apuszczalowski

Its being said the Bruins and Blues have inquired but he doesn't want to waive his NMC to go to either and wants to stay a Flyer

Not vague enough, try 'Some team to make a roster move today

With Florida, I just don't see them looking for a possibly short term solution in net right now that they would have to give up some good assets for or else they would have already pulled the trigger on Luongo. They are in the same position as Buffalo right now in the standings so I don't think they are trying to make a run this year. As for Tampa, I can't see them willing to give up a potential 22 year old franchise defencemen who plays over 20 minutes a night for them right now for a few seasons of Miller. I can see them making an offer that includes picks and some good prospects, maybe one of their forwards, but not a former 2nd overall pick who is playing well for them right now. I see Detroit as the best option, and getting Howard plus in return is not bad. I would assume part of the deal would be conditional on the Sabres being able to re-sign Howard, who will buy them time while they continue to rebuild the rest of the team. Howard is a goalie that is "good enough" to win on a good team, but he hasn't consistently shown yet that he can be a guy who can carry a team and win on a bad team. I could see Philly trying to offer a deal to the Sabres that would involve sending Bryz over in return. I think in a smaller market like Buffalo, he could be good enough if kept, or they could take Bryz while also requesting something better because they would be doing Philly a favour and buy him out after this year. Problem is that I don't think Buffalo should (or would) want to trade Miller to a team in the East. in the west, another option would be the Oilers who could part with a young forward to solidify their goaltending. What I have been trying to say (I'm not in favour of trading any of those 3 guys by the way) is that if a move is going to be made before the deadline with a team looking to make a run, your not going to get anything more then prospects and picks in return, because none of these teams are going to give up something that could hurt their chances this year. You might have a chance at getting something better from a team in the offseason where teams can still make other moves in FA and the draft to replace players and fill holes.

I'm not undervaluing anyoneDo you really think the Lightning would deal their 22 year old #2 overall pick defencemen from a couple of years ago for a few seasons of Miller without wanting the Sabres to throw in more to the deal? With the Redwings, they would be sending a decent goalie back, along with a pick (I would assume something high) or a good prospect. How much do you expect to get for basically downgrading your goaltending a bit for a younger cheaper goalie? Was it because I don't understand why the Sabres would want to give up Miller but the Panthers, similar in the standings would want to give up stuff for him when they could just as likely get Luongo back?

your getting a decent, but not great goalie back plus a prospect/picksI'm not undervaluing Miller, its just that returns on trades aren't usually star for star, The Redwings won't be giving up anything valuable off their roster if they are trying to make a run, and if they aren't trying to make a run, they probably won't want to trade for Miller. You might get a couple of picks and/or a couple of mid level prospect including Howard. What would you expect to get back in return for just downgrading your goaltending a bit?

usually the game threads where they lose you will see alot of people come on who don't post here regularly to tell us how bad things are and to whine and complain about how things need to be changed, those people usually stay away during a win.

Why would the Panthers, one point ahead of the Sabres with a game in hand sitting 3rd from teh bottom of the East, be a good fit for trading Miller, yet the Sabres keeping him wouldn't be a good idea? If the Panthers wanted an upgrade in net, Luongo is willing to go back there. Tampa Bay on the other hand might make sense, but I would think they would want alot more for Hedman then just Miller. As you said, Hedman is still very young and signed to a very decent contract for the next 4 years. If Tampa felt they were close to making a run, I could see them trying to get an upgrade at goalie, but not for something that might hurt another spot on their team. The only thing your going to get for Miller right now would be a bunch of prospects and picks, maybe a few lower level roster players. A team looking to make a run isn't going to give up a highly rated young player like Hedman during the season if they are serious about making a run. I really think that Detroit could be in the best position to get Miller if the Sabres would make him available. They are on the borderline of making the playoffs, and they don't have the defence anymore to allow them to survive with weaker goaltending. The Wings could give up a decent goaltender in Howard to Buffalo, plus maybe a pick or prospect and really strengthen their roster for a run I think the worst part about reading any of this is seeing teams as stacked as Pittsburgh, or NYR still having cap space to potentially have the room to take on Vanek or Pominville, while Buffalo has limited space right now. While I would like to see the Sabres get someone like Staal from the Rangers, I don't think its a great idea cause I have a feeling that once he has the option as a UFA, he will be signing in Carolina with his brothers........

This win was more to do with his play, then any changes to the rest of the team. They looked a little better, but Miller bailed them out and kept them in it

I wish Stu Barnes was still playing, that would make an awesome combo in Buffalo............

Well, baby step improvements right now, Baby step improvements.................

Does anyone think he would be as good or better then Charas mom?

But then we are probably gonna miss a nice Tampa Goal.............

This is the problem with Hockey, Myers just wanted to be friends and give him a hug..............

Complete teams yes, but that doesn't mean Tampa doesn't have a Really good #1 line or that Vanek and Pominville are all that bad

Yeah, its close/debatable, but again, not a knock on Vanek and Pominville though

That should be the theme song for this game. Ennis, Gerbe, St. Louis, Conacher, Bergeron.......All shorter then Enroth at 5'-10"

Maybe, maybe not, but that wouldn't be a knock on Vanek or Pominville, TB has some very good top end talent

What isnt though?

But one day he will be good!

I think the biggest issue that most seem to have with sports teams is that they believe theres only one way to properly build a team (usually however the last team to win the championship did it)Also, sometimes its different depending on the sport.You can build much easier through the draft in the NBA and NFL cause the players come right out of school into the league, MLB and the NHL have deep farm systems to develop talent and usually takes much longer to bring a player from the draft into the league. Its much tougher for a GM to build through the draft in those leagues because typically (outside of the Sabres) GMs aren't given much more then 3-5 years to turn things around before they are gone. By the time a player you drafted in your first year is ready to play in the league, you could be on your way out. This team has the resources for a quick tunraround IF the guy in charge is willing to make some aggressive moves to part with prospects.

It is funny to look at goalies and where they are drafted, Alot of the better starters are drafted later on

Again, that all depends on the method you want them to go about turning things around. If you want them to continue on with tehir current path of building from within, and improving through the draft and minors, waiting for guys to turn things around and develop, then yes, atleast 3 years to turn it around. But that would involve everyone either reaching their potential or better thats currently struggling right now (Myers, Weber, Ennis, Foligno, Grigs, etc) and their prospects moving up and being NHL caliber and ready to perform. But it is just as likely to turn it around in much less time by being willing to make some moves and be aggressive by moving some "highly touted prospects" to turn things around much quicker. This sin't a situation like Columbus, where they are desperate for talent at the NHL level, they have talent here already in a few spots, they just need some additional upgrades to the roster, especially the second line and on defence. A better defence will make Miller look even better (statistically) and a better second line should take some pressure off of the current #1 line and hopefully allow for more goal scoring

My view right now is that the Sabres desperatly need to focus on trying to fix the team NOW, not continue to look at the future. Thats exactly what this team and DR have been doing for along time, always looking to the future, stock piling picks and trying to build the team off of prospects. Problem with that approach in the nHL is it can take years after making that move to see any results from it. This isn't the NFL where draft picks make the roster right away and theres no minor league system to play and develop in. The draft should be used to stockpile reserves, add the occasional upgrade, and as bargaining chips to trades to get players that can help your team now. DR seems to have used the Draft as the main tool to try and build the team, but its the method that takes the most time, patience, and his the higher risk of catastrophe because it can take years to find out that a prospect you thought would be a corner stone ends up being a bust. Its a reason why I would not have a problem seeing what they could get for Myers right now. Who knows how long he will take to develop and what he will develop into. Most think he will become Chara 2.0, but the only similarities/reason for thinking this is because of their height. He could take 4-5 years to become just another average (Tall) #5-6 defencemen for a team, but its als possible that he could become something great. Thats the chance you take, and its the reason why there would be a market for him from a team that may be in a position where they can wait on him to develop and not need him to be a top defencemen right now. Now I'm not saying that you give him up or shop him and take whatever you can get for him, but if there was an impact player that could help now and be part of this team for the next little while, I wouldn't have a problem parting with Myers. I would wonder what a team like the Oilers would give up for a defencemen like him. They seem short on defence, but have a glut of good young forwards. So DR didn't fleece Nashville by stealing a 1st for him?That 1st round pick sure does look real good now when you look at what it cost the Sabres in the faceoff circle (Quick look at the faceoff stats and Gaustad leads in percentage for players with more then 200 faceoffs taken this year.

That line is just showing your age, Keys? You think these guys are given actual keys? All DR would have to do is call up IT and have Ruffs password removed from the system at all the keypads, and have his swipe card deactivated from the system, Who still uses Keys? Although we are talking TP and possibly during the renos he may have had new retna scanners or fingerprint readers put in to replace the old swipe cards and password locks......

What if it hits a rock?