7+6=13

Not a huge argument from me on your points but I think the timing is off. This team is very bad with little on it to develop into futures. I don't believe a competitive team can be constructed using half of it's players. I agree the switch eventually has to be flipped but it would be like using a reading lamp on the beach mid morning to need it now. We're not there and we're also constructed to not be there. We have 6 guys signed for 2019 and 4 guys signed for the 2020 season. Nashville has 13 and 8 respectively. Our team is built this year and partially next with contract commitments and several bad ones - and it's been decided this built team can't win. It'll be purged and re-built starting small next year then bigger in 2019 and the total makeover completed by 2020. Then we'll be ready to field a competitive team if JBot does it correctly (obviously subjective). I think winning begins to be important (to the organization) - long term in parallel with the rebuild. I'm willing to have it suck the rest of this year for the few players that will be here.

I've discussed some who are likely part of that 6-7 for two reasons, one being contracts will probably dictate, and the second is my personal hope. We agree on Eichel, Reinhart and Risto - then I'd add O'Reilly (hope), Okposo (contract). We have 4 players under contract currently for the 2020 season, so I'll add the possibilites/hope for Antipin, ERod and Baptiste. I'm just not convinced winning a handful more games this year effects that 2020 team - more than having a lower pick. It could, because obviously the say 6th player could be better than the 4th player drafted, but I'd rather JBot have that choice in player. Again, I'm not fervent on losing. I am and we all are done with that thought process. I'm just making the argument that it may not be the long term best thing as we sit today. Especially when it's likely we'll downgrade anyway after a trade or two in this season. To sum up. I'm ok with Eichel and Reinhart having personal success without necessarily a win because I'm not worried about Risto's psyche and I don't care about O'Reilly's, Okposo's, Antipin's, ERod's and/or Baptiste's enough to slide up in the draft. Most of the rest of the players will not be here in 2020. Because of the massive turn around we're about to experience - this current roster won't be the crescendo of winning to welcome our young players.

I honestly have no idea what you're saying and am positive I don't know how it could relate to my post.

Ok, I could get there. I don't think we're on polar opposites sides of thought. I guess I just see less value in winning 5 more games than you and I see value in being up a couple spots in this years draft. The premise being the core is 3 players from the current roster. As I mentioned Eichel is my primary concern - I'd like Reinhart to be a valuable player on the eventual team - I believe Risto will be there when we really need him. I'm hoping in 2-3 years O'reilly is a 3rd line center and Okposo a solid 31-32 year old role player - and not part of the core. I hope the core is Eichel, Reinhart, Casey, Guhle, Ullmark, Risto, then a combination from: another player or two in our system /player or pick from Kane trade/ the draft pick this year. Then in 4 years building through free agency also we're ready to contend for many years.

I respect your opinion so can you explain why you think that? The obvious reasons for me are mindset and development. I think winning is important, just not that much. This current team isn't going anywhere next year either, IMO. I'd imagine we're going to make a couple of trades and this will likely effect winning anyway. I'm not interested in an winning by subtraction after Kane is gone, etc. What I'm hoping out of the remainder of this season (original thread topic) are: Eichel to keep getting points - I think it's just good for his psyche to be one of the better players in the league. Reinhart to find/identify himself (continue to) - the future Sabres team needs him to develop Risto to stay on an upward trajectory - same as Sam, this team needs Risto to be an excellent defender and be an assist machine on offense. I'm not too worried about him. Defensman will frustrate you and he does, completely normal. I have long believed Risto's passion and play will shine on a winning team. He's an emotional player and it hasn't looked like he's having a whole lot of fun this year. Kane - I think it's critical Jbot gets great value in a trade. This may be the most important thing that the Sabres do or don't do for our future. Housley - I'd like to better understand him as a coach before seasons end. Right now, I literally have no idea what I'm supposed to be seeing in terms of his philosophy.

I don't think there's a Sabres fan that doesn't understand your sentiment. However, other than for psychological reasons, it does not benefit this team to win. The team we'll have an opportunity to compete with, will comprise of 65-70% different players.

Of course it could go wrong and obviously we got Casey at 8 so a lot can go right not being crazy low.

I'm torn Liger. I totally understand what you're saying that this team needs to learn how and feel winning. My problem is I don't see more than 6-7 players on the current roster that will be with us when we'll potentially be ready to be a playoff team. We desperately need this years draft to produce a very good player for us - and quicker than it normally takes. We'll need that player to be the 20-21 year old ready in 2-3 years. Which is how long I think it'll take for the Sabres to have an opportunity at playoff contention and hopefully beyond. I want to draft as low as possible. I actually hated typing that. Am I wrong or making sense at all?

My guess was aggression. What's wrong with him yapping? I doubt he said, let's fight. Lazar could have thought who the heck is this little runt yelling at - then charged him dropping his gloves.

Is that what you saw? I couldn't tell. Even after the replay I got the feeling Lazar came at him.

Seattle Rain

That's all you can think of that they've done? You know better. Nice try at attempting to bait someone into answering so you could be snarky.

I don't see Reinhart getting traded but I'd like to see it happen for a player in a similar situation. I'd like a player back that hasn't reached potential.

I don't get why there wasn't more than two choices?

Wouldn't we need to compare that to eating Myers contract?

Depressing that some are now turning on our young star on pace for 73 points.

Sam gets knocked off his skates with ease and watches the empty net go in while fixing his helmet. Embarrassing.

I think his skating is bad enough that he can't play an open ice game. His best attributes are being in good position and having good hands. The problem, IMO, is those are attributes and not fundamental to a system of hockey. Why he can't do more is tough to know but I see effort. I'm trying to recall why he was successful his first 2 years. I ask myself what did he do to get 42 and 47 points and I can't recall. I don't know what he did well to fully understand what he's not doing now. He's a curious case and understanding what's gone wrong is way behind my hockey acumen.

I tried to think of someone to talk about and I couldn't. So disappointing.

They might be but I see a team that when things start going bad - don't know what to do about it.

I know I didn't

This could very well be correct. It's so difficult to get an established coach to come to such a mess - sucks that we had one here and let him go.

I don't think it's ridiculous, you do. You call it pulling wool over fans eyes - I don't. Suggesting he's doing it through a forced Rob Ray comment is. You said Russ is "about to learn a hard lesson here" - now you're saying you fully understand he needs to get fans onboard??? I can't keep up with your circular argument. You seem like a good guy and I honestly have been reading your posts for years. You know hockey far better than I do - but I think your trying hard to turn a rant into something that makes sense. Serious question, you do think they're in an evaluation year? I think they are too and I'm not sure that approach isn't a pretty bad mistake.

Do you think it's coaching style/system or more of a player complacency issue? I agree that we shouldn't be THIS bad.

I don't know about this season being predictable but now that it's happening it makes sense. I knew an unlikely amount of things had to come together but I thought we'd get more out of our known quantities.