Johnny DangerFace Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) Okay so next year we will have some of the AHL guys ready for full time roles (hopefully), Reinhart ready for a full time role (hopefully, and our 1st round forward ready for a full time role (hopefully). Let's see how competitive this team will be Ennis - Grigorenko - Armia Moulson - Reinhart - (2015 Draftee) Hodgson - Girgensons - Gionta Foligno - Larsson - Deslauriers Gorges - Myers McCabe - Ristolainen Zadorov - Pysyk Extra Forwards - Schaller, McCormick 7th D = Mike Weber If McCabe, Pysyk, and Zadorov are read, this group of defenders is looking way to young. Myers and Gorges may have to be split up to give a veteran presence on multiple lines. Something like Gorges/Ristolainen, McCabe/Myers, Zadorov/Pysyk. Our forwards are starting to look a little soft again and not being able to hold their own defensively. Hodgson, it may be time for you to go. Not to mention the team is looking way to young, too many rookies is not a great thing. Also, I would really like for Armia and Grigorenko to stay on a line together, and both next year will be old men compared to our other nhl ready prospects. Gone Flynn (RFA) Mitchell (UFA) Benoit (UFA) Meszaros (UFA) Stafford (UFA) Stewart (UFA) Kaleta (UFA) Also what can they do to improve? I think there isn't much doubt Grigorenko and Pysyk should make the team. Armia, Larsson, Schaller, and McCabe have to be close too. And who knows what to do with Zadorov. So with all those young players, what do you do? Keep some in the AHL to over-ripe and keep a staffor or Stewart for a few years? Edited October 30, 2014 by Numark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 That looks like a 60-70 loss team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunomatic Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 No mans land. Two steps forward, one step back. There will be some bumps in the road to respectability. We're so far off now I just can't see this thing turning around anytime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Entertaining at least. As much as I'm pro tank, it will be nice to finally talk about positive things on the ice for the first time in 2 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huckleberry Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 fight for a playoff spot ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taro T Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Okay so next year we will have some of the AHL guys ready for full time roles (hopefully), Reinhart ready for a full time role (hopefully, and our 1st round forward ready for a full time role (hopefully). Let's see how competitive this team will be Ennis - Grigorenko - Armia Moulson - Reinhart - (2015 Draftee) Hodgson - Girgensons - Gionta Foligno - Larsson - Deslauriers Gorges - Myers McCabe - Ristolainen Zadorov - Pysyk Extra Forwards - Schaller, McCormick 7th D = Mike Weber If McCabe, Pysyk, and Zadorov are read, this group of defenders is looking way to young. Myers and Gorges may have to be split up to give a veteran presence on multiple lines. Something like Gorges/Ristolainen, McCabe/Myers, Zadorov/Pysyk. Our forwards are starting to look a little soft again and not being able to hold their own defensively. Hodgson, it may be time for you to go. Not to mention the team is looking way to young, too many rookies is not a great thing. Also, I would really like for Armia and Grigorenko to stay on a line together, and both next year will be old men compared to our other nhl ready prospects. Gone Flynn (RFA) Mitchell (UFA) Benoit (UFA) Meszaros (UFA) Stafford (UFA) Stewart (UFA) Kaleta (UFA) Also what can they do to improve? I think there isn't much doubt Grigorenko and Pysyk should make the team. Armia, Larsson, Schaller, and McCabe have to be close too. And who knows what to do with Zadorov. So with all those young players, what do you do? Keep some in the AHL to over-ripe and keep a staffor or Stewart for a few years? I'd put this in the lack of scoring thread a couple of days ago. Hold steady and get 1/2 of McEichel, bring back Ehrhoff (or an Ehrhoff-type) in FA, and pick up a better goalie in FA and while next year isn't great (or even good) it could be close to a playoff team and should be able to score at least 2/night: Moulson - McEichel - Ennis Hodgson - Grigorenko - Armia Foligno - Girgensons - Gionta Deslauriers - Larsson- McCormick Ehrhoff - Ristolainen Gorges - Myers ??? - Pysyk ??? Enroth/ Neuvirth Spares:Weber, Flynn, ??? I'd expect TM to upgrade a couple of those spots as well via trade. If someone that could play RW w/ Moulson and McEichel could be brought in then Ennis could take Hodgson's spot, Hodgson take Foligno's spot, and Foligno take McCormick's. I wouldn't hate that lineup next year and would like it in '16-'17 w/ Reinhart joining the mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jsixspd Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 No Mans Land, based on the Chicago rebuild, and assuming that this season is equivalent to Chicago's final "tank" season". But with a mix of wins, a lot more enjoyable to watch vs this season and last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drunkard Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 No man's land assuming our 2015 first is McDavid or Eichel. Bottom 5 is we miss out on both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabres Fan in NS Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Not very ......