Face it, the plan for next year is another tank

[nfreeman]

1 hour ago, Buffalonill said:

 But if you finish last You automatically a lock to get a franchise player 

Sounds great.  What could possibly go wrong?

[Buffalonill]

8 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

I think you are going a little crazy.  Every player is different.  Wright is the prize next season.  Franchise centre that plays two way and is a natural born leader, something Jack never was.  That is the big difference between the two players. High, high character with Wright as compared to Eichel.  Doesn't have Jack's flashiness but gets results. Savoie I don't get as excited for. Kid has talent but has been knocked out twice with massive hits. His career won't be long if he doesn't become much more aware.  Lambert has blazing speed and high end skill, plays wing.

 

Bedard is very talented but this year will show where he belongs on the Next One scale. The Russian is super talented too.

 

But McDavid,  Eichel even McKinnon have won a combined Jack Squat.  Getting one player means nothing. You have to know how to build a winning team and Buffalo has shown no clue to that.

There are no guarantees with a lottery and with Star players.

All 3 are projected to be NHL superstars by scouts will see what happens but you're correct it takes a team so hopefully we build right 

And Lambert plays center also 

 

Edited July 25, 2021 by Buffalonill

[SabresVet]

1 hour ago, klos1963 said:

Call it what you want, but as this team stands today, and it doesn't look to get any better, we will be a very bad team. You have to look at our division, 26 games ?, the rest of the conference, (24 more), how many of those games do we win against Tampa, Toronto, Pitt, Washington, Islanders....

Tank or not, it's the same effect. We will finish at or very near the bottom next season.

We still have no NHL quality goalie on the roster.

I read earlier that Terry is objecting to taking on some cap in the deal with Minnesota.  That supports they're in cost cutting mode this year which dovetails nicely with the strip down Adams is executing.

Basically the rebuild works for Terry because they're in cost reduction mode.  I guess there were no more gas wells to drill.  

[Buffalonill]

43 minutes ago, nfreeman said:

Sounds great.  What could possibly go wrong?

Nothing You get 1 of 3 

[LGR4GM]

5 minutes ago, SabresVet said:

I read earlier that Terry is objecting to taking on some cap in the deal with Minnesota.  That supports they're in cost cutting mode this year which dovetails nicely with the strip down Adams is executing.

Basically the rebuild works for Terry because they're in cost reduction mode.  I guess there were no more gas wells to drill.  

I'd guess Pegula took a covid hit and he wants to have money for his new football stadium. 

[SabresVet]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

I'd guess Pegula took a covid hit and he wants to have money for his new football stadium. 

Very possible.  Something has definitely changed to prompt them to get penny-wise with the Sabres.  Back in the first few years they didn't seem to have budget limitations like they do now.  

[GoPre]

Nobody expected the Sabres to go this long without making the playoffs.  This used to be credible hockey franchise, but it has fallen to next to nothing.  Why continue pay for this product?  Knowing Buffalo has returned or even remained at step one since 2011 is difficult for any fan.  Go Sabres I guess....

Edited July 25, 2021 by GoPre

[Buffalonill]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

I'd guess Pegula took a covid hit and he wants to have money for his new football stadium. 

So that's why the deal isn't done ? Great 

[Hoss]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

I'd guess Pegula took a covid hit and he wants to have money for his new football stadium. 

Pegula has seemed to be in cost cutting mode with the Sabres for about a year now and I think Eichel’s injury kicked the plan into overdrive.

[North Buffalo]

On 7/24/2021 at 5:08 PM, dudacek said:

Think about it
 

• This team currently has a cap hit of $43 million with only 4 RFAs to sign. Those UFAs will cost $10-12 million which barely gets them to the floor.
• The just traded their #1 defenceman by usage and their highest scoring forward for a sixth defenceman and a bucket of assets that won’t see Buffalo for two more years at the earliest.
• The guy they just took first overall is not likely playing until next spring.
• Their franchise player will not be playing for them next season and they are working hard to trade him for a package of futures.
• Their top two remaining defencemen have not seen their 22nd birthday.
• Their next two have played 50 NHL games combined.
• Their top two centres have a combined for 31 NHL career goals
• They promoted an inexpensive development specialist to be head coach
• And they do not have an NHL goalie under contract.
• Next year promises to have some elite talent at the top of the draft.

In my view, they haven’t announced it, and they may pick up the odd veteran to soften the blow, but we would be foolish to think they are doing anything but tanking next year while possibly preparing a clean, fresh slate for a new buyer.

 

Yup agree, they'll paint it as developing in house talent... but it is still a tank given current roster.

[sabremike]

[pi2000]

1 hour ago, Hoss said:

Pegula has seemed to be in cost cutting mode with the Sabres for about a year now and I think Eichel’s injury kicked the plan into overdrive.

I believe at some point during the season Kevyn and Jack had a falling out that had nothing to do with his injury. 

[Thorny]

4 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

I believe at some point during the season Kevyn and Jack had a falling out that had nothing to do with his injury. 

