Rumor mill

[inkman]

Rumor mill -- There's talk on Long Island that Mike Milbury is less than enthused with the play of defensemen Janne Niinimaa and Alexei Zhitnik and that Pittsburgh GM Craig Patrick might be willing to swap one of his offensive defensemen (Sergei Gonchar or Dick Tarnstrom) for some defensive stability. If that's the case, both GMs might be interested in Columbus Blue Jackets' stay-at-home defenseman Adam Foote.

 

 

I'm kinda surprised. Despite Z's penchant for slapshot's to teammate's faces, I always thought he held his own. I think Milbury is a douche. B-)

[pwner]

Rumor mill -- There's talk on Long Island that Mike Milbury is less than enthused with the play of defensemen Janne Niinimaa and Alexei Zhitnik and that Pittsburgh GM Craig Patrick might be willing to swap one of his offensive defensemen (Sergei Gonchar or Dick Tarnstrom) for some defensive stability. If that's the case, both GMs might be interested in Columbus Blue Jackets' stay-at-home defenseman Adam Foote.

 

 

I'm kinda surprised. Despite Z's penchant for slapshot's to teammate's faces, I always thought he held his own. I think Milbury is a douche. B-)

Darcy is a fricking genius. A lot of you morons wanted him to pay out the nose for Zhitnik.

 

Look at Zhitnik and the Islanders, then look at Lydman and the Sabres.

 

You were wrong.

[PromoTheRobot]

Darcy is a fricking genius. A lot of you morons wanted him to pay out the nose for Zhitnik.

 

Look at Zhitnik and the Islanders, then look at Lydman and the Sabres.

 

You were wrong.

No, no, no! There's still a chance Regier could be wrong! Don't say it!!! :P

 

PTR

[Two or less]

If Regier brings Adam Foote to Buffalo, i donno what i would do. Foote would guarentee us a high playoff spot.

 

What would realisticly Columbus want for Foote ?

[Saber61]

If Regier brings Adam Foote to Buffalo, i donno what i would do. Foote would guarentee us a high playoff spot.

 

What would realisticly Columbus want for Foote ?

alot in terms of offense id think... they'd probably be looking for a briere esque player straight up or a Max and Kotalik Trade for Foote and maybe a draft pick or a future consideration (bag of pucks :))

[deluca67]

Darcy is a fricking genius. A lot of you morons wanted him to pay out the nose for Zhitnik.

 

Look at Zhitnik and the Islanders, then look at Lydman and the Sabres.

 

You were wrong.

You must be right :lol:

 

Becasue of Lydman players like Connolly have come into their own. It is because of Lydman that a bunch of kids from the ROC have made a huge impact. It is because of Lydman that Ryan Miller had a great start. It's because of Lydman both Marty and Mika have played well. It is because of Lydman the Sabres PP is at the top of the league.

 

The man is a GOD.

 

You might want to take a closer look at the Islanders and maybe form an opinion based on fact.

 

Let's compare shall we?

 

Goals : Z 3 - Lydman 1

Assists : Z 17 - Lydman 7

Points : Z 20 - Lydman 8

+/- : Z -3 - Lydman +2 (-3 is bad? What is Drury's, Campbell's and Griers -9 each?)

 

And for those who wan to talk money? Lydman makes 46% less the Z and has 60% less production. Z may make more money but you get what you pay for. :rolleyes:

[mrjsbu96]

If Regier brings Adam Foote to Buffalo, i donno what i would do. Foote would guarentee us a high playoff spot.

 

What would realisticly Columbus want for Foote ?

a few years ago i think i would have liked this move, but didn't colorado let him go for a reason?

[deluca67]

a few years ago i think i would have liked this move, but didn't colorado let him go for a reason?

Maybe in a James Patrick like roll until the playoffs. If the playoffs are still a game every other night Foote would be a great addition and a feather in Regier's cap. It depends on money also.

