according to slesh.

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link?

According to me, they stuck to the plan, yep, looks like it to me. Lydman walks with no return this summer and a UFA pick up that has already stated he wants to sign with Toronto next season, fantastic. And you use sarcasm for me? Might want to contact Darcy and use it on him.

Looks to me like I was dead on correct.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

I'd love to see you do the job better then.

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It's funny slesh, we pretty much agree about the deadline deals, but for the exact opposite reasons. You think Darcy should go for it and try to pick up big time players at any cost. Torres isn't good enough to be the player you wanted.

I think the team isn't good enough this season, and Darcy should sell and set up for next season. I wanted Tallinder and/or Lydman traded for picks, and didn't want a rental like Torres who won't be around next season.

Darcy sort of split the difference, but at least he got some sort of return for Mac and Paetsch, because he certainly didn't want them around next season anyway.

You wanted Horton, Boyes, and whatever d-man rental. I wanted to sell off Mac, Tallinder and Lydman and use the picks for a package deal in the summer for a legit player under long term contract.

Make a mental note though, because I will feel almost exactly like you do at this time next season. I really think they'll have a better club next March, and then will be the time to get aggressive with a final deadline acquisition to put them in position for a legit Cup run.

i wasnt being sarcastic, home boy. i enjoyed your reporting all early afternoon, and i reported what you said, because frankly, i believe you.

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I don't know where this rental thing keeps coming from, but I never said Rental, take a look at Horton's contract. I was looking at players with existing contracts or players that would indeed, resign here in Buf if their contract was only a year longer.

What really baffles me is when Darcy stated Portland. My question was immediate. Outside of Ennis, Weber and Gragnani, who in the hell in Portland is prepared to pop into this roster? Also, if its just Ennis, although he is a really good player, this team needs more.

Just to let you know, I would have offered Stafford, MacArthur and a 2nd for a Horton/Boyes type player. I would have also attempted very hard to move Lydman and maybe Hecht for draft picks which I would have used to bring in a LWer, I don't know, maybe Raffi Torres .

To me anyways, Darcy is afraid, after 40 years of nothingness, I don't want a coward in charge, I'd much rather have a guy with a set of BALLS the size of the SUN in charge.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

I said "d-man rental" because there weren't any d-men under contract that were on the market, as far as I know. There was the Whitney/Visnovsky trade but that was almost a straight up deal for two quality d-men under contract.

I think these last two games fairly well proves my point though. They lost to the two best teams in the East, and it wasn't as close as the score showed. They aren't good enough this year so there wasn't much point in being aggressive today.

If really aggressive moves were made during the deadline this could have changed. But, 3pm has come and gone, and I'm hoping and praying Darcy just is a gone situation.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Ah, ok, well then, my apologies, as I told MecaPhil and some others, I tried to ignore rumors and post only from Dreger or Mckenzie, but, I jumped the gun on Gilbert. So did some others though, it was the local Edmonton reporters who first put the Thomas Gilbert for Drew Stafford trade out there. I should have known better .

"Gilbert for Stafford close, working out details."
By Jen Sharpe | edmontonoilers.com

I can't find an article on it anywhere, but it was tweeted. I know, I know, Dreger and Mckenzie, I'll do better next year, I promise

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Here's a crazy thought - maybe Darcy want's to sign Lydman again?

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Since when is Ryan Whitney a quality defenseman?

Oilers fans were largely facepalming that deal.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Well he was good enough to play for team USA, fwiw. He doesn't suck, how's that?

Whitney was only there due to injury.

It's almost like saying that the 7th QB named to a Pro Bowl due to 5 guys backing out is a Pro Bowl QB, IMO.

Plus, Whitney wasn't out there on the US PP. Suter & Eric Johnson were the #1 PP pairing for the US.

Now if the Sabres could steal Suter or EJ from Nashville or St Loo, then I'm all for it!

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Yeah I know he was there from injury...he and Gleason. Whatever, it's semantics.

This summer there are several good d-men coming into free agency (that aren't too old and super expensive)...

Dennis Seidenberg
Dan Hamhuis
Paul Martin
Anton Volchenkov
Kurt Foster

Anyone you like? Would Paul Martin consider coming to Buffalo for 5 mil per?

I'd rather try and trade for a solid PP QB.

IMO, Weber can replace Lydman and then you use the cap space with Tallinder walking to make a deal to get a solid PP QB D-man.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Anton Volchekov could bring some of that Jay McKee-style defense Buffalo has been missing since he left. But I would imagine he'd command a hefty price.

Volkenchov is a stud, but I think that the money he will command on the open market would be better spent elsewhere (PP QB Dman, top 6 RW, maybe an upgrade at C, etc.)

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I agree. Volchenkov will get like 5 million a year. We can spend our money better.