Free Agency 2008

[inkman]

Hmmm...not ringing a bell...perhaps I have blocked out any and all memories of this "Kalinin." :thumbsup:

 

If I were to block out memories of all the players that sucked from last year's team, my team would consist of Derek Roy and Jason Pominville.

[BetweenThePipes00]

If I were to block out memories of all the players that sucked from last year's team, my team would consist of Derek Roy and Jason Pominville.

I also have a fleeting memory of some Weber kid but ... it's just a glimpse ....

[carpandean]

If I were to block out memories of all the players that sucked from last year's team, my team would consist of Derek Roy and Jason Pominville.

I don't know, given his role, Kaleta had a pretty good year, too. :thumbsup:

[ROC Sabres]

I don't know, given his role, Kaleta had a pretty good year, too. :thumbsup:

If NHL 09 does what Madden 08 did with the special attributes under each player, I'm pretty sure they would have to give him a wrecking ball under him.

[apuszczalowski]

Steps to figuring out the Sabres FA mindset

 

1. Take any list of the top 10-100 UFA's this year, or players that are well known and throw it out the window.

2. Walk on over to the "Bargain Bin" section and rummage through whats left a couple days after the start and look for a "Diamond in the Rough"

3. Sign them to a moderate contract

4. Try to make a few trades for players you feel are expendable for some other teams "busts" that you feel you can transform into what they were being predicted to be when they were drafted

5. Hope that everything works out and you catch lightning in a bottle and your prospects and youngsters step up and overachieve and fill open roster spots.

[BetweenThePipes00]

apus, some of their moves may fit that profile, but that's a broad brush you are painting with ... Spacek was not a diamond in the rough free agent from the bargain bin, he had just had a very good playoff run with Edmonton and they made him the team's highest paid defenseman. Guys like Briere and Dumont certainly fit #4, the Drury trade certainly does not ... the Campbell and Peca trades were not for reclamation projects, they were for top prospects ...

I'm not saying they always do the right thing, but they are not the bargain basement shoppers you make them out to be.

[Screamin'Weasel]

Steps to figuring out the Sabres FA mindset

 

1. Take any list of the top 10-100 UFA's this year, or players that are well known and throw it out the window.

2. Walk on over to the "Bargain Bin" section and rummage through whats left a couple days after the start and look for a "Diamond in the Rough"

3. Sign them to a moderate contract

4. Try to make a few trades for players you feel are expendable for some other teams "busts" that you feel you can transform into what they were being predicted to be when they were drafted

5. Hope that everything works out and you catch lightning in a bottle and your prospects and youngsters step up and overachieve and fill open roster spots.

Since the lockout, this formula has led to two ECF appearances (one a staph infection away from a trip to the SCF), a President's trophy winner and one missed playoffs.

 

Honestly the fans of the Sabres seem to bitch about the FO win or lose. I, for one, am incredibly tired of the "The FO didn't sign X free agent and the Sabres will suck for it." What you really mean (c'mon, admit it) is "They didn't sign the free agent I wanted, so I am angry at them." Also, I am tired of the draft bitching. Seriously, I have always wanted the Vinny or Sidney draft choice that comes in as an 18 year old starter right after the draft. But ask yourselves, "How often does that happen?" and follow it up with "How badly and for how long did teams that get one of those have to suck before getting the number one draft pick?"

 

Look at Apus's list. Do any of you run a business? What business doesn't want to find a "diamond in the rough?" Wasn't Briere a "diamond in the rough" from the "Bargin Bin?" Who doesn't trade "expendables?" Most posters here want to trade Max (and consider him a bust) but who will take him? A GM for a team that feels they "can transform [him] into what they were being predicted to be when they were drafted?" So other teams' GMs do the exact same thing the Sabres FO is being ripped apart for? Unthinkable. What team gains, trains and keeps prospects and youngsters in hopes they don't "step up" and "fill roster spots?"

