HopefulFuture

Hey all, hadn't read through the days events entirely yet, but I'm seeing all kinds of bad news in the way of teams in the division gearing up with talent. Could bold well for a complete tank for next season. Anyone have any snippets on the Vanek/Miller situations?

I might consider bringing the wife down to FNC this sunday, neither her nor myself have ever experienced the draft day party held by the Sabres. Could be a rainy Sunday, perfect for sitting in and enjoying the atmosphere. We'll see what she says today when she wakes up.

Bolded section put aside for a moment, each of the players mentioned project to be more in line with defensive forwards with some (some being the key word) offensive upside. I'd like to see the Sabres roll 2 solid scoring lines, and since it was suggested the aforementioned players could make a 2nd line my opinion differs given what I've read on each player to date combined with watching Foligno this past season. In short, merely opinion on my part. Back to the bolded comment, I find the sand in my "monster truck" helps add the necessary weight needed to navigate the slick roads of Western New York.

Not even close to second line potential. Are we not "hopeful" for a Cup in the "future"?

Barkov, but not with Tropp, with Armia. Barkov is the perfect fit for Armia.

Not sure your age wjag, but I've had that feeling only a couple of times in my Sabres fandom time, all 42 years of it so far. Patty Lala and Alex the great then Hasek with Peca and Miro up front. I thought they had a real chance in those 2 team frame works, only to have hopes dashed. I didn't see that this past 5 years, after D/B left. But, the future is upon us now. I've run through some pretty crappy rosters in the 80's, and now this most recent stint, so don't feel alone. I agree with you, from the middle out. RW looks to have some depth coming it's way with Armia in the pipeline, but LW, as far as scoring goes, looks like a baron waste land.

It's not my standards, it's the standards set by the overall input from pundit's to scouts to talent evaluators that follow closely the young talent and mark them as instant roster impact talent. I.E. normally the top 3 picks in most draft classes. That is where I'd like to see the Sabres gather the new roster from.

I'd agree, CoHo is a superb choice as 2nd line center. I'd like a real superstar at 1st line center. Not knocking CoHo, but if we are going to compete, I'd like real juice up in that 1st line position, a real game changer type player. Yes! I surely would like to see a deal with Tampa for that 3rd overall pick. I like that thought process all day long.

Ding Ding DIng, we have a winner Johnny! With that realization now there, the question becomes one of youthful, impact talent, superstar talent. Where do they plan to get it from? Some here have already mentioned the Islanders, but no one is discussing other options at this point, I'd like to hear some input outside of that option for a moment, surely there are those that believe the Oilers would be willing to do a trade. What about other teams?

You'll find me in agreement on your thoughts, I've railed on him for years, but beating a dead horse doesn't make the horse any more dead. It is what it is. As a fan I'm more focused in on how they plan to bring this top tier talent to the roster, i.e. 1st, 2nd or 3rd overall selections, through trades since that is the only way I see them doing so. Hell Deluca, even if Miller and Vanek are moved this off season, I still don't see the Sabres finishing in the bottom 3 of the league. So, to me in any event, I see moving assets, and a very limited number we have, to attempt to bring in that caliber of youthful talent.

You really believe Strome and Reinhart are the answers for what is needed here? By all means, convince me, the floor is yours.

Many said Strome at 5 was a bit of reach when he was projected 8th to 10 overall. Reinhart is not a game changing talent that the Sabres need to be giving up assets for and he's a defenseman to boot, he's not going to elevate mediocre and second tier scoring talents to polished finishers. Like I said, these aren't the type of top tier talent we'd need. I'm talking 1st or 2nd over all selections with the ability to be instant impacts on the roster and create offensive zone excitement with the ability to finish and create offensive zone puck control. I can appreciate your thoughts on both players, but I'm not moving Vanek nor Miller for either one.

By the looks of it Deluca, he will. We need to have a bit of patience here is all. I know, I know, after 42 years that's all the fan base has had. For the first time in well over a decade the Buffalo Sabres have an owner that cares about the team and is willing to spend to go for the Cup. Was listening to Regier when he first arrived and bringing in the players they did the right way to go about it? Obviously not. Is keeping Regier to complete a retool/rebuild of the roster a good idea? Let's face reality, his fingerprints are all over the young roster already in the players in the system brought in by previous drafts and trades.

Well, Regier really isn't in charge of it. Pegula is, since he chose Regier to perform the function of filling out the roster. Pegula keeps Regier, Regier fills out the roster. I should think both PA and yourself would use this in the "trial" of Terry Pegula thread. It could be construed as a form of meddling :unsure: Show me where it states they are.

well, we could always hire Niewy or Tamber's, they are available I here, and look at what a nice job they have done with their respective previous jobs :P Actually, I give Tamber's all kinds of props, the Oilers are going to be a mean opponent in 2 to 4 years as the youngest of the 1st pick overall forward talents mature. Although, I also give him the thumbs down for not addressing the defense.

Neither are considered top tier talents. Next.

Come now Eleven, you are in a group of posters I'd fully expect to ask why even entertain the Islanders, given the reasons above. Do you know of some prospect they have that is a top tier talent? I can't see them trading Taveres do you?

And what do the islanders have to offer us in the way picks or prospects that are considered top tier to help us? Given their place in the standings, I would summarize they aren't the team that but out comment was made for, same with Vancouver.

What's all the hub=bub about? Pretty meh, stuff here. Sully and Harrington need to go though, it's one thing to ask tough questions, quite another to throw tantrums when you don't get the answer you like. They did Buffalo a serious injustice today and if people don't see that, I don't know what to say. They could have been much more professional then they were about the situation. Disconnect the emotion from the job guys, it's not hard, really. Go home and kiss your wife and kids and appreciate everyday, sheesh. Outside of those 2, the information itself should surprise know one. Yes, the rebuild isn't going to take 1 year, really? Could have fooled many on this board into thinking there some magic pixy dust to throw at the roster and make it competitive with mature talent over night. Come now all, get real here, you all should have known as they jettisoned players that this was coming, and it's not over yet, Miller, Vanek, Stafford, these assets have some interesting futures on draft day ahead of them. For all those saying you can't pry the 1st, 2nd or 3rd overall pick out of teams, you'd be correct, however, if the Sabres offer a key piece in a package, the 2nd or 3rd pick may be had. Not saying it will happen, but that draft day sure is going to get interesting. They need to build an entirely new attitude on this team with real top tier talent on the first 2 lines, that's not going to happen overnight. Miller's gone for sure, say good bye to him in my opinion. Vanek on the other hand may actually stick around, but without any indications as to what the team is going to do this off season to right the ship, I'd put him staying here at less than 25% right now. Other than that, we'll just have to wait for the off season to kick into full gear to see what the team is going to do.

He sold his company, not just the land holdings, to Shell Oil. There is much more than just land holdings in that deal. There is years of Marcellus Shale data. And it's worth high dollars. Ruff was just as much a part of the problem throughout the years as Regier will continue to be. Pegula has little to do with this to be honest, he's not getting a fair shake from the fans that have complete apathy right now. You cannot seriously judge him as an owner after a mere 2 years, let him get his feet wet. He stated he wanted the hockey dept. to make mistakes, that is how they will learn, but it is him that is learning, as an owner. And apparently the hard way.

He announced his retirement from the NHL already, he's going back to Germany. And yes, Hecht was a warrior, very good shutdown guy. During his hey days here when D/B were here, I remember him and Grier being the go to guys for the PK as well as leading the checking line for the Sabres. But what I have missed from Hecht for a long time is the scoring success he achieved while Briere was here. When they were on the same line great things happened.

Winning out in the second half of a season, even this shortened one, has been the signature of this team for a number of years now. Nothing has changed as of yet about this club, it's a signature Darcy Regier team post july 7th, 2007. Start slow and finish strong. Does it decrease the available talent brought to the roster via the draft? Of course it does, but hey, at least Regier gets to keep his job :cry:

Absolutely you extend Vanek. He's only 30 years old for god's sake. There is no reason to trade Thomas Vanek, the guy is a warrior straight out. Miller on the other hand, his replacements are already in the system developing and a season or 2 of retooling the front lines and defense afford Buffalo the opportunity to see what Hacket/Leggio/Enroth/Marakov? have in them development wise. If Miller is moved at the draft, either for fresh picks or as a package to move up in the 1st round, or even in the off season after the draft for something, It wouldn't surprise me in the least. The rebuild is in full swing, youth is the way of the future led by a grizzled in the dirty area battler and sniper veteran Thomas Vanek. I'm excited, very excited about the future of the club, my only concern is that Darcy Regier is still at the helm.

Agreed Aud, there has to be a defined parameter on the charge so the jurors can give due consideration of both the prosecution as well as the defenses case. I do have a question however....... Will the defendant be testifying in his own defense? If So, I believe a tweet to Mr. Pegula's daughter informing her of these proceedings and offering her father a chance to inter-act with the fan base would just straight out be the bomb, as long as all posters can behave themselves.

As a potential juror, I'll refrain from any Terry Pegula news from this point forward as to minimize the amount of exposure that may lead to an unbalanced or bias view. I would however, like the trial to commence prior to the draft in an effort to ensure further evidence in lieu of that day not be allowed in the trial as I fear it would lead to a prolonged process, thereby robbing the defendant of his right to a speedy trial.