Foster is a shooter. As for all the RHers, Rivet will be out a few months, and then next summer both he and Montador walk, so it's not much of a log jam there.

While rivet is out...

Tallinder-Myers
Weber-Montador
Sekera-Foster
Butler

When Rivet is back...

Tallinder-Myers
Montador-Rivet
Weber-Foster
Sekera-Butler (or send Butler through waivers)

If we're still playing fantasy GM, why not just not sign Foster and sign Niedermayer. I like that. I'm the GM in this post - I'm signing Nieds lol

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mechaphil

Rivet might be back by the first week or two of the regular season and there is a 0% chance that Butler clears waivers.

The good thing is that Butler is still on his ELC and I'm not positive he would need to clear waivers this year. But, I could be wrong.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Are you going to get Nieds drunk to get him to sign with the Sabres?

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I might. I'll take him to a punk rock show, too - it's not widely known, but Scott Niedermayer is a MASSIVE punk rock fan.

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mechaphil

"...and there is a 0% chance that Butler clears waivers."

I couldn't be more satisfied with that.

Oh, love it. Waive him and then wave buh-bye!

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mechaphil

Butler is a kid that was rushed to the NHL, IMO.

I wouldn't cut him loose for nothing after only his 2nd pro season.

I could see Butler having a bounce back year and developing into a solid 2nd pairing d-man for years to come.

I don't think he'll be an elite guy. But, I see him developing into a solid guy that every team can use.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Well, I want him gone. Weber, IMO, is an upgrade of Butler. Either through trade or on the waiver wire, I want Butts gone.

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mechaphil

Here's my question Phil, if after 3 weeks Rivet comes back, but Butler is playing like he did in his rookie campaign, then what? Do we still cut him loose? A 26 going on 27 year old defensive man just about to enter his prime...I dunno. It's a tough call. I can see both sides of the argument, but I'd be more inclined to allow Montador to walk, eat 1/2 that salary, and have at the very least a prove 5th 6th defensive man thats got a similar game to Montador, and is several years younger.

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

Squanto 7/27/2010

Montador and Butler play quite the different game. Montador plays a very physical role and isn't afraid of the rush, whereas Butler is more of a stay-at-home guy and prefers positional play to taking the body.

But to answer you question, I'd rather ride the season out with Montador knowing what he brings to the table than keep the kid and hope last season wasn't a fluke.

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mechaphil

I really wouldn't say Montador is overly physical, He lacks the size to do so. You've seen dude, he's not a big guy. Neither is Butler for that matter, but there are times where I've seen Butler toss the body. His last 20 games or so he was much better than the first 40. I think his physical play was there, but he's a fundementally sound player. Keep in mind he's only got 106 NHL games under his belt. And is only 23 going on 24, sorry my math got fucked along the way somewhere.

I'd say he's got way more upside than Montador, at a lesser salary, and the ability to play 2nd line PP. I have a tough time calling a defender a wash before he's 28, because we all know how long it took some guys to come around. IE Hank, Lydman, Campbell, etc. None of those guys were "solid" defenders until they turned 26+

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

Squanto 7/27/2010

Well, I'm not calling Butler a wash. It's just that Montador brings a known commodity. Besides, man, I'm just playing armchair GM here lol

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mechaphil

I agree, I'm just kinda playin arm chair GM here too. You know as well as anyone I love those players between the ages of 25-32; I always stress build for the future, and draft in "spurts" so to speak. Grab a new core every 4 years, so you always have a core of players in their prime.

Just how I'd do it.

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

Squanto 7/27/2010

Butler was not better at the end of the season. He was platooning with Sekera, and then Ruff went with Sekera the entire Boston series. If you can't beat out Sekera and aren't better than him defensively...that's a problem. I don't see much upside to Butler. He may be a 4th d-man at best if he developes, and never brought anything to the PP either. Most likely he's a career 5 or 6 man.

I can live without him. The only use for him is depth if no new d-men get signed, and then Rivet and Montador walk next summer. Bottom line is that if Sekera and Butler are getting starting minutes, our d-corps is still bottom 3rd in the league. We need to get better.

Butler was not better at the end of the season. He was platooning with Sekera, and then Ruff went with Sekera the entire Boston series. If you can't beat out Sekera and aren't better than him defensively...that's a problem. I don't see much upside to Butler. He may be a 4th d-man at best if he developes, and never brought anything to the PP either. Most likely he's a career 5 or 6 man.

I can live without him. The only use for him is depth if no new d-men get signed, and then Rivet and Montador walk next summer. Bottom line is that if Sekera and Butler are getting starting minutes, our d-corps is still bottom 3rd in the league. We need to get better.

I don't know about a "plan" but I'd love to see a trade for Jordin Tootoo....I love that little Eskimo fucker

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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

I hate Jordin Tootoo. That little ball of hate is a liability.

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mechaphil