I don't know what to say. I think a lot of this is ridiculous, especially when you can tell by the way they're playing who's putting in an effort and who isn't.

Clark may have slowed his scoring pace, but he's still noticeable out there. He's making things happen by using his speed.

Butler, while he has a poor +/- stat, seemingly isn't prone to giveaways. He's very good with the break out pass, he plays physical, and he's often playing against the top lines in the league.

If Vanek showed some movement (I haven't seen the Philly game at this point) and a little bit of heart out there, he wouldn't be on my shit list.

Does it partially have to do with his pay? Absolutely.

If you run a business, and you bring in a sales manager to increase your revenue and pay him royally, he better produce.

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Wheelhouse

I think the ZOMGPAYCHECK arguments are dying down now, and more rational heads are prevailing in regards to the Vanek hate - regardless of putting up points, he isn't showing the drive and passion he has in the past, and that's where most of the criticism has come from. And it is 100% justified.

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mechaphil

DING DING DING DING DING!

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Wheelhouse

The sad thing is right now, if you replaced Vanek with Ennis, does anyone here really think the team gets worse?

Maybe I'm being overdramatic. But Vanek could probably bring back some decent peices in a trade too. Not that anyone would really want that 6.4 cap hit or whatever it is

Just for the record, I'd like someone to dig up the first round pick Edmonton chose for the last three season, just to see who we could have gotten if we let Edmonton take him.

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mechaphil

On it boss.

2007: Sam Gagner (6th overall)
2008: Jordan Eberle (22nd overall)
2009: Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson (10th overall)
2010: TBD

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Except for Eberle, I like the hell out of both of those. I know Gagner is doing pretty well, and Paajarvi (I can't do umlauts on my laptop ) looks to be one ridiculous powerplay quarterback.

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mechaphil

Easy Solution: Have Vanek talk to Ellis about work ethic... clone Ellis' brain.. put into vanek.

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The Board Drunk.

So crazy it just might work!"

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mechaphil

The only thing I'm not sure on is, would we have gotten all of their 2007 first round draft picks or only one for each year. Because they had 3 first rounders in 2007.

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Rules state that we would have gotten their first round pick for four years, so they would have kept the first round picks they acquired from other teams. The only one the Oilers would have coughed up is the one they owned in the first place.

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mechaphil

Would the Sabres have made the same picks or a player taken after that position in the draft, also, would Vanek being on the Oilers have altered their record enough to change those positions?

You cannot base any information on the potential draft picks with out the previous questions being answered and since the answers would be theoritical, its all a moot point. But hey, speculation is fun

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Sam Gagner would have been a no brainer to pick up.

The 22nd pick could have been used for some more trade bait actually. The 10th pick, not totally sure if they would have picked him or not? Could have used both of our first rounds last year and traded up also.

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Not necessarily Skyline, lets Buf trades both thier 1st round pick and Edmonton's 1st round pick with a 2nd and 3rd rounder for the NY Islanders 1st round pick (1st overall) this past draft. That drastically changes everything, we get Taveres, but no Myers. And so on. For every action there is a reaction.

Who really knows, we could have made the same deal the previous draft with Tampa and gotten Staimkos, think of that, Staimkos and Taveres on the Sabres.............Now this I like

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Hell yes speculation is fun

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mechaphil

Hehehe I know, thats why I post about speculative trades by the Sabres, I like it too.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

I didn't notice that at first slesh about not getting Myers.

But Stamkos is tearing it up right now.

Get rid of our first rounders this year to move up and grab Tavares would have been awesome. We would have had a higher first rounder also, and with the tenth from the Oilers, that is still a good pickup.

I think if we had let Vanek go, we would have had a higher pick in 2007 also. And in the top 10 overall. Good trade bait I would think. And if we wanted Myers that year we would have got him no matter what too.

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Agreed Skyline, thats why when I was screaming for Buffalo to let Edmonton have him for the 4 1st round picks I wasn't Vanek hating, I was Sabres loving .
I wish I were GM, I may fuck up, but hey, I think outside of the box, I may put together a team that runs with a core of guys that grab the cup 5 out of 10 years

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Yea slesh.

But you would have never known if the first overall pick would have been able to of been had from three first, and second and third though.

I think if we had let Vanek go and got Edmonton's firsts, the team would have a very solid core in place in about 4 more years, but we would have to endure a rebuilding phase right now still, and wouldn't have some of the offense and defense we have now though.

Also pure speculation, without Vanek of course.

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My problem is the way he plays. He simply isn't a threat. Without even mentioning his liability on defense, he just doesn't pose a threat for offense.

Now if you're a "casual" fan, and you just look at stats at the end of the season and don't actually watch the games, you'll say that he's not so bad.

I remember the Atlanta game this season. I was sitting in the Sabres shooting end and we were on the powerplay. Vanek is SITTING on the Thrasher's blue line while the THRASHERS are cycling the puck while WE are on the powerplay. He was booed...and a lot of the stands were yelling "oh Vanek you suck" dadada...Then all of a sudden, we get it to him on a perfect open net pass, and he scores.

Now it's "omg teh best player evar!"

He plays a game without a care in the world for his team, and only to pad his stats. That's it.

And now on offense...he only scores when he is force fed the goals. You or me could score those goals!

I'm not sure if he skates the entire length of the ice COMBINED in a single game. Players like Goose and Ellis skate it 100 times over.