mjd1001

I think the league need more penalties...at first it will give more powerplays and afterwards when the 'players adjust' it will lead to more open play. Just as big of an issue is the dirty stuff that the league just doesn't fine or suspend for. I'm sure in the NFL, there is a lot of dirty stuff that goes on that we don't see, but we see VERY LITTLE in the NFL that we see in the NHL. VERY FEW intentional knee to knee hits. Very few fights. Very few punches to the back of the head. WHY? In the NHL we hear it is a rough and physical sport so that stuff will happen and you need fighting to sort it out? The reason is the NFL won't put up with it. If you fight, you WILL be thrown out of the game and probably heavily fined and suspended. What to get rid of the dirty stuff in the NHL, let NOTHING go. ANY punch to the back of the head should be a suspension and a fine...then guess what? you won't have it anymore.

Basically, what we have heard for the last week or so is not much but negative comments about Edmonton: The NHL hates they won the Lottery. The east coast will hardly see McDavid play becauuse of late start times. It is the worst city to play in. No one wants to go there. They are going to screw McDavid up. "Anywhere" but Edmonton...etc. But, after having thought about it for a while, I don't see it so poorly anymore. -The NHL doesn't want Edmonton to have McDavid because there will be less marketing there and a lot of poeple won't see him play. So what? I really don't care TOO much about what the bean-counters of the NHL say. -Edmonton will screw him up. Really? New coaching staff (maybe another) New GM, basically a whole new front office. Soon to be a brand new (and rather nice looking) building. I don't think that is an issue. -Edmonton will likely be turning into a really good team that will be on TV more than they are now. Even when they get better, the team the way it is built will NOT be a defensive juggernaut. They are likely to score as many goals as any 'good' team now and allow as many (or more) than the 'good' teams do now. What is not to like? -People make fun of Edmonton. Why? Who has actually been there? Sure, it gets cold, REALLY cold, but most of the people who live there are as used to that just like those of us in Buffalo are used to our winters. The downtown area actually isn't that bad, and they are going to have a nice new arena. Who are we in Buffalo to be making fun of another city (yes, I have heard people here ripping on the city of Edmonton). -Finally, when staying up late to watch some games (especially on Saturday nights), it will be kinda nice to see a good Edmonton team be featured against a good Calgary team (the Battle of Alberta.) To see a rivalry not only with Calgary but with a rising Winnipeg team also. It will be nice for a change to see a top rivalry that is new...not LA/Anaheim....Chicago/St. Louis/Detroit....Montreal/Boston. I think Edmonton has gotten really lucky...but instead of hating on the team and the city...I'm kinda happy for them.

I think a small part of the issue is the Arena itself. Is FNC a good place to watch a game? Yes, Its clean, good sight lines, nothing wrong with it at all. But, on the other hand, there isn't much special about it either. It isn't a "small" barn like Winnipeg has...or like the Aud was. And in terms of anything unique about it....once again, it is up to NHL standards, but in the past 15 years or so, a lot of the new arenas are really really nice (the 4-5 of the newer ones I have been to are really great.) Does that make the crowd louder? maybe not...but some of them really out-shine the FNC now in terms of the gameday experience.

I was having a discussion at work today (actually, a few) regarding the future of the Sabres and most people are pretty happy if the Sabres keep the #2 pick and take Eichel. However, it was brought up, more than once, that this Sabres team in a few years might have the feeling of the late 1980's/early 90's Bills team, and Edmonton will be like Dallas that just has too much talent and keeps Buffalo from the ultimate prize. With that in mind, how do you compare the key pieces of each team? -McDavid will be comparable to Eichel, but with the Edge to Edmonton and McDavid -Eberle is pretty comparable to Ennis, in terms of position, age, where taken in the draft, production so far...etc. Pretty even there. Who would you rather have? Eberle has better career stats so far. Slight edge Edmonton? -R.N. Hopkins would be comparable to Girgensons (Reinhart too young yet). Hopkins is a higher pick with more offensive skill, but is he better all around? I think many give Edmonton the edge, but it is debateable. Once again, in a one-up trade between the two, who would you pick? Hopkins or Girgensons? -Taylor Hall is a high end, top tier talent on Wing. Compare to Evander Kane? Edge? I think Edmonton with the slight edge, but that can change. Again, who would you rather have? -Yakupov...who is comparable on the Sabres? While he has been up and down, if you want to compare him to Larson or Grigorenko I think you have to give Edmonton the Edge there. If Reinhart develops, maybe that matches Yakupov. -Defense. Nurse is up and coming next year for Edmonton, but can they match Risto, Pysky, and Bogosian? Big Edge for Buffalo. -Veteran leadership. I'm not sure who Edmonton has, but I'd say with Gionta, Moulson, Gorges, Buffalo has the definite edge there. -Coaching and minor league development? Wide open, but hopefully Pegula's $ over Edmonton will lead to a much better development system. -Goalies? Nothing to go on. I think Edmonton has a clear edge in young talent up front, but while clear it isn't overwhelming. Buffalo has at least as much of an edge on the Blueline. I think the fear of Edmonton being a team that is one good coach away from blowing away the league for the next decade is overblown. If Buffalo keeps on developing talent, they might be able to match the talent Edmonton has top to bottom in the next 4-5 years. Any different thoughts?

