thewookie1

Vet leadership is vital as is depth.

Sulzer, I guess that's ok. He work very well with Erhroff so I can his usefulness in there. Random D guy for Amerks.... alright I guess.

If we can get Briere here's how I'd start the season off: Grigs, Girgs, and Larsson in Rochester on the 1st line. Keep Vanek. Vanek - Hodgson - Armia Leino - Briere - Foligno Ott - Porter - Flynn Kaleta - McCormick - Tropp Why? Because if Grigs at C starts tearing up the AHL, you move him to where Briere is, then based on how Foligno is playing you move Briere to RW either for the 2nd or 3rd line. Girgs can enter through the 4th line C and get up to 3rd line C by switching Porter to the 4th line. Unless Tropp is playing bad you keep him on line 4 or even line 3 depending while Flynn is sat unless he's spectacular. Larsson is sadly the only guy I can't find a place for outside 4th line C.

Sign him Buffalo, 1 year deal, let him be traded in March for more assets. Then resign him next summer again if he's willing to. It'd be a win-win for both sides. Briere gets to play near his home in a place he already likes, then gets to help a team in the playoffs The Sabres get a clutch performer who has lots of playoff experience that he can teach the younger players on the roster. And then at the deadline some sort of asset on top of it.

I second the targets, if we can get Ribeiro for 3.5 to 4 mil and Dupuis for about 2 mil I'll be very happy with the off season. More-so if we can deal Miller and allow the goalie backlog move along again.

Only 3 of the listed players aren't in Regier's draft history so I suspect propaganda. Ruff, Mogilny, and Primeau. Only Mogilny is really worth a win of best Sabres drafted player of those 3. Aside from that, only Vanek is a 40 goal scorer for the Sabres on that list.

I have an idea: After Miller is gone and/or Vanek I'd suggest us go knocking on both Jagr & Iginla's doors. Sign of them to a 6/7 mil contracts and let them teach the youngsters on the roster. Then at the deadline field calls for him, compile a list of proposals you'd be willing to take, and then tell said player to choose. You would hold 50% of the contract thus allowing for the top teams to fit them on their rosters, the veteran would get money and then a choice to what team to go to after 3/4th of the season is through, and we gain draft picks or prospects.

We are merely 3 weeks away from the dash to the free agent market, who would you like the Sabres to pick up, and people can post in news about signings here as well if they would like to. Guys I'd like in order, not including Sabres RFAs/UFAs 1. Nathan Horton - 1/2 line RW Power Forward, has ben great in the playoffs too. (28) 2. Valtteri Filppula - 1/2 line LW with plenty of future potential still. (29) 3A. Bryan Bickell - 2/3 line LW Power Forward has been tremendous in the playoffs (27) 3B. David Clarkson - 2/3 RW Power Forward Fun to watch for sure Veterans I'd be interested in getting to help with teaching 1. Michael Ryder - (33) Won a Stanley Cup with Boston, was key in that team, 3 or 4 30+ goal seasons **I'd like this guy** 2. Dustin Penner - (30) He's been cold in the season of late but in the playoff he has shown great play, has won 2 Stanley Cups, a key in his first 1 and had a 30 goal season.

Miller wise In division aside from Florida/Tampa giving their 2 or 3 pick respectively; no. So no: Detroit (Howard very good) Boston (Rask has done alright) Toronto (Reimer had a great playoffs) Montreal (I doubt they will replace Price) Ottawa (Anderson, need I say more) As for the rest of conference Carolina (Cam Ward is good, Miller could help them) 5th overall pick NJ Devils (Brodeur, may be older but I doubt they trade for a 33 year old unless they're desperate for Cup right after Brodeur retires.) 9th Overall Pick NYR (Lunquist, I doubt it) NYI (Nabakov, they could use a goalie, but don't have a ton to offer us) 15th Overall Pick CBJ (B......, no way in hell) Pittsburgh (Maybe, Fleury is on hot water, but they have no 1st rounder to offer) Washington (Holtby, maybe, but aside from Ovy, who'd we want?) 21st Overall

Hey, if Briere and Richards are bought out, I'd go sign Richards and Morrow. Then we'd have a line of former Dallas stars.

After this playoff series + the season as a whole I feel Girgs improved far more and in the end looked better than Grigs. Girgensons looks to me as he might become not only a solid 3rd Line Center with an A, but maybe a Chris Drury-esc player who throws everything he can at the other team to win. He plays every shift with purpose. Plus, he automatically stepped up during the playoffs; no startup time, no questions, he just went out there and did everything he could to win. Larsson had 3 As and looked solid with Girgs. I'd keep those two together next year and see if it spawns a great line.

