No, I highly doubt it. Bob McKenzie from TSN is VERY confident that Buffalo will be making a huge statement and making a big pitch for Brad Richards. It's on the TSN site and he just got done talking about it on NHL Network. He'e saying how Pegula is going to basically show the rest of the league and players that little Buffalo is going to be the place to play.

Of course that doesn't mean Richards will want to come to Buffalo anyway, but with Regehr, possibly Ehrhoff, and Miller plus two legit scoring forwards as bait...a top dollar contract could be all it takes.

Another thing about Ehrhoff...he has to know that a low cap team like NYI was going to offer as much as any other team could. It took all of 24 hours for those negotiations to hit a wall - because they aren't a contender. He knows he can get the same or less but actually play for a good team, so it's not just about the money.

So I was just reading this NHL.com article about where the likely spots for each UFA to land are.

Not only is Buffalo not listed once as a potential location, but the writer had this to say about Connolly:


Either we have a much more optimistic view of our cap situation, or this guy is high as a kite.

Richards has said his two priorities are to find a place to win and to play in a hockey market. Hearing NYR and TOR are the two main horses in the Richards race, if Buffalo is a 3rd horse, I think Buffalo is the best option. Vanek and Stafford are proven gamers at this point I would think. Lots of young talent in Ennis, Myers, Weber, and Gragnani. Not to mention one of the best goalies in the game. If Erhoff signs we will have one of the best defense corps in the league. And an all around solid bottom 6. Miller > Lundquivst in my opinion all you have cooking in New York is Gaborik (when he wants to show up), Dubinsky, and Callahan if you look at offense. Marc Staal and Dan Giradi make a good shutdown pair, but I don't think they have much below those two. They play Lundquivst way too much and I think it seems he runs out of gas every season cause he plays a lot. And Toronto has been a perennial loser.
So I think if Erhoff signs, and we find a way to shift some salary (Morrisonn, Kotalik buried or traded) we can coax Richards the Hockey Heaven is the best choice.
We'll just have to wait until July 1st, but I honestly believe Buffalo is becoming a serious contender and will be for years to come if everything falls into place. I'm not just saying that because I'm a Sabres fan, I think a lot of people around the league are turning their heads and perking their ears when Buffalo is mentioned these days because we're building instead of self destructing for once. And man does it feel good.

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Rest in Peace Nani. 10/3/10

Gerbacity



"Grier coming in over the line. He leaves it to Gaustad. The shot. THEY SCOOOREE!! RING UP ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GOOSE!!! HONK IF YA HEAR THE GOOSE!! 3-0 BUFFALO!"

Well, the NHL writers have a tendency to underrate us or just plain hate. But we still have I think 11 or 12 million under the cap, and that's including Kotalik and Morrisonn who will probably be riding the Amerks bus or shipped out of town.

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Rest in Peace Nani. 10/3/10

Gerbacity



"Grier coming in over the line. He leaves it to Gaustad. The shot. THEY SCOOOREE!! RING UP ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GOOSE!!! HONK IF YA HEAR THE GOOSE!! 3-0 BUFFALO!"

This would be an awesome signing but I'd just wait and see if we can get our #1 center and how much this would take then sign Ehrhoff. Most of our D problems were taken care of by the aqusition of Regher but still nothing on the Center problems. Without that quality center it won't matter what our D looks like.

Hopefully if he does sign he sign for fair money. Anything $5 a year would be overpaying. I'd rather overpay a center at this point.

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"If you want to know what I've been doing lately, I've been driving around from Tim Horton's to Tim Horton's, rolling up the rim. Haven't won anything yet. Thanks." - Lindy Ruff

It's a long summer. If they make a big offer to Richards and get lucky that he signs, there is plenty of time to dump salary later on.

Based on what I've been reading so far, the Regher trade really impressed a lot of people. Richards agent has said they will welcome Buffalo with open arms (although I'm sure they'll welcome anyone saying "here's 8 million a year!!). What Richards says he wants, Buffalo has all of it. I stated why I think that is. Hopefully Richards sees it that way too.

