7+6=13

Agree or don't agree but they did not want Ryan O'Reilly on the team. They also understood they had the cap room to replace him and weren't thinking so nearsighted as to worry about the playoffs this year.

I think we're ahead of them. As mentioned, defensively I think we're in much better shape. Also our cap space becomes available a year sooner than theirs.

I have no doubt he put the work in and I don't personally think he's without talent. We are a team with a very low percentage of players under contract. We need players to earn them and most currently on the team aren't. I'm an idiot but my guess is Beaulieu does too similar things, just not as well, as the offensive - defenseman we already have - also doesn't offer anything in the way of checking and leadership that a Bogo, Risto, even McCabe does. I'm not happy that he hasn't done more - so he can be mad at the team I root for all he'd like. He's not someone to get a ton of playing time when we're playing like one of the top teams in the NHL. He's not someone to get a ton of playing time when we're fighting to stay relevant in the playoff hunt. He's not someone to get a ton of playoff time for us to show other teams his feathers. Now he wants to demand things? Get gone.

A 26 year old drafted in the first round can't earn playing time on a crappy defensive team - and he's mad?

that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that a fourth-year player should not be carrying a team the whole way through a season without any veteran help. 4th year players still need 30 year old players to contribute.

That's true

That's my point. There is way too much needed from fourth-year players. When they stop producing everything stops and that's not sustainable.

They have given us more than should be expected. That's the fans fault, not theirs.

I still consider Eichel and Sam too young to play full seasons of max NHL hockey. That should be ok, but on a team with no veteran "pick me up", they get exposed.

It most certainly is.

Two years from now this crap Oiler team will not compete with us.

4 of our best 6 players are too young to expect a full season of solid hockey from. Can we relax and know we're building.

They gave us a 10 game win steak and we couldn't handle it. We're a soft fanbase.

Very well thought out plan and I would very much like the roster. Just rough math, I think you came within 6-700,000 of our cap space. Very nicely done.

Why would you ask if it's time to admit they're painfully average - then say I'm right that they haven't provided anything painful to us? Those are your words. Going from awful to average is an amazing feat. They won games they shouldn't have at times, went on a streak and also played like one of the best teams at times. There's nothing to admit unless you're an uneducated fan that thought more of the record than you should've. It was fun - a little bit of reality is setting in but it's to be expected. We're an unfinished product that shot out of a cannon for a time.

When necessary

I really wish posts like this could stop. It brings down the overall average hockey IQ of our fanbase. There's nothing painful about what this team has provided us this year. If you're an educated hockey fan - this is pretty easily seen.

Eichel is playing out of his mind and being a leader at the same time. He scored a goal to add to his prowess meanwhile allowing St. Louis to win and help get them out of the lottery pick. He's simply amazing.

Yeah, Botterill has really done a poor job.

I think those would have been the best two options. Disappointing for a 30 year old below average player.

It's not hard for me to comprehend - I just can't relate. I just could never do it. There's levels of fandom and I recognize that. Depending on where you are on that spectrum determines how easy or hard it would be to root for another team as much or more than a team you grew up with. There's too much of a love affair for me to ever put another team above them.

I live in Charlotte, NC. There's a lot of people from various parts of the country here but a ton from North and North West states. Some of them switched to Panthers fans and I don't know how you do that. I just could never switch and I don't understand how someone can.

Typical Bills fan overly emotional response. This team is still not as talented as the best teams in this league but if you can't see a change in the overall heart of this team - then no one getting back to you can save you from yourself.

This team isn't embarrassing themselves in any way. If you want to say overachieving, fine.

An incomplete young Sabres team is competing with one of the perennial best teams in the NHL.