apuszczalowski

Looks like an evil deal for Marleau..........

None of those teams tanked for the purpose of getting better, they were bad because they had ownership that was either in serious financial trouble (Pittsburgh fighting bankruptcy), or an owner refusing to spend and being cheap (Chicago). Once the lockout ended, and Pittsburgh had added Crosby and Malkin, their financial troubles went away and they were able to spend. The year the 'Hawks drafted Kane the owner dies and his son takes over and starts working on deals to increase the revenue and spend more money.

I would say its highly unlikely that he stays around because he wins a gold I think the only thing that winning a gold, or having another great olympics does for Miller is inflates what the fans think he should return in a trade. There aren't many contenders looking to give up alot for a goaltender on an expiring contract. The reason why most teams are in a position as a contender is because they have good goaltending already. Just look at St. louis, they have good goaltending, Miller would put them over the top, most likely making them cup favorites, but its doubtful they want to mortgage their future and give away much for an upgrade in net that may just be a rental. I would think the market for goaltending is much better for fringe guys, goalies making less and have shown they can be capable as short term fill ins with potential to be a #1. there are more teams looking for a short term answer in net right now to carry them over while their starter is hurt (like nashville) then there are teams looking for a #1 guy right now. (All of this is also considering the rumor that all Canadian teams are on Miller no trade list) I am almost 98% certain that there will be complaining that what they get back for Miller is too little, or people will be saying "Thats it?" if an when he is traded. The remainder of the posters here will be telling us that Miller is only good during olympic years and that the Sabres will be just fine (and notice very little difference) with Enroth in net

Actually, I don't even think you can say that about the Penguins either. They did win the lottery by getting Crosby, who appears to be in the same category as Gretzky. But they also spent many years drafting near the top to get Malkin, Staal and Fleury, but without Crosby, I still think they are not favorites for a cup if they didn't land him. Chicago spent alot of time at the bottom also and ended up getting Toews and Kane eventually, and with some additional moves were able to win a couple cups. What both of the teams appear to have had in common that put them in a position to draft highly for many years was bad ownership that kept them from spending and bringing in good players. Pittsburgh was fighting to keep their team in pittsburgh and Bankruptcy until they hit the Crosby Jackpot, and the 'Hawks needed their old owner to die and get passed on to someone willing to spend. Theres alot more Oilers and Islanders (teams drafting for many years at the top of the draft and fighting to just be a playoff team) then there are teams that drafted a superstar in the top spot of the draft and turned things around.

Thats what the issue seems to be with his thinking right now, He wants the team to show him that the rebuild isn't going to last a few seasons, and that they are trying to turn things around now. If they plan on doing it all through the draft and live through some lean years in hopes that they win the lotto with some picks, he is gone. If they use the surpluss of picks and prospects to get guys that help them get better know, he would consider re-signing. As for Charles, while I agree that many former players wish they had more chances (or a chance) at winning it all and regret it when they get older, he is just hard to take seriously, he sounds like he played football his entire career without a helmet instead of basketball

Fixed itAlthough Nolan has been able to turn Stafford around right now so upgrade him on the top line and I'm not as worried with him continuing to perform like he has one the 2nd line.......

That could be correct, I knew that there was some advantage either with years or salary that the team holding his rights going into FA would have to re-sign him

I think any deal with St. louis would have to include either Halak or Elliot just to make the salaries and log jam in net work. I would take Halak as the main piece of the deal back, with a 1st (which is probably going to be more like a very high second anyways) for Miller as an UFA at the end of the season, maybe get them to make a conditional 1st or 2nd next year if he re-signs with them. If Miller doesn't come back to Buffalo in July, they can re-sign Halak and still have a decent starter in net while they continue to rebuild

only issue I could possibly see with a trade then re-sign is that the Sabres couldn't offer him the most money in that situation, IIRC, the team that gets him in a trade could offer him a higher salary deal if he is going to be looking at money first.

well then let me revise my prediction, 3-1 Canes, Gerbe and Sekera with goals (along with an empty netter), Peters/Khudobin still looks shakey giving up one in the first then shuts the Sabres down

But in Millers case, same as Tkachuk, it wasn't that the team actually wanted to get rid of them, the player wanted to leave for a chance at a cup so the team gave them that chance. Its not the same as say the Sabres dumping a player because they were underachieving like say Bernier, or Boyes, or some others that have been dropped or traded because the team gave up on them even though they wanted to stay.