[deluca67]

You must be right :lol:

 

Becasue of Lydman players like Connolly have come into their own. It is because of Lydman that a bunch of kids from the ROC have made a huge impact. It is because of Lydman that Ryan Miller had a great start. It's because of Lydman both Marty and Mika have played well. It is because of Lydman the Sabres PP is at the top of the league.

 

The man is a GOD.

 

You might want to take a closer look at the Islanders and maybe form an opinion based on fact.

 

Let's compare shall we?

 

Goals : Z 3 - Lydman 1

Assists : Z 17 - Lydman 7

Points : Z 20 - Lydman 8

+/- : Z -3 - Lydman +2 (-3 is bad? What is Drury's, Campbell's and Griers -9 each?)

 

And for those who wan to talk money? Lydman makes 46% less the Z and has 60% less production. Z may make more money but you get what you pay for. :rolleyes:

Could you please add two assists and a +2 to Z's stats. I guess he must be cutting down his bad penalties and turn overs tonight.

[Taro T]

a few years ago i think i would have liked this move, but didn't colorado let him go for a reason?

Colorado let him and Forsberg go because they were WAY over the cap heading into this season. IIRC, they made Foote an offer, but it was for something like $2MM/year because that is all they could afford. Columbus gave him $4.6MM but I don't know for how many years.

 

Foote is a very good hockey player. He's 34 and currently out with a groin pull. I would like to see him in a Sabres uniform, but don't expect to see it. If Columbus holds onto him until near the trade deadline, the Sabres may become one of the players for him. The Blue Jackets have Marc Denis and Martin Prusek with a kid they drafted 8th overall in '01 (Pascal Leclaire), so I don't know how interested they'd be in getting Marty or Mika in a package with some young forwards.

 

I also think the $4.6MM price tag will scare off Buffalo but a healthy Foote would definitely upgrade the D-corp.

[Saber61]

You must be right :lol:

 

Becasue of Lydman players like Connolly have come into their own. It is because of Lydman that a bunch of kids from the ROC have made a huge impact. It is because of Lydman that Ryan Miller had a great start. It's because of Lydman both Marty and Mika have played well. It is because of Lydman the Sabres PP is at the top of the league.

 

The man is a GOD.

 

You might want to take a closer look at the Islanders and maybe form an opinion based on fact.

 

Let's compare shall we?

 

Goals : Z 3 - Lydman 1

Assists : Z 17 - Lydman 7

Points : Z 20 - Lydman 8

+/- : Z -3 - Lydman +2 (-3 is bad? What is Drury's, Campbell's and Griers -9 each?)

 

And for those who wan to talk money? Lydman makes 46% less the Z and has 60% less production. Z may make more money but you get what you pay for. :rolleyes:

ugh... the pwner just got pwned........ again......... beaten...just plain beaten.

[shrader]

Becasue of Lydman players like Connolly have come into their own. It is because of Lydman that a bunch of kids from the ROC have made a huge impact. It is because of Lydman that Ryan Miller had a great start. It's because of Lydman both Marty and Mika have played well. It is because of Lydman the Sabres PP is at the top of the league.

 

The man is a GOD.

It can't be a coincidence that the team started their streak of great hockey shortly after Lydman changed the pronunciation of his name.

[nfreeman]

You must be right :lol:

 

Becasue of Lydman players like Connolly have come into their own. It is because of Lydman that a bunch of kids from the ROC have made a huge impact. It is because of Lydman that Ryan Miller had a great start. It's because of Lydman both Marty and Mika have played well. It is because of Lydman the Sabres PP is at the top of the league.

 

The man is a GOD.

 

You might want to take a closer look at the Islanders and maybe form an opinion based on fact.

 

Let's compare shall we?

 

Goals : Z 3 - Lydman 1

Assists : Z 17 - Lydman 7

Points : Z 20 - Lydman 8

+/- : Z -3 - Lydman +2 (-3 is bad? What is Drury's, Campbell's and Griers -9 each?)

