Crusader1969

I know a lot of people will disagree here but Drydale is also in the equation. Especially, If you believe he can have the type of offensive impact that Hughes and Makar have had. though , I might have him ranked only ahead of Lundell.

Top 8 is where its at. Any of those slots you are getting a sure-fire NHL prospect

it won't matter at all who they have in the lineup for 2020-1 IF they don't get rid of Hutton. You can't go into 20-25 games a year where you are a disadvantage due to your backup goalie no longer being a viable option.

I like Ullmark but i don’t hate the idea of bringing in someone to push him. Hey isn’t Lehner a UFA?

I agree, it won’t be easy. Get a reliable backup goalie should be the starting point. BUT if they can fill that need , next sept will be the first sept in 7 years that I will be optimistic that they will make the playoffs. I’m probably in the minority here but I’ve been very impressed with them the last month and a half or so. If they continue to play this well, I think they will win 11 or 12 of the last 18. Still not good enough to make the playoffs but a step in the right direction

I know if sucks to see them lose the last 2 but there is no way this is anything like any of the teams of the last 9 years. they’ve gone into 2 tough buildings and battled both tooth and nail. they are at a distinct disadvantage with the goaltender and still need to add a couple of high end forwards but I haven’t seen this kind of battle in the entirety of the playoff droughT

imagine what the improvement would have been if Hutton was able to stop a puck between mid Oct and Mid January>!

good idea or bad? I kinda like what I've read about him.

Where the Sabres sit now, Id have to think Holloway and Zary would be the two guys to keep an eye on.

i would have agreed to 4 of 5 to go prior to Erod and Sheary being shown the door. Who are your 4 or 5 candidates? Honestly, if you fill the 2nd line center roll in the off-season, everything else will fall into place.

exactly . Panthers as well

the opposite of the magic number

The Unlucky number is 32 as of this morning. Leafs have 18 games remaining...doesn't leave much room for error at all. If leafs go .500 sabres would have to go 13 - 7

It would mean the Sabres win 14 out of the next 20 to make the playoffs, coming off 6 out of 7...Now im starting to rethink my position. Hopefully we have this optimism still on Thursday

one could argue that the playoff experience would be even more valuable, even in a 4 game sweep.

there was an interesting Poll on twitter by someone yesterday.. 4% chance of playoffs 4% chance of 1st overall pick.. Which do you prefer? I'll take the pick and the long term view that Lafreniere will bring them closer to a cup. I will admit it was pretty great Screaming "goal" the other day when Okposo scored vs Winnipeg. Certainly nice to have it being late Feb and the games meaning something.

i think optimism has to be based on the way Florida an Toronto are playing as much as its about how the Sabres are playing.

not me

to be honest, not really. I know he made a phone call that was then deleted. Besides that I tried not to pay too much attention to him.

so they trade, Montour or Risto for 2nd and 4th rounders and you'd be happy? if anyone makes a decision based on Duane, god help us!

its amazing the shade thrown at him yesterday when 3 dmen got traded. If he traded away any on of his Dmen for draft picks, the same people criticizing him for not making trades would have slayed him for just getting draft picks in return. After last nights game, its probably too late. Need one in place by opening night 2020/21

I have to admit that I'm excited for tonights game. Win tonight and a Leafs loss.... Though I really believe they will need to Pittsburgh to take both games with the Leafs this week, coupled with win vs Ottawa they would only be 6 out going into the weekend with 2 games in hand. Mid Feb and I haven't looked at Tankathon for a week...so thats saying something ?

im sure we all played on teams in our lives, where you knew your goalie just wasn't good enough vs the opponents. You play your hearts out and then he/she gives up a stinker and you can't help to be deflated. The players aren't blind, they know they can't compete when Hutton is in net vs a quality opponent. thats the "here we go again" attitude. Fans feel it and so do the players. Has nothing to do with the Tank...how can it be? only 2 (?) players are left from the 14/15 team.

never thought of Strome...think thats an interesting target for them

My over-simplification is that if Hutton didn't completely stink for near 4 months, there wouldn't be any losing culture talk. instead we would be talking about how important tonight's game is in the playoff race.