I agree with you. I really hope that Murray just is happy with the #2 pick. I'd rather have the current team with the #2 pick than really give up any legitimate prospects or young players on this team +#2 to get McDavid.

What are the chances that he DOES go to Edmonton...he has a meeting with ownership....and out of that meeting he gets hired as coach and is allowed to 'pick' the GM he wants to work with...and the current Edmonton management team is dismissed?

I know everyone has their own opinion, but I really can't wait until the draft is here and over. The Sabres are picking 2nd, I just want them to take Eichel and then move forward. Hearing the talk about them trading Risto, the Eichel pick and Girgensons to move up to one....or hearing about 'what would it take for you to move down' is already a tad bit stressful. I just want to know that the Sabres are getting McDavid or Eichel (looks like Eichel now) AND to know which up and coming young guys that are here already will be here next season. There hasn't been much to invest in with this team in the last few years..but Risto and Girgensons have been there, and I don't want to give them up.

Since we now have a target about the new Star Wars movie (and after tonight things will probably get quiet around the forums), I figured I'd see if anyone has any opinions of the new Trailer for the DC Batman V Superman movie also. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwfUnkBfdZ4

I don't know the exact date, but I have always been in favor of a 'strip-it-down' rebuild...ANYTIME it looks like your team is going to flounder around a bit in the middle of the pack. Once my best players hit 28 or 29 years old....and I become older (as a team) than an average NHL team...it is time to strip things down and start over..UNLESS I am currently a top-5 favorite for the cup with that team.

I can understand a fanbase for Star wars, I just cannot understand the total mania. Some of the movies were good movies, some kinda dragged a little. No movies (even the first one) had a GREAT story. I'm pretty sure I'll it when it hits the theater, just I'll probably wait a week or two in order to avoid the massive crowds.

I would have been OK with Nolan staying...but I'm also OK with him not here. Babcock? If it happens good, but I'd almost rather have a younger guy. If Murray hires someone new this week and it isn't Babcock (obviously with him still coaching), I'm good with that because it tells me he is getting what he wants. As far as him hiring one of his 'buddies'? So what? as long as the guy has coaching pedigree/experience, I think it is a GOOD thing to have a guy you get a long with.

Its not just because of the goal, but I think Grigorenko actually plays pretty well with Gionta on his line...better than with anyone else I have seen. Ruhwedel, I still think, could have a spot on this team. He seems really really good at getting the puck out of the D-zone. You need to have a 3rd pair, if you are going to have Weber as a stay-at-home type of guy on this roster, I think Ruhwedel and him can give you a low-budget, decent 3rd pair. This also seems to have the feel of a game were #44 gets a goal.

I really don't care about anything that has happened in this franchise up until tonight. IF the Sabres lose tonight, I'm 100% happy with the franchise..in just about every way possible. Should they win tonight and find a way to blow 30th tomorrow also....I won't have what I want to look forward to...so I will hold this...and most other things mentioned here...against them as a bitter fan...for a long while at least. But right now...them losing in regulation tonight is all that matters.

Maybe we SHOULD be saying...who does he fit with...and NOT what # rank of center should/could he be. If he is a good fit between Moulson and Ennis.....long term (we have seen many line combos work short term, but not always long term), then keep him there. If they play off of each other well, don't force someone else between Moulson and Ennis just because they "should" be better. Whether that if your fisrt, second, or third line doesn't really matter. Next year, the lines that play the best will get the most ice time. I think the era of a dedicated first, second, and third line in the NHL doesn't have to still exist.

Goalies are such random chance to me. I don't know if I'd invest much in any of them....take the approach the Sabres have now...get a bunch of them and see who is good. From the 5th best goalie in the league to the 25th, there really isn't much of a difference it seems. If you have a good team in front of you, in many cases you can really throw anyone with some talent back there and get similar results. In recent history, you have goalies who couldn't even stick as a backup in one place, then they find the right situation and they are a good starter. I really think overall talent in todays NHL isn't a big thing for goalies. You need someone with talent...yes..but there are a lot of goalies with talent. What is just as (if not more) important is the team/system in front of the goalie and the mental/emotional mindset of the guy...NOT if he is .001% better in talent than someone else.

I agree with you on that. No one can predict what would happen down the road, 7-10 years from now....but with Eichel on the team the Sabres are putting together over the next 1-2 years...and McDavid on what the Leafs have....I'd give the Sabres a pretty big edge in that match-up going forward. McDavid might be better than Eichel, but I think the rest of the team, top to bottom will favor the Sabres by a LOT in the next few years.

