mjd1001

I agree with you on the discussion part. I really want a trade to be made...maybe not a 'blockbuster', but some move involving a player good enough to be at the NHL level....just to give us something new to talk about or watch when the Sabres play. I'm at the point where I want a 'trade for the sake of a trade', but it would really be for the sake of SOME entertainment value.

We made it out there a couple weekends ago, got there right at opening so we got in right way, but when we left a bit more than an hour later, there was a line out the door. I was impressed with what the place looked like, but the food was so-so at best. A couple of our dishes were "OK" but not great. Someone in our party ordered a veggie burger and it was cold. Not 'luke warm', but actually cold...room temperature or less. Compared to Pearl Street, I actually think the food at Pearl street is better than what we were served at 716. The other issue I noticed is that the place wasn't exactly spotless. Not disgusting dirty, but being one of the first people in the place, It looked like they could have wiped down the windows and run a vacuum over parts of the floor a bit better. We might go back, but it won't be for a while...to see if they get things 'together' and running a bit better. I want the place to do well and for people to enjoy going there, just there is a lot of room for improvement.

I really don't understand why almost every time Ruhwedel is mentioned, it is in a negative way (not that you are doing that here, but it happens often.) From what I saw of him with the Sabres, he was not a tire fire even in his first few games, and the games I saw Rochester play on tv and in person, he seemed pretty good. Kinda like a guy that would be decent as a #3 or #4 guy, and a pretty damn great guy to have on your #5 or #6 pairing.

I was bored at work, so with some time I decided to look at how things are going through just about 3 months. Projections hardly ever come true, but it does give you a good snapshot of how things have been so far. We are now far enough into the season for it to make some sense (more than 1/3 of the way). Some of this I did at the end of the day yesterday, some last night at work, so some of the stat projections may not have included the latest games. So, for anyone who is interested, here is how things look if you project out some stats of key players through 82 games based on this year so far: Sabres as a team are on a pace for 68 points. Most years that does NOT get you the worst record in the league. Ennis: 19 goals, 36 assists, 55 points, -19 Girgensons: 22 goals, 22 assists, 44 points, +5 Gionta: 10 goals, 17 assists, 27 points, -14 Stafford: 13 goals, 29 assists, 42 points, -37 Moulson: 18 goals, 21 assists, 29 points, -18 Flynn: 13 goals, 13 assists, 26 points, Even Stewart: 7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points, -37 Foligno: 15 goals, 12 assists, 27 points, -18 Hodgson: 5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points, -37 Some other league notables: Tyler Seguin: 64 goals, 44 assists, 108 points Crosby: 27 goals, 74 assists, 101 points Ovechkin: 39 goals, 29 assists, 68 points, +12 Vanek: 13 goals, 38 assists, 41 points, -3

I don't know....I don't think I like this, as others have said, bring up someone that is a bit older....not because it would be better for the Sabres now, but to keep Grigorenko in Rochester. Is he playing so well that he is forcing the move? The more and more I think about it, I like the Detroit way of handling prospects. Give them a couple YEARS of developement in the NHL. Maybe some higher picks don't need that much time, but it doesn't looke like it hurts them. Is there any player in the NHL that has spent a few years in the minors where everyone said "they was WAY too much time in the AHL?"

There is a price for everyone technically. There would be a price for Crosby (just one so high very few people would offer it) With that said, I cannot see myself taking a realistic offer for Risto or Girgensons. Ennis is another matter. I Like Ennis. He is probably the best offensive player for the Sabres now, but for a winning team, he would be a great 3rd liner or a good second liner. For the right price, I would listen to offers closely. I'm getting anxious though. We pretty much know the Sabres aren't making the playoffs, so I would like a trade every 4-6 weeks just for something new on the team to follow.

No, that is not all I took form the article, just there wasn't much to add from my point of view on the article. Since the article DID bring up the topic of OneBuffalo, I thought it would be a great time to make the comment I did on the website.

I just hate the design of the onebuffalo.com website. It is supposed to be a collection of twitter feeds and some youtube videos, but the way it is laid out is awful. When you load it up, it is just hard to follow/look at. I guess its not a big deal, but It would be better if they simply loaded the most recent items at the top and wen down from there, or purely left to right. The way its set up..just a mess.

