X. Benedict

I hope this trail doesn't end - I've been making a fortune selling T-shirts outside the courthouse: The surprise best seller: "Aliens have kidnapped my friends and replaced them with replicas" And believe it or not the Farrah Fawcett still sells.

The guy is a DB -- double Bender.

I think Subban deserving the Norris is a legit question. I don't even think he was the best defenseman on his own pairing. I think Markov coming back was a huge reason for the HABS success. Subban is certainly exciting to watch, but to play defense who would you put on the ice first?..I would play Chara, Suter, Weber, and probably 20 others. Somehow fantasy hockey has won out with the hockey writers. I'm not at all disappointed with Subban getting the Norris however, he's going to be cashing in, and that could upset the apple cart in terms of Montreals salary structure. Let Subban make bank I say.

I thought this blog was interesting...."What does it cost to trade up?" http://www.broadstreethockey.com/2013/4/25/4262594/nhl-draft-pick-value-trading-up

Ennis has talent, loads of it. The problem is, where does that talent fit? On the powerplay it works, Ennis is great in open ice. 4 on 4 - give me Ennis. The problem with Ennis is where does he fit on a line? and how do other teams match up? He's not a first or second line center. (not yet, anyway) He's an undersized winger that gets easily knocked off the puck. (he does get up right away however) In a tight game he's not the guy to have out there defensively in a strong checking role. So for most coaches, Ennis is a bit of a conundrum, you love his talent, but finding the right line and time to exploit his talent is going to mean constantly shifting him around. So it is hard to build a team around him. He can't be part of your core. He's a weapon, not an anchor for a line. That's why his trade value is pretty limited. This last season was very much about whether or not Ennis could succeed at center. The answer seems to be mixed. On a poor team Ennis can put up 50-60 pts a year in a top 6 role - but percentages are bad that you win the match-ups.

Trading Ennis doesn't buy you into the top 5. Trading Ennis probably doesn't buy you into the top 20 at the moment. Simply put, he hasn't shown he can be consistent at center, and he's undersized at wing. Not where you want to be as 4 year pro. If Ennis was a point a game player, maybe he gets you in the top 10. ....But he isn't.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/brendan-shanahan-leaving-dept-player-safety-calgary-flames-230107459.html

Chara is the hull of that ship. And seeing how Subban gets the Norris, apparently Chara is underrated too. Paille is the perfect depth player. He comes fairly cheap and you really could move him to any line for a short time. I'm not so sure you find him in the blinking of an eye, but he certainly fits in Boston.

If you put Nathan Horton on the Sabres roster - as the roster stands today - he'd give you 15-20 goals for about 45 pts at a -10 and you'd pay him north of 6 million. Sabres need to build from the middle out. Not from the outside in IMO. Horton doesn't make sense. Not yet, anyway.

oh.....and Drew Miller survives in this league. Which is a testament to how far Hockey smarts can go. He is a smart player that is a flexible piece in Babcock's system.

Darcy got nuthin out of this deal. :angry:

That's a lot of time off the golf course.

Honestly, in terms of writing style you express moxie with limited substance so far, so some suspicion from your intended audience is justified, and you seem to show an inability to express sincere warmth. That might be the best feedback I can give you if you are heading into this business. Please think about it. I have nothing to gain from writing it. As Garrison Keillor says, " "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch"

that's just not accurate. Here's a snapshot of Baker's site from Aug 2012 - check out left hand column. http://web.archive.org/web/20120819080429/http://www.sabresprospects.com/ Walk humbly, dear dude.

He must not be thinking Watergate.

Oh, BTW...what a game.....it was chess, it was intensity, it was great hockey. Game 1's are usually some of the best before the series finds a pace. Hope there is more to come.

I made it through the first OT before the sandman called.

Good luck. Sincerely, good luck. Get in touch with Weiland. He can probably help you.

Kris Baker has been doing it for years now. His projections were pretty spot on before he was getting any attention. Probably why the Sabres etc. took notice. I wouldn't assume he's got any inside info. He just knows the draft.

No kidding - how they going to pay Streit even with the buyouts?

I think Streit has a lot more mileage left in that 35 y.o. body. I don't think he's had much pounding in all those Euro years.

Pieces of Kane everywhere....

That's an interesting move. Timmonen ain't getting any younger. But a 4th rounder is a lot to pay for 3 weeks of negotiation rights (especially if he's not signed).

If I were Dylan Stebbins I would try doing what Kris Baker does for a year or more before commenting on what Kris Baker brings to the table. Once you start projecting 6th rounds guy like Linus Ulmark as a guy the Sabres are targeting in the 6th round before he's picked (like Baker usually does with his draft preview) then you've got game.

I think that probably leaves Lindy and Vingneault.