Two or less

Highest team looking to trade out would be Nashville (according to reports). Not sure if Drouin would still be there, i doubt it, but Bankov would be a solid pick for the Sabres, assuming he'll be healthy.

Having those kind of picks help. No question. But, in Pittsburgh's argument, they fired GM Craig Patrick the year before they won the Stanley Cup. They also fired their coach mid-season with Crosby on the team. The team wasn't just satisfied with losing. Darcy is making it sound like "IF WE SUCK, WE WILL WIN" which is far from the truth. Chicago's example... they had a few high picks, but look at their front office. Loaded with talented hockey minds. You need to make sure those picks make it. Not only picking the right players, making sure they stay committed to excellence and fully developing them. Who's in our hockey department? Devine, Regier and who? Who sits in on the meetings of important hockey talk with the Sabres? -How many losing seasons did NJ Devils need to have before they won all those Cup? Or the Ducks? -How many top picks did it take Boston? Lucic, Marchand and Bergeron all non-first round players. -How is Edmonton doing in the playoffs with all of their high picks? The argument is weak. Theres MANY ways of going out and putting a good team together. But in each way, one consistent is, you need a very strong front office and a committed front office. If the Buffalo Sabres want to become a good team, a "hockey heaven" of sorts, they need to call Jeremy Jacobs and ask him how he did it in Boston. Jacobs was running the Bruins like a joke (just like Pegula is) for years and years. And then, he changed his ways. They changed their ENTIRE front office, they brought in many guys and made one of the strongest hockey departments in hockey. And then they worked. The result: A Stanley Cup. Harry Sinden became an adviser to Jacobs. You know, Black said him and Darcy report to Terry? Not in Boston. Cam Neely became President of hockey operations. Peter Chiarelli became GM. He named his coach. Shortly, Jim Benning and Don Sweeney named as assistant GMs (both have been rumored as top GM targets, many wanted Benning to be our GM).... Scott Fitzgerald has Devine's job, and he's rumored to be interviewing for possible GM spots. How many teams call Devine for GM? You want to win a Stanley Cup? Build the best hockey department. Hoping for a miracle of top picks, you're risking so much with zero guarantee.

If that's the case, then even more reason to get rid of the entire hockey department. Two years ago, few nights before Christmas when Derek Roy got injured against Florida, the Sabres were flirting with being the worst team in the NHL. The team hasn't won a playoff series in 6 years, let alone be "close" to winning the Stanley Cup. That is a joke.

His stat sheet.

According to who?

Ryan Strome and Griffin Reinhart.

You may be right. I didn't think about that as i don't see any coach who just had his feet wet at the NHL level to accept a demotion.

The other thing is, if Rolston stays, it all but means Cassidy remains with the Amerks. If we're building via the draft, that means development of players should be the number # area to focus on. They should go out and get top notch scouts, top notch AHL coach, top notch assistants for him, and help the Amerks the best way they can, instead of handing the job to Cassidy, who was just an assistant with zero AHL head coaching potential prior to Lindy Ruff's firing.

Darcy said he will talk to Rolston in the next "week, or weeks". He's willing to sit back and not be aggressive and allow other teams potentially grab the coach he may want? Darcy also said he made no decision yet. I have a hard time believing and a guy who makes his kind of money, his job is to build a hockey club, doesn't think about it on an almost 24/7 basis. At the end, Darcy did say "Rolston did do a good job"... Sabres already trying to spin things.

They didn't want to throw any more gas onto the fire but it's obvious he'll be coach. Besides, even if he isn't, what coach of any significance would ever consider coming here anyways?

Of course they won't. But good luck trying to "compete" for a Stanley Cup with $4.5 million of dead cap space on the roster.

It is interesting, but we've only got 2 amnesty clauses. We have at least two legit candidates on our team... Leino and Stafford.

Pegula said "Lindy ain't going nowhere"... he could of said, "go speak with Darcy about Ruff's future." If Sabres were winning, he'd be available for comment all the time. He's not. The problem is, people are starting to wonder about his commitment and reasons for buying the Sabres. He said he bought them for the love of the team, but was there other reasons? When Black flat out lies to the media, which is turn is lying to the fans, then yeah, i hope the media does throw haymakers. It's redic what he was saying and was put in his place.

Yeah really. Great job by Harrington and Sullivan, and the rest of the media who attacked the Sabres. Our team is run like a joke and if anybody truly believes that one man show of Darcy with a team of non-hockey guys can win us a Stanley Cup, you're very well mistaken. They love to mention Pittsburgh, LA and Chicago. Look at the front offices (hockey departments) the Hawks and Pens have. Look at the front office Detroit has. Top notch. Meanwhile, set yourselves up for Rolston getting the gig. We're headed in the WRONG direction.

thanks! 8pm on NBC Sports Network.

I think Tampa Bay wins.

He has a long way before he can convince anyone of importance that he is a legitimate no.1 goalie in the national hockey league. Next season, if Miller is gonzo, i do hope Enroth gets a solid look, but i also want to give opportunities to Hackert and Leggio.

The funniest thing about Nill going to Dallas is, when Pegula first bought the team and he was doing his tour of town going to different radio stations and then doing the Buffalo News roundtable, Pegula (or Black) said somewhere they'd like to copy the Red Wings as as a organization and build Buffalo that way. Shortly after that, many speculated (media and fans) that Sabres will make a serious run at Nill, but it was always quickly rejected because supposedly "Nill was happy as an assistant". Not only did we not attempt to get Nill, but we didn't copy Detroit's blueprint at all. And on top of that, we're stuck with Darcy Regier as our GM. As for the Brooks article... i don't even know what to think. Even a kool-aid drinking fan like myself (no matter how upset i get, i still go to a bunch of home games, few (just 1 this year) road games, buy new merchandise every single year, and despite hoping we'd tank, i still watch every single Sabres game that i don't attend on TV, but, it truly makes you wonder about these people. There is just so much shadiness behind them. I don't really mind raising of the ticket prices, but did they really need to announce it to season ticket holders on fan appreciation night? Maybe it's the booze talking, but maybe this whole "hockey heaven" and "the reason for existence is to win a stanley cup" was just all too good to be true like many warned us?

mmm Taco Bell sounds realllly good right about now...

Even for a rebuilding franchise, I think we need to aim for higher standards.

Eastern conference match-ups are set- (1) Pittsburgh v. Islanders (8) (2) Montreal v. Ottawa (7) (3) Washington v. Rangers (6) (4) Boston v. Toronto (5) My predictions- Chicago in 5 Red Wings in 6 San Jose in 6 St Louis in 7 Pittsburgh in 4 Montreal in 5 NYR in 6 Boston in 7

Didn't want to clutter the NHL thread with only playoff series talk. Post predictions and game discussions here... Western Conference match-ups are set- (1) Chicago v. Minnesota (8) (2) Anaheim v. Detroit (7) (3) Vancouver v. San Jose (6) (4) St. Louis v. Los Angeles (5) Eastern Conference match-ups- (1) Pittsburgh v. Islanders (8) (2) Montreal v. Ottawa (7) (3) Washington v. Rangers (6) (4) Boston v. Toronto (5)

I never got too negative on Hecht this season despite his struggles. I felt it was the Sabres fault for overestimating this roster and thinking this was a playoff potential team. If they felt this team could of made the playoffs, it did make sense to bring in Hecht. Has familiarity with most teammates, has familiarity with Lindy Ruff, had been playing live ice hockey in Germany and doing well, and played on a line with Pominville. Not many on here felt the same way but for some reason, the Sabres did.

Sorry, i misread that, it's Ted Black and Darcy. Guess still no Terry.

Games of interest for Buffalo- 7pm- Nashville at Columbus (CBus lose, and Wild are in) 7pm- Philly at Ottawa (Philly gets 1pt, our chances of winning draft lottery improve slightly) 7:30pm- Minnesota at Colorado (Wild win, and their in, they miss playoffs, and Sabres get 2 chances at winning lottery)