Sabres Fan in NS

Oh, can we get a kiss and make up thing happening between @mjd1001 and @Thorny?? This thread is bring out the worst in us. Who in blazes started this thread?? Oooooo ... never mind .........

Welcome to page 278, same as the last page and the page before that and ...

I agree that there was a lot between the lines and both Sam and Risto have been traded. So, it is most likely that both parties decided it was time to move on. People post things as fact when they have no way to know these facts. Unless they are real insiders, as in working for player agents or work for the Sabres, there is no way for any of us to know exactly what happened. That's my point.

How do you know the bolded to be true? Are you Sam's agent? Are you KA secret assistant? And his statement about scoring goals in meaningless games meant little to him is exactly what I expect him to say. It does not mean that he wants to be traded. It simply means that he wants to play meaningful hockey in April, May and June. All hockey players will say that. None of what you describe was 'played out in the open'.

This is how we will get to 500+ pages on this beaut. I don't think anything has been posted about a rumour or speculation in a hundred pages. I'm with @Doohickie and think this thing should be locked. Maybe pin it first so it can't just drift away.

A far as I know, all they ever said publicly was that they didn't really care if they played in Buffalo, or elsewhere, especially Sam and Risto. Jack was mostly moaning about a disconnect and looking forward to next season here or someplace else.

I don't trust anything Hamilton says. I think @Thorny is asking a legit question. Why are you afraid to answer it?

We have no way to know who wanted out and who was forced out. No one has stated such. It could be that the Sabres have decided to go in a completely different direction and decided to trade a number of players.

I find it diffficult to believe that the Sabres would not have matched the offer Ullie got from the Bruins. It's not outlandish. I think they likely would have made a slightly better offer to try to keep him if they knew what he was offered and Linus had given the Sabres a chance to match / beat the offer from the Bruins. I find it doubtful that Ullie gave the Sabres that chance.

I think that winning is a great tradition that this team really need to pick up. Thanks, Charlie. That said, I think this team is nothing like the Gare era teams, so I think there should be a new tradition started, not a retread. Especially one that doesn't really work for this group. I have no idea what this new tradition should / could be.

Cool. I don't have time to read all the posts, or often all of a long post, so I often just comment on a part of a post and don't really know all the back conversation and context. I know it was a general sort of question, but I'm a bit bored, so i just tugged your chain a bit. Anyway, the loss of Ullie has certainly compounded the goalie mishandling situation. Bringing in Anderson, Dell ... while keeping Ullie is one thing, but without Ullie it's very different and really made a very bad situation terrible.

Maybe, just maybe, they got very lucky with Beane? And coach McD?

I believe you are putting words into @JohnC's mouth. He said KA showed good disipline in not going over what he wanted to pay for Ullie. I don't think anyone could bring themselves to say that the goaltending has been handled well. That said, everyone thought that heading into this offseason that an upgrade to Sutton was needed (I like Carter ... I like all goalies named Carter) and it could be argued that Anderson and Dell and (I have already forgotten ... are there others added?) ... are an upgrade on Sutton.

This place is like any other place ... you can run, but you cannot hide.

Everyone misses time, so I expect Josh will. Maybe he won't, but it doesn't matter. We can worry about his contract for next year after this year. I would like to sign him long-term. I agree that he probably does not want to be playing behind Josh long-term. Some team will sign him to be the starter. This year, this year is the year that the Bills have the best of both worlds ... an excellent starter and a back-up that would be a starter on many teams. I would not trade him even for a first. The time is now. No futures this year. This year is the year. I agree. That is why the Bills need to keep him this season. He is likely gone after the season. The Bills need to go all in this year. No. I would not trade him for a first.

It really seems that the Sabres are going to have to retain some salary on Jack in order to get something of value in return. A question for the CBA gurus out there, or anyone else that knows ... Retaining salary is that just a cap thing, or do the Sabres actually have to pay the $?

To the bold ... He is the insurance policy. Frank to Jim. He will most liley play. Josh will miss some time. The Bills will be going for it this year regardless of trading him. They will have an easier time going for it this year if they do not trade him.

He may not contribute very much at all. He is the insurance policy if Josh goes down for more than a game. I agree that 99.9999999% of the time Beane would take the first and not even think about it. This year is, IMHO, that 0.0000001% of the time. Anyway, it's not a debate to get worked up about, as there is no way any team is offering a 1st for this guy.

That's fine. The Bills need to go for it this year. This guy helps in that. If he leaves for nothing after this season so be it.

I know. It's just brutal. It's like the powers that be can't stand a small side coming up and make it very difficult for them to stay up. As long as after 38 matches they are 4th from the bottom, or higher, I just don't care.

A great poet wrote ... 'the future is unwritten' That said the Bills future is now. Mitch's future is right now and for 1 year that cup of coffee could be held by someone as he hoists the Lombardi. Forget the first. This year the Bills have to go for it. Even Beane has to realize this. That's the bottom line. I would be surprised if Mitch is traded. And ... another bottom line (bottomer line ??) ... no one is going to offer a 1st for this guy.

The Bills were close last year. This year they are legit contenders and have to go for it. They have to get and / or keep any player that they feel makes them better, even if it's just a little bit better, because based on last year they really only need to be a little bit better to get past KC. I don't think that Brady will be able to do what he did last year. This is their chance. They need to approach this season as if it's their best shot at it.

I don't think UPL is ready. They will not bring him up until he is ready. I think we will see a lot of Dell and Anderson and some of the others coming and going from Rochester.

Now, this playoff game, it must be a home game, eh? Isn't RJ only doing home games? Maybe he will travel for the playoff?

Cool!! It's just like the good ol' days in Chicago ... I voted early and voted often.