dudacek Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 I'm pretty sure historically teams that have taken a huge jump in the standings like the Sabres did generally take a small step back the following season. I disagree with the conclusion, but there is nothing wrong with the hypothesis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) I'm pretty sure historically teams that have taken a huge jump in the standings like the Sabres did generally take a small step back the following season. I disagree with the conclusion, but there is nothing wrong with the hypothesis. Which would probably need to be predicated on sophomore slumps for Eichel and Reinhart, which I don't see happening. Obviously those slumps do happen occasionally, but if Jack and Sam do avoid them, I think it's a near certainty we improve in the standings. What would the disappointment level among fans be if we end up at 75-80 points this year and well outside the playoff bubble? Edited October 7, 2016 by Thorny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) Which would probably need to be predicated on sophomore slumps for Eichel and Reinhart, which I don't see happening. Obviously those slumps do happen occasionally, but if Jack and Sam do avoid them, I think it's a near certainty we improve in the standings. What would the disappointment level among fans be if we end up at 75-80 points this year and well outside the playoff bubble? The fans will be hugely disappointed. There is a lot of pent-up feeling. We endured a lot of suffering. We're ready to be good. But I doubt many people around the league will be surprised. I think people respect what Murray is building, but we were so bad, so recently, no one expects it to turn around in two seasons. I think the difference here is the amount of young veterans that have been brought in. Can you recall a team adding the likes of Okposo, O'Reilly, Kane, Kulikov, Bogosian and I'm going to add Lehner that quickly to a bad team without giving up anyone of real NHL consequence? (Except Myers) I think we are blazing some new ground. Edited October 7, 2016 by dudacek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 http://thehockeywriters.com/bold-sabres-season-predictions/ #1 Robin Lehner will be an All Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFAN Posted October 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/17721004/2016-17-nhl-season-preview-buffalo-sabres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 http://thehockeywriters.com/bold-sabres-season-predictions/ #1 Robin Lehner will be an All Star Dudacek is gonna need new pants when he reads this, unless he disrobes before browsing Sabrespace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted October 8, 2016 Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 Dudacek is gonna need new pants when he reads this, unless he disrobes before browsing Sabrespace. Read it? I wrote it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted October 8, 2016 Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 Read it? I wrote it. Well played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rakish Posted October 8, 2016 Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 nhlnumbers has Buffalo at 26, behind them are Columbus, Toronto, Vancouver, and somebody else... Arizona. I agree with liger in thinking Detroit will collapse this year. I also think Ottawa will collapse, making my bottom 5 Vancouver, Detroit, Ottawa... oh, let's have some fun, Winnipeg, and Carolina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted October 8, 2016 Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 I am just amused how a lot of these protections have us worse this year than last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudacek Posted October 8, 2016 Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 I think Tampa wins the division. I think we battle Florida and Montreal for second and make the playoffs. I think we have more talent than many give us credit for, but the reasons for my optimism are Robin Lehner and Dan Bylsma. I think Lehner has the best season by a Sabre goalie since Miller's Vezina year. And is much as Dan's player usage drives me crazy at times, I think he has a much better handle on who they are and what they can do and, just as important, I think they understand what he wants from them and have bought into the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFAN Posted October 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 Hopefully DD posts these predictions in the lockerroom. I'd love to see an angry Sabres team hitting the ice. What I find so strange about all these predictions is how can a team that all these same writers thought upgraded the D with Kulikov and the top 6 with Okposo with two of the top emerging forwards in Eichel and Reinhart actually field a worse team with nearly everyone one else back? Add in the fact that Detroit, Ottawa, and even Montreal and Boston aren't improved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted October 8, 2016 Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 I think they know that no one outside Buffalo believes. That makes them dangerous, especially Jack and Sam. They will only get better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted October 8, 2016 Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 (edited) I am just amused how a lot of these protections have us worse this year than last year. I'm increasingly thinking it's a product of the Sabres very rarely ever getting national coverage and attention. When people makes these lists, the teams they hear more about, and the apparent improvements they may have made, come to the forefront of their minds first, and they get listed earlier. After all the higher spots are filed, the Sabres are slotted in. Obviously there are other factors as well, but I really think it'll take time for the list makers to really take notice of what the Sabres are building. I think they know that no one outside Buffalo believes. That makes them dangerous, especially Jack and Sam. They will only get better. Finkle and Einhorn will have great seasons. Edited October 8, 2016 by Thorny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted October 8, 2016 Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 Finkle is Einhorn... Einhorn is Finkle! EINHORN'S A MAN (pukes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted October 8, 2016 Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 Finkle is Einhorn... Einhorn is Finkle! EINHORN'S A MAN (pukes) :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFAN Posted October 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 http://sabres.buffalonews.com/2016/10/09/sabres-preview-playoffs-within-reach/ Did you ever wonder if Ray Finkle was a shot at Scott Norwood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildCard Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 http://sabres.buffalonews.com/2016/10/09/sabres-preview-playoffs-within-reach/ Did you ever wonder if Ray Finkle was a shot at Scott Norwood? Without a doubt it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFAN Posted October 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 (edited) I should have posted these player previews earlier from WKBW. I think they are pretty good reads. The order of the players we can argue about later, but the list is pretty good so far.No. 8 Jake McCabe - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-8-d-jake-mccabeNo. 9 Kulikov - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-9-d-dmitry-kulikovNo. 10 Nylander - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-10-alex-nylanderNo. 11 Bogosian - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-10-alex-nylanderNo. 12 Bailey - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-13-rw-justin-baileyNo. 13 Fasching - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-13-rw-hudson-faschingNo. 14 Girgensons - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-14-c-zemgus-girgensonsNo. 15 Guhle - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-15-d-brendan-guhleNo. 16 Larsson - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-16-c-johan-larssonNo. 17 Lehner - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-no-17-g-robin-lehnerNo. 18 Foligno - http://www.wkbw.com/tablet-showcase/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-18-lw-marcus-folignoNo. 19 Gorges - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-20-d-josh-gorgesNo. 20 Nelson - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-20-d-casey-nelsonSo who is left: Eichel, Reinhart, Ristolainen, O'Reilly, Okposo, Ennis and KaneA couple of quick thoughts. Ullmark should be on the list ahead of Gorges and Lehner is extremely talented and much more important to the success of the team then everyone listed ahead of him on this list so far. EDIT: No. 7 Ennis - http://www.wkbw.com/sports/sabres/sabres-top-20-talents-in-2016-no-7-lw-tyler-ennis Edited October 10, 2016 by GASabresIUFAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 I agree, Lerner should be higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFAN Posted October 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 (edited) http://sabres.buffalonews.com/2016/10/10/10-elements-vital-sabres-season/ https://realsport101.com/news/sports/nhl/buffalo-sabres-1617-season-preview http://bltdsports.com/2016/09/20/buffalo-sabres-camp-preview/ http://lastwordonhockey.com/2016/09/04/puck-drop-preview-2016-17-buffalo-sabres/ http://www.oleantimesherald.com/sports/sabres-preview-buffalo-seeks-to-continue-climb-toward-respectability/article_445b79f2-8b12-11e6-9db2-6bea3d70ca1f.html http://www.foxsports.com/nhl/story/buffalo-sabres-season-preview-jack-eichel-100515 http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/columnist/allen/2016/10/04/nhl-2016-17-season-point-record-projections/91383592/ http://www.diebytheblade.com/2016/10/7/13194000/nhl-season-preview-2016-3-questions-buffalo-sabres Edited October 10, 2016 by GASabresIUFAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGR4GM Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 https://www.nhl.com/news/16-bold-predictions-for-2016-17/c-282530702?tid=282278696 #4: Autson Matthews will score 25goals and have 75points this season... I call bull$#!t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorny Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 https://www.nhl.com/news/16-bold-predictions-for-2016-17/c-282530702?tid=282278696 #4: Autson Matthews will score 25goals and have 75points this season... I call bull$#!t Zero chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueBlueGED Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 https://www.nhl.com/news/16-bold-predictions-for-2016-17/c-282530702?tid=282278696 #4: Autson Matthews will score 25goals and have 75points this season... I call bull$#!t Can see the goals. That point total is outrageous though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Flagg Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 25 goals is possible, but 75 points would be extraordinary. His teammates aren't good enough to get him that many assists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.