IKnowPhysics

If we move him, even as a rental, we'll get good return. He should be able to fetch about what Pominville garnered, and probably a little more. For comparison: Rental: Vanek <-> 1st round pick, 3rd round prospect, 5th round prospect (similar to Iginla) Vanek <-> 2nd round pick (conditional to 1st rounder if they win 2 playoff series), 2nd round prospect, 5th round prospect (similar to Jagr) One year: Vanek <-> 1st round pick, 2nd round pick, 2nd round prospect, 2nd round G prospect (similar to Pominville without the 4th) The trade value thread puts Vanek from a 1st, 2nd, 3rd (like Pominville) up to two 1sts and a top prospect. --- Take a look at his approximate trade value: 2007 Four 1st round picks 2013 One 1st round pick, Three 2nd round picks 2014 One 1st round pick, One 2nd round pick, One 5th round pick Concerning 2007-2013: if you remember that Vanek led the Sabres in goals five out of six years (finished 2nd last year to Pommer) and helped keep this team competitive in a time when not many else were, it helps take the edge off. He's been fun to watch. In my mind, probably worth the price of admission of the difference between three 1sts and three 2nds. Concerning 2013-2014: the opportunity cost of keeping Vanek until the next deadline could roughly be the difference of two 2nd rounders vs a 5th rounder. I think that's a justifiable price for a team-leading scorer for a year, and one that can be paid just to keep this team watchable, but if tear down/rebuild is the only priority, I could understand the other point of view.

Posted by HNIC via Datsyuk. Mildly amusing.

Pominville + 4th nets 1st, 2nd, Larsson (former 2nd), Hackett (former 3rd), very slightly more than most were expecting.

Hockeyy Insiderr ‏@HockeyyInsiderr 1m Source says #Caps trade is for Stafford. Still awaiting confirmation. #Sabres Yesss.

Hockey Central ‏@SNHockeyCentral 49s Luongo on contract: "I'd scrap it if I could right now." Ha! Ian Mendes ‏@ian_mendes 2m Luongo will have an easier time getting out of a cell phone contract than the one he's got with the Canucks. Double ha!

That would be a deal I'd be happy with. 1st, 2nd, decent forward prospect, meh goalie prospect.

Hockeyy Insiderr ‏@HockeyyInsiderr 1m Trying to find details about #Caps deal. Also hearing Stafford could be on the move, #Sabres were pondering trade close to 3PM. For the love of all that is holy, let this be true.

Hockeyy Insiderr ‏@HockeyyInsiderr 1m Source in Vancouver just told me "Luongo asked to be taken off the ice to play a trick on the media." #Canucks @strombone1

Down Goes Brown ‏@DownGoesBrown 1m Luongo pulled off ice early because the Canucks wanted to see his face when he found out Steve Mason got traded and he didn’t. #TradeCentre

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 1m Gaborik has agreed to trade, but paperwork still has to be filed.

Can't be all. Should be a 1st in there. Not even sure this is real.

HockeyInsiderr calling it done... is he a tool? Hockeyy Insiderr ‏@HockeyyInsiderr 1m The #MNWild have acquired Pominville from the #Sabres. #DONEDEAL #CONFIRMED Another 1 for #HockeyyInsiderr

Oh ######.

Miller to Columbus for three 1st round draft picks? Durrrr

No bueno.

Cue Benny Hill music.

Phone sex right now. Lots of talk, but we're only ###### ourselves.

THE HUBRIS! Now I am become donut, destroyer of worlds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOoOP2l_ahQ This. All of this.

Jay Leno won't waive his NTC.

Mutiny! At least now there's a chance they're Rollin' Rims. Also, so you don't feel like I never loved you, I lol'd at this.

FOOLS!! HOW DO WE IMPROVE THE FRANCHISE WITHOUT TAKING THE CHANCE ON WINNING MORE COFFEE!?

Maybe the reason we got two 2nd picks is that no one wanted to give up a 1st? Entirely feasible. Then the 2015 pick comes only because LA doesn't want to deal away their top two picks from this year. That doesn't bode well for the return on Drew Stafford. It does bode well for the trade capital that Columbus has in hand- they should be buyers before draft day.

Heh, I have some opinions about this (I don't think I'd be a better GM than most of the GMs in the league- I say most because Feaster can suck my balls). But instead of writing that post, I think it'd be funnier to burn your ass a little by posting the picture from the Sabres facebook page this morning of the GM's trade deadline work group table:

Was at that game. Good times. This is consistent with how analysts and GMs (including Regier) have described the current trade market: 1st round picks and good prospects are being held tightly by GMs.