Sullivan also has made the case for Marty returning to Buffalo in today's Buffalo News.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/850696.html

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

How about pulling Kevin Weekes out of retirement??

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Look at DiPietro's history. How many times has he come back from one injury only to last a month or two before going back on the shelf?

My guess is that the Isles will wait until the trade deadline to move Biron to the highest bidder. And at that time an UFA-to-be like Tallinder is unlikely to be the highest bid.

I would expect the Isles to move Biron for a 2nd or a 3rd rounder if a team is really desperate for help in net.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Assuming Dipietro returns by December 1st as expected, the Isles need to move Marty very quickly. They cannot use up 3 roster spots on goaltending, and they don't want to lose him for nothing by exposing him to waivers, so the Isles will be trading Marty before the Olympic break. Waiting until the March deadline to move him is not an option.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Why can't they use 3 roster spots on goalies?

The Sabres have 8 defensemen on the roster......

I seriously doubt that they will panic and make a move that doesn't maximize their return.

I also doubt that they will trust that DiPietro is back for the long term until he's played 10 to 15 games without issue.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Are you being sarcastic? If so, I applaud you! If not, you are grossly misunderstanding the reality of how an NHL roster works. Let me explain.

A max of 23 total players are allowed on an NHL roster. Period. If someone is injured they can be placed on IR and a new spot is made available. Because of this, there are no teams in the NHL that can afford to carry 3 goalies on the active roster, as position players cannot be sacrificed for 3rd string netminders - particularly when they command trade value on the open market.

Now, the Islanders in particular are really struggling at defense right now. They need an upgrade at that position if they are to contend for the playoffs. The idea that they will sacrifice an opportunity to upgrade that critical position because they would prefer to make sure they are 3 deep in goal is simply not a smart calculation. They need help at D now, they have a commodity they can move, and if they hope to get anything in return before it's too late they will move him ASAP.

Now, the Sabres have a surplus of defensemen. Two of them are going to be UFA's at the end of the year, Tallinder and Lydman, and both will not be resigned in the offseason. The Sabres also have a very serious need for a quality backup goalie, with Lalime sporting a groin injury, coming off double hip and hernia surgery in the off season, and carrying terrible statistics when he has played, and only a very young rookie as the other option, it would be both in the best interests of the Sabres as well as the Islanders to make this deal before the Olympic break.

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

There have been plenty of teams that have used their 23 roster spots in ways other than the traditional 14-7-2 split.

And if the Islanders have proven anything over the years, it is that they are unafraid to think outside the box.

With regards to DiPietro himself, the Islanders are obviously going to take it very slowly with him given his history of rushing back only to get re-injured.

Just look at his injury timeline from last season:

4/12/2009
Missed the last 41 games of the regular season (swollen right knee).
1/08/2009
Swollen right knee, day-to-day.
1/02/2009
Missed 3 games (groin).
12/27/2008
Groin, day-to-day.
12/26/2008
Missed 27 games (knee surgery).
10/27/2008
Lower body injury, day-to-day.
10/13/2008
Missed 2 games (knee injury).
9/22/2008
Knee injury, early October.

The Islanders will not rush DiPietro back to flip Biron for a mediocre UFA-to-be defenseman like Tallinder.

They can get by with 13 forwards on the roster for a bit while they wait and see if DiPietro can stay healthier for longer than a week once he is activated off of LTIR.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

FYI,

The Olympic break is essentially the trade deadline this year as the Olympic break ends on 3/1 and the trade deadline is 3/3.

February
14- Final games before NHL begins Olympic break.
16 - Olympic men's hockey tournament opens in Vancouver.
28 - Gold Medal Game at mens's Olympic Hockey tournament.

March
1 - NHL season resumes.
3 - 2009-10 NHL trade deadline.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I wouldnt be Opposed in any way to see Biron back. I would be excited, he is a perfect fit for this team I believe

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LETS GO BUFFALO!

The big problem is that 1) Marty will want more than back-up minutes and 2) what will Darcy be able to do with Lalime?

Darcy coud just buy Lalime out, put him on waviers or just falt out release him

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just call me Brad

Twitter @BUrbanowicz13

Hedberg.

He's better than Lalime, he can be lights-out in the shootout (more often than not), and he's a veteran.

When Lehtonen comes back in a month or so (month? Shit, how long is he out anyways?), they'll have no room for all three. Pavelec has proven his worth, Lethonen is their proven starter, and Hedberg...well, Moose will probably get shopped. I don't think the Sabres will have to put together something spectacular to get him, and I think he'd be a helluva pick-up for the Sabres.

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mechaphil

Where would Lalime go, though? Can anyone think of any teams that would be interested?

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

lalimes trade value is so low.. even if someone took him, it would be for a career AHLer.


MIKA NORONEN!

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Lalime could just get bought out. It's only a couple mil. Do it, Darcy.

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mechaphil

His buyout would be less than $1M, spread out over this season and next.

Even better!

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mechaphil

Awesome. Let's dump him and pick up Hedberg or Marty.

Green Acres Sabres over at Mil-Sher would be very interested.......

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

couldnt the sabres send him down to "mentor" enroth? whats the worst that can happen? he gets claimed?

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