klos1963

Doesn't mean it's bad.

They started off on the wrong foot, hiring the very wrong coach. Lafontaine hired his good friend, not the best coach available. Murray thought they were closer to a playoff team than they really were, all downhill since then. With Pegulas, be it Bills or Sabres, often has his coaches hired before his GM. Just doesn't make a lot of sense.

Maybe Olofsson. They lack talent.

The Russians would win , unless they pulled Tretiak after the 1st period again.

Sabres 1975 team would destroy a college team. I don't think many teams would do well against the Habs or Islanders dynasty's. Goalie equipment could be a factor though.

The 75 team had 6 players with 30+ goals!!!! 9 with 20+... amazing. I agree that goaltending is the biggest difference between the eras. The equipment comparison is ridiculous. Another big change is all defensemen today are mobile, back then they often stayed closer to the net, allowing for more slap shot opportunities from players like Martin, Lafleur.... Schoenfeld and Hajt were offensively challenged. Korab had a great shot but couldn't skate. Hajt would do well in todays game because he was so good defensively. Schoenfeld was overrated back then, can't see him being any good today, he couldn't get away with being out of position so often. Not sure about Korab, he was tough and could shoot. Guevremont could play well today, point on the PP too.

I used to spend a lot of time on TBD, this is so different here. I have disagreed with a few posts over the last couple days and the result was a decent conversation- I was expecting to get blasted for having a different opinion, as what normally happens over at TBD. Quite refreshing.

I checked , in 1974 the NHL allowed it in order to compete with the WHA, Fogolin was 19 when drafted.

I think the draw of working close to home plays a big factor and that helps the Sabres. I didn't no one will sign here, I still think it's more difficult than many other cities. It is a 'hockey town' and that helps.

I think just the first couple years, wasn't Fogolin the first underage draft pick?

I don't see how our farm system is anything special. Is there anyone really banging on the door ready to have an impact on the Sabres? Not a free agent at the time. I think it will be tough to attract high end free agents, doesn't mean impossible, but many more attractive options out there for players to go.

The Islanders are much are already ahead of last seasons point total , after losing Tavares. Trotz is an excellent coach, won a cup last season. Did anyone expect the Islanders to improve after losing their best player?

some weren't household names, but most made an immediate impact. Maybe it's harder today to do that.

Likely not. But we would probably have a productive 2nd line. Which we sorely lack. Biggest issue overall with the team is our goaltending currently is no better than last season, possibly worse right now.

Sorry, but I have to be a little negative. I think we are slightly better than last year , but only because we had a hot streak in october/november, the rest of the season we are about as bad a before. I think we would be a better team with both ROR and Kane. No real reason to think not. Yeah, we wouldn't have had Berglund or Sobotka, but we could have somehow dealt with that.

The view through Buffalo colored glasses. We are not nearly in the class of the league elites and they don't just fizzle suddenly. Our goaltending is subpar, our prospects aren't probably much better than any other teams and we don't seem to have much in the way of goal scorers because we need more than 1. Need to hope that Middlestat and Tage take big leaps next season. Need to figure out how to teach our defensemen to cover the guy near the net so they don't get so many easy goals. I don't like our mix of defensemen. Some nice talent, but they lack toughness around our goalie. No opponent is afraid to stand next to our crease. Lot of work ahead for this team, too many teams to leapfrog to become an elite team.

If they aren't playing well, what makes them 'capable' backups? When will Hutton rebound? We've been waiting.

Getting Crozier in the expansion draft was huge too. Imlach did a helluva job.

most overrated Sabre ever. Never forgot when Bob Kelly scored the winning goal in 75 finals, Schoenfeld was caught around center ice- how does that happen 11 seconds into a period? He was always out of position. Had maybe 2 decent seasons.

Agreed. The draft is long over, it doesn't matter as much about your draft position now, it's how you are performing. Your list of players performing better than Nylander does expose our lack of talent in Rochester.

You're correct. But it's Guevermont in the original picture.

Robert's against the Habs in 1973. In Montreal facing elimination.

It was Guevremont in the picture. McIntosh was a forward.

I think I remember, Luce tossed from the faceoff and Ramsay won it against Lemaire. carried it all the way up ice... Lemaire was so pissed about losing that faceoff to a winger. back when hockey was fun. That was a wild series.

Was that the OT goal for Gare?