erickompositör72

I would characterize all of those moves (hire Bylsma, taking a shot at an unproven Lehner, signing Okposo, relying on [former 1st rndr] Girgs) as risky. You wanted a GM who was not risk-averse (i.e. amenable to the tank), to suddenly become risk-averse?

Yeah, I know. Who did we tank for, again?

Pro-tankers seem to still be defending the "theory" of the tank, rather than the empirical results we have lived with, post-tank. I see a lot of "the tank could have worked if only [x], or if we didn't do [y], or if we didn't hire [z]" That's exactly the problem with the concept of the tank. The risk-reward proposition is not favorable. It's pretty simple. Now we're paying for it. It will take a genius GM to get us out of this predicament. Hopefully JBot is just that.

The tank had(/has) the potential to turn off a generation of Buffalonians to hockey. I grew up watching Mogilny, LaFontaine, Hasek, etc. They made me love hockey. Even when we weren't competing for a cup, we were damn exciting. The tank was just so that us hockey-obsessed folk could hoist our cup. I think it's missing the forest for the trees. We came pretty close to hoisting it a couple of times without the collateral damage.

I'll take this as an apology to the forum from Flagg, after his ad nauseam doomsday foretelling, immediately following the ROR trade. Apology accepted ? j/k- this is really great. We all appreciate the amount of time and thought that goes into these posts

who needs progressions when you can hit your 1st target in a tight window with a laser beam? j/k ?

No. I'd elaborate, but condescension isn't very inviting

Sabres will fight for a playoff spot, Bills 7-9

all I know is this: Josh Allen has a "wow factor" that none of the other 1st rounders have. I hope it translates into wins.

We haven't seen the 2018 version of Reinhart at center, correct? His 2018 play makes me curious to have another look.

He didn't panic and stepped up in not-so-clean pockets, so I didn't come away with that concern... With that said, there is a lot that still needs to be seen. I hope he gets a chance w/ the 1st offense sooner than later.

I can see why the coaching staff was so excited about him. To have someone with that kind of talent who's humble and actually willing to listen- it's a rare thing. It was cause for some hope. Re:Allen- I thought his accuracy was good- several incompletions due to incompetent receivers

Josh Allen has an unreal arm, made some incredible plays... and you guys are still going on about gif vs jif...

We used to live in the Bronx. We're in upper Manhattan now, but wife still works in the Bronx. I'm on the cross-bronx much less often than before- but even a little bit is too much... ?

My wife and I were driving on the cross-bronx expressway the other day (something I'd highly advise anyone against, if you can avoid it...), with the windows open. traffic was stop-and-go. A smell came in the window that took me back more than 20 years. I told my wife, "I recognize this smell." I immediately had visions of downtown Buffalo c. 1995. Whatever we were passing by- at that instant, it all came together to transport me back to the Aud. The nostalgia almost made me tear up...

absolutely. Kane is a real power-forward who can produce, which is an oft-sought rarity in the NHL. However, he needs the right system/line-mates to succeed. I don't think he had that here in Buffalo, and I think he has that now in SJ

Give him 8 years at his full ask. Do it.

If memory serves me correctly, I can think of several times where Eichel puts the puck right on the tape of a line-mate in a dangerous scoring area, only to have the recipient totally unprepared for it and/or unable to finish. They were brilliant passes that few players could make. If I were Eichel in that situation, I'd start shying away from passing, as well. With his talent, maybe he felt his best option was to just do it himself.

And we have the defenseman whisperer! ?

absolutely. I feel we've had a tendency in Buffalo to be overly-critical and harsh on high-skill guys- the ones we've had in the past. Now we realize- it's pretty sad when we don't have much of that.

I'd probably be more worried if he says he is interested in an extension right now, without even getting to know anyone on the team and not even having had a practice with any of them. Furthermore, it's just prudent, business-wise, to not show your cards. If he's getting great vibes so far and has a feeling it could work out long-term, no need to say it out loud- gives him more leverage come contract negotiation time.

best so far IMO

We should use one of our 1st rd picks to get Lehner back ?

VGK is going to score 4 goals in overtime?

And we have never seen 2018 Samson playing center, correct?