I guess I'm repeating myself here, but I think it comes down to the Sabres SHOULD play a preseason game in Rochester every year. As far as regular season games, as others have mentioned, most people in Rochester can hop on the Thruway and be in Buffalo in about an hour for a Sabres game. I have lived in/near other Cities where it can take almost that long to get from one part of their actual city to the other, and people in the suburbs of the city can take that long just to get downtown to the arena. Plus, in my opinion, the NHL preseason games are the best of any of the major sports. You can go to a preseason game and pretty much be almost as entertained as you would at a regular season game.

This was brought up in a conversation with Ted Black on Hockey Hotline a few weeks back. Basically, he said it really wouldn't/couldn't happen going forward. One issue is Season ticket holders and the seats they are guaranteed. Another is the revenue it would generate (not just for Pegula, but for the league). I THINK he also mentioned about the HDTV and broadcast capabilities, not just for the Sabres but for the other team involved. I think it would be great if they could have one game a year in Rochester (regular season.) Seeing how that really won't happen though, I think it should be automatic to have one preaseason game there a year at least. Also, maybe, MAYBE if the Sabres have their own network in the works in a couple of years, but I'd love to have all Sabres and all Amerks games available on TV for both audiences.

Its the beginning of December, haven't visited harborcenter/716 yet but I'm thinking of. For anyone who has recently, 2 questions: How busy is it? If we go on a Saturday for lunch (around 11-noon) or an early dinner (4-5pm), is it crowded or is there a wait? Also, what is everyones overall opinion of the food and service? Thanks.

Not that it will happen, but what if the Sabres beat Montreal again for the second night in a row, would your opinion of this team change? Meaning, does anyone stop thinking about last place and start to think this team can flirt with a playoff spot? If it happens, it will be the 5th win in the last 6 games. Just wondering if that would change the expectations anyone has for the team this year?

Thats a good way to look at it. I'm firmly in the camp of the longer the young guys stay in the minors, the better off they will be (of course, hopefull that will be less time than Luke Adam has been down there.) Bottom line is...guy should not expect to be called up when they THINK they are playing better than someone at the bottom of the Roster who is already in Buffalo. They should get called up ONLY when they are playing so good that it is obvious they have a chance to be a LEGIT top 7-9 player on the Sabres and contribute right away. If you don't make the team out of training camp as a young guy, they the way you get a call-up is by blowing everyones doors off in Rochester.

This is what I HATE the most about fights..when guys do that. He got hit, went down.....Prout held back and didn't throw any more punches when Lucic was down...but then Lucic gets up and wants to keep going after the refs get in. If there is any kind of "CODE" as they call it among fighters/fights in the NHL, Lucic looks like he just showed he thinks it doesn't apply to him. I'm kinda as much of a Bruins fan as one can get growing up in Buffalo and loving the Sabres. I still follow the Bruins pretty closely, but Lucic is just one player I don't like. I wish he wasn't on that team and they had someone instead with similar talent but just someone different.

Well, it all depends on what you mean by "taking Buffalo seriously" If you mean contend to get into the playoffs, then I think you might be able to consider that in as soon as 2 years. However, if you mean to contend for a Cup, or at least to be a top 6 team consistently, then yes, I can see it taking 5 years. What I am hoping for (and I think we can be realistic about) is this: This year: finish at or near the bottom, get that high pick. Next season: Maybe not make the playoffs, but be in the converstaion for most of the year 2016-2017 season: Contend for playoff spot 2017-2018: Expect playoffs (and hopefully make) 2018-2019: legitimate top 10 team. (Remember at this point, Zadarov, Grigorenko, Risto, Girgensons, etc will still all be under 25 years old.)

If Risto and Zadarov keep playing well together (a big IF) and when Gorges comes back to team with Myers, the Sabres just may have a pretty legit top 4 D pairing. Not elite, but more than respectable. Of course, that all depends on Myers not regressing and having Zadarov not drop off too much. I know this, I would be surprised if he doesn't get worn down a bit IF he keeps playing 20 minutes a game (something he isn't used to, at least at an NHL level)

So, does the high ice time indicate that, for the time being, Nolan is using them as his #1 pair?

I haven't seen the last few Sabres games, so to those of you who have, I have a Question about him. Just how well is he playing? I know the numbers: -His ice time is going up, with a team leading and staggering 'over 25 minutes' last game -He is a plus 3 in 7 games, which is really good on a team full of players who are almost all in the minuses So, does he LOOK good? Is he really playing now like a top 4 guy (at least through 7 games) or is he still making mistakes but is in the "right place at the right time"? I'd just really like to hear a detailed opinion from someone who really likes to analyze the young guys.

