deluca67

I don't think anyone expects you to understand the value Shawn Thornton brings to the Bruins.

Pittsburgh won with the likes of Kunitz and Cooke on the wing and Staal and Talbot up the middle in support of the big guns. The Kings had Brown as you stated along with Stoll and players like Kopitar, Carter and even a Dustin Penner. The Bruins won with Lucic, Recchi, Horton and Thornton. Looking back on the previous Stanley Cup winners, it reinforces my opinion of a need to have have big physical forwards within the top the six.

Ott would be taking a big chance staying in Buffalo in hopes that things will turn around within the next 4-5 years and not moving on to a team that is already a piece or two away from a Cup. I doubt too many players would be willing to stay facing that decision. It puts him in the same boat as Miller and Vanek.

The answer to both of your questions is the Blackhawks. They don't have a true "power forward" and were carried by Kane, Bickell and Sharp to the Cup this season. Teams like the Bruins, Kings and Penguins have top line centers and the bigger power forwards upfront.

You have to weigh all of that against a chance of winning a Stanley Cup. Ott is a true competitor, giving up a chance of ever winning a Stanley Cup to stay in and Buffalo to be a mentor may be too much to ask. Ott must know he'll draw attention from contenders next off-season.

I would be more concerned if the Bills were willing to overpay for Bryd.

I would like to see Ott stay. I would guess at age 30 that Ott will be looking for long range security. A three year deal paying $3-4 mil would be a good contract for the Sabres. I would guess that Ott could get much more on the UFA market. A longer term for bigger dollars wouldn't be in the Sabres best interest.

I was skeptical of the hiring of Doug Whaley and Doug Marrone at first. From listening to various interviews over the summer I am interested to see where this leads to. I've been more interested in the Bills this summer than I have been in some time. There's a refreshing newness to the Bills. I have a feeling things will definitely be different.

You can add veterans for the short term, no need to make long term investment at this point. Save the longer term contracts for retaining the prospects that hit.

Stafford has no value to the Sabres. If you follow the Pens at all you know that Dupris has tremendous value. As for your confusion. Dupris as valuable as he is, is no Thomas Vanek. You're talking two different players that bring two completely different skill sets. Neal in his first 3 seasons as a Star had as many 20+ goal seasons as Stafford has in his 7 year Sabres career. You see what I mean about throwing stuff against the wall. You are way off your game today. If Stafford had Dupris' overall game no one would be talking about trading him. You're right, a Stanley Cup is not much better than missing the playoffs 7 out of 11 years. If Regier would have made Shero like moves while the Sabres had Hasek there would be Stanley Cup banner(s) hanging in the F'N Center.

A) The Penguins have made a ton of moves since drafting Crosby in 2005. It are those moves that separates the Penguins from other teams. B) Stafford has nowhere near the value as Dupris has to the Penguins. C) Neal has production that rivals Vanek not Drew Stafford. $5 mil for a 40 goal scorer is about as good a deal as a team can hope for. It seems your heart just isn't into this conversation, you seem to be just throwing crap against the wall hoping something sticks. Not even if the other team played with the net empty. Neal has been a legit NHL goal scorer since he broke into the league back in 2008.

He makes a million less than a James Neal and actually makes what Pascal Dupuis will make over the next two seasons. Drew Stafford is nowhere near the level of players that James and Dupuis are. A team like the Penguins are successful because they get good players under good contracts and not overpaying mediocre players like Stafford and Leino.

Tyler Myers.

So he is getting paid to be a top 4 forward and that should be OK but shouldn't be counted on as a top 4 forward? This is part of the Sabres problem, players like Stafford and Leino getting paid beyond their true stations.

I'd like to see how these young kids handle adversity. The previous "core" folded under the slightest adversity. That is a trait that must be eliminated.

Isn't part of the excitement around picking up a player like you described in a trade is that the player will find new life in a new situation. We can all dismiss last season, what can't be dismissed is the previous six seasons of inconsistency and unmotivated play. One of the worst faults of this franchise is the chasing of a players talent that just never manifests itself. From Connolly and Roy to Stafford and Leino. Sometimes you just have to stop chasing what's not there and move on from a player.

The problem is that we are talking about prospects here with the Sabres who will not have the luxury of stepping into a situation where they will be afforded time to find their way. It's a different scenario to flood the roster with rookies than it is adding a rookie or two to a roster of established NHL talent.

Most have already given up on Stafford and Lieno has solidified his status as a horrible mistake. The focus will be on Miller and Vanek and why are they still here.

The new theaters at the AMC Maple Ridge are outstanding. The reclining chairs are the greatest thing to happen to the movie going experience since surround sound.

A team in the Sabres position has no need for 29 year olds unless it is for a short term and very reasonable dollars.

This is a premise I have wholeheartedly disagreed with. Considering the Sabres history, if both players max out their potential, Kassian a top-6 power forward and Hodgson a top-2 Center, fans will look back on this trade with regret. Even though in recent Sabres history they have been unable to fill the top two center positions, their has been even a longer drought of legit NHL power forwards on this roster.

First of all Myers? I pointed out that he has been on a three year course of regression. Over the past three seasons that opinion has become fact. As for Hodgson, my thoughts on Hodgson are on the record and I stand by them. Same with Kassian, if he finds consistency that trade will be lopsided in the Canucks favor.

it was a dick move on his part. Why put him in that position to begin with?

If nothing else Jagr is a veteran presence that can eat up some 15-18 minutes a game. I think the Devils would be happy with modest production of 10-15 goals and 40-45 points which shouldn't be beyond the realm of possibility.

I'll never understand why Brian Braun is a bad guy because he injects a substance in to his body to improve his performance and a player like Kirk Gibson is a hero when he injects a substance in to his body so he can hit a home run in the World Series. it's just strange that some drugs are legal and others are not because they work too well.