MDFan

I would think Guhle is a strong prospect for cracking the lineup out of camp, but certainly by mid year if not. I would hate to see Hunwick in the lineup at the expense of Guhle, but they may feel they need the experience. I think BooLoo is as good as gone. I would love to see someone from Rochester step up to push Girgensons and Larrson out, but I am not sure we will see that right out of the gate.

I am not disputing your analysis of Berglund and Sobotka, but I think it is highly unlikely they were integral to this deal for JBOT. Rather, it seems clear they were pieces he had to take to make the money come out right for St. Louis. It quite possible, even likely in my opinion, that these two guys will perform better than the bottom feeders they have been putting out there the last couple of years in any case. This was not about saving money, or even about an immediate replacement for O'Reilly, but about shaking up a moribund core that has not worked. There is certainly room for disagreement as to whether O'Reilly was part of the problem and I guess we will see, but that is the only way to see this trade in my view.

I wish I could find reason to take issue with anything you said, but sadly, I cannot. Great post, even if you did burst my hopelessly hoping bubble of early season Sabres fan optimism. (Not that the team hasn't done their best to poke holes in my fantasies already) Sigh.

Got it. I did use the double m. My bad. Still kind of funny though.

Love this trade. When Eichel talked about players talking like they want to win but not putting in the efforts to do so, Ennis is the first player I think of. Ennis for Pomminstein, even with the age difference, was a trade I would have made all day long. The Sabres are much better with that exchange. I like Foligno and I think he has really come along over the past two years, but we needed defense, we got it. Again, good exchange. I am hoping Fascing can develop into that role. Edit: interesting that the site auto corrected to Pommenstein.

I would bet it was a short conversation.

The Sabres unfortunately are heavy in LW with not much on the right. Unless they can flip Kane for a competent right winger, they are going to have to make do. It does not change that the Sabres are waisting time by continuing to jam O'Reilley and Reinhardt into the wrong positions.

Agree with this. Sam needs to be a center, and O'reilley at wing. This is the best configuration for the long term and there is no evidence to suggest it is not the correct one. It has been the stubbornness of Bylsma that has prevented this playing out. The time to make this move is now. Eichel with O' Reilly on his wing would be a dymamic combination. Sam with Okposo would be also a potentially great alignment. Beyond that, I would hope that some combination of Bailey, Baptiste, or Fasching can step up to one or two of the left wing roles. I like Kane with Larson and Foligno on a third line. Ennis is the piece that does not fit right now and I have no confidence that he can be effective in the top six.

I am not sure that I understand how Pegula is "meddling" with the Sabres. He hired TM and gave him free rein to build the team and coaching staff as he saw fit. Three years into it, is anyone really satisfied with the results? I liked TM's style and personality, and agreed with much of what he did, but there have been some critical errors that have resulted in the Sabres still muddling along. Anyone could see Bylsma was not right for this job after two years. Multiple player issues as well. If Murray stuck with Bylsma in his meeting with Pegula, good for him in pulling the plug. We are not starting over in the rebuild but a fresh direction is required.

Now that I say that, they finally put him on a line with real NHL players and he scores. Great shot.

I don't blame him if he is. Look who he is playing with.

It seems the opposite to me - a poor fit for contract 2. They already have big money tied up in their top 4. Panarin is likely next in line. He gets an immediate opportunity to win a cup, which would be attractive, but a big money contract is more likely with another team.

Actually, an underperming forward for a D man which fills a big need is not a bad deal. Whether they should have drafted Hall in the first place is a different question. This helps the Oilers.

Montreal is a tire fire. What a stupid move.

I think actually a good move for Stamkos and the best outcome for the game. Very happy he did not go to Toronto.

That would be fun. It would be even more fun if John Scott was still on he team. I hate the leaves. Go Sabres.

According to the article on ESPN, he and the GM were not on the same page. The quote from a team source is "it simply didn't work out and it was a mutual parting of ways". Sorry I can't link it right now but the article is on the ESPN NHL site.

The Bruins are trying to tank without tanking. I cannot see this approach working. They could be really bad, but not bad enough for a top five pick. Pain and suffering ahead for Bruins fans.

Is there anyone in the world who actually takes Don Cherry seriously anymore? If there is, I am pretty confident that Mike Babcock is not one of them.

I was talking about the OP, and I am not off in my assessment. Of course , this is matter of opinion.

That is quite possibly the most ignorant and insulting post I have read on this, or any other, sports message board. I am sure you are very proud of yourself. Well done.

Hatrick's is awesome. I always stop in there when I am in town, and have had the opportunity to watch a couple of Sabres games there, once against the Lightening, albeit in better times. You certainly cannot beat the bartender/waitress selection.

Probably the result of the hit from behind into the boards in the third period. Uncalled. He is lucky it was not an upper body, ie, head injury.

Sounds like Luke Adam 2.0 Will be a good fit in Rochester.

It at least looks worth watching. Hopefully not TOO good.