Crusader1969

I dont think this is right, I thought I saw that they are one of the worst in giving up shots in the slot or prime scoring areas. Do you have a stat to show otherwise?

There are some nights to wave that flag, tonight is not one of them

seriously, how do you manage to even manage to get yourself out of bed in the morning? I couldn't imagine being so negative.

Lehner, Kane and Bogosian just gave your argument a big F you this weekend. All 3 were exceptional! Now let's keep it going !

Just because you (and some others) think it, doesn't make it right. Sabres are maybe 3 or 4 points below where I thought they would be. If you told me at the start of the season that they would be decimated by injuries to key players, they might actually be ahead of where I would think they would be. Anyone who thinks Mcnabb, Pysyk and Myers are the difference that would get them into playoff position is truly delusional. Not to mention the fact that Myers and McNabb have been hurt almost all season! Funny, in one paragraph you say that history is against a second round pick making the NHL and in another you are up in arms about giving up 2nd round picks!!! And what exactly was the downside of having to pay $3 million for 1 year to legwand? They didn't have cap issues and it's not your money? You are grasping at straws! How much would they be paying for stafford and Myers? Myers has been hurt and Stafford has 4 goals!

Even if the Sabres had 3 more points, now you are 4 points out of the playoffs. Now add in all the other injuries to their top 9 and top 4. You can choose to be doom and gloom, I'm just not about to join you. I see what he is building and realize it going to take time - literally the Sabres were historically bad only 2 years ago. To think the turn around would be any faster when you are relying on young players to carry your team is completely misguided IMO.

you guys make is sound we are down in the standings with Arizona and Colorado. 7 more points and we are 15th overall. 10 more points and its 11th overall. Be honest, if Eichel wasnt hurt, how many more points would the Sabres have in your opinion?

Seriously? Fasching is a failed trade? Its the kids first year as a professional? you are ready to call him a bust? How is Kane and Bogo a failed trade? First, the trade help ensure last place in 2015. Second, Kane has 12 goals this season (2nd on the team). are you saying this team would be better off if we still had Stafford, Armia and Myers? Lemieux and the first rounder he gave up haven't played in the NHL yet, why are they not busts like Fasching? No one seems to be complaining in Toronto about Andersen costing a 1st rounder? why, because they are winning even though Lehner has a better GAA and SV% then Andersen and has played most of the season with at least 2 if not 3 AHL Dmen. Gorges, Moulson were brought in to reach the salary floor. And no one could have predicted Kulikov would get hurt in the preseason. Are we really missing Pysyk and his 1G and 6A?? I guess you're are ready to call Asplund a bust as well? They are at the bottom of the standings because there is still a lot of dead weight on this team thatwill soon be cleared with younger faster better players and they've had a $hitload of injuries to key players. I judge Murray on the entire organization not just the NHL team.I still see a team that will compete for a cup in a few years. Drafting in the top 5 will ultimately be a step forward. They are 7 points behind the Leafs, you dont think that if they didn't have any key injuries (like the leafs until last night) there may not be a gap between the two teams?

Sure they could be better, they probably would be at least 5 to 7 points better if Eichel wasn't hurt and we wouldn't be having this conversation. They probably would be better if Guhle was in NHL but they wanted him to develop more. Maybe the would be better if both bailey and Baptiste were with Sabres all season but again they are better long term in ahl. You don't think he realizes that he has a slow defence? He is doing what is best for the organization. When you are waiting for prospects to develop it can be frustrating. I get that.

So I guess the Sabres were extremely lucky to find one of those rare guys!

A rare team? Which team was fortunate to draft an elite generational player and didn't find success?

TOTALLY wrong, his job is to build a team that will one day compete for a cup. He will do whatever is best to get to that point even if it means the current product suffers. What trades? What FA signings? What prospects has he developed incorrectly?

ESPN came out with their top 50 prospect rankings today. Not surprisingly, Nylander is #4. Cliff Pu was ranked 20th. "He has had a monster season and has been the top rising prospect in my eyes. He has been one of the OHL's best players and a key part to London's continuing to be a dominant force in that league. It's hard to find a flaw in Pu's game. He's big, fast and skilled, and he can make plays at both ends of the rink. Pu doesn't have elite skill, but there's plenty of talent there to project as a potential top-six center in the NHL. A part of me wants to see Pu with the Sabres sooner than later just to see how Rick Jeanneret calls his goals. Also, he likes stuffed animals a lot." So, gmtm drafts Guhle in 2nd, Borgen in 4th, Pu in 3rd, Asplund in 2nd and somehow people think he needs to be fired??

I'm sorry but Fasching is still a prospect. Who are your etc? O'Reilly? You think trading for Kane was trading for a shiny new object? Or maybe just the right move to ensure the tank was successful. So you admit getting elite talent at the top of the draft is important?

