Not long term. He's trade bait at deadline worst scenario.

Edit: I think STL has been holding out on this a while, which leads me to believe it's a good deal for a 2.

a move, im stoked!...and a better than normal move, tommorow is gonna be fun!

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Buffalo born, Buffalo Bred, Ill love my hockey, till im Buffalo dead!

Tomorrow will be fun. Acquiring Boyes is the first of several deals. It is obvious it is not the last.

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Let's go Buffalo!

Now just trade Connolly for another teams second and I will be happy!

or else we're chinese handcuffed. This is real interesting.

Being handcuffed by the Golisano regimed was understandable. When Darcy Regier is directed to make additional moves and does it, how does that guarantee job security beyond 2012. Hm, seems like failure.

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Let's go Buffalo!

HUGE IMPACT - Boyes replaces Hecht at center and allows Ze German to go back to his natural position of winger.

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mechaphil

No mistake, I'm buy, buy, buy, but I don't want to acquire the wrong assets in a bidding war gone wrong either.

Yup, if ze german was 1,5, we'd all be happy

i wonder if in the shuffle, gerbe sits the pine more.

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I'm hoping Connolly is moved now. Just get rid of this bum! I have been hearing Los Angeles for sometime now. Hopefully Darcy get's that second back.

Well, do ya give the 12 goal guy or the 4 goal guy ice time??

If Lindy wants to keep Hecht at center and keep gerbe in the lineup, he can sit niedermayer

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mechaphil

Kings and Capitals are potential destinations for Connolly. I think it will be some other team excluding the Sabres.

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Let's go Buffalo!

Yeah I just hope he's gone tomorrow why lose the guy for nothing. At least trade the guy and get a second back for him.

Per Yahoo Sports
Mon Feb 28 12:20am EST

Brad Boyes traded to Buffalo; Blues fans get cap, headache relief
By Greg Wyshynski
The optimistic view of the Buffalo Sabres' trade for St. Louis Blues forward Brad Boyes(notes) on Sunday night, costing them a second-round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, is that he's shown a penchant for dynamic offense when paired with the right linemates.

Skating mostly with Paul Kariya(notes) and Keith Tkachuk(notes) in 2007-08, he potted 43 goals; the next season, he scored 33 skating with David Backes(notes).

The cynical view of Brad Boyes will become apparent after about two minutes of conversation with a Blues fan.

We'll let St. Louis Game Time explain:

Boyes has frustrated fans and management for two seasons now and for the better part of those years fans would have been happy to see him move on to a different team. Only no other team wanted an overpaid, underachieving winger who can backcheck but doesn't do a lot else when he's not scoring.

Now, of course, Boyes has gotten on a hot streak and has moved up to third on the team scoring list this year. He has managed to contribute to the offense by setting players up when he's not scoring and teams looking for some depth scoring (and hoping for a jump from a change of scenery for a notoriously streaky scorer) might be willing to take a flier on Boyes, who is still under contract next year for another $4 million cap hit.

Then there are jokes like this one about Boyes' shooting prowess.

That said, Boyes isn't a bad move for the Sabres for this season. He can play right wing or at center, giving the Sabres some lineup options. But it's that $4 million on the cap for 2011-12 that makes you go "hmmmmm ..."; that's Derek Roy(notes) money for a player that hasn't been in Derek Roy territory for two years. Hey, it's Terry Pegula's money.

Meanwhile, the Blues save $975,600 this season and get out from under that contract for next season, when T.J. Oshie(notes), Patrik Berglund(notes) and seven others are restricted free agents.

On the Puck Daddy Milbury Scale (see here for details), we're going to give this one Two Milburys. No idea what that second-rounder could become, but there's a chance Buffalo Sabres fans will be carping about the same deficiencies in Boyes' game (and his salary) next season as St. Louis fans have. The Blues having saved all that coin next season nearly pushes this into Three Milbury territory, were it not for the fact that Boyes can still get the offensive cranked now and again.

Happy that Darcy made a move but its a big MEH for me.

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Does anyone think Boyes could be part of a greater trade in the offseason?

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Let's go Buffalo!

Boyes is better than Connolly.

okay. I don't really know Boyes, but I know Connolly.

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HOCKEY IS BACK!

I'm not stoked about the trade at all because he is another overpaid underachiever. He was the Tim Connolly of St. Louis the last 2 years. He was healthy though.

It would be a nice addition if it weren't for the 4mil cap hit next season.

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Very excited to be reading this thread! I was pulling a Dragon Age all nighter until my controller died at 0500, I did not expect to find a trade completed at 5:30am, but now I realize that the real world keeps going even while I am wired into another one. Looks like this was completed late last night!

This is a very good trade, EX-ACT-LY who they needed. Regier had the difficult task of finding a guy who is skilled, capable of playing center, and can help the team short term and long term. Welcome to the Sabres Mr. Boyes, I hope that their skilled winger will help you regain your brilliant scoring touch!

Here's what I think about this trade, and I look forward to reading everybody's thoughts about this trade. I can't imagine there will be too many Debbie Downers in this thread.

1. It's a great deal for the Sabres. I've read that the 2011 ED wont be deep with talent, only time will tell. The Blues may get a great player, but for all intents and purposes this feels like giving up only a 4th rounder to me.

2. Connolly is not returning to play for the Sabres next season, and the Sabres COULD certainly entertain deals for him now, maybe even getting a second rounder right back. But I am cool with him finishing the season there as well, this trade gives Darcy options, his hand is not forced. I REALLY like a TC/Arnott trade now.

Brad Boyes:

6 NHL seasons
Averages 78 games played per season

Here's what he averages per 82 games played:
25 goals (20% GWG), 33 assists, 58 points, 28 PIM, -3.

His hitting has picked up over the past 2 years but his work on draws has gotten worse over that span. So he's got room for improvement.

Strong numbers for a second line center, and a major upgrade over Connolly for the simple fact that he will be in the lineup. Connolly looks paranoid about getting hurt, and his game is extremely timid. Boyes doesn't have much snarl either, but he is not afraid to go to the dirty areas and at least try to win some battles.

His career ice time is eerily (Errie Otter pun WOOT) similar to Vanek's. Around 14 ES TOI/G, a few seconds SH TOI/G, and lots of PP time, 3:30 PP TOI/G. I suspect that Boyes will center Vanek's line for the rest of this season. If they mesh...sorry I had tears welling up in my eyes...if they mesh together...it could be the beginning of someth...something beautiful. for lightning in a bottle.

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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