 

And for those who wan to talk money? Lydman makes 46% less the Z and has 60% less production. Z may make more money but you get what you pay for. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

DeLuca -- I can't agree with you on this one. pwner may not have stated his case very politely, but I'd rather have Lydman at his $1.7 million (approximate; not sure of exact #) than Zhitnik at $3.5 million (again, approximate). We all had plenty of time to evaluate Zhitnik. IMHO, he is a good player but far from great and definitely not worth that big a chunk of the Sabres' limited budget.

 

I think you would agree that unless you have a Paul Coffey or Phil Housely, offensive stats are not the true measure of a defenseman (although Zhitnik's assists are pretty impressive). The offense is generally a bonus. And I think Zhitnik, while a good skater and evidently a good passer this year, is still far from being a true offensively gifted defenseman. Remember the hundreds of Z's slap shots from the point on the power play that sailed wide and resulted in easy clears for the other team? I do.

 

We are getting a ton of good, defensively sound ice time out of Lydman. Zhitnik might play a few more minutes than Lydman and might be as good defensively (although I think Lydman is a little better on D), but he's not worth anywhere near double the cash. All in all I think letting go of Z and bringing in Lydman as a replacement was a very good move by Darcy.

 

Go Sabres.

[pwner]

 

 

DeLuca -- I can't agree with you on this one. pwner may not have stated his case very politely, but I'd rather have Lydman at his $1.7 million (approximate; not sure of exact #) than Zhitnik at $3.5 million (again, approximate). We all had plenty of time to evaluate Zhitnik. IMHO, he is a good player but far from great and definitely not worth that big a chunk of the Sabres' limited budget.

 

I think you would agree that unless you have a Paul Coffey or Phil Housely, offensive stats are not the true measure of a defenseman (although Zhitnik's assists are pretty impressive). The offense is generally a bonus. And I think Zhitnik, while a good skater and evidently a good passer this year, is still far from being a true offensively gifted defenseman. Remember the hundreds of Z's slap shots from the point on the power play that sailed wide and resulted in easy clears for the other team? I do.

 

We are getting a ton of good, defensively sound ice time out of Lydman. Zhitnik might play a few more minutes than Lydman and might be as good defensively (although I think Lydman is a little better on D), but he's not worth anywhere near double the cash. All in all I think letting go of Z and bringing in Lydman as a replacement was a very good move by Darcy.

 

Go Sabres.

DeLuca likes to ignore reality.

 

Lydman is at 1.9 and Zhitnik is at 3.5

 

If you add Teppo's stats (earlier in the year DeLuca said both of them together don't come close to Zhitnik), you have 1 goal and 25 assists from Z's replacements. They are plus 4 together, which doesn't even account for all the PP points they rack up or the fact that Lydman was injured for a significant time period. It also doesn't account for the major amount of ice time Lydman has picked up.

 

Then there are the PIMs, which DeLuca understandably ignored because they blow his argument apart. Zhitnik has 50 PIMs, Lydman and Numminen together have 36. Can you remember the last time Lydman or Numminen cost the Sabres a game with their penalties? I can remember the last time Zhitnik cost his team a game with his penalties. It was against the Sabres.

 

So for 400,000 dollars more than Zhitnik, you get more points, better defensive play, more depth, and fewer game killing penalties.

 

Also of note is the list of things DeLuca said were going well. They are all the result of his enemy Darcy Regier.

 

Right now is a bad time to be Mr. Negative.

[Carmel Corn]

You must be right :lol:

 

Becasue of Lydman players like Connolly have come into their own. It is because of Lydman that a bunch of kids from the ROC have made a huge impact. It is because of Lydman that Ryan Miller had a great start. It's because of Lydman both Marty and Mika have played well. It is because of Lydman the Sabres PP is at the top of the league.

 

The man is a GOD.

 

You might want to take a closer look at the Islanders and maybe form an opinion based on fact.

 

Let's compare shall we?

