deluca67

Amen!

I've heard it said that there is less quality found at the end of round one this year than what is expected through the first couple of rounds in 2015. I would play the St. Louis pick like found money. We had a draft with two Tylers why not two Sams. The Buffalo Sabres 2014 draft needs to be called Wham bam thank you Sam!

Reinhart may be more skilled, comparing the two, which is closer to being the complete player. The new term this season has been "playing 200 feet", I've heard that said about Bennett. Is Reibhart's skill level that much more that Bennett's where it outweighs the other attributes Bennett brings to the rink. That's where that St. Louis pick can become very handy.

I forget that there are those incapable of having adult discussions. :doh:

Thanks.

They called it interference. I just don't see it.

I love the hit. Wasn't interference at all. Nolan needs to tell McCabe to ignore the penalty and make that same exact play every time.

There never was a debate, is here anyone this board that would seriously take Vanek over Kessel? Pominville over JVR? Roy over Lupul? Connolly & Hecht over anyone? That's why they are on the outside looking in this year. This is a team that can use a Callahan (filling the role Clarkson should be filling) and a couple of the veteran blueliners available as UFA's. A Stanley Cup. They need to tighten up defensively taking some of the pressure off of the goaltending. They do that and they'll be in the playoffs, likely a top four team in the conference.

Was the question "name six people who have never been in your kitchen?" Other than simply listing six players that have all played forward there is no comparison to the Leaf forwards. None of the players listed were on the level of player Kessel and JVR have become.

What would a rebuilding team do with a 37 year old (38 by start of the 2014-15 season) blue-liner?

What a dumb-a$$! I hope there is a way for Tampa to void his contract.

I like Girgensons, at this point he does not have the value Kessel has as one of the premier offensive players in the league at age 26. You can laugh all you like, the Leafs top six forwards are no joke. Kessel (26), JVR (24), Kadri (23), Bozak (28), Lupul (30) and Raymond (28) is a nice balance of youth and veteran talent. If Clarkson can get his game together it would give some much needed grit. Add a couple of solid blueliners and they are a top four team in the Conference. All kidding aside.

Yet, Florida has scored 41 more goals than the Sabres this season.

The Leafs are far from the point of having to "rebuild." What they need is some help on the blue-line and a healthy Lupul. They are in very good shape cap wise with just over $22 mil available this off-season. They have a pretty solid group as a "top six" which gets even better if Clarkson can bounce back. They also have a couple of chips to play in Kadri and Gardiner if they choose to. They also have a likely top 10 pick this year they can use to add (through trade) some help to the blueline. The Leafs will be a team looking to add, they are close to taking that next step to contender status.

The problem the Oilers face is that there just isn't much available when it comes to good veteran D in this year's UFA crop. The group as a whole is very old and less than inspiring. Ekblad is a far better option than anything available in free agency. If the Oilers are looking strictly at veteran D help they will have to look at the trade market.

I'd second that motion. Outside of the Sabres 1st round pick this year, there isn't an asset(s) I wouldn't give up for Kessel. Am I the only one hoping that Florida overtakes Edmonton for the #2 spot? I do so with the idea that Edmonton really wants Ekblad and would be willing to trade up to #1 to draft him. Dropping to #3, drafting Bennett and picking up an extra pick or two would be a great start to the 2014 draft.

The Bills have a lease with Erie County. If the Bills play in a new stadium it will be in Erie County. Nothing outrageous or shocking here. There were many who thought last years draft was not a strong one for the QB position. There should be no shock if one the QB's listed in the article ends up being drafted by the Bills at some point.

Oddly enough, I am more interested in getting the St Louis #1 pick this year. 2014 or 2015, we're likely to get a really good player with that pick. The St. Louis pick is the type of asset that combined with another asset that will land the Sabres an NHL ready player from another team. Snow has to survive 2014 before worrying about 2015. If he thinks he can get a Bennett or Ekblad and that player can be a difference maker he is likely let the 2015 pick go and hope to have to worry about the criticism then if he is still employed.

The Sabres are not in the same position as the Lightning are. The Lighting a bit more along the process than the Sabres are. Callahan at this point of his career is finishing piece not a building block. I'll agree he does possess the qualities I would love to have on the roster. I think there are wiser ways to go about it than overpaying for a player who is looking to cash in. The Sabres could draft Sam Bennett with the top pick, from what I hear of the kid he has many of the same qualities. You add Bennett's qualities to what Girgrnsson brings and you have the beginning of a pretty solid core. I'm not trying to trash Callahan, I just wish he were 3-4 years younger. That said, I wouldn't trash the Sabres if they did sign him. he's no Lieno or Hodgson. Funny as I am typing this I am talking myself into Callahan. If the Sabres added Bennett and Callahan next season, I think the #1 pick in 2015 will be out of the question. I don't think they be a playoff team, they will be going in the right direction.

Why would the Sabres pursue Callahan? As a player at the point he is at in his career he makes zero sense for the Sabres. A 29 year old who is often injured that is looking to get paid. I said it several times, just because Pegula has the money to pay any player in the league whatever they want doesn't mean it should be done. Any moves made have to make sense and can't just be bringing in names that fans can say "hey, I heard of that guy." Substance over flash.

The Devils chances took a monster hit last nigh as well. Congratulations to the Blue Jackets if they can hang on over the last four games. Looking at the top team s in the west, out of the top six, possible only the Avalanche would be considered a surprise if they ended up hoisting the Stanley Cup. It's going to be about match-ups and survival in the West. Again this year a .500 record and a plus goal differential seems to be marker for making the playoffs/being in the hunt. The only exception appears to be Detroit who has a minus 11 goal differential and will need to win out over the final four games to reach .500. All 14 non-playoff teams will finish with less than 40 wins and negative goal differentials.

Clothes that can take a good beating. ;)

The Tin Foil Hats would lose their sh!t. :w00t:

I wish there was a Hasek Hot Sauce or Peca Pickles store as well. Didn't Rob Ray have a clothing line at some point?

Devils sitting 2 points out of a playoff spot and #7 in goals against. I believe there is a $20 bet out there with TrueBluePhD, my charity is the Erie County SPCA.