apuszczalowski

But you see, thats a spot where you could use the "Stats can be used to justify anything" What kind of "hits" were those? If I skate by and lightly push you up against the boards, is it a "hit" on the stat sheet just like if I hit you hard into the boards that it looked like you were going to go through them? And what did those hits do for the team? It didn't make anyone fear the Sabres or their defence like what some thought adding a guy like Regher would do

I have to agree with you on this. Regher was ok to good, but he appeared to be a step back from the player he was in Calgary. When Deluca was going on about wanting him before word even got out that the Sabres were interested in getting him, it was because he was this physical wrecking ball on defence. It looked like he took a step back and was just "good" last year. You can throw out stats to try and justify anything these days, but the end results were the defence didn't look like it had improved much and Regher didn't look like the player he had been in Calgary

I think MacIntyre was more angry that he was stuck in the AHL and not in Buffalo with the Sabres. I remember reading that the reason why he signed with buffalo was because he felt they gave him a better chance at being in the NHL then Montreal did, so its why he left the Hamilton Bulldogs and came to Rochester.

I don't think anyone ever said that Vanek or Gerbe ever had issued with being anywhere close to "Lockerroom Cancers", the worst thing probably said about Vanek (and I have said it multiple times) is that I don't see him being a "leader" on the ice. He doesn't strike me as being the kind of guy who is going to take control of the lockeroom and demand that a player picks up his game. And thats fine, not everyone has that in them, some play better when they are "followers" or keep to themselves. Gerbes problems are that apparently he doesn't meet the hieght requirement to ride the rollercoaster known as the NHL. I find it funny how apparently Miller is this lockerroom cancer who consistently throw his teammates under the bus after games and enver takes the blame for a bad game, yet his teammates constantly defend him and name him MVP of the team. I like how the OP of this topic throws in opinions of his as "known facts". I also find it funny how for years fans cried for Darcy to get a decent backup here for Miller, and now once they have someone who could be a decent backup, fans are wanting to run Miller out of town to give the backup a chance to start and leave them with the task of finding another backup that they could run Enroth out of town with. One more thing, the comment from TP about his daughter playing in net was made in reference to both goalies, Miller and Enroth. IIRC, was it not the game where Miller started, was replaced by Enroth, who was then replaced again by Miller? You should go tell the Leafs, Oilers, Flyers, Lightning, Chicago, San Jose, Washington, etc that you can get by with average gaoltending. All of these teams have all been actively looking to upgrade their goaltenders over the last few years, and the reason that these teams have thought they were not able to be better is because they were being held back by the goalie (ok, Chicago won the cup with an unknown in Niemi who played great in the playoffs, but ever since they have been struggling to find someone better)

Sens fans appear happy he is gone and see his penalty in game 6 as why they were knocked out of the playoffs. Alot of the comments I read were people complaining that he took too many penalties, or he is a dirty player who will become suspended alot really soon for cheap shots. Sounded more like they were bitter they were knocked out and made him their whipping boy

Instead of all the overwhelming success they have had since? Sorry, just being an @22 Although seriously, losing all 3 wouldn't have been as bad if they would have atleast went out and spent some money on some decent replacements for them

Why not? Whyere does it say that you have to accept less when trading someone? I would be pissed to find out that the GM of my team wasn't asking for the moon when trading away my teams franchise player. If Columbus is desperate to move him, they may eventually have to accept less to make the deal otherwise they don't have to move him. As for the "if he is elite, wouldn't you be willing to give up player 'X' for him?" That depends on how badly you want him, and weither you feel that he is a player that will make up for what you are losing. If your giving up one of your better players to get him and maybe more, is the addition of him going to upgrade the team enough that you will improve, instead of it being a wash? Are you also looking to mortgage the future for a player to make a play now?

hmmmm, remove Vanek and replace with Miller and we have a template for responses to many of your posts about Miller You say that he gets hurt later in the season cause the weight of the team is put on him? I have never seen the weight of the team put on Vanek (or any of the forwards), the weights usually put on the goaltending to carry them through. If taking a beating infront of the net is causing him to get hurt all the time and struggle, maybe he should be moved out of that role cause its obvious he can't handle it. No one here is hating on Vanek (unlike many that Hate on some other members of this team). They just realise that although Vanek is good, he isn't great and has flaws. If an offer came along, he isn't untouchable, and if moving him will bring in someone who does more then score goals and act as a punching bag near the net, they would make the move. Scoring goals does not mean you were being a leader, When have you ever heard Vanek calling out a teammate, or take charge? Usually he is sitting back sulking or looking like the guy next to him farted when things get tough and he slumps.

