oddoublee

so what we have is a center who has low shot volume, low shooting percentage, low assist totals and low faceoff percentage wins. he is not a second or third line winger, why? we don't have to like our front office and/or coaching staff - but we know based on where they are at - they are not necessarily dumb people and understand hockey. this round peg in a square hole routine is odd. they have to be overly enamored with his season that was a major over performance from a shooting standpoint. I wish i could find his whl shooting stats...he scored...but a first round pick in the nhl should score in the whl...

i like everything you posted. and i have the same thoughts as you regarding whether he is a w or c. he had fluky statistical season...and we paid to soon for it though.

I am all for the argument of where he belongs in the lineup - he is a 3rd line player - and that is ok. the 7 million dollar contract is what skews this. the team needed and still needs to find a 1 or 2 line Center. as the team stands now - we have one first/second tweener line, 2 third lines and 1 fourth line.

I know him. He was f'ing w you trying to have fun. Always sarcastic and aggressive w kids. It's his style.

One year protected lottery first round pick (unprotected year two), starting D (joki, but probably samuelson to offset salary and keep ana at floor) and a top 5 prospect (Rosen, Östlund or Wahlberg). Maybe the sabres get a 3rd back. That's the deal.

Healthy ... A very respectable 25g - 30a and a two way presence. He is a plus player for this team. If he catches a healthy streak season over season, I see a 30-35 player. I'm hopeful.

15 and 15. A fine season for a 19 year old kid who is going to 14 minutes a night. Could see this going plus or minus 5 very easily. Just a kid still....

I don't care that we got rid of Savoie....whatevs. But can we all be honest here? Does this addition really move the needle all that much? We are still no better at C than we were last year due to the mitts trade. Feels like everyone is just pumped something happened, even though nothing really happened. This is a 'meh' trade.

I believe monahan could've solved their center spine issue for a few years minimum versus Zucker who does not solve it at all. All for the cost of an additional .5 a year. The argument is similar enough and you know it. You're being purposefully 'cute' with your arguments and youre smart enough where you don't need to be.

Additionally, leino had nothing to do with age - he just sucked. Erhoff was meh. Both chaulked up to a new and over eager owner. Okposo got hurt, badly. But still found a way to produce a good season at age 33. Skinner - age wasn't his problem. Scoring isn't a problem. He's a bad fit for this team. Talking about a 5.5 million center who slots in as your 2nd and/or 3rd center does not really qualify as a bad signing.

A good center until age 34? There are worst things in life. You cannot avoid ufa's with term bc of 30's. It's as bad a practice as over paying for your young roster players before they've proven it year over year.

Come on, you know what he meant. Most people look at contracts in terms of cap impact...and for the most, rightfully so. I think a majority of sabrespacers would've gladly traded zucks contract for Monahan's.

I happen to be one of those people. I like him, but my expectations are close to what we got last year. I see a 30-35 goal scorer who logs 60-70 points per year.

So, what you're saying is, with a good head coach, Bowen will get us approximately 82 goals next year. Correct?

Yeah....last thing we want to do is make a move that could result is something like a 13 - 14 year playoff drought....