mjd1001

I'd hope it is the opposite. From what we have seen in the preseason games and reports from camp, Nylander looks a LOT better than Casey and Thompson. I think Nylander should be closer to a lock with Casey and Thompson showing they really need more seasoning.

The more I watch the more I think Middlestadt isn't ready for the NHL yet and should spend some time in Rochester, where he will get more minutes against competition that is better than he has faced in college. Trust me, I WANT him to be on the Sabres and WANT him to be good now, but I just don't see it. He looks lost in the D-zone and he hasn't shown much in the offensive zone all camp or in preseason. I think Thompson has looked a lot better, but he also has his ups and downs. I'd almost like to see him in Rochester for a few weeks...with him pissed that he got sent down...and being the first callup after he lights up the AHL for a few weeks.

I agree 100%. He just hasn't stood out to me at all. I'm not saying he is bad, but I think he might be a LOT farther away from being an impact player on this team than we think. Is he eligible to go down to Rochester? I think he and the Sabres might be better off with him on Rochester soaking up minutes there, while Bergund/Sobotka or one of the other eligible players takes up Centering lines with the big club.

I'll be interested to watch a game in an arena that only seats about 2,000 people. I guess not too much different than Harborcenter?

I haven't seen a ton out of Mittlestadt in training camp/preseason that makes me think he is anywhere ready for a #2 line spot. Maybe it'll change, but I see him getting 3rd line minutes at best and HOPEFULLY putting up 10-15 goals. A little time in Rochester might not even hurt him now. We all WANT him to look better, and eventually expectations are he will be that #2 center, but I don't see him even being close to that right now. Sure, you can give him 3rd or 4th line minutes...but if it is possible, I'd rather see him running the show (1st or 2nd line and 1st line PP) in Rochester, at least for part of a season.

First of all, I'll say I like Reinhart. But, I agree with a lot of what you say. I can see this contract as a 'trial' to see if he had any further development, but more so as one that is very tradeable. While i like Reinhart, he is not a good skater, and for his entire career his production is below average for 5-on-5, and he hasn't proven to be an asset penalty killing. I think JBots would probably rather have a few other guys with speed and even strength scoring as part of his top 5 or 6 salaries long term on this team, and then fill the rest of the roster with other speedy guys. Unless Reinhart shows he can score close to 20 even strength goals in a season....then I'm not sure he is here long term.

I watched the game and thought about it, and the things that stood out to me: 1. Eichel and Skinner didn't mesh well, if they are going to play together, they need more time together to get to know each others tendencies 2. It will be bordering on a Crime if Erod goes to Rochester. Need to find him a spot on the Sabres 3. McCabe and Risto just want to throw hip checks all day (and its good) 4. Pilut looks good enough to make the Sabres 5. The dark navy jerseys are so bad. Why can't they just go to a lighter royal blue?

I hope not. I really don't want to think the Sabres will give in to demands (maybe for a multi-year deal) that they otherwise would not have because of one early preseason injury.

If I had to choose between your 2 choices, I'd say Skinner. I just like watching him more.

This may be something that is recurring with Reinhart..if he signs a one year deal...this may happen again next year. If he signs a 2 year deal, it will happen again in 2 years.... Thats not to say that Sam is they type of guy who is always going to hold out. Instead it is the type of player he is on the ice. JBot values speed, we see that and he says that. Thats NOT to say he doesn't value Reinhart. He probably thinks he is a good player and might want him on the Sabres. BUT, because he values speed SO MUCH, he is always going to value Sam a bit less than other teams might. Eventually, there may be enough friction that develops there that both sides think a 'change of scenery' may be best long term. I don't think we are there yet though.

I feel better/more excited about this season for the Sabres than for a lot of others, even Jacks first year: -Dahlin, of course. I don't expect him to be great right away, but I want to see flashes of greatness. -Speed. This might be one of the fastest skating teams we have seen in....at least recent memory -A lot of change to the roster..and not in a way that looks like it was meant for change's sake..or as a 'quick fix' -Skinner. A speedy winger that is a pure finisher. He's like Evander Kane with less physicality but even more 'finish' -I don't really care if they make the playoffs this year..just I want to see a few things that MAKE me think they are on their way to making it soon. Also, I'm hoping for/excited to see a team that, for the first time in a while, has the chance to control play and out-shoot/out-possess the other team somewhat frequently.

Berglund can play center, he has for a lot of his career. I think if need be, he can fill in there if Casey is not ready.

We saw it a few years ago when it was in the theater, and I agree it was really good. My wife agreed to see it with me. She really knows NOTHING about auto racing (she knows who Jeff Gordon is and 'heard' the name Earnhardt before..but thats about it) and even she liked the movie a lot.

They are getting better with experience as owners. However, so far if you take everything together, they haven't done well. But, it looks as if things are getting better

This is the first year in a LONG time that not many people are predicting the Bruins to fade...so to me that means this is the year they actually do. They will struggle to make the playoffs, if then even do make it. Dallas and Florida are both going to be a lot better than people think. Both are playoff teams barring any major injuries. L.A. is going to disappoint, they will have a season this year like Chicago had last year. Buffalo? I feel the same way about the Sabres that I do about the Bills. I do not think they are a playoff team, but I have as little of a grasp on EXACTLY what I think they will be as I have in years. To me this is just a 'sit back with no expectations and watch' kind of year.

I have been thinking about this topic for a long time recently. How do you define a 'better season'? I guess your overall place in the league is a good metric. I still think the Sabres. I think the Bills are likely to be in the bottom 10 in the league, maybe the bottom 5. I think (and am hoping) the Sabres are someplace mid-pack in the NHL. Neither is likely to make the playoffs...I hope I'm wrong on that through, but the Sabres should be closer.

Anyone here interested in or watch Formula one? I have been a casual F1 fan for a few years, getting slightly more interested in the past 2-3 years (but still not an expert) I got up early today and watched the Italian Grand Prix. Maybe Sebastian Vettal is the most talented driver in racing (maybe he is not) but he doesn't seem to be the BEST driver...it seems to me he often makes major mistakes on the track that are caused by his emotions or mood. This morning he was very short and almost rude with the Sky sports reporter, and I read yesterday on some internet articles he was upset with his teammate or upset with SOMEONE but it was hard to tell just what he was upset with. So on the first lap of the race from the 2nd postion, he gets overly aggressive trying to pass the other Ferrari on the first lap, and ends up causing an accident that does more damage to himself than anyone else. It seems he tends to win races when everything goes his way during the week, but even something minor that happen in the days before the race cause him to make some major mistake on the track? This seems to be a pattern with that guy...anyone here watch the race...or follow F1 and have any opinion on the topic?

I think if Vegas offered odds on that...it would be about 10000 to 1.

I just want some moves made to thin-out this D core. I want to see the young guys get some playing time with the Sabres (Guhle, Nelson). I have a feeling you are going to need to see some of the vets moved off this team to ensure that. So, move some of them...I don't care for what you get....get a 3rd or 4th rounder in return, it can be used around the trade deadline to peddle off to someone else for a part to fill in for injuries if you make a playoff run.

I hope he stays here. a 30+ goal sniper with speed is the exact type of player I like. I seem to hear a lot (on this forum and on the radio) that he didn't really 'fit in' or wasn't 'comfortable' in Carolina with his role on the team and with the coaches/management. If that is/was true, I'm hopeful he'll sign here based on the following: -The Sabres are willing to basically give him the money they were going to pay O'Reilly if he was still here, as long as Skinner puts up the goals -Skinner is willing to sign for that $7 million a year in Buffalo, seeing he fits in with his new teammates and LIKES being in Buffalo, a 1.5 hour drive from his home in Toronto (where he spends his summers).

I hear you. I see a lot of posts here about peoople complaining that others are 'stealing' their ideas or pointing out that they want credit because they came up with something first. It has happened to me before....I posted a theory here in the past that I never read before, and was jumped on by someone that said they thought of it first. It is possible for 2 people to post the same thought...and just because one person posts it first doesn't mean the other person stole it from them.

Ok, this deal makes me want to watch this team pretty badly now....I just want to see him resigned to a new contract asap. I'll take some below average defensive play in exchange for elite speed and good goal scoring ability.

So...are we hoping he turns into a modern day Dave Andreychuk type? Or want him to do what Reinhart does in front of the net but with more size? And I'm still trying to get a good thought on his skating. I have read a few prospect reports on him from before he was drafted...heard some stuff about him on the radio today, and read some comments on here. Almost exactly half of what I have taken in says he is an above average skater and very good for his size skating...and the other half makes it sound like he is orange cone on the ice that people skate around.

I'm concerned with the age and term that is coming back in this trade....and I think ROR is a good player...but on the ice I just don't see him as being as great as other do. He really isn't a complete 2-way center when you look at his offensive production. Power play goals and points do count, but WAY too much of his offensive production is a result of getting a lot of ice time on the PP. The Sabres have had 2 players total over the last couple of years who produced 5-on-5...Eichel and Kane. Over the past 3 years, ROR is tied for 161st in the league in even strength goals. When you factor in his high ice time (even at even strength), his scoring rate per 60 minutes even strength looks even worse. His goals per 60 minutes is ranked 182nd in the league over the last 3 years, and when you factor in the fact that he scores a lower percentage of even strength goals than most...he really isn't an offensive threat at all at even strength. Once again, he is great at faceoffs....is good enough to be on a 2nd PP line even on an Elite team...but I don't think that is worth $7.5 per year. If, IF he was a locker room problem, then just getting rid of his salary might make the team better in the long run.

Some scary stuff on Berglund...who is under contract for quite a few more years: (Via https://www.stlouisgametime.com/2018/6/12/17453646/five-questions-the-st-louis-blues-must-answer-this-summer) He did somehow manage to record 17 goals in 57 games. Over 82 games, that would put him on pace for a career-best 24 goals. The Blues, who only had three 20-goal scorers last season, wouldn’t seem to be in a position to abandon another potential contributor. And yet Berglund recorded only nine assists. Of those nine, seven were primary assists. Of those seven, only three were assists on goals scored by forwards. Of those three, only one - a single goal by Alexander Steen against Columbus on March 24th - was a pass. The other two were deflections. Patrik Berglund, ostensibly a center, passed the puck to a forward in a manner that resulted in a goal exactly one time over the full course of an NHL season. Contenders have to demand more production of their players. And the Blues have to demand that Berglund accepts a ticket out of town.