Hecht on the wing is about 250,000x better than Hecht at center.

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mechaphil

hecht and kennedy both excel better on the wing. What i would do is work like hell to sign Koivu. that makes Connolly expendable, trade him for a pick. sign michalek as well. work to trade for backes, i know not likely to happen regier probably hasn't even thought if it.

to st louis:
Stafford - Winger can play in the NHL
Butler - from St. Louis
3rd 2011
7th 2011
Sutch from the 5th round 2010 - that american comment pissed me off if he has a bad attitude he can leave.

to Buffalo
Backes
Max Gardiner from the 3rd round 2010

use the money from lydman, tallinder, connolly to go after a paul martin or gonchar. or a Matt Cullen.

Vanek - Roy - Backes
Ennis - Koivu - Pominville
Kennedy - McCormick / Cullen - Kaleta
Hecht - Gaustad - Grier

Defense
Myers - Martin
Rivet - Michalek
Weber - Sekera
Montador

what i think will happen

Vanek - Roy - stafford
Ennis - Connolly - Pominville
Kennedy - McCormick - Kaleta
Hecht - Gaustad - Grier

Myers - Weber
Rivet - Butler
Sekera - Montador
maybe michalek is inserted in there.

Gragnani gets to show is stuff till the captain returns.

Disclaimer:
I doubt koivu is gone after as regier has "two top 20 centers" and is looking to add not subtract
Backes trade very wishful thinking, again the add not subtract.
Michalek is a possibility to be signed
I also wouldn't rule out Cullen or Ray Whitney as the sabres were interested in them near the deadline especially Cullen, I believe.

Regier definitely needs a kick in his imaginary testicles.

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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

I have no idea why you even entertain the thought of trading for Backes. He's not available...NOT AVAILABLE. Even if he was, your package of garbage would be laughed off the phone. Koivu won't sign in Buffalo when his brother is in Minnesota, and they need a top center. He's never been a pt/gm player and isn't physical, and is six years older than Connolly, so he's better because...?

Overall, you're subtracting five roster players (at 12.64 mil) and adding five at about 17 mil (Backes - 2.5, Koivu - 3.5, Cullen - 3.0, Martin - 5.0, Michalek - 3.0). You still have to add a 14th forward and another 850k, so you're over the cap or right at it and assuming Golisano will spend to the new limit of 59.4 mil.

Maybe you need a kick in your imaginary GM skills.

Dude, that's a little harsh.

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mechaphil

Yeah, people do that stuff for fun...

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Well you kinda have to draw the line somewhere... If you put out ridiculous trades/ideas they tend to get roughed up a bit.

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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.

I'm gonna go out and say Darcy doesn't pick up any of the good unrestricted free agents that people want here in Buffalo like Martin, Michalek, Volchenkov or Foster. I think Darcy lets Hank and Toni go and relies on Weber, Grags, Butler and Sekera to fill the remaining defensive slots. If anyone I bet he goes out for a guy like Bergeron from Montreal to try to help the powerplay. I just don't see Darcy doing much and if he does I will be shocked.

I don't think Darcy will do nothing. I think even the most hardcore Darcyhaters would be surprised if we made zero moves.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

This is what I honestly, and 100% believe will happen. Almost down to the money I'm guessing.

Given that Jay McKee is a guy we tried to get last year, and Pittsburgh has shown no interest in resigning him, I think Darcy gives me atleast a phone call. Pays somewhere in the 1M range for him, and brings him back as an insurance policy with Rivet being out. When healthy they are both essentially the same players.

He doesn't seem to be super interested in improving our even strength balance, as Phil pointed out to me the other day, we did outscore Boston 5 on 5.

He's going to bring in special teams type players, that are cost effective.

This leads me to believe Matt Lombardi, and/or Mike Comrie will be targeted by the Sabres. For around 2.2M per year on a 1-3 year contract.

I also think we'll make a play at one of the following goalies, Biron, Dan Ellis, or Mike Leighton.

