LabattBlue

Never liked Jeremy White. Howard Simon is okay. Matthew Collar and his obsession with hockey analytics drive me crazy.

The best thing that happened to me when I retired is that it minimized the amount of time I spend listening to WGR during the morning and afternoon commutes.

Hey...nobody said you were supposed to actually look at the standings and do the math! :lol:

Just because they are paid doesn't mean everything that comes out of their mouths has to be "genius".

No different from much of what is posted here in terms of ridiculous trade offers. ;)

Good for the NHLPA! This should be approved ASAP!

That's a different story. In your previous post you wanted to acquire Gibson for Rochester. Now you want him to be the Sabres starter in the fall. :blink: :blink:

How active will Murray be? My guess is 1 new players/prospects acquired via trade.

I say no to Kessel regardless of price. Isn't it a major red flag that a guy of his talent is on the market and heading for his 3rd NHL team at the age of 27?

I know I am really limiting the talent pool available to me, but I wouldn't draft a Russian in the first 3 rounds of any draft.

...and skating would be #1, therefore this thread is pointless.

DUH...Of course every player needs the main skill of being able to skate to play in the NHL. Thanks for stating the obvious. :doh:

Maybe I shouldn't have used the term "overrated", but my point stands, a guy with great skills other than skating can still be a really good NHL player. Can't be a horrible skater, but if he is average at skating, he can still succeed. Yes...I do believe a guy like Andreychuk would still be a good goal scorer in the NHL today. How many goals in the NHL are scored off the rush today(where a fast skater would be advantageous) versus a guy like Andreychuk who made a living off of tip-ins, garbage goals around the crease and the PP, all of which do not require great skating skills. Once again, you can't have a team full of skaters such as this, but I wouldn't be quick to dismiss a guy because of his average skating skills.

Stupid list. I know he put a disclaimer at the beginning, of the list being weighted towards more recent times, BUT, how can Edmonton which has won 5 Cups have a more tortured fan base than several teams that have won NONE, and not even a Cup Finals appearance between them?

Not counting the guys who only had a short stint in the NHL, I was surprised that the list is so short. I guess it won't grow much in the future knowing that the salary cap era forces teams to part ways with long time players.

Gibson for Rochester? I'd be shocked if he wasn't full-time with Anaheim next season...maybe even their #1.

IMO skating ability has become overrated. In todays clutch and grab game where more often than not there is little flow to the game, how much of a disadvantage is it, if you are not the fastest skater in the NHL? I'm not saying you want an entire team of guys who skate like they have cement in their skates, but if a guy is talented in other ways, are you really going to kick a player to the curb because he can't skate like the wind? I am sure there are plenty of examples currently of guys in the NHL who can score and are valuable to their team, but aren't necessarily fleet of foot. After all, most players have shortcomings and don't possess all skills(shooting, passing, skating, physical play, defensive awareness, etc...). Two former Sabres come to mind...Dave Andreychuk & Ray Sheppard.

I think he falls somewhere between option 1 & 2. 20-25 point fourth line guy with way more skill than a Rob Ray, and also someone who can fill in on 3rd line and maybe even 2nd line on a short term basis without looking completely out of place.

I like the coaching hires! :thumbsup:

The Sabres have offered Grigs a two way deal? He would never pass through waivers, so what would be the point? Trying to force him to take KHL offer? A situation that started with a prospect falling on draft day continues to spiral downward.

I don't expect them to make the playoffs next season, but I do want them to win their fair share of games and be competitive in games they lose. That's not happening with current goaltender situation. Not to nitpick but goaltending needs to be addressed this summer as a priority

When Chad Johnson is your only goalie under contract(not counting AHL guys Hackett, Liewen & Makarov) it most certainly is a priority come 7/1.

Going to Minnesota twice in the preseason is really odd.

????

To make it even worse, 49 years of the SB, and nothing to show for that either. :censored: