mjd1001

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.

I like the trade. The 2nd pick in 2021 though? We MIGHT see that player on the ice in 2024 or 2025...its probably better used as a chip in a trade. Berglund is a Swede. JBot has something for Swedes. He's awful at faceoffs, but should be good enough to fill in at the #2 center spot until/if Mittlestadt is ready. I like the idea of having 3 first round picks next year...AND without ROR....Eichel getting more ice time.

I agree with much of what you said, but I keep going back and forth on O'Reilly. If it was even a fair return, I would rather see him moved. If he stays, I'm OK with it, but only if is usage is correct. He can't be the center on this team that gets the most even strength minutes. He can (and probably still should) get 18-19 minutes of ice time per game...but it should be 2nd or 3rd line minutes PLUS PP time PLUS PK time plus faceoffs at the end of periods games. Basically, even strength, I want Eichel to be getting 1-2 more minute of Ice time than ROR per game (hasn't happened yet) and HOPEFULLY by the end of the year Middlestadt will be getting at least equal even strenth minutes (maybe more).

No on politics on these boards. If needed, create a seperate part of the forum for political discussions. If anyone adds any type of politics to a discussion, they get warned once and then a 10+ day ban for a second offense.

its early, and already not much room on the big club or the Amerks for D-men. I've got to think the Sabres have to already be thinking about unloading some of the D-men they have for some loose change in the near future.

What would it take? and I'm trying to be SOMEWHAT realistic here.... -2nd overall pick from Carolina (to take Svechnikov), Hannifan, Carolina's first next year...AND the Canes take Okposo's contract off of the Sabres hands. or -I'd consider Jacob Trouba and Laine from Winnipeg.....with the Jets also taking Okposo and his contract also. I know a great D-man may be even more valuable than a great forward (they can play up to half of a game in ice time in crucial games), but I'll always be a bit more partial to wanting a great forward.....myself as a casual-to-moderate hockey fan....I'd rather see highlight real goals (and a lot of them) than very sound defensive play with some offensive contributions.

Reinart more. Younger, cheaper. They are both slow though, both have little transition game, and both rely on the power play for more of their goals/points than a typical NHL player. Neither are guys I think of as legit top line or great 2nd line guys. But, if I have to choose the one I prefer, it is Reinhart.

The Sabres are building a 'Swedish culture' in the locker room for sure...any other free agents coming up the next year or two from Sweden they hope to draw to the team?