Sabre fan

Two paths...I can go by...I think there is still time to change the one I'm on

see the Leafs have already signed their first pick (#18) Timothy Liljegren to a level-entry contract which I assume means he will make the team right away. Their d is pretty bad so it would make sense as I think this guy will be very good on the Leafs. Kinda hoped we'd get him to be honest

Oh sorry never thought to include the "GMJB and/or CPH (coach Phil Housley)" will get fired half way through but maybe I should have (or at least people will be calling for this half way through the season)

have you in the past been depressed or negative? Since my heart attack and all the bad crap I have been through people tell me I look tired or like crap even when I think I feel pretty good. I think we wear things from our past whether we know or like it...

Interesting article by Sportsnet that claims that four teams have improved themselves significantly this off-season. They are Calgary, Carolina, Arizona and Dallas Stars. I like to think that the Sabres have improved themselves immensely, both on and off the ice. New coaching and management seem to be already making big improvements over last season, and on the ice, our defense makeover would appear to be light-years ahead of last years gang. bringing in Pommers, along with the younger guys getting more experience that should help them excel this coming season should help immensely too. Just wondering if anybody agrees or thinks that the Sabres have made significant improvements or are we headed for another season of disappointment? Here is link to article too.. http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/four-improved-nhl-teams-far-summer/

Interesting debate...probably ROR for what he is being paid he should be the team leader but of course Jack would be a good pick too. Maybe ROR having more experience gives him the nod...

We certainly seem to have a very good group of young players that have good futures and the nice thing is it seems that with the proper management/coaching in place now, they should be given the proper tools needed to fully meet their potential as NHL players. There looks to be some really good prospects that should really have good futures in the NHL. It has been a while since the Sabres had the proper people in place to help our young players succeed...

heck when I coached little guys including my son's hockey team when he was between 7 and 11 I always stressed the best defense is without a doubt a good offense, something Disco Dan obviously did not subscribe to...new coach, new system and new style of playing should make a world of difference and win or lose at least this team should be entertaining, something they never were under Danny

want to believe it too and do think it will make a difference because it is pretty obvious the kid has talent and the right pedigree and expect bigger and better things from him this year

yep sorry I meant Alex of course...and yes he was pretty quiet last season but clearly bulking up should make a world of difference

nice to hear that Guhle, Bailey, and most importantly Nylander all bulking up. Willie will be a beast if he puts on the weight and gets stronger on his feet...

was reading where the leafs are over the cap til they move both Joffrey Lupul and Nathan horton to LTIR which will actually put them comfortably under the cap (these two represent about 12mil)

kinda hard to put any kind of worth on Lehner...he certainly has not proved much thus far and was stuck in front of a very poor defensive team last season. Maybe another year would really tell the full story. In the meantime, kinda surprised they don't do a one-year deal...

with what Matty is making trust me he will be given every chance to succeed which would really be a good thing and a nice bonus if he can score even 15 to 20 goals (maybe I'm dreaming but it sounds good)...

Just the thought of this team playing more offensive-minded wide open hockey is awesome! Been far too long this the Sabres have been called exciting...at least win or lose they will be entertaining, which is far more then you can say for the last few years... Can't help but wonder if we'll make the playoffs before there is a nuclear war with good old North Korea and we'll all be nuked and miss the show...

Matty will be given every chance to play on a top line because of his past success (many years ago) but unfortunately I think he is done like dinner...

I'd be impressed if he found a way to get out from under Moulson's contract. Freeing up his roster spot would in itself be a miracle right about now. Certainly swapping Ennis for Pomer's is pretty good but pretty sure EXGMTM could have swung that deal. Still waiting for a the one big deal that lets everyone know JBotto has arrived as a GM...

Of course they were or they would not have been drafted 1st overall or in the first round. I am not denying that there was also some pretty bad scouting and these GM's certainly failed but these guys, along with Gregorenko and Yakupov and so many others were absolutely thought to be "sure things" or they would never have been drafted so high

and of course good old Nail Yakupov, taken 1st overall...there's been some pretty bad top picks including...Alexandre Daigle, 1993 1st overall, Ottawa Senators, Patrik Stefan, 1999 1st overall, Atlanta Thrashers, Pavel Brendl, 1999 4th overall, NY Rangers, Rick DiPietro, 2000 1st overall, NY Islanders, Brian Lawton, 1983 1st overall, Minnesota, Hugh Jessiman, 2003 12th overall, NY Rangers, Scott Scissons, 1990 6th overall, NY Islanders, Alexandre Volchkov, 1996 4th overall, Washington Capitals,Nikita Filatov, 2008 6th overall, Columbus Blue Jackets, Al Montoya, 2004 6th overall, New York Ranger. There is many more really bad picks that at the time were thought to be "sure things"...

Interesting to note here that some on here love to go on about how important draft picks are...here we have Benoit Pouliot drafted 4th overall by Minnesota way back in 2005, and then we add Jacob Josefson who was drafted by New Jersey 20th overall in 2009. Both were highly regarded in their draft years yet neither really panned out as expected. Just shows that just because they are highly touted or regarded by the "experts" drafting can be a real hit-and-miss thing. I do think though both were good signings...

are you being sarcastic? Hainsey and the over-inflated 3 year deal for Marleau are both things previous Leaf management use to do all the time then regret he next season...they were doing really good til this in other breaking news. Colorado continues to make great and major moves by signing good old Nail Yakupov to a one year deal. How their GM keeps his job is beyond me...

I have no doubt he will want BIG BUCKS...like maybe as high as 7mil per year. I hate to say it but far too rich for the Sabres. There is no way he signs for anything less then 6.5 and he absolutely does not hold any sort of "home-town" discount thing for us...he'll be gone in a heartbeat next season when Anaheim for whoever comes knocking with a big offer then we lose him for nothing like Briere and Drury (which I still resent)

I guess the question is really can we afford to pay Kane say 5 to 7 years at even $6.5mil per? We obviously have some big contracts coming up that need to be addressed (like Jack's) and when all is said and done do we have enough cap space? Of course the good news is Moulson, Gorges come off the books next year but we now have Pominville at $5.6 for two more seasons. This is probably one of those "damn if you do and damn if you don't" scenarios but we absolutely have to either re-sign long term or trade NOW...

Toughee, with so many to choose from... 1) Tie between the clowns from Montreal, Colorado, Vancouver, the island but there are many more right there including Holland for sure 2) Torts...seems to just be in the right place at the right time (kinda like Peter Laviolette) but not so sure he's really any good 3) Sedin twins...Vancouver is soooooooooooooooo bad 4) Kulikov based on the fact that he was absolutely horrible and the jets found it fitting to give the guy 3 years and 13 million (fore that reason alone I guess the Jets GM who has that name that is both hard to spell and pronounce should also be on the worse GM list) 5) MILLER...

In the "there's another example of the GM's giving absolutely absurd contracts then will whine and regret down the road" we have Dallas of all teams giving Alexander Radulov. get this, 5 years at 6.25 million per year (have you stopped laughing yet?). absolutely crazy!