carpandean Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 I bet Darcy chose Kotalik as opposed to Stajan as the salary cap dump to take on from the Flames because they know what they are getting with him and they know how to utilize him. I bet he had 6.5 million other reasons to take Kotalik instead, unless Calgary would have given a lot more to take Stajan's contract.
thesportsbuff Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 As much as i hate to say it, Connolly is probably the best option for a third liner we have right now fiscally speaking. I would rather pay TC 3 mil a year for a year or two until we can get someone better, than sign Laich for an inflated contract to a long term deal. As much as people dislike timmy (i'm not a huge fan myself) he's not a bad interim option right now. especially if it keeps a little extra cap open in case we need it to entice Brad Richards, or some other free agent. It could also be a sign and trade deal, so you never no. Similar to the Setoguchi trade by san jose last night. I think $3 mil is steep for Connolly. I'd go $2.5 I think most UFA centers are going to get 3.5-4.5 range.
BuffaloSoldier2010 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 I think $3 mil is steep for Connolly. I'd go $2.5 I think most UFA centers are going to get 3.5-4.5 range. FWIW 3 mil is my ceiling on him. But i agree. I just think he's a better value at 3 or lower with similar production to laich as it is. True Timmer is prone to injuries, but that's why we have Luke Adam, he can get more playing time in the NHL when Connolly is down with injury, and a bolstered blue line would allow our younger kids to make more mistakes without us paying dearly for it. not to say i'm encouraging mistakes, just that it may give adam confidence to really blossom into a third line role.
thesportsbuff Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 FWIW 3 mil is my ceiling on him. But i agree. I just think he's a better value at 3 or lower with similar production to laich as it is. True Timmer is prone to injuries, but that's why we have Luke Adam, he can get more playing time in the NHL when Connolly is down with injury, and a bolstered blue line would allow our younger kids to make more mistakes without us paying dearly for it. not to say i'm encouraging mistakes, just that it may give adam confidence to really blossom into a third line role. Not to mention, playing third line minutes instead of first line minutes might make a difference in terms of how well his body holds up. Also playing against teams' second or third pairings as opposed to their generally rough & tumble top pair could help his health AND production. Invaluable on the PK.
LastPommerFan Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 First, if Kotalik goes to rochester, it would likely be permanant, he would have to clear rentry waivers on the way up, and I could see another team that is struggling on the PP picking him up at half his remaining salary, then we're stuck with the other half and no player. Under no circumstance is signing connolly a viable option. He is a liability every time he steps on the ice. I'd rather watch Adam struggle on the 4th line and move goose up to #3. Also, we are probably looking for a #2 center, not a #1. Roy's numbers over the last few years put him in the top 20 centers when you compensate for games played. It appears we are building a defensive team, so I expect Roy is labeled for the top center line. I expect we are going after a tough SoB over a point a game guy.
Warriorspikes51 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 If we re-sign Timmy, we better get a top Center fast because the backlash from the fans will be high.
Bmwolf21 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 I know not many will agree but he probably is the best option for third line center if we sign him for cheap... which based on his injuries and point production I imagine he would not be reluctant to sign a low-money deal. admittedly I haven't paid much attention to the majority of the UFA centers -- they're not big names so idk exactly how good they are, but ALL of them are going to be paid more than they're worth, and frankly most of them will probably be paid more than Connolly. And I'm NOT so sure that any of them are better PKers than TC. As a two-way forward TC makes perfect sense on the third line. still lacking that first liner though. As much as i hate to say it, Connolly is probably the best option for a third liner we have right now fiscally speaking. I would rather pay TC 3 mil a year for a year or two until we can get someone better, than sign Laich for an inflated contract to a long term deal. As much as people dislike timmy (i'm not a huge fan myself) he's not a bad interim option right now. especially if it keeps a little extra cap open in case we need it to entice Brad Richards, or some other free agent. It could also be a sign and trade deal, so you never no. Similar to the Setoguchi trade by san jose last night. I think $3 mil is steep for Connolly. I'd go $2.5 I think most UFA centers are going to get 3.5-4.5 range. I can stomach TC as a 3rd-line guy with limited minutes and offensive expectations. That being said, I think $2.5 is high. Someone will have to look up the numbers but man, if we're going to make him a 3rd-line center/two-way guy, I just don't see paying him scorers numbers. First, if Kotalik goes to rochester, it would likely be permanant, he would have to clear rentry waivers on the way up, and I could see another team that is struggling on the PP picking him up at half his remaining salary, then we're stuck with the other half and no player. Kotalik has cleared waivers twice in the last year. I'm not worried one bit about that, and I don't think anyone in Buffalo should be.
BuffaloSoldier2010 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 I can stomach TC as a 3rd-line guy with limited minutes and offensive expectations. That being said, I think $2.5 is high. Someone will have to look up the numbers but man, if we're going to make him a 3rd-line center/two-way guy, I just don't see paying him scorers numbers. Kotalik has cleared waivers twice in the last year. I'm not worried one bit about that, and I don't think anyone in Buffalo should be. fwiw given the cap has gone up considerably, i don't think you can call even 3 mil scorers numbers anymore. but i'm definitely all for a dirt cheap rate if we do end up getting him back
OverPowerYou Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 To be honest I was on the "Get Rid of Tim Connolly" Bandwagon. But he grew on me after 2/22/11 and he was lights out on the *Penalty Kill* and clearly our best defensive forward. If we sign him for under 2 million, I'd love that. But make sure we get a #1 Center as well.
Bmwolf21 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 fwiw given the cap has gone up considerably, i don't think you can call even 3 mil scorers numbers anymore. but i'm definitely all for a dirt cheap rate if we do end up getting him back It's got to be a dirt-cheap rate. That's the only way. Even with the cap going up, $3M is still way too high for what we are talking about - 3rd-line center, 3rd-line minutes. $2M is the max I'd go.
Bmwolf21 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 To be honest I was on the "Get Rid of Tim Connolly" Bandwagon. But he grew on me after 2/22/11 and he was lights out on the powerplay and clearly our best defensive forward. If we sign him for under 2 million, I'd love that. But make sure we get a #1 Center as well. Lights out on the PP or the PK?
BuffaloSoldier2010 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 I think some of you guys seem to forget the fact that Connolly can, and often does, score. If we did pay him 3 mil it'd be much better spent on him than on Hecht IMO. It's not like we're talking about a pat kaleta or Cody McCormick here. Dirt cheap is what i want, but i guess it all depends on what you would classify as dirt cheap. anything 3 or under i would be satisfied with. Remember that #1 is still my top priority.
OverPowerYou Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 Lights out on the PP or the PK? Sorry, i meant PK
nobody Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 Sorry, i meant PK But he was so terrible on the PP - and you know if he is on the roster that Lindy will play him on the #1 PP line also.
thesportsbuff Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 But he was so terrible on the PP - and you know if he is on the roster that Lindy will play him on the #1 PP line also. Not if he has someone else to play there... hard to really put anyone else in when Derek Roy is out for the year and your next option is Gaustad or McCormick... and i expect Regehr to play the point on one unit, as I've heard a lot about his cannon of a slapshot.
BuffaloSoldier2010 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 But he was so terrible on the PP - and you know if he is on the roster that Lindy will play him on the #1 PP line also. If we have a center who is idk... BETTER... then we don't know that at all. Last year Roy was hurt. Hopefully next year he'll be healthy and Richards or someone of the sort can handle that job. I wouldn't jump to conclusions on what Lindy is going to do with his players until we know what players we actually have.
OverPowerYou Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 Not if he has someone else to play there... hard to really put anyone else in when Derek Roy is out for the year and your next option is Gaustad or McCormick... and i expect Regehr to play the point on one unit, as I've heard a lot about his cannon of a slapshot. haha. It's gonna be a lot of fun learning about this Regehr guy and what he can actually do for us. It was fun just watching videos on YouTube of him destroying people.
Bullwinkle Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 Connolly's signing will (or should) be determined by how successful they are at getting a true nr. 1 center and how much that will cost. Speaking of which, like who? Obviously Richards, but he's definitely going to be overpaid by whatever team he joins. After that, what? Trade. And even then you have to find a good nr. 1 center a team is willing to deal...not many of those around. Now if you consider Roy a nr. 1 center (I don't), then just finding a nr. 2 is much easier. Weiss...Talbot... Anisimov...etc.
Warriorspikes51 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 The way things are going under Pegula, I think we land a big ticket Center. I think there are probably 5 guys Darcy is interested in and if he can't pull a trade before July 1, then B. Richards becomes the target.
deluca67 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 If we re-sign Timmy, we better get a top Center fast because the backlash from the fans will be high. Depends on what else happens. Looking at the bigger picture, finding centers in a league where almost every team is looking for them is going to be tough. If the Sabres land one of Vancouver's UFA d-men signing Connolly can be excused away. As long as it is a one year deal at a reduced price. As stated earlier the Sabres have some contracts coming off the books next season, sooner if they can deal them, it may be the wise decision to hold off making the big splash at center.
TheMatrix31 Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 Reading all the posts in this thread has me excited as all hell. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Braedon Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 Not if he has someone else to play there... hard to really put anyone else in when Derek Roy is out for the year and your next option is Gaustad or McCormick... and i expect Regehr to play the point on one unit, as I've heard a lot about his cannon of a slapshot. Giordano, Babchuk and Bouwmeester have filled that roll before Regehr, as he's only had 2 PP goals in 5 years. Giordano has a sick slap shot, don't know much about Regehrs.
carpandean Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 Giordano, Babchuk and Bouwmeester have filled that roll before Regehr, as he's only had 2 PP goals in 5 years. Giordano has a sick slap shot, don't know much about Regehrs. Rhett Warrener said that he actually has a big shot from the point, but being a defense-first type defenseman, is hesitant to use it to avoid a block and rush the other way. I would say that we shouldn't get our hopes up about Regehr's offensive contribution. Any we get will be gravy over his defensive contributions.
Lanny Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 Depends on what else happens. Looking at the bigger picture, finding centers in a league where almost every team is looking for them is going to be tough. If the Sabres land one of Vancouver's UFA d-men signing Connolly can be excused away. As long as it is a one year deal at a reduced price. As stated earlier the Sabres have some contracts coming off the books next season, sooner if they can deal them, it may be the wise decision to hold off making the big splash at center. Agreed, their offensive numbers were up despite missing Roy for a large portion of the season. From interviews it seems as though Darcy & Co. have tageted defense as the area they intend to upgrade. Which, based on the strength of this years UFA class, may be the best plan.
LGR4GM Posted June 26, 2011 Report Posted June 26, 2011 I think we all have to agree that Regehr brings more than points to this team. He brings toughness, veteran leadership, and blocks a lot of shots. If he has a shot from the point, maybe here he might crank it more, but if he stays at home and stops the oppositions forwards from walking in on miller every freaking game then we should be all for it. Ive not seen him play much and i dont know a lot of details about Regehr but it seems to fill a need. Myers, Sekera, Mag, Leo all can score or have assists, having one guy whos more worried about the puck going into his own net is something the sabres now have. Looking at the numbers, i bet kotalik and morrisonn go to rochester and maybe wonder depending on training camp if Hecht or another player might visit the amercks from time to time. also: I love the fact that even with some of these other trades happening TSN still has the main story on the trade page about something the sabres did.... feels good for a change to be making headlines.
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