I know that Regier is going to inquire about Paul Martin, but if we get anybody from NJD it's going to be Cory Murphy who spent the majority of his ice time last season on the PP. And I'm sure we'll make a call for Curtis Foster as well.

We may also get in on Begin, Malhotra, and or Halpern, but those guys are just 4th line filler with some PK experience.

I don't necessarily think we're going to be signing the Frolov's or the Gonchar's but we'll go out and get the guys that can come in at the right price, and make an impact; while the second coming of our "core" develops another year or two in the minors.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

We have to fill five spots for next year:
Forwards:
Ennis-Connolly-Pominville
Vanek-Roy-X
Hecht-Gaustad-Grier
X/Kennedy-X/Kennedy(1m)-Kaleta(850000)
X

Defense:
X-Myers
X-Montador
Butler-Rivet
Weber(850000)

Miller
Lalime(1m)
Cap $46.292.857

The Sabres will look to add another 3a or 2b RW to play with Roy and Vanek. We have no RW prospect other than Kassian that is capable of playing in the top 6 or even in the top 9.

The next interesting spot on the roster is on the fourth line. I think we will look for a cheap physical center or leftwing that can win faceoffs.

After the playoffs I was sure that Gerbe secured a spot on the roster, but knowing our management and our thin depth in Portland, he will start the year in the AHL, which gives us another spot to fill.

With the fact that we won’t resign Toni and Hank, two spots on our defense are open. I don’t think that we will replace the spots with players from our farm. Weber will play in Buffalo but will take only the 7th spot. Butler will get a fix roster spot.

We spent about $55m on the roster last year and I think with the playoff profits and the 40th year anniversary we will spent about $56m. We will have to fill 5 spots with nearly $10m in capspace.

We will sign one UFA dman in the same category as Montador. The RW will also be a UFA and I wouldn’t be surprised that the name of this player is Lee Stempniak.

The last spot in our defense will come through a trade. Kaberle,Bieksa, Liles and Souray are all options that make around $4m in true money. We will use Stafford as the main piece, and picks or prospects for this trade. I think we will also trade Sekera for picks and prospects. I don’t think that Lindy is comfortable with Sekera and after July 1st Sekera will become an attractive choice for teams that need to fill their defense with cheap young players.

Forwards:
Ennis-Connolly-Pominville
Vanek-Roy-Stempniak(other UFA)
Hecht-Gaustad-Grier
McCormick(other UFA)-Kennedy(1m)-Kaleta(850000)
Ellis(other UFA)

Defense:
Kaberle/trade-Myers
Corvo/other UFA-Montador
Butler-Rivet
Weber(850000)

Miller
Lalime(1m)
Cap $56.692.857

Wait a second....you mean we can't trade a bunch of our garbage for another team's gold? Do you think that a package of Stafford/ Gerbe/ McCormick and a 7th wouldn't get us Malkin? You must me stoned, or downright retarded friend because that is a completely reasonable trade. WE'RE GIVING THEM MORE PLAYERS!!!!



(****Extreme Sarcasm****)

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"I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup Rings plugging my ears...." -Patrick Roy in reference to Jeremy Roenick's trash talking

hey hey hey, don't talk shit about gerbe

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FIGHTER OF THE NIGHTMAN

"on the ice now for buffalo, looking for the pass, and gets it, afinogenov, couldnt get the shot away, now HE DOES, HE SCORES!!!! HOLY MACKEREL ROLE THE HIGH LIGHT FILM, MAXIM AFINOGENOV, WHAT A MOVE!!!!.... thats not fair... that was unbelievable"
-R.J. and Lorenz

Everybody has their ideas that they're entitled to, no matter how reasonable. It's when people throw in the ridiculous Darcy insults that get me going. I have no problem dishing it out when people make the Darcy insult along with a really bad idea of their own. If someone is going to hurl insults at our team's GM (Darcy or whoever it may be in the future), they sure as hell better have a solid critique, or signing/trade idea of their own.