 

Come on people. I know we all don't agree with everything the Sabres Front Office does, but they have been for the most part successful. They (and agents and players) are the only ones that know truly and accurately what goes on in the negotiations. We, as posters on a fan site, as well as news media people and "rumor mongers" don't know it all and can only speculate on vast oceans of information concerning trades, negotiations and drafts that we are not privvy to. A perfect example is to look at all the trade talk we always get posted here: "X mediocre Sabre player can and should be traded for Y superstar and a few draft picks." We are the great uninformed masses and we can hope and pray for things we would like to see or want, but there is only one truth we must accept: everything the FO does is done for a reason. That reason may involve talent or payroll or injuries or even overreaction, but there is a reason and 99.999% of the time we will never know the reason and therefore cannot have a completely justified reaction to FO decisions.

[X. Benedict]

Who doesn't trade "expendables?" Most posters here want to trade Max (and consider him a bust) but who will take him? A GM for a team that feels they "can transform [him] into what they were being predicted to be when they were drafted?" So other teams' GMs do the exact same thing the Sabres FO is being ripped apart for? Unthinkable. What team gains, trains and keeps prospects and youngsters in hopes they don't "step up" and "fill roster spots?"

I can only conclude from this draft that Max's value at this point was less than a late 2nd or early 3rd rounder.

 

Teams would rather have money available for the UFA period and their own RFA's than tie up 3.5 mil for a year.

 

His value could rise or fall after July depending how the market goes.

[darksabre]

Excellent Post Screamin' Weasel :thumbsup:

[shrader]

I can only conclude from this draft that Max's value at this point was less than a late 2nd or early 3rd rounder.

 

Teams would rather have money available for the UFA period and their own RFA's than tie up 3.5 mil for a year.

 

His value could rise or fall after July depending how the market goes.

 

There were less than 10 players traded over the weekend. Don't read too much into what that means about Max.

[nfreeman]

I can only conclude from this draft that Max's value at this point was less than a late 2nd or early 3rd rounder.

 

Teams would rather have money available for the UFA period and their own RFA's than tie up 3.5 mil for a year.

 

His value could rise or fall after July depending how the market goes.

 

Unless, as some posters (including me) felt, the Sabres weren't interested in dumping him for a 2nd- or 3rd-round pick.

[Screamin'Weasel]

I can only conclude from this draft that Max's value at this point was less than a late 2nd or early 3rd rounder.

 

Teams would rather have money available for the UFA period and their own RFA's than tie up 3.5 mil for a year.

 

His value could rise or fall after July depending how the market goes.

My point was that people here are bitching and complianing about the draft because it doesn't help us now. They want Max traded but in return for a draft choice still doesn't help us now. So where do they expect him to be traded to help us now? The only option is for a GM from another team to do exactly what Apus was deriding the Sabres front office for doing.

 

We have three choices for trading Max as I see it: Get a draft pick(s); get a prospect(s); or get an NHL player(s). People would complain about draft picks as it doesn't help us now. People would complain about prospects as it doesn't help us now. That leaves an NHL player as the only option to make people happy (appearantly). Who will give us anything close to what the fans hope/want in return? A GM that feels they can "transform [him] into what they were being predicted to be when they were drafted," which Apus and others are criticizing the Sabres front office for doing.

 

Personally, I doubt we will ever get in return for Max what the posters here seem to think we can get for him. And guess what? That will make people around here (surprise!) complain about the front office!

 

So, all you posters out there demanding Max be traded, what can we get for him that will help us now? If we get anything even remotely worthwhile for him, then some team's GM did just what Apus (and others) complain that Darcy is doing to screw up this team.

 

Even in Bucky Gleason's "If I were GM for a Day" article, he never came out and said what Max could fetch, just that he should be traded immediately (likely because he knows he can't fetch much - however that may be giving more credit where none is due). At one point he says to package Max with Al Kotalik and a first rounder for Jokinen. Do any of you truly believe Flordia would have given up Jokinen for Max, Al and a first? Seriously?

 

My guess is we get a prospect or two for him, max. And I 100% believe it will be after the season has started.

 

Sorry, X, I was not ranting at you. I agree with you that his value is not very high at the moment.

 

I am just sick and tired of the "Front Office can do no right" attitude that is constantly circling here regardless of any moves made in hopes of improving the team.

[shrader]

Even in Bucky Gleason's "If I were GM for a Day" article, he never came out and said what Max could fetch, just that he should be traded immediately (likely because he knows he can't fetch much - however that may be giving more credit where none is due). At one point he says to package Max with Al Kotalik and a first rounder for Jokinen. Do any of you truly believe Flordia would have given up Jokinen for Max, Al and a first? Seriously?

 

I wonder when writers will finally learn to stay away from the fantasy GM thing. Its an exercise in futility. Only a select few in the media for any sport actually get it. There is far more to the game than the playstation management that goes into those types of stories. Sure, it may be fun to think about, but when all is said and done, you end up looking like an idiot.

 

You'll definitely be hard pressed to find many occasions where I offer up ideas for potential trades or contracts... well, other than my Peters for Crosby deal which for some reason that idiot Shero keeps turning down.

[Screamin'Weasel]

I wonder when writers will finally learn to stay away from the fantasy GM thing. Its an exercise in futility. Only a select few in the media for any sport actually get it. There is far more to the game than the playstation management that goes into those types of stories. Sure, it may be fun to think about, but when all is said and done, you end up looking like an idiot.

 

You'll definitely be hard pressed to find many occasions where I offer up ideas for potential trades or contracts... well, other than my Peters for Crosby deal which for some reason that idiot Shero keeps turning down.

Do you really believe it took Gleason writing one of those articles for this to happen?

[X. Benedict]

My point was that people here are bitching and complianing about the draft because it doesn't help us now. They want Max traded but in return for a draft choice still doesn't help us now. So where do they expect him to be traded to help us now? The only option is for a GM from another team to do exactly what Apus was deriding the Sabres front office for doing.

 

We have three choices for trading Max as I see it: Get a draft pick(s); get a prospect(s); or get an NHL player(s). People would complain about draft picks as it doesn't help us now. People would complain about prospects as it doesn't help us now. That leaves an NHL player as the only option to make people happy (appearantly). Who will give us anything close to what the fans hope/want in return? A GM that feels they can "transform [him] into what they were being predicted to be when they were drafted," which Apus and others are criticizing the Sabres front office for doing.

 

Personally, I doubt we will ever get in return for Max what the posters here seem to think we can get for him. And guess what? That will make people around here (surprise!) complain about the front office!

 

So, all you posters out there demanding Max be traded, what can we get for him that will help us now? If we get anything even remotely worthwhile for him, then some team's GM did just what Apus (and others) complain that Darcy is doing to screw up this team.

 

Even in Bucky Gleason's "If I were GM for a Day" article, he never came out and said what Max could fetch, just that he should be traded immediately (likely because he knows he can't fetch much - however that may be giving more credit where none is due). At one point he says to package Max with Al Kotalik and a first rounder for Jokinen. Do any of you truly believe Flordia would have given up Jokinen for Max, Al and a first? Seriously?

 

My guess is we get a prospect or two for him, max. And I 100% believe it will be after the season has started.

 

Sorry, X, I was not ranting at you. I agree with you that his value is not very high at the moment.

 

I am just sick and tired of the "Front Office can do no right" attitude that is constantly circling here regardless of any moves made in hopes of improving the team.

 

I don't think you can fault the front office for not moving him yet. (which is what I was trying to say not so well ) You need a dance partner.

If, as a GM, you have an extra 3.5 million to spend on a RW - you are probably waiting for July 1 to talk to Rad Vrabata (sp?) to see if you can sign him for 3 million with no strings.

[Bmwolf21]

I am just sick and tired of the "Front Office can do no right" attitude that is constantly circling here regardless of any moves made in hopes of improving the team.

In fairness, though - what moves has the FO made in the last year in hopes of improving this team? Traded a guy we knew we couldn't sign for a prospect and a pick. What else?

 

Maybe it's still a little early to hang them for inaction, but after last summer there are a lot of fans with short fuses when it comes to the FO. Fact is there hasn't been much for this FO to hang their hats over in the last year, and that's why people are sick of hearing hot air from Darcy, Larry and co. without seeing any real change.

 

I'm trying to adopt a wait-and-see approach to free agency, but I don't expect much. The indications are that they will be more active in trades than in free agency, but whether it's from FA or trades I think people want to see that they are working to improve this team.

[Mbossy]

My point was that people here are bitching and complianing about the draft because it doesn't help us now. They want Max traded but in return for a draft choice still doesn't help us now. So where do they expect him to be traded to help us now? The only option is for a GM from another team to do exactly what Apus was deriding the Sabres front office for doing.

 

We have three choices for trading Max as I see it: Get a draft pick(s); get a prospect(s); or get an NHL player(s). People would complain about draft picks as it doesn't help us now. People would complain about prospects as it doesn't help us now. That leaves an NHL player as the only option to make people happy (appearantly). Who will give us anything close to what the fans hope/want in return? A GM that feels they can "transform [him] into what they were being predicted to be when they were drafted," which Apus and others are criticizing the Sabres front office for doing.

 

Personally, I doubt we will ever get in return for Max what the posters here seem to think we can get for him. And guess what? That will make people around here (surprise!) complain about the front office!

 

So, all you posters out there demanding Max be traded, what can we get for him that will help us now? If we get anything even remotely worthwhile for him, then some team's GM did just what Apus (and others) complain that Darcy is doing to screw up this team.

 

Even in Bucky Gleason's "If I were GM for a Day" article, he never came out and said what Max could fetch, just that he should be traded immediately (likely because he knows he can't fetch much - however that may be giving more credit where none is due). At one point he says to package Max with Al Kotalik and a first rounder for Jokinen. Do any of you truly believe Flordia would have given up Jokinen for Max, Al and a first? Seriously?

 

My guess is we get a prospect or two for him, max. And I 100% believe it will be after the season has started.

 

Sorry, X, I was not ranting at you. I agree with you that his value is not very high at the moment.

 

I am just sick and tired of the "Front Office can do no right" attitude that is constantly circling here regardless of any moves made in hopes of improving the team.

All bolded are true. Do you really think that MAx will play next year for the slug? Darcy could have traded him for something, anything, now the draft is over and it's another year out for getting a kid to grow into the NHL shoes. We've got enough forwards, but not enough money. Buy him out if needed, he's already under the bus and being spit out the back. You want a guy on fourth line for over 3 mill? Where are the Russians when we need them? Max wants/needs to go home.

[tom webster]

The one thing that seems to be being overlooked is the fact that teams are staying away from Russians. Anybody knows that if they trade for Max tow things are possible;

 

1) He plays like Pavel Bure and heads back to Russia after one year

 

2) He plays like Valerie Bure and the GM gets fired for giving up too much

 

There were teams this year that drafted strictly North Americans because of the Russiand and European situation.

[Screamin'Weasel]

In fairness, though - what moves has the FO made in the last year in hopes of improving this team? Traded a guy we knew we couldn't sign for a prospect and a pick. What else?

 

Maybe it's still a little early to hang them for inaction, but after last summer there are a lot of fans with short fuses when it comes to the FO. Fact is there hasn't been much for this FO to hang their hats over in the last year, and that's why people are sick of hearing hot air from Darcy, Larry and co. without seeing any real change.

 

I'm trying to adopt a wait-and-see approach to free agency, but I don't expect much. The indications are that they will be more active in trades than in free agency, but whether it's from FA or trades I think people want to see that they are working to improve this team.

Bringing in Bernier was a move to improve the team. We took a defenceman who was going to be a UFA and command more money than the Sabres could (or would, your choice) pay and shipped him out and got something in return. Bernier is a young player, an RFA and has very good potential.

 

People will still bemoan the fact that Bernier is not Crosby or Ovechkin in his first partial season in Buffalo but it was an improvement move over getting nothing for Campbell in FA. I fully agree with DeLuca on the alleged 5 for 25 we could have kept Campbell for as being unrealistic and untrue.

 

Hindsight is 20/20. If the collective NHL front offices had the ability to see the future, we never would have had Briere, Drury or Hasek. Teams "win some and lose some." I honestly think any move that is made is made to improve a team when it is made. Does the Sabres management make mistakes? Of course. Do other teams? You bet. Do you get some busts on trades/drafts/free agents as well as winners? Sure do.

 

I still don't think inactivity in trades or FA should always be considered a mistake nor should management be ripped apart because of it. When it comes down to it, most fans and posters here want a certain player (ie: "Brooks Orpik is the only player that can save this team!" or "Jokinen is easily affordable and I'd love to see him in the Blue and Gold!") and are upset at management if they don't go out and get the player they wanted. Fans also don't seem to want the rookies and prospects that have been developing for years in the organization to fill roster spots (and could very well be the next superstar) when they can get the big name now.