Meh, I wouldn't agree to a deal there if I didn't have to, Its not that much better then staying in Buffalo if you can convince the Sabres to make a couple moves. Sure they have a bunch of "top of the draft" forwards, but the defence is a mess and probably worse then what he has here. He might get better goal support in Edmonton, but not any more help in his end then he has now. Go to somewhere like St. louis where you would almost certainly make them cup favorites and you can have the best chance to win a cup this year, then cash in somewhere else of your chosing thats best for you as a FA

My prediction, Sabres lose in a shootout 4-3, Gerbe and Sekera with the goals for the Canes, Justin Peters looks fantastic after a shaky start in the first period where the Sabres get their goals................

if I was Miller, I wouldn't give them a definitive answer yet either.Show me that your trying to improve the team now, and not hoping for the future and I would consider re-signing. Take the slow 3-5 year rebuild approach and I would be gone. Use some of these accumulated assets (picks and prospects) to turn them into guys that can help speed things up now and I would consider re-signing. Taking the 'Tank' approach to rebuilding is like trying to rebuild your finances with lottery tickets. You might hit it big and win a jackpot (Pittsburgh) or more then likely your gonna continue chasing the next jackpot with more tickets (Oilers, Islanders)

Don't be so sure of yourself on that one, it may hurt..... The problem isn't with new people coming here, it has to do with how they act when they start here. Coming in guns blazing and telling others how things are and such, acting like they are the top dog is not going to win you many fans.

Is he?IIRC, Del Zotto is a RFA at the end of this season and has a $2.55 mil cap hit Klein has 4 years left at an average cap hit of $2.9 mil The only way this makes sense is in the idea that the Rangers wanted someone for the right side and not someone one from the left playing the right

Depends on how bad of an injury, and if their intention for Howard was to be more then the 3rd goalie. If its something that won't be better before the games, make the change, if it will be better then keep him and hope he doesn't injure it in the press box

That would fall in line with the comment about bringing in more guys from the area, but that trade might make too much sense for an Islanders/Snow type move

Well then it only seems right to re-unite them with their first round pick too.........

The Pens would have to throw in Fleury to even that out, The Pens would have too many goalies at that point. I'm sure if the Sabres throw in another 2nd the Pens would toss Malkin into the deal too

Nonis saying "We would listen to trades for any of our players" or "If an offer is made that we can't refuse we could move one of those players" is what good GMs would say in that situation Of course GMs might also throw out names in conversations with other GMs as guys they could move for the right price. The problem here that makes this stupid on Nonis is that he actually comes out and talks about 3 players he gets offers for, then specifically names one of them saying he could be traded. That should work wonders in your lockerroom and with this young player.

It sounds like he would if they made him a good offer, I could see him re-signing there

Sounds like the Isles are going to try and re-sign him so he probably won't be available Briere is going to be the throw away in the deal for the Habs, a salary dump to move a guy whos getting healthy scratched. People here may dispise Stafford, but the team doesn't and he is still getting lots of ice time so the Habs might actually want him and in order for the Habs to move Briere they will need to throw in something to sweeten the pot and take on his contract

There was a rumor that Regret was being considered for the Calgary job........

I understand and agree with you, it can be leery to trade withing your division when dealing with prospects because if your the one dealing the prospect, you don't want that prospect to develop into something great and have it come back to bite you over and over, and if your the one getting the prospect, it makes you wonder why that team was willing to give up someone that could come back and bite them