GASabresIUFAN

The PP is much much better with Mitts on the wall.

Did we have someone in front of Knight at all that period?

Whether Hellebuyck is available, which I can accept he may not be, KA has to kick the tires on every proven goalie available. He needs to call everyone and see what shakes out. I also agree he shouldn’t pay a king’s ransom for anyone. A 1st and a prospect is as far as I’d go, but that would only be for a goalie with significant tread left on the tire.

You mean TM. Darcy was definitely a deal maker but his drafting and development was a critical part of his success until video scouting. Teppo, Connolly, Lydman, Briere, Hecht and Drury may have come from trades or signing of UFAs, but Miller, Biron, Roy, Pommers, Vanek, Stafford, Max, Kotalik, McKee, Campbell, Gaustad, Stafford, Kalinin and Tallinder were all draft and develop.

With a few weeks to go in the season the D seems to have settled in. They kept Nash from getting a shot for almost 17 minutes at one point last night. Dahlin has become a star. Samuelsson has been excellent as the physical stay at home D but is also showing a willingness to get involved offensively. Joki is steady and DG likes him on the second PP. Those 3 are locks for next season and honestly Bryson and Fitzgerald are making strong cases to stay in the lineup next fall. Bryson’s play since being moved to the right side has been excellent regardless of who he has been paired with. Fitz has been solid as well while adding a little needed feistiness to the group. Once Power is inserted and assuming KA adds a veteran RHD to the young group, he is going to have a hard time sitting either Bryson or Fitz

TNT vs ROR?

Gotcha. Not wanting to be here is very triggering

He bamboozled key players, the GM, the owners, members of the media, fans, and G-d knows who else. RK is Rasputin.

How do you know he won't want to come here? He is an American kid from Michigan who played college at U Mass Lowell. Who wants to be in Wpg? I don't see them on a upward trajectory. (Maybe I just don't like the ex-Thrashers).

I believe that is correct.

By the way, someone needs to get Jim Kelly an updated Sabres hat. Jim the "Slug" is dead.

The last 17 games were a good test. This is a gauntlet, until we get to beat on the Leafs again. If we win 2 of the 5 against TB, Car and Fla I'll be thrilled.

Why? The Sabres have a $6 mill guy on the 4th line. We need almost $18 in spending this year to just get us to the cap floor, $ 38 million for the current ceiling. Giving $5 to VO is a step in that direction and on a 4 year deal, we'll get his prime years. We shouldn't bounce up against the ceiling for at least 5 years. Don't be so locked in to 1, 2, 3 & 4th lines. KA isn't building the team that way. He is building a team of depth and matchups. The Tuch, Skinner, TNT line is No. 1 right now, but if you noticed DG is also breaking them up mid game. We have seen recently all 3 other lines have big games. Z scored 2 against Wpg. VO had 2g and 1a against Chicago and has 8 goals in his last 15 games. Krebs had a goal and an assist last night. Cozens had two helpers in both the Chi and Nash games, while Mitts had 2 against the Rags and 6 points in his last 7 games. Everyone is contributing that has made the difference in March.

I'd make that deal right now.

It really depends on how close management feels the team is from being competitive. Get Saros for example, who is only 26 and you have elite goaltending for the next 8-10 years. If management thinks the team is ready to be a playoff contender as early as next year, getting a proven goaltender is the highest off-season priority we have. Also we may end up drafting as low at 11 depending on the how the lottery goes. Will that player really help us in the next 2-3 years? Depending on the offer, I'd certainly listen to a deal involving a real starter for UPL and either our 1st or LV's first.

I wonder whose fault that was? His? Jack? RK? Jbot? All of the above. What exactly did he do to make it better? He and Hall are firmly on my most hated ex-Sabre list, right up there with Kozlov. TNT vs ROR ROR - 63 gp 15g 29a 44 pts; age 31 TNT - 65 gp 30g 23a 53 pts; age 24 Jack vs Tuch & Krebs Jack - 22 gp 9g 7a 16 pts Tuch - 37 gp 9g 21a 30 pts Krebs - 35 gp 7g 10a 17 pts

.... so like the Sabres last year.

I would seriously consider it for Saros.

Why does he have to be in the top 6? The team is excelling right now rolling 4 lines. Back in 2005/6 we also excelled at rolling 4 lines that could score. This season two of our current 4th line players have scored in double digits and KO is closing in on 20. Stl in their Cup year had 10 forwards and 3 D score in double figures. Having a "3rd" line winger that can pot 20+ is awesome depth and for a team without a dynamic forward or 2 he is a necessity for the next few years.

16 of our last 17 games have been against playoff teams or teams still in playoff contention dating back to the last 2 games in February. The only exception was the comeback victory at Chicago. Our record in those 16 games? 8-5-3. Now the bad news. Outside of a 5-1 early season victory over Tampa, TB, Fla and Car have pounded us this season. We are 0-4 and were out scored 25-8.

Interesting idea. VO is on pace for nearly 50 points this season despite losing his shot for a good portion of the year. He has 8 goals in his last 15 games. DG is playing him about 14 minutes a night including PP. With 13 games left and if he keep scoring at recent levels, he'll pass 20 goals again. Would KA really let a 20 goal 45-50 point guy walk or be lost in a futures trade? Other teams are desperate for good scorers, and VO (along with TNT) has one of the best releases in hockey. There will be a ready market for a trade. However with the Sabres looking like they are turning the corner the offers would have to be a roster player in an deficient area of our team. Would someone trade us a 25-29 year old proven starting goalie or a similar age top 4 RHD for Vic. If I'm KA I'm not accepting anything else. I once thought KA would move on from him I no longer believe that's the case. KA likes how the team has bonded under KO and Tuch and VO is part of that. I've been theorizing 3 years at 4.5 each because I think he'll eventually be supplanted by some of the recently drafted guys. However if he reaches 20-50 this season it's going to take 4 @ 5.5 to get it done.

I'm a little disappointed this fight call video lacked any from Playfair, Korab, Schoenfeld and Mike Ramsey other earlier players. I'm sure some are out there. Also I wonder if the post Neil hit to Drury's head fight was one of the last major brawls?

He still needs to go.

Best piece of this video is the captured discussion by the media members after Thompson leaves the mic. Fascinating discussion on the ROR trade, Thompson and RK. Thompson leaves the stage at the 9 min mark and then the media starts talking about the ROR trade etc… the discussion last for about 4 minutes. DG starts answering questions at the 16 minute mark.