apuszczalowski

I think it's more like WHEN he gets hurt.....

that's it! I remember he was the last big FA college player that was trying to pick his spot and he appears to be a bust.

it is a bit of a confusing move though at this time cause Reimer wanted a chance to be the #1, so why sign a 5 year deal with a ten that has an established very good #1 signed til the end of your new deal? Why not sign a 1 year deal and hope for a starter spot to open up next year? the Rangers paid by the inch.....

Gustavson is out, just signed a 1 year deal to back up Talbot in Edmonton for $800 k

I don't think it's a bad deal myself, but I think it means lehner gets pushed to backup or 1b status behind Bishop or Niemi which isn't a bad thing. TM like the big goalies and Bishop is one of the biggest....

I'm not bylsma or TM fan, but I don't think it means either gets fired if they don't make the playoffs. But I do think that they should be going after the playoffs this season and there should be disappointment if they don't make it. There's only one buffalo team who's coach should be fired if they don't make the playoffs this year......

only if they came out publicly saying it. They could have decided internally they will deal him but still ask for a lot and if no one bites then go a little lower if that's the market I think most teams say screw it. Not every team is as dumb as edmonton

they were gonna go after Stamkos, why not Tavares? Keep him away from Toronto and the Sabres can throw Bandits promotions out during the season

said for the first time ever by anyone

I think this means Matty Mo ain't going anywhere, could this also be a move to help attract another Tavares to Buffalo next year?

Maybe another upgrade or 2 on the defence and backup goaltender is going to be a really important position with Leaner being a question mark to how many games he will play. I think they need a backup who can be a starter for a long period of time. This team should be expected to be a playoff team this year with the current roster. Not one expected to win the division, but one that should atleast make the playoffs

do their fans a huge favour,let them all keep their jerseys relevant.

while I agree, Lindros and Manning were both top picks in the draft and highly touted prospects coming out of college. Vesey was drafted in the 3rd iirc and stayed in college were he played pretty good. I don't get the hype for him and this could very likely end up just like the last highly sought after college FA who went on to be over hyped and bounce around the NFL (can't remember his name but bounced around with the ducks and oilers outcome)

Hows that such a bad deal for the Panthers? He's 20 and is going to get better. I can't see that being a bad deal for them

hope so too,one reason why I wouldn't mind Bernier, he showed potential with LA, and Toronto usually isn't a good place to judge goalies. I think outside of TO he could be good. I'm sure there's guys out there that might surprise. I just can't think of any off the top of my head.

I wonder if it's the opposite and Florida leaves Luongo unprotected. At his age and price, they may pass on him, or they take him and his contract off the PA there hands to get a name they can market and Reamer gets the starting spot

I can't even think of who would be available in a trade as a backup, maybe one of Dallas' guys or Jimmy Howard in Detroit. Those guys cost a bit though. I would take Bernier off the Leafs hands because I think he might be good out of TO

this is the biggest WTF deal for me today, signed 2 minutes in to be Luongos backup for his entire contract (both have 5 years left). I would have signed him in Buffalo for that deal, would have been a better chance to be a starter when Lehner goes down

exactly, I have seen too many albatross contracts get moved that I don't care what they sign a player for now if the player is going to help them

but I just read that Lucic was the top FA and he signed with the Oilers on Sportsnet

can he play in net?

I would almost be willing to say PK gets a similar, maybe even bigger Ovation from the crowd when he returns to Montreal. He was a fan favorite, just not a management favorite...........

But with a talented/good management in place, none of this should be a problem. Just look at the 2 most successful teams of the last 5-10 years, the Hawks and Pens, they each have big money tied up in atleast 2 great players, and every year when you think they are going to be in trouble, some team comes in and helps bail them out and they continue to succeed. They have to deal some good prospect and make some tough deals, but every year they are also right in the conversation of who is in the hunt for the cup. The key to all of this is hoping buffalo has a management team like the hawks or Pens, and not like the Bruins........

I don't know if he has really been around the lockerroom long enough that he could be a negative presence yet. Right now the team hasn't been under any pressure to do anything but suck to get a better pick, and theres been no pressure to win because they are young and developing, the lockerroom is probably pretty loose. I'm sure the guys right now love him for taking them places after games and do other things, but it may differ when put in a situation where the team starts feeling the pressure to buckle down and show results like in Winnipeg. When that happens, sleeping cause you were out the night before may piss off many in the room because your not helping pull your weight

How many times have we heard of a contract being an albatross to a team and that they will never be able to get out from under it so that team will be screwed, then BAM, trade is made and the player is gone Last season the Leafs moved both Kessel (Kessel actually played better and helped his new team) and Phaneuf (Dion continued to look like a flesh coloured road cone..) Columbus traded Nathan Horton who may never play again, Vancouver had to trade away Schneider cause no one was ever going to take Luongos contract. Theres plenty of examples and if Okposo is still able to play even at a lesser role, some team may be willing to take him on to help reach the floor and bring in someone with a little name recognition.