Robviously

The time frame pretty much comes down to if Miller is back and what Myers does. We're a completely different team when Myers is on his game.

This thread got off to a poor start, but it's really starting to show me something lately.

This thread won't quit. Unlike Grigorenko. [ducks]

Ruff had him on the power play with Vanek and Pominville to start last year. Seems like a pretty good opportunity. It's also not impossible to do well on this year's team. See: Girgensons, Zemgus. You're on your own when it comes to that Kobayashi Maru reference. This whole situation is more "Search for Spock" than "Wrath of Kahn."

Or he could have, you know, asked what the plan was instead of making his client look terrible for 2 days. Are we really supposed to believe there was no plan and no communication with Grigorenko when this decision was made? And that the only way the Sabres were going to talk about it with him is if the agent created a massive distraction like this? By every account so far, the Sabres did talk to Grigorenko for a significant amount of time when they gave him the news.

If we trade Moulson at the deadline, I'm bringing that into this thread and going for the SabreSpace record for longest thread title of all time.

Bailey's numbers this year are fairly disappointing but I'm hoping they're mainly due to the fact that Kitchener is just an awful team (2nd from the bottom in points, dead last in goals scored, etc). I'd like to see what he could do on a good team, or even an average team.

There were 7 guys I really liked last season. They drafted 8th. There are 5 guys I really like this season. I bet they draft 6th or later. This is what the universe wants.

Totes looking forward to being wrong someday.

The Best Case Scenario: The Sabres complete their tank (for once) and finish the year with in the bottom 3 (only Edmonton and Calgary are worse). They land one of Reinhart, Ekblad, Bennett, Dal Colle, or Draisaitl. The Islanders defer the traded pick until next season, giving the Sabres two 2015 1st rounders. The 2014-2015 Sabres get off to a strong start in October and are never in contention for the first overall pick in 2015. Instead, they're fighting for a playoff spot and I don't have to spend several months hoping they tank. Then I never again have to hope for a tank because the NHL completely re-does its draft lottery so that finishing dead last doesn't help (i.e. the first 14 picks among non-playoff teams are completely random). The 2014-2015 Islanders completely implode, giving the Sabres one of the top 2 picks in the draft anyway. And here's what will almost certainly happen: Miller and Enroth continue to be our two best players and drag the Sabres up the standings until they are in their customary 8-12 spot in the draft come June. The Islanders continue playing great (and, FWIW, entertaining) hockey so that we end up with the no.10 or 11 pick from them in 2014. The 2014-2015 Sabres get off to a terrible start but finish strong to land the no.8 pick in 2015. Drew Stafford signs a 10 year extension and says he wants to retire as a Sabre. He plays the next 10 seasons like he is already retired.

+1

Would be happy with any of these guys. Won't be surprised when we draft after they're all gone.

You're going to have to explain where the "great job" was in this mess. Grigorenko just managed to squander all the good will he earned at the WJC and put an asterisk by his name for every NHL team with a brain. Are the other 29 GMs more or less interested in acquiring him right now? And once you have the "head case" label, it's pretty hard to shake. He also managed to let Grigorenko display almost all of the negative stereotypes that Russian players are saddled with (KHL flight risk, all about money, selfish, etc.). That seems like a lot to give up to earn, you know, nothing. As far as being treated like "garbage", he's 19 years old and has already played 43 NHL games -- and NOT because he was too good to send down. He never earned any of it. Perhaps he should be thankful for the learning opportunity and accept his 2-3 month assignment.

John Vogl ‏@BuffNewsVogl11m Jay Grossman, Grigorenko agent:"We had some real serious concerns about the development process for this player that I think were warranted" You did a wonderful job with this, Mr. Grossman. Excelsior! <_< http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2014/01/sabres-grigorenko-accepts-junior-assignment-agent-concerned-about-development-process.html I liked Pysyk's take:

Buffalo Sabres ‏@BuffaloSabres7m Mikhail Grigorenko has informed the #Sabres that he will be reporting to the Quebec Remparts. Well, that was really productive. Good thinking, Mikhail.

