The Sabres wont do anything until the trade deadline or near it, much like 95% of the teams, so expecting something big before then is a waste of time. Besides, there are better deals near then, right now there probably aren't many options at all let alone a season changing trade.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Again; it doesn't have to be "big." It just needs to be.....

It's also not absolutely all about who is acquired. It's all about the mind set of the players in the locker room; and the dynamics of the team.

Someone or something has to get their attention.

But yes; you are correct about most of the big name players. Teams will have sorted out whether they are buyers or sellers by the trade deadline.

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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.

A minor move would be fine, it wouldn't help our season very much, though. That's my main point.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

We don't know what it's like in that locker room. We don't know who's water, and who's oil. Change in personalities can change the dynamics of teams. Will it make them better on paper? Perhaps not at all.

Roy was out last year, and the team played a lot better without him. This is the kind of dynamic I am referring to.

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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.

I doubt it was from Roy being out.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

We'll never know for certain; unless those in the know say something.

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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.

It's not unreasonable to think that it could merely be the presence of Roy. Maybe it's a coincidence that this team played much, much better without him on a line.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

Our season has been lost, to this point, by all the injuries. I get it. Teams are supposed to have depth, but that depth should include the ECHL, which is basically what the Sabres are getting down to at this point.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

yeah we have injuries. Alot of injuries but so are the Penguins. Do you see them playing like shit and losing although a few of their major players (including their star) are out? Who's injured on the Sabres line up that could possibly make a difference other than maybe Myers????? Six of our currently injured players are from the Amerks

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The Penguins still have Malkin. Who has shown, he can carry a team to a Stanley Cup.

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No, it's pretty unreasonable. One man with 30 points in 30 games (I think) getting injured doesn't make a team turn into a playoff contender.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

If it happens again it won't be coincidence.

Take the wool off of your eyes, and look at the product that was on the ice while Roy was out.

If you aren't able to see that the team played better, then you should pick a different sport to watch.

If you want to argue that it wasn't Roy being out that was the catalyst, but that it may have been timing or some other spark, by all means, make that your schtick. The team played better and won more during the time period when a specific player was not on the ice.

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Could be as simple as his ego. Roy was out a very long time and this team went on a tear. Roy was on the team for a very long time early, had high point output, but the team faltered.

Blaming one guy who actually produced making the team bad is purely wrong.

One good player on a team doesn't make the rest of the team suck. With him out, we didn't win the first few games with him being out. It wasn't until Vanek started to produce again that we started to win games.

Vanek wasn't producing much in the first half, and we weren't winning, Roy did. When Vanek started to produce points he started to carry the team. I don't know what it was, but there was a realization they weren't going far that kicked them into high gear. It seems this year, injuries are preventing this team to get into that gear, because Vanek, Pominville, and Roy are in it but not anyone else.

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I have to admit though the team did play a lot better without him. I just feel its time to move Roy when he still has some good value. He is lazy, takes dumb penalties and gets knocked off the puck too easily. I guess I'm just sick of watching him and stafford!

Im not saying that Roy significantly hurts this team but he doesnt really add anything with absolutely need and last season proved that. We lost him for nothing last year, why not try to get a descent return this year and yes I know we arent going to trade Roy for Getzlaf but with the proper players added in we can get something worth while at least.

Ya dude comparing Sabres and Pens injuries woes isn't really legitimate IMO. Malkin is a superstar and even without Crosby he can produce. Add that to Neal scoring goals + the rest of the team scoring goals. That's the big difference between us and the pens. We do not have quality secondary scoring. The Pens even without Crosby can light the lamp for 8 goals

We do have a tonne of significant injuries so we cannot exactly depict that the Sabres aren't a real playoff team until we see healthy bodies on the ice. I'm hoping for a healthy January...

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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

Ok, it's a stretch because of Malkin being on the team but you kind of make my point... "the rest of the team scoring goals" Our secondary scoring IS what is scoring. Pure goals, Vanek is the only "core" player scoring consistently. If Roy and Stafford scored consistently then this discussion would be moot. I'm just saying is that our injuries are not to our "stars".... for lack of a better word.

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I like Roy as far as the basic type of player he is - a decent two-way center that is a PPer and PKer. I think Roy is about the 20th best center in the league, and has a pretty fair contract. I don't like what seems to be his general attitude, but I haven't seen him stick out much worse than some other players. This team's troubles are deeper than whether we need more out of Roy. Just like last season's late success had to do with much more than whether Roy was playing. I'm with B&Y on that, you can't say that a player is so bad for other reasons, that taking out his PPG pace actually helped the team. Roy is sort of a punk boy (so it seems) but that is far from enough reason for the team to play better without him.

So add in the fact that the team is short at C, we really shouldn't be looking to deal Roy just yet, unless more pieces get a Getzlaf or Staal. But here's the problem as I see it. You guys are talking about the Pens and their injuries, and how good Malkin is and can carry the team and the difference between their secondary scoring. Here's the REAL difference...COACHING. Bylsma has had that team functioning like a Roman army since the day he took over, Crosby or no Crosby...Malkin or no Malkin. Ruff can't get the best out of his roster, plain and simple. So until Ruff changes his gameplan or Pegula gets a new coach it won't matter. Let's pretend everyone gets healthy by Feb, they still have some time to get their game going but even still, they aren't a Cup contender. I don't see getting there without a different on-ice approach.