Speculation: Biggest need for 2015-2016 Sabres

[ZZamboni]

I guess the question should be asked...Are we trying to make the playoffs next year ?

Yes.....

Will they? Unlikely.

 

[Husko]

I guess the question should be asked...Are we trying to make the playoffs next year ?

Sure, but it's not priority #1, IMO.

For example, assuming we see Larsson as our longterm 3rd line checking line center (again, just as assumption) I'd rather let him play in and grow in that role rather than sign a good checking line center that might be better now, but practically books Larsson from getting that experience.

 

[Husko]

That is so false. QB's in football are literally the hub of the team. You can't win without an elite QB. You can win without a star goalie. Furthermore, goalies are so stupidly easy to acquire, I mean, the Islanders traded a mid pick for a 36 win goalie. It's a need for sure but the #1 need? No. There are so many more glaring needs.

Agreed. #1 center is like the football of hockey. Goalies are more like RBs, or maybe DT if you want to extend the defense analogy

 

[Husko]

I think the answer is: "We're going to ice the best team we can and try to win as many games as possible". In other words: "We're not tanking anymore. Let's hope the kids are as good as we want them to be"

See I disagree with even that. We won't be tanking, but I hope proper development comes before icing the best team we can.

Another example. Say we sign a LHD, still have Georges, and then the three possible righties. It's very possible Zadorov and McCabe could both be better than Weber. But, if the organization decides they'd both be better served in Rochester getting big minutes, fine by me. No complaints.

 

[Matt Ress]

Top 4 LHD and it's not even close for me.

A center would be nice, but if worst comes to worse things could be a lot worse than Kane, Reinhart, McEichel, Girgensons, Ennis, and Moulson as our top 6. Same goes for a top-6 scorer.

A 3rd line defensive specialist could be nice, but against things could be a lot worse than Foligno-Larsson-Gionta.

Yeah, we need a goalie, but we'll find one, won't be hard.

Then we get back to my desire for a top-4 LHD. Say we get the real prize, Sekera (or lets use him as a placeholder for that guy we get).

Sekera-Bogosian
Georges-Risto

That's a pretty tasty top 4. Best part about it, though? It lets Zadorov/McCabe/Weber-Pysyk be our third pairing, right where they should be (either because they're developing prospects or because that's the skill level [Weber]).

So yes, absolutely, a top-4 dman.


I'm still on board with a silly high salary contract for Sekera, but making it over 3 years. Some team offers Sekera 30 over 5? Okay, I'll do 30 over 3.

Wtf? Maybe we could resign ROR to 3 years $60 mil. Duck it, right?

 

[Husko]

Wtf? Maybe we could resign ROR to 3 years $60 mil. Duck it, right?

A 20 million cap hit would hinder us pretty bad.
A 10 million cap hit, with our current situation and all our ELCs, won't hurt us at all.

 

[Matt Ress]

A 20 million cap hit would hinder us pretty bad.
A 10 million cap hit, with our current situation and all our ELCs, won't hurt us at all.

That's just short sighted and naive.

Please, Husko, you give some nice insight, don't argue that.

 

[Husko]

That's just short sighted and naive.

Please, Husko, you give some nice insight, don't argue that.

Would you rather give out 30 over 6 and have a big term contract on the books when McEichel and Reinhart are coming off their ELCs and getting big dollars? I'd rather spend a ton now while we're nowhere near the cap then give out longer term contract that could make things tight when money matters again.

 

[Bps21*]

Next year is the no pressure fun to watch low stakes team. When they win...fantastic. If they lose...they're young kids gaining experience and it's not like another good draft pick as they do it is a bad thing. This is predicated on getting McEichel of course. If they fail to do that next season is about wondering where they'll be playing the games after fans burn down the arena Saturday night.

 

[Matt Ress]

Would you rather give out 30 over 6 and have a big term contract on the books when McEichel and Reinhart are coming off their ELCs and getting big dollars? I'd rather spend a ton now while we're nowhere near the cap then give out longer term contract that could make things tight when money matters again.

D. None of the above. Nothing against Sekera but, 10 per? I would need a much more proven d man to shell out that kind of cheddar. For $5 over 6 years, I would much rather do that. First, it's a reasonable contract where if you wanted to move the player, you could. Second, you have the guy locked up through his prime. Whether or not Sek would do that is another story.

 

[joshjull]

It wouldn't be very smart to tie up 10mil in one player over the next 3 years.

 

[Sabretip]

1. Offense
2. Goaltending
3. Coaching
4. Specialty teams
5. Defense

 

[Rocket Scientist]

Next year our biggest needs are McEichel, Evander Kane and a healthy Girgs. We've got so much talent coming for sure (potentially even more) that it's tough to tell. It'll be a completely new team.

For the sake of discussion I think we need #1C (Draft), a PMD (draft) and a new Coach to handle our level of skill - now that our "compete*" is improved.

* I do not accept how this is used as a noun.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Eichel or McDavid -- end of debate

 

[NHL Dude 120]

I was just thinking you could also draft Kylington, he projects to be an power play QB, a LHD Dmen and could be available with your other 1st.