 

I don't think management is perfect and I know they have made some big mistakes, but I do not believe they are not trying to improve the team with every decision they make.

 

Wolf, I agree with the wait and see attitude. To those on here that think waiting til July 5th or so is waiting and seeing you need to broaden your view. I am not saying wait until the end of the season to see if it all panned out, mind you. I am just saying if you don't see things happeneing doesn't mean they aren't. What if the FO talks to 29 teams (an obvious exaggeration) in an attempt to trade Max and no one bites? Does this mean they were inactive? Does this mean they didn't try to improve the team? Does it mean they were happy with the roster as is and went into the season expecting to do well?

 

All I am saying is unless you are in the room and know everything that is going on, you cannot justifiably blame management when you don't see what you expect to see done/acquired. They are trying to improve the team. Trust me. Improvements=better performance/standings=more ticket/merchandise/food/endorsement sales=more money and value in the owners pockets.

[BetweenThePipes00]

All bolded are true. Do you really think that MAx will play next year for the slug? Darcy could have traded him for something, anything, now the draft is over and it's another year out for getting a kid to grow into the NHL shoes. We've got enough forwards, but not enough money. Buy him out if needed, he's already under the bus and being spit out the back. You want a guy on fourth line for over 3 mill? Where are the Russians when we need them? Max wants/needs to go home.

 

I have never seen or heard anything about Max wanting to go home. The season is still more than 3 months away, there's plenty of time for them to give Max away if they have to ... it was the deepest draft in years, no one was going to part with a decent pick, especially when you consider that ON draft day those picks seem even more valuable because teams had guys in mind they wanted to use their picks on and everyone around you is improving their team ... now it is 12 months from the NEXT draft and that 2nd round pick does not seem so valuable right now, it's faceless, it's just a guy you have never met yet ... compared to that maybe Max starts to look like someone taking a shot on. If you are OK with them buying him out (which will never happen), what's the rush? They are not in cap trouble, so keep him around as long as you can and try to get something for him.

 

In fairness, though - what moves has the FO made in the last year in hopes of improving this team? Traded a guy we knew we couldn't sign for a prospect and a pick. What else?

 

Maybe it's still a little early to hang them for inaction, but after last summer there are a lot of fans with short fuses when it comes to the FO. Fact is there hasn't been much for this FO to hang their hats over in the last year, and that's why people are sick of hearing hot air from Darcy, Larry and co. without seeing any real change.

 

I'm trying to adopt a wait-and-see approach to free agency, but I don't expect much. The indications are that they will be more active in trades than in free agency, but whether it's from FA or trades I think people want to see that they are working to improve this team.

In fairness, then ... let's let them screw up this offseason before ripping them for screwing up this offseason. We've beaten the "they screwed up Drury/Briere last year" to death, so people are complaing about them doing nothing THIS year, and they are still 8 days from even being allowed to do anything in free agency.

Not only have we all said it, but Darcy himself said on WGR today he doesn't want to go into camp with this team, he WANTS changes. They have specifically said they want defense and have too many forwards. They have said, he said it again today, they want Miller and Pominville long-term. If they don't do anything, rip away, I'll be right there with you ... they deserve it and they can't say they have a plan because they told everyone the plan. But so many posts are hammering them for screwups that have not even happened yet ... I agree with Weasel, it gets old.

[Guest Sloth]

I have never seen or heard anything about Max wanting to go home. The season is still more than 3 months away, there's plenty of time for them to give Max away if they have to ... it was the deepest draft in years, no one was going to part with a decent pick, especially when you consider that ON draft day those picks seem even more valuable because teams had guys in mind they wanted to use their picks on and everyone around you is improving their team ... now it is 12 months from the NEXT draft and that 2nd round pick does not seem so valuable right now, it's faceless, it's just a guy you have never met yet ... compared to that maybe Max starts to look like someone taking a shot on. If you are OK with them buying him out (which will never happen), what's the rush? They are not in cap trouble, so keep him around as long as you can and try to get something for him.

