apuszczalowski

There was a rumor about St. Louis possibly being interested in Miller because they want to make a run at the Cup this year and he could be an upgrade over Halak or Elliott. Otherwise teams that have injured starters (Carolina, Nashville, Minneosota, etc) aren't going to make a run at him unless their starter is out long term. No way they give up assetts to rent Miller while their starter is down unless they feel he is an upgrade over their starter when hes healthy, and can include that starter in a deal. The Islanders need an upgrade over Nabokov, but I feel that if he was an option for them, they would have made the deal now with the vanek trade, can't see them making another huge deal again with the same team later on. Also how many draft picks can the Islanders give up? They would have to be willing to make a deal for a bunch of prospects or some young, good talent. Edmonton needs an upgrade in net too, but it would all depend on if they are on his list, and if he would be willing to waive the clause if he was asked to. Edmonton has picks and prospects they can move for him, they could even ask for someone like Myers, or an upgrade on defence too. Philly is a tough one because they want Mason to be the #1 there, but if they feel the coaching change and their existing talent is enough with an immediate upgrade in net, they could be an option. They have a couple of established young players they could give up, but I'm not sure if they have many picks to give up. I still think with a competent GM this team could turn things around much quicker then going the planned route of building through the next few drafts 1st and 2nd round picks. If they can convince Miller to sign an extension then Dangle Enroth to teams looking to take a chance on a potential #1 goalie, along with re-signing Ott, and make a couple moves dealing some of the picks they have acquired and maybe one of the current young kids too, along with Myers, they could get some talent that can take them back to the playoffs much sooner and have much better odds then playing the draft lotto hoping that years of misery will be enough to get them the #1 overall picks for a few seasons.

What does that have to do with anything?

I was using the comparison to disprove some of the idea that tanking for a pick might only work in some special situations

Its a little bit easier to tank in the NFL when its a guarantee that with the worst record you get the #1 pick and not just the best chance in the lottery. Its also much easier to have to go through 1 season of being the worst to being right back on track the next year. The Colts had been one of the best AFC teams since they acquired Peyton Manning in the draft, he was hurt for one full season and they get Luck. Had they not gotten the #1 pick in the draft, they would have still had Peyton Manning and still went on to be one of the better AFC teams. Thats much easier to swallow then a mediocre fringe playoff team for what, 7 years since Drury/Briere, to continuing to get worse and being a complete embarrassment now. The Colts already had a playoff team in place with a good QB playing, they just had to replace 1 player with another to keep going. The Sabres have to do alot more, and need alot of luck/help to get to a point they haven't really been in almost 10 years. The Colts might be a good comparrison if say next year Crosby goes down and the pens suck to get the #1 pick, and then move Crosby

I know it was, I never took offence to it

No, I was trying to add a separate post that had nothing to do with that comment and it kept merging them no matter how long I took between

And at one time they had a deep prospect pool that include such talents as Pominville, Roy, Vanek, Miller, etc, Where did that get them again? Sorry if I don't get overly excited because some guys at a website think we have guys that could be good in the future playing in the minors (or on this roster currently)

Thats very debatable

Gotta agree, gives you a chuckle but the joke was a little Ruff

Its the same with every team though. all teams have prospects and guys that are going to develop and could turn into legitimate stars. Only difference is most teams will continue to build around them and get better while Buffalo takes the wait and see approach hoping that everyone develops and can just use what they have to build a winner

During one of the breaks in the Leafs game last night they talked about that hit and said it wasn't as bad as the hit later on by the sharks player on Morrow and I somewhat agree. The hit that sent Boyle out on the stretcher had a bad result, but that had more to do with how he fell into the boards then it being cheap or an intent to injure. The one later on to Morrow into the boards was bad and deserves some time

Not a surprise about Pronger, what will be interesting is to see what happens now with his cap hit, will the league continue to allow them to place him on LTIR? i would assume they could as long as he does not turn around and sign retirement papers. I don't think theres language in the CBA to define just how "Long Term" LTIR is permitted for....

