PerreaultForever

To some extent that's true, but at this point, with a big prospect pool, maybe they need to look at style and what guys project to be over just speed and skill? I mean if we get to the draft next year and the BAP is a 5'10 little center with skill and a few picks down in ranking is a big 2 way guy who has comparables to say a ROR or some other similar maybe that's the guy we take instead. So not solely drafting for need, but maybe a bias in that direction.

Ya but Marcus is 32 and Kyle is 35. A 4 year deal might be a year too long but if it's the price to get him I would have done it. So the comparison holds comparing ages. As for KA saying we need to get tougher that's great, but he hasn't really done anything about it. I guess Cliffy makes us a little tougher but not all that much. I can almost guarantee you there will be games this year where we get dominated physically. Just a question of by how much. like in the other post I replied with, remember Marcus is younger.

Those HFBoards are garbage. Full of kids who know nothing and lots of trolls who just hate everything. You want a real laugh go check out the Flyers version. Kyle Okposo was making 6 mil here for 11 goals last year. About 30 pts. a year on average. We offered him up another 3 million and everybody went yay the captain's back. By comparison, also adding what Foligno brings in terms of physicality, how is this contract not okay?

AND he is exactly what this team is missing. If he was a free agent I would have given him that to be here in a heartbeat. Yes, it'll be an overpay in the last year or two, but it would still be worth it.

Amazing how some teams (unlike the Sabres) value what he brings isn't it. The "ouch" is for everyone who plays against him. Well deserved contract. True leaders with his grit are hard to find.

Is it just me or do the Sabres seem a little slow and behind in terms of decisions on sending guys back to junior, releases, AHL, etc. Like they truly can't decide on a lot of guys.

I think we all agree that winning is the key. Fast start and competitive play, no question that brings back fans. The thing I'm on about with Kane though helps rocket things to the next level. You're all talking about Kane's ability on ice but you're missing the marketing point. He would have to buy in of course but it's all about local boy comes home. You get him and Tuch up there, add a few alumni, get them out front as poster boys, in the community, cross promotions with the chicken wing companies or whoever is big in Buffalo these days. It's Sabres front and center as THE thing in Buffalo again. It's a whole thing I can see in my mind. If I was working there I am 100% sure I could turn that signing into a genius marketing campaign that would turn the page on the last decade. Anyway, I will leave it there. Right now I see the whole thing hanging on a thin thread. It could be the beginning of a new era, but I also see a path where it all crashes down again. We shall see what happens. Fingers crossed.

I was watching Philly Boston tonight and Peterson was really good. Philly might actually have too many goalies.

I doubt you could get much of anything for UPL right now. If I'm Tampa I wouldn't want him. I'd probably take Tokarski off waivers before UPL if I had no other options league wide. They're going to want a short term stable guy that might not be great but is consistent not who knows what happens on the next shot UPL. I will be shocked if ANY team claims him if we waive him and send him down.

It'd be both, not just a gimmick. You need faces, images, things for people to get excited about and generate real media attention league wide and nationally. Yes we have young guys but they don't generate that until we start winning consistently. idk, disagree if you want, but I think it would work and attendance would rise substantially. Fall right off if we lose, but we assume that wouldn't happen.

I don't anything about the area's economy (as a factor) but they rarely compete. Football is the big ticket but it never affected hockey much back in the day. I really think all they have to do is win. Why? It's not like we're talking an 8 year deal. Just a season or two to demonstrate that the tide has turned. You get the homeboy speaking about how great it is we become a destination not a place to avoid. Regardless of the practicalities, symbols and images do matter.

In the long term I don't see how what we are doing will be sustainable but we shall see. There's a ton of talent in the prospect pool but a future roster with Benson, Savoie, Kulcih, Rosen, (maybe more) added to Thompson Quinn Cozens Peterka etc. I don't know how you sustain that as contracts come up (assuming they are goal scoring top level players). It's a nice problem, but it'll be a problem all the same. In a salary cap league you get 2 top lines and you have no money for the 4th line so you fill it with low cost grit. It's that 3rd line that can make or break you. You get some studs on entry level in there the way Tampa did for a while (for example) that's what makes you dominant. But it's a small window and you have to make it count. Hopefully we can pull it off. As for the whole expectation thing, really, if a team misses the playoffs by 1 point and comes in saying anything less than playoffs, that'd be crazy would it not?