I like the idea of Reinhart going to the AHL for half, if not all, of next season. I don't see how it would hurt him in the long run, and would only help him.

I had almost this exact same conversation with my wife today. I agree with just about everything you said.

I thought of the issue of how baseball doesn't attract the younger crown anymore...and I can't take credit for thinking of this, as I heard it talked about a year or two ago on a radio station. The topic was why ratings for baseball were falling especially with people under 25, and an example was brought up of an early season game on national TV (I think it was a Saturday afternoon, or MAYBE the sunday night game). The issue was, the broadcast started, and one of the 'old time' baseball writers/broadcasters started talking in front of the camera on TV before the national anthem. I don't remember the exact specifics, but they started doing the "waxing poetically" thing bringing up "harkening back to the days of Ebbetts field" and picturing the "Fluid swing of Ron Cey" and then talking about "Charile Hustle"...without ANY explanation at all. Now, to the typical 40-50 year old (or older) lifelong fan of baseball, that may have been a cute opening, but if any of those viewers were trying to get their 14 year old to watch the game with them, the kid must have been like "WTF is he TALKING about? Just let me leave so I don't have to watch this stupid game" Now that doesn't apply in every situation, but after hearing that...I did pay attention to a few broadcasts the next few weeks and it does seem even the broadcast caters to the older crowd. Unless you pay attention, you don't realize it, but Baseball seems to mention things that happened 20-30 years ago a LOT more than any other sport...and that can be something that turns off younger viewers. And as others have said, when you do get excitement in baseball, it IS very excitement. The problem is 95% of the game is comprised of the following: Pitcher stares at catcher, batter walks out of box, pitcher walks off mound, pitcher stares back at catcher, pitcher throws ball, batter doesn't swing at it, Repeat.

I have to agree with you to a certain extent, and maybe take it a step farther. Are they the greatest team ever? Is Lebron better than Jordan? Is Brady or Manning better? Was the seahawks D better than the 85 bears or the 2000 Ravens? That stuff drives me nuts hearing it over and over and....when it is brought up it is the #1 thing to get me to turn off talk radio or a pre-game/post game show on TV. If, IF I am going to engage in that conversation, it will be one-on-one with my friends. I don't care to hear what the experts say about it (maybe ONE time) but the stuff you mentioned and I mentioned above....it just gets created for something to talk about.

That crowd of under 5000 is a let down. I'm not planning on going to any games this year (we went to a preseason game)...but if we had decided to go watch a game downtown, This game would have been at the top of the list for pure entertainment value to me.

The beauty of low expectations....people who actually watch the Sabres seem to be less upset with watching games like tonights...compared to how upset Bills fans get when they "only" win by 20 points when they thought they should have won by 30.

I think people are making a good point locally about the Jays. The Blue Jays used to be a lot bigger of a draw here, and it was the 'local' team with them being only 1-1.5 hours away, but ever since the big Dollar cable TV packages, WNY doesn't get the game on TV. While Yankee, Met, or Red Sox fans don't care much about that, it does have an impact that you can't see them anymore. Another thing related to the cable packages is, most of the games you CANNOT watch on TV without cable. That has been like that for a while now, but with more and more people (especially younger people) 'cutting the cord' and getting rid of cable, they simply aren't exposed to the game. As someone else said above, the league seems to be sacrificing a lot of future fans for current dollars. What needs to change? 1. Get the games sped up a LOT. Pitcher must get rid of pitch in 15 seconds or its a ball. Batter can only step out of Box 1 time per at bat. 2. Let viewers see local games streaming online. Maybe somehow get local games on TV and not on cable (probably not going to happen though) 3. Its summertime. Yes people work, but you need more afternoon games. Also, when an east coast team is visiting a west coast team during the week, make some of those west coast start times a bit earlier (an occasional 5:30 or 6 West coast start time would help a lot) 4. World Series. Start the games an hour eariler. A lot of the games might be great, but in my life I have been exposed to a lot more games that were dogs. I just don't feel like blocking out 3+ hours of time with the HOPE it might be a good game. Get most of the games down to 2 hours, and might be in.