Are you aiming low and hoping to sneak into the 8th seed in the playoffs, or are you aiming to be a true top quality team?

Massive difference in approaches this coming offseason between the two options above.
- kingcong39

Honestly, with a good bottom6, I don't think we limp into the playoffs either. Call me crazy but I think, with 4 additions to the bottom 6 and a little growth from the youth, we could be an absolute powerhouse. Like 06-07 Sabres back again.

IMO coaching is our biggest downfall right now, not talent. Clean house, or at least get Donny some quality assistants, and I think we're 4th-5th in the east.

For me, it isn't the skill that is the issue with this team, as you pointed out there are a dozen decent NHL players.

The problem is between the ears, mental fragility. When they want to play and the pressure is low, they can compete with most teams.
However, they show serious signs of letting the pressure get to them too much.. maybe with age and experience they can mitigate the rather significant impact it currently has. They will need that in a big way going forward.
They also do not have the proper leadership to hold each other accountable to play a consistent brand of hockey... Everyone performing at their individual best each game... Very difficult to achieve that, but that is precisely what contensers learn to do. It is a commitment to excellence over 82 games and PO's .. not every other night, not 35 games... 82.
Yes, I recognize that no single player can actually perform their best 82 times, but if that isn't the bar then what the hell are they doing?

Who from that list do you think has shown that he is THAT Leader. I don't see it yet.
I see Dahlin who trys to deliver it for himself and lead by example.. but more is needed from a true leader to drag guys into the fight nightly.
- IonSabres

I think, sometimes, they play scared. And it makes sense as no one on the team can push back. I mean, we get knocked around and Krebs starts playing agitator...it's a little sad. That's why I would, at this point, pay to add a mean sumbish to the bottom6 to keep other teams from running our guys.

The other half of that is due to immaturity. We can't expect the youngest team in the league to be as consistent as the big dawgs. As years go by, that issue should dissipate and I think we're already starting to see some of it now. Yes, yes, we've been here before, but we certainly have looked better in the back half, than front half, of this year.

Leadership is a good point but personally I think guys like Cozens, Dahlin, Tuch and Tage do show leadership traits. While none of them are Messier, they aren't quiet push overs either. As Cozens and Dahlin continue to grow, I think they can step into those roles and do a much better job than guys like Okposo or Girgs who demand very little respect from their peers.

Point still stands. The suffering is real, no argument there, but there is still a light at the end of this tunnel.
- QuinnFan

How long is said tunnel? Asking for a friend.

Diggs to Texans for a 2nd

Diggs to Texas

Diggs to Texans for a 2nd
- SDSabre

Low return. Must be bigger picture?

Diggs and 5th and 6th to Texans for a 2nd
- SDSabre

Low return. Must be bigger picture?
- lulags

Them eating the Contract probably

bruins signed college free agent jaxon nelson to a contract

would have been a decent lottery ticket for the sabres

https://www.hockeydb.com/...s/pdisplay.php?pid=196262
- homiedclown

Backread to this. AHL body at best. Lacks foot speed at the college ranks. Saw plenty of him. Watched him at the regionals here this weekend. Fine hands, and decent player. Won’t amount to NHL success.

Bring on JJ

Bills still eat 31mill in Dead Cap trading Diggs

Hate to say it in such a bad season, but this is actually a decent core to build around:

Tage
Tuch
Peterka
Quinn
Cozens
Benny
Dahlin
Power
Byram
Sammy
UPL
Levi

Need a supporting cast. Olo, Girgs and Robinson need to be upgraded. I'd give Rousek a chance as the 13F, but we have four big spots open for upgrading and a lot of cap space to do it with.

My point is simply, it isn't all bad.
- QuinnFan

good group of individuals and you left skinner off, one of the best goal scorers in the last decade

poor chemistry

Bills still eat 31mill in Dead Cap trading Diggs
- Buff36

Hearing the 2nd rounder is next year's pick that Texans got from Minny.

edit: my point being maybe that allows them to make it a post june 1st move. Cap hit would be much lower. Either way, rip the bandaid off like i said a month ago and was told they could never do it because they're not the Broncos. Looks like I win again

The bills are exciting thats for sure

Imagine if the sabres had a gm with balls

Diggs to Texans for a 2nd
- SDSabre

wow


nice cap room at least


but wow

Low return. Must be bigger picture?
- lulags

not really for a highly paid wr in his 30s

could have been a third

Trade up for a receiver in Round 1?

Hearing the 2nd rounder is next year's pick that Texans got from Minny.

edit: my point being maybe that allows them to make it a post june 1st move. Cap hit would be much lower. Either way, rip the bandaid off like i said a month ago and was told they could never do it because they're not the Broncos. Looks like I win again
- Hatboro_Swords

6th and 5th going back with diggs to houston

Any contract can be traded.

Take a (frank)ing note Kev.

Trade up for a receiver in Round 1?
- buffalofan19

Trade for Justin Jefferson

*explosions in the background continue for minutes*

Trade for Justin Jefferson
- TheSabresTaco

Now that would be a "full circle" moment.

Hearing the 2nd rounder is next year's pick that Texans got from Minny.
- Hatboro_Swords

Yeah 2025 2nd, looks like they just wanted the drama over. Can't believe the Bills are sending picks back, kinda tells you they just wanted out of Diggs bullsh!t

Bills still eat 31mill in Dead Cap trading Diggs
- Buff36

Where is Paul Harvey with
The rest of the story.
That seems like an absurdly low return especially with wiping out their Cap for 2024.

I heard on WGR this morning that last week Josh was on an out of town radio station and spent a lot of time reviewing the WR draft class on air... I guess pretty in-depth.

Maybe Brandon drafts 2? Lol.

Bills going to take a step back in 2024.

Hearing the 2nd rounder is next year's pick that Texans got from Minny.

edit: my point being maybe that allows them to make it a post june 1st move. Cap hit would be much lower. Either way, rip the bandaid off like i said a month ago and was told they could never do it because they're not the Broncos. Looks like I win again
- Hatboro_Swords

Still will eat 31mill, doesn't matter when they designate. Yeah I am surprised, but guess they had enough

I think, sometimes, they play scared. And it makes sense as no one on the team can push back. I mean, we get knocked around and Krebs starts playing agitator...it's a little sad. That's why I would, at this point, pay to add a mean sumbish to the bottom6 to keep other teams from running our guys.

The other half of that is due to immaturity. We can't expect the youngest team in the league to be as consistent as the big dawgs. As years go by, that issue should dissipate and I think we're already starting to see some of it now. Yes, yes, we've been here before, but we certainly have looked better in the back half, than front half, of this year.

Leadership is a good point but personally I think guys like Cozens, Dahlin, Tuch and Tage do show leadership traits. While none of them are Messier, they aren't quiet push overs either. As Cozens and Dahlin continue to grow, I think they can step into those roles and do a much better job than guys like Okposo or Girgs who demand very little respect from their peers.
- QuinnFan

We can agree to disagree. I see nothing this season when poop was blowing up all over their face that would suggest any of them have the balls to lead a team through what is needed to win. It was very disappointing to me.

We'll see what happens... I hope I am dead ass wrong.