Maybe they should start Hackett

Rudy needs a larger sample size to judge; but thus far he has looked good. Flynn makes me smile for 2 reasons: 1. He could be a solid 3rd line winger 2. Dealt in a package deal (He wouldn't be the Sulzer/Pardy any more in a trade but rather an actual asset.)

I will miss Hecht, he was a scapegoat you deep down knew he didn't deserve. He was always very professional and I wish him luck in Europe. Only Vanek remains as a D/B era Sabres winger who had an impact.

Sad loss for the Amerks, 6-3, Scott with 4 goals..... wow Grigs was probably still tired. Gergs however, really looks like he is maturing into that crucial 3rd line center roleplayer type. Not the best, but good enough and with a huge work ethic. He never quits, and any cup team needs a few of those type of players.

Not to make any excuses but..... Hodgson is 2nd on the team in points/goals as a 22 year old who was playing against 3rd line talent in Vancouver. That his offense has carried over is a great sign. (He's on pace to get at least 25 goals and 35 assists this year were it 82 games.) His back injury forced him to become a very hard worker, and seeing as his entire career hinges on keeping healthy enough to keep his body from having problems; I doubt he'll slack off. Plus he likely wants to make Gillis wrong about him being unable to turn into a #1. The way I see it, if he can get to at least average ability in the D-zone he could really become a very good 1st line C or a great 2nd line C (granted we get someone who is an amazing 2 way C) At the very least, I can see him replacing Roy's production while off the ice being a hard worker vs a partier.

WGR 550's Ott talk actually mentioned your art.

I liked Weber roughing up on the guy who hit Rudy behind the net. Then Rudy got a Jet to run the boards lol

Amazing picture, I can see why Otter likes it. Now all you need to do is draw one of an Otter in an Ott jersey. :)

I have a feeling Ott just didn't have anything to say that would add to our knowledge.

Something I really want are two wingers for Hodgson, one with more defensive responsibility plus big and another winger who can shoot really well and be a quality target for Hodgson's passes. My hope would be they would all go to Gary Roberts' summer program so they could bond and get better as a cohesive group.

Hodgson hasn't become worse, he's just cold because quite frankly our team is cold aside from Ott every night aside from the occasion flash fire. He still has shown the ability to make amazing passes and pull dekes, I just think without a average+ Vanek playing and his other winger not being "better" than him, he's getting almost too much attention to work his magic. I doubt it helps though that Vanek's a downer and may be getting in his head negative thoughts.

Only if we trade Miller and Stafford and/or Vanek. He'd be a useful vet who can be a teacher for 1.5 years and then we can trade him at the next next deadline for something. He can regain his value with Buffalo, and then go after a cup in his last 1 or 2 years. I would like more to have a very good mentor who can play D and O thus to teach Hodgson; but Briere at least can give us a far better powerplay at the very least, and will give us the best opportunity to see if Leino is worth anything. The only other player I want to resign who's older is Hecht, but only if it's a two way deal with him primarily playing in Rochester as a mentor.

Ott's contract idea was just a shot in the dark. I have not the slightest idea what his rate will be. Briere can easily be replaced by another vet, it's more the idea than the player

Here's my ideas: Send Miller to Calgary for their 1st Round Pick (Top 5) & a conditional 3rd rounder in 2014 if Miller resigns. Trade Vanek to the Avs/Jets/Blue Jackets for a 1st Rounder (Top 15 at least), 3rd rounder 2013, 2nd rounder 2014. Calgary will have 3 1sts if the Blues get to the playoffs, and the Blue Jackets have 3 as well so they would be the most likely suitors for a major 1st rounder trade. Calgary will need a goalie with Kippers retiring and they may be able to draw Lindy Ruff there lol. The 3 teams regarding Vanek, could all use a 2nd big goal scorer and have the potential for Top 15 picks. Then I send our 2 LA picks back to LA plus a 3rd rounder in 2014 if need be, for Bernier. That sets us up with at least 3 picks in the top 15, a new franchise goalie hopefully, and tons of cap room. If Philly buys out Briere, I'd offer him 3yrs for 11mil, seeing as we will need a veteran presence on the team; besides just Ott. Furthermore I'd sign Ott to a 5 year 19mil contract extension. Honestly, with 3 young guns (2 drafties and Armia) at very least skating around next year; the games will still be damn fun to watch. And who knows, we may even get into the playoffs considering the young talent we'd have. While I doubt we'd win the cup, just going to the 1st round and fighting hard would be a confidence booster for a team of youngsters.