Realistic aquisitions for the Sabres
by JSCoope on May 1, 2010 8:35 PM EDT
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PrintSo It's the off-season. Which means arm-chair GM time.
So who do you guys think are realistic aquisitons for us, and what positions would/should be our priorities?
I'm not up on the salary cap and what/who would have to be done/dealt in order for things to make. But I'm basically just curious as to what the consensus is on this board.
Somebody mentioned Brad Richards in a thread recently, and I think he would be a damn good pick-up. I'm thinking, for us, priorities should be RW, a C (providing either Roy or Connolly are moved. Or if Roy can be effective on the wing.) and a D-Man, as I'm assuming either Lydman or Tallinder will be coming back, but not both.
Centers: Brad Richards (DAL), Andy Macdonald (STL), Mikko Koivu (MIN), Antione Vermette (CBJ), Brooks Laich (WSH)
RW: Mike Knuble (WSH), Martin Erat (NSH), Wayne Simmonds (LAK), Brad Boyes (STL)
D-Men: As far as D-Men go, I'm not really sure who is "gettable". I know there are guys I would love on our blueline (Joni Pitkanen, Mark Streit, Christian Ehrhoff), but I'm not sure how attainable they are.
All of the guys above I view as attainable either because they had a down year (but still better years than our "down" players like Stafford) and/or because their teams are likely looking to re-tool certain aspects after disappointing seasons/playoffs (Washington, St Louis, Columbus) or, in LA's case, they may be looking to make room for Kovalchuk.
Honestly, I would be happy with 3 or 4 AHL promotions (Gerbs and Ennis. McCormick full-time to replace Ellis/Mair) and allowing some other guys to simply walk or be dealt for decent picks either this year or next. But I am simply curious of your thoughts.
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Mike Knuble
Would be a great pickup for this team IMO
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
Iginla
I saw this on Bleacher report and I thought it was pretty interesting.
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b3X5G
They have us sending Derek Roy, Hank Tallinder, and a prospect like Drew Schiestel or TJ Brennan to Calgary for Iginla, which I would take in a heart beat. He would be a great leader for the young guys like Ennis, Gerbe, etc.
This doesn’t make sense because the Sabres would have to sign Tallinder first. If the Flames were interested in Tallinder they would probably sign him as a free agent. There is also the possibility of a sign and trade but I think Tallinder would just sign there if he wanted to.
If he signed here and we immediately traded him that would make future free agents think twice before re-signing with Buffalo. I also think it would take a lot more to get Iginla.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on May 2, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
was it Tallinder or Lydman that was a Flame before? I think it was Lyds wasnt it?
"You cant teach speed." - Welcome to Buffalo CJ Spiller
09-10 Sabres: Good season, disappointing ending. Lets have next year be THE year!!
it was Lydman, and if I’m not mistaken he was paired with Montador in Calgary for a little while too.
Tallinder has always been Sabre, he was one of Regier’s first draft picks in 97’
hmm forgot Monts was there too. Lydman and Drury came over together for wharrener and someone ddint they?
"You cant teach speed." - Welcome to Buffalo CJ Spiller
09-10 Sabres: Good season, disappointing ending. Lets have next year be THE year!!
Lydman was a separate deal. H came over for a 5th round draft pick. Drury was traded for Warrener and Reinprecht but I forget what was traded to acquire Reinprecht.
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
sounds right
D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere
by David Oleksy on May 4, 2010 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Isnt Steen a FA?
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
Restricted
Alex Steen is a Restricted Free Agent
DC Chocolate City!
Dang
He’s a guy I kind of wanted to see in a Sabres uni. I think his playing style would mesh well with our 2nd or 3rd line.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
I'd LOVE to see Ehrhoff here
…however he’s played exceptionally well in Vancouver and I think the Canucks want to remind the Sharks at every possible opportunity what a mistake they made in trading him. I don’t think he’s going to be attainable.
Erat is another perpetually underrated player who I think would look good in the blue and gold.
"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England
My take on some of the guys you sugguest.
Richards would be a bad move. Yes, he’s better than Roy or Connolly, but he’s just as injury prone as Timmy and makes more than either (7.8M per, for 1 more year, compared to Roy’s 4M per for 3 more years and Connolly’s 4.5M per for 1 more year). Beside, how much it would take to get him (probably Roy + a B prospect like Adam or Weber and maybe a late round pick) he’s not going to make the physical impact we all think this team needs, not to mention he’s never had a good +/- (aside from 03/04) so that tells you he’s less than reliable as a two-way center (a must for Lindy).
Simmonds isn’t going anywhere (even to make room for Kovalchuck) since one of the main reasons why they didn’t trade for Kovalchuck was Don Wadell’s insistence of Simmonds being included along with Johnson and a prospect.
Streit isn’t going anywhere. He might’ve had a down year but the only ones worried about that were the writers. He’s one of the strongest veteran forces on a very young team in the middle of a re-build (he was basically the Captain after they traded Guerin two years ago and after Weight went down this year). Not to mention he’s about the only defenseman on that team that isn’t struggling in their young career or outright bad.
