I normally don't criticize Darcy too much, but last summer he needed to sign a d-man. Specifically, he needed someone that could replace Spacek's shot on the PP as well as wanting to add toughness to the roster.

I thought Kurt Foster was a very good option for Buffalo due to a low price tag. His market value was low because he missed almost a year after a broken femur, and Minnesota wound up with a stacked blue line that couldn't fit him in as he tried to return to top game shape. Prior to the injury he was (is) a big guy with a big shot that produced on the PP.

Darcy went after Montador instead, going for toughness, but at a higher price. Montador signed for 1.5 mil while Foster signed for 600k. Here are their player pages to compare stats, but to sum it up Foster has 28 pts (mostly on the PP) and is an even rating with 32 PIM, while Montador has 16 pts and is a -5 with 59 PIM.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/261 ... rqcf1ivLYF


http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/2962

After signing for only 600k with TB, it's obvious that Darcy could've signed Foster if he thought highly enough of him. Even if Foster had a personal preference, an extra 200-400k would've easily infuenced him to sign in Buffalo, and Darcy still could've saved at least 500k in cap room.

It's easy to look back now, but in all seriousness who would you guys have tried to sign at the time, Montador or Foster?

I think at the time Montador looked like a more reliable option with no injury to worry about and a higher percentage of games played the past few seasons.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I like the Montador pick. It was the safe one.

As far as the power play goes, I think Darcy was playing his odds and hoping that either Myers or Sekera would be ready to run the point.

And he was right.

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Wheelhouse

Myers has replaced Spacek on the blueline with his point shots and on the Powerplay.

And criticize all you want, but Rivet is also a beast on the Point during the PP, he'll jump right into plays and get shots on net, he might not get as many points, but has done fine back there.

Roy on the point is also a pretty good thing, Connolly and Roy are a better option then Pominville for sure.

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I would have said Foster then and now, but changed my mind to Montador temporarily in between. If that makes any sense.

Myers has done well with point shots, but he is FAR from running the PP. If that job was being taken care of, Ruff wouldn't be trying Roy back there right now, and Matt Cullen wouldn't have been on the radar. Even with Myers, there needs to be someone else to get shots through. We all know there's two PP groups, right?

Montador was doing ok on the PP, but he still only has 1 PP pt all season. We need someone that is a true PP QB and another guy that can shoot like Kotalik (but NOT Kotalik).

You're correct, but I wasn't referring to just this year. Myers will get better and better at it.

A QB would definitely help, but ultimately I think if they focus on strong team play during their entrances, they'll be just fine. The power play is getting better and better.

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Wheelhouse