7+6=13

I like your optimism. I think we're better but we lost scoring in ROR and Kane. Skinner and Sheary mitigate those losses and are better fits. I think we can win 10 more games and possibly a bit more if we convert a few of those OT losses to wins if we get better goaltending. I'd be pleasantly surprised if we became a .500 team but I imagine we'd fall short of that. I'd consider 35-37-10 a good season. We have a ways to go but we have a lot of assets and cap room. I think we're a playoff contender in 2019 and ready to make some noise in 2020.

... this year

Patently false. I get what we've been through and it can beat you down and remove hope. I totally understand/respect those that want to reserve judgment (still love the team) but want results before they get excited. However to say that we've had young players like this before is incorrect.

My point was this year shouldn't be the show me year. It's unreasonable to expect more than a small step forward this year and to attach the future to it.

I'm not sure what show me first even means? Our potential for hope is in teenagers, early 20 year olds, 3 first round picks next year and nearly 30 mil and 50 mil in cap space the next two years. If you're not excited about the state of the Sabres then you are holding yourself hostage to the past. The situation we're in comes around only a few times in a sports fans life. Let go, enjoy the team being built and realize that unless something catastrophic happens we're going to be good. It's only a question of will it be good enough to win the cup.

Welcome to Sabrespace

We haven't had a player like Eichel since Lafontaine, IMO. We are finally in a position to build around him with massive amounts of cap next year and the year after. The future couldn't be brighter.

Perfectly said!

I believe he's going to have a huge year statistically.

You said it better than I could.

Wow, this is not just a difference in opinion, you're just wrong. I mean seriously man, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to respect an actual hockey thing you say again because of how faulty your logic is here. I'll just pick one of the many things incorrect in this post to respond to. Are you serious with this bolded? New head coach that's changing the line mates almost on a nightly basis at the start of the season and that's on Jack for a slow start? I mean, wow.

Haha, good debate. Until next time....

Not if it was in 67 games again. I'd be disappointed if he only played in 67 games. Only 1 player was ahead of Eichel in the top 56 ppg in under 70 games - Marchand in 68 games and 1 player tied him in points - Forsberg in 67 games. There's only 12 players in the top 56 in ppg 22 years old and younger and Eichel is one of them. The other 11 averaged 80.18 games. He's just got to play and he'll be recognized for what he is. One of the great young talents in the game and he's earned that distinction on one of the most inept teams in the league (although I think that's quickly changing). It was a water balloon that splashed all over you when you hit it.

That's just lazy.

Who's hyping him? If you think it's fellow Sabres fans then you have a small complaint. IMO, he's under hyped because injury has not allowed him to post the points for national exposure and most importantly because our TEAM has been less than awful. He got screwed and there's small minded Sabre fans that need the national attention on him to help them believe he's really that good. It's an inferiority complex. Take this mega contracted hyped player off our roster and see what you have.

That's because you didn't reference the crazy part. Why? That he's in critical year 4 and we're approaching disappointment territory is not only crazy but it diminishes hockey acumen significantly if you believe that.

This is a pretty crazy post. It's amazing how some fans don't appreciate the talent, work ethic and production of Eichel. Yes, he needs to work on understanding what effect his expression has on his teammates. He's one of the premier players in the NHL and he needs to give them the feeling they can get on his back and he'll carry them. Especially when things aren't going perfect in a given period, game or stretch of games. Well that's not all his fault either - he's had laughable line mates. Seems to me it's critical fans appreciate the difficulty a 19, 20 and 21 year old great player would have with an organization that screwed up his first 3 years. It's as much or more the organizations fault. He just needs to have a healthy season and he'll get the recognition of being the super star he is. Couple that with some maturity and look out.

Oh wow, I did not know that. Thanks

You "watch" The Instigators and One Bills Live? I honestly didn't know it was available in video.

I like this post and feel nearly identical about E Rod. This kid has earned my respect. On a team that was clearly lacking effort at times, I never saw that out of E Rod. He hustled as if it mattered, when it often didn't, but it did to him. You can win with these kinds of players on your team filling their roles.

Straight up we get a 5th but if we add a 6th they give us a 3rd? How does that work?

Bogo never said: I'm ready, I know you've heard that before but this time I really mean it.

Nice post and I agree.

I think the players care who their captain is. Lets say the players voted and it was 13 votes for player A - 6 votes for player B - and 1 vote for player C. So they add up the votes and go with player A. What do the players that voted for player B and C do? So it's probably just as accepted/respected if the coaches observe and make the pick.

I'm sorry but I just can't believe we say these kinds of things as a fan base. "Spoiled young talent"? That's crazy talk. He's a hard working, young guy that has skills some of the best players can't practice hard enough to have. You don't build around veterans - you build around stars. We have one and probably two. Of course Eichel needs to grow up - he's 21. So what? If you can guess what went on, then lets guess. How do you know ROR didn't like Bylsma's system because it fit him better being a slower player? Then he got pissed because Eichel just played his puck possession game and subsequently was part of the reason Dan was fired? Then ROR didn't like that Eichel got a north and south GM and coach - so he thought of him as a spoiled young talent? How about that for a guess? Anyone think ROR didn't like the direction the team was heading because he knew it wasn't being built around him? I mean, c'mon.