I want no part of Boyes (a notorious one-way player) and I doubt Lindy does either.
MacDonald would help on the PP but he seams to like it in STL and is on the older side.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
What I like to see happen
Via trade, I’d like darcy to go after would be Pitkanen (4.5M per, for one more year). Pomers, Bulter, & Lagace/3rd rounder might do it. The money would be just about even; 4.5M + 850K compared to 4.5M. Pikanen would take over the #1 PP and relieve a lot of the pressure on Myers to be our big offensive D-man. The pairings would largely be determined by if we bring Tallinder and/or Lydman back but he could be grouped with Rivet, Montador, Weber if he makes the team, or Lydman if he’s back.
If Pitkanen doesn’t work out, two FA’s that I’d like to see Darcy go after would be:
Gonchar – he’d be looking for around 3M-4M per (for probably around 2 years).
Corvo – who’d be looking for probably similar $, maybe a bit less (anywhere from 2-4 years).
Both these guys would do the same thing Pitkanen would and either could be on the #1 pairing.
Koivu and Liach are both interesting targets though, and I wouldn’t be upset with one or both (both requiering at least one of 9, 19, or 29 being moved).
As far as backup goalies are concerned I don’t think Lalime or Biron (who I don’t really want back. He wanted out, then took Briere with him. He can stay out.) would cost too much, but if need be, we could go the cheaper rout and go for Wade Dubielewicz. He’s reliable and doesn’t need a lot of work to be on his game. The knock on him is that he’s undersized, but he’s pretty durable non-the-less and has played in some big games (even has playoff experience).
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
I don’t know this as a fact but I think both Gonchar and Corvo are going to command quite a bit more money than you think. Volchenkov, who brings less to the table than either of those two, is reportedly asking the Senators for 5 million a year for multiple years (the Senators are reportedly not interested).
Also, the Penguins just signed Letang to a four year deal worth 3.5 million a year and Gonchar is quite a bit more important to them then Letang. My guess is that Gonchar either takes a pay cut to stay with the Penguins or commands 5+ million a year on the market.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
Ok, I underestimated a little on Gonchar but Corvo seems within reason.
Gonchar in making 5.5 this year with an annual cap hit of 5M. But he’s 36 though so something like 4-5M should be enough, although you always have one team willing to overspend so you never know. In the end, I see him staying with the Pens since he has an A, is like a mentor to Malkin, and they give him a chance to win every year. It can’t hurt to send him an offer around 5M for 2 years though (especially if 19 or 21 are moved).
Corvo is making 2.75M this year with an annual hit of 2.625M. A 3-4.5 million dollar deal over 2-4 years seems reasonable, especially when you consider he missed most of this year to injury.
As far as Volchenkov is concerned I think he’s plateaued in terms of skill and developing his game. He’s a great shot blocker and pretty physical but those guys tend to plummet once they start to decline, plus you have all those injuries he’s suffered (mostly caused but throwing himself in front of everything). He’s probably going to be looking for a long-term deal around 4-6 years. He’s 28 now. I think he’s a guy to avoid.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
I wouldn’t take either of those deals if they were offered to me. I really don’t see it as worth it to dump another 5 million of cap space into our defense at this point, at least not for those players.
"The horse jumped over the f#@king fence."
- KV
I'd really like to get a true PP quarterback
mainly because the D’s offensive production has been lack-luster for a while but also to take some pressure off Myers. Gonchar would help in both the leadership and playoff experience departments but he’d also be more expensive. Corvo would probably be the easier guy to get. With everyone focusing on Gonchar, Volchenkov, and Hamhuis hitting the market, I really think it’d be entirely possible to get him on board closer to 3M per. That would be a great number for a guy who skates as well as he does and has awesome offensive instincts. He’d also be a guy Sekera could learn a lot from.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
I’d really like to get a true PP quarterback
Kaberle’s available. $4.15M cap hit. Just sayin’. Think about it.
We’d like picks, prospects, and/or out-of-favour injury-prone centremen.
Leafs Nation: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
Let’s face it, he doesn’t fit into Burke’s plan, and he is the best chance of getting any return for the Leafs before his contract is up.
Plus we have an absolute ton of money spent on defense.
Leafs Nation: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on May 11, 2010 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
There's little to no chance
Darcy does business within the division and with the likes of Burke.
Besides, Burke is looking for power-forward types who play with a physical edge. I don’t think Kassian, Kaleta, or Goose are going anywhere.
Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.
He already has
Look how well the Moore trade worked for us.
Oh, wait.
"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England
Backup goaltenders
As far as Backup goaltenders go I have no problem with bringing Enroth in. Ideally another 1-2 years in the AHL as their starter would be better, but if they decided to bring him up I wouldn’t be mad at it. If we do sign an existing NHL level backup though then I don’t want more than a 2 year deal with them.
Bring back DRURYYY
clearly a dissapointment in NY but he still has plenty of game left. That was made clear by his excellant performance in the olympics. I guarantee he’d love to play in front of Miller as would anyone from the US roster
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