Well, thank you for asking by the way. And Yes, I believe we could have contended if some moves were made.
It would have meant some moves the fans wouldn't like, but I think a shot at those moves could have been done.
1. Bring Ennis up as 3rd line center, shift Goose to 4th line center
2. Trade Stafford and Mac, together with a pick if necessary to bring in a Boyes/Horton RWer.
3. If more picks were needed, trade Lydman or Tallinder for them.
4. Trade Paetsch and a 2nd for that tough LWer (uh oh, that was done. Raffi Torres).
5. Give Sekera his position, Give the kids in Portland a shot.

Line configuration that "may" (and I stress may) have been more competitive
Torres-Connolly-Pomminville
Vanek-Roy-Boyes/Horton
Kennedy-Ennis-Grier
Mair/Ellis-Goose-Kaleta
Rivet-Butler
Myers-Tallinder/Weber (if Tallinder was traded or bring in a 3-4 dman as part of one of the trade packages)
Sekera-Lydman/Gragnani (if Lydman was traded or bring in a 5-6 dman as part of one of the trade packages)

Just an example, but I would have considered moving Pomminville as well, hell, just for the salary dump.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Sekera hasn't impressed in the time he's gotten. I think he's been worse than Butler, and we've been railing on Butler's play of late. I don't think he's anything resembling a long term answer back there.

Pomminville is pretty much unmovable. There isn't a team in the league that is going to take on a $5.3M cap hit for the production he gives. You might get lucky, but it's a safe bet that Pommers wouldn't get picked up on waivers for nothing right now, let along garner any sort of return in a trade.

That line-up wouldn't be good enough, IMO. The defense would be too weak. That is all up for debate, but even still that roster would be over the cap by around 1.2 million.

Well, like I said, its an example, the smaller pieces would have been the D, you take out Lydman and Tallinder and insert Portland's boys or a pick up at a cheaper price, your really only giving up what is already there, mostly garbage.
I think the point I was attempting to make was that I am sure it was possible, everything has a price.

But, we will never know, Darcy did what Darcy "ALWAYS DOES" (and I stress ALWAYS). Little to nothing. I've heard the rebuilding line for many, many years man, like I said, 40 is about enough and 12 with this GM is way too much given the results.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Let's give Sekera a legitimate shot before he goes under the bus, though. He deserves it, and some guys shitty play are calling for it anyways.

Even burke said trading at the deadline is stupid, and people usually get screwed. Not that exact phrasing, but if he is one of the premier GM and says that then tweaking is fine at the deadline but that mother fucker, whether it be quinn or regier, better do something over the off season. and to correct i would say since quinn was given power, he was here before but had like no power, but golisano gave him power.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

i highly doubt he thinks we can make a run....

i'll speculate that he made this trade to appease some of the fans, and i bet he thinks that raffi will even help us make the playoffs...he indeed does give us a better chance than having mac in there....if we make the playoffs that's more money for the organization...

which also may be why he didn't ship lydman or tallinder....that would have pissed off a lot of fans, and could have cost us all the revenue $$$ from the playoffs

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"It is more about them than it is about the team...Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win." - Mike Singletary

Tyler Myers - Future captain of the Buffalo Sabres, and future Norris Trophy Winner

Manning the machine gun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon - just in case any teams have an idea of prying him away from us (3 GM's shot already)

Connolly/Roy - 2 goals in the last 47 playoff games

i'm with ya on that one....i think this guy might surprise given a regular roster spot....take out Pylon Butler

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"It is more about them than it is about the team...Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win." - Mike Singletary

Tyler Myers - Future captain of the Buffalo Sabres, and future Norris Trophy Winner

Manning the machine gun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon - just in case any teams have an idea of prying him away from us (3 GM's shot already)

Connolly/Roy - 2 goals in the last 47 playoff games

Darcy sucks!
Lindy has lost the team!
Quinn handcuffs this team!
Golisano isn't a hockey guy!

etc. etc. etc.

No one would be complaining about the above mentioned if the team was still playing like they were a few months ago. Management can only do much to build a contender, the rest falls on the players' shoulders. We've seen how successful these guys can be when they feel like it.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

ding ding. we have a winner!

Is it Darcy?
Is it -- Quinn?
Is it ---Golisano?

Really I don't know think its a combination of both. Regier unwilling to move his "golden boys". Quinn & Goli$ano focusing more on the income versus outcome side so...

Most of us knew this team will not be a contender this year. If Miller doesn't stay healthy we're screwed a goalie can't carry the whole team. Hasek couldn't and Miller can't either its not that they aren't good enough, just you need some firepower to win and fucking heart to win hockeygames. Something this team lacked for months now.

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Sloppy seconds = 6 games "clean" headhunting = nothing
it's obvious Bettman and Campbell are Pens cocksuckers

Gah your logic will not fool me!

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I'd add in Ruff and the players.

Regier expected too much growth & maturity from the guys on the roster.

Ruff hasn't changed enough to get through to these guys.

The players aren't working hard enough and playing Ruff's system on enough nights. AGAIN!

This whole thing is a shit sandwich that everyone involved with the Sabres needs to take a bite out of.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I think it's time you take a good hard look at some of the players that don't show enough heart. Especially Derek Roy.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

To me, the list of untouchables is pretty short right now.

Heck, it might just be Miller & Myers and that's it.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity