tom webster

Exactly. As we have both said in the past, there has yet to be a good team that has had to sell off stars that it wanted to keep because of salary cap issues. With the way the Sabres are going to be built, any veteran player coming in will be given a front loaded contract within the parameters of the CBA. Then in three years, while the players cap hit will be high, his tradeability(F?) will be higher.

As Rakish pointed out, Kane was by no means the clear cut favorite. May considered him too small. Chicago was even't sure and apparently where ready to deal the pick for the right offer.

I think Turgeon/ Shanahan and Lafleur/Dionne were a lot like that as well.

No matter how many times you and Tank say it, he wasn't lasting till the 4th round. He has all the tools, is exceptionally smart, a nice guy and a hard worker. He would have been gone by the end of the second at the latest. While an overwhelming majority of execs and "experts" panned the pick, there were many that liked the pick for the potential upside. Given the Bills' situation, it wasn't the enormous reach some kid you would like everyone to believe.

If there was a way to know for sure, it would have been developed years ago. Bill Walsh thought Trent Edwards would be a star and was one of 32 guys who passed on Tom Brady 5 times and one of 9 guys who drafted another QB that year before Brady was drafted. Drew Brees was a 2nd round pick, Russel Wilson a third round pick. The list goes on and on. If there was a QB whisperer, he would be pulling down millions per year as a consultant.

It appears he has the ability to be Jody Gage or Mal Davis. Question is can he at least rise to Adam Creighton status and become a useful NHL center? I know you are still hoping for more and he is still young but I still can't envision it.

They are not even close to cap jail. Ennis' contract is designed to be an easy move as the actual salary declines to $3.65 in the last two years. Gionta's and Moulson's deals are similar in that their actual salary declines in the final two years. You will have several first and second year players on entry level deals for at least the next two years and even with the cap not going up as much as expected, there will be a significant jump in the next couple of years. The only bad contract on the books is Cody's and that may be bought out in the summer.

I agree with this. I wasn't really saying that the tank started then. I was just saying that I don't care what you call it, the last few years have been brutal and hopefully it is over in 36 games.

Am I the only one who feels like its been going on since DB and CD left? It seems like a blur and I can't even differentiate the seasons, let alone games. No matter how good they played, it never recaptured the magic of those two seasons. Like LGRM said, no matter when you start it, it has 36 games left and hopefully the excitement of going to a game returns.

That is part of the beauty of the rebuild. Your top two centers and your top 2 defenseman will be years away from top end salary so you can afford to pay guys like ROR. It doesn't mean you want to waste money but you can afford better depth players until your top guys are ready to command top salaries.

ROR is the perfect young vet to acquire. His limited offensive skills aren't going to help this year's team. He is young and together with Z will be the perfect 5,6 or 7 forwards.

Well there was Richard Gere but I think that was a movie. My first thought was Ivan Boesky

Like Wildcard said, he has a great rep as an O-line coach but no doubt there has to be concern about his character.

If Fox going to the Bears didn't end the speculation, Kromer coming here should end the Cutler to the Bills thought process.

Couldn't agree more about the Islanders but I would say year one was the Girgensons year even though I don't think it was intentional. I think he is going to be a huge piece of the puzzle either being the best third line center in the league or one of the best second line left wingers, probably a little of both. I don't think they will be a Cup contender next year but I expect them to challenge for 8th place and excite us with flashes of the future,

I understand that they didn't have to sign him. However, there were serious questions whether they planned on signing him at all. I previously stated a few posts ago that Zad and Risto along with Gus would be on the list if they weren't already with Buffalo

More like 10 points

Bailey is still considered a huge long shot to even make the roster. They weren't even sure they were going to sign him till he started the season on fire. Lemieux, too early to tell although this season is encouraging.

I'm not disagreeing with you but its funny when they predict one and two years down the road when they can't even predict this year's crop. Guys like Big Ben and Phillip Rivers were mid round projections till their senior year on in Rivers' case, till the Senior Bowl.

To be fair, Buffalo has three guys that should be on the list but are already playing in NHL and only 5 teams have more then 1. Winnipeg and Philly with three and all three of Philly's are defenseman. It will be interesting to see if they can be patient with them.

But what a time in Buffalo sports history. Gil OJ and McAdoo

Oh no. This defense could be historically bad. Sorry, couldn't resist

I have many great memories about Hasek's play, was told many off the record stories about his off ice antics and never blamed him for leaving. The best memory however, was very personal. I was fortunate enough to take my son into the locker room after a Sabre victory. Hasek could not have been better. He talked to my son for almost ten minutes, signed his jersey and posed for pictures. it was one birthday my son will never forget.

I'm not not saying that coaching doesn't matter but I am against saying that he's no good and just listing who played for him. Maybe he does suck but I need more info.

So Lee couldn't make Fitz, Henne or Smith to play like Andrew Luck, what s bum, I think Schwartz stays, Ryan and the Pegulas can be pretty persuasive. Besides, his best chance of a head job is continuing the success he already has had here.