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Rest in Peace Nani. 10/3/10

Gerbacity



"Grier coming in over the line. He leaves it to Gaustad. The shot. THEY SCOOOREE!! RING UP ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GOOSE!!! HONK IF YA HEAR THE GOOSE!! 3-0 BUFFALO!"

Wow what's with everyone thinking that Ehroff's this top defenseman. He's good but not that good. The guy played on a team that has great scoring up front. Of course your going to get some points with both Sedins, Kesler, Burrows and Raymond. I don't know if getting Ehroff on the roster makes Buffalo one of the top defense's. I just don't see it. They will be better but not the best. My big issue with trading for any unrestricted free agent. Why in the world with 2 days left before free agency you wouldn't listen to all offers on the table when free agency starts before you decide where to go. I just think we lost a 4th round pick that should have been no more than a 6th rounder just to talk to this guy before free agency starts. I'm glad Darcy's being proactive but I don't want Ehroff at 5.5-6 million a season either. Way too much for what he does. I just don't see him as a top flight defenseman. But hey that's just my opinion.

I'm just curious, how much of Ehrhoff have you watched SBF? Because he's fantastic in the transition game, he has a whale of a shot, and has tons of power play experience. All something the Sabres genuinely lack on their blueline with the exception of Myers, and a much less degree M.A.G.

He's exactly what we need. He's young, willing to play two way defense, and can QB a PP unit. Not to mention he had 52 hits and 108 blocked shots last season.

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

Squanto 7/27/2010

To be honest, this is horrible.

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LET'S GO BUFFALO!

I think most fail to see what team he was on as well. The points will come on that team especially during the season. Who cares what happens during the season. I want a guy that shows up and makes his prescence felt in the playoffs. I just didn't see that out of him. I only seen Chara, Seidenberg, Boychuk, Bieska, and Hamhuis until he got injuried. Plus I forgot to mention he was a -13 in the playoffs which is the highest of all the Canucks. I just don't want them to overpay for a guy when there is plenty of d-man coming and he's decent at best.

Pretty comparable to Leopolds 49 hits and 123 blocked shots, or Campbells 28 and 101, or even Boyles 55 h 139 bs...point is, he's an offensive defensive man with some decent skill in his own end. Considering we could get him at under 6M dollars, it's worth the investment given the market value of marquee OFD like Campbell and Boyle

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

Squanto 7/27/2010

Plus I forgot to mention he was a -13 in the playoffs which is the highest of all the Canucks.

Oh definitely. I'm not against signing him at all. Below 5.5 I would be happy, but I'd be okay if it was under 6M and then getting rid of another d-man(Sekera).

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LET'S GO BUFFALO!

Dan Boyle is like comparing apple's and oranges Dan Boyle is a far better player than Ehroff is. I guess most of you don't see as many western conference teams than I do living out west. I'm not against Buffalo for signing him but it all depends on for how much. He shouldn't get more than Bieska which is the guy I really wanted them to get. He's tougher and was alot better in the playoffs when it counts.

I have it from a very good friend of mine (Hecht's neighbor) that he is looking forward to moving back to his farm in Germany and is nearing the end with the NHL. They have dinner together. their kids go to school together and their kids play sports together. Yes, I will be attacked for saying that but he's feeling he doesn't get a big enough role on the roster and wants to go back to civilian life.

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It's a tight squeeze, but we can fit Ehrhoff in with Richards.

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR

FORWARDS
Thomas Vanek ($7.142m) / B R ($6.750m) / Drew Stafford ($4.000m)
Tyler Ennis ($0.875m) / Derek Roy ($4.000m) / Jason Pominville ($5.300m)
Nathan Gerbe ($1.433m) / Jochen Hecht ($3.525m) / Brad Boyes ($4.000m)
C M ($0.600m) / Paul Gaustad ($2.300m) / Patrick Kaleta ($0.907m)

DEFENSEMEN
Robyn Regehr ($4.020m) / C E ($5.500m)
Jordan Leopold ($3.000m) / Tyler Myers ($1.300m)
A S ($1.750m) / M W ($0.750m)
/ M G ($0.700m)

Edit: my bad I left out Enroth. I guess one move would be necessary. Maybe Sekera sign and trade, and play Grags?

e5

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Hold my beer and watch this...

e5?

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