In fairness, then ... let's let them screw up this offseason before ripping them for screwing up this offseason. We've beaten the "they screwed up Drury/Briere last year" to death, so people are complaing about them doing nothing THIS year, and they are still 8 days from even being allowed to do anything in free agency.

Not only have we all said it, but Darcy himself said on WGR today he doesn't want to go into camp with this team, he WANTS changes. They have specifically said they want defense and have too many forwards. They have said, he said it again today, they want Miller and Pominville long-term. If they don't do anything, rip away, I'll be right there with you ... they deserve it and they can't say they have a plan because they told everyone the plan. But so many posts are hammering them for screwups that have not even happened yet ... I agree with Weasel, it gets old.

 

Couldn't have been said any better. :thumbsup:

[BetweenThePipes00]

Understand, I have no problem with the "This is what I want them to do ..." posts ... even if it is asking for the moon, it's fun ... just gets old when they end with " ... but they'll never do that because they are cheap/dumb/cheap and dumb."

[Guest Sloth]

Understand, I have no problem with the "This is what I want them to do ..." posts ... even if it is asking for the moon, it's fun ... just gets old when they end with " ... but they'll never do that because they are cheap/dumb/cheap and dumb."

 

I knew what you meant. I should've left the last part unbolded. What I liked were the remarks you made about Darcy saying he does not want the same team when training camp starts, and that he wants Miller and Pominville signed long-term. Actually, I got excited when you wrote that part. I'm glad to hear Darcy has told the public he wants Miller and Pominville long term.

[shrader]

The one thing that seems to be being overlooked is the fact that teams are staying away from Russians. Anybody knows that if they trade for Max tow things are possible;

 

1) He plays like Pavel Bure and heads back to Russia after one year

 

2) He plays like Valerie Bure and the GM gets fired for giving up too much

 

There were teams this year that drafted strictly North Americans because of the Russiand and European situation.

 

The not drafting Russians thing wasn't at all new this year. That goes back to last year as well.

 

As for Max going back to Russia, this is complete speculation here, but I think these Russian leagues could end up being alternatives more for the younger players than the older ones. The young guys that are subject to the entry level restrictions can probably easily land more lucrative contracts over there. The older guys can make that money in either place. I think for many, being here already, they're more comfortable than they would be if they go back. Sure, the Russian can offer these tax free deals that have been mentioned lately, but at the end of the day, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that life over here offers more to them than it does back there (there certainly is less of a mob influence, if you believe those stories).

 

And now I'll stop speculating about something I know absolutely nothing about. :thumbsup:

[Bmwolf21]

Bringing in Bernier was a move to improve the team. We took a defenceman who was going to be a UFA and command more money than the Sabres could (or would, your choice) pay and shipped him out and got something in return. Bernier is a young player, an RFA and has very good potential.

I like Bernier a lot (unlike some, I'm not ready to call him a bust after 17 games in a Sabres uniform) I liked the 1st-rounder and liked moving Campbell. I thought we might get more based on the speculation but we got a decent return on someone set to leave for nothing three months later.

Hindsight is 20/20. If the collective NHL front offices had the ability to see the future, we never would have had Briere, Drury or Hasek. Teams "win some and lose some." I honestly think any move that is made is made to improve a team when it is made. Does the Sabres management make mistakes? Of course. Do other teams? You bet. Do you get some busts on trades/drafts/free agents as well as winners? Sure do.

Not really sure what your point is here. No one is asking the FO to be perfect, but they do have to "see the future" in some respect as to how a player will fit in the system, the dressing room and how well they can/will develop. That's what they get paid for.

 

I still don't think inactivity in trades or FA should always be considered a mistake nor should management be ripped apart because of it. When it comes down to it, most fans and posters here want a certain player (ie: "Brooks Orpik is the only player that can save this team!" or "Jokinen is easily affordable and I'd love to see him in the Blue and Gold!") and are upset at management if they don't go out and get the player they wanted. Fans also don't seem to want the rookies and prospects that have been developing for years in the organization to fill roster spots (and could very well be the next superstar) when they can get the big name now.

 

I don't think management is perfect and I know they have made some big mistakes, but I do not believe they are not trying to improve the team with every decision they make.

