Sabre fan

Okay, so we have improved somewhat, with some additions that do not seem too bad on paper. Our defense should be light years ahead of last year, and Howie should bring a fresh exciting system that should make for extra points compared to last year's under Disco Danny. Another year for our young guys is good too , so there seems reason to believe or hope we can compete for a playoff spot. Having said that, the Leafs seem poised to be good again, both the devils and Hurricane both keep adding and seem on the way up, while Philly surely can't be as bad as last year. Where exactly does that leave us? That does not leave too many weak teams in our conference and just getting to .500 hockey may not be so easy. What do you all think? Can we, will we, could we, or will we not be there at the end of the year? My thinking is we may get close but not so sure we'll be playing for Lord Stanley's Cup this year yet again. Hope I am wrong...

seems like a awful big amount for a 37 year old...the Leafs will obviously try to unload JVR and/or Bozak this summer but failing that will be in cap-hell come next year

some are already projecting this guy to be our fourth-line center.

Leafs sign Patrick Marleau to a 3year contract at 6.25mil per season. Marleau is 37 but seems to have something left on the tank. I get the feeling though t hat he had nowhere else to go as one has to think he would have preferred to go to a team that had a good shot at a cup, like Pittsburgh, Chicago, etc. The Leafs will be lucky just to repeat what they did last season, having just about every player play way over their heads and having almost no injuries all season which in itself is quite a feat. Still a good signing for those dreaded leafs... and did anyone see where some fan in Oakland caught not one, not two but three foul balls? Two of them from the same batter on back-to-back pitches! Crazy stuff

The Habs sure are a mess...they sign older slower guys like Benn and Alzner then do this?makes one wonder how certain GM's (Montreal, Vancouver, Colorado etc) keep their jobs

is this for sure? have not seen it anywhere

The GM's sign these players to terrible contracts (see: Moulson Bogo) then bitch about them. They simply cannot restrain themselves. In other news, what's up with Montreal and Toronto thinking that signing old, slow defensemen is the way to go? I am not complaining cause the Habs basically gave us Beaulieu who is young, fast, and has tons of upside, but really? Alzner and Benn? The Leafs sign 37 year old hainsey who looked great on Pittsburg where even Ruhwedel looked pretty good.

I like JBotto kinda like Dr. Roberto...

Pouliot has huge upside and comes at almost no cost...for everyone all upset about trading Marcus this should make you happy as he is everything Marcus was and more...excellent signing

some of these signings are really quite funny...Kulikov with the jets leads the way but Montreal signs Alzner for big bucks who is slow (and already added benn last year who is, ditto) and meanwhile they basically gave us a young good looking speedster in Beauileu. Leafs lose Hunwick then sign Hainsey...strange stuff

They bought him out to free cap space

was checking out some highlights of Scandella and yes, he can skate just fine and can jump up into the rush and score and pass very well. He is definately a great addition and was obviously under-used by Minnesota. Meanwhile I have no problem with a line of Jack with Pommers and Vanek. I do think we will trade Kane and the goals from Pommers and Vanek would more hen offset the goals we lose by trading kane

Marcus will be better suited for the West where Anaheim still like to fight and carry on. he'll never top his career best 13 goals and poor Tyler...one hit and he's done. meanwhile, the population of Pomminstein will go up more then these two guys combined...

let's face it...defense is everything these days. adding 3 good defensemen is awesome and if we move Kane & Bogo together for whatever then there's is tons of cap for Shattenkirk too...then you'd have a good "d"

Pomminstein will lead much better then Gionta ever did here

or does this trade make it a Kane/Bogo package somewhere for who knows what? That would free up money for Shattenkirk too

I still kinda think Bogo will rebound and suddenly our defense becomes a real asset and with the other guys we've added should be fine this year. I do think a bunch of other teams would have loved to get Scandella and we basically got him for nothing

trust me I'd love to get Kane re-signed. Just still have nightmares of Darcy hanging onto both Danny and Drury then losing both for absolutely nothing. You simply cannot let Kane play out this season then let him walk for nothing after all we gave up for him

I do not necessarily wish kane traded IF we are going to re-sign him...if we aren't then yes trade him NOW. Do not let him walk next summer for nothing. As for this trade, getting a top-4 d-man is a steal in the trade. I loved Tyler but one more hit and well he is in serious trouble. Foligno fought okay but who fights much anymore? Certainly not either of the Cup finalist. Pommer can obviously do so much more then either player we gave and I am dumbfounded Minnesota gave us such a good d-man for basically nothing. Our defense just became very good...

tomorrow we can sign him (July 01) through free agency

safe to say that adding Pommer and Vanek as a UFA frees up trading Kane and they should replace his lost offense. I love a line of Jack with both Pommer and Vanek...and trading Kane should bring either young prospects or draft picks (or both)...and yeah obviously no Shattenkirk

Drew Stafford is available as well guys...

strange trade...Hurricanes basically gave Murphy, Eddie Lack & a pick for some guy who doesn' t sound like too much. Murphy was drafted 12th overall in 2011 and is another one of those trying to find his game... Radulov supposedly asking , get this...SIX YEARS AT 7 MILLION haha (this is a 18 goal 31 year-old winger) of course Montreal also has aging Markov wanting 2 years 12 mil (more laughter from the peanut gallery) Meanwhile there's talk that Sabres are talking trade with both good old Minnesota and Boston

I think this is one of those "damn if you do and damn if you don't" things...if we trade kane we are losing a monster talent and replacing his goals (especially if Okoposo does not return this year) will be next to impossible on a team that is challenged to score far too often. Of course, if we don;t trade him we will just lose him next summer for absolutely nothing which is just as bad. I do think his value is also one of things whereby teams are concerned about that dreaded and well noted attitude. I must say it must be tough for GMJBotto to try and put a price on a kane trade. what is good? what is just depserate?...

it really is strange how there has been absurd amounts of money raised for cancer research and yet we seem no closer today then 20 years ago to beating and curing cancer...my late Mom always said they don't wish to cure it because it would put so many out of jobs. Almost makes sense in a sad yet logical way...