...

Way to close the thread early.

In before tank.

"Turmoil" was spelled S-A-B-R-E-S last year. Actually, you can wind that back to the end of xx-13 season. I'm no expert, but I would have to think organizational stability and focus would account for, oh, half or more of those 26 points, before you factor in its affects on the players.

Heh, heh, she sthaid protein, heh, heh.

The only player this will affect will be Hodgson, the rest of the slackers are gone.

Again, what are they going to do with those slots? Why not over-pay Scott, or give Matt Ellis a $7 mil x 2 contract? That's the opposite of saying they're going to get a couple of good players. So, the middle is they find more McBains and D'Agostinis. To me, that's as large of an assumption as swinging high or low. The Sabres record was actually better in the seasons with the B2Bs, so, yes, I don't get why that's being factored in myself.

I think the stats guys would be happy to answer this, but I would guess that it's pretty difficult to tank so hard on a consistent basis. You'd be better off trying to actually win than tank if you can tank so well.

Unlikely, sure. Incredibly unlikely, not so sure.

I think JJ brings up a great point. It's simple: the Sabres are going to have to spend some money to get to the floor. I don't see people here saying they should overpay John Scott for a season or two. Rather, I see people day-dreaming about the better FAs. So, you get a decent FA or two to fill the gap between the RFAs and the floor, and you populate the team with the kids who last season were trying not to lose. I think it's pretty easy to imagine that next season's team could vie for a wild-card slot. Which is not a prediction they will, but there's nothing saying the players themselves will be in on the tank.

It seems some of you think a mid-round first this draft is better than a player plus a late-round first next draft. Am I reading this right? I did see the suggestion once or twice within the past several pages.

Just got back from Smoke on the Water in Tonawanda. Pricy for what it is, but exceptionally good food none-the-less. Had the brisket sammich and the fried perogies. Very good. The wife had the Cuban sammich which was outstanding. Love the seasoned fries, too. As a bonus, their Sam Adams is on tap, and we were sat on the back porch overlooking the creek.

Had a fantastic time at the Bison's game tonight. They came back from a 3-0 deficit to win 5-3 by the end of the top of the ninth. We were with a large gang of parents/kids/friends from school and the fire works were icing on the cake. I haven't been to a ball game since going to see the Blue Jays in TO when I was a teen. Even my kids were following the game. I often wondered how that team survived - I can see why it appeals to folks. The stadium has all of the goodies and most seats are good seats, and cheap. It's not something we would do routinely, but I think the Bison's just earned at least one summer appearance from us going forward.

You're a bad man. Bad.

You have to correct my mis-spelling of "tandem" in your quote if you're going to quote me. Rules are rules.

I get the impression Murray is more interested in larger goalies (like every other position...). I could see trading off Enroth for a Neuvirth/Hiller tandem if he has any interest in Hiller in the first place.

I'd pinch your butt if this happened.

Yes! He was a beast. I could see an injury preventing him from playing that way, but what I don't like is, with the season in the tank anyway, why did they let him play with the injury and acclimate to playing reserved and scared? That was a poor decision, IMHO, they should have sent him off to get the surgery right away. Now he has to "undo" the habits he developed last season.

There you are: ratings. I think part of the issue is probably the cost of putting the event on and they want it offset, if not completely covered, by sponsor money. So, the "bigger" the game, and the larger the market, the higher the cost of sponsorship. Follow the money...

I guess I'm all in. I don't see Hodgson or Foligno on a contending team, so, while the shop is still open they may as well sell. Frankly, I'd like to see Foligno prove me wrong. He seems like a good kid.

I have those moments, too, where I type like I just emigrated from Russia. Hodgson is listed at 6', but, I wonder if that's inflated. Dude has the presence of a 5'4"-er. You'd put the kibosh on Foligno and/or Hodgson for a first rounder? I wouldn't. An Ennis deal would need to be less cut-n-dry, but Murray wants size. If Ennis were a bigger man Murray would be gushing about him like he did (in his own manner) Girgensons.

I think that has to be the plan. Just see who shows up and grab which ever one fits. I would like to see Nolan here. The Darth Vader/Luke thing would be cool. I think Ennis, Hodgson, and Foligno are all on the block if it gets Murray his other first round pick. All three have clear deficiencies: size for Ennis, compete and size for Hodgson, skill and compete for Foligno. I would not be surprised if one of those three goes away, although I think Ennis is the most valuable. Stafford probably won't be traded...I bet Murray is going to gamble that his game picks up during the season and try and trade him away before the deadline. Seems the wisest course of action with that guy, to me.

You know, it might not be all that hard to attract some of the better, younger FAs here. By all accounts, our prospect pool is pretty hot, we have all of those picks in the next two drafts, and we still have the media clips of the owner saying he wants to win multiple Stanley Cups. The Sabres have lots of money and cap room to throw around, their building and resources (in the aggregate) will be amongst the best in the league, and, again, the media seems all on board with the Sabres having a bright future. If some of these guys are interested in a hefty, long-term contract, where there's the chance of it paying off in being part of a perennial contender not unlike LA or Chicago, in an area that has been nationally recognized as up-and-coming, where the cost-of-living is low, and lots of ex-players like to settle in thanks to it being "family friendly", then the Sabres PowerPoint presentation will be a pretty convincing one. Indeed, I would say the Sabres may be in a better position now to attract some FAs than they were when TPegs first took over. Partially from their own doing, partially from things happening in the area.

The NHL has the best post-championship celebration in all of sports...classy, family, emotion. Love it.

Have they bought him out yet? They've already had an hour to do...