 

Wolf, I agree with the wait and see attitude. To those on here that think waiting til July 5th or so is waiting and seeing you need to broaden your view. I am not saying wait until the end of the season to see if it all panned out, mind you. I am just saying if you don't see things happeneing doesn't mean they aren't. What if the FO talks to 29 teams (an obvious exaggeration) in an attempt to trade Max and no one bites? Does this mean they were inactive? Does this mean they didn't try to improve the team? Does it mean they were happy with the roster as is and went into the season expecting to do well?

Sure, some people get hung up on this player or that player. Does that mean anything in the big picture, though? If I want Streit and they sign Liles, are we not getting a PP QB? If we want Orpik and they sign Commodore, are we not getting a gritty, physical stay-at-home defenseman? Not many people have the time or desire to keep up on the scouting reports for couple hundred potential UFA's or RFA's. Most of us know that we need a PP QB, or a physical defenseman, or a second-line center.

 

As for the "not wanting to wait" why should we want to wait? We were one game from the Cup finals three years ago, and two games from the Cup two years ago before not making the playoffs. We see the guys that are still here - Roy, Pominville, Vanek, Miller, etc. - and wonder why we have to wait for someone to grow into a spot when there are guys out there we could sign or trade for to fill that role immediately. Waiting for guys to develop from the minors has a rebuilding feel to it, and that's hard to swallow given how good the team was prior to this year.

 

Either way, at some point the FO talk has to stop and results have to be seen. We can listen to them whine and complain about the market blowing up out of control, no one wants to trade for so-and-so, etc., but at some point you have to get bold and be proactive. Trying to make the team better is one thing. Actually doing it is another.

 

All I am saying is unless you are in the room and know everything that is going on, you cannot justifiably blame management when you don't see what you expect to see done/acquired. They are trying to improve the team. Trust me. Improvements=better performance/standings=more ticket/merchandise/food/endorsement sales=more money and value in the owners pockets.

The stuff about the "trust me, improvements=better performance=" seems a little overly condescending for this conversation, but whatever. First off, as much as you guys seem to hate the "FO screws everything up" posts, I hate the "you don't know what's going on behind closed doors" crap. Again, why the hell can we not "justifiably blame management for whatever moves they do/don't make?" It's all about results. I can tell my editor all about the phone calls I made to try to get my article done, but if he doesn't see an article he doesn't give a crap.

 

In fairness, then ... let's let them screw up this offseason before ripping them for screwing up this offseason. We've beaten the "they screwed up Drury/Briere last year" to death, so people are complaing about them doing nothing THIS year, and they are still 8 days from even being allowed to do anything in free agency.

Not only have we all said it, but Darcy himself said on WGR today he doesn't want to go into camp with this team, he WANTS changes. They have specifically said they want defense and have too many forwards. They have said, he said it again today, they want Miller and Pominville long-term. If they don't do anything, rip away, I'll be right there with you ... they deserve it and they can't say they have a plan because they told everyone the plan. But so many posts are hammering them for screwups that have not even happened yet ... I agree with Weasel, it gets old.

Sorry, no "in fairness" pass on this offseason, not from me. The FO should be very much under scrutiny and on the hot seat after last summer and last season. After last offseason and last year they get no benefit of the doubt, no "let's see how they screw up" nothing. They wasted an entire season based on their inability to improve on (or at least hold serve) an ECF team and failed to make improvements during the year, even when they stumbled out of the gate, went through a rough patch in December, etc.

 

I'm glad Darcy said that he wants to make changes. Bravo. He should have been saying that all last year, and he should get aggressive and go after the guys they want right now. Do you honestly believe they are going to out-bid anyone for Orpik, for Malone, for a second-line center? I don't. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they make a big-name splash, but I'm sure as heck not counting on it.

 

You're right about one thing - the FO complaining does get old, just like watching the FO supporters rush in whenever anyone makes a negative comment about the FO to set them straight, or tell them how tired we are of hearing it. I'd love to not have anything to complain about FO-wise. I would much rather go into this offseason confident that DR and LQ are going to make the necessary improvements to get this team back in the playoffs, but after the last 13 months I'm not brimming with confidence.