"... the question is, HOW do we fill those two spots or WHO steps up?"

At this point I'd look at Paul Martin. With 5.4 mil to spare, plus another 3 mil added to the cap (which we don't know how much higher Golisano is willing to pay) there's potentially 8-9 mil to work with. Martin should command around 5 mil per. If Regier can make that happen (a two way street - Martin has to actually be willing to play in Buffalo for anything to happen), then maybe Stempniak can be signed as well, but not for a big raise. Stempniak isn't the player I'd want ideally, and his price range might be well over his actual worth. There aren't a lot of good options at RW in free agency, so this might be a hole that doesn't get filled.

If Martin goes elsewhere, then I'd try to sign Michalek and Foster, and maybe be willing to sign Stempniak at a higher price tag if no other RW options become available. This is off the wall, but Vanek played RW a little and if Ruff thinks he could make the switch, there are several LWs out there like Frolov, Whitney, Panikarovsky, Tanguay, Fedotenko, etc.

I really wouldn't mind Volchenkov because he's a shot blocking machine and a solid defenseman. I just don't think Buffalo would be willing to spend that type of money on his services.

As for Connolly and Roy, you can dislike it all you want, but they are both in the top 30 in points for centers. They both would have been in the top 30 in 2008-09 also if Connolly had played close to a full season.

They are going to produce 65-80 pts on a full season, and with the PP and (more importantly) the PK work they do, they compare fairly well against the top two centers for most teams. So many people want to simply point at the Boston series as proof of everything they want to argue, but six games doesn't determine anybody as a playoff failure or success. Both players were crazy good against Ottawa in 2006, so did they just become crappy, mentally soft guys folding under pressure? No, they came up against a different team that played a very tough defensive game. Philly didn't do so hot against Boston either, but got by after Boston choked the series away.

Every playoff series will be different, and different players will produce or perform well depending. Connolly and Roy are players that will at least produce in the regular season and be main reasons for getting in the playoffs. If there is a lack of physicality on the team, the finger shouldn't be pointed at the top two centers to make up that gap. Rarely are top centers the physical leaders of a team. That role should be filled by wingers and d-men that have the stature to outmuscle opponents on the boards and get/keep the puck so that the skill guys can make things happen. Sure, I'd like to see Roy and Connolly be more physical sometimes, but get those players and put that reponsibility where it belongs, and away from Roy and Connolly.

i'm sure if not i phil would chime in Michalek will be cheaper and can block shots and do what volchenkov can. odds are we are going to get weber and gragnani

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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

Dudes, I am so high on Michalek. Better yet, Maloney has said that chances are Michalek is gonna go to FA

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mechaphil

I'd say the Bruins had one of the better drafts this year and the Leafs had one of the worst.

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

so, do you have Darcy's number... you should give him a call.... lol ... what would you do with the D then... bring in Michalek... would you then resign Loods or Hank or would you bring up Weber? or would you juggle more than that... by signing Loods and Hank, adding Michalek and shipping off Sekera or Butler... of course I doubt the cap will allow that to happen....

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Well, bringing in Michalek makes Lydman 100% expendable, so Lydman is gone. Signing Paul Martin would make Tallinder fully expendable so he's gone. I'd trade away Butler in a package for a new top-flight center and install Weber in Butler's spot. With Rivet out injured to start the season, the top six would be:
Martin-Myers
Michalek-Sekera
Weber-Montador
LTIR - Rivet
*bottom two pairs would get equal-ish time

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mechaphil

i would bet phil would be more than willing to ship butler out on a trade to land a right winger named backes. maybe in a trade like

To St. Louis
Butler
Stafford
3rd 2011
5th 2010 - Sutch
7th or 6th 2011

To buffalo
Backes
3rd 2011 - Max Gardiner - C

I'm sure he'd also love to see a Koivu like player signed. the poise, the skill, easily makes the glassman expendable.

and if you move connolly and not resign lydman or tallinder you have a decent chunk of cap space you can sign a koivu, and maybe a Cullen or Ray Whitney as well. Because as we know hecht and kennedy need to stay on the wing.

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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

You've either:
A) keyed in on previous posts of mine
B) read my GM-for-a-day post on my blog
C) know me in person but are shadowy on the internets

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mechaphil

actually, you could call darcys office. they would never dial you straight to the guy, but they would give you the option to leave a message on his messages.... i dont see why you WOULDNT do it.

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I am very, very low on Volchenkov. The guy really isn't that different a player from Lydman.

Michalek led the league in blocked shots in 08-09 and he'll cost half as much as Volchenkov.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

So the Isles take Kirill the Red Flag Kabanov...it could be a genius move or a dumb one considering he had been kicked off two teams for basically not being a team player

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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

Volchenkov and Lydman are the same guy dude.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual