Who will be the 1st player gone?

[Bay Side]

Any quess on who the 1st player from the 03/04 team that will be traded, waived, or sent packing will be?

[Poz51]

Taylor Pyatt - the guy flat out s*cks. The only line he has a shot to play on is the 4th, and he isn't a checking line player. He's tenative to hit and crash the net, both things he should be very good at considering he's size.

I hope Taylor is a goner.

[pigpen65]

I would have thought Connolly, but Ruff seems to have a soft spot for him. So i will say Biron. Eventually they have to something with our stockpile of goalies, and Biron is making the most $$$.

[LALAFONTAINE]

Kotalik. Ruff called him out last year for being a *****. He is a *****, so get rid of him, especially with our glut of forwards. And given his cheap salary, we could get something for him.

[Bay Side]

what about Jillson, haven't seen much from him this preseason....I know they just got him!!!!

[CupCrazy]

what about Jillson, haven't seen much from him this preseason....I know they just got him!!!!
Jillson has tremendous potential...they need to give him a few more years, at least.

I definitely think Pyatt needs to get himself together this year or Regier needs to cut his losses and move the guy.

[Thumper]

Kotalik. Ruff called him out last year for being a *****. He is a *****, so get rid of him, especially with our glut of forwards. And given his cheap salary, we could get something for him.


Kotalik or Pyatt?

Pyatt's a ***** too, so why don't you mention him in the same breath?

[LALAFONTAINE]

Pyatt's not a *****. Kotalik is. So is Campbell. Both of those cowards should not disgrace the Satanic Goat jersey anymore.

Pyatt (as a lot of big guys do) look like they aren't working. That will describe Vanek for most games too. Pyatt's an accomplished defensive player too. Kotalik and Campbell aren't. I remember Pyatt absolutely physically owning Chara last year. He never chickens out from contact. Campbell and Kotalik have, and they've cost us goals because of it.

I agree that Jillson has a ton of potential. He isn't going anywhere. Neither is Pyatt.

[Overdue Bills]

Bye Bye Marty B

[Thumper]

Pyatt's not a *****. Kotalik is. So is Campbell. Both of those cowards should not disgrace the Satanic Goat jersey anymore.

Pyatt (as a lot of big guys do) look like they aren't working. That will describe Vanek for most games too. Pyatt's an accomplished defensive player too. Kotalik and Campbell aren't. I remember Pyatt absolutely physically owning Chara last year. He never chickens out from contact. Campbell and Kotalik have, and they've cost us goals because of it.

I agree that Jillson has a ton of potential. He isn't going anywhere. Neither is Pyatt.

We're watching two different Taylor Pyatt's.

[Jeanneret's LaLaLa]

Well I think that Marty is gunna be the first one gone, and then if Kotalik can't stpe it up this year, they might send him packing too.

[Papaduke]

I think that we will have 2 players gone, Marty plus one of the aforementioned forwards. Or we will get little more than a middle pick from a team for Marty B.

[Hockeystud1414]

I predict Biron and maybe a forward...I think we'll move Mckee too at some point of the season..I personally like Kotalik more than Pyatt, I like the scoring touch Ales has, lets see how things play out though...I think Ales has more potential, he had a great rookie year and fell apart last year, lets hope he gets in together...And lastly, Jillson is too good of a prospect to move, he had a solid year in the ahl last year, shows good signs for the sabres, i doubt he'll be moved..

[Thumper]

Pyatt's an accomplished defensive player? No. Drury and Hecht are accomplished defensive players. Peca and Lehtinen are accomplished defensive players. Pyatt's just a guy that Ruff has put on the PK unit a few times to make him more defesnively responsible. There's a difference.

Hey LALA, when Pyatt breaks the 15 goal mark, or even 30 points this year, awake me from my slumber. Otherwise, he's a bust and a waste of a roster spot.

[LALAFONTAINE]

Ruff's PK teams have consistently been atop the NHL. Ruff isn't putting players on the PK just to make him more responsible, or else we'd see Afinogenov there. Pyatt gets more PK time than Drury does for a reason.

We do have differing opinions on Pyatt, that's for sure. As I remember, we did with Gratton as well.

[Thumper]

Ruff's PK teams have consistently been atop the NHL. Ruff isn't putting players on the PK just to make him more responsible, or else we'd see Afinogenov there. Pyatt gets more PK time than Drury does for a reason.

Wrong....If your point is true, why have we seen Connolly there??

And Drury essentially took Brown's spot on the PK. He's our #1 PK Center.

