Everyone knows where I stand. I don't want to rely on just player development, but I don't over value UFAs either. I would've liked Paul Martin, but otherwise this FA class is weak, and there could be better players available through trade without a bloated UFA contract attached. There's cap room and I'm pretty sure Darcy has the green light to use it. Let's see what happens in the next two months.

I'm going to say this for the last fucking time - it doesn't matter how good Darcy's money or term is, or how good the trade package is, players don't want to come here and general managers don't like dealing with the Sabres.

Well, we DID have a lot of players coming here a few years ago... So players all of the sudden say fuck it?

I voted for the first group; those of you that know me know that it doesn't really well define me, but I'm sick of waiting. I think that we're entirely too cautious; I'm not saying to wrap the roster in a hand grenade, but sometimes you have to overcome your doubt and pull the trigger. Everyone is always talking about how patience is key and that we've got great guys in the minors, which is true. We always have great players that will make an impact in a few years, but in my mind, that relegates us to becoming the farm team for the rest of the NHL. We can't afford to keep the products of our system (in 3-4, maybe 5 years, when we've dumped all the dead weight contracts and started signing guys for what they're worth at the beginning of their development, we'll come off smelling like roses).

I believe every year we've had a product that was missing one or two key pieces; and every year Darcy puts the safety back on. Our team doesn't have a star forward or a player that epitomizes character and grit.

Sure, we have gritty players, but we sure as shit don't have a Byfuglien, Pronger, Crosby, or Ovechkin. We have Miller, who, in comparison to those four is a monk, not a warrior.

We don't have players that take losing personally, IMO. All we need is one. One guy to stand up and get pissed off. We get shocked because Miller says something in a press conference, because that's not his personality. It shouldn't be his job.

Miller's not getting younger, Enroth ain't the answer, Myers, Ennis, Gerbe, and Kennedy still have that young'n drive and energy. Vanek works his ass off, Connolly is going into a contract year (right?), Kaleta is going to keep killdozering, and god forbid we bring Kassian up. Roy (as a person) pisses me off to no end, but like the little engine that could, he DOES produce. We're missing SOMETHING; that one piece that will get this group together.

Remember "never two in a row"? Yeah, it took 4 months for that team to actually lose 2 in a row, and it only happened 2 or 3 times that season. We need the catalyst to get them back in that mentality.

I don't know who that guy is, or if it will be just one player, but I know that the move needs to be made. Status quo gets us another 1st round 10-15 pick; if we go all in, maybe we win a cup, or maybe we show our asses. Neither of them are BAD options; eating shit a whole season puts us in good draft position, something we haven't had in, I don't know, forever?

I've been very optimistic about Darcy making good moves this summer. We were one of the better teams in the league last year, but I'm honestly a little scared for a D-corps now that Toni and Hank have been replaced by a lesser defensemen in the same price range. Hopefully something is done to boost up the defense and at least to bring in an impact forward (center, please) to the roster.

I like how Darcy generally does things though. He only makes trades if he is in fact, winning it (at least at the time). I also like how he builds the team through nurturing prospects. Its a really smart way to build and solid team, but what he has to do now that we have a franchise goaltender, a future franchise d-man, and a decent core, is choose a 2 year block where he isn't in the game only for "next year." He needs to realize that next year isn't always the year. If he can designate a 2 year period where he just goes balls out(but not crazy), that is when we will win the Cup.

That being said, I can't choose an option because there is a right place and a right time for all actions made by a GM.

I'm in the middle too. We just had a great season, but we definitely need some changes made. There are guys out there, and Darcy hasn't done much.

For the record, I do like the Leopold signing though.