tom webster Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 It's always hard, no pun intended, determining cause and effect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 What they have pretty much done is given Stafford, Connolly's old salary, now need to find a #2 center, will have the increase in cap dollars eaten up by the RFAs, and need to replace Montador who was their most consistant D-man for the first 60 games of the season. It will be almost the exact same team as last season except it will cost more. Once they talk to Myers about long term, Katie bar the door. Boyes, Stafford, Hecht, Pominville, Vanek.....$25 million. Suck on them apples as you send in your $7,000 for a pair of club seats. It's a new game. Take two of the players you listed, add the two salaries together and time which combination makes you through-up in your mouth the fastest. Maybe the Stanley Cup is a "false idol" and isn't allowed in "Hockey Heaven." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two or less Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Not a bad deal at all. Glad he's re-signed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 It's a new game. Take two of the players you listed, add the two salaries together and time which combination makes you through-up in your mouth the fastest. Maybe the Stanley Cup is a "false idol" and isn't allowed in "Hockey Heaven." There still isn't a guy here that would know what to do if you rolled a grenade into the middle of that lockerroom. 70% would try to run, Gaustad would pick it up to see if it met green technology standards, Miller would meditate on the meaning of war for 6 seconds, Kaleta would turtle, and Pominville would try to throw it out the door but it would go 6 feet wide and end up in Lindy's office. The only 3 guys who have a chance to do something of value are Grier, Weber and Gerbe. Grier would try jumping on it but be a half second slow, and Gerbe would bury it under the carpet and kill everyone anyway. Weber is our only long-term hope of a captain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 You guys do realize they finished 29-11-6 without a center of any repute? A team as soft and weak as you depict would have called it a season after Roy went down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 You guys do realize they finished 29-11-6 without a center of any repute? A team as soft and weak as you depict would have called it a season after Roy went down. I said 70% of them are soft. The guys that aren't don't know how to lead a war yet, and haven't had anyone to show them how. And unfortunately, they are 0-1 after Roy's return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Fair enough but I think some surprises emerged in the leadership department and I look forward to seeing that continue regardless of who is brought in. Now I have to go. I suspect we will continue this tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyldnwoody44 Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 There still isn't a guy here that would know what to do if you rolled a grenade into the middle of that lockerroom. 70% would try to run, Gaustad would pick it up to see if it met green technology standards, Miller would meditate on the meaning of war for 6 seconds, Kaleta would turtle, and Pominville would try to throw it out the door but it would go 6 feet wide and end up in Lindy's office. The only 3 guys who have a chance to do something of value are Grier, Weber and Gerbe. Grier would try jumping on it but be a half second slow, and Gerbe would bury it under the carpet and kill everyone anyway. Weber is our only long-term hope of a captain. This made me laugh : ) and there's some truth behind some of these scenarios lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 This made me laugh : ) and there's some truth behind some of these scenarios lol Don't laugh, you make Pegula upset. On a note of irony, on the Buffalo News website, Stafford's signing is listed next to "Man robs M&T Bank" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopefulFuture Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Say goodbye to Pominville. There is no way he avoids the attrition gods this off season. I'll take a stab at it and say the only reason we didn't see Boyes on the Vanek line as the right wing after he was picked up was strictly due to the center situation. And Pominville can't play the position, not to say Boyes could either but obviously the choice between the 2 was Boyes. That to me spells some diversity in the player. Buffalo didn't pick Boyes up for a playoff run and Pegula, Black and Regier all stated that any pickup at the deadline was not for an end season run. With Boyes value being less then Pominville's and Stafford and Boyes splitting much of Pominville's special teams duties on PK and PP, my deduction is that Pomers is history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesportsbuff Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 I love the deal! It's maybe $500K more than I would have preferred, but Hamilton or whoever is right -- arbitration would likely have meant paying more. I also like the long term contract, hopefully Stafford can build on this breakout season and maybe next year or two seasons from now he will be a steal at $4 mil. With Connolly out of the fold, it's really not eating up too much cap space, but you are starting to get a pretty heavily paid offense that hasn't produced like one -- Pommer at 5 mil, Vanek at 7, Stafford at 4, Boyes at 4, Roy at 4... but if you consider Kassian/Foligno/Adam (if any of them make the squad) will be playing on entry level deals, while McCormick/Niedermayer/Grier/Ellis (if any of them are brought back) will be near the league minimum -- so they can make it work. I'm sure it's been mentioned already (sorry as I did not read the whole thread) but this could be the first step in a big trade -- got Stafford locked up, now Boyes/Pominville/Roy can be shipped with our first rounder for the rights to Brad Richards, or perhaps to move up in the draft and select a more NHL-ready player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 You guys do realize they finished 29-11-6 without a center of any repute? A team as soft and weak as you depict would have called it a season after Roy went down. How did they start the year before in the first 46 games? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 ....but you are starting to get a pretty heavily paid offense that hasn't produced like one -- Pommer at 5 mil, Vanek at 7, Stafford at 4, Boyes at 4, Roy at 4... Should've started and ended the post with this phrase. Pretty much sez it all. I'm vey "meh" with the dollars. But if the contract includes a NTC I am very disappointed. Them's handcuffs. It leaves us exactly zero flexibilty if we expect to go out and get center depth. And we need centers a hella lot more than we needed to firm up our RW's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matter2003 Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 happened just like Paul Hamilton of WGR 550 theorized in one of his interviews a few weeks ago...said the Sabres are gonna want 3 million, Stafford will want 5 million and they likely will agree somewhere in the middle around 4 million... Kudos Paul! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesportsbuff Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Wrote this quick little blog post since it's been a month since I've posted a new entry. Please read if you're interested!! http://www.thesportsbuff.com/?p=579 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristian Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Should've started and ended the post with this phrase. Pretty much sez it all. I'm vey "meh" with the dollars. But if the contract includes a NTC I am very disappointed. Them's handcuffs. It leaves us exactly zero flexibilty if we expect to go out and get center depth. And we need centers a hella lot more than we needed to firm up our RW's. Darcy apparently likes not being able to operate freely. 4 mill. a year isn't bad, but a NTC for a guy like Stafford is ridiculous. Another "core" player who isn't going anywhere - ever - added to the list. What incentive exactly does Drew have for showing up now? His will to win and compete? If that's what we're hanging our hats on, I expect a 7 goal 15 assist season coming up. Oh well, could've been 5 mill. :wallbash: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabresMojo Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 How did they start the year before in the first 46 games? Pretty damn good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesportsbuff Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 I haven't seen "NTC" mentioned anywhere except for the twitter post that said the deal was 6yrs/28mil. Anyone got a link to an official source saying he got a NTC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Darcy apparently likes not being able to operate freely. 4 mill. a year isn't bad, but a NTC for a guy like Stafford is ridiculous. Another "core" player who isn't going anywhere - ever - added to the list. What incentive exactly does Drew have for showing up now? His will to win and compete? If that's what we're hanging our hats on, I expect a 7 goal 15 assist season coming up. Oh well, could've been 5 mill. :wallbash: The Status Quo torch has been passed from Tim Connolly to Drew Stafford. They'll be chasing Stafford's potential as they have Connolly's for far too many years. This contract is exactly why fans were hoping Pegula would bring in an actual "hockey guy." Someone to keep Status Quo in check and prevent them from overvaluing and overpaying the same old uninspiring players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deluca67 Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Wrote this quick little blog post since it's been a month since I've posted a new entry. Please read if you're interested!! http://www.thesportsbuff.com/?p=579 Some funny stuff tight there.:lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesportsbuff Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Some funny stuff tight there.:lol: IDK what's so funny but I assure you it wasn't intentional :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spndnchz Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 The Status Quo torch has been passed from Tim Connolly to Drew Stafford. They'll be chasing Stafford's potential as they have Connolly's for far too many years. This contract is exactly why fans were hoping Pegula would bring in an actual "hockey guy." Someone to keep Status Quo in check and prevent them from overvaluing and overpaying the same old uninspiring players. So I guess you won't be a Sabres fan anymore. That's too bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spndnchz Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Stafford speaks: “I’m very, very excited that a deal got done,” Stafford told The Associated Press by phone shortly after the deal was announced. “Buffalo’s an organization that I believe is going in the right direction. I’m just so excited and feel very privileged to be a part of this organization’s future. I just believe we have a chance to bring a championship to the city of Buffalo.” “I believe I just took a step in the right direction in becoming a better player,” Stafford said. “I plan on continuing to get better and build on last season.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabresFan526 Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 This is exactly where I would have pegged Stafford's value after this season. The fact the Sabres locked him up for 4 years at this contract is huge. If he performs like he did this year throughout the contract, this could end up being a total bargain in much the same way Derek Roy's contract is. However, if he goes into contractitis like he has been known to in the past next year, this may be a waste. However, I will say that I saw a different Stafford on the ice this year, and I think he will elevate his game to the next level. This is a very good deal for both sides in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDFan Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 For those complaining about this contract, I am curious as to what you would have done. If the Sabres do not sign him to a multiple-year deal, he goes to arbitration where as a 30 goal scorer last year he almost certainly would have received at least $5 mil, perhaps closer to $6 mil. That really puts the team in a box. Now you have a one year player with an over valued contract who would be next to impossible to trade given that over value and pending UFA status. So what would they do - let him walk? 4x4 is a good deal for Stafford. I think we are all concerned that he reverts to his previous level of play, but clearly Sabres management is in a better position to judge that than any of us. They have locked up a significant asset in an affordable contract. As for the NTC discussion, I have not seen that reported from any credible source so I do not think that should be taken as fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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