Bullwinkle III

This is an accurate assessment that reflects mine, but in more detail. Consider: When things started coming together for the Sabres at the end of last season, we were one of the top teams in the conference. Now if you've been reading my posts, you know I've come down hard on Buffalo's chances for the Cup, and rightfully so. But I would never say, given the above information, that we wouldn't a consideration for the playoffs.

One or more may still go IF Darcy can find the right deal. But as you can see, deals are difficult to find this time of year.

I don't think so. Ottawa will be worse than us along with the usual crowd, Islanders, Montreal, Toronto, and possibly Tampa - depending upon how Lindback performs. (huge ? there) That leaves teams close to our level - Carolina, Florida, Winnipeg, Devils, Capitals Teams that are definitely better than us - Pitt, Philly, NY, & Boston So according to my estimations, we are in a mix of six (or seven if you count TB) teams fighting for spots 5-8. We are definitely in contention for a playoff spot.

Why would St. Louis give him up? They're not overloaded with big centers. They have another guy at 6'2" and it goes down from there to 5'9".

You don't think they'll even CONTEND? Talk about hyperbole. That's ridiculous.

Interesting experience. I wonder where else this would be true. Raleigh? Tampa Bay? Miami? Phoenix? Dallas? Sometimes it seems natural that a city with an NHL team would be composed of rabid fans - or at least the team would be common knowledge to the average citizen. But something tells me that that isn't as true as I'd like it to be.

As much as I don't have high hopes for this team for at least two years, I have to agree with you about the concurrent slumps. This team needs time to jell with each other and mature the kids some. Talking about ESP, I, The Great Bullwinkle, foresee that in three years we will be a contending team. Myers will come into his own, McNabb will be a top 4 dman, Ehrhoff will be continuing as he is, Hodgson will step up to a 2nd line center, Ennis will be 1st line scoring 30 goals a season, Grigs will just be starting to make his mark, and Girgs the same thing. Miller will be competent, Foligno will be a better player than his dad, and how far this team takes it will depend upon the other players not mentioned. This is where Darcy has to come through with some solid wingers. Vanek may be gone, same with Stafford, depending upon who Darcy brings in here. THEN this will be Hockey Heaven.

Me too!!! Although some posters here would think that that's a good explanation for what I have to say!

Of course he doesn't. Forget all this religious stuff - every city has a church. The problem which we all don't want to admit to, is that Buffalo is NOT a Stanley Cup contending team. From what I read, Doan isn't after money. So even if the Sabres were the team that offered him that 4/$30 deal, it makes no difference. Doan wants to win the Cup. That's why he went to Philly, NY, and now Vancouver. I predict he will not go to Montreal or here - even for a cup of coffee. That's how far out of contention we are at this time. Let's face reality. Buffalo is NOT Hockey Heaven - at least in the minds of most of the players out there. Hockey Heaven is not only a place where you can pad your bankroll, but where you can have your name on the Cup. I hope to live long enough to see that someday.

IMO half of Vanek's problem is his mental state. As if being a leading player on a team isn't pressure enough in the NHL for 82 games, he compounds it with his constant self-criticism. There is such a thing as being TOO intense.

Hate to throw a wet blanket over all this speculation but Berglund isn't going anywhere - the Blues have no one to replace him. Filppula isn't going anywhere either. He's one of the top scorers on that team and while they are looking for D, they won't part with a top 3 forward to get one. Malone would be a long shot...a very long shot. Yzerman won't let him go easily plus there's the NTC to consider. I've said this a million times: we should drop out of the Ryan Derby. It will cost too much for a guy that may be as much a detriment as an asset to the team. And speaking of costs - as the Doan Saga drags on...and on...and on... it seems more and more likely that he will leave Phoenix and that the Sabres appear to be more and more interested in his services. He looks like our best bet at the moment. He's a Christian? Well as long as he doesn't get on his knees and praise the lord after every goal, I don't care.

I would really like to know the answer to this question: Why hasn't anyone signed Arnott? What's the stumbling block?

I wouldn't mind that. But I'd rather see him here than in Pittsburgh, NY, or Philly.

And you think putting two inconsistent players on the same line will produce consistency??? Don't be so sold on Ryan. So you came out for him initially, but it's OK to change your mind in the face of other facts.

This is wrong. I think the Ducks are in the same boat as the Blue Jackets. If Columbus "had" to trade Nash, then by the same reasoning, Anaheim "has" to trade Ryan. What's the difference? Both players wanted out - Ryan even more so since he went public with it. How is he going to look coming back to the team in September that he clearly wants no part of? Once a prominent player comes out publicly and says that he is being picked on by team management and wants to be traded, he's as good as gone. Keeping him would cause more problems than trading him. I think the Ducks are simply waiting for the best offer. And I agree with LaFontainetoMogilny's assessment of Ryan. We can do better.

I wonder if Tim has ever met Michelle Bachmann? Seems to me they'd get along very well.

I've been wondering the same thing. For a player of his stature, he's been available for a long, long time. When Wellwood gets snapped up before him, I wonder - even at 38.

I agree with this. No need to panic. No need to fix the team now. No need for a deadline. No need to HAVE to have Doan or Ryan. This team has the talent in place. Now it needs to develop that talent and we will be fine. Of course this is not to say that a scoring winger here or there won't be much appreciated.

Even though he was rated nr. 3?

Here is a take proposing that we don't need any more centers. http://www.buffalowins.com/buffalo-sabres/articles/sabres-can-move-forward-without-center-addition.html I think we all understand that this is another building year. As such, what we're looking for is how well Ennis & Hodgson handle the load and how much they develop as players. We're also looking at whether Grigs or Girgs will crack the NHL. Most certainly one or both of them will do so the season after next. So in the worst case scenario: Ennis falters under an 82 game load, Hodgson doesn't stand out, and Grigs nor Girgs makes the team, we simply fall back on McCormick and Adam. At that point Darcy can start looking for a center trade - someone who also isn't matching projected performance - or he can shoot for the moon with an offer for Getzlaf (who will be a UFA), etc. Getting someone like Arnott isn't a bad idea. But what happens if the opposite scenario occurs: Ennis excels at center, Hodgson comes into his own, and both Grigs and Girgs make the team? Yeah, I know. One of the latter gets sent down. But that won't help his development for next season. Just postulating various permutations. A crystal ball would come in rather handy right now, but failing that - it wouldn't hurt to pick up Arnott just in case.

I think it's safe to take the 'frenzy' out of the free agency title, if it ever was appropriate this year.

My guess here is barring any trade, we will sign either Arnott or Wellwood to a one year deal. And right now, things are very quiet on the trade front.

Perhaps I'm misreading what you are saying, but your statement only applies to Briere. He was trying to make the team in Phx and not a known commodity. Drury, on the other hand, was known to be a tough, intense player when Darcy made the move to bring him in. He already was a star. Edit: BTW, no way would I trade Ennis, Armia, and McNabb for Pavelski and Clowe. I understand that you have to give something to get something. BUT We are trading potential for known commodities...and I wouldn't do that because I believe the potential in this case will be greater than the known commodities. Ennis - just coming into his own at center and the kid has tremendous moves and skating ability. McNabb - a keeper, period. Size, toughness, plus an offensive component. You don't trade guys like this, you build a team around guys like this. Armia - less is known about him than any of these five. For that reason, he would be considered trade bait in a deal like this one. I'll have a better idea about him when I go to the scrimmage today. Pavelski and Clowe are tough, gritty forwards but we've seen their best days. I'd rather build the team with youngsters having better promise than catch two guys moving into the downside of their careers. If we were on the verge of winning The Cup, they could be what we need to go over the top, but that isn't the case.

Ah ######. Hoping we'd take a crack at him. He has more talent than most of our forwards.

We've always got Spartacus - 2013. I LOVE that series, as I did the film in 1960 - my favorite film of all time.