Eichel enjoyed the Last Jedi and KA boycotted the film

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, Thorny said:

Eakin is the 3C right now and may be in line to lead the team in minutes at C right now including PK time

If that ends up the case after KA is done his list this summer, it's "tell me how you are trying to lose without telling me" territory. 

Not with Granato as coach.  If I remember correctly, his role with Sabres diminished once DG became coach.  He was also terrible all of last season except maybe on the PK.  Also Asplund, Girgensons and R2 are all experienced centers at various levels.  My guess is if the motto of the team remains let the kids play, Asplund and R2 will compete for the 3C job if we the roster stays as is.  I can also easily see Asplund moving to 4C over Eakin if he loses to R2 for 3C.

This is the spine right now IMHO

Mitts, Cozens, R2 & Asplund

 

 

[Thorny]

25 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Not with Granato as coach.  If I remember correctly, his role with Sabres diminished once DG became coach.  He was also terrible all of last season except maybe on the PK.  Also Asplund, Girgensons and R2 are all experienced centers at various levels.  My guess is if the motto of the team remains let the kids play, Asplund and R2 will compete for the 3C job if we the roster stays as is.  I can also easily see Asplund moving to 4C over Eakin if he loses to R2 for 3C.

This is the spine right now IMHO

Mitts, Cozens, R2 & Asplund

 

 

I had both R2 and Asplund in the roster, too, if you saw my lineup. As of now, Eakin is on track for plenty of minutes - regardless of position. 

I have Asplund sticking with Mitts which he seemed to be doing and R2 more likely doesn't get shifted back to C. 

We only have 11 F under contract on the NHL roster right now and then we are looking at a guy like Oglevie as the last regular. That's why I keep saying "as of now" cause as of now every F we have would need to play substantially - roster is pretty barren right now. 

Edited July 26, 2021 by Thorny

[Thorny]

Also, Mitts, Cozens, R2, and Asplund isn't a spine it's a noodle 

[WildCard]

Mitts panning out for us would be a huge win. Him and Dahlin are the two guys I'm focused on the most next season to make a big step.

 

[Doohickie]

36 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Also, Mitts, Cozens, R2, and Asplund isn't a spine it's a noodle 

I stll say that if those are the options, Girgensons plays C, perhaps even 1C.

If Mitts or Cozens is up to 1C let them take it, but Girgs can do it and not get worn down as much.

[Andrew Amerk]

1 minute ago, Doohickie said:

I stll say that if those are the options, Girgensons plays C, perhaps even 1C.

No. Let the kids learn. 

[Thorny]

3 minutes ago, Doohickie said:

I stll say that if those are the options, Girgensons plays C, perhaps even 1C.

If Mitts or Cozens is up to 1C let them take it, but Girgs can do it and not get worn down as much.

I think he could end up there too. 

[Doohickie]

1 minute ago, Andrew Amerk said:

No. Let the kids learn. 

I'm all in favor of letting them learn but I don't want them to get crushed.  That's what happened in rebuild 1.0 when all the young players besides Jack were brought on too early and failed.

That said, I think Mitts might be ready but if he's wearing down I think Girgs is next man up.

[Thorny]

2 minutes ago, Andrew Amerk said:

No. Let the kids learn. 

The kids are going to learn. Cozens and Mittelstadt will be at C. I have no problem with Asplund and Ruotsalainen playing on the wings because I don't see them as long term fixtures at centre for this team. Asplund is also a winger, he looked good next to Casey. I'm not opposed to Ruotsalainen getting a shot at C, but he doesn't "need" to be there. 

[Doohickie]

I also anticipate it will be a very fluid combination of lines.  I think Granato will tailor each lineup to the opponent.  I think he will try to let them learn but I also think he will honestly try to win every game.

[Thorny]

1C we don't have - Cozens - Mittelstadt in the Roy role - Plenty of options for 4C

[Curt]

7 hours ago, Buffalonill said:

But these 3 are better  And will actually have a system in place 

Please, no.  Don’t start putting a bunch of eggs in one player’s basket.  It’s a team they are building.  They are going to draft a good player and that’s great, but I’ve no appetite to be happy about losing.

 

7 hours ago, Buffalonill said:

 These 3 players coming out are Sydney Crosby, Connor mcdavid and Nathan mckinnon prospects.

 Then you have in 2023 a kid that is better then  Connor mcdavid

 

These 2 drafts are going to be huge

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Buffalonill said:

@WildCard

Why Burlington hockey phenom Shane Wright is already being compared to Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thestar.com/amp/sports/hockey/2020/11/14/why-burlington-hockey-phenom-shane-wright-is-already-being-compared-to-sidney-crosby-and-connor-mcdavid.html

 

Teen phenom Matthew Savoie draws comparisons to Sidney Crosby

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4500318

 

Watching Lambert play is like watching a Nathan MacKinnon clone. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.si.com/hockey/.amp/news/three-headed-monster-meet-wright-savoie-and-lambert-the-next-great-draft-trio

Stop stop stop.  It’s not about one player!  This organization just did this with Eichel, placing so much on his shoulders and making so much about him individually.  It can’t be like that.