I'm not a Darcy lover, but I think he does pretty well for what's available to him in this organization. It's just the absurd anti-Darcy bs that gets me going.

Fair enough, sir.

_________________
mechaphil

Cmon, if Darcy doesn't trade a 7th round pick and the Front Office Fax Machine for Sidney Crosby, AO, and 1985's Wayne Gretzky, he's a terrible GM and should be shot in Seymour H. Knox Plaza by trained monkeys.

Haha, you used my 7th round pick for a great player or he sucks idea.

I <3 you Squanto.

Also anyone who thinks Kennedy is a 4th line player, HAHAHAHAHA come on, Kennedy should be playing wing with Roy and Vanek. Not playing 4th line Center. Or with Pommers and Connolly, or have him center a Pommers-Vanek line then.

Mix up some lines then.
Pommers-Kennedy-Vanek
Roy-Connolly-Ennis
Hecht-Guastad-Stafford
Kaleta-McCormick-Grier

FA signing/Weber/Lydman-Myers
Lydman/Weber-Montador
Rivet-Butler
Sekera/Weber

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wow is this how you treat new people. You have a worse recruitment/retention program than some firehalls. New people need to learn and most people that join a forum look to get more into hockey and learn as they go. now some of us maybe extremely gifted at certain things and not need to learn things, but i'm doubting that's the case. my guess is you where once new as well, and may have gotten ripped, or maybe they handled it like adults. Plus one can say you all undervalue you your players a bit. i mean if you watch the player night in and night out, you get sick of them, heck there are people out there that might think stafford will help. Connolly is tradable, Wideman was tradable. plus some GM's might think oh it is just a sophomore slump - Butler, or he might work better with a different coach you never know, and if you know differently please elaborate, as an adult. Another fun note anyone is tradable. Maybe it's not rumored by someone guessing at what a GM might or might not do or maybe it's unlikely, but the fact still stands that anyone can be moved. I will admit trading is not my forte, but to rip one a new one, one is either calling someone out in which case if you wish to take this out side we can set something up. or we can handle this like adults. As well it is an idea and what one would do that is not the current sabres management. Oh and if you notice i did leave disclaimers saying we don't have to go after such and such. i will end on this note think outside the box. I could also mention a bullying factor, as we all know how to deal with bullies, since they themselves are the ones hurting.

_________________
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

What about trying to take that gamble on Olli Jokinen?

He had 91 points and 89 points on a Florida Panthers team before. He had 50 last year. I think if he can play with some better wingers he can get back to 80+ points, and that then makes Connolly or even Roy expendable.

And with defense, that is probably the strongest FA market this year. Plenty of names that are real solid guys who can be the guys you need to just win.

We should take a serious run at Joe Corvo. Corvo is a puck rushing defenseman with 218 points in 486 NHL games. He would anchor our PP QB spot until Myers fits that role.

We sign both Jokinen and Corvo we got ourselves a better PP instantly. Olli has also had 13, 14, and 18 PP goals in his career also.

I'd say this as our lines then, resign Tallinder and Lydman and keep their pairings together, then sign Corvo and play him with Rivet. Have Myers and Corvo on the PP units, Corvo on the top PP unit and Myers the second. We have a logjam with forwards and defense now, so Roy/Connolly are expendable with Jokinen in the lineup. We can get maybe a goo package deal or dump any of the excess players for picks or prospects also.

Vanek-Jokinen-Ennis
Roy/Kennedy-Connolly-Pominville
Hecht-Guastad-Stafford
Kaleta-Grier-McCormick

Tallinder-Myers
Montador-Lydman
Rivet-Corvo
Butler/Sekera/Weber

Miller
Biron

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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.

Vanek - Roy - Mancari (not gonna happen, but I'd love a big body on Vanek's line)
Ennis - Connolly - Pominville
Hecht/Kennedy - Gaustad/Gerbe - Stafford
Grier - McCormick - Kaleta

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If your having goal problems, I feel bad for ya son....we got 99 problems but Vanek ain't one!