[LALAFONTAINE]

Connolly's very responsible in his own zone. He's not a good defensive player because of his turnovers in the offensive and neutral zone.

I screwed up on Drury. I must have been thinking about Roy, or else I was just wrong.

Our PK will probably be Drury/Grier on the first unit, with Hecht/Pyatt on the second unit.

[two4trippn]

First gone might be Kotalik but Biron and McKee will follow during this season. Dont be surprised to see Drury shipped away as well - too many similar players. Pyatt and Connolly will not be the same players of 2-3 years ago.

[Hockeystud1414]

Drury? Why in our right minds would we move Chris Drury?

[two4trippn]

Drury? Why in our right minds would we move Chris Drury?
Overpaid and same as Roy and Briere. He'd have the most appeal to other clubs while adequate replacements are still here.

[Thumper]

There's no adequate replacements here for what Drury brings to this team.

[Thumper]

Connolly's very responsible in his own zone. He's not a good defensive player because of his turnovers in the offensive and neutral zone.

I screwed up on Drury. I must have been thinking about Roy, or else I was just wrong.

Our PK will probably be Drury/Grier on the first unit, with Hecht/Pyatt on the second unit.

I'll be suprised if Pyatt makes the team....Let alone be on our pk unit.

Drury/Grier

Hecht/Dumont

[two4trippn]

There's no adequate replacements here for what Drury brings to this team.
I disagree, I feel Briere and Roy are the same player as Drury. If you go back through the archives, I pushed for Drury to be here before his name was even mentioned HOWEVER his role is interechangeable. Right now, this club needs a bigger, more physical 3rd line center to matchup against the big boys. Drury against Sundin or Thornton doesnt cut it long term.
Chris would also create cap room for nearly any acquistion in return.
The current club's size is why Pyatt makes it, even if he gets Boulton's ice time, which Pyatt is an upgrade over Boulton on any roster.
If Gaustad, Bartovic and Pominville become NHL ready then someone has to be moved, other than just Connolly or Pyatt.

[buffjoe]

First gone might be Kotalik but Biron and McKee will follow during this season. Dont be surprised to see Drury shipped away as well - too many similar players. Pyatt and Connolly will not be the same players of 2-3 years ago.
Drury gone? Doesn't make sense. Grier and Lydman ( both Drury guys) brought in and Satan (not a Drury guy) shipped out. Drury is then made co-captain. If anything it looks like Regier is making this Drury's team.

[two4trippn]

If you reset the thread - I said Kotalik would be first gone BUT dont be surprised if Drury is moved at some point. Drury is an asset right now but if the youngins continue to play well, he's the most attractive to other clubs.

[The REAL Sabres]

If you reset the threadIt must have been the new server because I remember saying "Biron" too.

[Thumper]

I disagree, I feel Briere and Roy are the same player as Drury. If you go back through the archives, I pushed for Drury to be here before his name was even mentioned HOWEVER his role is interechangeable. Right now, this club needs a bigger, more physical 3rd line center to matchup against the big boys. Drury against Sundin or Thornton doesnt cut it long term.
Chris would also create cap room for nearly any acquistion in return.
The current club's size is why Pyatt makes it, even if he gets Boulton's ice time, which Pyatt is an upgrade over Boulton on any roster.
If Gaustad, Bartovic and Pominville become NHL ready then someone has to be moved, other than just Connolly or Pyatt.

Briere and Roy are not the same player as Drury at all. That statement holds no water whatsoever.

Niether one of them bring what Drury brings every night. Neither one has the grit or the leadership capabilities that Drury possesses. I'm not saying Roy or Briere don't have grit or leadership...Just no where near the same scale or intensity.

Drury against Sundin and Thornton last season was good enough for one of the best PK's in the NHL.

What are you talking about? Drury doesn't cut it long term?? Are you saying that in the short term he does cut it, but then he'll get tired? That statement doesn't hold any water either.

Number 1, Drury helped the expendability of Curtis Brown as our #1 penalty killer. Number 2, he's a proven clutch scorer and proven leader, hence the 'C' and the players rallying around him. Number 3, he's really the identity of what this organization is hoping to be. Hard working, constant hustle, never-say-die attitude, and a nice mix of grit and talent. Sound familiar? Like when this team was successful in '99?

What he costs is a bargain compaired to what some of the top FA's got signed for is a bargain.

Wait a second. You're actually talking about Pyatt making this team and Drury being expendable.

Nothing more needs to be said.

