Carmel Corn

Yes, trade him! Hopefully for a legit 2C, that is what we need right now.

This! I really don't like how Housley has messed up the lines. Pommers should absolutely be with Jack and Skinner...period! Sam has been putrid. Rodriguez should also be in the lineup vs. Tage or Sam.

It's not the players. It is the COACH! Disco Dan knew how to coach an effective power play with less talent. Buffalo had one of the top PP units in the league. Since Housley became coach, special teams have been dismal. He is in over his head and special teams will suffer as long as he is HC.

This ^ He inherited a mess left by possibly the worst GM this franchise has ever seen. If given time, he can evolve the Sabres like Beane & McDermott have done with the Bills. He moved out pieces that were not part of the long-term solution. He got rid of an overpriced supposed 2-way forward who had a putrid even-strength record and IMHO did the same thing here as he did when in Colorado. The head coach decision may be questionable, but there were few options and everybody here seemed convinced that anything would be better than keeping Disco Dan. I don't think the salaries in yesterday's trade coming back pose a significant problem and he has otherwise not generated new ridiculous contracts like Okposo's. He is filling the roster with reasonable talent at a reasonable price vs. overpaying for KO or Moulson types. I like what he's done with the Swedish invasion and investing in our defense in the future (Toronto will wish they had done this in the future). To rebuild Rome, you have to first tear it down.

I hope you are mistaken. My hope is that tonight is not what the roster looks like by training camp, meaning he converts the new acquired assets into something that can get everybody excited....but I am also preparing to be disappointed.

Toronto will have plenty of firepower to finish high in the regular season. I question whether they have enough physical presence to get far in the playoffs. They need more toughness and/or their stars to play with an edge.

Perhaps, but then again they don't have to worry about a JVR contract.

Since Tavares is not returning, who do the Isles offer in return for O'Reilly?

What a bunch of crap! Risto is the product of a horribly managed organization. He had NO development from year 1, which is essential. He was immediately thrown into the ring with no seasoning to the North American rink and had to be better than most everybody because he is a first rounder. The crap organization gave him little else to work with and he had to be the 'man'. He is NOT what the statistics say he is....ridiculous point.

Beagle could bring a work ethic and winning attitude to the locker room.

We already have one bad long-term contract with a former Isles player. Let's not make it a matching pair.

Big

My guess is Washington will take Veleno...they need to think about replacing the Beagle.

First, yes I would agree....Walhstrom would be awesome too, maybe for other reasons and strengths. However, I think you are missing my point. Tkachuck brings both grit and scoring that can help create more space for Jack or Casey. He has the hands to play on first or second line vs. just being a gritty 4th liner.

I would disagree on the "fast" assertion. Speed is still something he needs to work on. However, name one person on our existing roster that is not 4th line that brings an edge to his game and causes the other team's D to look over their shoulder. Who on our roster has a net front presence to "push back" vs. just take it or avoid contact. He has better hands than Wilson as a comparison. He is absolute top 5 talent in this draft in a fairly strong class....maybe not a lot of generational talent in this class, but good depth. Is there another Tkachuck further down? Maybe, but I like Brady Tkuchuck because he is naturally 'wired' to play a tough aggressive game vs. having to be taught to hopefully do so.

I would love to see this. Tkachuk may or may not have the speed to keep up with Jack, but you really need this kind of player in post season. We have too many "soft" players which may get you into the playoffs during the regular season, but not enough to prevail in post season.

I think Risto brings a couple of attributes that we need. He is still one of the more physical D-men and brings an edge to his game that our others are lacking. Second, he brings offense to support the attack. Granted his play declined last year and my own bias is that Hajt is not the right coach for him. If there is an addition by subtraction situation, I am in the camp of those who believe a reduction in his playing time will result in better quality of play on his end. We keep trading our D-men talent wishing we could do a "re-do" and get them back (ex. McNabb, Myers, maybe even Zadorov and Pysyk) with very little in return. Let's not contribute to this terrible trend and focus on "tweaks" to Risto's game that can make him indispensable.

Risto is the least of our problems and is part of the long term solution. Absolutely disagree with the idea of sending him away. Why weaken the team in an area where we need strength...makes no sense to me. This is not an addition by subtraction situation with Risto. Others, absolutely....don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Bull! It is needed in the regular season and especially in the playoffs!

Trading Risto??? Ridiculous idea, sorry!

He won't be in the lineup for sure...more likely at the surgeon's office, or Physical Therapy, or getting fit for a cast, or passing the weeks and months with strength and conditioning staff, etc.

I might be able to support Housley to December, but on the condition he changes his assistants to ones that have more credible experience coaching in the NHL. No matter what, I still blame Housley for the demise of our once respectable powerplay. He did to the Sabres last year what Rex Ryan did to the once mighty Buffalo Bills defense. I blame nobody but Housley for the PP.

Keep Risto - ridiculous to trade him. Better idea, fire Hajt and get an experienced defensive coach.

Don't forget Pommers as well. JBOT inherited a nightmare. KO may be a good guy, but his contract is our biggest liability based on how many years that are left. I would love to see a deal where it can be purged. Next season is tough because they are still in cap jail. Hopefully a buyout can happen as well

Maybe under the coaching of the 2016-2017 staff. You could have the NHL all-star team with Crosby, Ovi, Laine, etc. and they would fizzle under the powerplay coaching of the current staff.