Robviously

So when is the last time the Sabres started five different guys in goal over one season? Has it ever happened?

I like that you start off by accusing me of attacking straw men but then return to your premise that there are people on this board who aren't open to Murray making big trades to rebuild the team. Who is saying that? I'm pretty sure everyone here likes the idea of big trades happening -- and that they can happen even as we lean heavily on the draft. Oh, and it's a rant because you're writing long, angry posts that make very firm statements about the future. This can't happen or that won't happen. Is that a wise choice given how unpredictable pro sports are? Or given how unpredictable the draft can be? Now you're even mixing in a little conspiracy theory about the NHL behind the scenes telling the Sabres they need to improve and can't have McDavid. OK. As far as "THREE DRAFTEES WHO ARE NOT IN THE SYSTEM YET ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE A DENT..." (a sentence that needed to be completely capitalized in your non-rant), we know one prospect can make a huge dent in any organization. And it doesn't have to be someone you expect. The Dallas Stars are built around a 5th round pick named Jamie Benn. This is also you talking in absolutes about future events again. And acting like anyone who sees the future unfolding differently must be senseless. At any rate, if your whole point is that we should also make trades to get better, way to go. I'm pretty sure everyone was already on board with our GM making some trades and signings while he's here.

I honestly can't even follow your logic at this point. 1. "Drafts and prospects" are NOT going to get the Sabres to the Promised Land. OK, what will? Should we trade for more veterans? Why would another GM trade us a quality player in exchange for some of the prospects we have that you don't like? And is there any reason we can't sign players as part of our trip to the Promised Land? Can we trade for veterans later, like when we're actually a decent team again? 2. "There's no way it happens as things stand." OK, so not only do you know exactly how ALL of our prospects will develop, you also know how ALL of our prospects from the next few drafts will develop. And that's without even knowing who we're picking this year or next. That's pretty incredible. 3. "GMTM is going to have to make more moves...." Now I'm back to wondering what moves you're advocating. Should we be trading for older players or signing guys right now? Can we trade the 3rd line prospects you don't like for established NHL stars? Why haven't we done this already? 4. Do I think a bunch of 18 year olds will add to our prospect pool? Yes. That's generally what happens when you draft players. They add to your prospect pool. I expect the Sabres to draft more 18 year olds that we can pin our hopes on at this year's draft. Next year's too. 5. Will it put our offensive prospect pool "over the top"? How do you put a prospect pool over the top? Isn't a prospect pool all based on guessing what those guys will be like 5 years down the road? So you're basically asking if we have the right set of prospects to guarantee something later. Good luck with that. That's like asking if you purchased enough raffle tickets to put yourself "over the top" for that night's 50-50 drawing. No one, but why let that ruin a good rant?

Draisaitl wouldn't shock me given Murray's emphasis on "big bodies." He's 6'2" and 200+ pounds already. I like what I hear bits of what I hear about all the highest-ranked forwards. I don't know which one is the "right" one. Right now I just hope GMTM lives up to the hype he gets for talent evaluation in the draft.

I see a bunch of guys with top six potential: Girgensons, Grigorenko, Armia, Compher, Hurley, Baptiste, Fasching, Bailey, Carrier. And at least one hockey writer thinks we have the best system in the game right now: So someone is way off here. Personally, I'd rather take my chances on the ridiculous, long-term gamble than stick with the status quo that took us nowhere for a ridiculous, long-term stretch of six seasons after Black Sunday. That's just me though. I'm senseless.

One word: "Suffering." Is there another example in the history of pro sports of a team actually telling their fans to expect "Suffering"?

Thanks, I can't post links from work on my phone. So.... Who's excited about the Nathan Lieuwen Era?

Enroth just tweeted a picture of his leg in an air cast (?) with a caption "For the next couple weeks...."

If we have the first overall pick, I'm not even answering the phone. Let Murray take exactly the player he has ranked best in the draft. We don't need extra picks.

That might have been their best episode ever.

I was told there would be no reading.

I'd be shocked. It's not just the message to the fans; it's also the message to the rest of the league about your competence. You're basically saying "Yes, we suck this year....and there's absolutely nothing we can do to avoid also being a bottom 5 team next year." Good luck ever finding a job again. I could kinda sorta see it happening if Snow is fired and the new GM decides he wants a shot at McDavid via a longer rebuild. But I also feel like a brand new GM would want to draft as many guys as he can ASAP to start turning the team around.

I don't care how bad the team is, it's exciting to see someone reach their life-long goal of playing in the NHL -- especially when it's a total surprise.

I urge all the fans at the game to start cheering extra hard for Nathan Lieuwen, a 6th round pick from 2011 playing in his first NHL game.

So he must be awesome! Somewhere out there, Matt Hackett is screaming at his television set.

I wouldn't say "vacant" but still weak there. Compher, Larsson, and Hurley all have second line potential. And Girgensons is already a Sabre so he isn't included in the chart. Still need help, but maybe we're getting better.

Lucky for Dag, it ended up being knee-on-thigh and not knee-on-knee.

Nashville's yellow uniforms are actually pretty cool though. Then there's these things.....

Pretty brutal for Matt Hackett to be fourth in line again. And that's with two young guys with the Sabres who probably aren't going anywhere for a while. I have no idea how Fasching is behind Bailey at RW. Fasching played in the WJCs and was pretty great.

Some would say there's a significant talent gap between Tuch and Virtanen too. The Sabres don't need anymore "good" prospects up front; they need GREAT prospects up front. If you get a top 5 pick, USE IT!

"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear." Sorry, everyone. Tonight's uniform disaster is on me. I denounce myself.

We are at the very end of the season from hell. And if there's going to be a silver lining to this season from hell, it's going to come from continuing to suck for the rest of our games. That's the sad reality. As far as "no hard work", I don't disagree, but can you imagine being a player on this team over the last year and a half? You're on your third coach. Pat LaFontaine was brought in to right the ship, met with everyone, and.....left after 108 days. Every good veteran player has been sent packing. These guys have to be completely depleted emotionally and mentally by now. I know, I know, I know.....they're pro athletes and get paid millions of dollars to play a game. That's true, but they're also human beings. Being in a situation like this for 18 months (or more, depending on how you look at it) is going to mess with your head. I've worked in some crummy workplace situations before and the good paycheck doesn't magically help morale.

This reminds me: Are we done with the yellow alternates? I can't remember the last time we wore them. If they turned out to be the "turdburgers" Ted Black worried about, are the Sabres sparing their fans from some additional humiliation in what's left of this season?

Even for those of us longing for a bottoming-out and a high draft pick, tonight's game was tough to watch.

Yep. Just one time in the last 26 years. We took Vanek 5th overall in 2003.