More than rumors

[Taro T]

Because over these last few years I've seen no chemistry from Pommers and Roy together. I would think they would keep Vanek and Roy together, just a hunch.

And the theoretical trade we were discussing still has both Connolly and Roy on the roster. They would keep Poms w/ Timmy and Roy would most likely move to left wing with Vanek sliding to RW (but tending towards LW when possession is gained/maintained in the other team's end). Roy has played wing very successfully in the past, I see no reason why he couldn't make the transition back again.

 

Your original comment implied that Savard is too old to center the 1st line. Why would that be?

[bob_sauve28]

Probably more likely to be asking for Ennis. Savard is 32, has a history of injury, and is making $7 million this year and is signed for 7 more years. There's a reason Boston is trying to unload him and a reason there isn't a huge trade market for him.

:o

 

 

Ummm....no thanks :thumbdown:

[inkman]

:o

 

 

Ummm....no thanks :thumbdown:

His cap hit is 4 million, the same as Derek Roy.

[deluca67]

word here in Boston is that Savard is hated among his teammates, including Chara and others calling him an a-hole.

He's a sneak type of player who will hit someone in the head from behind and run away. If the Sabres get him, they have lost it.

 

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090526113110AAvqYFP

You just made me want him more than any other player that maybe available. :thumbsup: This team needs a world class a-hole to break up that locker-room. I've never been to the Sabres locker room but I can picture the opening scenes of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" with the elevator music is playing and the patients are getting their drugs. This locker-room needs a McMurphy to show up and shake things up. Maybe then this team will play with some emotion.

[jpgr909]

I would think they would keep Vanek and Roy together, just a hunch.

I agree that there's good chemistry there, but if you bring in a Marc Savard, you instantly have a true 1st line center, so he plays with your best LW, no question. Roy is a good player and fits in very well as the 2nd line center (or, to keep the chemistry hopes alive and as mentioned, at RW, with TC at 2nd line center), but he's no Savard. With Savard's set-up skills, the mere thought of him combining with a finisher of Vanek's ilk would be scary. That's one of many reasons I don't see Boston agreeing to this move, regardless of salary issues.

 

As for Savard himself, I was a big fan of his when he was with Calgary and I was mildly shocked with his RELATIVE lack of notoriety while there. When Boston landed him I was worried, and he showed he was the real deal. That said, he's now in his early 30s and coming off a major concussion, so it's a risky move in some respects. I'd still take the chance knowing what his skills would bring to a Vanek and to the PP, but I can't see this happening. I wish I knew what I saw happening.

[Kristian]

I am of the belief that what is missing is a RW worth a dam.

Vanek didn't pot 40 for 2 seasons and since D/B left he has been the assist king to Vanek. Something Connolly, when he does play with Vanek, has not achieved. I mean, you cannot get around the fact that Roy has been very good to Vanek and this past season lets hope was just an off season for their line. I for one, am praying for a RWer worth a dam.

(Horton was available this off season).

 

Roy's numbers in the playoffs speaks volumes as to why I want him off the team, regardless if he sets up Vanek in the regular season or not.

 

24 points in 40 playoff games, 7 of these are goals.

 

No thanks - Just like Connolly, he disappears when he's really needed.

 

His numbers are all too similar to everyone's favorite playoff vanishing act, Alexei Yashin, who has 48 playoff games and 27 points.

 

Again : I'll pass on Derek Roy.

[FogBat]

Roy's numbers in the playoffs speaks volumes as to why I want him off the team, regardless if he sets up Vanek in the regular season or not.

 

24 points in 40 playoff games, 7 of these are goals.

 

No thanks - Just like Connolly, he disappears when he's really needed.

 

His numbers are all too similar to everyone's favorite playoff vanishing act, Alexei Yashin, who has 48 playoff games and 27 points.

 

Again : I'll pass on Derek Roy.

I guess they didn't need David Copperfield.

[FogBat]

BTW, I don't have a good feeling about the newbie (Winger58) who started this thread. He hasn't posted any replies to anything we've said, and he has only one post on here. I have to wonder if he's some troll from Boston or something like that who just wants to read what everyone else has to say and laugh at us for it.

[inkman]

BTW, I don't have a good feeling about the newbie (Winger58) who started this thread. He hasn't posted any replies to anything we've said, and he has only one post on here. I have to wonder if he's some troll from Boston or something like that who just wants to read what everyone else has to say and laugh at us for it.

I was thinking more like a troll from hockeybuzz. Either way, I don't believe any of this.

[nfreeman]

I was thinking more like a troll from hockeybuzz. Either way, I don't believe any of this.

