If Neal holds out until the July 15th deadline, how about Darcy trying to pick the new UFA up for the second line. He had 27g and 28a on the third line last season in Dallas, and is a LW. Putting him on the second line and moving Hecht to the wing on the third line would change up some of the attitude on this team. It also pushes Kennedy out of the picture, but ehhhhhh.

Whatdya think? Neal/Connolly/Pominville? Of course, it's all dependent on him holding out another seven days, but if he does I think it's a good pick-up.

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mechaphil

Im in 100%, but Id rather see Stafford get bounced because of it than Timmy not having a spot in the lineup....I fuckin hate Stafford

I wouldn't mind trading Stafford and a 4th/5th for Neal. Hell even a third of second if it gets him off the roster, lol

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"I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup Rings plugging my ears...." -Patrick Roy in reference to Jeremy Roenick's trash talking

Stafford is gone nonetheless, I guarantee it.

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mechaphil

Knowing Neal's role on Dallas, I'd be all for it. Only thing I fear is that, by playing 3rd line in Dallas, are his stats Max Afinogenov stats? The RAV line was awesome, but those guys all had major inflated stats by facing teams 3rd defensive pairings most nights.

Either way, it would be an upgrade over what we currently have, but how much of an upgrade? I'd say if I had to rate the player on a 1.0-10.0 scale,

Neal is a 7.6 player, and Stafford or Hecht on that line are 6.8 and 7.1 respectively; so it's an upgrade, but only for the right price in my opinion.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Your savant skills rearing their ugly head again.....

Im gonna be pissed when Stafford gets traded tomorrow and Im sitting at my desk yelling "Damn you MechaPhil! How do you knoooooooooooooooow these things!?!?!?!"

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"I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup Rings plugging my ears...." -Patrick Roy in reference to Jeremy Roenick's trash talking

Oh, agreed to the fullest.

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mechaphil

Based on Darcy's presser after signing Rob Neidermayer, I doubt we'll be seeing Stafford in another uniform this season.

But we'll see.

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Wheelhouse

Based on Darcy's presser, I think we WILL see him in another uniform next season.

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mechaphil

Have you learned nothing about Darcy in the years you've been a fan? The guy is more full of shit than a fertilizer silo

The guy must be a bitch to play poker against, he sometimes is telling the truth, he's sometimes full of it. Nobody plays their cards better as a GM that Darcy.

You never hear any rumors about signings for the Sabres before they happen, and you rarely see trade rumors that involve him actually happen. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY saw the Sabres as contenders for Dominic Moore and Raffi Torres the past two years.

Regardless of how those moves worked out, Darcy isn't one to let shit leak, and he isn't one to play with his cards on the table either.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

If we got Neal, I would go bonkers (With happiness)

http://starsblog.dallasnews.com/archive ... james.html

Neal will not be a UFA on 7/15.

Dallas sent him his RFA QO and the 7/15 date is when Dallas can pull that offer back. Even if they were to do that, they would still retain Neal's RFA rights.

The Sabres won't do it, but a 2 year $3M per offer sheet would only cost the Sabres a 2nd rounder if the Stars weren't to match due to their financial issues.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Ditto

But, I can't see the Stars letting a good young player like Neal go unless some team signs him to a crazy offer sheet.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Darcy won't deal in offer sheets cuz he feels they're dishonorable

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mechaphil

That's why I started that sentence with "The Sabres won's do it".

Personally, I don't think that not using every angle to improve the team is stupid.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I agree.

And I just wanted to throw it out there in plain words so people know why he won't is all, not disputing your claim.

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mechaphil

I would love to get James Neal or Bobby Ryan in a Sabres Uniform! Do I think it will happen? Highly doubt it.

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"I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup Rings plugging my ears...." -Patrick Roy in reference to Jeremy Roenick's trash talking

They are dishonourable... and the NHL should do away with them. A contract is a contract, there should not be an out based on more $$$. If you sign it, you better be willing to honour it... offer sheets = BS!!!

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It's not an "out" - offer sheets are only available once a player has hit RFA status, meaning they're no longer under contract for the next year.

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mechaphil

James Neal was a consideration for the fourth line LW spot on the Olympic team. Dallas would be insane to let him walk. They'll get him signed.

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Driver of the Tyler Ennis Bandwagon, Ridin' shotgun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon, chillin' on the Luke Adam Bandwagon


Eh