One big hurdle to overcome is the Sabres current cap situation.

http://www.capgeek.com/tracker/team.php ... 2010-01-08

The Sabres have just under $1.8M is available cap space to use for the remainder of the season.

Ilya Kovalchuk [for discussion purposes] has $3.11M in remaining salary for 2009-10.

So, the Sabres would have to move out, at a minimum, around $1.3M in remaining salary to make space.

One deal that adds Kovalchuk, would put the Sabres just under the cap, and would be in line with what the Penguins gave to Atlanta to rent Hossa [2 roster forwards, a former 1st round forward, and a 1st round pick] would be Stafford, MacArthur, Tyler Ennis, and a 1st round pick.

The Sabres would be left with around $200k or so in cap space if that move were made soon.

Sending Paetsch to Portland for the remainder of the season would clear $400k. But, calling up Gerbe would cost the same amount as having Paetsch on the roster……..

So, in theory, the Sabres could delete Stafford, MacArthur, and Paetsch and add Kovalchuk and Gerbe to the roster and it would fit within the cap space that they have today. But, it would be really tight and could make responding to injuries tough…….

Also, Martin St. Louis has $2.557M left this year and Lecavalier has $3.763M left this season: http://www.capgeek.com/tracker/team.php ... 2010-01-08

Another interesting swap to debate might be Vanek straight up for Kovalchuk…….

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I don't want the Sabres adding any rental players while giving up quality prospects. At least, not this year.

Ham

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Do you believe yet?

I'd trade Vanek for Kovy, but I doubt they want his salary !!

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"I don't feel like Satan, but I am to them"
Neil Young

I'm not going to watch Stafford and MacArthur go away without a fight. Move 3 or 4 other 3rd or 4th liners so they can stay

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You can't trade rowboats for battleships.

Plus, there aren't 3rd and 4th liners that make enough to clear significant cap space.

Unless you want to talk about moving Gaustad, which I doubt the Sabres will do.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

Vanek might be someone they would try and use to replace Kovalchuk since Kovy is an UFA-to-be that has yet to ink an extension.

With Vanek being signed long term, the Thrashers would be getting an NHL forward with marquee player potential.

After losing Hossa for futures and Savard for nothing, the Thrashers might be down with something like Vanek for Kovy or a player or two from Chicago for Kovy.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I know Vanek has not performed to his potential this year, but if we trade him for kovy we will have no offensive threats at all next year. This team will not sign anyone else come free agency and kovy will be gone to a team with deep pockets. I think if were to trade Vanek for anyone it should be a lower salary prime aged player plus prospect kind of deal.

Moving Goose = VERY bad idea. Bad bad bad BAD idea.

I know some will look at me like I have a bad case of mental constipation here, but I wouldn't want Kovy on this team. St. Louis, although seems to get the job done in Tampa, I don't find him being the same impact player here. He is what we already have had our fair share of in the past. A small forward. Now, we have some smaller guys in our lineup, but they fit the bill. They are small but they play big. In Marty's case, to me, his better years are behind him. Bringing him in as a rent-a-player and risking some of our future trading assets doesn't agree with my mind.

With Kovy, he has a lot of speed, a killer shot, some sweet hands, and an ego the size of Alaska. As someone stated in a previous thread, he would be out there doing his own thing, soon enough to find himself in Lindy's dog house and I wouldn't wanna pony up for $10 mil./year for a healthy scratch.

If the boys who are our top 6 would all consistently start getting it done, technically we wouldn't need to add a big scorer.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

I wouldn't go after Kovy, and especially not giving up Stafford and MacArthur who in terms of percentage of cap vs. percentage of production are among the biggest bargains on our roster.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Majority rules, no kovy

I'm not trading for anything - there aren't any "battleships" available. Kovy is the USS Cole (please excuse the reference). Yeah, he's got guns, but he's got a glaring fuckin hole, too.

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Kovy is 6th in the league in goals (25) and 11th in points (47).

The Sabres team leader in goals (Vanek) is tied for 74th in the league right now with 12.

The Sabres team leader in points (Connolly) is tied for 37th in the league right now with 37.

I don't see a glaring hole with Kovalchuk outside of being a rental and whether this Sabres team is in the right position to "Go all in" and get a guy like that.

I think that Kovy would play like a man possessed if he got traded to the Sabres as he would have a great stage to improve his value before hitting the UFA market in the summer.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

I would not be happy if Kovalchuk came here. He'd be terrible in this system, and he already doesn't like Ruff.

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Wheelhouse

Extremely irresponsible defensively. He's put up 47 points, but is still a -4.

He doesn't fit into the defensive brand of hockey that Lindy has them playing.

Kovie no, but there is another player in Atlanta that would do well in our system, Colby Armstrong...he's a UFA too, and could be just as available at the deadline.

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

Squanto 7/27/2010

If you look at the +/- stats of the Thrashers, -4 isn't all that bad for a guy that is eating a ton of minutes for Atlanta.

And as far as how defensively responsible he is, it's hard to say as he's never been on a team like the Sabres.

But if you look at what the Sabres need to improve upon, I would say that the PP is high on the list. And I would be stunned if Kovy couldn't provide a major boost to the Sabres PP as he likes to play the left point as the shooter on the PP.

I could see him making Vanek a lot better on the PP if he's getting fed one timers on the left point.

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Sabres Hockey: Commitment to Mediocrity

A few games ago, I would have agreed in full with this, however, I think under James Patrick, and the new Power Play system we're running, we've been explosive on the PP. Especially against Colorado, and Toronto. Granted at the deadline, if we're struggling again, I'd be all for bringing Kovie in, but not for what his speculated value will be. Especially not with the depth of talent in the next few drafts.

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

Squanto 7/27/2010

No doubt that he could help out the PP, even with the recent successes they've had

I still wouldn't take him in a rental situation though.

erik cole please.

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Colby Armstrong is the biggest cherry picker in the league. I've been to two Sabres Thrashers games and all he does is skate circles near our blue line. No thanks.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual