The Sabres don't have one. Period. No swagger, no confidence, no go to player that makes us sit on the edge of our seats when the pucks on his stick.

Having one would completely change the dynamic of this hockey club, and if it took trading Tallinder AND Lydman tomorrow to bring one in, I wouldn't hesitate.

We need somebody that makes the opposing defensemen hold their sticks a little tighter when he's out on the ice. We need somebody who doesn't miss wide open opportunities.

We need somebody who will make the plays we need to score goals on the power play.

Send Roy and one of our UFA defensemen for him. I don't care.

Just fucking get it done.

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Wheelhouse

Theres "no sellers"

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"Ah...composite sticks...you can't beat 'em...unless you have a wooden one..."-Harry Neale

In Pegula We We Trust!

Lydman and Stafford for Horton + prospect.

WHY NOT, FLORIDA?!

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Wheelhouse

If Florida was selling Horton, and St. Louis was selling Kariya, I'd say make it fucking happen. Changes the dynamic of the forwards and defensemen. But it's highly unlikely that neither are going anywhere.

Stafford and Tallinder to Florida; MacArthur and Lydman to St. Louis if need be..just get it done.

Just for shits and giggles, Pominville and a 2nd to Carolina for Joe Corvo...why not?

But..."there's no deals."

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mechaphil

florida has prospects.

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

They need to do something.... and we have our superstar... Thomas Vanek... our $7 million dollar man... whhhooo is invisible... what needs to happen to get this guy back to form? he has the talent... whats the deal?

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"there's no deals" = Quinn took my phone away and won't let me play with the other GMs

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You're already paying a pure goal-scorer. Can this team afford another?? No.

Tonight I noticed some VERY familiar words from RJ. They were, "Vanek tries to get away....AND FAILS". Maybe you guys will start noticing this more often now. I think our GM failed us in two ways with this guy. One, he waited too long to get him signed, then the offer sheet; two, he matched an absurd offer, which ultimately ruined the guy, because it raised expectations higher than La Tour Eiffel. I used to be a huge Vanek fan, but he just ain't what I had hoped(it had to be the contract, imo).

If you want a goal-scorer, then Vanek has to go. Is he movable with his contract and bad year, probably not. It's ok though, as some people say, we are LUCKY to have had Ruff and Regier to screw shit up.

I still blame Quinn!!! stiff....

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Florida doesn't want a UFA d-man, they need to rebuild. Why would they take a player they don't want and another player (Stafford) that isn't as good as Horton?

Corvo is a UFA this summer, so unless he plans on signing long term with Buffalo that is a useless trade. I'm all for going after him in the summer though.

You may very well be correct. If anyone was behind the sell them bs to get their asses in the seats, it's him. The only time I didn't feel this way was when he stole the microphone from Darcy to publicly ADMIT we wouldn't be as good without D&D. Darcy was pulling our puds, and he stopped him dead in his tracks. This is why I blame Regier mostly.

I just think Quinn has the cuffs on Darcy... I remember Darcy making moves pre Quinn... Gillmore... Joey someone with a decent name for a season or two.... and a few others around that time frame.... but since its been the likes of Zubrus (who I really liked and hoped they would resign)... Moore... and Bernier.... none of which we kept around....

they simply need to do something... the hockey for the past few months has been bad... uninspired... weak .... non-physical... wussy hockey....

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Well, you better hope Zach Kassian is hockey Jesus part 2, because we got no help coming in that department. We got Roy and Pominville part 2 in the pipeline is all. I wonder if our fearless GM has ever watched the Perry-Getzlaf-Ryan line play? I've 'video scouted' them, and size, grit, power, and skill is quite a good combo. Much better than tiny, weak, pussified, and skilled.

I'm not going to make a post on my total view of Vanek, trust me, i'm done with that for good...for the better.

But my friends and I think RJ has a few buttons in the booth that are set to "And Vanek fails to get away" and "Vanek couldn't reach it in time" and "vanek couldn't get a stick on it"

It is even more noticable than Nbc's "DRIVE!!!"

Unless a defensemen makes a major mistake, NO ONE on this hockey team, save maybe Connolly sometimes, can make a play.

I'm a big fan of the bruisers, but we need a scorer on this team that can make things happen and plays with ALL elements of the game. They are out there, trust me. Costly? Yes. But we pay a lot of people to do very little anyways.

I have to say... I loved watching team USA play... that was a gritty, heart filled team that loved to work... grind it out in the corners .... with one HELL of a goalie... and it made me miss Dury and want Backus,lol....why can't we have one line like that team... one line.... why do we have so many undersized guys.... I like 'em.... don't get me wrong... and if the big guys actually PLAYED around them it may be better... but guys like Stafford, Hect, Vanek, and even Goose lately simply do not use their god given size to grind it out... WHY?! wimps... go get the Hanson Brothers...

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Ya, but it has become epic, and you've been a good sport about it. lol

Hey, don't talk about 'the core' like that. lol

Maybe Goose shouldn't be in the group of big softies, or purse swingers.

I know he busted his hand up trying to beat someone and I appreciate that from him... BUT he HAS been carrying a bit of a purse lately .... i mean he at least has a fanny pack on... but he is eyeing Stafford's purse...

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You say we are already paying a natural goal scorer, to which i agree, and the sad part is he is getting less than other pure goal scorers. As well it probably is mostly quinn's fault, but darcy i think has fallen in love with a few players as well. Either way we are handcuffed by a couple overpayments starting with pominville and hecht. where pittsburgh has their money spread in three guys Staal, crosby, and Malkin, a goalie, and a defender currently gonchar, who will be leaving probably which will allow for letang to be re-signed. They haven't overpaid anyone, and my guess is Ponikarovsky replaces the likes of fedetanko, and tangradi will replace guerin. I mean staal for 4 mill a year, kunitz for near the same. Yet we give pominville 5 mill and he falters. the guy played like he was worth it two seasons ago. now it's a weight preventing the rest of the team from breathing. pominville is meant to be that other goal scorer. stafford the tough winger, and macarthur the rising scorer. unless i'm blind i don't see any of them filling that role.

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

That's what I'm saying. This guy has painted himself into a corner. He has no one of value(unless someone is running 'The Wizard of Oz', and needs oompa loompa extras). Think about it:

Vanek-over-paid, bad year
Stafford- underacheiver, gets 2 mill next year
Roy-most tradeable, as we have two more midgets in the pipeline.
Connolly-high priced, injury prone
Pominville-fogettaboutit
Hecht-haha
Goose-only guy we should keep
Grier-how many teams balked at him in UFA
Mair-couldn't give him away
Ennis-has value, but is tiny
Gerbe-see Ennis
Weber-inconsistent
Enroth-see Weber
Kassian-long ways away.
Loods-UFA
Tallinder-UFA
Myers-keep your filthy hands off him you ape
Capt. Craig-older, may have some value, but you lose your capt.
Suckera-Gonna need him to replace the UFA guys
Butler-who knows. He may have some trade value.