X. Benedict

The only thing it really signals to me is there is no apparent short term solution to the Sabres problems at center.

Chances of being 40-50 pts better next year are not very good. This team doesn't even have a center with any significant experience as of today. As for next year, Better is likely. Playoffs not very likely. Heck even Kane has only had one 30 goal season. Ennis has had 2 20 goal seasons (probably a third this year) Hodgson 1. Where are the goals going to come from? Early forecast for next year: We will be somewhere between suck and it is starting to look like these kids don't suck. Good news though, the NHL is making Buffalo's chances in the lottery pretty good next year, and we don't even have to try to suck.

That's right. who would trade the Number 17 pick when there is an outside chance at 1, 2, or 3.

For one very good reason. DFL only guarantees the number the No. 4 pick in 2016. (For rhetorical sake, we'll assume Murray knows this too.) Every team that misses the playoffs has a chance at winning the No. 1, 2, or 3 spot. I don't think we can really expect a playoff team next year but we can expect a much better team, but if they don't make the playoffs, finish, say 18th. hey, you can still win the sweeps.

So.....not bong water?

Versatile, strong on the puck, good vision, decent hands, nice motor. I think he could take a roster spot next year.

This is a novel position. Nolan isn't responsible for the development of this roster? He hired the coaches, didn't he?

Inaccurate. Everyone knows that Nolan has a limited roster. The question is really whether or not he's the man to build tomorrows roster.

He doesn't over-coach. That's a quote from Ted Nolan. "The game today is over-coached"....that's indicative of his approach to the game. Sorry if it was unclear.

Stock the bar party!

Golf clap.

Daisy dukes?

This season has been a crucible. I think I've changed my stance on euthanasia 4 times this season.

. I'm pretty sure even Ted Nolan wouldn't much dispute it. His method has been unvarying, overpower your opponent with effort. His approach is a blunt instrument, the game is over-coached, just get a 4th line effort from everyone on your Roster. Now how you see that approach and it's potential for working over a 80+ game season is pretty much how you see Nolan.

I am hoping we can gift him to Florida.

Not too bad.

I think Ty Conklin had 80 or more saves saves in an AHL game. Nice record.

The incarcerated? Those prisoners add up too.

Never tell me the odds.

Dear Sabrespace Forum, I never thought this would happen to me......

Your reasoning is far from close-ish. A defensive team that was a Stanley Cup Favorite? Nobody that actually watches them was thinking either half-witted thing. Cough cough cough cough.

I've used this tank of a year to watch more Western hockey then I ever have. Thanks for weighing in, I hope you stick around.

It was pretty apparent the first month of the season that they had no defense and their goaltending was suspect. Still, they are fun to watch. Seguin was having a breakout year until that dirty hit. Brutally disappointing? If you need it that way, I guess. I just thought they were fun to watch because they were going to try to score their way to wins this year. Makes for fun hockey, but it was a flawed team from the start so I wouldn't say it underperformed greatly. They have the worst blue line in the league. But it hasn't been defensive hockey at all.

Dougy, Ducky, and Kaner. Cool.

Cup run? I'm not buying that. Hockey News had them 7th in the West preseason.