Dmitry Chesnokov is reporting an unnamed NE Division team is pursuing Nik Zherdev.

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mechaphil

Pierre LeBrun is hearing that the Leafs are kicking the tires on Mad Max.

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mechaphil

Simon Gagne waives his NTC and Philly is targeting the Kings.

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mechaphil

Burke considering Max?!? Up is down, left is right, black is white, cats love dogs, SabresBillsFan is smart!!!

Jay just texted me that the Kings have the cap space to both trade for Gagne and still sign Kovy. Would trading for Gagne help convince Kovy to bring his asking price down even a couple million? The King would have Kovalchuk/Gagne/Smyth/????? on their left side if this happened - EASILY the strongest left side in the league.

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mechaphil

Leafs ink John Mitchell for 1 yr at $750K after not giving him a QO and will resume work on Tuesday.

Darren Dreger wonders aloud if Kovalchuk would consider signing with the Islanders. He notes rumors of a megabucks, megaterm deal that Garth Snow may offer to Kovy.

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mechaphil

How about a brief summary of some of the top talent left and where they might fit...

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Top UFAs Left That Would Benefit The Sabres (in no particular order):
Bill Guerin
Carlo Colaiacovo
Lee Stempniak
Willie Mitchell
Mike Modano
Teemu Selanne
Brendan Morrison
Jose Theodore

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mechaphil

THanks Phil... and if you were Darcy, how would you shape the roster out of this list and a trade, maybe sending Staff packing... sick of watching him play like a girl, no offense ladies

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Simple but sensible and understated moves, like Darcy would make, are the way I'd go. I'd do is ship out Stafford for a pick or two and sign Guerin (09/10: $2M, 45 pts & top 12 in fighting majors) to play RW with Vanek and Roy and sign Brendan Morrison (09/10: $1.5M and 42 pts) to center the third line OR I'd put Ennis on the top line, then try to bring in Lee Stempniak (09/10: $3.5M - again, never getting that much again - and 48 pts) to play on the third line with Morrison and Grier, and lastly I'd throw an offer at Jose Theodore (09/10: $4.5M - he ain't getting that much ever again - and 2.81GAA) and if he rebuffs a back-up role I'd bring up Enroth. Of course, I'd re-sign Kaleta, but I'd deal away Gerbe for a pick and let Kennedy become UFA.
Ennis/Roy/Vanek OR Vanek/Roy/Guerin
Hecht/Connolly/Pominville
Stemps/Morrison/Grier OR Ennis/Morrison/Grier
McCormick/Goose/Kaleta

Weber/Myers
Leopold/Rivet (Montador while Rivet's on IR)
Sekera/Montador (Butler while Montador's with Leopold)
Gragnani

Miller
Theodore/Enroth

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mechaphil

Where hockey goes to die

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I don't know if I already posted it (I'm lazy and it's late), but the Blackhawks signed 6'8", 259lb ass-kicking blue-liner John Scott.

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mechaphil

I would love to pick up CC. Very good defenceman when healthy. But I don't think he's played a full season yet.

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Driver of the Tyler Ennis Bandwagon, Ridin' shotgun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon, chillin' on the Luke Adam Bandwagon


Eh

Carlo has been criticized heavily for his attitude problem and lack of work ethic which might have something to do with the games he's missed...do not want.

I'm pretty much with you Phil, except for a couple things. Why do you feel the need for a 3rd line C and two RWs? I see the LWs as Hecht, Vanek, Ennis/Kennedy, and then Ellis/McCormick. Ennis or Kennedy would be the 3rd center, or even Gaustad with McCormick as the 4th center..with Gerbe probably still around too. Even if you trade Kennedy, then insert Gerbe since you like him better. One way or another there is a log jam with players that we probably don't want to trade away (although I'd like to trade Gerbe).

The RWs are Pominville, (hopefully new guy - Guerin or Stempniak sound good), Grier, Kaleta, and Stafford. We both want Stafford traded, but that's still four RWs with the 13th and 14th forward spots filled by C/LWs, and then there's still Mancari hanging around. I don't see room or the justification to acquire two RWs, but one for sure.

I'd rather put money into one more d-man than so many forwards. There aren't any real impact UFA d-men left. Only Sutton as a 3-4 man or McKee as a 6-7 man appeal to me at all...Corvo or Bergeron as a 6-7 man and PP QB if nothing else can be worked out (ugh). Otherwise there are good d-men that might be had through trade like Staal, Gilbert (if Souray can't be dumped)Schultz, Burns or Bieksa (although Bieksa would have to sign an extension since he's on his last contract year). I suppose even Kaberle would be better than Corvo and Bergeron, but I wouldn't want to trade Burke the lint out of my pocket.

For back-up goalie, I really don't see much out there beside Theodore, but I think he'll want more than 1 mil per. I'd go with Enroth at 850k or even re-sign Lalime before going above 1 mil for a back-up....

Hecht-Connolly-Pominville
Vanek-Roy-Guerin/Stempniak
Kennedy-Ennis-Grier
McCormick-Gaustad-Kaleta
Ellis/Gerbe/Mancari (pick two)

Leopold-Myers
new guy-Rivet
Weber-Montador
Sekera (buh bye Butler)

Miller-Enroth/Lalime

Stemps is an alt-winger - he plays both sides.

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mechaphil

he's a switch winger.... not that there's anything wrong with that...

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Hey, what he does off the ice is his business...

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

Squanto 7/27/2010

It's been revealed today that the team pursuing Zherdev is Boston.

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mechaphil