OK, so I was thinking today...get rid of Connolly, Stafford, Sekera and bring in a veteran center, puck-moving defenseman, and maybe another greybeard winger.

What do you guys think about:
Connolly + Stafford for Richards (DAL). It's 4.5 and 2.3 leaving and 7.8 coming in, but Richards only has one year left on his deal (as do both Connolly and Stafford). I know it's taking an extra million on, but Richards is a veteran and a proven scorer and could be good for the Sabres as first line center. Meanwhile, Connolly is only 29 and Dallas needs a new center to help fill the void of Modano. Plus, they'd take Stafford off our hands and that's just awesome.

Roy + Sekera for Kaberle. It's 4.0 and 1.250 leaving and 4.250 coming in. Kaberle becomes our immediate PP QB and helps shore up the defense right away, and Roy and Sekera help fill needed holes in Toronto. We all know Burke likes size, but need trumps size when holes require filling. Yes, I know Kaberle has a NMC he won't waive but damn near everyone that knows hockey agrees Buffalo may be the only city he waives it for due to proximity to Toronto.

Sign Saku Koivu. Yea yea yea, I know all speculation points to him signing in Minnesota to play with his little brother, but this is just me dicking around with flights of fancy. He made 3.250 this season, so maybe the Sabres could offer him 4.5 for two seasons. I know he's older and I know that's Connolly money, but he's great on the PP and he's proven. He'd fill in as second line center right away.

Sign Tomas Holmstrom. He's only making 2.250 this season, and with Jiri Hudler coming back and kids like Abdelkader coming on strong, Detroit may not resign Holmstrom. Give him a bit of a raise and put him on the Sabres' PP in front of the net to show Vanek how it's down. He's a gritty, grizzled playoff veteran with Cup rings to show for it.

Keep up Ennis, call up Weber, and re-sign Lydman for 2.5

Lines would be:
Vanek-Richards-Pominville
Ennis-Koivu-Holmstrom
Hecht-Goose-Grier
McCormick-Ellis-Kaleta
Gerbe

Kaberle-Myers
Weber-Rivet
Montador-Lydman
Gragnani

OK, everyone. I don't do much of this armchair GM stuff often, so take it easy on me

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mechaphil

Well, other than a few salary offers, you should take over as Darcy Regier.

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

Yea, I was thinking about doing all the calculating for re-signing Grier and taking care of the RFAs like Kaleta, but my brain was starting to frazzle. In hindsight, it just occurred to me I left Kennedy out. Whatever.

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mechaphil

I like that first line combination

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

i dunno, keeping tallinder might be a good idea

other than that, your good

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PSA: I am an overly sarcastic person. If you take me at my word, then i will most likely anger and offend you.

I would love to see more toughness on this team and Ben Eager/Andrew Ladd would fit in here quite well. And if Darcy can could get JP Dumont back I would love to see Stafford and Connolly/Roy shown the door.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Well, Mo, my logic is that while Lydman will play solid no matter who his partner is, Tallinder can only play up to the or down to the level of his partner.

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mechaphil

i see where your coming from, i just was hesiting on breaking up Myers and Tallinder

i know what your saying, tallinder will play up or suck, depending on his partner

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PSA: I am an overly sarcastic person. If you take me at my word, then i will most likely anger and offend you.

And he a Myers played well most of the year together

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Dallas wouldn't trade Richards for a lesser version and Stafford when both will also be UFAs in another year. You're a couple mil over the cap limit.

I would be ok trading Connolly or Roy if a better, legit #1 center could be attained. I just don't see it being possible without giving up a player we really want. In general, I'd rather see the d-corps upgraded and get a good RW than spend bigger cap dollars on a center. Patrick Sharp will definitely be on the trading block. Chicago is a great potential trade partner because they can't take cap dollars back in return for Sharp. They will need picks and/or prospects/rookies, which Buffalo has enough of. Of any trade out there I would look at Sharp.

I wouldn't entertain any thoughts of signing a RFA. The only UFA center worth anything significant is Marleau, but he'll be at least 6 mil/yr. Decent UFA wingers that aren't overpriced or overrated are Holmstrom and Stempniak. Stempniak is still young and semi-cheap, but he really produced in Phoenix after getting out of Maple Laugh hell. He'd almost certainly be willing to take a look at Buffalo, and Darcy would be more than happy to insert him in the gaping hole where Stafford was supposed to play.

I know I keep suggesting a bunch of 2nd tier talent, but I'm a big fan of shopping cheap and very much against paying big dollars for overrated players. I always like the idea of getting decent upgrades at two positions instead of one big upgrade at one position. I just think contracts are bloated at the high end range of talent, and that the return hardly ever justifies the money.

Your paragraphs are too damn long.

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

Your attention span is too short.

Is that better?

Well said. Like this post a lot.

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Eat a snickers. When ever you are hungry you turn into a diva.

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

But I can't sing, and no amount of make up and fashion sense could get me on the cover of a magazine.