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wjag Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 About as competitive as an competition hot dog eater with his jaw wired shut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 If Foligno, Hodgson and Stafford are still on this team, I'm quitting the Sabres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Tough to tell without knowing who is coming in trades or free agency, but right now, I think next year looks an awful lot like 2007-08 but with maybe a little more talent coming up from the AHL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two or less Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Entertaining at least. As much as I'm pro tank, it will be nice to finally talk about positive things on the ice for the first time in 2 years Once we get McDavid or Eichel, i am sure everyone will be onboard to winning too. I don't think it'll happen next season but i also don't think we'll see much "tank" talk if we pick top-2 this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taro T Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Once we get McDavid or Eichel, i am sure everyone will be onboard to winning too. I don't think it'll happen next season but i also don't think we'll see much "tank" talk if we pick top-2 this year. Even if they somehow miss out on all 3 of the big three the tank is done on April 12. Nowhere to go but up. That's the time to convert potential into tangibles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude_Verret Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Once we get McDavid or Eichel, i am sure everyone will be onboard to winning too. I don't think it'll happen next season but i also don't think we'll see much "tank" talk if we pick top-2 this year. Even if we don't land McEichel the tank is over as far as I'm concerned. We're taking our shot at the top end talent for two years and once the chips fall where they may that era of Sabres hockey is in the history books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two or less Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Moulson - McEichel - Ennis Hodgson - Grigorenko - Armia Foligno - Girgensons - Gionta Deslauriers - Larsson- McCormick Ehrhoff - Ristolainen Gorges - Myers ??? - Pysyk ??? Enroth/ Neuvirth Spares:Weber, Flynn, ??? You lost me at Ehrhoff. When we bought him out, Murray said Ehrhoff having no desire to remain with Buffalo was a huge factor in buying him out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 You lost me at Ehrhoff. When we bought him out, Murray said Ehrhoff having no desire to remain with Buffalo was a huge factor in buying him out. I don't think they can bring him back anyway, but I agree. I can totally understand the guy not wanting to be here for the bad years in a rebuild. But that means you miss out on the good ones, too. As much as I like him as a player, that's just the way it works, as far as I'm concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taro T Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 You lost me at Ehrhoff. When we bought him out, Murray said Ehrhoff having no desire to remain with Buffalo was a huge factor in buying him out. Thus the qualifyer "or an Ehrhoff type" in the text above the lineup. They don't need him per se but they do need someone to fill that role. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two or less Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Even if we don't land McEichel the tank is over as far as I'm concerned. We're taking our shot at the top end talent for two years and once the chips fall where they may that era of Sabres hockey is in the history books. Even if they somehow miss out on all 3 of the big three the tank is done on April 12. Nowhere to go but up. That's the time to convert potential into tangibles. I agree. I was responding to the poster who said he wanted the fresh air of just pure hockey talk, not just constant tank talk. I think if we don't land McDavid or Eichel, many fans will still be hoping for another high pick. It'll split the fan base in two. As far as the team is concerned, i agree, this is it for the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taro T Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 I agree. I was responding to the poster who said he wanted the fresh air of just pure hockey talk, not just constant tank talk. I think if we don't land McDavid or Eichel, many fans will still be hoping for another high pick. It'll split the fan base in two. As far as the team is concerned, i agree, this is it for the tank. Whether they're hoping for it or not, a top 10 pick is extremely likely w/out McEichel and top 15 is extremely likely even w/ a part of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Even if we don't land McEichel the tank is over as far as I'm concerned. We're taking our shot at the top end talent for two years and once the chips fall where they may that era of Sabres hockey is in the history books. I agree with this. Although, if we don't get either half, I wouldn't be shocked to see us drafting top-5 for a third time...it just wouldn't be intentional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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