PerreaultForever

Oh come on, obviously you can't "prove" something that didn't happen would have happened BUT it's pretty obvious that lack of defensive depth and on occasion bad goaltending cost us a good 10-12 points (argue the number if you want but all we needed was 2) Bit of a picky semantic thing here. So your assertion would be that 2 years ago nobody would sign with us, one year ago only a few would and now lots will, is that it? The "myth" isn't busted, until it's busted. We will see what happens in July.

Well ya, but isn't that just a long way of saying they made smart decisions and built the right way? When these 30ish year olds are getting too old their draft choices could be ready to step in. Isn't that the way you're supposed to stay competitive? We tore down but the difference is we chose to build back up with almost entirely young players or picks and added little in free agency. As a cap floor team we could have spent a little more and been a little better (and we didn't need to be a lot better to make the playoffs).

I keep being told in other threads that the idea that free agents don't want to come here is a myth so..................given that idea, we could have acquired some of their additions. Or, take Bjorkstrand for example. Columbus had to ditch him for Johnny Hockey cap space. As a cap floor team who did we pick up? They tried to win now (and have succeeded) and we chose to develop for the future. Remember, this Kraken line up is only about 1/3 of what they got in the expansion draft. The rest were added as free agents, trades and draft picks. Of course the two situations are far from identical, but IF we'd added a few key FAs we could have been in the playoffs as well.

I've been watching them all year (on and off) and they never seem to quit. They are well led and give maximum effort every night. If they are drafting as well as they are choosing their free agents they will become a force sooner than later.

I can't help it, but I find myself watching the Kraken and thinking this could and should have been the Sabres. Man have they got it right.

Oh ya I know. I worked in those steel mills. It's still part of the identity for sure.

BUT, have you looked at their roster and their salary structure and their relatively empty prospect cupboard? I've already heard Jones say 3 separate times it will take a long time to get to where they want. Tortorella ended the season talking about "subtraction before addition". In other words, they haven't even started their rebuild, they are still in the tear down stage. This could take a decade.

That's the old one. Similar to Pittsburgh. Changed in the 80s/90s when much of the industrial section closed up but the hard nosed gritty working class element stayed. It's pretty much The Hammer now (although in the 80s the punk rock scene did dub it the "armpit of Canada")

Oh, I find the Risto idea hilarious but it's always working around the edges. Problem with that team is simple. Too much money on 4 guys who don't elevate their game in the playoffs. Some of them even struggle in the playoffs. It's a flawed strategy that I hope we do not copy. The recipe for winning now in this league seems simple. Good goaltending combined with speed AND a tenacious forecheck. Worked for Florida but also Carolina. Seattle is building this way too. Hopefully we follow this same idea. It's not complicated, but it is a team concept, not a star concept.

I don't think that matters. It'll be the group with the deepest pockets.

Peterka ties the game against Finland on the PP. Wicked shot.

nah, way better if it's Snoop.

Not American, but close to Buffalo, Hamilton (where I grew up) is called The Hammer.

Oh this tweet is just too good to not pass along.

Hell ya! Leafs lose. All is right in the universe again.

I'm watching this right now. Quinn looks pretty good too. Really nice pass on the Weegar PP goal. Easy game for Canada though. Highlights from the Chechia Slovakia game look crazy though. Massive hits in an International game, that's kind of new. I don't know much about the history there, but clearly the split of that country has led to some rivalry and hate.

lol, I think you misunderstood me. I meant guys with his type of character. Guys who elevate in the playoffs. This is the type we should be drafting and looking for. Not old guys 🙂

History. Players also know that every time we seem poised to rise we've found a way to fall. Sure, there's tons of optimism here, among fans, but until the team proves it we are a cap floor team with a long history of losing. This is part of the reason I felt we should have gone harder at making the playoffs. It flips the narrative and ends the era. You really think Gudas will want to come here after he chats with Reinhart and Montour? You think any of these ex Sabres doing well in the playoffs are going to tell their FA team mates "ya, you should sign with Buffalo, great place". Why do you think Adams strategy is all youth? It's not hard to see the reality - until we actually change it.

Dallas used home ice well. Their one line totally dominated the game. Pavelski is the ultimate playoff performer. We have to make sure we have some guys like him on the roster.

It's got nothing to do with bitterness over twelve years, but rather the reality of seeing and hearing about 10 team no trade clauses that have the Sabres circled in red (so to speak). Adams has talked about this in vague terms several times. It's a reality. You're not going to find a lot of FAs who will have Buffalo as their first choice landing spot. There's not that many good FA D men, and there are 32 teams. I'm all for signing some, I definitely want that, but I don't count on it happening and you shouldn't either.

Remember the key here, UFAs have to want to play here, draft picks don't get much choice. Some, but not much.

I think we'd be lucky if he's still there at 13. The funny thing is there's talk about Colton Parayko being a possible trade target and I've also seen Reinbacher compared to Parayko. Also compared to Ryan McDonagh and Brett Pesce. Scandella is more of his floor imo. I'd also go back in time and suggest Toni Lydman for the old Sabres fans around here. I see him as a stable and dependable defender with a decent shot. Not flashy, not a huge offensive driver but decent in transition and a solid second pairing guy.

If Jacob Fowler is still on the board when we get to our L.A. pick I'm taking him, just because I am amused at the idea of taking a goalie with the Portillo pick.

Reinbacher won't be there at 13 (but if he is you take him). If I'm them I'm using the 2nd round to go heavy on D. Oliver Bonk with the Philly pick. If gone, Caden Price. Lindstein or Brzustewicz with our own pick. Willander's ranked a bit lower but I'd be fine with him as well. The perfect draft gets us 3 top prospect D men. A good draft gets us 2. Yes, but they need to do both.

Keith Jones? That's hilarious. All the Philly fans I know have been going on and on about how the problem is an "old boys network" of Flyers alumni towing the party line and here they go with more alumni. If we do make the playoffs next year I suspect the Flyers might give our not making the playoffs record a solid run for it's money.