GASabresIUFAN

It doesn’t stop it and it doesn’t matter in the end. How many teams will sabotage their seasons next year to get Bedard ? 3 or 4? How is the lottery going to stop that? Rebuilding is also a tradition in the NHL. Every year bad teams trade away veteran talent for draft picks. The draft lottery has done nothing to change that. Also the odds of getting a generational talent at the top of the draft are small. McDavid, Crosby and Mathews are truly elite, but what of Hischier or Hall or Yakupov or RNH or Eric Johnson. None of these guys are generational talent. Many others are excellent players but aren’t franchise changers like an Ekblad or even Dahlin. How many Cups have McDavid or Matthews even played for? Getting a generational talent obviously doesn’t guarantee success. It takes a team to contend and good management to build a team. It seems most “tanking” teams lack the management to right their ships. Arizona has been a disaster franchise since day one. Toronto hasn’t won a Cup since 1967 or a playoff series since 2004. There is talk in Toronto of hiring new management of (when) the team falls again early in this year’s playoffs. A lack of D and goaltending will do that. EDM with McDavid and Draisaitl is only now making the playoffs consistently but aren’t a contender, but their rebuild took 15 years of high picks including 4 1st overall selections to now only sort of work. Ott, NJ (w 2 1st overall picks) and Det have made high picks for years now aren’t even close to playoff contention. Buffalo hasn’t reached the playoffs in a decade+, despite drafting in the top 8 for a decade including 2 1st overall and 2 2nd overall picks and we still don’t have any goaltending. The bottom line is the lottery has done nothing to prevent tanking despite ample evidence that tanking doesn’t work anyway. All the lottery is an annual NHL game show to try drive some additional media attention.

They may not even do that. I am an advocate of acquiring a real 2 way center, but realize that puts either Z or Asplund in the pressbox if JJP makes the team. Putting one of our best defensive players in the pressbox probably won't fly with DG and if Z is the odd man out, that also takes one of the team leaders off the ice. I doubt DG and KA want to do that at this point. If they re-sign Vinnie, I would doubt they add another outside forward for the Sabres at least. The defense is another matter. I expect at least 2 new D. A partner for Power and one other veteran D who KA considers an upgrade on Pysyk. I think they love their top 3 in Dahlin, Power and Samuelsson and believe in the development of Joki and Bryson. If I remember correctly, DG mentioned Joki like 4 times in his press conference. Fitz is the second coming of Rory Fitzpatrick. That leaves 1-2 openings for outside players.

How about just get rid of the lottery?

We want the pick this year. There is good depth in this draft through 22. I have guys like McGroarty, Isaac Howard, Snuggerud, Geekie, Ohgren and Meser in that tier. I think all will be good NHL players. Depending on how the draft goes: 9 -10 Jiricek, Lekkerimaki, Gauthier, Nazar 16. Ohgren, McGroarty, Howard, Geekie, Mesar 32. ?? Lain Bichsel I'd love 2/3 of the excellent Swedish line and grab Lekkerimaki and Ohgren.

Risto. He also would have moved Sam to center after the ROR trade. He also wouldn’t have let Mitts flounder. You wonder if Mitts and Tnt would have blossomed sooner if he had been their initial coach.

Actually I've been to a few games in recent years and the stadium was awful.

Overlooked maybe someone like Eric Comrie who at 26 finally made the show and played well for WPG in his 19 games or someone like Casey DeSmith who at 30 is the perfect bridge age and may relish an opportunity to be the starter.

The only major thing I took away from DG’s press 42 minute conference, besides a nap, was that the analytics would take care of themselves as the team improved.

What a waste, when you can accomplish the goals without resorting to that kind of move, still improve the team and not block a single kid. You give VO 4 years @ 5.5, re-sign Vinnie for a year at 2.5, sign DeSmith 3 years at 3.5, sign Jan Rutta for 2 years at 2.25 and then find a solid depth veteran LHD like Marc Staal for 2 mill.

They are part of the problem. Anderson missed significant time with injury and was a below average NHL goaltender last season when he played. UPL was worse in the AHL than Aaron Dell behind the same defense. Hoping that we’d get at least a similar mediocre performance from Anderson at 41, is foolish at best. Hoping a mediocre AHL goalie can miraculously be good in the NHL the next season is also foolish.

If you fix it they will come.

We really don’t have the roster space to take on to many cap dumps. KA also won’t bring in someone that doesn’t fit in the lockerroom. Subtle will be the watch word.

I do think their is definitely something in his experience with that Carolina Cup team that is helping him now. Knowing Brind’amour and Rutherford and being able to use those relationships has certainly help him grow into the job. I’m still not completely sold on him as a GM, but I’m coming around. I think the team is a playoff contender right now with good goaltending. He has unlimited cap space and other assets to fix the goaltending. No more excuses.

Lucky. Right place, right time, but smart enough to surround himself with good people. DG fell onto his lap.

Thanks. She is a marvel. A kid with dyslexia and ADHD who earned an academic scholarship to UGA, graduated UGA with a 3.9, and completed graduate school with a 4.0 and a Masters in child Pyschology plus a specialist degree. Her mission is to find kids like herself and get them the help they need. Hard to argue with that.

No on is saying don’t give him a shot (ok except me, I want him back in Rochester with a better D and earn his way up). However there is no excuse for not having a good plan B this time. I’d prefer saying it and then actually doing it. A first class organization should extend to all aspects of the team and their fans.

How about something like senior management is aware of the issues and is working on a plan to address those issues this offseason.

Do you honestly think KA believes UPL is ready to carry an NHL team? That seriously worries me if he does.

What? 15 million - 5 million of the 15 on VO, the remaining 10 mill on D and goaltending.

I would disagree that it is an odd question. Part of the fan experience is having a decent environment at the game. Having ripped and broken chairs, broken bathrooms, and other facility issues damage that experience. KA may not be in charge of facility repairs, but as the face of the management of the team who says that the organization needs to win back the fanbase, facility repair is nice place to start now that the on ice product is improving.

On no. That’s the kiss of death. Don’t do it KA. Save DG.

He said previously that he wanted to acquire a partner for Power. I do agree with tempered expectations. KA is nothing if not methodical. He’ll spend to the floor and let the kids grow together. However that plan won’t work with the goaltending. He needs to make a firm step here. The Anderson band-aid isn’t adequate for next season and he must know this.

Don't expect much of the that money to be spent. Expect about 15 mill to get to the cap floor. 5 mill to VO and then 10 mill on upgrading the goaltending and a RHD or two.