[two4trippn]

What part of size versus salary and league perceived value dont you understand. Again, I like Drury but as Roy improves at a lower salary, he and Briere, the co-Captain, can take his spot. I'm saying IF there's a glaring weakness with this club during the year, it will be size at Center, most likely at 3rd line. At that point, you wouldnt want to move Roy and have him become a Martin St Louis - you would most likely move someone more valued before his contract value becomes greater than his roster's worth. Its the cap, and the amount of smaller player that makes this a POSSIBILITY not the only way or even a fact.
Pyatt has the season to prove he is NHL calibur or he's gone. His size and salary and potential keep him year until you cannot afford to dress him - then he's a goner. Again, Pyatt right in my opinion is taking Boulton's roster spot, which is an improvement no matter how much anyone dislikes Taylor.
My point about Drury and long term, no he wont remain here more than 2 seasons because of others in the system and contract escallations. Hell they wouldnt pay McKee less than $3 mil to lock up. The cap is creating a buyers market and the clubs without the $5-6mil players can field great value with sub $3mil players that IF they fail can be replaced without costing long term cap implications.
Drury might be a player, if he plays as well as he has, commanding 4 yr $16 mil which wouldnt make sense!

[Thumper]

I understand your point. But I think its more likely that Briere would command 4 million a year, somewhere in the future, than Drury. Drury won't have the offensive production to command that kind of money.

I wouldn't want to lose Roy either for his age and upside.....And size doesn't matter to him.

Also, hockey is the one major sport in which "size" doesn't matter very much at all. You mentioned St. Louis, although a winger, he's the best goalscorer in the league. Some of the best penalty killers in the league are the smallest guys on the ice. Madden, Lehtinen, Peca.

Peca's a great example of size versus dependability, especially at the checking line center position.

The Flyers are a huge team. Do you expect great things from them this year?

Gaustad is making a serious case to make this roster. There's some size at the center position if the Sabres want it.

I don't see Pyatt as the guy taking Boulton's place becasue he's not. Pyatt played A LOT more games last season than Boulton. Peter's is taking Boulton's spot. Pyatt's just keeping the spot he already had....If he's lucky and doesn't get delt because of his lack of panning out to his potential. Talk about league perceived value or size versus value...he's a rip off at this point.

[two4trippn]

The Flyers to me are older (except the unproven Carter and Richards, maybe Umberger) , slower (Hatcher and Rathje) and somewhat injury prone (Hatcher - Forsberg) - throw in the fact that Bobby Clarke cannot sign a goaltender worth squat and they might be underachievers.

I like Pyatt and I hope he can be 70% - 80% of Leclair. Its all up to him at this point. IF Taylor is moved, it would not be for more than a 4th rder today so why move him or risk losing to Rochester. He's not at the career stage like Pittis or Botterill, cusp players that bounce from AHL to callups then AHL just yet. Give Taylor until the deadline before sending him away other past garbage (W Primeau, B Holzinger, etc) One thing in Buffalo's favor, the majority of our "dumped" players, have not gone on to be more on other rosters, even Captain Quitter Peca never returned to his Selke winning potential (almost 10 years ago now folks!!!)

[LALAFONTAINE]

I understand your point. But I think its more likely that Briere would command 4 million a year, somewhere in the future, than Drury. Drury won't have the offensive production to command that kind of money.

I wouldn't want to lose Roy either for his age and upside.....And size doesn't matter to him.

Also, hockey is the one major sport in which "size" doesn't matter very much at all. You mentioned St. Louis, although a winger, he's the best goalscorer in the league. Some of the best penalty killers in the league are the smallest guys on the ice. Madden, Lehtinen, Peca.

Peca's a great example of size versus dependability, especially at the checking line center position.

The Flyers are a huge team. Do you expect great things from them this year?

Gaustad is making a serious case to make this roster. There's some size at the center position if the Sabres want it.

I don't see Pyatt as the guy taking Boulton's place becasue he's not. Pyatt played A LOT more games last season than Boulton. Peter's is taking Boulton's spot. Pyatt's just keeping the spot he already had....If he's lucky and doesn't get delt because of his lack of panning out to his potential. Talk about league perceived value or size versus value...he's a rip off at this point.

Size matters. It's not a substitute for other attributes, but it certainly matters. Nobody would care about Scott Stevens if he was 5'9", 180. A 6'0" 175 Todd Bertuzzi would be a bad player.

Now a combination of speed and size, particularly an elite combination of both, is RARE. That's why you don't give up on Pyatt.