I don't blame that core for where they ended up every year, it was a good core with some very good players The problem is that they didn't surround them with additional talent to help them succeed. Darcy would get the odd "token veteran" each season (Teppo, Grier, etc) but he refused to use any of those in the "Core" to try and improve with trades, or bring in additional talent to fix weak spots. It was always plug and fill on the cheap and bring up more kids

He is? I've never heard that before, I have heard that there are GMs that find him hard to deal with though

I don't think anyone here who follows the team close enough that they frequent a message board does either, but firing DR doesn't mean that he is changing his mind on rebuilding, it just means he doesn't think that DR has done a good job at it so far. A new GM can easily step in and continue the youth/rebuild movement while also improving the product that is out there this season I agree that I doubt MAF goes into the playoffs without a viable backup, I just don't think that Miller is going to be it. A team trading for him isn't getting him to be a backup, and I can't see the Pens acquiring him to make MAF the #2. If they were to make a deal for Miller, It would probably involve the Sabres getting MAF in return. I see the Pens making a move for someone like Thomas, or another cheaper veteran who can easily improve the backup spot for them, and be good enough to be the #1b if MAF struggles or gets hurt. Again, if DR is still here, he won't be the scapegoat again. They will use the rebuilding/suffering excuse and continue on with him.They have already laid the seed to the fan base to expect bad hockey with the "suffering" comment, it would be really hard to justify firing the guy you hand picked to come in and replace Ruff after only one full season and gutting the team because their records been bad.

I would rather he try something like that in a blow out game then in a close one where I need him to score a goal. Sure it might look bad that he is scoring with a goal like that, but he is taking more of a chance of missing by doing it then if he just shot from there

Theres no way they can use the coach as a scapegoat again for this team. Rons job is safe as long as DR is the GM, and Darcy has been with the franchise long enough that if they don't show signs soon, he could be shown the door. It doesn't matter that he just started another rebuild, there is no reason that he should have had to be in this situation in the first place and it should not be an excuse for him to have more time. Another more competent GM could be brought in at this point and continue the youth/rebuild movement here without hurting the team/franchise

If they get bad enough, and its possible that they could be searching for their first win late into this month or next, TP could pull the plug on Darcy. There is no reason that this team can not still be competitive and still rebuild with youth. Its all about balancing your lineup and finding value in some veterans while mixing in some youth. This idea that the entire team needed to be blown up and all the youth needs ice time to develop in the NHL is just excuses the front office and the fans have used to try and justify being horrible. Because they won't have the cap room and would have to dump salary to take on an expensive backup. They aren't going to trade for a #1 goalie to replace Fleury just because their backup is out. If they are going to make a move, it will be for a cheap veteran who will play the backup spot (like Tim Thomas)

I can see Regier being forced out if they continue losing like they have, Black/TPegs hands will be tied and forced to let him go Rolston won't be fired until a new GM is in place and they can make their own move, I doubt they fire him with Regier still being around also since they can't keep blaming the coach for the mess. IF they did fire Rolston and Regier was still here, the job would end up going to Sacco, and could be the reason why they brought him here as an assisstant, if things look bad for Rolston, let him go and you have an experienced coach ready to take over. Black won't be fired, and its hard to say he is doing a bad job. Aside from not being the guy to step in and say Regier needs to be canned, he isn't doing a bad job running the franchise.......

Because at the time, they already had their coach and weren't looking for a change. Do people really believe that RR was not the permanent guy once they let Ruff go? mason, the former Blue Jacket, and Ray Emery

Looking at the past for the answer, NO to the last part. As for the first part, I don't see any of those players getting traded in the near future, the market hasn't been set yet to move anyone :rolleyes:

Not a bad deal for Minny and pommers Go read the article on TSN and then the comments from (mostly) leafs fans who say that its a horrible deal (concussion issues, wrong side of 30, too long, few mil too much, etc.)

Did you know that 'The Contest' Episode is over 20 years old?Man does that make me feel old now............

Then it sounds like Clemmenson is ready to return, but they feel that Thomas is an upgrade over him and better to work with Markstrom then

Is it Clemmenson thats injured and the reason why they picked up Thomas? I can't remember the situation there Maybe the Sabres should look at a deal with the Wild, Vanek to the Wild for Pommers $5mil+ for Pommers is a good deal, and if they will lose Vanek to the Wild anyways..................