7+6=13

That was pretty amazing work!

I couldn't agree more and the players couldn't escape from it because he was constantly preaching to trust the system. He thought it was a player issue and my hunch is so did Murray. He's a smart hockey guy I'm sure but he couldn't wrap his mind around the concept that the system needed to evolve around the players - not that the players needed to evolve to the system. I know there has to be a system but the system should lend to individual creativity and that's what Dan was trying to shut down.

I like the idea of Brian Cambell - He's the type of vet I think Housley needs.

I went with other and was thinking Kulikov whom I think we may re-sign.

Thats about the right number to drive up the price but not so many to thwart any teams interested.

Saying Murray was a disaster is utterly ridiculous.

I am just absolutely torn about how I feel about the Kane situation. In fact, I've changed my mind back and forth several times. I've read you guys debating stats back and forth (good information), contract stuff, Kane's value, Kane's game, etc. I'm leaning towards wanting to keep and extend him. It's not easy to find a player that puts the puck into the net - he's been a consistent scorer since entering he league - I love that he's just 25 years old.

After watching his interview a few days ago he was the pick I wanted. By the time we flush some of these bad contracts out and Eichel and company enter their prime - kids like this will be ready to make us really good.

I think what Aud is trying to say is - for a little while last night the intensity picked up and it was about to get negative quick. There was a couple back to back comments starting to even question JBot and it was weird. My sense is most fair minded posters in due time realized that damn these contracts we have are really unattractive because the player is really that bad. Not even an expansion team wants Ennis or Moulson - and we didn't "protect" Ennis because we wanted him over Carrier.

As I've admitted above - I'm not nearly as knowledgeable as someone like you but I think Carrier fits the type of player that Buffalo fans just get behind. He's a relentless player that gives you his all on every shift - it's just an endearing quality and his effort especially showed up with what we had to watch last season. However I just think we need to set our standards a bit higher. I really doubt he's going to be a top 9 player on an expansion team.

I see no connection between Ullmark signing and Peterson. The length of Lehner's contract if Peterson hasn't decided first should tell us what we need to know.

You're one of my favorite posters so with all due respect - I just don't see the value there for LV or any team. I think the price to take on Mouson's contract would probably be more like offering our 2nd - they'd say no. They'd ask for our #8 and we'd say no. Obviously I have no knowledge of this and the expansion isn't something many people can be well versed on. I did hear enough conversation that to take on contracts like that LV would want very high picks. They just weren't as desperate as many people originally thought - mainly because there were teams (unlike us) that actually had to expose players that had a significant money contract but were much better player options than Moulson.

C'mon man there's a huge bright side. The Ennis contract isn't that bad in real money but with an additional $1 mil per makes it less cap friendly - I suspect Moulson will be bought out which obviously only saves us 2/3 and extends out 2 additional years but that may have more value than him playing - Gorges is only for one more year and we can use him as a 3rd pair D or the 7th - Bogosian just has to play better, period, he's shown that he can be a good player and Housley's got to get it out of him. We're not in bad shape and if we want Kane we can have him without money being an issue. Keeping Lehner at 4.5-5 million is really where we should be focusing our attention. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying we're without financial flaws in terms of contracts but we're definitely not in a situation that we can't build this team exactly how we choose to. It'll be fun to see how JBot makes his decisions and he'll have plenty of financial flexibility to do so.

I'm surprised you would think Carrier has the kind of value to be able to move Moulson. It shows two things, Carrier has very very little value and Moulson's contract is that bad.

I'm 42 years old and have been "watching" the Sabres since being a small child. I'll admit that because I didn't play organized hockey (just in the street) I never learned the game. Just probably in the last 10 years I've made an effort to learn the game (hope that makes sense). I'm really surprised/disappointed at the reaction by several posters I've come to respect and I've learned a lot from. I'm finding it hard to believe that some posters actually think we had a chance for Ennis, Bogo or Moulson to get selected - especially by just exposing them. The word protected keeps getting flown around for Ennis and I can't help but chuckle. We did not protect Ennis - he simply was not getting selected and certainly not without giving significant draft pick(s). They made an organizational decision to keep Ullmark instead of Carrier. I'm shocked there's posters actually correlating that to not liking JBot. It's such an insignificant move and I'm happy we are an organization that had the ability to come out relatively unscathed with this expansion. This expansion draft didn't thwart the direction we're going in one bit. Fully understanding we have bad contracts but there's no chance those players were in play - they're our bad contracts to deal with and shouldn't have been seriously thought as ones we could dupe the new team into taking. That's how unattractive they are.

How do you explain being better by a mile? Better system?

IMO, we have a realistic chance but I do think expecting it might be unrealistic. We need to see how our roster shapes out after the off season is over - especially in regard to Kane. If Kane gets dealt we'll take a step back offensively - we really need him and 2 more players to step up on offense for this team to be a playoff team - even if Kane brings us a defenseman. I do expect us to be better on defense almost immediately - which should give the couple of players I mentioned above the opportunity.

I understand but sure seems possible this could happen.

What would stop a team from double crossing Vegas or vice versa?

He also pronounced the K in Okposo so he's clearly out too.

I didn't take Housley's comment in his opener presser as a plan. He was asked about the talent on the team currently and mentioned Moulson and Ennis (and others) what appeared off the top of his head. It seemed more like he threw their names out there in an effort to show he knew the team a little bit. It was seconds after his snafu about signing his contract 3 days ago. "But then just looking at the roster, quickly" - then he mentioned Moulson and Ennis. I just cannot assume it means anything about Sam at this time.

Wikipedia already says Jack Capuano is the Sabres assistant coach.

North and South game, lets go.

Kane, IMO, gives relentless effort and gave this team some offense in an ultra boring system deployed by Bylsma. He was one of the few players we had that would go to the net and be in position to be set up for a goal - and he got several clean up goals for his willingness to stay at the net. He's a difficult guy to clear out. His effort at times could also be categorized as out of control and he often takes ill-advised shots - when a pass was the better option. Nonetheless, his effort was appreciated, especially by his supporters because that's ultimately something that matters greatly to fans. In saying all of that, I don't see him being a system guy - and if that's what JBot is looking to build than he may not be your man. Especially from your top 6. Now, I don't necessarily mind having a non systematic player like Kane on my 3rd or 4th line. If you're more talented than your line mates or the defensive players you're against, do your thing a little bit. However you can't pay a guy that much money for that role. I think this may be one of the biggest factors in the decision JBot has regarding what to do with Kane. Can he be a guy that plays within a system and get an assist 3 games in a row while patiently waiting for his goal opportunities vs forcing those opportunities?

I like what I read about Jake Oettinger who is 19 1/2 but your point is well taken about goaltenders in the draft predominantly being young. I'd love for us to draft Oettinger in the 2nd round. I'd also like JBOT to figure out a way to get either of the Penguins prospects Tristan Jarry or Casey Desmith.