it will be interesting, to see how the summer plays out. i did see someone mention kassian as possible trade bait. i dunno about that i mean they need the physicality this kid will eventually bring. You're not going to get dustin brown away from the kings. Byfuglien was good in the playoffs but not as good in the regular season. horton can slump. Backes he may be a possibility. Since the assault charge kassian's value will drop a bit, not much but a bit. Regier will probably play it safe.

As to the defense talk. Zbnyk Michalek in. Trade a package including Butler (from St. Louis) to st louis for Backes. Seriously pursue Kaberle, but make sure to add conditions that kaberle signs with buffalo.

gives you d-lines of

Myers - Kaberle (puck mover can help mentor myers)
Rivet - Michalek (shot blocking, physical)
Weber - Sekera
Montador.

Tallinder seems to be only as good as whom he is paired with (can't have him dragging myers down) and Lydman, sorry meca ( i know you have his jersey and all) gives the puck up at the wrong times. i honestly wouldn't mind seeing suckera gone as well but seeing what regier has done no way will two prospects be gone.

Of course that is just my idea.

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It's sad that as long as Quinn is in charge Regier will be here, and as long as Regier is here Ruff is here. Say hello to more years of mediocrity Buffalo. However it is urged that you don't accept it.

RIP K.E.G. 3-16-2004

Darcy is not giving up on signing Kassian, he's just going to make him sweat for a while and hopefully learn that nothing is guaranteed to him yet. Either way it makes little difference for next season, because Kassian isn't going to be an impact player for another year or two at least.

Keeping Tallinder or Lydman is dependent on whether Darcy thinks he can land a better d-man after July 1st (at an affordable price). If not, signing Tallinder and Lydman will be cheaper before July 1st, so I won't be upset if either or both return, as long as they take a decent pay cut and leave cap room for another move. Anything to keep Butler and Sekera away from starting minutes.

Backes isn't on the table unless St. Louis gets overpaid for him.

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mechaphil

I'm not quite ready to give up on Stafford. He's got a good attitude and work ethic. This season will be a telling one.

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Wheelhouse

Or is it him saying stupid stuff, then backtracking and saying it's sarcasm when he's called on it? I can never tell...

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

quite positive i said backes like player. the big power forward who can chip in goals and clear space for smaller and finesse players.

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It's sad that as long as Quinn is in charge Regier will be here, and as long as Regier is here Ruff is here. Say hello to more years of mediocrity Buffalo. However it is urged that you don't accept it.

RIP K.E.G. 3-16-2004

If I find it funny that you guys are dissecting his posts to this extent, he must find this fucking hilarious.

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"Call a cop he robbed Delmore blind!!!"
Rick Jeanerette after Marty Biron's diving save back in 2000.

"I'm going to go to the spa and have a hot tub and massage and relax," Miller said. "That's it, and it's back to work tomorrow." Ryan Miller after clinching the North East division.

Oh, I know. I was kinda just thinking out loud, which is why I didn't quote you. Unfortunately, I don't think Regier is prescient of mind enough to realize we need that kind of player this upcoming season.

Also, goddamn I wish we could get David Backes himself. Sheesh.

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mechaphil

For the love of god keep Lydman. The guys is so solid. And hi people i know i havent posted in forever on here.

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The Board Drunk.

I feel like Weber would be a cheaper, younger version of Lydman. I'd rather have him playing.

Or trade Stafford and Kassian to Toronto for Kaberle, let Hank and Lydman walk, and call up Weber. Then we have some cap space to sign a good third line center.

WOAH

hi amyy, we havent seen you here in a while

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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 know! I just made an account on here. I guess I didn't get the memo that this was where everyone from the old boards ran off too!

I also see Weber as a Lydman replica, but he's still going to need time. With a year free of injuries I'm hoping he's ready to step up, and maybe be just a year away from Lydman type quality.

I wouldn't trade Kassian since he has the potential to be what Stafford was supposed to be - a top two RW with physicality and scoring ability.

We don't need a 3rd line center...we need a top line center so that Connolly and Roy can move down, or a top scoring winger that is close to a game changer.

Oh yeah, a PP QB on defense would be nice too...Paul Martin and Patrick Sharp. Maybe Darcy can cook the books and make it happen.

Truuuue. We actually have the money to sign a good player, but Darcy will never do it.

Thats assuming he can think

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When I was a boy I spoke as a boy, I understood as a boy, and I thought as a boy; when I became a man I took that boy outside and shot him.

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Do you guys ever make the connection about why there are so few impact FA signings by Darcy? Right now only Grier, Ellis, Lalime and Montador came via free agency. It's not because he doesn't feel like it or can't think. Players don't want to play in Buffalo. Fair or not, that's the reputation. So for Darcy it's through the draft or by trades. The trade market has slowed the last few seasons due to the cap. The cap has forced every team to not just trade equal talent, but equal cap money at the same time. That bogs down trade offers, so not as many impact players are switching teams until free agency.

That might change a little this summer with Chicago's situation, and depending if the cap goes up (supposedly by 2 million), and FA signings stay reasonable. It's nothing personal, but I really hate the "Darcy sucks" type of stuff without really thinking everything out. There's reasons why big name players only come to Buffalo by trade, and it's not because Darcy doesn't think.

So why don't players like to come to buffalo? Do they tend to get underpaid something fierce here?

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"Call a cop he robbed Delmore blind!!!"
Rick Jeanerette after Marty Biron's diving save back in 2000.

"I'm going to go to the spa and have a hot tub and massage and relax," Miller said. "That's it, and it's back to work tomorrow." Ryan Miller after clinching the North East division.

Because some former Sabres upon leaving talked mountains of trash about the city (Peca, Grier among them) and the team. That shit stays with a player when the loudest news they hear is a bunch of garbage.

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mechaphil

Not in Pittsburgh, they suck our butts then come back to retire for the cost of living!

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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