Sabre fan

two things are clear: 1) GMJBotto signed Casey and brought him in for these last games to take heat off of him (Botto) and make us fans forget about everything and actually have something to be excited about. 2) Casey is not ready for the NHL and should really have been sent to Rochester for a year at least. I get GMJBotto is desperate to do something to appease us fans but this is a waste of a year on his ELC.

Leafs got Babs and Anderson. he (Anderson) wins them games constantly. which is clearly something our goaltending rarely does. I find it kind interesting that when the Leafs purposely tanked to get Mathews (and I don't blame them) no one said anything. We tank (whether on purpose or not) and the whole world seems to be going on and on about it (still are).

Sabres really need Nylander to make the team out of training camp next season. It is vitally important that he warrant the high pick we used to get him. We already have wasted far too many high 1st round picks on stiffs and need him to come through and become the scorer the team needs him to be

still miss Lindy...boy I loved him behind the bench. And I actually liked Darcy up to the point he let both Drury and Danny walk for nothing. Either way, th e verdict is for sure out on GMJBotto...he hasn't done anything any GM could or would do. I truly hope his poor return for very good hockey player in Evander kane was not his fault and more a result of kane's reputation, cause we sure didn't get much for him

so we are going to keep signing aging vets and leave Nylander bailey fasching in Rochester? It is time these guys are brought up and given a chance (and by that I don't mean throw them out for 5 or 10 games and just because they don't score a goal a game send them back down dejected...do what Toronto did which was they threw out all their young guys and stuck by them as they learned. They are still having bumps along the way but better that then just signing aging vets...we absolutely must find away to get Nylander in the NHL now

no pressure on the guy...

The Sabres could really use someone with attitude ala Marchand. This team is far too soft and too easy to play against. Tkachuk brings skill and an edge...we obviously will never be allowed to actually win a draft lottery and will be knocked down as far as they can put us so hopefully Tkachuk is still on the board when we finally get to pick. we really have to get harder to play against

Borgen will be at best another Pysyk which would actually be GREAT! As for Casey, it don;t matter what he does it won;t be good enough for some.I do love the idea of putting him with Nylander and hope they click. This team needs Nylander to become a NHL'er soon and we have absolutely nothing to lose by putting them together and see what happens.

B's would laugh at ya...

maybe but I think the Sabres will let Nelson walk and he will be very good on someone like the Bruins. Just because we got nothing for Kane means nothing. We are good at losing good players for nothing (they are all over the league on different teams). I agree that the fight between Wheeler and Chariot will be looked at as a "positive" while everything Kane does (or did) was viewed as "negative".

sounds good but we had Gionta who was a good leader and the captain and that did not motivate this lazy bunch. I can truly say I have no idea how we can be this bad. On paper, compared to last year's team, we should be significantly better. And yet, here we are again at the bottom and looking like no one on this team really gives a crap. It is a mystery to me...

so darn tired of this bringing in aging vets who are over-paid and past their prime. If we are going to lose I would much rather do it with young players who may make mistakes but at least maybe show improvement. The Leafs did that and just threw out just about every young player they had that was any good and let them learn as they went. We have a bunch of good young players and I would rather play them then sign more aging vets

sad part is even if they do finish last, it is for sure the NHL will never let them actually win the stupid draft lottery...I predict they'll get bumped down to 3 or 4 spot. We'll still get a good player but not Dahlin.

so are we "tanking" this year too? I am confused by the fact that we say the team purposely tanked 3 years ago, but they are clearly as bad if not worse this year. yet no one says they are tanking this year. Maybe they were just really bad 3 years ago too. Or maybe they are tanking this year too. Either way they sure are bad, and Jack is good but nowhere near a saviour or generational player. and yes we made Miller into something he wasn't either

yes and we'd have Laine on McDavid's wing! Imagine that???If we had actually won a draft lottery for one friggin' time we could look like geniuses like Winnipeg looks now and have Laine instead of Nylander.

both players had huge years playing with Johnny T on the island. Maybe we can sign Tavares this summer and he can re-ignite Okposo's career. Otheriwse, he is done

truth is we have as many if not more good prospects then most other teams. drafting is not a exact science and there are so many variables...for every kid who turns out there are many who crash and burn so to speak. Don;t think we are the only team that has wasted picks, picked the wrong guy or traded away someone who turned out later to be a good steady player.

guess this proves that exGMTM was right...kane is a elite forward with great scoring skills and a true asset. meanwhile we got not much of anything for him. even if he resigns San Jose's 1st round pick in two years in what is projected to be a okay draft will be like 25th overall or somewhere around there as San Jose is always up in the standings. Therefore, it won't amount to much...hard to believe that's all we could get for this very good player

anybody see where David Backes returned from suspension for "interference" then almost took some guys head off last night? Got again thrown out with a match penalty intent to injure. I thought he was suppose to be a good player not a goon. also I keep seeing where Pittsburg guys get creamed into the boards and no one responds. in fact fighting in general is way down so just because the Sabres do not "respond" as many think they must does not really mean anything. most if not al teams now are not 'responding" as in the past where a brawl broke out if you dare hit the other guys.

Just watched a thing on TV about Savard and how his whole life is affected by that cheap hit to his head. I am certainly no Bruin fan but feel bad for the team as they lost great player and person. He is still having problems related to that hit and I do think it may be in Kyle's best interest to consider retirement. One's health is far more important then money although I am sure he is well off anyways

Funny you mention that..I was just checking that and nowhere do I see that it is a lottery protected pick. What a steal for Colorado if they get Dahlin plus they got a 1st round pick Shane Bowers(ottawas 28th overall pick in 2017) and a 2nd round pick in 2019.Just checked and I forgot they got a bunch from Nashville too...NHL rookie defenseman Samuel Girard, AHL forward Vladislav Kamenev and a second-round pick in this year's draft. Crazy

this is where Babs excels...he has the Leafs playing to each individual's strengths and never asks them to do something they are not capable of doing

don't matter cause the NHL'll knock us down to 4 or 5 selection but it is kinda interesting how we can beat the Bolts twice., Boston and Toronto then serve up a late Thanksgiving turkey. I do think we'll beat Ottawa though I hope we don't

the truth is that every team has made mistakes drafting over the years...most think they are going with the best player available but at least 5 out of 10 times that fails, while there are always "sleepers" guys drafted that turn out to be be very good. They are kids and often it really is hard to know how they'll turn out.

Teams are frequently slashing hacking hitting Cindy and Pittsburg rarely if ever responds by starting a big fight or brawl. I do think this team is coming together as time passes and will only get better, which is more then we can say for many other teams in the NHL.