Ok, I was just a little kid at the time, but if the Sabres end up with Eichel and Reinhart playing for them next year, it is going to feel a lot like the early days of the Sabres drafting Turgeon and then shortly after the news of Mogilny defecting from Russia. It may not turn out the same way, but the FEELING i'll get (the feeling of optimism and excitement) seems like it is going to be similar.

There are only 2 things regarding the Sabres I am nervous about at all right now: -Actually finishing 30th. I don't think they are going to run off 3 games without a regulation loss, but it has happened this season, along with Arizona easily being able to lose the rest of their games. -Finishing 30th, drafting 2nd, and then Murray wanting #1 and doing something silly/stupid to get there (like trading #2, Reinhart, Pysyk, and a future #1). Would I rather have McDavid? I guess. But if you get 2nd in the lottery, I would much rather keep 2nd than really trade anything that might be of value on this team to move up to #1. I'll be 100% content with 2nd.

All I know is if the Sabres clinch 30th BEFORE the Pittsburgh game, then the atmosphere in the building should be great for "fan appreciation night". You'll finally get to see Sabre fans cheering the team, maybe in a way we haven't seen in a couple of years. Not only will everyone want them to win, but its going to truly feel like the End of this whole process, and, in a way, the beginning of the new chapter EVERYONE has been looking for. That is what that Pittsburgh game might feel like.

Let us go on the assumption that the Sabres finish 30th, and are guaranteed 1st or 2nd overall selection. When the lottery comes around, I am interested but not nervous at all. To me, the Sabres would be expected to get Eichel, McDavid would be a bonus that I truly do not expect. However, I still hear a lot of people being "nervous" or "anxious" about the lottery when it occurs. So my question, what is it that makes you nervous or anxious about the Lottery? That the Sabres will NOT get Mcdavid at #1 overall? Or that you are fine without McDavid, but you are Nervous about who MIGHT get him (a Rival like Toronto or Ottawa, or maybe a good team already like L.A. where he will make them tough to beat?)

I know this may not be a popular opinion, but I would think, if Reinhart still is a bit undersized and not dominant in camp....that he spend some time in Rochester. You can go with Larson centering a line (at least for a half to a full season) on your top 3 lines. Besides that, I wouldn't be looking at any big free agent signings or big trades this offseason. With a maturing D (adding a one year older Psysk to it), Evander Kane, a top pick this year, a much better Larson than last year, maybe Reinhart.....I'm going to be perfectly happy seeing where this team goes with just that. I really don't need, or don't WANT any other big ticket players (yet).

I agree. As of now, the Coyotes are 4 and 23 in their last 27. That is some major league tanking.

It seems has if he has been producing a lot of points lately, for a team that doesn't really score too many goals, so for fun I looked into his stats/game log this year. Now, I am NOT by any means saying we can expect this kind of production out of him based on projecting his stats, as we all know how a few years ago Foligno has a short run where we projected him to be a regular 20-30 goal scorer. But, I wanted to project his stats to see what kind of production the Sabres have been getting out of him lately. He has been with the team, for the most part, since a call-up on Feb 15 vs the Flyers. After that call-up, in his next 10 games, he had 0 goals and 1 assist. He averaged just over 10 minutes of ice time per game. Since game 11 of this most recent stretch until now (a March 7 game against Washington until now), he has played 13 games, 4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points.In this stretch, he is averaging over 20 minutes a game, putting him near the very top of ice time per game among forwards. Also of note, for the entire year, he is a positive player (+1 through 35 games...on a team this is a -107 in goal differential.) I'm just wondering where he fits on this team long term. He obviously isn't just a little better when playing with good teammates and getting more ice time, he is a LOT better when getting more ice time. Yet, if you slot him into a 4th line role going forward, how valuable will he be? Gasp to think about this..but if the Sabres do NOT finish 30th, do they do something like Draft Hanifan, go with the Nashville model (D-men of Risto, Zadarov, Bogosian, Pysyk, Hanifan) where they can really REALLY shut down most teams, and you have forward lines centered by Reinhart, Girgensons, Larson.....with some talent on the wing to go with them?

I agree with you. For some reason I was never as big of a fan of ORielly as others are on here. Is he a very good player? Yes...but to me you don't trade for him and give up a lot of assets AND give him an very high salary unless he is the KIND of player you are missing. Don't trade for him just because you think he is good..make sure he fills a hole you have. I'd rather wait and see who develops or see if a more 'top flight' scorer is available....rather than trade for him.

Not much. Is he the best coach in the NHL? Maybe, but I don't see anything special that he does that other coaches can't do. Personally, I'd rather go the route of a younger coach who is thought of pretty highly. Would I take his as coach? Sure, but not at the expense of giving him ANY more power than you would any other coach. If he asks for a lot of control over the roster, or an outrageous salary, I'll pass. I want a GOOD coach with Great players. This is hockey, I don't need to stretch myself out too far with a coach.