Trettioåtta

Has he said anything of note/interesting?

The only way this organisation trades Miller (and to an extent Vanek/Pommers) is if he asks them/wants to be traded. If he is going to be traded it would be for 2 reasons: 1) To be near Charlie Sheen...i mean his wife 2) For a chance at the cup What this means is that Tampa probably isn't a good fit, it takes him no closer to his wife and realistically isn't a major threat for the cup. I also think he doesn't get traded in conference. Although like i have repeatedly said, unless they ask for a trade or we are getting a kings ransom, I wouldn't trade MVP. We need some veterans on this team and each of them is doing their job. I really don't subscribe to the change for the sake of it. I didn't think Roy needed to go, and we can all see the difference in the team. The only changes between last year's mediocre bubble team and this year's mongrel are Leino not playing and Roy for Ott (and Boyes, but I don't think he is the big influence). From a hockey heaven/PR point of view I think trading them for the sake of it hurts us. It says to other UFAs, even if you are the best on this team you are not safe unless the team is winning - if i was a UFA and a team with that philosophy wanted me, I would not agree unless they either agreed to pay me way more than any other competitor or they agreed to give me a full NMC. Our problems are we lack two second line players (we should only lack one, but Stafford has decided not to try this year), we need a proper shutdown player/line (hint, ROR would solve these two problems in one move) and our bottom 6 is bloated with mediocre talent and no character (i mean the lines lack a character, not the players, i.e. what is the line, is it a grinding line, a checking line, a shutdown line, a tertiary threat line etc.)

He even publicly said he wanted to stay with the organisation. We might need to clean out some assistant coaches we already have - honestly, I'm not sure I like Teppo watching, I don't think he has really made a difference

Lol Bring back Briere and Drury. Maybe we trade for campbell and sign Dumont? Let's reunite the gang. it worked for American pie, it can work for us

Adam isn't even top line in the AHL... I will definitely say Hecht is better

I suggest you watch the kind of shots other goalies in the league face. Miller is playing lights out 80% of the time this season. The difference between second tier goalies and Miller is huge. His stats aren't great, but this defence is awful. It gives up breakaways/2 on1s 4-5 times a game

I dunno, I'm not sure the fact he would only get $1 million instead of 5 this year would put too many GMs off - the real issue would be trying to keep him on a deal that finished him as an RFA. If he only played 20 games, would that count as a season towards UFA? (I presume not). Which would be perfect. Get when we play our 25th game and then put him in the team for the 27th game, it might burn a year on the deal, but it wouldn't count as a playing year, which would mean he would only have 3 years on his UFA list. So if we gave him 5 years at 5 million, it would burn a year this year, so would really be 4 years at 5 million, meaning he would have played 7 years in the NHL and be 27 - neither of which qualify for UFA under the new CBA EDIT: The CBA might not have changed and it might still be 7 years or 27 - anyone know which it is?

He didn't need to say vocal. He could have said he is a captain that leads by example and work ethic on and off the ice - or words to that effect. The fact is we don't know the locker room situation and so people just make up what they think with their favourite player being the best leader

I really don't get this boards obsession with power forward types. Yes the sabres could use one or two, but the players we have actually get called out for playing the game that made them famous and not driving to the net and running anything in sight. Hecht is cheap and does his job. End of in my mind. I wouldn't mind trading him at the deadline for a pick though. Hecht's role is that of a defensive role player - 3rd or 4th line; however, just because he plays there does not mean he will or should be driving players in the boards or storming the crease. He is not a power forward and would get knocked down if he tried to barge his way to the front of the goal. Quite frankly, at least Hecht gets the pucks to the net

I doubt they trade Clowe for Leopold

Presuming we are not promoting Enroth to GM, I think the new GM will be fine and so it would be fine to upgrade an assistant GM around the league to our GM

The three weak goals would be: 1) Breakaway by one of the leagues best at getting ans scoring breakaways 2) The one where the leagues top goal scorer walked out 10 feet in front of Miller while the team watched 3) The one where the point man snuck in and scored blocker side on a perfect cross crease pass on the powerplay Got it. Those count as soft goals.

He said Grigo made a couple of big mistakes and that he seems to get caught by the speed of the game at points (i.e. he is left watching the game out of position). It was Grigo's first game under a new coach, i expect his ice time will increases slowly over the year

We have a 0.7% chance of making the playoffs. We are basically out of the race already. Unless a major major trade is made in the next 48 hours, I think we just let players ride this season out, give Grigo more ice time and trade pieces at the deadline

Period - Goals for - Goals against 1 - 12 - 13 2 - 15 - 30 3 - 20 - 19

He is not our problem. I don't think he should be on the team next year, but our problem is lack of talent. We need people who can score, waiving him doesn't do that

It counts as a season. 8 seasons and you become a UFA

I'm so glad you are not our GM. You don't just dump players onto waivers when they have trade value, no matter how little

Playoff chances are 0.7% now

Again, he just makes goonish teams. He was the GM for 5 years in Toronto and never made the playoffs - with no money issues. He has also drafted appallingly (ask the Leaf fans). He is a character and outspoken - the very opposite of Regier, but I don't think he is right for the job. Also, he has just taken another job in Anaheim, I doubt he quits that for at least a year. An assistant GM would be our best chance I think. Also I was thinking, how about as Regier's swan song he offer sheets ROR for us, accepts the other GMs will hate him but knows he is leaving in the summer and it is his final present to this club. That and getting 2 more firsts for this draft.

Pommers is one of the best 2 way wingers in the game, plays in all situations and was 8th in RW scoring last year and has a nice contract. ROR has one good season under his belt. Pommers for ROR and a first would still be an easy sell if i was a avalanche fan

So Ruff is gone, I thought I would make a place to discuss this man. Not so much endless he needs to go, more of a discussion - when should he go? Who should replace him? Why has he not made trades yet? etc. etc. A nice centralised location. Plus if he ever checks the boards there is a thread organised for him to read about his short comings

He really hasn't been that impressive this season. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to trade him, but I wouldn't be opposed to it. Apparently Grigo makes some mistakes, hence why he was benched a lot and he needs to get used to the pace still

Ah i thought curses meant swears :P. My bad - i was hoping for emotion

Nothing to do with that? What was the question? Do the sabres seem like they care yet? This might be the loss that causes them to yell at each other in the dressing room. Maybe things are too cosy there