Scottysabres

And again, you could be correct. Hard to say one way or the other since none of us appear privy to what, if any, discussions bots is involved in.

For me, the tank began June 22nd, 2012. From that day forward trades were made primarily for picks as a steady stream of players were shipped out. Many of those draft picks were flipped, at least high end ones, in deals for building block players. The ROR deal was worth it. The Kane/Bogosain deal is still playing out, but Kane is an impact player to be sure. To me, it comes down to the draft picks themselves. Outside of Reinhart, Risto and Eichel, not seeing a lot of impact there. Of course, I consider last year as the last year of the tank and there are players still in the juniors and AHL that have yet to have an opportunity maturity wise to show if they can contribute. Tim Murray was a mixed bag, the now famous "2 seasons of the Disco" is what brought his regime down imo. But we do have a cornerstone franchise player in Eichel, we appear to have some youth with speed in the pipe line. Yes, I believe it was worth it, long term.

I don't think Bots is just going to sit around and wait until early March to address some of the roster issues if this continues. He is more than aware I'm sure of the defense needs on this team. He's already started addressing that by getting Scandella in the off season. Somehow I think he's aware Bogosain isn't going to be the super hero when he does eventually return.

On watching a few games. Yes his numbers don't appear bad, but he's been fighting the puck. I catch a lot of the Rochester games on my feed. Sorry if my opinion offends, but its what I've seen.

Well, they were deployed directly in the areas where public safety would be an issue.

Yikes!!! Well aren't you just the messenger of death. ;)

Way to go Bills! And a bunch of first 3 rd picks in a deep draft this coming off season? Looks like the Pegulas got this one right. Now bring us a downtown domed stadium!

You could be right, I just don't see them letting a quarter of the season go without addressing something. That something to me, in any event, is defense.

This is a phallacy. They've had training camp, pre-season and over 10 regular season games to evaluate one ice personnel. That is adequate time to come to conclusions on strengths and weaknesses roster wise. 20 games is such an arbitrary number, why not 27 or 18? The point is, ample sample size since day 1 reporting is now in place. You can bet the GM, the coach and staff aren't waiting for some magical 20 game number, especially given the season is already slipping away.

Jack's time is now, not 3 years from now. Get him the help he needs, both defensively and offensively. I'm going to get brutally honest. And it's going to create controversy on the board in sure, but here it is. Larsson, Girgensons these 2 guys are bottom 6'ers, period. They're not game changers to be sure and if we run balanced scoring lines with the top 2 lines consistently driving play, these 2 belong no where near those lines. Okposo just had a scare, its not his current play individually nor his contract length that concerns me, its his inability to find consistent chemistry of some type with any of our current centers. That's a problem considering 6 mil a season is tied up in his presence. I've written off Kane. We've beat this horse to death, he's gone, now or at the deadline, I don't care, as long as the return addresses RD or a top 2 line LW. Even if that return addresses line 2 LW. Reinhart, yes its only just over a couple of seasons. He was ok on Jack's RW, but to me, he is the perfect trade chip to land a big fish winger for Jack while his value still has weight as a center. There are teams looking for a center of his pedigree, and I don't ever see him unseating jack or ror as a top 2 center on this team. Pominville, Moulson, these guys are on borrowed time. At least Pommers contributes, but I don't see Moulson doing anything. Move him in a cap dump deal if possible. The defense, (facepalm) Who's brilliant idea was 2.4 mil for 2 years for Beaulieu? That guy is a disaster. McCabe is on a serviceable contract, Antipin shows promise, Scandella is a great pickup. But Risto has regressed and some of his on ice decisions and play are frustrating. Goaltending is a complete disaster. From the big club to the farm team, not one clutch netminder. "Houston, we have a problem". Get Jack and ROR their LW'ers. We are RHS RW heavy in the organization. Guys like Middlestadt, Nylander and Guhle I don't expect to see up here for a couple of seasons yet. We need help now. A couple of trades, it can't possibly hurt anymore than the painful crap we are seeing at this time. The time for evaluating is over, Boterill, Housely and staff have had a training camp, pre-season and an over 10 game regular season sample for that. Its not working. Change of personell on ice in this case is not a change for change sake, its a change to attempt to find a winning formula of personnel. It's time to make a couple of trades.

