Sabres Fan in NS Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 If we lose either of those two with no return there will be hell to pay. Wanna bet? Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
LGR4GM Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 Vanek gave Pominville a ride to the airport. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
Sabres Fan in NS Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 I liked Pominville for what he was. I didn't expect anything more from him. After Drury and Briere left the new core just couldn't cut it. Those two really held the team together. After 5 full years the new core experiment is being recognized for what it is ... a complete and utter failure. I like Pominville and I wish him well, but it was time. I fully expect Vanek and Miller to be traded this summer, hopefully prior to the draft. If not then they will be gone, IMO, before their contracts expire. My only problem is that it really looks like Regier will manage this rebuild.
TrueBlueGED Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 http://hockeyprospec...?articleid=1497 Really nice write-up on the trade (also a section on the Bishop/Conacher deal for those interested). If you don't want to read it all, here's the excerpt on Pominville and Larsson: Pominville is a bona fide top line winger who still has a few prime years left. He is a skilled, competitive forward who can kill penalties and provide solid defensive value while also bringing top-tier offensive production. His GVT has been 10.0 or better every season from 2006-07 through this season (pro-rated) except in 2010-11. He has been a consistent top-tier forward. Minnesota has been a bottom-15 team this year in terms of puck possession. Their goaltending has been decent, their defense solid, and their offense very average. This move provides a boost to their forward group, improved the team significantly for this season and next, and if their young kids continue to improve, the Wild could have a chance to be an average or better team in terms of puck possession metrics like Fenwick close. Johan Larsson was my 52nd-ranked prospect last summer, and the #4 prospect in the Minnesota organization. In his first season in North America, the 20-year-old has had a quality season, ranking third in scoring for Houston, his AHL team. One NHL source described him from play in the AHL as a "competitive, all-around" prospect. Larsson has top-end hockey sense at both ends of the rink. He is not overly skilled, but still finds ways to create chances with solid puck skills and great offensive instincts. Even though he is a tad undersized, he has physical game value as he drives the net and pressures the opponents physically with effectiveness. He is close to NHL ready and projects as a top-six forward.
X. Benedict Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 A lot of people like to say that there is no plan in place and they are just bringing in random pieces. It has become blatantly obvious that they are trying to build up their centers. Trading for Hodgson and Larsson. The draft. They are clearly trying to build up the middle. There's no guarantee with any of them, but I don't know how else you attempt that build at this point. With the way the league is valuing centers at this point, you're not going to pick up any more than a 3rd or 4th line depth center through free agency. You need to build it through youth. Fans don't want to hear it, but that's where things are right now. edit: And I just saw the comment about hybrid centers. I wonder whether or not Larsson is another one of those. I'm wondering the same thing.
BuffaloSoldier2010 Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 Why I don't like this trade: Pommer was a character guy, a standup citizen, and a really fun player to watch. He will be sorely missed, and i will always consider him one of my personal favorite sabres as a younger fan. Why i like this trade: Assets, assets, assets. I've said it before and i will say it one more time, We lost out big time on top tier talent when Briere and Drury walked for nothing. Bare minimum, we should have traded for something similar to what pommers got us in this trade. When they walked, it left a pretty big vacuum as far as top end talent goes. This isn't me stating that we should have kept them, or whining that they didn't, simply stating the fact that their departure left the cupboard a little bit dry (specifically where momma hides the cookies). For the first time in a while, organizationally speaking, not all of our top end center prospects may have room to all make it to the big club in a few years. This is assuming they pan out of course. A deep deep farm system leads to a lot of flexibility come deadline day. We are restocking the talent we lost. it may not be ready to go for a couple more years, but this was the direction the team needed to take in my personal opinion. I can't wait to see these guys develop and come into their own as a new core group of players, drafted and undrafted included. I think it was pretty clear that this roster was going nowhere in its current condition. A fresh start leads to some fresh hope.
X. Benedict Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 This team has been pretty boring to watch for several seasons now. Obviously there have been outliers. But the context of the comments you're "hearing" are in the context of a flawed team that has been flawed for years, where, arguably, the most popular Sabres personality has been recently fired, that have been painted against extremely high expectations - which came from the organization itself, not just the fans. F*ck, man, give people some slack. Not sure how to respond. Either people think ......."man, that guy is good" or they don't. People think his talent is common or they don't. Nothing personal was intended to the good denizens of hockeypegulaville. Today, I offer them my slack. :)
shrader Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 I'm wondering the same thing. I don't mind having that hybrid center/wing skating on the wing and then filling in when there are injuries. I'll say that much. It's a big if, but if a couple of these prospects wind up as hits, I think they're moving much closer to that. Our first pick in the upcoming draft may very well be the key.
