7+6=13

Why does this knumbskull keep leaking out of the net? Happens nearly every game.

Sorry Kane - because we have too many contracts with players not worth the money - we can't afford to pay you even though you've earned a contract.

He's acts like we did when I played street hockey as a youngster. Did things in net that had actually no value - just being stupid.

Lehner is such a bad goalie. When he gets himself out of position like that for no reason he looks like such an amateur.

Kane is worth around 7 million a year and Lehner around 4.

As much as I hate thinking about it - I fear you may be right.

This is exactly right. We all know there's not many NHL's on the Amerks now - we also know there is a 2-3 year gap in expectations for the Sabres to get built by their farm club. It's the reason we're in full rebuild mode. The Amerks will be good and eventually they'll help the Sabres.

It's a stretch to think you could possibly know what has and hasn't been said between the GM's regarding Kane.

What would we have gotten had we traded him in December?

Different argument than what I was responding to. They're not contributing much and they're all pretty low end hockey players. I hope you'll agree that these aren't the type of players that elevate teams and you can't pay players like Ennis and Pominville significant money to contribute 20-25 points for a season. Every team needs them by attrition. The problem with the Sabres over the years we've had far too many of these contribution type players, playing in roles where excellent players are needed and we've often payed them as such. It will stop as the purge is nearly there. We have an opportunity to start over which is fortunate. I'm looking forward to the day when we do have a player like Stafford that has 12 points and is 17th on the club. He'd be tied for 10th on the Sabres. That simply can't be the case anymore. We're desperate for high end talent.

I really like this post and agree. Depth is good of course. We need one more elite offensive player to emerge and at least 2 very good players (50-60 points) to come out of the pipeline or from a Kane trade. At this point that elite player centers around Mittelstadt and the 2 very good players is a hope and a prayer. We need a great defensive player and two solid ones. I don't see a great defensive player so I'm hoping he comes from this years draft and I'm counting on Guhle being solid and another one coming via free agency somehow. Ullmark is such an important piece too. I think you're right about the 2 season window for JBot but that's from now. This draft and the Kane trade are critical to our future.

There's no way I could know but I can imagine Lehner being Ryan Leaf nuts in the locker room. I think it's possible he's somewhat unapproachable and maybe difficult to coach in terms of telling him what he's doing wrong and needs to work on. Again, not saying he is but can imagine him being an intimidating guy - not great for a locker room/coaching.

Not sure where you're getting those figures for Scandella and I like Foligno too but we had to get defense in here in the worst way. Ennis and Pominville's contract length is the same with (if memory serves) Pominville 1 mil more in cap hit than Ennis.

We didn't sign Pommers - we traded to get rid of Ennis with the opportunity to also get a defenseman in Scandella. You want Ennis back?

I get it man but we're in this predicament as fans because this team stinks and they haven't earned our cheer. They've forced us (ok me) to be selfish. You've put me through this season now I damn sure don't need you to make it worse by taking percentage from me. I know you know but rooting to win has no effect on the ice. I'm rooting for me now and my teams future interests before a handful of players playing better so they can stay in the NHL on another team.

Must be the market isn't leaning towards their ask - so may need the teams that lose out on Nash to adjust. Could be that we're just threatening to allow Nash to go first - and say hey you want to pay what's being rumored for Nash or give us blank which is likely a better deal for Kane.

I apologize for not seeing your response in the other thread and I respect the thoughts you have. It's not like it's fun for me or something I wished for. It's a consolation prize for an awfully disappointing season. I thought we'd knock on the playoff door and was shocked at the atrocious start that subsequently continued to date. So now my thoughts have to switch to what's the next best thing for the club. We're fortunate that we're not bound contractually to this current team - we have plenty of cap space and we're about to get a very nice first round pick. I don't like it either. It's repulsive the effort this team gives but I just don't care about messages at this point. This team deserves the turnover it's about to experience and any message will be leaving in said players.

Of course but what's the difference? Sell him low weeks ago or wait until a team gets smitten near the deadline? The only thing that could happen between dumping him then or if we don't get good offers by the deadline is an injury. Seems Kane and the Sabres are doing everything to ensure that doesn't happen.

If Kane isn't being offered for something significant for the future Sabres then why deal him - just because fans are scared of every possible negative thing? What if he gets injured and we get nothing? Then who cares - if we weren't getting something strong in return. It's best to wait until a team gets emotional about the playoffs. Why in the hell would you want the "worst team or might soon be" to finish strong? That's just not smart. Sell sell sell and lets give ourselves every single percentage to make our team better down the line. We don't have to admit to being in full blown rebuild mode for it to be true.

The current players under contract next year and the 2019 season are already conducive to this happening.

For the skilled offensive players - it's definitely harder. You don't get a chance to skate anymore. They grab, lean, hold, push and whack and very little gets called - it's allowed.

He'd still be great but the way you're allowed to lean on offensive players today, he'd have to be willing to be more physical. It's tough treading out there now.

Can you give some examples of players you're talking about hoping they work themselves into the core?

We have 12 players with contracts for next year: Larsson, ERod, O'Reilly, Girgs, Eichel, Okposo, Pommers, Bogo, Risto, Scandella, Beaulieu and Mcabe. We have 6 players with contracts in 2019: O'Reilly, Eichel, Okposo, Risto, Bogo and Scandella. This team in 2 years time will go through a major overhaul. I just don't see the significance of how winning this season carries over to what is going to be a likely 70% turnover on who's on the team. We will likely be terrible for a couple more years because learning to play together is going to go from - learning the system to completely different players very very soon. It'll be a learning to play with someone you haven't played with all over again - just as it is now. Except now doesn't matter, IMO. Right now it is about acquiring assets so that when that time comes our young rochester and abroad players are coming to the Sabres in real numbers. This is the draft that's critical to getting a player ready for the NHL in a couple years. The timing should be perfect as I expect us to be on the rise when this years player is ready.

Why? There's absolutely no evidence this is true. Teams don't know crap. You tell them you're getting calls from 4 of their competitors that want Kane and you're not offering as much as they are. Then see how it plays and take the highest offer. This can't happen until the deadline pushing the urgency on the "teams" from the other end.