I was thinking of a couple centers who are trapped behind a star quality player.
The likes of Jordan Staal and Ryan Kesler. to trade.

I don't think the free agent crop is deep to pick up a first liner there. I mean we could pitch an offer at Sam Gagner.

In the draft, where we are you probably aren't going to get some one for right now. I mean i think Quinton Howden, and Brock nelson would be good down the road.

some of my ideas for a first line center. figured we could use a 1st line center idea thread.

Trading for one is another option. outside the two mentioned above.

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

Jordan Staal is definitely good, but I don't know if he has the skills to make it as a first-line center.

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mechaphil

He'd be at best a second line center I think.

He doesn't have the offensive skills like Eric Staal.

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I would kill for Ryan Kesler. Was really hoping that the Nucks would be unable to resign him and the Sabres would somehow grab him via free agency. Maybe he would have enjoyed playing in front of the Olympic MVP again

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He works so damn hard AND has some skills. I love him.

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

Kesler is behind the Sedins and the canucks do have hodgson in the wings. Hodgson i don't think is a fourth or third liner. i doubt darcy would trade for kesler but he'd be the one i would want out of the two i first mentioned.

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

Vancouver didn't just sign Kesler long term to just turn around and trade him. The only impact center available will be Marleau. The rest are either no better than Roy/Connolly, past their prime, or a waste of cap space.

Im with a few folks on Staal. If he were lighting it up against the third line defenses he's seeing it'd be one thing, but he's not.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

He's a little whiny bitch, I can not stand him and the Sabres do not need him

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

True but Jordin to me is 100 times better than Eric. Jordin plays and shuts down top lines while Eric plays against lesser lines. If Jordin was not on Pittsburgh he'd be on a first line anywhere else.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Since when has he whined about anything?

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

Not really whining but he talks to the media about as much as Crosby does and I hate that

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

He's not, he has everything but vision and passing skill. He's not even average in that department, below it. And unless you want to part with Myers they wont even talk to you.

If anything, the Penguins are more interested in moving Malkin's 8.5 million dollar contract and bringing in an elite winger and a good 3rd line center.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

I'd take Malkin in a heartbeat.

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Me too, I may be an x-pensfan but he's still my favorite player to watch play.

There's some cause for hope, the media here in Pittsburgh is very quick to get on Malkin and (in my opinion) become overly critical. Malkin makes as much as Crosby, so when he's not producing like Crosby they can't understand why. But I know why, there aren't any wingers, at least not enough decent ones to go around. Crosby gets first dibs, Malkin gets whatever is left. How on EARTH he managed to win the Conn Smythe last season with Talbot and Fedotenko on his wings is perhaps the single greatest achievement by anyone anywhere at any point in time. They are both AWFUL, average at BEST. But the yinzers don't get it, they see same salary and they wont same results no matter what. That kind of pressure combined with another sub-par season could froce Ray Shero to trade Malkin sooner then one might think.

So if say 60 games into next season Vanek already has 38 goals and Malkin is at or under a point per game, and both players have been healthy the whole year, well....the Pens will want to bump Staal up to the second line, Trade Malkin for maybe a Vanek, Gaustad, and a #1 pick. I would make that deal if I were the Sabres. He's that good.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

It's because grinders work well in the playoffs, and Mad Max is a hella grinder.

Honestly, Malkin would be awesome, but do the Sabres wants 15+ million tied up in only two players? (Malking and Vanek)

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mechaphil

Sure, if they could somehow acquire Malkin without giving up Vanek I would, and figure out the cap later, You can always trade Vanek if the talent on the team gets too top heavy.

EDIT: No, Talbot really isn't that great at anything, he's sort of a jack of all trade and a master at none. The one thing about Talbot is that he is probably Malkin's best friend on the team. They are roommates, and Talbot has such a great personality and he really was patient with Malkin and has helped him learn English and made him feel welcome. I think that friendship inspires Malkin on the ice. One thing about Malkin is that he is emotionally driven, he's like the Hulk. The more fired up you make him the stronger he gets. When Talbot got beat up by Carcillo last season Malkin almost instantly took full control of that series and never stopped until they won the Cup. But the other side is, if he's down on himself, like he has been this season (Talbot has been out all year almost) he can appear to be uninspired or easily frustrated on the ice. Similar to jagr but Jagr was more ego driven, Malkin is all heart.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Pittsburgh isn't dealing Staal. They are going to move forward with a strong lineup up the middle with Crosby, Malkin, and Staal.

Cody Hodgson is an interesting name as he is a big time prospect who isn't completely thrilled with the Canucks brass due to the way that they handled his injury this past season.

Add in Cory Schneider being stuck behind Luongo and I'd be interested in a deal that lands Schneider to back up Miller and Hodgson as a top 6 center moving forward.

Although, I don't know if the Sabres are willing to give up the pieces needed to land those two......

And one name that has been debated as a potential pick up for the Sabres is Brad Richards if Dallas needs to cut payroll.

Richards has one year left at over $7M before he hits UFA, so it would be an expensive move and a bit of a risk for the long term if they can't sign him to an extension.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Another guy that really could fit in well here is Paul Kariya, guy is old but he really has not slowed down that much plus he's a UFA July 1st

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

I've heard talk that Kariya is thinking of retiring maybe, but it wasn't anything concrete.

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mechaphil