Well, it's time to start thinking what moves to make in the offseason. We obviously need to make several moves and with Hank and Toni be UFAs, I thought I would start with D-men. We do have 6 or 7 guys who can potentially fill the roster, but it would leave us very young in the back. With the exception of Myers, I think defense requires more of a veteran presence. That being said, I will list the top 25 guys available UFA d-men this summer. I am going to leave out anyone over the age of 35, mainly because I don't want our big signing to be a 39 y/o Foote or Sydor. I will rank them by what they made this season.

Pavel Kubina $5
Paul Martin $4.5
Brett Clark $3.5
Willie Mitchell $3.5
Derek Morris $3.3
Mike Van Ryn $3.35
Randy Jones $3
Joe Corvo $2.75
Anton Volchenkov $3.2
Dennis Seidenberg $2.25
Dan Hamhuis $2.5
Shaone Morrison $1.975
Jordan Leopold $1.75
Paul Mara $1.675
Brad Lukowich $1.8
Nick Boynton $1.5
Lukas Krajicek $1.475
Garnet Exelby $1.725
Milan Jurcina $1.375
Carlo Colaiacovo $1.4
Zbynek Michalek $1.5
Jay McKee $800k
Marc Andre Bergeron $750k
Lukas Krajicek $700k
Martin Skoula $575k


Out of these guys who are available, none were among top 30 points scorers, Bergeron and Colaiacovo were the only 2 in the top 30 PP scorers (7 and 4 respectively), and only Exelby was in the top 30 for PIM (behind Rivet and Montador.) Now it's seems if we are looking for someone to quarterback the PP thru free agency, it doesn't seem there is a viable answer among these guys. I would like to see Myers be groomed to handle the point full time. Maybe sign one of the above veterens to play a character role and continue to help the younger guys grow. Paul Martin would be nice, but maybe a little to pricey. A couple guys I would be interested in for lesser money would be Seidenberg, Mara or Boynton.

What does everyone else think?

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We were biting this morning. We were biting this morning.

Volchenkov is one of the best shot blockers in the league. i wouldn't doubt if he re-signs with ottawa. but that being said if he blocks a shot a game that saves you a goal a game.

Martin would be nice. pricey like you said. his price might have gone higher if he had played for team USA.

Lidstrom is one of those over 40 guys you might consider. if he tests the water and doesn't retire.

I think phoenix will re-sign Morris as he's been an asset to their team.

Siedenberg - might be an interesting choice

Leopold is one of those PP Qb's, due a raise, and the pens might resign if they lose gonchar.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

I don't think the Pens will resign Leopold. I just don't see it. I want either Martin or Leopold. Then see what we can do for offense and probably go for Biron.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Volchenkov or Martin would use up all available cap space this summer, but I think there are players that can produce as much as Martin for much less.

Buffalo needs a d-men that are good overall, can work both the point and as a shot taker on the PP, and can match with one lefty and one righty.

Seidenberg has produced as much as Martin the last two seasons, is bigger, as good defensively, left-handed, and costs half as much. He is the best value out there for what Buffalo is missing. Signing him allows room for another d-man or forward to be signed also.

The next biggest value, or maybe even better, is Kurt Foster. He was forced to sign for a cheap 600k deal with TB because he was coming back from a broken femur. He lit it up on the PP as a shot taker. He's big, solid defensively, and right-handed. Seidenberg and Foster could be paired both 5-on-5 and on the PP and be an upgrade over Tallinder and Lydman, and cost about a million less than their 5.4 mil cap hit.

If I had a choice between one big contract, and two lesser contracts for almost equal production from each player, I would take the two players every time.

I agree. With the cap space left over from Lydman, Tallinder, and who ever, we can get Biron and possibly try and get a decent forward.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Biron won't cost anything since he should be willing to sign for the same 1 million that Lalime cost. With the 5.4 cap savings it pretty much comes down to one forward and one d-man, or two d-men considering the lack of talent and Rivet's recovery time.

Trading Stafford and saving his 1.9 mil cap hit might allow for one more move, but I doubt we could end up with three new skaters that make a very big impact. A new back-up goalie for the same price, and two new skaters that are an improvement over Tallinder, Lydman, or Stafford would be a fairly effective summer though.

1 mill for Biron is absurd. If that's how much Lalime makes Biron should AT LEAST make 1.5 mill due to his skill.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

didnt lalime post better numbers then biron last season?

edit: MUCH better stats. but its just stats. sorry guys. i love marty biron too. but im not sure he has it anymore.

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Biron had his chance to show what he had as a starter, he now knows that time is over with. He may not be better than Lalime, but at least we don't have to keep hearing about how bad Lalime is after games where the rest of the roster is exposed as average, or just plain doesn't show up. With Biron getting toasted once in a while, criticism will be pointed in the right direction - at everyone else.

Why is Marc Andre Bergeron only paid 750k? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought he was wayy better than that salary indicates.

yeah but at least biron will be fucking hilarious.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Eh, I need to see him play next season. Hopefully we resign him because he is as good as Lalime if not better.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Because he's small, soft, and awful defensively.

Free-agent defenseman I'd love to see the Sabres sign? Toni Lydman.

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mechaphil

the only problem with lydman is his favourite desert? apple TURNOVERS!

thank you! thank you! ill be here all week! and remember, the 9 oclock show is exactly the same as the 7 oclock show.

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He's the Sabres' leading shot-blocker and hitter since the end of the lockout and turns into a monster defensively during the playoffs. That's a guy you want on your side, one near-disastrous turnover a game or not.

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mechaphil

hey, i was just kidding for the most part.

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I would want to see any of Hamhuis, Leopold or Morris.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Oh. Word.

Hamhuis is going to command a fairly hefty salary this off-season. I'd want more bang for the buck instead of him.

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mechaphil

How much would Hamhuis want?? 5+ million??

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13