nfreeman

Who's to say that this season is a floor? Who's to say that if he signs a $45MM contract, he doesn't get fat and stay up until 3:00 AM every night getting baked and playing xbox? He's 21 and has probably lived a pretty entitled athlete life. I'd say the number of kids who are mature enough at that age to stay dedicated and levelheaded after signing a contract guaranteeing them that kind of cash is a pretty small percentage. Imma flip it around on you: do you think GMTM is going to give him a long-term deal? My point in bringing that up was simply that it's hard to rely on that trainwreck year as a reliable indicator of what kind of player Risto is and will develop into.

I just think you are assuming too much about a player with 2 full NHL seasons under his belt, one of which was one of the worst seasons any team has ever had and the other of which was still well out of the playoffs. And I don't see any need to make that assumption. Yes, PK got more than he would've gotten, but he's still an elite player, and they didn't have to pay him until he'd put up 5 solid NHL seasons -- and just about any team in the NHL would take PK and his contract. OTOH, there are very few teams that would take Myers' contract right now (and there would be even fewer if the salary for the rest of the term matched the cap hit).

But if ROR is on Stammer's line, who's to say that ROR won't handle center defensive responsibilities in the defensive zone? I'd guess that if Stammer really does have issues with preferring center to wing, those issues are related to offensive zone play, not defensive zone play. ROR-Stamkos-Ennis Kane-Eichel-Reino I'll admit that the 2nd line doesn't have a Kopitar or Toews, but how many 2nd lines do? And I want to see that top 6 on opening night real bad.

Was Barr's contract up?

Why not have Stamkos as the #1 center, Eichel as #2 center and Reino and ROR on the wings, along with Ennis and Kaner to complete the top 6? Are we really going to say no to Stamkos just because we want to keep ROR at center? Not sure what this means. I'm kinda hoping to see a lot of volume scoring from Kaner.

I don't think the Sabres would be interested in a 5-year deal. I'd guess that if they want a deal longer than 3 years, they'll want to "buy" more than one year of Risto's UFA period. I think a lot of people (including me) thought this about Myers. Now, I still like Myers, but I definitely wouldn't give him the fat 10-year contract that DR gave him (or even a 5-year contract for that matter).

I may be in the minority here, but I'd rather give Risto a bridge deal than a fat 8-year contract. He's only 21 -- we have no idea whether he'll continue to improve, how he'll respond to the pressure of being the #1 defenseman on a playoff team and (hopefully!) cup contender, etc. He has 4 more full seasons to play before being eligible for UFA. I would give him a 3-year deal and make him prove that he's the stud we hope he is. When that deal expires, he'll still be an RFA and the Sabres can control the situation and, if he's worth it, give him a fat contract that will cover pretty much all of his prime.

Well, I like what is developing too, but let's not forget that the Sabres finished tied for 25th in scoring last year. They certainly haven't arrived at a spot where they don't need a guy like Stamkos.

So you're saying there's a chance.

You're probably right. Roy might be fooled by it though.

I will be shocked if Stamkos doesn't get max term (i.e. 7 years, or 8 if it's TB) and $10MM+ per year.

Not likely. But maybe: Zemgus + Bailey + Gorges + #8 for Barrie + #10?

It does seem like a Zemgus-plus-sweeteners-for-Barrie deal is out there, innit?

But the question included "where would Stamkos want to go". Carolina is probably bottom 5 in his personal preference ranking.

You have got to be kidding me.

In response to this and to dudacek's post regarding Zemgus in a different thread: I'm kinda starting to expect this, especially once Stamkos signs with the Sabres.

The fried egg really puts it over the top, innit?

I agree. No need to rush a decision on Zemgus.

Put Ennis as the winger to be named later with ROR and Stammer, and switch Kaner and Girgy (which I would've thought was obvious) and I will be EXTREMELY psyched for opening night. And Yandle plus Gogo instead of Stamkos is like preferring 2 quarters to a silver dollar.

Very nice.

His coach doesn't appear to think so -- Fowler had more ice time during the regular season and the playoffs (with a bigger spread in the playoffs), and their scoring stats were pretty much identical.

Well, many knowledgeable hockey writers have opined that Anaheim is going to trade one of its good young defensemen. Bottom line is that they are a budget-constrained team and it is entirely reasonable to think they won't be able to pay all of them. With that as the context, I don't see any compelling reason why Lindholm would be materially less likely than the others to be traded -- particularly when GMTM starts swinging for the fences. You're really asking for a dissection of your predictions in that thread, innit? Perhaps when I have some time this weekend.

The bolded is certainly well supported in the politics thread on this board.

I can't disagree with the bolded, and as I've mentioned before I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that there is a high likelihood of the wheels coming off this season. But I still think he is a completely honest and sincere person who wants to be here and lift this franchise out of the quicksand, and I can't help rooting for him. As for the organizational pushback -- absolutely -- but given the mediocrity and incompetence displayed for a generation from those pushing back, I couldn't care less about them being unhappy. Frankly, my ideal scenario for this season is a shocking drive to 11-5 and 2 playoff wins, with TT looking like Vick 2.0, followed by Rex winning a power struggle and forcing out RB, DW, Overdorf and the rest of the lifetime-tenured bozos at OBD.

McDonagh is not available. The source for that theory is Larry Brooks, who is not credible, and who is merely speculating about what might happen.