So the trade deadline is getting closer, with the Olympics putting the kabash on any movement for most of Feb. I think now would be a good time to look at our UFA's.

Hanrik Tallinder
What do we do here? Hank has played very well this season. If we resign, at what price?
If we don't resign, do we ride the combination of him and Myers to the playoffs or deal him by the deadline?
Interesting situation here, I would like to resign him to a 2 year extension.

Toni Lydman
I truly believe he is a good defenseman, but I don't see him getting resigned, age is a factor as well. Deal him at the deadline? Who would step in, Sekera?

Paetsch
This one is an unusual situation, he is a true team guy, does whatever is asked of him, Defense, Forward. I don't know, is he tradable at the deadline, or would it be better to keep him in case of injury? I don't see the Sabres resigning him in the off season.

Mike Grier
35 yrs old and I say resign him, but what will the organization do? I say they resign him, anyone have thoughts on this?

Adam Mair
Mair has been a favorite of Ruff's, very hard working hockey player, but I don't see the Sabres resigning him. He may be packaged in a deadline deal, but I doubt it. Thoughts?

Matt Ellis
Ellis is a very hard choice for me. Great hard worker, but is he worth the roster spot?

Lalime
Bye-Bye

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

Re-sign Tallinder for another year, re-sign Grier for two years (I guarantee he'll retire a Sabre that way), deal Lydman at the deadline in a package (makes me sad to say that ), let Paetsch walk, let Mair walk, let Lalime walk.

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mechaphil

Yeah, Paetsch cleared waivers. You're not getting anything in a trade for him. Resign Hank, but keep it reasonable. He's a shutdown defenseman with little offense. That shouldn't command too high a price tag. Resign Grier. Two years sounds good, Phil. I can see Lydman being dealt at the deadline. I bet Mair walks, as well as Ellis. Unless they plan on keeping the kids down on the farm for another year. Then one of those two might stick around.

Ham

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Do you believe yet?

Tallinder - don't do anything with him until the summer. He's playing to well to trade him, and worse yet to break up that pairing with Myers. A strong playoff team needs to keep what's going good. In the summer I would plan to let him walk in favor of a younger, same price or cheaper d-man that can play the point on the PP. If that looks like it won't happen, then re-sign Tallinder for two years.

Lydman - don't deal him since, again, he's playing well on a team that will be a strong playoff team. In the summer let him walk in favor of bringing up Weber, who is a natural replacement.

Paetsch - deal him at the deadline if possible, but I doubt it. He'll stay on the roster until the summer.

Grier - keep him until the summer and if he wants to stay sign him for one year.

Mair - tough call at the trade deadline. I would shop him if there's enough confidence in Kennedy to perform in the playoffs. I doubt that, and I doubt that Mair would bring any trade value anyway. He'll probably stay, and be needed in the playoffs, and then walk in the summer.

Ellis - keep him and re-sign him for one or two more seasons. He would be needed if Mair and/or Grier leave. We can't have a bunch of smurfs like Ennis and Gerbe (in addition to Kennedy, Pominville, etc..) without keeping some gritty forecheckers.

Lalime - I'm not real sure about Enroth, who has one more year before becoming an RFA. There is time to wait and decide on Enroth, so re-signing Lalime is worth a thought. Picking up an established solid back-up will likely cost more than the one mil that Lalime would earn, and Darcy probably won't have extra cap space to throw that way. I'm ok bringing him back for one more season.

I'd say let them all walk.

Not really though.

Tallinder can stay for a reasonable amount.

Lydman, let him walk at the end of the year, let Weber get his shot.

Grier, sign him to a one year deal until he retires.

Ellis, keep him for his work ethic and his bit of grit.

Mair, not really sure with him.

Patches, let him walk, worst comes to worst he'll be playing on another NHL team for cheap also.

Lalime, depends on how well Enroth is doing at the end of the year. Let him walk if another better option comes in.

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Lalime isn't the answer...while we want to show faith in him as an organization, the players obviously don't. We need something new, and I don't think Enroth is the answer either. Tallinder stays, due to his "comeback tour" with Myers, I'd love to keep Lydman, because I really don't see us getting anything better (we have more pressing issues at the backup goaltender spot). Sign Grier with a blood pact. Ellis, Mair, and Patches can all pack their shit...if we had to keep one, it'd be Mair. Last I heard he wasn't beating his wife any more, so he's about due for a fight.