 

Goals : Z 3 - Lydman 1

Assists : Z 17 - Lydman 7

Points : Z 20 - Lydman 8

+/- : Z -3 - Lydman +2 (-3 is bad? What is Drury's, Campbell's and Griers -9 each?)

 

And for those who wan to talk money? Lydman makes 46% less the Z and has 60% less production. Z may make more money but you get what you pay for. :rolleyes:

Remember that 2 of the 3 goals that "Z" has scored were against the Sabres (remember the one from center ice that he scored on Miller). Most of the time.....those don't go in!

 

In fairness to Z, he seems to log more ice time than Lydman.

 

I always liked Z in even-strength situations.....just wished he didn't play on the PP. Didn't like the fact that he got away without any compensation or draft picks.

 

Lydman seems like a good value acquisition....would probably not do as well in the old cluthch & grab NHL though.

 

I would be surprised if A. Foote is being seriously considered by the Sabres brass. Good character player, but the salary could be an issue unless we trade some money away.

[deluca67]

DeLuca likes to ignore reality.

 

Lydman is at 1.9 and Zhitnik is at 3.5

 

If you add Teppo's stats (earlier in the year DeLuca said both of them together don't come close to Zhitnik), you have 1 goal and 25 assists from Z's replacements. They are plus 4 together, which doesn't even account for all the PP points they rack up or the fact that Lydman was injured for a significant time period. It also doesn't account for the major amount of ice time Lydman has picked up.

 

Then there are the PIMs, which DeLuca understandably ignored because they blow his argument apart. Zhitnik has 50 PIMs, Lydman and Numminen together have 36. Can you remember the last time Lydman or Numminen cost the Sabres a game with their penalties? I can remember the last time Zhitnik cost his team a game with his penalties. It was against the Sabres.

 

So for 400,000 dollars more than Zhitnik, you get more points, better defensive play, more depth, and fewer game killing penalties.

 

Also of note is the list of things DeLuca said were going well. They are all the result of his enemy Darcy Regier.

 

Right now is a bad time to be Mr. Negative.

50 PIMS? From a physical player? I never heard of such a thing?

 

Better defensive play? Teppo & Lydman are a +4. Z is a -1? Not a huge margin but technically correct.

 

You are right about another thing P. Lydman & Teppo are as good combined as Z. It's because they are each half the player Z is. You stated it just fine. 2 players combined equal the production of Z. Thanks for making my argument. You did it better then I did.

 

How does two players (combined) doing the job one player equal depth? Wouldn't one player doing the job of two be betetr?

 

And of course there is always "the every penalty Zhitnik takes beats his team" posts. They are just like the all of Miro Satan's goals are empty netters or come in Sabres blowouts.

 

I am sure that the 36 minutes (which is kinda high for two soft defensemen) are game saving penalties taken at the best possible time.

 

Back to Z.

 

Did the Sabres win that game 1-0? I don't recall. If not? Wouldn't you have to say that there were many plays in a game the cause a lose? When you lose 6-4 and give up 4 power play goals it falls on one player?

 

Face it P. You're just like the little kid down the street who has a friend move off the block. Instead of saying good bye and being happy for them. You cry and call them names and say how much you hate them.

 

I hope these boards stay around a while. I would like to see how much you hate Lydman and Teppo when they leave and don't live up to your inflated expectations.

[Guest Guest_ToddKaz]

Face it DELUCA Misery loves company and that is what you prey on.

 

I liked Zhitnik he was great at first although he couldn't hit the net if his life depended on it.

 

who cares if zhitnik has more points Cambell is making up for that as we work together as a team.

 

 

I don't understand you kids, life goes on that is the way it is. If the sabres think Zhitnik is getting too old then see you later. What did he sign a four year deal? Gees 2 years from now nobody will want him and he will be unwanted thank god.

 

 

Hey wasn't it you DELUCA that wants to give youngsters roster spots but you want to keep older players on the way out? :huh:

 

What we should be focusing on is SIGNING LYDMAN he is young and has talent lock him up for 3 or 4 years.

[inkman]

I thought Kalinen was supposed to fill Z's shoes? :huh:

[Guest Guest_mjhockey]

Face it P. You're just like the little kid down the street who has a friend move off the block. Instead of saying good bye and being happy for them. You cry and call them names and say how much you hate them.

And you're the little kid that cries and cries and keeps wishing that his friends hadn't left while calling the new kids names and saying how much you hate them.

[Saber61]

I thought Kalinen was supposed to fill Z's shoes? :huh:

supposed too yes... has? no... not sure who could fill his shoes at this point... no one on this team really looks like the zhitnik of old... they all look marginaly better if not better... can't understand how... but they do i think.

[MLH]

You must be right :lol:

 

Becasue of Lydman players like Connolly have come into their own. It is because of Lydman that a bunch of kids from the ROC have made a huge impact. It is because of Lydman that Ryan Miller had a great start. It's because of Lydman both Marty and Mika have played well. It is because of Lydman the Sabres PP is at the top of the league.

 

What you are seemingly incapable of understanding, Deluca, is that if we kept Satan and Zhitnik it would have hindered the development of all the aforementioned players. If Satan was still on the team, Kotalik may have never been given his chance at the PP point. If Zhitnik was on the team, maybe Campbell doesn't get the chance to develop the way he has. If we tie up almost 10 million dollars in those two players, maybe we don't even qualify Tim Connolly. If we keep Miro and Z, Marty may have not been able to keep us afloat with Miller injured.

 

 

Darcy Regier had a plan. You adamantly insisted that he was wrong. There's a long way to go, but so far, you look extremely foolish, even more so when you fail to admit when you are wrong.

 

Your consistent negativity ruins what would be an otherwise quality message board.

 

The Sabres have faced injury problems, play in the toughest division in the NHL, have had a tough schedule, and have had stretches of poor play from Drury, Hecht, and Kalinin and have still managed to put up an extremely impressive record.

 

Darcy Regier has built a pretty good hockey team and one that is exciting and likable. He's done it all while staying under the $28.6 million revenue sharing "cap". The Sabres have gone from a $15 million dollar a year leak to predictions of a small profit.

 

Regier took a lot of undeserved criticism from so-called fans like you. He believed in the team he had, he believed the players he already had would be good fits for the new NHL. He had been planning for the lockout for years and now we're seeing a handsome payout for his foresight.

 

You continue to bash him for no reason. I honestly think you would prefer for us to lose tonight. We are a BETTER team without overpaying for Zhitnik and Satan.

 

So far, you couldn't be more wrong about everything you've said. I hope it stays that way.

[deluca67]

And you're the little kid that cries and cries and keeps wishing that his friends hadn't left while calling the new kids names and saying how much you hate them.

Rough childhood P?

 

Are you creating new names to make it seem like you have friends :lol:

[deluca67]

What you are seemingly incapable of understanding, Deluca, is that if we kept Satan and Zhitnik it would have hindered the development of all the aforementioned players. If Satan was still on the team, Kotalik may have never been given his chance at the PP point. If Zhitnik was on the team, maybe Campbell doesn't get the chance to develop the way he has. If we tie up almost 10 million dollars in those two players, maybe we don't even qualify Tim Connolly. If we keep Miro and Z, Marty may have not been able to keep us afloat with Miller injured.

 

 

Darcy Regier had a plan. You adamantly insisted that he was wrong. There's a long way to go, but so far, you look extremely foolish, even more so when you fail to admit when you are wrong.

 

Your consistent negativity ruins what would be an otherwise quality message board.

 

The Sabres have faced injury problems, play in the toughest division in the NHL, have had a tough schedule, and have had stretches of poor play from Drury, Hecht, and Kalinin and have still managed to put up an extremely impressive record.

 

Darcy Regier has built a pretty good hockey team and one that is exciting and likable. He's done it all while staying under the $28.6 million revenue sharing "cap". The Sabres have gone from a $15 million dollar a year leak to predictions of a small profit.

 

Regier took a lot of undeserved criticism from so-called fans like you. He believed in the team he had, he believed the players he already had would be good fits for the new NHL. He had been planning for the lockout for years and now we're seeing a handsome payout for his foresight.

 

You continue to bash him for no reason. I honestly think you would prefer for us to lose tonight. We are a BETTER team without overpaying for Zhitnik and Satan.

 

So far, you couldn't be more wrong about everything you've said. I hope it stays that way.

Reading your posts shows me you don't read mine.

 

Sad.

 

You seem like you are smart guy?

 

Let me ask you one question.

 

Which is the better defensive corps :

 

A

 

Z and Teppo

Kalinin and McKee

Tallinder and Campbell

 

or

 

B

 

Mckee and Lydman

Teppo and Kalinin

Talinder and Campbell

 

Mind you A would cost you $1.5 million more.

 

Also,

 

Satan and Z make 7.5 not 10 million as you stated. Again, don't let facts stand in the way of a good story.

[deluca67]

Instead of going around and around over the same old crap. Here is something to ponder.

 

The Sabres made an offer to Z. It was over $3 million a year. Z didn't sign because he didn't think the Sabres could win.

 

Every palyer who was asked, and you can check the WGR Audio Vault if it goes back that far, said what a big loss it was not to have Z.

 

So for all you "assclowns" who think the Sabres didn't want him or the price was too high, you don't know what you're talking about.

 

The fact is Darcy couldn't sell him on the direction the team was going. The same failure he had with Francis and Aucoin.

 

The Sabres are playing well. They can be better.

[MLH]

Reading your posts shows me you don't read mine.

 

Sad.

 

You seem like you are smart guy?

 

Let me ask you one question.

 

Which is the better defensive corps :

 

A

 

Z and Teppo

Kalinin and McKee

Tallinder and Campbell

 

or

 

B

 

Mckee and Lydman

Teppo and Kalinin

Talinder and Campbell

 

Mind you A would cost you $1.5 million more.

 

Also,

 

Satan and Z make 7.5 not 10 million as you stated. Again, don't let facts stand in the way of a good story.

You used to bash Regier for not signing Satan. Have you finally seen the light on that one?

 

I've already posted my opinions on Lydman on this forum. It's no coincidence that we're, what, 11 games over .500 with him in the lineup? He's as good of a defensman as Zhitnik. He's better positionally, he's a better stickchecker, he's smarter, and he's more disciplined. I'll gladly take group A and save the $1.5 million. I would choose group A if the money was even. Zhitnik was one of the main reason's our powerplay was so bad for so long. He's a horse and a very good d-man, but not worth $3.5 million a year. We're a much better team with Lydman.

 

You wanted to sign Zhitnik and Satan. What players do you get rid of with the $7.755 million you need to clear? Lydman doesn't get traded to us, there's $1.9 million. Connolly probably doesn't get qualified, we're up to $2.9 million. Many fans didn't think Kotalik had a spot in the top 12, $3.7. Maybe this forces Regier to get rid of Biron, $5.9 million. Grier is a valuable player, but our hands are tied, up to $7.2; getting close now DeLuca. But wait, we need 4 replacement players. We still need to clear $2 million. I guess we can't sign Teppo, too expensive.

 

So you've got Satan, Zhitnik, and 4 guys making $450,000.

 

I've got Lydman, Connolly, Kotalik, Biron, Grier, and Teppo.

 

These aren't exagerations either, I'm using the offseason moves thread over at HF. These are consensus decisions made by people like you DeLuca.

 

You've got the core of a team that's missed the playoffs every year since Hasek left.

 

I've got one of the best up and coming teams in the NHL.

 

Keep hating DeLuca, the Sabres are making you look like a fool.