I don't think so. People on this board are die hard fans but the public ticket buyers are less committed and it takes more to win them back. But they also have to provide more colourful marketing promoting a new era. This is why I think Kane signing helps things lot. Whether he's good or not you can use him as a marketing tool. People need to believe it's not the same old same old.

You're not going to see fans back until they win. Too many years of next year next year and failed promise. They have to show it on the ice. If/when they do the building will fill up again.

I personally haven't learned a lot. It all looks similar to last year imo. Reading all the comments above I agree with most of them although maybe some are a little overly optimistic. Biro? That seems like a reach. Benson's good, but he has to go back to junior. Be patient. He is part of the future (not the present). Levi looked ready. He looked ready last year. The question is can he hold up for a full season plus? Power sophomore slump? Highly possible. Certainly hasn't looked great so far but him slumping might still be better than average. idk. Wait and see. About Tuch Cliffy and Johnson not playing I wouldn't worry. I think Tuch had a minor ding but mostly I think it's because they know exactly what those guys are want to see who fills out the last spot(s). Pairings will matter and I think end of preseason we will get the glimpse. Mitts at 3C does seem likely and viable. He does look pretty good. Krebs on the other hand not so much. Still interested to know what the Greenway plan is. A little concerned over the PK plan. An area that was not good last year. Thompson on PK? Reach and speed, counter attack, but what about those face offs? Not sure how this plays out. Overall still have the same concerns as before. Lack of (good) D depth, goaltending question (durability and good back up), ability to hold up to physicality, PK and overall team defense. Far too early to see what the final line up is and how it plays, but right now change from last year rests solely on Levi.

If this team is going to decide who makes the roster based on who gets their feelings most hurt it has zero chance of success. There can only be one rationale. Be the best and you play. End of story. Having said that, juniors still eligible to be the best in junior have to accept that. It's the smarter thing to do.

Yes, and I've said, he's very skilled and likely has a future in the NHL Better than I expected, but he's 18 and small. I do not think it'll go well. If I'm the Sabres I tell him we have big plans for him but right now are sending him back to junior and also put him on a serious strength/weight/diet training program. Go win a junior championship or something, play in the worlds, maybe come back end of the year for a taste of NHL playoffs (?) but not yet. Don't rush it, do it properly.

Wasn't on a Bruins board in 2003. Didn't have a clue about any of their draft picks. Only been paying closer attention to them over this time period because Sabres have been so damn depressing. Still, only partly familiar with their prospects (few of them as there are). I will tell you what though, this kid Poitras looks like the real deal and might fill their void sooner than people think. He's 19 and chances are the Bruins will send him down because of it. Also bet if he was on the Sabres people here would be saying he has to be on the roster. He's that good too.

Says 159 ibs online but doesn't matter. Point is he isn't ready. Skilled yes, ready to play in the NHL no.

Zach Benson is 18 years old and 159 lbs sopping wet. Come back to earth.

I honestly do not think anyone would claim UPL. Comrie is a tiny maybe for a team like Tampa but people grossly overvalue UPL's worth around here.

I think Fitz was a bit of a surprise. They fully expected him to clear but the timing with Florida having D injuries was bad. Personally, at that point, I would have sent Bryson down but it was no big deal. They're all fringe D men at best. Just different skill sets.

What are you talking about? They gave him all last season to prove himself. Waiving players is what all decent teams have to do. Get used to it. We will lose some marginal talent if we keep getting better. Fact of life. He won't get us anything in trade because teams know we have to waive him. You're just too used to us being so bad we pick up waiver players instead of discarding them.

I think this is a Canadians aren't allowed to watch the Sabres game. Probably for the best. That is one garbage D we have set up there.

I said end of last season we'd be lucky to get a 2nd for Olofsson, more likely a 3rd. I stand by that. Bryson gets us nothing. He's waiver material. I have no idea what Hellebuyck's price is but a fairly solid rumour out of Philly was 2 firsts or equivalent for Hart. It is a high price tag and what I really wanted was a solid back up for Levi. KA is putting too much all in on Levi imo. I'm not sure on his waiver status but if Bussi (Bruins) becomes available I would snap him up in a heartbeat. He looked incredible in his debut this year after a very good AHL year last year. Don't know who else might be available. Vladar maybe? UPL ain't it though.