Sabre fan

remember exGMTM was the one that laid the groundwork to sign Antinpin...he also stole OReilly and got us Kane for whatever (jury is still out but Myers who is still trying to find himself, Stafford is well Stafford, and the young guys are nothing to get too excited about), Lerner who I along with many others think is a NHL goalie (still young too) and I have no doubt he would have actively pursued another defenceman so while I think our new GM may get a lot of the credit, I do think that exGMTM did more then he is given credit for. If Kulikov had not got hurt in that freak accident and had played even close to his potential I think our D would have been that much better last year. Injuries did play a big part along with the coach's horrible system (which I guess we can blame exGMTM and say he should have done something about that far earlier which I suppose may be true)...

agreed and trust me he'll want and get big bucks from someone like Anaheim...I do think a trade is the best thing at this point and then...Vanek???

I also think that while everyone is laughing and whatever if we have no intention of re-signing Kane who will want (and get) big bucks then we really need to trade him now while his value is high. He is coming off a good year and many teams are keen to add him to their roster. If we can get a good defenseman in return, then that makes total sense. Meanwhile, we then would have to add someone for offense, something Vanek is good at. As stated before, with Eichel Vanek would no doubt excel and should have many great opportunites. He always gets in front of the net and could clean up many of Jack's rebounds. We see Sam doing exactly what Vanek does best, taking a beating and hanging around the net. Vanek would take some of the beatings Sam will no doubt encounter. At the right price Vanek does seem to be at least worth considering ...

sorry but someone on Facebook basically said that this team replaces Rochester. I obviously thought they were different leagues but just wanted to clarify. Thank you...

so does this mean Rochester is no more?

keep hearing that GMJBotto may be looking at moving Kane then signing Vanek to replace some of the lost offense. I loved Vanek as much as anybody but...I just don't know. I am kinda hoping to get younger and faster, not older and slower. We already have older and slower players (Moulson, Gorges) so I am not so sure this is a viable or exciting option. Do you?

Can we honestly expect to be much better this season with Moulson, Gorges, Bogo and Ennis in the lineup? I do hope that both Bogo and Ennis may improve under new coaching but I am not so sure either Gorges or Moulson have anything left to offer...they represent BIG bucks and seems such a waste but not so sure buying out is a valid alternative

Heard that someone is guessing that we may only be able to get like a 2nd rounder for Kane...that seems far too low. Signing him obviously will take big bucks so we can only hope that Anaheim, where kane would fit in perfectly gives us a offer we can't refuse...

and he is a rarity these days in the NHL...more and more we are seeing smaller speedsters now and that's okay but a true power forward who scores lots is such a great asset...

I get that there are many all worked up about trading EK but I think we may be underestimating his worth and/or value to this team. He is a monster on the ice and a great 5 on 5 scorer, a rarity in the NHL and certainly our main scoring threat period. I would be very careful rushing into trading him at this point. And yeah, what the heck would Boston have that we would want/need? They are not exactly a great team themselves!

just as the Leafs with Zaitsev you may only sign these players to a one year entry level contract then after that 1st season sign him for whwatever (The Leafs just re-signed Zaitsev for I think 6 or 7 years)

I heard he turned down Pittsburg but the only way he signs is if he is guaranteed not to go to Rochester and and only play in the NHL which needless to say should be no problem with our defense so very bad in need of fresh talent

Pretty sure if and when we sign Antinpin he would be considered exempt as a first-year pro in the NHL

Sure wish that Tyler Ennis could be like Jeff Skinner, who plays very much like Ennis did and is very good. Small, and good. I also wish the NHL had implemented using the bigger ice, It is so much better and affords the players so much more room to do their thing

well thanks to OReilly Canada just came back from 0-2 and won 4-2 to eliminate Russia from the Worlds so lets hope we hear later today or tomorrow that he has signed. And yes I would be more then willing to try Kulikov again as I still think he is far better then we saw last year (which goes fo rmost of the team)...

I was watching OReilly even before his herorics in the 3rd and I was thinking that at somepoint down the road he is going to make new GMJBotto and whoever coaches like a genius...he is amazing! He does everything so darn well...thanks exGMTM for one ofo the best trades ANY GM has probably ever made!

Too bad...without him I cannot see Nashville winning this series. Strange how thin they are down the middle...after Johansen they sure do not have a great mix of centers. I always thought you build a team down the center first but these days defense seems to be the number one factor.

he should have been arrested for stealing the team's money. He sure did not earn a penny of his pay cheque

I put the numbers for Risto from this article on the thread about Risto and yes, they are indeed interesting, as is the article. How much of any of this is true who knows?

Washington, with or without OV, can't seem to get i right. But trading him would certainly be one of the biggest trades ever. And please don't say we should trade jack and Risto and Sam for him. Imagine what the Caps would ask? anyways, I am looking forward to a lot of wheeling and dealing soon (inlcuding by new GMJBotto)

Strange picks...I have hated the leafs like forever and yet I have to admit they should have won this hands-down. They were absolutely awful and not even competitive and almost overnight the management team turned their fortunes around 100%. Ottawa and Nashville have been teams in the mak,ing for many years while Chiarelli got McDavid and we didn't.

Yep...Antinpin was player of the game for Russia yesterday...while Leafs get stronger I fear we will lose out on Antinpin. That would be a big blow right about now

Yikes...Antinpin named player of the game today for Russia...we gotta sign this guy

strange seeing TSN's look into the Sabres moving forward and their seemingly quite low opinion of Risto because of his numbers last season. to quote TSN: "A 22-year-old defenceman who has put up 86 points over the past two seasons, presents a complicated situation for the Sabres. The eighth pick in the 2013 Draft is supposed to be the franchise’s workhorse on the blueline, averaging 25:52 of ice time per game over the past two years, and yet the vast majority of Sabres have better shot differentials when they are playing with anyone but Ristolainen. (Seriously, what are you supposed to make of this?) He’s young and being force-fed a ton of minutes, and he doesnt't have to play that much, but the challenge for the new Sabres regime is figuring out if Ristolainen can be the star of this blueline group rather than someone who is going to need to be sheltered, and soon, if this team is going to contend for a playoff spot." Kinda makes one wonder if we are overrating Risto or if he is indeed the stud we think and/or hope he is.

this is certainly BIG news for the team...Kyle will be a very important part of the team moving forward and we need him healthy and ready to go for training camp.I thought exGMTM did a great job signing Kyle O...