No offense to Buffalo, but with how things ended there, I could see ROR opting to just forfeit the remainder of his salary for the season and refusing to report. Even without trade protection, no GM is going to trade a guy to a place that would put him in a situation like that. That's a great way to never get free agents to sign with your club.

And what situation is that, think Buffalo is in a much better spot than they were the 1st time he was here.

Without a doubt they are, and it's not the same team coaching, or management wise, but that doesn't take away a tainted history. When everything came to a head there, he literally said that his time there made him lose a love for the game. It'd be like getting stuck upside down on a roller coaster - sure they've fixed and reinforced the ride, but you'll never go anywhere near it again after that experience.

I cannot imagine a reunion.

Ehh hard pass.

I don't think I would actually want him anyway. Seems to have lost a bit.

Buffalo non playoff team this year. They have no reason for this.

OK we all read the narrative that O'Reilly personally lead the Blues to the Stanley cup.
Adding Peron, Bozak and Bennington (24-5-1) to a team that missed the playoffs by one point the previous year obviously did not contribute anything to the Blues success.

No I do not want him back, I may dislike O'Reilly more than anyone, but he was made captain and never led the Sabres to an 82 pt season or the playoffs much less a Cup.
His last season even with Eichel, Reinhart, Kane, Okposo, Pominville, Scandella, Rodriguez with Lehner and Ullmark between the pipes he led the team to Rasmus Dahlin.
Then I had to endure four years of how badly Buffalo was ripped off in the trade until Thompson was finally given a chance to play.

No I do not want him back, even if he came with a first round draft pick for future considerations, much less having to give up two good prospects, a couple of second and a player on pace to a 30 goal season.
I lost my love of the game was felt by the rest of the team and instead of fulfilling the the Hockey Writers prediction of making the play offs they finished last in the league.

No, I do not want him back, what if he carried his hate of Buffalo into this locker room and killed all of the good will and camaraderie that Granato has created.
Granato said it best in his postgame interview yesterday "The passion our guys have for being a Buffalo Sabre or being in our community." I do not want to jeopardize that feeling with HIM in the locker room.

Funny Ghost, I didn't like when TM traded for him with Colorado. We weren't ready and we gave up so much to get him and Kane. Are system was void after it plus that stupid McNabb trade destroyed are D depth.

I thought I was the only one who had those feelings.
When Botterill took over we had two defensemen McCabe and Ristolainen.
McNaab, Myers, Zadorov, Pysyk, all traded away even Ruhwedel could find playing time on this team.
Yes we had great first line players Eichel, Reinhart, O'Reilly, Kane, Okposo, but absolutely no secondary scoring, no defense and bipolar GK.
Imagine if he had not traded away thee top 32 tips from the 2015 draft and drafted really well.
We would be where we are now in 2017 with not five years later.

With Jeramiah Crowe directing the drafting, Jason Karmanos directing the trades, Sam Venture as Hockey strategist, the Sabres are in better hands than ever.
Granato knows how to build locker room team work. I think he lets the players play to their strength rather than forcing them to play the way the coach feels they should play.
I have been going to Sabre games since the beginning and I want a cup, but TBH even more I want a team to get the playoffs and win a round every year.
Who knows what will happen after that. Some puck luck they could find them selves in the finals as Montreal did in 2021.

We missed on so many picks. Funny one of those 2nds traded with McNabb became Cernak. I like Granato, have since he was HC for the USNDP. Has gone through a lot in life. Would have been a HC sooner if not for being sick. We got Lucky having a HC sitting right there next to Stank. Botts started a nice foundation and know Crowe Ventura Adams are adding to that foundation and putting the Puzzle together.

I would enjoy that immensely myself ghost, my Dad would sneak me into the old Aud for games. He worked Security there. They are very close in my opinion, and a few tweaks is really all that is needed. 3LW who can bring some grit but can also play a bit and a 2RD. Goaltending seems to be coming around. The Next month should tell us a bit, and then does Adams throw them a bone.

Don't know if you ever see anything from Buffalo Sports Chatter, but the Sabres are 14-4-2 with Samuelsson this year. He's the glue, know go find one for Power