26.3 goals and a +2.9. Not a huge drop, but noticable. His PP numbers are dropping. The last few years he went from 20 PP points, to 11 PP points, to 11 PP points again, and now hes on a pace for 5.8pp points. -His ice time is down. He hasn't been injured this year, but he has the lowest average ice time this year of any other year (or partial year) since he has been in Buffalo. Now for the actual skill based numbers (and remember, he seems to be healthier this year than in the past): His shot speed: 93.4 his first year with the Sabres. Down to 89.2 and 89.7 the past 2 years. This year? 85.1 Top skaing speed: 23.2 mph 3 years ago (when he was 26).....23mph 2 years ago (when he was 27)....22.6mph last year (when he was 28)....and now this year 21.83 this year. In terms of MPH, a drop of more than 1mph is a LOT in the NHL. He is losing speed, that is 100% true. How about his skating "speed bursts over 20mph"? This year 1.25 per game (at age 29). How does that compare to the most recent years? 1.75 per game last year (age 28), and 2.36 per game the previous 2 years (since he was with the Sabres, ages 26-27) Again...Hes 29, going on 30 this season. The FIRST year of any new contract for him has turning 31 at the end of year 1 of that deal. This is not to say he's not one of the better players on the team. But the 'eye test' to me says his game is SLIGHTLY off compared to the past (just slighly), and the more you dig into the numbers, especially his skating, it shows you those numbers are, without a doubt, on a downward trend already. For me it further reinforces that I'd like him back here, but not on a big dollar, long term deal. His "raw skill" numbers in terms of top speed, how often he uses his speed, and his shot are already in clear decline. The production is showing signs of a decline, as are his deeper analytics. If, and I realize this is an "if", the recent trends in his skating and production continue, you might be regretting a $10m+ deal with Tuch...not in 5 to 6 years from now, but possibly in year 2 of the extension.

Terry doesn’t care about winning when it comes to the Sabres. In my opinion, he’s purposely trying not to win. The Sabres are the Indians in Major League.

Pegula doesn't seem to be too worried about the huge number of empty seats in the arena lately. At the very least it's a tax write-off for him, so I'm not buying it that people not buying tickets are the only thing that will pressure him to clean house. I think you do make a good point about Hamilton and Harrington speaking up, though.

Tage, simply because the most exciting/fun thing in hockey for me is not a great save, its not a fight, its not a good defensive battle..but rather exciting goals. He's the best on this team at that. Other than that, at this point I don't care.

Not one!

And smart enough to avoid this ***** show of an organization

It depends on for whom they're traded.

And they've needed that second top-line guy for several seasons. If the current Sabres regime remains in power, and provided they throw enough money at him and doesn't go JJP, just take Tuch off the top line and replace him with Doan. (Which opens the spot for Rosén in the top 6.) Rinse and repeat.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow Go Bills!!!

None. Would be focused on our new players. Don’t live in the past.

None. Weave nailed it.

Dahlin, Benson, McLeod, Doan, Tage, Östlund I’d be upset at a Quinn trade, I think he still has potential to be a dynamic player and have kind of glued myself to him as I like him while most don’t. That being said, I wouldn’t be heartbroken.

Kane game winner in Seattle. 4-3 1362 points 497 Goals From South Buffalo New York.

Every team below the Sabres in the standings won tonight except for Nashville. Vancouver is up 3-1 going into the 3rd when Calgary beats the Sabres tomorrow we take over 3rd last. 2 points out of the cellar. "After the season we are havin, we sure as ***** should get Gavin!" *Admittedly not my best work

If only Inoki-san were still alive we could bring him in to slap everyone and transfer his fighting spirit to everyone.

For me, although the trade is arguably even or maybe a win (hard to say since Kesselring is always injured) Adams biggest failure was not getting a solid veteran top 6 forward to play top minutes for Peterka. They were 1 forward away and they are still 1 forward away and as such players play above their level and when injuries hit things are all over the place. For me, you'd have a better team (a much better team) if your healthy line up was more like this: Veteran winger - Thompson - Tuch Zucker - Norris - Doan Benson - McLeod - Quinn/Kulich (whichever plays a better 2 way game) Dunn-Kozak-Malentstyn (couldn't care less what happens to Greenway or Krebs but I guess they are your depth forwards and Danforth is irrelevant) Part of the issue is Quinn has not stepped up to become a good top 6 forward and Benson is still young and developing. Some will argue give it time, but that's the forever argument with them isn't it? To win now they needed that top veteran winger and instead they choose to wait and develop internally and thus we wait, and wait, and wait some more until the next guy leaves and then we wait again.

Zucker and Doan for their love of the game vibe. Dahlin can be a difference maker, but just isn’t all too often. Tage- lots of talent, but doesn’t strike me as someone who puts the team on his back. I’m sure my recency bias is showing. Oh well.

If they were ALL traded I honestly don't think I'd miss anyone. Not if the team they got was a unit that could win. There are no untouchables here for me. I mean I like Benson and Dahlin is a top player who even has a little nastiness sometimes (which I think would come out more on a different team where he felt truly protected) and Doan and McLeod are okay but if you want to clean house have at it. After all the years of losing I don't think you can do another rebuild and keep Dahlin though. I don't think he'd be on board with another 5 year plan. You could only keep the very young ones.

I think the fanbase has forgotten what truly special players on truly special teams feel like. Missing these guys is like celebrating Phil Housley’s number in the rafters.