Sabres defense next year...

[Taro T]

I'd like to see Teppo back, plus a new top 4 defenseman via FA or trade, with Paetsch as the #7 and Weber getting more seasoning in Rochester. I thought Teppo looked pretty good against Boston. More generally, I think our team is dying for veteran leadership, and not having Teppo this year really hurt. I was glad to see that he wants to come back to Buffalo.

 

Pairings might be:

 

Spacek/new guy

Tallinder/Lydman

Teppo/Sekera

 

#7: Paetsch

 

That means Pratt is gone, which I don't see as much of a loss. Kalinin is also probably gone, which is too bad, because he seems like a pretty good guy, with talent, who just never was able to put it together. Weber is probably better than Paetsch at this point, but Paetsch can't go down to Rochester without clearing waivers, while Weber can. We aren't going to just cut Paetsch loose -- I think the team is predisposed to give players, especially defensemen, plenty of chances to prove themselves.

 

I think the combination of a new top 4 defenseman with the return of Teppo could take a lot of pressure off of Hank and Toni, hopefully resulting in fewer brain locks and better play from them.

I'd really like to see another top 4 D-man in house, with either Toni or Hank as part of the bait, as I really don't see getting a top 4 D-man in a trade of forwards & picks.

 

I do want to see Teppo back, and would slot him as #5 with a regular shift on the pk. He does appear to be a steadying influence on the blueline and I don't think his absence was felt any less than Chris & Danny's absenses. When a top 4 guy goes down, as 1 or more inevitably will next year, he can step up into that role without a severe dropoff. Heck, there may be no noticeable dropoff at all when he's in the top 4.

 

I would also like to see Pratt back. He'll come very cheap and is comfortable in the #6 role. As he doesn't fit into the "run and gun" model the Sabres have favored since the lockout, his being in the lineup might lead to a greater variation in strategy / philosophy than we've seen the past few.

 

That would put the D as:

 

Spacek - Sekera

Hank - New Guy

Pratt - Teppo

 

Spare - Paetsch

1st Call Up (and TRUE #7, Weber).

 

Based on past history, there'll be plenty of ice time for both Weber and Paetsch throughout the season.

 

I could see the Sabres thinking that (assuming they can re-sign Teppo and Pratt) they will be alright with status quo at D next year, believing that Teppo being back will let Hank and Toni return to '06 form; but unless the Sabres start to give the D more of a green light to dump the puck out rather than pass it out I don't know that Toni will get his head screwed on straight and when I've watched Hank seems to play better when paired with someone other than Toni this year.

 

If one of Hank or Toni is traded, I'd prefer it to be Lydman, as I expect the long off-season will allow Hank to finally heal up properly from all the injuries he's had since the lockout.

[LabattBlue]

Curious. Anyone hear Teppo last night on channel 2. He said Buffalo is his home, he wants to play next year and Buffalo is his first choice. He is hoping that the club will extend an offer and he'll wait and see.

Then I stand corrected. I had guessed that there was some bad blood between Teppo and the Sabres over the suspension. I'm okay with Teppo coming back as a 5-6-7 dman, as long as the pay is more like 1-1.5 mil and not the standard 2.6 sign right here deal he got the last 3 years.

[stenbaro]

Yeah, but those two hits have given him legendary status as a "physical player". :lol:

Unfortunately those ARE the only two memorable hits from a Sabres defensman in 10 yrs..Say what you want about him...He was the player that laid them out....

[stenbaro]

Ward Sekera

J. Smith Spacek

Weber Tallinder

Lydman can play rudolph

[tom webster]

Then I stand corrected. I had guessed that there was some bad blood between Teppo and the Sabres over the suspension. I'm okay with Teppo coming back as a 5-6-7 dman, as long as the pay is more like 1-1.5 mil and not the standard 2.6 sign right here deal he got the last 3 years.

 

I think a couple of things in play here. He knows it was LQ and TG not DR an LR. He doesn't have a lot of options. He wants to stay close to this area.

[Hank]

I saw enough good things out of Weber that I want him to stay. In fact, I'd like to see him and Sekera signed long term this summer while they are still cheap.

[That Aud Smell]

I saw enough good things out of Weber that I want him to stay. In fact, I'd like to see him and Sekera signed long term this summer while they are still cheap.

 

I like that kid, too -- although I thought for

during the last game of the year that he'd never play hockey again.

[carpandean]

I like that kid, too -- although I thought for

during the last game of the year that he'd never play hockey again.

That falls on the list of things I saw that made me want him to stay. There are a lot of guys on our team that would have stayed down after that hit and then sat for the rest of the game. He got back up and played two shifts later. The kid's tough!