mjd1001

I agree with that exactly....that that alone is the difference between him as a player being a "top-5 in the league superstar" (which we want and many expected when he was drafted), compared what he is and has been...a 'top 20-25 player in the league star'. What many people wanted out of him was a half-step behind McDavid...so far he has instead been a 20th-25th best player in the league....mostly because of inconsistency.

I guess I'm there also. I am/was at the point where I was OK with him walking for this amount. Would I take what would come with that....no big time scorer on the Sabres...Skinner probably on a better team and getting farther in the playoffs next year....etc. Yes, I'd be OK with it if he was getting paid that much. However, its done so I'll enjoy watching him play for the team. Hopefully, the cash is front loaded (even though the cap hit will be the same, a front loaded contract would be easier to dump in later years IF NEEDED), hopefully he'll be a guy who keeps producing well into his early and mid-thirties...and hopefully it does not have a full no-trade clause (sorry if these details are out, I have not had a chance to read every post in this thread so far)

I think I'm with you on this, but its a good thing we can look forward to watching him this year again. In the past, my biggest criticisms of him were he didn't produce many goals/points at even strength, and he didn't bring much else to the game unless he was putting up points. This past season, he did a LOT better even strength. I still don't think hes a good player in the D-zone..or in transition...or someone the other team has to gameplan around..BUT..if he can put up the same (or slightly better) even strength numbers this year as he did last year..I'd be open to a long term deal around $7m because of his age.

So far from what I have seen of Nylander....he is not worth what he is getting paid. He has skill, and when you put a player with skill on a top line with another great player, they will put up numbers. I'd like to see Nylander for a full year on a team where he is 'the man', I don't think he'd fare too well. As far as Reinhart, up until this year I wasn't impressed with him as much as many others on this forum....he seemed like he could only produce on the Powerplay. This year though was the first time in his career he significantly raised his production even strength.

I'm at no on resigning him then. I like the player. alot. I am not a fan of tough, heavy hockey, I like up and down type hockey, but it doesn't make sense to me for where the Sabres are at. Sign him for 8 years..it is likey you get 3-4 elite years...2 decent years..and 2 years of regret. IF the Sabres were at the point now where you were looking at deep playoff runs right now and through those 4 'elite' years..then I'd go for it. But it is likely at least the first 2 of those years you aren't going to be in that position. Right player, Right position, Right money....wrong time for where the Sabres are in their progression. Last thing I want is for this team to be really good and a top 10 team in the NHL a few years down the road...and at that point THIS being the contract that causes them to need more help and not be able to get it.

Most seasons are too long. Football (NFL) I could use more of...give me the 18 game regular season there. Golf I think is good, esp this year where they spread the majors out a bit. I could do without the playoffs/fedex cup though or whatever they call it. But NHL? Too long. Regular season should be at least 10 games less..maybe more...and the reg season should end 3-4 weeks earlier (start it a week earlier if you must also) NBA? Same as NHL above MLB? I used to be a big fan but haven't watched a full game in a few years and hardly even follow the standings anymore, but the season could be cut by 20-30 games at least. Nascar? Wow. like MLB, I used to follow it a lot but hardly anymore (although I still watch a few races). Other than Daytona, no track should have more than 1 race, that would get rid of what...6-8 races a year? Ditch the playoff system there too.

I'm not eager to push Girgensons off the roster. If you get him on a really low-cost contract and there is no-one CLEARLY better, then I'd like to see him stay. As others have said...if there is another option available that is clearly better then go that route (not 'might' be better, not 'hopefully' better).

I'm not sure if this topic is of interest to anyone else..but this came up last weekend for me... I'm going to be attending my niece's graduation (4 year degree). She already has started a full time job and is living on her own out-of-state, and will be getting married soon. It got me thinking....the last time the Sabres WON a playoff series was against the Rangers in the 2006-2007 season....during that series, I had to babysit that same niece one night while watching the game on TV....she was 9 years old and I think in 4th grade.

Reijo Routsalainen (Same last name) was a pretty good player for the Rangers in the 1980's and I think the early 1990's.....I'm sure RJ did quite a few radio calls of games between the Sabres and Rangers getting practice with that name.

We weren't going to see it, but we ended up breaking down and seeing it..just because it is the 'ending' to a saga we have seen most of the other parts to. I thought it was OK...not great. I didn't like how they handled Thor either. Also, it was way too long. I like movies that are 2 hours in length..any more than that and I'd like them to find a way to tell the story better. Also, I know most people don't like sequels as much as the first movies in a franchise..but for me personally that goes double for 'superhero' movies. Origin stories are great...you deal more with how someone becomes who they are...and the heros (and villians) usually aren't so overpowered that it becomes comical. As you get later and later into the franchise...you lose a little of the 'human' story (not all, but some) and the action gets too big and too loud and everyone is 'too overpowered'. I think we got that here. Some people like that....but the over-the-top action and powers/abilities are not for me.

If the teams are making a lot of money...and after expenses the players are getting something as small as 25% of the profits, then I'm all for them saying what they said and doing this. On the other hand....if they want higher salaries by way of the NHL throwing money at the league to support it...and some of that money going to their salaries despite not making a profit....I'm against it. I'd be happy to see a middle ground. Have the players, and some of the representation (whatever form that may be) work with the league with some unique ways to have it become more profitable, and then have a metric in place where the players share in a large amount of that new/upcoming revenue. As others have said though..I'm not sure how to get the numbers to add up to anything substantial. I'm sure most of us want to see women's hockey succeed....but its just that...it has to 'succeed', not just 'exist' and whatever cost.

I actually disagree that they are more entertaining. First, I find powerplays entertaining. Second (and most important), when they put away the whistles, most calls that are not made are the obstruction type...holding ,hooking, slashing happen all the time. Personally, I WANT them calling tripping and hooking and holding all the time....when the refs let that go, the game gets a lot more boring to me.

The game changes. Players change. Any 'experience' that is more than 10 years in the past (maybe even less than that) might not mean much, as today's game is much different. Show me someone's credentials in the past 5 years...MAYBE take into consideration what they have done for the 5 years previous to that....beyond that I don't care much.

I wanted Vegas to win, and I think they did kinda get hosed on the call. But, as I have read a few other places this morning in a message to all Vegas fans....."You got screwed by a call in the playoffs...Welcome to the NHL, you are now truly 'officaly' a member of the NHL."

I'll pass on him also. He's not a first pair quality guy...and you need to give some of the younger guys a shot at those bottom 4 spots. Don't want/need Myers.

I do and I hate it. A lot of people say "let them play"....and my favorite "don't let the officials decide the game" by calling a penalty late in a playoff game. Don't let them decide it? The argument works the other way around also...but NOT calling a penalty on something that might deserve it..the officials ARE helping to decide the game in the other direction by allowing a player to do something illegal to 'change the play' and get away with it. Not calling a 'close' penalty in OT or a close game vs calling that penalty and causing a powerplay....either one is the officials helping to decide the game just as much.

I'm not sure just how much the Sabres need Skinner. Are they are better team with him next year than without him? Yes. But this team isn't likely contending for a cup next year. 2-3 years down the road..or more...where/how does he fit in? I love watching him play and I love goals, but you don't need a 40 goal scorer to be a great team. Its nice to have one..but you better not overpay for it. I really want a top goal scorer on this team...but he has to fit in in 'other ways' if you are going to pay that much. I hope they sign him but not for 8 years at $65 million or more. I'll honestly pass on him if that is the price.

There are always exceptions, but for the most part with forward drafted high that start in the NHL early in their career....it seems that sometime between the age of 21 - 24 is when you really get to know what their true NHL production is/will be.

In the big picture, taking into account the stability of the team, viability long term, impact on the city of Buffalo.....I would say no. However, if the question were worded differently, relating to how good of 'owners' they are for the success of the team...they yes. Maybe they are getting better, but it seems pretty apparent they weren't ready at all (even close) to run a competitive sports team. Questionable hires in key positions (coaches, GMs, upper managment), a lot of turnover, more than doubling the longest playoff drought in team history...etc. It kinda reminds me of when Dan Snyder bought the Redskins.....different personalities of course...but this level of success is what you can get when someone buys a team primarily because they are/were huge fans of the team and doesn't have the ability to take the 'step back' and let it be run by others in the business for the first few years UNTIL you are exposed to the inner workings of it.

I agree with a lot of this on Bogo. In an ideal world, I'd want the d-corp to be structured where you have one good skating, good moving, good passing offensive D-man paired with a stay-at-home type D-man. I like Bogo as the stay-at-home type (I think he does a decent job at that). It is a bonus he has the ABILITY (but not the mindset) to be the offensive guy too. When healthy, I really like his as the #2 pairing stay-at-home guy. Get him about 20 minutes of ice time per game...not to mention he is probably the best/most reliable penalty killing D-man on the roster right now.

I feel the same way. When the games/team is this bad, the ticket could be free and I wouldn't go..because of the extra cost...driving, parking, a drink, a snack...etc. Maybe, MAYBE if I lived 1/2 mile or less from the Arena and could walk there, but that would be the only way I'd go.

This whole 'watching sports thing'....its supposed to be fun, right? At some point it has to be fun for more than 2 weeks.....over a 8 year period?

In the history of the franchise...ONE other time they went on a 3 year playoff drought. Other than that..never more than 2 years before Pegula bought the team. But now they are on 8 years. Sure, in the past a higher percentage of teams made the playoffs than now...but if you look at their record, their point percentage...there is no doubt the worst 8 year stretch of the Franchise started with Pegula's first full season as owner.

Almost everything we watch on TV is streaming now...except for the Sabres. 2 or 3 weeks ago I had enough and dropped the cable package. I'll wait until well into next season (maybe after Jan 1, 2020) to decide on whether or not to get cable back for the Sabres. I'm reading the forum and watching the highlights (low-lights) online, but I'm done watching and have been for a couple weeks.

I don't know if Risto is good or not...I"m not that skilled in evaluating talent. What I DO know is he is on the ice for a TON of goals...and a lot of times I do see him looking the other way when he is near the eventual goal scorer. Even if he is better than I think, I'm frustrated with him and want him gone. With that said...I'd like to see the D-unit kept pretty simple. Pairings should be 1 young, fast skating, puck moving D-man paired with one stay-at-home type veteran guy. I'd be happy next year with Bogo and McCabe (if re-signed) being 2 of those 3 in the 'stay at home' role.