X-pensfan wrote:
While your analysis is nothing short of intoxicating, I must elaborate and present a counter argument that suggest that a PPQB and in fact talent do not necessarily make a good power play.
I give you my former favorite team the Powerless Penguins. When Ryan Malone took his hulking frame to TB the Pens PP entered a downward spiral and the TB PP ascended. Having a player on the team with a big body, good hands, and above all a willingness to stand in there every power play is perhaps THE most important thing to have.
The Penguins rolled Malkin, Crosby, and one of the games best PPQBs Gonchar out there all the time but were 20th or lower on the PP for the past two seasons. Then you looks at the tactical wizardry of the humble Habs and their epic PP. They don't have a net guy or a great deal of talent but they constantly score on the PP.
Puck movement, having a guy who can waste little time setting it up, coaching, a net guy, a QB, play makers, puck retrievers, and snipers all play a role. Kaberle is no cure-all but it might help to have him. I dunno.
The Sabres have the front of the net slot covered, at least for their #1 PP unit, with Thomas Vanek.
The interesting question about the Sabres PP is what do the Sabres need more on the blueline:
The PP QB
or
The PP Shooter
The Sabres haven't been able to replace what Ales Kotalik gave them on the blueline with regards to a guy with a big shot that can get shots through traffic and on goal from the blueline.
Is that due to not having a good enough shooter or not having the "maestro" on the back end to set up a shooter?
Personally, I'd love to see the Sabres get Kaberle and try and solve the shooter hole with say Mancari who has filled that role rather well with Portland.
Plus, Kaberle is a solid first pass defenseman 5 on 5 that could help start the Sabres transition offense at ES.
Add in that he has a cap friendly deal for 2010-11 and I'd like to see it happen.
But, my guess is that Burke will want more than Regier will want to cough up in trade.