 

I don't either. I have a very hard time seeing DR taking on a 7-year contract for a guy who just turned 33. There were 30 players in the NHL who scored 70 or more points. Only 2 were as old or older than Savard -- Alfie and St. Louis -- although it must be noted that St. Louis, at age 35, was #6 in the NHL in scoring this year with 94 points.

[static70]

And the theoretical trade we were discussing still has both Connolly and Roy on the roster. They would keep Poms w/ Timmy and Roy would most likely move to left wing with Vanek sliding to RW (but tending towards LW when possession is gained/maintained in the other team's end). Roy has played wing very successfully in the past, I see no reason why he couldn't make the transition back again.

 

Your original comment implied that Savard is too old to center the 1st line. Why would that be?

Because, at 33 your on the backside of a career and line 2 would benefit more since you may be able to inject a rookie (Ennis maybe?) into that line that could learn volumes from a player such as Savard. Bare in mind, these are merely opinions based upon what I actually see the players do, performance wise, on the ice combined with some hypotheticals on where that player can best be utilized for both a Cup run and the future of the franchise.

[static70]

Roy's numbers in the playoffs speaks volumes as to why I want him off the team, regardless if he sets up Vanek in the regular season or not.

 

24 points in 40 playoff games, 7 of these are goals.

 

No thanks - Just like Connolly, he disappears when he's really needed.

 

His numbers are all too similar to everyone's favorite playoff vanishing act, Alexei Yashin, who has 48 playoff games and 27 points.

 

Again : I'll pass on Derek Roy.

If we can grab 2 centers to replace them, I'm in.

I am not a fan for players, but for a Stanley Cup in Buffalo.

My personal preference is Brad Richards from Dallas, I truly believe Vanek and Richards can make just about any RWer (save Stafford) look like a 70+ point player all day long.

 

But, I'll concede, if we traded for 1 center worth a darn this off season, I'd be happy to see progress.

[Kristian]

If we can grab 2 centers to replace them, I'm in.

I am not a fan for players, but for a Stanley Cup in Buffalo.

My personal preference is Brad Richards from Dallas, I truly believe Vanek and Richards can make just about any RWer (save Stafford) look like a 70+ point player all day long.

 

But, I'll concede, if we traded for 1 center worth a darn this off season, I'd be happy to see progress.

 

Dumping Stafford for a bag of pucks would be considered progress in my book.

[static70]

Dumping Stafford for a bag of pucks would be considered progress in my book.

:D

[thesportsbuff]

 

No thanks - Just like Connolly, he disappears when he's really needed.

 

 

You guys are too funny. :rolleyes: TC disappears when he's really needed, based on one disappointing playoff series? He's got five goals and sixteen assists in 30 playoff games. Up until this past post-season, which TC, Vanek, Hecht, and who knows who else were either out with injuries our playing through injuries, he was 20 points in 24 playoff games. Wow! He sure is invisible in the post season!

[gregkash]

If savard coming put Roy on the wing I think that would greatly increase his production. Right now, Roy has been the playmaker for Vanek but I've always viewed him as more of a goal scoring threat then he's let on. I feel like he passes up shots sometimes to set up vanek. If you have the set up guy like Savard there, it frees him up to score more. Which I'm in favor of.

[Kristian]

You guys are too funny. :rolleyes: TC disappears when he's really needed, based on one disappointing playoff series? He's got five goals and sixteen assists in 30 playoff games. Up until this past post-season, which TC, Vanek, Hecht, and who knows who else were either out with injuries our playing through injuries, he was 20 points in 24 playoff games. Wow! He sure is invisible in the post season!

 

Connolly has 10 points in 26 playoff games since his last concussion. None of those are goals. I call that a pretty good Alexei Yashin impression.

 

His ONE good post-season and his "vanilla" post-season came in the no-touch years.

[thesportsbuff]

Connolly has 10 points in 26 playoff games since his last concussion. None of those are goals.

 

I call that a pretty good Alexei Yashin impression.

 

10 points in his last 22* playoff games, the bulk of which were following a season he didn't play at all. He really shouldn't even have played that post season, there's no way you can go from bike-riding and practice straight into NHL playoff action and expect to perform at the top of your game after not playing competitively for almost a year. He still recorded 9 assists that year.

[Kristian]

10 points in his last 22* playoff games, the bulk of which were following a season he didn't play at all. He really shouldn't even have played that post season, there's no way you can go from bike-riding and practice straight into NHL playoff and expect to perform at the top of your game after not playing competitively for almost a year. He still recorded 9 assists that year.

