LabattBlue

You mean all the teams that finished 20+ points ahead of them last year when we had Miller in goal? With or without Ehrhoff, it's going to take more than magic to make that jump.

I agree. Even if they sign another 5-6-7 vet blueliner, the combination of youth/mediocrity on the blueline, and average to below average goaltending, will lead to being VERY competitive for 29th or 30th place in the standings. Who are we going to leapfrog?

McCormick is a decent penalty killer, a guy who will play the body, a fighter who will go with just about anyone, and a decent skater. I would take him over Scott or Ellis any day of the week. For the 2nd season in a row where it may become a challenge to drag myself to the FNC come January, February & March, his style of play is a welcome addition.

Not big enough! ;)

I know that some of the Sabres moves would not have been made if they were closer to the cap or ready to contend, but for where they are today, and to be in a good position for the coming years in terms of draft, player development, and be a playoff contender in 15-16, IMO TM did a pretty damn good job between the draft and his first FA/offseason.

Sylvester is awful(the stupid non-stop laugh), and Peters is just embarrassing. The loyalty to these two clowns by Ted Black is mind boggling.

Yep My mistake... I have too many wingers in my top 9. I corrected my original post.

I know they have the rest of the summer, but still some spots to fill... Top 3 line centers - Reinhart, Ennis & Girgensons Top 3 line wingers - Hodgson, Stewart, Stafford, Gionta, Moulson & Foligno 4th line - Deslauriers, McCormick, Mitchell Spare forwards - Kaleta, ??? & ??? Blueline - Myers, Gorges, Risto, Weber, Pysyk, & ??? Spare blueliner - ???

^^^^ This gets my vote!

Well done X! :thumbsup:

I don't remember my stance on this when I was a mod, but IMO the worst thread is the "everything NHL(outside of the Sabres)" thread. This is a hockey board. Does all NHL news really have to go in one thread for a period of 10 months or so? I've posted very little over the last year or so, so maybe it is not as extreme as I've described above. Correct me if I am wrong.

I for one am glad that the Sabres didn't trade away 2nd round picks like candy to move up in the draft. Outside of the top few players, the draft is a HUGE crapshoot. Drafting 4 players between 30-61, and hoping two of them pan out into NHL regulars for 5+ years is a realistic goal IMO.

I think Reinhart was the right pick for this team. I would have been okay with Bennett, but was concerned with what I read about his reckless play which could lead to a shorter career for a guy drafted #2 overall. Thankfully they passed on the German Gretzky. Very excited to see him at development camp!

Worst case scenario come tomorrow evening... If the Sabres somehow end up with Ekblad, meaning they passed on one of the "Sam's", I may end up throwing a brick through my TV. The top 6 prospects in the system(especially center) are weak(have been since July 1st, 2007 disaster), while at the same time they just spent two high first round picks on defenseman blue chip prospects Risto and Zadorov last year, along with near ready blueline prospects McCabe and Pysyk. Top 6 forwards in the system...Grigs and Armia(both with huge question marks), Baptiste, Compher, Fasching(all 3 may be as close to 3rd line players as they are 2nd line). This combined with the rumored changes to the draft lottery that might be implemented prior to next years draft, make last year and this coming year, a bitter pill to swallow.

Heartbreaking story. Cancer sucks. Nothing more to say. :( PS For those not familiar with the story, here you go... http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/clarence/community-mourns-ben-sauer-5-year-old-from-clarence-who-inspired-outpouring-of-support-20140514

I'm here! Haven't posted in almost a year. This was by far the toughest 12 months of hockey for me and I've been a fan since 70. Then just when I think about posting again, I read OSP maybe buying the Bills and who may be riding his coat tails...Quinny. If this happens, I may just turn in my Buffalo sports fan membership card. That being said, its nice to be back.

I was really hoping in the offseason that one of my alltime favorite Sabres(probably top 5) would become part of the Sabres coaching staff. :(

You mean it doesn't take place in a matter of minutes like on House Hunters? LOL

Medical Campus... 1 - Ciminelli Medical Office Buidling at Main & High - Crane on site, huge hole that will become underground parking is undergoing remediation 2 - Childrens Hospital at Ellicott & High - Service tunnel under Ellicott that will go between BGH & Childrens is under construction. No sign of actual ground breaking for hospital. 3 - Roswell Bldg at Carlton & Michigan - no groundbreaking(scheduled for later this summer/early fall). 4 - UB Med School at Main & High(adjacent to subway station) - no groundbreaking yet, but First Niagara Bank branch at that corner just closed, and that is part of the land to be used for med school. I heard groundbreaking is a ways out. 5 - Trico Building - forget about it. The preservationists want to save it, the developer does not. Battle will go on forever. 6 - Catholic Health System Headquarters bordering Genesee, Elm & Oak - Majority of steel is up.

Last month I traveled from Buffalo to Orlando(non-stop) on Southwest for vacation. Used a fairly expensive piece of Samsonite luggage for the first time(at least first time on a plane). Got to Orlando, pull out handle is jammed and won't come out. Get to the hotel, empty it out, unzip the lining, tube that handle recesses into, is bent in a big way. Call Southwest..."we don't cover handle damage". Call Samsonite..."we don't cover handle damage". Of course the store we bought it from 6 months ago is not going to take it back. Arrive back in Buffalo a week later, and happened to have a window seat right outside where the baggage handlers were unloading the luggage. One guy was more or less placing the bags from the conveyer belt onto the cart. The other guy was acting as if he was practicing for a new Olympic event...Luggage Toss. :angry:

Been mentioned many times before, but no better site for keeping up to date on downtown Buffalo construction(both new and renovation projects)... http://www.buffalorising.com

I also forgot Paladino has a development "supposedly" going up next to Templeton Landing which also includes a hotel.

Interesting. Clearly the more development around Canalside the better it is for both of these hotels chances of succeeding. Its really unfortunate that with all the positive signs going on down there(that is besides the aud site general contractor being thrown off the job), that the HSBC tower is soon to be empty, and will probably not be easy to fill.

I wonder what other hotels these two(Marriott and Courtyard) when opened will hurt the most... Adam's Mark Hampton on Chippewa Comfort Suites Hyatt Embassy Suites Clearly these two will be the preferred locations for anyone coming into town for an Arena event. I wonder about their occupancy levels though when nothing is going on at FNC? On a related note, wasn't a different chain supposed to be taking over for Adams Mark?

Yesterday Peters was trying to claim that because their are so many Euros in the NHL that there are players of similar skill to Pat Kane born in the US who can't get in the NHL. What an idiot!