Raffi Torres Acquired by Sabres
by David Oleksy on Mar 3, 2010 2:30 PM EST
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PrintThe Buffalo Sabres acquired Raffi Torres from the Columbus Blue Jackets for Nathan Paetsch and a 2nd round pick.
The Sabres were the last team in the NHL to make a trade in 2010 and it was the perfect trade for them to make. They bring in a gritty winger that can add some offensive punch while sending a player that was expendable because of numbers. Paetsch wasn't getting much playing time as the eighth defenseman and Torres is expected to make an immediate impact.
I talked about Torres being a player the Sabres should target to play on the left side and with an hour left before the deadline they made that a reality. Torres could play on just about any line and he will quickly be a fan favorite. Sabres fans love a player that sacrifices the body and Torres is not afraid to mix it up.
He is a tough guy but he still brings enough offense that he can be plugged in as a top six forward. The Sabres might elect to play him on the third line with Mike Grier and either Tim Kennedy or Paul Gaustad. Torres has 19 goals this season which immediately makes him the teams leading goal scorer. The Sabres took care of two needs with one player, they became tougher and added some offense.
I expect that Torres will help the Sabres on the power play as well. Thomas Vanek makes a living by standing in front of the net but he can't be on the ice all the time. Torres immediately becomes that guy and Gaustad will not be asked to play so many power play minutes. Torres is just as good as Vanek standing in front of the net. Players like him score "garbage" goals by going to places that nobody else will go.
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WOOOOOO!!!
So glad that this trade happened!!!! D.O. i have a shot of whisky and a beer here for you!
It looks like MacArthur is heading to Atlanta
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
I'll be adding to the post
I want to see if anything else gets done
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
Nobody
C-Mac dealt for a 3rd and 4th rounder
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
Huzzah
Check that big bodied, scoring winger box filled.
I’ll miss Paetsch’s versatility, but hopefully he’ll get the playing time in C-Bus that he never got here.
For the people that don’t know…….. solid pickup? what can we expect?
We got the tools, we got the talent
I also see he’s -8. concern or other factors…..?
We got the tools, we got the talent
by J2 on Mar 3, 2010 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
which means…..? you’re talking to a guy that follows the sabres and absolutely nothing else about hockey (and i watch almost every game).
i don’t know squat about the league (players/teams) unless we play them frequently
We got the tools, we got the talent
by J2 on Mar 3, 2010 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
no it’s cool – how would you know?
if that does explain the -8 them i’m happy. this team needs something – from listening to the post game it seems like he brings his work boots every day with him and that will rub off on the other guys.
We got the tools, we got the talent
by J2 on Mar 4, 2010 9:21 AM EST up reply actions
it seems like he brings his work boots every day with him and that will rub off on the other guys.
Thats what Im hoping. This team needs a kick in the ass… and Im hoping he provides that.
And regarding the +/- stat. Very overrated stat IMO. Obviously you dont want to be in the negative… but its not a very telling stat. The Corsi numbers, which DBTB does a great job with here, are hard to read, and sometimes I get lost in them… but they more accurately show how a player is on the ice. Better than +/- IMO
"Its always Miller Time
Whens it gonna be Sabres-Offense Time?"
- by Jsz on Mar 3, 2010 6:25 PM PST
I think that’s just the product of being part of a crappy team. Rick Nash is -7. Huselius is -11. Brassard and Umberger are -16. All their forwards who get playing time and have been healthy this year have poor plus/minus stats. Their D is abysmal and their 207 goals allowed is the 3rd worst in the league. And that’s even playing in the Ken Hitchcock defense oriented scheme. Torres should be a massive defensive upgrade over MacArthur heading into the playoffs.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
I agree...
Besides the fact that he has more goals than Vanek..
I think this was one of the best moves to happen before the trade deadline.
I can do all things through he whom gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
Very solid
He is a big guy that plays in your face and has offensive potential as well
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
He’s a good goal scorer. A 20 goal a year type. Scores a lot of the garbage stuff and should contribute in front of the net on the power play. But he can finish in the slot or on rushes too. He’s got the offensive ability to play on the top line and should fit in as a top 6 forward.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
thanks good sir
We got the tools, we got the talent
by J2 on Mar 3, 2010 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
Torres just interviewed on Tradecentre
Hasn’t talked to Ruff yet, excited to be a member of the Sabres – “I just want to get some big hits and core some goals along the way.”
Sounds like he’ll fit right in with the fans.
I like this deal
TSN reports this is one of the best moves today. I think he’ll bring an element were missing, esp. with goose out for a while.
So what are we looking at for the lines tonight, and anyone know if he is playing? I’d imagine he would
"Hey ey ey ey"
It’s not like Columbus is too far away. And there are a bunch of other Ohio cities he could fly out of.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
Darcy just mentioned he will get in late tonight, so he will not be in the lineup
Die By The Blade - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by Zachary Zielonka on Mar 3, 2010 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
Any reason given to why hes getting in so late?
"Hey ey ey ey"
by bflo on Mar 3, 2010 5:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He didn't say
he only said he would be in at 11 or midnight
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
Does anyone know if Torres is a fighter?
I can do all things through he whom gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
He hasn’t had a single fighting major this season. Earlier in his career he used to fight a few times a season. He’s more of a scrappy guy who can defend himself after handing out a big hit than somebody who goes out looking for trouble.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
I’m even more excited about Torres than I was about Bernier or Zubrus. If I remember correctly Torres played incredibly well for the Oilers in the 2006 playoffs. Plus, he wears my favorite/lucky #14 for Columbus (although he’ll have to switch now because the Sabres retired Rene Robert’s #14). Besides his hideous bald head I think he could be a fan-favorite with his physicality and scoring touch. Above all else, he might improve our team chemistry.
Reading other sites.....
I was reading that “he is just a rental”
What do you guys think?
What are the chances we resign him?
I can do all things through he whom gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
He is a rental
he won’t be on the team next season.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
Sorry if this is old news
Just heard that Goose is out for a week; hurt his hand in last night’s scrap.
So just had the radio on coming home from class, and they were saying he’s only been playing 13mins per game… How can a guy be a powerplay scorer yet only get 13 mins of ice time? That 3rd liner minutes. i’m tryna figure this out. i thought he was a 2nd liner in Columbus and on the 2nd PP unit, AND i thought he played some PK over there… I’m not understanding.
Yeah
Just a little over 13 minutes a game. He does play on the power play but he is not a penalty killer. He will be a third line winger but he has the potential to slide up in the top six if necessary.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
I think it’s because Columbus liked him on the left side where they’ve already got Nash and Kristian Huselius.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
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