 

His last playoff goal came against Ottawa in '06.

 

Since then, he's recorded less than half a point per game. Pretty good production I agree.... If he was Mike Grier.

[thesportsbuff]

His last playoff goal came against Ottawa in '06.

 

Since then, he's recorded less than half a point per game. Pretty good production I agree.... If he was Mike Grier.

 

Again, that doesn't really say anything, we're talking about a season he played TWO games, then still managed contributed 9 points and was a forward-leading +6.

 

As I've admitted several times, he had a terrible playoff this year. So did every other player in a Sabres uniform. Why pick on Connolly and Roy when nobody else did sh*t either?

[Kristian]

Again, that doesn't really say anything, we're talking about a season he played TWO games, then still managed contributed 9 points and was a forward-leading +6.

 

As I've admitted several times, he had a terrible playoff this year. So did every other player in a Sabres uniform. Why pick on Connolly and Roy when nobody else did sh*t either?

 

Because I completely disagree that nobody else "did ######".

 

Largely, every other player did exactly was they were supposed to do, given their roles on the team. Some of the younger guys even exceeded expectations.

 

Sure, Rivet stank, Vanek hardly played, and Stafford stank it up in the worst way as per usual, but other than that everyone else, except Pominville, pretty much played the way you'd expect - The reason I'm picking on Connolly and Roy is because THEY have to be our best players on any given night if this team is ever going to stand a chance in the playoffs.

 

Not Adam Mair, not Mike Grier, not Cody McCormick. Derek Roy and Tim Connolly, in the absence of Vanek. Both of them stunk, and continued their history of refusing to play in traffic and areas where it hurts to be. Unfortunately, that's where you win playoff games. Not by passing the puck around the perimeter 60 minutes a night. I'll happily include Jason Pominville in this, as he too was beyond invisible.

 

One or two goals from these overpaid ferries and The Sabres probably win that series. That's one or two goals in 6 games, from your top 2 centermen. They didn't even manage that! That is beyond ridiculous.

 

With regards to Connolly in '07 - Peter Forsberg missed the entire regular season for the Avs in 2000-2001, only to return and light it up in the playoffs. Why? Well, according to him his body wasn't carrying the effects of the regular season grind, meaning he wasn't suffering from the usual dings and bruises going into the post-season. So is the glass half full or half empty? I guess with Connolly's always going to be one excuse after another.

[thesportsbuff]

Because I completely disagree that nobody else "did ######".

 

Largely, every other player did exactly was they were supposed to do, given their roles on the team. Some of the younger guys even exceeded expectations.

 

Sure, Rivet stank, Vanek hardly played, and Stafford stank it up in the worst way as per usual, but other than that everyone else, except Pominville, pretty much played the way you'd expect - The reason I'm picking on Connolly and Roy is because THEY have to be our best players on any given night if this team is ever going to stand a chance in the playoffs.

 

Not Adam Mair, not Mike Grier, not Cody McCormick. Derek Roy and Tim Connolly, in the absence of Vanek. Both of them stunk, and continued their history of refusing to play in traffic and areas where it hurts to be. Unfortunately, that's where you win playoff games. Not by passing the puck around the perimeter 60 minutes a night. I'll happily include Jason Pominville in this, as he too was beyond invisible.

 

One or two goals from these overpaid ferries and The Sabres probably win that series. That's one or two goals in 6 games, from your top 2 centermen. They didn't even manage that! That is beyond ridiculous.

 

I agree that the younger guys stepped up. Ennis was playing way above his experience level and Gerbe at the very least made his presence felt. Kaleta, Grier, McCormick, and Ellis were the only other players I even noticed. I don't think any of our defense played strong enough, I don't think Miller played well enough, and obviously Connolly, Roy, and Pommer were terrible, as you mentioned. I don't think Gaustad played very well at all, but it wasn't really expected based on his regular season and previous years. Torres somehow managed two assists, but he was a non-factor too and was benched (or was he injured? I don't remember.)

 

I think the entire team collapsed and folded the second Vanek went down. And by the time he returned, it was too late. I think Hecht could have made a difference in the series, too, if he had been able to play. It's not just an excuse for Connolly, I just think the whole team lost it's composure without Vanek.

 

Rask outplaying Miller be leaps and bounds didn't help either.

 

With regards to Connolly in '07 - Peter Forsberg missed the entire regular season for the Avs in 2000-2001, only to return and light it up in the playoffs. Why? Well, according to him his body wasn't carrying the effects of the regular season grind, meaning he wasn't suffering from the usual dings and bruises going into the post-season. So is the glass half full or half empty? I guess with Connolly's always going to be one excuse after another.

