Since when do the Sabres act like a real team during the off-season?? This has to be one of the best summers the Sabres have had in years. Good draft picks. Good trades and good FA signings.

I'm in shock that I'm saying this, but I'm buying into Darcy for the first time ever. Now Lindy needs to step up and be a real coach.

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Sabres Fan since Day One!!!

I was growing increasingly frustrated with Darcy prior to the ownership change and thought that much of the team's failures and lack of activity was his fault. It just shows that oftentimes there are other reasons that we as fans are unaware of behind the scenes that play into the actions of the organization.

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When Ott said he hopes he can bring "team toughness" to the Sabres I got a big grin on my face.
It's about flippin time.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

outside the draft, this summer has been ho hum compared to last summer. they got better in some areas this summer, but its been mainly minor moves this summer so far. roy for ott was the biggest, by far.

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unless you mean the overall direction of the team. in that case, you are correct.

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Sign Shane Doan or Semin? I understand Semin has work ethic issues and LR probably hates him but if you get his scoring going.

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

I fucking love this guy Ott. Seems like a genuinely good dude who is willing to put the team ahead of individual statistics. That type of humility is going to wear off on everyone on the team. If you have a dude who is busting his nuts all over the ice and your aren't you will look/feel like a complete ass.

I love the fact that so many people wanted to get him here and Roy out of here and that's what happened

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Sabres Fan since Day One!!!

It's like they were listening to us.

Ott's a beauty.

Roy's a douche thank god we got rid of him.

I think we gotta unload a few d-men and should get another scorer on the team. Right now I'd offer up anything within reason to Shane Doan to sign with Buffalo. Semin's a lost cause so no real point in persuing him at all

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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

...you're gonna have a bad time.

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Well played. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks in meme.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

[quote="ironyisadeadscene"]outside the draft, this summer has been ho hum compared to last summer. quote]
+1

Don't get all the excitement over losing their most experienced center and not replacing him (unless you count an 18-year old draft pick).

Semin caught a plane to his homeland. I'm still undecided if Doan would work for the Sabres.

Out of everything they did this summer, Ott was the biggest plus. As for making this team tougher to play ahainst, one or two players won't do it. Its more of a Philosophy that the whole team needs to buy into. We are still pretty small for that to happen. Also, being a "tough" team doesn't mean shit unless the score goals.

I'm definitely interested in how this season (if it happens) will look like.

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Semin is in free agency. He didn't go to Russia.

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

we were 17th in the league in scoring top 10 will be accomplished with a healthy lineup. should also point out scoring isn't everything. The Kings were 29th in the league in scoring and they won the cup. The devils were 15th in the league and they made it to the finals. so scoring will be a good thing to have but an all around team game is what will help us win and get that cup

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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

Not to be that guy, but the Kings were a complete anomaly.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

Ehhh, I disagree with this just a tiny bit.

They were a early pick for my Stanley Cup Favorite because of how they were last year, but they fluttered through the season this year.

But as we all know, once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen. I know people like to argue that with hockey saying the better team always wins, but that's not always the case in Hockey either. Getting hot at the right time is key and that's just what the Kings did, got hot a few weeks before the playoffs and won.

Yes, I was surprised at them too.

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The Kings weren't an anomoly not just because they were an early pick (a talented team), they got their scoring into high gear down the stretch and entering the playoffs. They wouldn't have won the Cup if they hadn't finally started to score goals. That was due to Brown, Carter, and Richards (not to mention Kopitar but he was producing all season).

So yeah, you do need scoring to go along with toughness. I don't think Buffalo is that far away though. They could have Ott and Foligno on different lines, and then the 4th line of McCormick, Kaleta, and sometimes Scott. The defense still isn't very scary though. Regehr is tough but not a big hitter or fighter. Myers plays physical sometimes but he's not a big hitter or fighter. Weber might only be the #7 or #8 guy and McNabb will probably play in Rochester. I'd like to see more nastiness from that group eventually, but as long as they can stay healthy they should be so effective at clearing the zone and creating offensive chances that it might not matter.

weber needs to play about 60 games this year. we are a better team overall with him in the 4/5/6 slot than with any of the others.