While I think Ullmark will transition as a solid backup next season, I tend to agree with you, we need a starter. And not 4 years down the road, but right now. Lehner is very suspect on the posts and up high, and there is a reason Chad never kept a starting position. Every game that goes by, I shake my head in full appreciation of just how great the goaltending in Buffalo was for 2 decades. People will chastise Miller, Boron, Hasek, and so on for their short comings off the ice, but those guys and others who've come and gone masked a common Sabres problem, the 05 to 07 years not withstanding, and that is to dominate puck possession and control the flow of games. We've relied on goalies to bail us out, and now even that safety net is gone.

He's getting pummeled.

TRADES TRADES TRADES 3 Trades to help right the ship. Kane (5.25) + Minnesota 4th rd 2018 For Tanev (4.45 mil, 3 yrs)+ Vanek (2 mil, ufa) Vancouver has reported interest in Kane. Tanev, RD helps bolster a defense devoid of identity and depth. Vanek is short term scoring help until a couple of the kids come up next season. Also Van is near the cap, B7f absorbs 1.2 mil, Reinhart (894k, rfa) + Moulson (5 mil, 2 yrs) + Fasching (925k, rfa, currently prospect in AHL) For Duchene (6 mil, 2 yrs) + Yakupov (875k, rfa) Colorado gets a center to fall in behind McKinnon, Moulson moves to offset cap costs, 1 yr after this season and Colorado is moving to ELC heavy or 2nd contract after this year. Duchene needs to be moved, re-unites ROR and Duchene who had success together in Colorado. Also, the Avalanche depth in the pipeline is weak, Fasching offsets this even if just a bit. Obviously Duchene bolsters a much needed finishing type sniper for Buffalo. Yak can slot as a "potential" sniper, send Griffith down. We can retain on Moulson if necessary since we'll have ELC's on the roster next season. Shipachyov (4.50 mil, 2 yrs) + Neal (5 mil, ufa) + 2019 2nd rd pick for 2018 1st rd pick (protected) slides to 2019 if lottery. Shipachyov wants out of Vegas, he is a decent player and only 1 yr after this one. Neal is immediate Kane replacement with sniper skills. Now obviously Vanek and Neal are short term this season help. However Neal only just turned 30 and could be re-signed for a 3 or 4 yr contract. Duchene is in his prime. Shipachyov is minimal risk. Yakupov is a ? He still has wheels, can he fit on Jack's RW? Or on a 3rd scoring line RW? With Shipachyov centering? Tanev imo would be a solid 3/4 RD opposite either McCabe or Antipin. So, thoughts? Be brutal :)

ZING!

2nd overall, 1st forward taken in the 14 draft. Hard to say really what has gone wrong here, but Sam has shown he is capable of putting up 20 - 25 a season with 50 points. Sure its nice his D game is developing, but we need scoring, specifically finishing snipers. Sam is not that. I am now firmly entrenched in the trade Reinhart camp. Either for a top end D or a top end winger.

Sigh Bots, you have some work to do. If an early trade is going to happen, I expect this lengthy window to Thursday to be one of those times where we'd see one.

Ouch, that one hurts. Post side Lehner :(

San Jose is tired, exhausted tired. Take the body boys, knock'em off the puck these last 5 minutes and you'll pot one.

Antipin with the game winning play, calling it now

He was to. We need better players.

We really should have signed Vanwk to a 1 year 2 mil deal. Park his ass in front of the net.

Yes!!!

Agreed.On another note, these last 3 or 4 games the team is looking more settled, more vested. I still think we're a couple D pieces and 3 or so forwards short of stepping up, but I'll take looking settled for now.

Nice!

I dieagree