Rasmus_

I've been to a number of Amerks games this season and at times Armia flashes the showings of quality vision on the ice, working out of the corners and the ability to weave in and out of traffic. Other times he looks lost. It will be more than a one year transition for him. Luckily for him, he's on a team with a little bit of time before they definitely "need him".

Quality point. I think regardless of size though, talent is what this team needs. So whether he's 5'11" or 6'3", the team needs as much quality up top as possible. That was the basis essentially for my argument, but I can agree with what you're saying as well.

Wouldn't it make more sense to trade Myers in a deal for Eberle. Someone who would immediately upgrade the top six and really there is barely no difference in the cap hits between the two. To me that's a more likely scenario. Unless TMGM is in love with two of the Bennett, Reinhart, Draisaitl group. Trading Myers for Eberle and then taking one of those three and Ekblad...makes some sense possibly.

As long as Leino is off the roster, they can recuperate it on someone else who can help the team I am happy with that. I really would prefer Konopka on the roster next season and not having Scott back.

Vanek might be winning but he's still going to walk from Montreal just like he was from Buffalo or Brooklyn. There's nothing wrong with that. I always have had respect for Vanek, because he is what he is; a talented forward. He's not a superstar, he's not an amazing two way guy. He's a solid scoring winger. He'll probably never with a Maurice Richard, or be considered a top 10 player in the league especially as he gets older. But, he's been solid for his career, he played the game the best he could and as far as I can recollect, never was anything but a consummate professional in the process. It wasn't his fault Lowe offered him that obscene 7.14 contract offer, and while Buffalo might have been better off letting him walk then, I don't regret it. As a fan right now, I feel like the foundation is being set from the back end: Myers, Ristolainen, Zadorov, McCabe, Pysyk, and so on. Murray is adding young guys who have size and hands with some grit. As was Regier heading the team in that direction before his termination. It's still too early to tell on Sam Reinhart, or if we get the bounces in the 2015 draft for McDavid or Eichel.....but I feel like it's starting to come up from the depths of despair. I have no empirical data to prove this in any consensus and I am not a stat head, but it looks and feels like a turn-around.

Sweet, I liked the trade when Sekera was moved out and one of the good things Regier did before he left was target him in the second round. Good kid with a lot of hockey sense. Keep doing your thing JT. Didn't he miss something like 15-17 games, and still wins the teams MVP. lol

I think he's getting players to play the way they need to. He's really helped Tyler Myers and to some degree lately Tyler Ennis. He's the perfect guy to have as our coach going forward in the interim. He's deserves the chance to watch this team grow. While the wins aren't there in leaps and bounds, we've got a much higher compete mentality since he's come back.

I am excited about the Baptiste, Carrier, Fausching group. They all seem to be using their size and skating really well. The draft should be really interesting to see what TMGM does.

(Quote: Love, love love. Left for Dead) Reinhart and Draisaitl, please and thank you. If not, I actually prefer Ritchie over Dal Colle. Bennett would be an obvious call in either case. Nylander is interesting as is Kapanen. Both high skill guys.

That was very interesting to look at, thanks.

Amnesty already. He has no value.

Off The Team or back to Rochester: Leino - Amnesty Buyout McBain - RFA, shouldn't cost much Tallinder - Possible low buy retain. Sulzer - At this point, he'll be off the team Ruhwedal - AHL Ellis - AHL. John Scott (I love him though): Bye Konopka - I would like him retained. He's a good forward for what he does.

For those that want compensation....why? Klesla isn't a player to worry about. A college UFA who has a brighter future can take his place in Buffalo/Rochester and really work for it. Sometimes you get players who get to a point where they feel disrespected. Klesla was waived what, 3-4 times this season. If he wants to go back to Europe. Adios. AS TMGM has said, we want players who want to play in Buffalo.

I would put Matt Read in that discussion too, just to bring up a smaller school find. He's put up some nice seasons in Philly.

Its okay Rusty at this point you have the same career outline going forward of Alex Sulzer. It was nice to not have you. This more or less makes sense as well.

Back to the tank. Neuvirth played pretty well regardless.

For what this team has on the offensive side of things, unless you're shipping him out for parts, you aren't going to get much. He's a good locker room guy is young and he does have offensive upside. He continues to work. P.S. I will always be a CoHo fan.

Good start by Enroth. I've always thought he could be a potential mid tier NHL goalie. Good job tonight boys! Tampa is really going to miss St. Louis.

Stafford still needs to go. If it's a pure tank, then Ehrhoff does need to get traded at the draft. Then its completely done.

Or at the draft?!? Or the offseason. No need to go half the season next year with him on the roster. Clense it completely. :P

I could still see Ott coming back. If he wins a cup in St. Louis I think all bets are off. It will come down to what his family wants to do as well. I would say between 25-35% shot at that. I don't think Moulson will be back unfortunately. Which is a shame, but he's going to be able to go whereever he wants. Any roster would love to have him including NYI back in the fray.

Yeah I meant 2nds, lol. Sorry about that.

I like his tenacity, he seems like a lifer, and he has it engrained in his blood. His approach is methodical. I won't lie when I saw the Hudson Flasching/Deslauries deal I didn't understand trading two first round picks, but he's going for the talent he sees. His answers to the Buffalo media were candid and straight forward. He doesn't speculate and he is going to make changes. I really don't see what the big deal with Pat LaFontaine were unless he just did not want to completely gut the franchise or he felt like he was not really in the room. His presser was awesome and a breath of fresh air. His answer on Conacher was awesome. He was a free player. Someone posted earlier that he hopes it pisses a rookie off that he acquired CC. Just love that as soon as he's done with this he's going back to the board and focusing on more talent. Well we have our GM, so thank you for that Mr. LaFontaine.

This is the one deal that I'm sorta confused on. It seems like he bent over for McPhee. Rostislav Klesla? - Yuck. And paying them a third....geesh. I like Neuvirth a bit, but the trade seems like we gave up....too much lol.

Stafford to Washington for Burakovsky? Come on McPhee relive your 2013 pulmonary embolism. - Just a joke