LTS

At this point I think they'd move Okposo and Baptiste. I would imagine that either the Sharks or the Kings would be interested in Okposo unless the Ducks want him because Kesler will be out all season. Okposo has looked good the past stretch of games. He's held the puck well and shown some heads up play. The only problem is that the line he's on isn't clicking. Before... definitely.

No need to comment on the game. But Rob Ray was a joke tonight. He was off on his commentary by far more than usual. I'm wondering if he's taken to drinking before the games. Pointing out that Reinhart was at fault on the one goal is laughable... my kid was yelling at the TV at Ray. That was Gorges all day long. Calling it a 2 on 1 on the one goal... eesh. There's my kid yelling, close the gap and don't let him shoot... Oh well.. we watch because we hate ourselves enough to do so. It's not the coaching, it's not the owner, it's not the GM. This is ALL on the players and that needs to get straightened out. No coincidence the articles hitting the wire today is that BOtterill is entertaining calls on anyone on the roster not named Jack Eichel.

Well.. looking at the AHL stats right now it doesn't appear that there are many players at the top of the stats list that are future NHL players. Granted I don't know a lot of names but #4 in scoring right now is Phil Varone. Rochester's top on teh list is CJ Smith. Other than your top few players on each team I'm not sure that the difference between the AHL and NHL player is that great. I think it's become more about the ability to play as a cohesive set of lines. The star players don't spend much time in the AHL overall.

No worries... just having some fun. The repeal of Net Neutrality will have no impact to Sabres fans it would seem. One last thing.. Kane should be fined stiffly for that shot on Rust's head last night. That was pure garbage.

It'll be interesting on all these call ups now. Are they doing it with some hope of a single player providing a spark to the team or are there legitimate trade conversations going on. Perhaps Fasching will start for Kane? :)

Was just thinking that it would be cool of Zemgus' middle name was something like Filip. This is how I make my life less miserable. Last night I went out to the bar and then checked the score near the end of the first period (on my phone). I saw 2-0. I looked again and saw 3-0 at the end of the 1st. I laughed and ordered another drink. Until this team makes a roster move or two it's going to be more of the same. This is clearly a group of players who do not WANT to play together and that needs to be sorted out.

I think the key is to critique his knowledge and delivery of it in his professional career without spilling over into personal attacks on his weight or other irrelevant factors.

IF?!?! Man... I even put it in the thread title for you. :wallbash: :w00t:

The Pierre LeBrun commentary posted the other day said expect something to develop in 6-8 weeks. My guess is that it's a stock market situation right now. There are offers and Botterill is hoping that a few more teams jump in or that someone suffers an injury setback that ups the value for Kane just that much more. It's a risk without a doubt. I don't think he'll be a deadline deal.

I'm so glad this story came out. I've known of his troubles through mutual acquaintances. It's why I didn't like when people poked fun at his weight. There's just so much going on there that it's not as simple as just saying "I can do better.". I think at times he is a bit arrogant and gruff with responses on air and I think some of that perhaps creeped into his persona over the past few years. He was not happy with his weight and that's something he had to take everywhere with him. I genuinely hope he continues his improvement and that it leads to better things for him in the future. Thanks for sharing the article and I am glad it's on the news roll on the main page of the site.

That's okay. He'll be traded by then! :)

Yep. You know it's a bad feeling when even Kadri has some sympathy for Russell.

It could be. I feel like Kane or Reinhart can get you your D player. The other can get you a scoring winger. If they keep Reinhart I think he can become that scoring winger. I think the Sabres go after someone like JvR or Bailey (in addition to Tavares). I could even see them go for Nash. Nash isn't going to be signing for that same money again. If they can get 1 of those 4 players I think they are in a good spot. They'll likely go after one of the D as well. The real key will be to clear the locker room of issues. There's no doubt something going on inside the locker room and there's no doubt that information is known around the league as players talk to each other. No one wants to end up in a locker room full of problems.

Someone's Buffalo Sabres return to the ice tonight to face the Penguins of Pittsburgh in Night 1 of a home and home series. There's not a lot to say right now. The real question is whether Buffalo can show up to a game against one of the NHL's most prolific offensive teams. The Penguins are led by Phil "Gimme another Hot Dog" Kessel and his 32 points, followed closely by Crosby (25) and Malkin (21). The only Sabre player over the 20 point threshold is Evander "Soon to be traded in a real deal" Kane. There is a ton of soul searching happening at Someone's OneBuffalo and the fans could use a boost. Speaking of boosts, Zach Bogosian should return tonight. He showed promise early on in the new look Sabres attack seen during the pre-season. However, the Sabres have been every bit of the old look attack since the puck dropped on Game 1. Can Bogosian make a difference? Well, in a sport largely dominated by Canadians it surely can't hurt to have more "A"s on the ice, eh? In other good news, the Sabres should have cleared their Movember facial hair by tonight's game and Girgensons will no longer be mistaken as the Latvian Luigi. Good news for turtles everywhere, i suppose. Welcome to another weekend of Buffalo sports.