JJFIVEOH Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 better to get a jersey of a player who's jersey has been retired..... That's why I wear #9.
X. Benedict Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 I don't mind having that hybrid center/wing skating on the wing and then filling in when there are injuries. I'll say that much. It's a big if, but if a couple of these prospects wind up as hits, I think they're moving much closer to that. Our first pick in the upcoming draft may very well be the key. If I'm the Sabres I keep drafting the best center available one is a home run.
Stoner Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 Vanek gave Pominville a ride to the airport. :cry: Is that a euphemism?
Weave Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 Is that a euphemism? I think that kids today are calling it an "old fashioned".
PromoTheRobot Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 So where did Larsson and Hackett wind up? Rochester? PTR
LabattBlue Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 So where did Larsson and Hackett wind up? Rochester? PTR yep
shrader Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 If I'm the Sabres I keep drafting the best center available one is a home run. I wouldn't go that far. They can only do that for so much longer until they start creating holes somewhere else.
Weave Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 I wouldn't go that far. They can only do that for so much longer until they start creating holes somewhere else. They already have big organizational holes coming at wing. Armia is the only top 6 candidate at wing that I can think of.
spndnchz Posted April 4, 2013 Author Report Posted April 4, 2013 Is that a euphemism? They're neighbors. :) playing tonight, we need updates!!!
Taro T Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 They already have big organizational holes coming at wing. Armia is the only top 6 candidate at wing that I can think of. True, but it should be a lot easier to fill holes at W via FA than it is to fill C/G (and even D). And even without Vanek or other move(s) to bring in a W (and as stated in some other thread, I'd prefer they find a way to keep Vanek), they're likely looking at Armia, Ennis, Leino, Ott, & Foligno to find 4 W's for the top 2 lines. If Cody and 1 other C pan out, that should be at least serviceable if not reasonable/good. A legit TL C (or 2nd L, if Hodgson is in fact the answer) is still a bigger priority IMHO.
nfreeman Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 1) I think as of this moment in time Richards returned more proven talent than the Pominville trade. Schenn and Simmonds are better than Larsson/Hackett currently speaking. 2) If yesterday the LA Kings offered Mike Richards for Jason Pominville straight up, I would hope Darcy would say no. As for other GM's it would depend on their organizational needs but I would think that no, most would not take Richards straight up over Jason Pominville. Regarding trade return -- it doesn't matter what happens eventually. When they were traded, the market viewed Richards as worth substantially more than Pommer. Regarding what would happen right now -- 90%+ of NHL GMs would prefer Richards. He's a 28-year-old, 200-pound center who is very tough, has led his teams on multiple deep playoff runs, and been highly productive in the playoffs -- including 3rd in ice time among forwards and 4th in scoring LAST YEAR on the Cup winners. Pommer is a 30-year-old, 185-pound winger who has no physical game, captained the Sabres into the ditch and has been ineffective in the only 2 playoff series in which he was a key part of the team.
Weave Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 True, but it should be a lot easier to fill holes at W via FA than it is to fill C/G (and even D). And even without Vanek or other move(s) to bring in a W (and as stated in some other thread, I'd prefer they find a way to keep Vanek), they're likely looking at Armia, Ennis, Leino, Ott, & Foligno to find 4 W's for the top 2 lines. If Cody and 1 other C pan out, that should be at least serviceable if not reasonable/good. A legit TL C (or 2nd L, if Hodgson is in fact the answer) is still a bigger priority IMHO. I'm talking in reference to our rebuild plans. ie. several seasons down the pike. We are concentrating on center depth, and I am good with that plan, but if we ignore wingers like we ignored centers in the past there will still be serious flaws in our roster. Top level wingers are a necessary part of cup contenders too.
LabattBlue Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 ...playing tonight, we need updates!!! Game is tomorrow. Will be on TWC.
LGR4GM Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 Regarding trade return -- it doesn't matter what happens eventually. When they were traded, the market viewed Richards as worth substantially more than Pommer. Regarding what would happen right now -- 90%+ of NHL GMs would prefer Richards. He's a 28-year-old, 200-pound center who is very tough, has led his teams on multiple deep playoff runs, and been highly productive in the playoffs -- including 3rd in ice time among forwards and 4th in scoring LAST YEAR on the Cup winners. Pommer is a 30-year-old, 185-pound winger who has no physical game, captained the Sabres into the ditch and has been ineffective in the only 2 playoff series in which he was a key part of the team. okay well I disagree on which is better.
K-9 Posted April 4, 2013 Report Posted April 4, 2013 I'm wondering the same thing. I think there is a difference between a winger/center vs. a center/winger. I think both Larsson and Girgensons are the latter. GO SABRES!!!
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