tom webster

But he also stated that there is a clear gap between the top 3 and the rest of the next 9 it 10 and then another gap after that

Amen brother. Like I said, I can respect the objections based on team needs or salary cap concerns, even if I don't agree with them. The other stuff is garbage, in my opinion, anyway.

Come on, the first facts changed the argument from disappearing act to not bad. You add other comparables, then what will the argument be? I don't like blonds?

Sorry, I have been waiting thirty years for the first instance of a well managed team losing a core piece due to salary cap restraints. Teams choose the wrong core, give silly contracts to supplemental players, hold onto other players too long but when has a franchise in one of the major sports lost a star player because they couldn't afford him? Did Hossa and Keith's contracts help? Of course they did but it was just another example of a well managed team using the tools at their disposal.

First, my point remains tge same same, good teams don't lose key players they don't want to lose. Second, while there is a chance that one team starts in 17/18', there is virtually no chance that they expand by two teams which means they lose one guy, and again it won't be an irreplaceable player. Third , they should have the assets available to persuade Las Vegas to take the player they want taken

Seriously, you are worried about the expansion draft in two years? Their core guys will either be exempt or protected.

The only way you add two is if you find someone to take Zack and then you can fit two plus Stamkos. Nobody is paying four guys on the backend over $5M. Unless they find a veteran D with only two years left on deal, then they can afford to re-up Rasmus, acquire 2 D and sign Stamkos f they choose.On the other hand, I think you get a true #1 LHD and Pysyk and McCabe could develop into a more then adequate 3/4.

I'm not sure we should go after Stamkos either but I disagree that you can't afford both him and a top pair defenseman.

That's the point. Good teams get pksyers on value contracts and don't lose star players. The Ssbres are at least two years away from any cap issues and as long as they make the right player choices will have no problem managing cap. The only teams that lose core players to cap issues are teams that make the wrong choices.

I know True's argument but I don't think that makes them an anamoly.

Or you are just wrong. Teams like Chicsgo and LA have proven the capital is manageable and justify has shown that while natural wingers can't always play center, most centers can play wing.

Fair enough, but I would think a "well connected" reporter with a hand on the pulse of the team is not just spit balling.

Larry Brooks has reported otherwise

Its not as simple as that. There is a certain timeframe. Kasdorf's case is a little different since he red shirted but others are more versed in the rules that apply.

Sabres signed Kasdorf

March 12, 2016 My calendar says it is National Muffuletta Sandwich Day. Wikipedia says its the birthday of James Taylor, Ron Jeremy, Dale Murphy Could it be Buffalo's equivalent of Mo Lewis knocking Drew Bledsoe out of New England? UB men and woman win in breathtaking fashion and Jack Eichel scores in overtime, with one second left, against the hated Hurricaines and specifically Cam Ward. The best part for me? Not one of the decisive scoring plays was a fluke. Both UB teams scored on plays drawn up by their coaches and Eichel's goal was a play practiced many times before. I am not sure that any of you follow UB Basketball but both teams were supposed to be in re-building years and surprised everyone in the MAC Conference were both teams were predicted to finish at or near the bottom this year.The woman's team graduated nearly all their key contributors from a year ago and the men lost their coach, their two best players and their two best recruits. They dealt with the illness of their head coaches wife, the death of an assistant coaches brother and a player's mother. They were forced to suspend their leading scorer in the middle of the season and yet they came together like a true champion and while they will be heavy underdogs Thursday, they have better then a puncher's chance. Who knows what day we will all look back on when we finally win a big time championship in this town(with all due respect to the 64/65 Bills and Bandits) but I am hoping I look back on National Muffuletta Sandwich Day as the Day the Worm turned.

I remember seeing ELP in CNE Stadium, had to be '77-'79. Truly amazing, especially Carl Palmer. Might have been last concert that alcohol was only drug of choice.

My Aunt had one and she adored Ignatowski so, maybe..

He's a solid number three center. Not sure he deserves much more.

LB may be the most overrated position in the NFL today. Last year the Bills played either nickle or dime 60% of the time. As Hoss said, their backers aren't that bad although they could always upgrade.

I'm assuming that Risto is our 1 and that either Pysyk, McCabe or one of the propects will become our number three. I also always assumed that the shopping list was one top tier forward and one top tier LHD to pair with Risto. I've said it before, ultimately you want to end up with 4 top forwards, a couple of forwards comfortable playing complimentary roles, 3 defenseman and a solid goalie. Adding more talent and picks only increase the odds of finding them on your roster. Once they are on your roster, its up to the front office to know which players are the core and which become the fillers.

I go back and forth on this but I feel that in the end, they may still be searching for that 4th forward. This year has been a disappointment for Zemgus and Tyler and I'm still not sure you want Kane as your 4th core forward. He is defintely a guy that you want on your team but I fear that he may be one of those guys who wont settle in as your number four forward and might thus outprice himself. With Jack and Sam being on entry level deals and Kane having two years left on his you have a rare chance to overload the forward ranks and then let things settle out themselves in two years. In the end, I'm comfortable with the third line being what it is, hope to improve the fourth center position and hope that Fasching starts his career on the fourth line before developing into a top guy and if you add a stud upfront you end up with one forward position for whoever his left between Ennis, Zemgus, Bailey and Moulson. I'm not sure I explained myself very well, but that is where I see things right now.

Have to give you credit, you were the first person I ever heard mention Hoffman before he cracked the big club. He has really turned into a nice player and I think he could be an interesting get without costing a fortune. That said, I would like to see Schwartz assumimg Stamkos isn't interested in playing woing for $10 million per and Landeskog and Hall would cost Risto.

I don't think so, I think he was going to cut in front.

I think he will either be an important part moving forward. I'm just not sure if its on the team or as part of a trade.