Why not work into a 3 team deal with Nash? Hmmmm, player coming off a crummy season but has potential seems right up Darcys alley when it comes to trades, except usually those are at the deadline

For a player with the potential and Talent as RNH or Hall its not nuts, These guys were #1 overall picks for a reason. I wouldn't make my first offers using McNabb, but if it came down to it and Edmonton threw in a pick or 2, I would make the deal in a heart beat

Vaneks a good player, and in a trade, it takes something good to get something good. People expect Vanek to be great because he was a early 1st round pick, and because of his contract. He seems to always be battling through injuries and gets very streaky. He isn't consistent, and he doesn't seem like the kind of player who will use adversity to pick up his game and play better, he would rather get himself down about it andget frustrated with himself. He isn't the kind of guy who is going to go out and change a game, or grab a teamamate and get them fired up and be a leader. He seems more like the kind of player who would rather follow his team then lead it, stay out of the spotlight. He thrived when he was behind Drury and Briere in the spotlight. If he can be upgraded then why not? It would be great to be able to upgrade without having to move him, but your not going to get quality by trading away junk

Its twitter, you have to keep the character count down, limited use of letters/words..................

With them drafting Nail 1st overall, I can see them moving Hall, RNH or Eberly, but I would think they would want some defence coming back in a deal since thats where they need the most help. A deal could include Leopold or Sekera, McNabb or even Weber. I would do Vanek and McNabb for Hall or RNH

Stafford is friends with Parise............... And Clutterbuck is close enough to being "home" playing in Buffalo (it is the closest team to his home town, just accross the border)

We can help them out and make a deal with some of our extra defencemen, do they have any forwards/centres worth anything. How about that Gaustad kid?

This is enough to make them a playoff team if they continue to get good goaltending, and once they are in, anything is possible. This doesn't make them a cup favorite at the start of the season, and I doubt that they will be #1 in the Power rankings, but they are a much better team now then yesterday, and they were already a pretty good team

AwwwwwwwwwwIs Crosby not there to lend his shoulder for Shero to cry on? Although this does make me wonder maybe that Shero was told by Parise that theywere the front runner and he would sign with them, then at the last minute he signs with the Wild?

I think this really helps the league seeing them not go to Pittsburgh, NY or another big market free spending team. Its also gonna be great to see the Leafs fans screaming at Burke for not signing them and bringing them to where they (along with the rest of the leagues superstars) truly want to play. They now help turn a middle of the pact "small market" type team into a playoff team

Hmm, makes you wonder if this is enough to get the trade market moving now knowing theres only the 2 teams left.

But if you have a solid, dominating defence, you don't need to score as many goals to win a game. If you can get 2 it might be enough to win you games. I think the problem is that too many think that you can't win unless you have X or Y, or theres only one way to build a winning team, but the best way to build a team is to have the best players, regardless of position, and try to have balance. Without balance, it puts more stress on either side to work harder. Having a combination of Crosby, malkin, and Sutter is not a bad thing any way you make it. Either you have 2 of the best forwards/goalscorers in the league, or you have one of the best forwards/goalscorer in the league and one of the best defencemen.

Get out!By official order of the Canadian Government and the Queen, we ask that you collect your personal belongings (leave your maple syrup, hockey stick, Anne Murray and Bryan Adams Albums, and Tim Hortons gift cards) and please leave the country now. Comments like that are punishable to the full extent of Canadian Law. Just Joking, You can keep your Anne Murray Albums Your slowly coming over and turning Canadian?We here in the North would prefer that you stay where you are.............

Play for the shoot out every game. It guarantees you 82 points if the D can prevent anyone from scoring, then hope that you can get the win in a shootout. The NHL would love it because "The fans love the shootout", and the Sabres could break a record for never losing a game in regulation. Regier would be viewed as a Genius!

Yeah, definitly Ludicrous that he might think "I enjoyed hanging out and playing with Miller in the Olympics that year. Hes a good guy and someone I would want as a teammate"

Little late, already made that joke...... And yes, I know that the Blue Jackets might want more then just Vanek for Nash, but its possible they would take it. Vaneks a proven player who is a good player. He is not a superstar, but he is good and they might decide that taken a proven player with similar stats might be there best option. Chances are Buffalo would have to throw in a prospect, or a mid round pick

Lets not go too far with that, They may have offers out right now and trying to get a "big Gun", but that doesn't necessarily mean they will Definitly get one. things are probably going to go down quick once one of the big 2 (Parise, Suter) sign, then the other big 2 (Nash and Ryan) will be dealt. Things can change rather quickly on the trade market depending on who they decide to sign with. One of the teams that don't win the signing sweepstakes could sweeten a deal for one of the other 2. If one of the teams bidding on Parise/Sutter lose out, it could force them to throw in somethingextra to insure they don't lose out on Nash/Ryan. If the Sabres truly want one of Nash/Ryan, it would be wise to try and get one of them before Parise/Suter are signed. But it would also be wise for CBJ and ANA to hold out and see if anything can be added to other teams proposals