Yea.. I simply don't know anything about their prospect pool. I think lean times are coming for the Penguins.. very lean times.. because regardless of their prospect pool they have age and lot of short contracts on the books right now.

Yes.. the Sabres have players to trade. The problem is when you trade them do you get better next year or not? If you define "better" as the potential for greater future success then perhaps its true. If you define better as immediate success then probably not so much. Ennis and Foligno had value. I wouldn't doubt that the deal was primarily Foligno and Scandella and then Pominville and Ennis were thrown in. Pominville was salary for the Wild with the shorter promise of hope from Ennis. Foligno gave them the big body they wanted. I still think Foligno would be a huge benefit here. But let's get into the discussion. Eichel - untradeable Kane - will be traded for something that helps the team next year Reinhart - could be traded for something that helps the team next year Okposo - no way he's traded ROR - at best he'd be a throw-in on a deal for someone like MIddlestadt.. a weigh to move salary. I don't think moving MIddlestadt is a good idea (especiallly since Botterill just got him) Pouliot - will be traded for something that helps the team in the future Girgensons - decent trade prospect but can he net something that helps the team next year? Pominville - not going to be traded Larsson - could be traded, won't get anything that improves the team next year Nolan - could be traded, won't be for anything that improves the team next year Moulson - he's harder to trade than ROR Josefson - was a potential trade target as a UFA but he's been injured too much Bogosian - see Moulson/ROR Scandellla - no way he's traded and that would only hurt the team Ristolainen - no way he's traded and it would only hurt the team Beaulieu - he's not getting anything that helps the team next year McCabe - sure, he's tradeable, but at best you are getting his replacement on D.. is that what they need? No. The assets just aren't there overall. I think the hope has to be on netting a good return for Kane, and if that's not enough he gets something for Reinhart. Because I was bored today I went at pulled the impending UFA list along with their ages and current salary. The top UFA D next season are: De Haan (26) - $3.3M HIckey (28) - $2.2M Carlson (27) - $3,9M Erik Gudbrandson (25) - $3.5M It gets thin quick after that. The Islanders might lose one of those 2 D given they also have some top UFA forward targets. Top UFA F: John Tavares (27) - $5.5M Josh Bailey (28) - $3.3M James van Riemsdyk (28) - $4.2M Paul Stastny (31) - $7M Rick Nash (33) - $7.8M Jonathan Marchessault (26) - $750k There are other, older, players that they could sign. It could shore up the bottom 6 potentially. Would they be improvements over the upcoming crop of players? I don't know. At the moment I'm of the opinion the Sabres are 4-5 players from being a very good team. They need 1 good scoring winger. They need 2 D, one for the top 1-4, and one for 3-6. They need 3 bottom 6 players. It sounds like a lot, but it's not really. However, if the locker room situation doesn't get resolved then it won't matter.

It sucks. I read about it. It's gotta be really tough on him given some of the words of his teammates.

Well, I think he wants Ullmark down in Rochester. However, I would hope he's flexible if the right opportunity comes along. He could also go out and grab someone from the open market for the rest of the year too. I think the value on Kane is more than prospects. They'll move him by the end of December.

If it's the #1 pick in this years draft I'd do it. If only someone could guarantee it. :)

I agree. Kane had a fit but they definitely were looking for a C. Reinhart is the only player the Sabres had that would fit that bill for the Ducks and I think Henrique is a better buy there. The only question would be if Kane/Reinhart and perhaps one more player could have secured Vatanen. Interesting with Ullmark being called up to practice. The Pens just lost Murray and they need all the goaltending help they can get. Perhaps there are talks about getting Kane to PIttsburgh and sending Johnson with him? If there's a prospect pool that Botterill knows it's going to be the Pens. I'm sure he'd take Cole back too. It doesn't help the D situation unless the Pens have a top D prospect somewhere. I don't know if they do.

It is. However, you can't always motivate everyone. I'm not going to blame the coach if he can't motivate a guy who doesn't want to be motivated.

You have to think that the Sabres should have been involved in some kind of talks for that. The Ducks were desperate to shore up their forward depth with so many injuries. Seems like a great deal for the Devils.

I'm not saying it's not okay for him to not do better. I am merely discussing the options for the pieces that he has to work with. The ONLY options he has are to trade away players (WHO?) or to sign UFAs? (WHO?). I don't see a lot of UFA signings that will dramatically change this team either (when do they ever?). So, if he's trading the question is.. WHO? WHO has value? We'll judge him on what he is able to do absolutely. However, you can't fault the guy if he's not able to salvage value from pieces that had no value to begin with. He didn't bring them to the team.

What is your alternative proposal for what the Sabres should do for Kane? What do you say to the concept that Kane is not interested in re-signing with Buffalo? What do you believe it would take from the Sabres to get him to re-sign in Buffalo?

That's optimistic.. these days I see the rear guard of the Sabres PP playing behind their own net most of the time. ;)