although we did come close to making it back in the playoffs from 15th in the east with less then 20 games left it was a marvellous effort. Too bad injuries are the scape goat here. IMO still need a coaching change but we all know that won't help. Roy look tremendous against the Leafs the other day to bad he doesn't bring it every game. Hopefully Darcy can fine a new place for the guy come draft day or during the summer sometime.

Hey theres always next year

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"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff

I seriously hope with two first round picks this year that they don't go out and tiny center. Draft more foligno type guys.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Agreed. We still need a center for future as well. Hopefully Darcy can trade at least one of the picks or even both along with Roy for a true #1 center

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"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff

Ya know, we weren't winning the cup this season anyway. Maybe it's the beer finally kicking in, but I'm not really bothered too much by this one. Sure, it sucks big Osama balls that we're officially out, but look at what we crawled back from. What we overcame. We lost over 300 man games this season to injury and STILL managed to be relevant coming down the stretch. Who knows, maybe we would get by the Rags in the first round? My money says it wouldn't happen because we don't know the extent of who was playing with what injury.

All of that having been said, next year we have a full season with some of our kids who were real diamonds in the rough this year. Who knows what Darcy does in the offseason? Folks, a month or so ago, how many people wrote us off for dead? I'll raise my hand on that one. We put up one hell of an effort and were breathing down the necks of a lot of teams coming down the stretch. Back at the all star break, this team was almost considered a joke. Go back to that time and tell me that you believed we would be fighting or even be considered for a playoff spot at that time. Please, tell me you thought that.

I'm not ashamed of the run they made. If anything, it's made me more of a fan. Also, the Rags will sweep the Caps in the first round.

On that note, THANK YOU SABRES!!! For giving us something to look forward to.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

I knew all season they were a better team than what they showed until February, so I'd rather have the top 3-5 draft pick than making a run to 9th. Not bitter about it though, it was kinda nice to see they actually had a pulse, but Girgenson or Galchenyuk would look real nice...even Grigorenko maybe if they traded up.

We need to find some cap space....

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Sabres Fan since Day One!!!

If they're not from Ontario, Don Cherry says you're crazy.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

If Don Cherry actually said that, it would only solidify my sanity.

We have 4.8 Million in cap space next year. If we ship Roy or just fucking buy him out, we will have either 8.8 million or 6.6 million.

Ennis needs his raise, D is all signed, people have clamored for Leopold to be gone, that could be another 3 million by trading him. So we are up to 11.8 million or 9.6 million. Kaleta takes probably 1 million and Ennis at 3.5 for maybe 2 years.

We could have some money to play with come next year if we get rid of some players. Most of our players are signed already for next year.

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We won't have that much cap space though.

With the 23 players we finished the season with, having them all back (Ennis at about 2.6 mil, Kaleta and Sulzer at 1 mil each) the cap hit will be right at 64 mil. What Regier can do will depend on how much (if) the cap limit is raised.

Another thing to consider folks, we don't know what will happen with the CBA this fall. I know one thing I HOPE to see.... is the refs going back to calling the games as they did coming out of the lockout.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

Our D isn't all signed up. Sulzer IMO has to be resigned. Him and Ehrhoff together are dynamite. I'd like to see one of Leopold or Weber moved. And I'd like to see something happen with McCormick and Roy. McNasty can easily take Weber's place. With Boyes and Hecht leaving that will clear up about 7 mill but Myers big contract comes into play next year 12 million for him next year.

Couple people I would definately persue come July 1st is Geroge Parros, Jarret Stoll, Travis Moen, Zach Parise, Shane Doan and Ray Whitney.

Best case scenario Darcy gets rid of Roy + Sekera + McCormick then signs Parise and Parros.

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"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff

I took my numbers directly from capgeek, we have 4.8 million to work with unless we dump some players off, or stash them in the AHL.

The only one I'd want on your list is Parise, and we simply don't have the room to sign him unless you trade away Roy and some D guys like Leopold/Sekera.

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I wouldn't say that they were a better team than what they showed. Remember, this fight into 9th was brougth on by Miller playing better and a rookie (Ennis) and AHL'ers showing that they deserve to be on the Sabres more than some of the veterans. TV needs to get fixed, Roy needs a swift kick in the jimmy, Boyes and Gerbe needs to be sent packing. They were a colossal waste of space this season.

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That's one of the mysteries. WTH Happened to Gerbe? The little guy disappeared this year.

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Sabres Fan since Day One!!!

But you didn't notice that cap geek didn't estimate new contracts for Ennis, Kaleta (or any other forward that might replace him), and Sulzer (or any other d-man that might replace him). That's at least 4-5 million in cap space eaten up right there.

The only room for free agency will be due to trading a high salary player like Roy, or the cap limit getting raised again.

Yeah well I'm not liked in my own house. My wife loves Roy and my 15 year daughter loves Gerbe and I've been complaining for months about getting rid of them

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Ya Gerbe seems expendable at this point. I'm postive he'll have a bounce back season next year. I don't think we need Kaleta either. Parros would be a great option for an enforcer. Parise could be had if he isn't willing to resign with NJ I'd offer up Roy + Sekera/Leopold for Parise (if he resigns with the club) That would clear up about 8 Million in cap space and obviously that would go straight to Parise. Leopold and Sekera aren't to great we've seen that when both Myers and Ehrhoff went down. I'd resign Sulzer maybe go after a defensive D Man, Corey Sarrich comes to mind or even Hannan?

We need to drop salary so hoping Darcy does the right thing of letting Roy, Boyes, Hecht, Kaleta, and either Leopold or Sekera find new homes this summer. This way we can actually have the money to go after Parise.

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"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff

This season should come as no surprise.

Under R & R Sabres have made the playoffs 2 out of the past 5 seasons.

Under R & R Sabres have made the playoffs 4 out of the past 10 seasons.

You can't give them mulligans when their team, on average, qualifies for the playoffs 40% of the time.

Actually, as a fan you can. You can blame injuries, referees, and the hockey gods if you want to stay in denial.

Pegula is in a tough spot. If he keeps R & R here; and we get the same type of results next year, he's no longer selling hope; and the majority of the fans (who were often loyal to a fault), will definitely start to realize they've been sold false hope. At least with new management the team would have more leeway to say they are making changes for the long run, and get another pass.

If he really meant what he said about The Sabres only existing purpose being to win the cup, then he must act. Otherwise his statement is as hollow as John Rigas talking about bringing in "the missing pieces to win a Stanley Cup."

I think he will be very attuned to public opinion over the next few weeks. Sadly; I'd be somewhat surprised to see him act, though I hold on to the faint hope he is a smart enough man to realize the inevitable.

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

Did you not see my first post in this thread? I estimated exactly what you said.

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