deluca67

I was thinking Del Zotto.

Do you have a link?

Is that even financially possible? I think you need to add a few more to the Out portion of you list to add Iginla and JayBo.

$5.3 mil a year for a 20-25 goal scorer with absolutely zero physical game will be a tough sell. IMO, Roy would bring in a better return than Pominville. Their numbers are very close and Roy plays a position of need.

IN: More excuses and stories about players the Sabres wanted to sign and didn't for one reason or another. Hecht Boyes Gaudstad Corkum Out: Dreams of a Stanley Cup for yet another season. Leino (he sucked so bad that even Regier can't deny it) Hodgson (not fully understanding the Justin Schultz situation, Chris Hodgson forces Cody to enroll at the University of Wisconsin. A day later Dad forces Cody to quit the University and declares his son a UFA)

Pomminstein is a good player, not great, good. He is also part of a long established core that has failed miserably. If the Sabres could get some value out him in a trade they should do it.

You can add Gionta, Harrold and Carter to the list of Devils that resigned today. http://devils.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=636519&navid=DL|NJD|home

I would love to see Doan in a Sabre uniform. Unless they super front load a contract, I don't see how they get it done. There are teams near at the top of the league that would love a Doan and have more room under the cap than the Sabres do. It would be no small coup if the Sabres were able to sign Doan.

Doan is 35, if he leaves Phoenix it will likely be to go to a contender for a chance at a Cup. Other than a heavily front loaded contract, why would Doan come to Buffalo? Do the Sabres really want to overpay for a 35 year old?

Why not Ott and Chimera? Combined they make slightly more than Roy and bring a ton of what the Sabres are missing.

Sounds a lot like what we have seen on this board over the years. The Wideman contract could end up being an omen of how free agency will go. If Wideman can garner $5+ a year, what will the Sabres be able to buy with only $10 mil to spend? They still have to sign Ennis, and unless he is moved that will leave the Sabres closer to only having $7 mil left for free agency. That's not enough bait to land a big fish.

Howson will get his price, IMO, it is more likely to be paid by a Eastern Conference team. The Pens/Canes got the ball rolling. The Flyers/Leafs made a pretty significant move. I can see a lot of movement in the East this year. I will guess that Luongo, Parise, Nash, Ryan and Thomas all land somewhere in the East.

Big topic of discussion last night with friends. Is Bon Jovi considered Hard-Rock or Heavy Metal? I say NO and NO! They are a Rock Band, not easy listening, not Hard Rock either. Any opinions?

Ruff would have Semin sitting in the press box by the quarter-pole. I thought Semin played better in the playoffs than he did in the reg season. I just don't see Semin being able to co-exist with Lindy Ruff.

"A big named forward?" You know, I never gave it much thought. I'm surprised no one had mentioned this before. I guess it could be a good idea.

"That". and there will be no reason to avoid making vacation plans for the end of April 2013.

I wonder if the Wild would be interested in a Stafford/Clutterbuck trade? Stafford is from that region, maybe a home comings of sorts would help Stafford.

i wouldn't underestimate the value of expiring & entry level contracts. If the Sabres package the #1's, prospects and a Roy/Leopold type contract that expires at the end of the year, I think that is a combination that could peak the Ducks interest.

They may not go on a spending spree, they are not limited by bad contracts. They can trade for a Miller and not have it effect other contracts (Getslaf, Perry). Which was the original point.

You point is that Vanek's numbers suffer because of the offensive talent around him while Nash flourishes because of the lack of talent around him. The NHL isn't the NBA where one star on a bad team can score 40 a night. The NHL is the exact opposite, you need talented players around you to thrive. Nash being able to produce with the limited talent around him is a testament to his ability. We have all seen what Vanek can do, he just can;t seem to do it for long stretches and put that monster season together. It all depends if you are willing to pay the price. The kid is only 21 and has 236 NHL games under his belt.

Why do the Ducks need to "save money?" With Bobby Ryan they have $25 mil this year and $50+ mil available next season. The difference between Ryan and Miller is only $1.1 mil. They still have plenty of money for Getslaf and Perry. The Ducks can easily trade Ryan for a package including Miller and then turn around and sign Parise to replace Ryan on the wing. That would be a really nice shakeup for the Ducks who will still have money to do other things. With the money they have for the following season, they can really load up. So? Vanek gets lost in the shuffle of the offensive juggernaut that is the Buffalo Sabres? The heat is really getting to people. :doh:

They have money to spend.

You can always move Stafford in another deal if the Ducks have no interest in Stafford. Ryan is a proven NHL scorer and has shown a willingness to use his size. It's going to come at a heavier price, i would think that more teams than the Sabres would be in on trade talks. Unless the Ducks are targeting Miller. The difference between Miller and Hiller is little more than the M and the H. Hiller actually has the better career gaa and sv%. Hiller will also only cost you 2 more years at $4.5 per year. At that point you hope Enroth will have taken over. If Hiller and Ryan can be had, it may be just the jolt this franchise needs.

We often agree on how to make the team better. We differ on where they are currently as a franchise. Imagine a 1st team PP unit of: Vanek Ryan Pominville (I'd play Pominville at center on the PP) Ehrhoff Myers

Ryan is a legit NHL 30 goal scorer with a physical side. He is what people look at Stafford and believe what Stafford should be. IMO, the extra $1.1 mil a season you would spend for Ryan is a solid investment compared to the $4 mil Stafford costs. Dropping Stafford and adding Ryan would be a huge step forward for this franchise.