I think the Sabres are right on course, they are probably in playoff contention without injuries but I never thought they would make playoffs even t full strength. I love that Murray is being patient but he still has important moves to make coming up in the next 6 weeks. I'm not sure what to expect next year because I expect them to be very young and inexperienced but the years that follow I'm extremely optimistic that they will become the Sabres glory years. Got to be lucky to get in top 3. The draft seems to be at least 12 players deep, so they will get another key "piece" no matter where they draft. Totally disagree, the Sabres have been around for close to 50 years and way too much of it was spent in mediocrity. Don't think the Blackhawks are complaining they got Toews and Kane from basically doing the same thing. Pretty sure he knows exactly what he is doing- Being patient

Maybe so, but have a look at that draft and there are some excellent players from it - especially dmen MURRAY, REILLY, Lindholm, Dumba and Trouba all went in the top 10 Where would Sabres be if you added 1 of them to roster? I won't assume Sabres win a lottery position so will (likely) drafting 4 to 10. I believe the Sabres will end up with a huge piece of the puzzle for the rebuild.

I hate that they split the NA skaters from the ones playing in Europe.

I think the draft page can happen no matter where the Sabres are projected to draft but I would agree it's a sad state if we are targeting a top 5 guy like Hischier. Hischier had another big game tonight 13 shots on net and a goal and 2 assists If you are looking at dmen the 3 who stand out to me because of their offensive capabilities are Liljegrin who is starting to drop out of the top 5 in draft rankings, VälimäkI (who has already been discussed here) and Cale Makar who plays in the AJHL. MAkar is a cdn kid going the same route as Fabbro did last season. He will play in the NCAA next year. In sept he was thought of being a 2nd rounder but has skyrocketed and now has the potential to be a top 10 pick and has been compared to Karlsson at the same age. Hockey prospect.com January ranking: https://www.hockeyprospect.com/2017-nhl-draft-rankings-hockeyprospect-com-top-75-prospects-january/ my top guys are Hischier - who looked amazing at the WJC and plays both RW and C. Owen Tippett - elite goal scorer for Mississauga Eeli Tolvanen who is another skilled sniper And the 3 dmen mentioned above.

There is no way this team makes the playoffs with the current defensive core. However, if you. Want to compare the Leafs vs Sabres a few things stand out 1) if 21, 90, 63, 82, 15, 23, 9, 22, 12 and 55, 29, 77, 47 are, when healthy, the top 9 and top 4 - the Sabres have lost 123 games due to injury. If you do the same with the Leafs - they've lost a total of 8. Yes, they've been good but extremely fortunate too! 2) in the Sabres tank year they literally tore the team down to the core. They were historically bad and it's taking time to eliminate all of the dead weight. The Leafs were bad last season but not terrible. They had some injuries that the may have extended a bit and the had terrible goaltending from Bernier. When Bernier started to play ok they found their true tank commander Garrett Sparks. He of the .893 save %. 3) maybe I'm a homer here but I believe the top 3 prospects not in the NHL right now all belong to Buffalo - Nylander, Guhle and Asplund. I'm sure leaf fans will bring up Bracco but I could argue Pu is having a better year in OHL considering their age difference Hopefully the Sabres go kick their Ass tonight but this battle is just beginning and I like the Sabres chances long term of being the better team

Draft Eligibles at the WJC (5 of them anyways) http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/five-draft-eligible-players-to-watch-at-the-2017-world-junior-hockey-tournament Välimäki was invited to the Finnish camp and as far as I know he will be playing for them.

Still have no idea where you are getting your information. Seems like all the scouting reports I've read have indicated that his shot is a strength.

The most in depth analysis of the OHL crop of draft eligibles. http://ohlprospects.blogspot.ca/2016/11/preliminary-mediascout-poll-for-2017.html To be hon st, not a banner year for he OHL. Tippett is my guy but I believe he will be gone before Sabres draft barring they win a lottery spot. Hague could be an interesting option if the Sabres are picking around 10. (My prediction). I see a lot of Strome and Entwistle (bulldogs season tickets) and would be surprised if they go higher than 20 overall. Strome certainly can score but I still worry about his skating. I will say much better than last year but still isn't a strength. Though the analysts quoted seem to be more comfortable with it than me.

At least he throws the body around, I'll take that over he absolutely zero that 28 provides.

I'd like to flip Girgensons to the Americans - completely done with him. 4th line at best with the Sabres until 44 returns

. I might be piling on at this point but here is the June scouting report from the Draft Analyst. Again a complete 180 from your post. 60. C Cliff Pu (London Knights, OHL): If you’ve been following our rankings, you might be saying “Cliff Who” when noticing his meteoric rise from the near-bottom to the near-top. Take our word for it when he say he’s deserved every bit of the recent hype, delivering clutch play and two-way dominance for a London team almost anyone would have to scratch and claw their way to earn ice time. Why is he special? Pu’s big (6’2), fast and can fire off a very good shot. But the biggest eye opener was how he was able to produce in limited time and received next to nothing in offensive zone starts and/or on the power play. When London’s big names (Tkachuk, Dvorak, Marner etc.) were at the WJC, it was Pu and Max Jones who ran the offense.