7+6=13

I stand by ROR needed to go. He's on a team that doesn't need him to be a leader on and off the ice - we did.

Our first line and 4th lines aren't the issue - of course the 1st line will be without Skinner. The 2nd and 3rd lines are the problem. We're having to shuffle first line guys to the 2nd to make it stronger and 4th line talent is playing 3rd line. That's not working. We need to Skinner, a 2nd line center, a top 6 winger and a top 4 defensman, IMO to be better. I doubt we can accomplish all of that in free agency. What we really need is a couple of these young players to come up and be answers. Not just get acclimated to the NHL and continue a slow progression. We need young guys to become important pieces, quick.

I only mean it was a bad deal in hindsight because O'Reilly proved that he wasn't a high priced player with motivation issues and a possible locker room problem. Of course we as fans don't have enough information to know but based on the trade - we deduct that was the issue for not getting more. Again, all we can do is speculate but we have to believe JBot shopped the Blues offer and at least in his view - there wasn't a better one. The market spoke on what teams would give if you believe the deal we took is the indicator.

If you don't think he's a physical player then you don't watch games.

It's JBot's fault in hindsight, yes. Paying the bonus would have been foolish and likely wouldn't have boosted is trade value. It wasn't a money issue - it was the perception of his attitude. Everyone knows his point totals were well worth his contract.

The thing that I like about Girgs and Larry is their physical play. They go in the game and throw their bodies around more than any offensive players we've had in recent memory. They've done it ever how futile the game/season has been. They are a type of 4th line. If the FO has a plan for a scoring 4th line then it should be factored in how much vs giving up the physicality of these two.

I just don't understand this thought. We're a team known for locker room issues (true or not) and O'Reilly was rumored to be a big reason. He said he lost his love of the game at times. IMO, there's nothing worse in NHL circles to be linked to. O'Reilly's value on an awful team with a seemingly loser mentality attitude - isn't JBot's fault. The entire market had an opportunity at O'Reilly and that's what we got.

..... I live in Charlotte and when we go to Raleigh for Sabres games they hate it. When we win there's usually bickering exiting the stadium.

I respect him. On a team where effort has been questioned, he's out there playing with impending surgery in his future.

Oh why do you care? The Sabres are your second team now anyway. Haha

I'll accept any hire with an open mind. I just want it to work. We don't know the players/locker room well enough to know what they need. Hoping JBot does and I'll give him my fan support to pick one more coach.

This can only mean they are trading all of them.

Connor said it was broke. He's negative and that's not a good sign of a leader. Seems like a major problem from that draft class. edit: Sorry I confused you Curtis - there wasn't a sarcasm font to choose from.

Is there someone else I'd rather pay 7.5 million to other than O'Reilly and give Guhle for Montour, Thompson and a 2nd? Yes

Ok, then I agree that there's likely enough young developing players to fill out a decent roster, but there's no one in that group scoring 25+ goals and giving you 25-30 assists. We need production like that or we're in serious trouble.

I know, the likelihood of us getting that 80 point player right away is slim along with our chances of getting good soon. As to the bolded, I could not disagree with you more.

I think the point your making is also the same reason some of us are worried. 15 mil will need to be spent on 2 players (assuming Skinner gets around 9) - I don't think you get 3. We are a lot more than 2-3 players away from being good. I think it's more like 8-9, if I'm being optimistic and if some unknowns work out. We need this years draft pick to be an 80 point player - then we'll have a chance.

I disagree. Very few over value him and most have come to know what he is. He's an excellent player that's top 25 right now and tonight he's working with Sam and Olofsson - how about that for a challenge. He'll never be a top 5 guy but he has the ability to be 15-20. It's not his fault we need him to be more.

I'm surprised at the McCabe number. What would you all project his next contract to be? Maybe between 2.5 and 3.5 mil? If you don't produce offensively, I'd like you to be really good on the back end and he isn't. He's someone I'd like to see go.

I think you'd agree it's some of both. We've not drafted players who've filled roles, and we certainly haven't had a couple players play far above their draft status. Maybe ERod fits that description but that's not going to cut it. The book isn't shut because like I said, those hopefuls are there and their story isn't written. We desperately needed a Nylander, Mitts or Thompson to become very good players and that's not likely. I'm worried because I just don't see how we build the middle of the team. The whole middle. It would also help if our top end talent was holy s*$t good, but it's not. Jack is an excellent top 25 player but he's not a star. Dahlin gives us the best chance of having one player that's among the best, but ya know, it's defense. Sam is ok and Skinner is a good player if we can keep him. Our top isn't strong enough, our middle is bad, our bottom has non NHL players and our goaltenders are bottom of the league. At this point, we're going to have to get lucky in order to be good. It's a bleak situation for sure.

Well let's see what comes of what we have in Rochester. Some of what we're hoping to be our future are not high picks.

I didn't get a chance to watch the game last night - so I skimmed through it this afternoon. Ullmark is just not good. He overcompensates to the puck side and lacks the quickness to get to the other side when the puck is passed. I don't know if he's just slow at moving or he's surprised it's being passed. He looks awful to me.

Of course that's your opinion and I don't think you're wrong or that he should do what I think. I just think that if you have to "pound beers" gulping them in no time between handshakes - is a scenario that seems unattractive to me. To each his own.

Sounds pretty sad to me

No sleepies