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No No NOoooooo, just when he inevitably doesn't have the time to do these anymore hopefully not anytime soon.

Expected a little more scoring out of these guys but overall they are not that far behind my expectations. I think getting 36 more points out of this season to get to 80 is doable and if not hopefully that’ll translate into a top 5 pick at the very least. My all star break appraisal begins: DEFENSE Overall they are much better than last year. Ristolainen is progressing in his development and is quickly turning into the #1 guy we all hoped he would become. I’m not as down with Bogosian as some are and I think he’ll either end up with Risto on the #1 pairing or be a solid #2 pairing. Major weaknesses of the group as a whole is speed and offensive weapons besides Risto and the ability to get the puck out of their own zone. Gorges is a good positional defender and appears to be a good leader of this group but IMO is not good in front of the net and has little offensive potential. I don’t think he’s well suited for the #1 pairing and his best spot would be as Bogosian’s partner on the #2 pairing or as the #3 LHD. At the beginning of the year I was hoping for a Pysyk/McCabe pairing but as we move forward, I foresee these guys as a good #3 pairing. I see Franson-Weber-Colaiacovo as stopgaps and it will be interesting if all or any of the 3 get moved at the trading deadline. GOALTENDER Very hard to give an opinion on the 3G’s we’ve seen so far. I don’t think Johnson will be a Sabre past this season even if he doesn’t get move at the trading deadline and I just haven’t seen enough of Lehner-Ullmark to give a grade to but being young and the upside is there, this may or may not turn out to be a strength. I will say 1 thing about Lehner, that is one BIG dude and probably deserves the title as The Big Johnson OFFENSE The #1 positive is the development of Reinhart and the obvious potential of Eichel. It will be interesting to see if Blysma moves Reinhart back to Center of keeps him at ROR’s right winger. Moving forward the 2nd line to me is set with Kane-ROR and Reinhart. The #1 line will go to Eichel as soon as they find a legitimate RW to play with him. I’m hopeful we’ll be able to pick up 1 of the boys from Finland (P+L) to pair up with him along with Girgensons who appears to have found his way finally paired with Jack. We’ll see. I’m guessing Legwand is gone after this year and Gionta if for nothing else but age is close behind. The major disappointment this season has been the zero production from the 3rd and 4th line. I think the main reason Kane is on the 3rd line at the moment is to help the production there and to get McGinn seen for a trade at the deadline. I’m not a Moulson fan but even I didn’t foresee him just falling off the cliff this year in production and my high hopes for Ennis has been dashed with his poor play to start the year on top of all his injuries. The Sabres need a major infusion of speed going forward here also. GOING FORWARD-TRADE DEADLINE-FREE AGENCY Hopefully Fasching is ready next year, a stud in the draft is available. Someone from Bailey/Baptiste/Guhle shows they are either NHL ready or will be shortly. Trade deadline deals seem to be for draft choices this year. The Ennis injury really hurts getting a top 4 Dman at the trade deadline without giving up something valuable. A draft deal ala the ROR deal last summer or FAgency is a way to probably pick up a defensive player and a winger. Without breaking the bank I think Goligoski is available, Yandle seems to be on the outs with the Rangers also. I’d also like to see the Sabres make a run at Boedeker if he isn’t signed by his club. He’ll bring more production and add much needed speed to the lineup.

Nice job on the GDT again WildCard!!! Your entertainment value will be hard to replace.

I don't think this is a tank year. They are 10-10 and 1 in their last 21 games. Not awesome but a definite improvement over the past 2 seasons. Fun to watch at times, I'm also trying to keep my expectations in check but it's nice to pull for victories again and at the same time not be devastated by losses. I agree with TB Johnson that they need a few pieces still but hopefully a little luck in the draft process gets us some additional immediate help.

Personally, I hate the challenges, unless it's just egregious just move on. Unfortunately the refs have overturned some very minor infractions and in so doing they have empowered the coaches to try almost everything in chance it'll go their way. I don't particularly think any challenge is bad in this scenario but until the league makes some minor changes, it'll go on, learn to live with it.

Let me make sure I understand the complaint..... You have a coach, playing on the road, against a team fighting for a playoff spot, with 5 first year players on his squad, 2 top 6 forwards out, a D man that was on the first line out, we win 3-2 and we're complaining that he's not too bright, doesn't know what he's doing and his tactics stink??? Am I missing something in this argument???

They just played their 5th game in 8 days and traveled from Buffalo to Arizona to Colorado to Buffalo in that same span of time. They were also short several regulars in that Detroit game. Is there just the slightest possibility they were just tired in that game????? I think the 3 days rest between games and getting a couple of guys back will get them back on track.

Saw that also, wow 30 minute men

GCLive gave me a not available ate the beginning of game but I turned it on to see the stats and the game is on....... Wierd but I'm happy again

Wow!!!!! Kane and lazy, never thought I'd see that pair of words together concerning him.

I'm guessing it is more likely they are showcasing Franson, Weber and Gorges.

I think he's really playing better lately, my only disagreement with you is he had a couple of opportunities early and mishandled the puck. Also, Lehner wasn't awesome but he looked a lot better than his previous game. Bad luck on the 2nd goal keeps him from getting a point in this game. It would help if we had scored a couple for him, must be something about these Swedish goalies..... too many meatballs maybe??? Nice goal by Kane also by the way, he now leads the team in hits which is pretty impressive since he's missed 10 games and and is 1 behind Eichel in SOG for the season. Personally I think he's the most scary player to play against for us. A forechecking demon also. I am really starting to love this guy. Another item is we have really improved getting the puck out of our zone quickly. I think the addition of Pysyk and the pairing of Bogo and Risto have really helped.

Great posts in here!!!! If they can swing Boedker, I don't think they can afford Yandle. Goligoski will be cheaper. Pluses are we will be both younger, bigger and faster. I've been so impressed with the Bogosian-Risto pairing, I want them to stay together. I also want McCabe and Pysyk to play together again also. My dream team 1a Kane-ROR-Reinhart 1b Boedker-Eichel-DraftChoice (1 of the Finns hopefully) 3 Girgs-Larrson-Fasching 4 Foligno-Schaller-Gionta Bogo-Risto Goligoski-(Whoever we can coup from the inevitable Ennis-Weber-Johnson-Franson trades coming up) McCabe-Pysyk Lehner Ullmark

WildCard, you have done another great job with this. Appreciate your time in doing these for not only the info but the entertainment factor. Thanks.

I think unless we go on a unforeseen role to end the season, there are just too many teams in front of us to be able to push on thru to the playoffs this year. Having said that, the top 5 teams in the West...Chicago, LA, Minnesota, St.Louis and Dallas, we have already played them 8 of the 10 times we'll see them this year. Of the top 6 teams in the East presently, Florida, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Washington, NYI and the Rangers, we have played 14 times and have only 7 games left with these teams. So we have already played presumably the best teams in the NHL at total of 22 times in our first 46 games. The schedule does get a lot easier in that scenario but that means we have to win a big majority of our games against the teams that are still in front of us. The rosy part of this scenario is we are presently playing our best hockey of the season right now, not just in winning 4 or our last 5 but our overall play. The kids are starting to understand their roles and have gained confidence plus they appear to have gained a new found confidence in themselves and their teammates. I can only think of 2 games out of our last 15-20 that we've looked bad, the Florida game and the Boston game a few games back. All the rest we've at the very least have been very competitive in even when we lost. So there's hope until Melissa McCarthy starts singing.

Moulson and Lehner are definitely top 2 right now. Franson has actually played much better with McCabe on his wing.

OMG..... You biotch about the Pegulas You biotch when someone doesn't write nice about the Pegulas You biotch when the team loses You biotch when the team wins What does that make you???? Buffalo Sabre Biotchers!!!!!!!!!! Reference notes..... stolen but not necessarily word for word from the movie Bull Durham

Nice catch Aud.... thanks for sharing

Don't forget Reinhart going off for Roughing too....... Just saying

Bogosian doing a very nice job on the left side with Risto also...... Could this be a future pairing??

I'm guessing although ROR and Kane are probably not enthused about not making the playoffs, I don't think this is a tank move and they both knew what the Sabres have been the past few years and couldn't have expected this to be a SC year. I agree with you about Ullmark, I think he was starting to play really well and if Johnson does get traded as I expect, he'll be back up shortly.

They get a 1/2 season to see what Lehner has to offer. Ullmark gets quality games/minutes in Rochester. They get The Real Johnson some more games to hopefully raise his trade value for an extra month. All good things. They most likely are not playoff participants this year anyway so even if he technically is not ready for prime time that'll improve their draft stock for this summer. Another good thing. That will leave a top 2 LHD and most likely a draftable top 6 forward in the draft to pick up for next season's run to the playoffs. Another good thing. The rebuild is coming along just fine. As for MODO, I'm guessing a case of Konig and a pint of Absolut Vodka will keep him happy :w00t:

That was too awesome!!!!!

Your 4 RD's.... Risto-Bogo-Franson-Pysyk Your 4 LD's..... Gorges-McCabe-Weber-Colo It will be interesting if anything much changes besides Pysyk getting a few minutes here and there until DB has faith in him to handle 3rd line minutes. I don't foresee him getting left side minutes though. When he's ready it looks like Franson may be the recipient of the odd man out.

I agree with the white collar/blue collar guy. The majority of season tickets at one time were purchased by the diehard fans. When ticket prices went thru the roof the majority of season ticket holders became corporate sponsors. Instead of people who lived and died with the Home team it's now date night and hey I won free tickets to the game, let me ask my buddy who also doesn't really give a hoot about the team. Just a completely different fan at the games now a days. It's ok by me because one I don't like the drive in town anymore and I like the cheaper beer and parking in my garage as opposed to paying some extravagant price to park in the city's garage and $9 beers. The atmosphere won't get any better until the team starts winning big-time and the ticket holder becomes cool to be seen at the games. Unfortunately 21st century sports. As for the players, they are bigger, faster and have better skills than at anytime in history. I realize it's my opinion but bigger rinks, smaller gkeeper padding and calling interference would kick up scoring a bunch, but that's in a different thread I think. Merry Christmas by the way, my hockey fix has been helped by getting GCLive and finding this site. Have a fruitful Holiday Season my fellow Sabre fans.