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Resign Hank, Grier, and Ellis. Trade Loods at the deadline.

Hank has been playing good this season but what about the past couple. it seems we have a few too many players who like to only come alive their contract year. if there is a better free agent (volchenkov might be avail) out there or we can land a consistent defenseman i say kiss hank, loods, mair goodbye. Obviously this would involve trading a prospect as well like sekera. if not resign hank to a one year deal. i like ellis and would keep him over mair any day. and grier the sabres would be stupid not to resign him. he's been a policeman for this team keeping everyone in check. a captain without the C. as for lalime, marty will be available and is willing to accept a back up role. let the man retire here in buffalo, sign marty and ship out the Lalime.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

Ham, I agree with all of your assessments but on Hank.

He's one of our strongest skaters, and he moves the puck up the ice well in transition. I totally agree we need to resign him, probably around 2.5M per for 3 years. He and Myers work so well together I'd hate to split them up until we are able to get or groom a younger defensive man that mirrors his game. Hank still has about 3 or 4 good years under him. He's avoided lower body injuries most of his career.

Grier I'd say resign, UNLESS his cap hit, could be used to sign a FA that is similar to his game, but closer to their prime. (very few players fit that mold)

I'd honestly like to see us deal both Lydman and Sekera at the deadline and keep Paetsch around as a 7th defensive man. He knows the system, works hard, and reminds me of a younger Lydman.

Gerbe and Ennis are both ready to crack this line up, but neither of them are 3rd or 4th line guys, so I'm not sure what I feel about ridding ourselves of Mair and Ellis.

MacArthur will probably be moved at the draft, because like I stated before Gerbe and Ennis are ready.

What I'm thinking for next season, our lineup will look something like this

Vanek-Connolly-Stafford
Gerbe-Roy-Pommer
Hecht-Kennedy-Grier
x-Goose-Kaleta

Possibly fill that spot with McCormick, Cowan, or even Paetsch

Rivet-Butler
Myers-Hank
Montador-Weber
Paetsch

Miller
Marty Biron

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

Squanto 7/27/2010

I don't see too much disagreement on Hank between us. 2.5M each for 3 years seems right about what I was thinking.

Ham

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Do you believe yet?

I wouldnt give Hank 3 years. I'm a little worried about giving him 2 years. Ellis and Grier shuld be re-signed and the rest can walk.

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Driver of the Tyler Ennis Bandwagon, Ridin' shotgun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon, chillin' on the Luke Adam Bandwagon


Eh

I'm sure there will be offers made by the Sabres to keep Hank and Loods. Much like how they handled Spacek and then go from there.

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

Definitely gone: Lalime

Probably gone: Tallinder, Lydman

Probably kept: Paetsch, Mair, Ellis

Definitely kept: Grier

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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.

Ya definetly keep Grier, they should sign him for 2-3 years for around 1.5 mil a year.

Guys, I'm pretty sure that after this year, Hank will want more than 2.5 a year. Just sayin'....

If Mair and Paetsch were already waived this year, meaning anyone could have had them for free; then why would we want to re sign them?

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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.

especially when ellis is better than mair. paestch was kind of a numbers game. but i think we have better talent in weber. and volchenkov might be available if he is anything special i know he's a physical defenseman.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

And the flipside to the above:

If Mair and Patches were already waived, meaning anyone could've had them for free AND DIDN'T TAKE THEM, what makes anyone think a team would GIVE UP anything for them in trade?


.

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“This is a good building to play in,” Roy said. “It’s kind of quiet.”

-- forward Derek Roy, following the Sabres' 2-1 OT win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Jan. 14, 2010, a game where the home team drew just over 11,000 fans {the ninth time in 22 home games they failed to draw 12,000}

something we gotta think about

end of two more seasons, it will be myers needing a new contract, and we need to keep space for him

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PSA: I am an overly sarcastic person. If you take me at my word, then i will most likely anger and offend you.