So i know not everyone hold Eklund in high regard, but he keeps reporting the Sabres are in on Lee Stempniak and continue to be the front runners. And he just wrote this article on how they NEED to sign Lee Stempniak. Heres the article:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/W ... ak/1/29652

Doesnt matter if you dont like Eklund or not i just wanna hear everyones thoughts on Lee and if anyone else thinks they should sign him, cuz i know i do.

_________________

A team signing a player, just because he's from their city is pretty weak reasoning. He put up big numbers in his 20 or so games with Phoenix (while on the top line), but did nothing in the playoffs. He's known for vanishing for long stretches, and we have enough guys like that already. I'll pass...

_________________


"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow

Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."

Well last year he showed up big time when he was given top line minutes and played with top line players, unlike the players he played with in St. Louis and Toronto. Look at it this way, would you rather have him, or Stafford?

_________________

sweet article.

I moved from Buffalo when I was 14, I'm 28 now. That first paragraph is true and I'm proud of it.

ehh seems like another mediocre player that we already have/don't need

_________________
Sophomore Bitches! Class of 2014!
R.I.P. Molly B. 5/28/96-5/23/11

for 3m? hell yaw. We can use any scoring we can. We'd have to get rid of Stafford though...he's the only one in the way of this happening.
Stemps is a top 6 RWer and Pominville and Stafford are our top 2 RW'ers

Get rid of Drew for anything. A grinder and a draft pick, just a draft pick...package him with Sekera and Butler if you can, just get him out! And then sign Lee.

Ennis-Connolly-Pominville
Vanek-Roy-Stempniak
Hecht-Niedermayer-Grier
McCormick-Gaustad-Kaleta


If we can't rid ourselves of Stafford, then move Drew to the 3rd line, Grier to the 4th line, and move out McCormick...but I dont see that happening because of our SELF-IMPOSED CAP!!!!!

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

STEMPNIAK IS A STREAKIER VERSION OF STAFFORD HOLY SHIT

_________________
mechaphil

Yeah, I don't know if I would be entirely opposed to swapping them. Sometimes change is good for the sake of change even if its not a clear upgrade.

_________________
Proud LGBTQQ Individual

So let's pay a guy with an improved invisibility cloak than Stafford's more than Helen Keller and hope he regains his form from 06/07? Mother fuck that noise.

_________________
mechaphil

Agreed. Outside of his 2nd season in St.Louis, and his wild few weeks in Phoenix, he's never really impressed me that much...

_________________


"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow

Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."

I still say give him a shot over, or with Stafford.
He's a consistent 20 goal scorer when healthy. Stafford is not motivated in Buffalo. Both players can use a change of scenery, and what better than Buffalo, Stempniak's home town.
Stafford gets paid 2.9m next year.
Stempniak 3m > Stafford 2.9m
Try to sign him for 1 year, if he earns a raise/longer contract...give it to him. If we signed him and he put up around 30-35 goals, then a 4 year, 16m $ contract is warranted. Take a shot at him, nothing to lose(except 3m)...everything to gain. (more scoring, deeper depth and deeper playoff run)

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

Drew Stafford gets paid 2.3M with a cap hit of 1.9M, not 2.9M

This team NEEDS a top line RW, not someone they hope can be a top line RW.

_________________
mechaphil

Well, I'm working with what we as Sabres fans get. I could easily say..."oh, 7mil in cap space?...well why don't we trade Pominvillle, Gerbe, and a pick for Marian Gaborik??! That would only cost us 2mil to get him because Pominville is 5m and he's 7m!! That would save money instead of getting Stempniak!!!!!!" But let's be realistic...he's one of the best goalscorers available via free agency right now, and I say we go get him.
Obviously we need a top line RW...but is that going to happen? So we have to get someone who COULD be a top line RW and hope things work out. If he fails, we're only stuck with a 3m dollar contract for a year or two. That's how we work. We pay people for what they COULD get, and when things don't pan out, we're stuck with that salary. I don't want to put us in that situation. But come on...only 3m, 1/2 years. That's a bargain if he gets 25-30 goals. (vanek, our leader had only 28 last year I believe)

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

I'm all for upgrading the team whenever possible. An upgrade is an upgrade. But Lee Stempniak is not an upgrade over Drew Stafford.

_________________
mechaphil

Well, that's your opinion, and what I said still validates your opinion. I said we could keep Stafford and sign Stempniak. All we do is know McCormick out of the line-up. Then Stafford is down-graded to the 3rd line, and Stempniak can play 2nd line.
Stempniak got double the goals Stafford got last season. I know they are both extremely streaky, but at the end of the year, Stemp's a better player. Stafford won't use his body and doesn't hustle even when he's going through 15 game scoring droughts...he's clearly not motivated. You may be able to say the same for both players, but I think a move to Buffalo will motivate Stempniak.
He has double the goals as Stafford for only a slight increase in pay!! And I expect he'll be more productive if he's reppin' the Blue and Gold for his hometown team.

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

I don't know how the team would keep both Stafford and Stempniak. That would force Ennis out of the roster, and I don't think anyone wants that to happen.

_________________
mechaphil

As I said, just knock McCormick out.
The 3rd line is...
Hecht-Nieds-Grier
4th line...
McCormick-Gaustad-Kaleta

Knock McCormick out and bring Grier down to the 4th line. Then Stafford slides from his position at 2nd line RW to 3rd line, and Stempniak takes Staffords spot at 2nd line RW.
Or to make it easier, knock Grier down to 4th line, knock McCormick down to Portland/scratch, and place Stemps on the 3rd line RW where Grier was.

_________________
"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

Dude, look at the stats. They're basically the same player.

One is a career .55 PPG. The other is a career .56 PPG. Identical shooting percentages. Stempniak is a career -24, Stafford is (surprisingly) a +15. Neither has done anything in the playoffs.

I'd never thought I'd actually say this, but Stafford is a more consistant player.

I would rather have Stempniak than Stafford. Sign Lee to a 1 year, 3 million dollar deal (I would be willing to go to 3.5) and see what happens.

McCormick is on a one way deal... don't think you can send him down? You would have to send Staff packing to make this happen... Im not sold one way or the other... Im about tired of Stafford, I know that much... But don't see much of an upgrade in Lee....

_________________