I really want Baptiste to make it. I love Concept of Baptiste. Meanwhile, Connor Hurley (2nd round, #38 overall) has 5 points (3+2) in 6 games since being traded to Green Bay in the USHL. And there's this: Kris Baker ‏@SabresProspects16h Cal Petersen stops 20/21 to win his eighth-straight start as Waterloo beats Des Moines 3-1. Petersen: 19-2-1, 2.43 GAA, .918 sv%. Robviously ‏@Robviously15h @SabresProspects Is he considered the top goalie in the USHL by now? Kris Baker ‏@SabresProspects15h @Robviously Yes, just talked to his goalie coach minutes ago about this topic. Agreed that he's best in league right now. Both Hurley and Peterson are headed to Notre Dame next year so they're still a long ways off (figure 2017).

One other thought: What do you think the Sabres leadership is saying internally about this? What they're saying in public (to reporters) probably has almost nothing in common with what they're saying amongst themselves. PLF is in a brand new role, Murray has never been a GM before, and Nolan is back in the NHL for the first time in years. They have A LOT invested in their jobs right now. How do you think they're responding to some punk 19 year old suddenly showing them up just days after the new team is complete and in place? Grigorenko isn't the only one capable of having an emotional response, and I'd imagine the emotional response from PLF, Nolan, Murray, Patrick, Pegula, etc. would be devastating. This isn't their guy. And now I'm thinking it's going to be a long time before they feel like they can trust him. Is this the type of guy you want your fortunes tied to? The only reason not to trade him is the small chance that he could still be a decent hockey player in the NHL. They'll look awfully bad if their first move is trading a guy (at his lowest point) who goes on to become a point/game guy. The safe thing to do is let him twist in the wind, probably amount to nothing, and blame Darcy.

This is a huge factor for me. It's not like he's being told to wait another year in the Q. It's basically 2 months and then the playoffs. He's burning bridges left and right over two months. There's nothing rational about what he's doing, and that is the reddest of red flags if you're counting on him to make us a contender again. BTW, what happens this fall when the Sabres tell him they want him to start in Rochester and maybe play the whole season there? I doubt he'll be ready to just roll with that decision.

Good grief.

"First Bold" might be the weakest point you've ever made. Really splitting hairs there and it makes no effective difference. As far as Second Bold, I don't care what his motivation was. It's a terrible decision. I REALLY doubt the new regime is going to cave in to a 19 year old's list of demands in their first week on the job (and as the first test of who is in charge). Meanwhile, he's pissing off just about everyone in two different cities, leagues, etc.

I actually don't think the "promotion he didn't earn" concept is that far off. I'd love to hear Grigorenko or his agent explain what he's done that makes it OK for him to refuse to return to the QMJHL? It's the only league he's ever done anything in. He's completely ineffective in the NHL and he was invisible in the AHL at the end of last year. 7 good games in the WJC? Who cares? The Sabres have mismanaged his development. Yes, they have, but that doesn't magically mean they owe him the NHL in January 2014 when he still isn't ready. He doesn't have anything to complain about. The vast majority of CHL draft picks spend two more years in the CHL and few get to see the NHL at all during that time. Grigorenko has already played 43 NHL games and *not* because he was so good the Sabres couldn't justify sending him down. Now he's complaining that he isn't getting even more NHL ice time? He should respect the organization and his teammates and accept his assignment.

Even if that's true (and you're almost certainly right), it's just a total dick move. Yes, the Sabres suck but he's in no position to demand anything over the veterans on the team.

He's being asked the do the only job he's proven he can do. He's also 19 years old and being wildly overpaid to do it. He should STFU and go play in Quebec for a few more months. I'm sure his teammates in Buffalo are thrilled to learn that he should get some of their playing time due to his imaginary list of NHL accomplishments.

Kris Baker ‏@SabresProspects19s 25 reportedly not accepting QMJHL assignment is a huge game changer. Sabres handled poorly, but that's way too selfish. Might be time to start thinking about getting Grigo and the word "Bust" reacquainted. It's tough to take him seriously as a big part of our future when he's pulling crap like this.

I watched the last two Isles games (Dallas and Toronto) and they actually looked pretty good. Maybe they're climbing out of the gutter. Worst case scenario for that pick is that we end up with a mid first rounder this year. Not sure if I'd even want 6 through 10 over another chance next year.