SABRES SIGN MCCAULEY
Friday, 07.30.2010 / 12:38 PM / News
Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent forward Dennis McCauley.

McCauley (8/15/1985, 6’3”, 225 lbs.) spent last season with Worcester (AHL), where he collected 14 points (10+4) and 84 PIMs in 45 games with the Sharks.

The native of Billerica, Mass., played four years of college hockey at Northeastern (2005-09) where he picked up 45 points (22+23) in 129 games. McCauley also played with Sioux City of the USHL from 2003-05.

Just for the sake of argument, Woz, what would you do? Ennis is going to take Stafford's job most likely, so signing or trading for a Stafford replacement robs Ennis of the spot he's gonna earn. And even if they do, where do you put Ennis - on the second line? Hecht makes it work. The third line? He isn't a bottom six player. What would you do about Roy and Connolly? Regier already made it clear he isn't trading either of them. How about on defense, where no one is sure about Rivet yet. Are they gonna sign someone now only to have Rivet be ready? That's a knee-jerk reaction not unlike something Gainey or Sather would do.

Don't get me wrong, there is ALWAYS room to improve, but at what cost? Over-powering one position just to de-value another? Over-paying for a rental (the number of people who would ship out Ennis for Kaberle ASTOUNDS me)? There are too many factors in play surrounding the Sabres roster to make a trade or signing easy.

the number of people who would ship out Ennis for Kaberle ASTOUNDS me

If you look past Kaberle's point shot, as Phil has pointed out to me in the past, he coughs up the puck more than I don't know what and makes more turnovers than Grandma Liz. (Not referring to a real person, but if anyone here has a Grandma named Liz, I'm sure her turnovers taste really good!)

If someone were to pry him away from Toronto for something realistic rather than what Burke is asking, then he would be a good addition to any team, really. But I wouldn't move Ennis out for him considering he's likely going to bolt come time the deadline anyway. If by chance he doesn't and finishes the season in Buffalo then lord only knows what he'd be asking for to resign. No thanks.

I like the idea of trying to move Staff's contract if at all possible somewhere, though and making room for Tyler small. The kid plays bigger than he actually is and can make himself smaller than a mouse when needed to make opposing defensemen look like pylons.

What's easier - Signing scrubs for the AHL or waiting for Kovalchuk's debacle to come to a close? There are five teams over the cap at this point - when the decision comes down, all hell will break loose in the NHL. At that point, then we ought to bitch if Regier doesn't do anything.

And technically, there are no holes on the roster. Sure people may not like who's on the team, but every spot is filled.

That wasn't directed at you, actually.

And it's news because some of us pay close attention to the Pirates (like fan4life61, who posted the thread).