 

I think there's a couple big differences here. First and foremost, I don't think Connolly is half the player that Forsberg was, nor will he ever be. Secondly, Forsberg essentially took that season off to rest up and get healthy. I'm sure he still worked out and kept himself in shape, or at the very least started getting back into the swing of things before the playoffs started. Connolly spent most of the year dealing with post concussion syndrome, aka no physical activities, not even riding a bike until late in the year when symptoms finally subsided. He was rushed into the lineup and rushed into the playoffs, and in my mind performed "good enough" all things considered. I don't really understand the decision to put him in the lineup after missing a whole season, but that's on Lindy, not me. Forsberg also had Sakic on his team, where as the Sabres don't have a single player comparable to either of them.

[Kristian]

I agree that the younger guys stepped up. Ennis was playing way above his experience level and Gerbe at the very least made his presence felt. Kaleta, Grier, McCormick, and Ellis were the only other players I even noticed. I don't think any of our defense played strong enough, I don't think Miller played well enough, and obviously Connolly, Roy, and Pommer were terrible, as you mentioned. I don't think Gaustad played very well at all, but it wasn't really expected based on his regular season and previous years. Torres somehow managed two assists, but he was a non-factor too and was benched (or was he injured? I don't remember.)

 

I have to be honest, I think our defense and Gaustad played exactly like that did the entire regular season. Only difference is, Miller standing on his head made our D look a damn sight better.

 

I think there's a couple big differences here. First and foremost, I don't think Connolly is half the player that Forsberg was, nor will he ever be. Secondly, Forsberg essentially took that season off to rest up and get healthy. I'm sure he still worked out and kept himself in shape, or at the very least started getting back into the swing of things before the playoffs started. Connolly spent most of the year dealing with post concussion syndrome, aka no physical activities, not even riding a bike until late in the year when symptoms finally subsided. He was rushed into the lineup and rushed into the playoffs, and in my mind performed "good enough" all things considered. I don't really understand the decision to put him in the lineup after missing a whole season, but that's on Lindy, not me. Forsberg also had Sakic on his team, where as the Sabres don't have a single player comparable to either of them.

 

Very true, Forsberg was a much better player than Tim will ever be, and you mention Sakic who of course was a huge factor on that team as well. But like it or not, Regier believes Roy and Connolly are OUR "Sakic and Forsberg", i.e. our no. 1 and 2 centers. How can we ever expect to win anything with either of those two as anything more than 2nd liners at the very best? Apparently, this is Regier's plan though.

 

Sakic's and Forsberg's don't come along often, sure. And you have to be either damn lucky or rich to have both on the same team, but you don't really need two centers of that caliber to be succesful. You do however need at least one center a damn sight better than Roy and Connolly.

 

You need your best players to at least come close to being a-point-per-game players in the post-season. Roy and Connolly definitely are not.

 

It's not their fault Regier has grossly overestimated their abilities, but as a fan I have to hope either or both are dealt, as this team is going nowhere as long as either are dubbed as our top-two centers.

[Corp000085]

Talk is that Darcy has been in contact with the Boston Bruins and is trying to arrange a trade to acquire center Marc Savard. Unfortunately for Sabres fans, Boston is attempting to trade Savard to get under the salary cap so the trade does not involve Tim Connolly who will have a $4.5 million cap hit this season. Boston is reportedly looking for a top prospect who is on an entry level contract, i.e. Kennedy, Gerbe, etc., and a high draft pick. Savard comes with a $4 million cap number and must also waive a no-trade clause. Boston has let it leak that if Savard doesn't waive the no-trade they might place him on waivers which would allow any team to claim him and bypass the clause. Savard's family lives in Peterborough, ON so Buffalo, Toronto and Montreal would have an edge in getting Savard.

 

Regier has also been in contact with the agent for Alexander Frolov. Frolov is an unrestricted free agent with the LA Kings. The 28-year old left wing was a 2000 1st-round draft pick of the Kings. LA has not offered a contract to Frolov due to their expected signing of Ilya Kovalchuk.

 

Rumor has it that goalie Patrick Lalime was resigned by the Sabres at the request of Ryan Miller. Miller and Lalime have become close friends and, seeing how Miller IS the team, Miller used his influence to keep his friend on the team.

 

Link? Source?

 

Welcome to the board... We shall see if your rumor comes true.

[shrader]

Link? Source?

 

Welcome to the board... We shall see if your rumor comes true.

 

Come on corp, they're not just rumors, they're more than rumors.