R_Dudley

Neat discussion topic. Nice work Dudacek I said I expect to see Berglund, Okposo, Sheary and Reinhart, I know Berglund is primarily a center but does play some wing, I thought they may want a veteran presence in the top 2 and he is good to take a FO when the top center is thrown out. I said I would like to see Baptiste, Reinhart, Sheary, Thompson. I think it was GA that pointed out the Ruff model of a bigger body winger on each line, I like that idea in top 2 lines to hopefully create space for the skilled players. However after voting I may have changed my mind and kept Okposo in the top 4 assuming he returns to pre-injury form and Sam gets moved out assuming he does take to playing center like a duck to water.

I agree and I decided to be a glass is half full guy going into this season. I just hope it lasts into January.

New goal tending tandem, so i expect it to be better, I hope new defensive pairings so I expect it to be better I am looking for an early season NJ Devils youth experiment so they don't know they are aren't supposed to win. Other teams don't know what to expect from this team as do any of us. Also early on everybody is still looking to find their stride. I say early will be better before they realize they aren't as good as they think they are. 4-1 , maybe 3-2 Boston Bruins @ Buffalo Sabres OT Win 3-2 Rasmus GW (could be 2nd loss L the other way Boston in OT) New York Rangers @ Buffalo Sabres Win 2-1 - Hutton steals the show against LundquistVegas Golden Knights @ Buffalo Sabres L 3-2 - Colorado Avalanche @ Buffalo Sabres W 4-2 (Linus first win)Buffalo Sabres @ Arizona Coyotes Sabres W 3-1 (Hutton looks like a great pickup early at 3-1 or 2-2 record)

Looks like another piece of the makeover either in Rachacha or B'lo.. Plenty of pieces in play for changing the culture.

Well i hope my attempt at sadistic fan humor was not a fail and taken as being crabby but my kids tell me that too sometimes but use grumpy. Brawndo, I actually did appreciate the insight as well.

"Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in", Ok then thanks, that's enough to put me back into skeptical fan mode on the current coaching staff.

+1 WC, That was very solid and easy to understand and see what was happening. I am always impressed with efforts like this from dedicated fans as well as our own SS fancystat mavens... WC, IKP, Randall, Liger, True, Smell, The Dude, ....et. al... Thanks guys for keeping this the place to come for those who like hockey, thirst for Knowledge, oh and Bust Balls which covers most of the rest of us..

Okay then no whole sale coaching changes so i guess I'll take baby steps for $100 Alex. I definitely like strong shot suppression as long as its the other teams since last years defense's contribution to the offense was basically shot and suppressed. So somehow I hope this change will also help the defense contribute more offense to the team. Now how about the PP and 5 on 5 ?

Yep that's what I read into here as well. Yeah i am in this camp as well. When you have a team of Generation Y's(Millennials) and Generation Z's and you don't have something in common like winning you better have something else you can hang your hats on with your team mates or that you can rally around. You don't want partying (see Kane trade) as core team bonding exercise. Also there certainly was/is a leadership issue. Your captain can't be your 3rd or 4th line players(loved you Gio as a player but your prime minute days and contributions were done) and Eeyore O'Reilly wasn't an act many would follow. So Jack wasn't ready, Risto still isn't, Scandella was too new and we had no one else playing top minutes that we could tag. Last coaching did appear to be in over their heads last year at least for a good part of the season. Back to SDS's post above I have to believe the changes they made reflect the actions they felt needed to right the ship.

Yep, you beat me to it. Any farther back and some of these guys would fall out of the league...

Agree with Jack getting the C for all the reasons stated. I think that was really the biggest problem between O'Reilly and Jack. Ryan knew it was coming and he was brought here to be the man by ZFG. After that if he's back in form I say A's for Okposo and Scandella. We need some veteran maturity to balance the youthfulness I hope to see on display this coming season.

Send em to Rochester, If they don't clear waivers problem solved.

Well I know this question was intended for the younger guys but I'll start with looking for a bounce back year from Okposo and for a surprise I am going with the new kid Tage Thompson as someone getting bigger minutes and being good for 40-50 points (15-22 goals, 20-28 assists)

Too many unknowns with this roster and the coaching. Given the talent this team does have its PP should have been better and I hope they can figure that out. I voted hanging out with Detroit and hope its closer to the WC teams than fighting it out the dregs for a last place team.

Well i just caught up to the update. Didn't remember how long I have been lurking here, I signed up in 2007 with an old email.. Thanks SDS for the help with the reset and for keeping us up with the technology times.

Yep fits the description 1st ballot. 2nd choice for me has the be the hope that wasn't Luke Adam

Don't get the time to catch up on hockey much with work and family so sorry if this was reported somewhere. Signing Carter Hutton at beginning of free agency http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/report-goalie-carter-hutton-likely-to-sign-with-sabres/ I am liking what Jbots been coking..

Now that"s how ya do it, see., yeah... Oh and Doohickie i do hope you noticed the :P in my response to starting this train.... Winner, winner, .... 2nd runner up an Evander Kane road trip back to B-lo to do some blow of someones below....

Now that's some dedication to a Team and SS community. Congrats to you and the new Mrs. and may the Honeymoon passion stay as strong as yours for this team...

Oh I totally get that. Living here its known the Pens were in salary cap jail and their farm pipeline is not in great shape either so don't underestimate the value of the 4th or 3rd rd pick to them.

Wait what, we haven't even finalized a starting roster and or played a game and we are already trying to manufacture a controversy? Come On Doohiccup, I'll consider it just that, a hiccup on the Stanley cup parade planning that has started.... :P

Well, well, well shopping in my neighborhood. I really like the first part of the Trade(Sheary). The 2nd part, meh, they did say they wanted more competition so I can accept it as that. Although something or should I say someone will have to go before the season opener because right now two many passengers on board the d train.

Good thread and some very good points and idea's floated around on ways to improve. I'm not confident they can fix it all next season so I agree with looking for another potential no 1 Goalie first. I agree that makes the second priority secondary scoring. Here is the biggest unknown. As some of you have said we need some of the kids to step up and I am hoping we use some of the cap not spent on a goalie to bring in another 1 or 2 experienced forwards that actually can contribute. I am hoping the defensive additions already coming Pilut and Dahlin along with someone from the farm will improve the back end. You put all those ingredients together with some new assistant coaches(PP at least , Goalie? defense?) and shake them up in camp and roll out the best we got and see where that puts us. If the returning players come back in top shape having worked on the things the coaches talked to them about working on over the summer I think we could have a fun competitive team to watch next year on ice. And I could live with that.

After reading that this thread is definitely some serious trolling.

Yep that's about how I recall it as well. Pretty sure the end result of this debate will change NADA.