Buffalo is a great place to go out for dinner. And I'm not talking about the obvious stanglehold the city has on chicken wing supremecy.


Fine dining?
Tempo
Chop House
Rue Franklin
Oliver's
Lombardo's
Russell's
Salvatore's

Casual dinners & drinks?
Cole's
Blue Monk
Chef's
Mulberry's
Left Bank
Toro
Sterling
Gabriel's Gate
Shango
Lake Effect Diner
Grover's
Friar's Table
Kentucky Greg's
Founding Father's Pub

You get the picture.

I live in Canada, halfway between Toronto and Buffalo, and Buffalo wins every time when I want quality, quantity and good value when I go out for dinner.

And I haven't even mentioned happy hour and free pour at the bar!






- Losman

The Remington in North Tonawanda is a real good newer place. It's owned by the guys from Tempo and Hutch's.

Stastny has shown in the past that he can be a really good player. He didn't start struggling until Joe Sacco took over as the Avs head coach. I'm sure he'll do great getting a fresh start with a brand new coaching staff in Buffalo...

Stastny has shown in the past that he can be a really good player. He didn't start struggling until Joe Sacco took over as the Avs head coach. I'm sure he'll do great getting a fresh start with a brand new coaching staff in Buffalo...
- westonie

Sacco's system was an awful system for Stastny (which is where I get what you're saying). I think he will have a huge resurgence under Roy, just the wide open style he plays.

He played almost strictly defensive shut down roles with rare offensive zone starts last year too.

oh no does this mean another 5 Garth blogs today?

Wouldnt Miller to Edm make more sense?
- Popcorn Kid

No for two reasons. One, Colorado is a more desirable destination and has a much better brain trust (Sakic, not Roy yet) compared to Lowe and T-Mac. The Oilers biggest issue is Lowe. Get rid of him and things will turn around. Two, the Avs are closer than the Oilers and Miller wants to have a shot at winning now.

No for two reasons. One, Colorado is a more desirable destination and has a much better brain trust (Sakic, not Roy yet) compared to Lowe and T-Mac. The Oilers biggest issue is Lowe. Get rid of him and things will turn around. Two, the Avs are closer than the Oilers and Miller wants to have a shot at winning now.
- therealagent

Hmmmm Avs vs. Oil are always an interesting comparison. I'd comment on it but obviously I am biased.

No for two reasons. One, Colorado is a more desirable destination and has a much better brain trust (Sakic, not Roy yet) compared to Lowe and T-Mac. The Oilers biggest issue is Lowe. Get rid of him and things will turn around. Two, the Avs are closer than the Oilers and Miller wants to have a shot at winning now.
- therealagent

What is that?

No for two reasons. One, Colorado is a more desirable destination and has a much better brain trust (Sakic, not Roy yet) compared to Lowe and T-Mac. The Oilers biggest issue is Lowe. Get rid of him and things will turn around. Two, the Avs are closer than the Oilers and Miller wants to have a shot at winning now.
- therealagent

How are the Avs closer?
I feel they are really close, not a huge difference in where they are at.
This year should be interesting with Roy in Colorado, and Mac T and Eakins in Edmonton, see how the changes reflect on the ice.

Hmmmm Avs vs. Oil are always an interesting comparison. I'd comment on it but obviously I am biased.
- Meeqsb

Agreed

How are the Avs closer?
I feel they are really close, not a huge difference in where they are at.
This year should be interesting with Roy in Colorado, and Mac T and Eakins in Edmonton, see how the changes reflect on the ice.
- abware

Mact vs sakic. Both unproven

Eakins vs roy. Both unproven

Top 6. Edm a little more flash, col a little more well rounded

Bottom 6. Colorado without a doubt

Defence. Edm certainly isnt strong, but col is so bad i say edm has the edge for sure.

Goaltending. Both question marks, but as of last year edm has the clear edge

Mackinnon is the x factor as he could give the avs an edge long term. But as of today, i think edm is a small step ahead.

A little biased though i suppose

Mact vs sakic. Both unproven

Eakins vs roy. Both unproven

Top 6. Edm a little more flash, col a little more well rounded

Bottom 6. Colorado without a doubt

Defence. Edm certainly isnt strong, but col is so bad i say edm has the edge for sure.

Goaltending. Both question marks, but as of last year edm has the clear edge

Mackinnon is the x factor as he could give the avs an edge long term. But as of today, i think edm is a small step ahead.

A little biased though i suppose
- hugefemale dog77

A fair assessment I think, although I'm sure some would disagree.

Stastny has shown in the past that he can be a really good player. He didn't start struggling until Joe Sacco took over as the Avs head coach. I'm sure he'll do great getting a fresh start with a brand new coaching staff in Buffalo...
- westonie

Like with Sacco again?

From Colorado standpoint, is Stastny worth keeping and trying at wing? Or is he a center or bust? If he can play wing at all I feel like he's worth hanging onto for your top-6 since he's young enough and has long ties with Sakic.

But if he only plays center and is not willing to switch then yeah, I agree, its time to move him.

From Colorado standpoint, is Stastny worth keeping and trying at wing? Or is he a center or bust? If he can play wing at all I feel like he's worth hanging onto for your top-6 since he's young enough and has long ties with Sakic.

But if he only plays center and is not willing to switch then yeah, I agree, its time to move him.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Apparently it's O'Reilly who is being moved (LW)
If Colorado can't get him extended at a decent price, then they've really gotta move him by the deadline... There's no way they are gonna qualify him at 6.5mil next year, and there's they can't just let him become UFA

For what it's worth,
The AVs could use Miller AND Vanek (who couldn't use Vanek though?)
Then they'd be a contender!
Same goes for the Isles
Have to give up a whole boatload of prospects & picks though

Apparently it's O'Reilly who is being moved (LW)
If Colorado can't get him extended at a decent price, then they've really gotta move him by the deadline... There's no way they are gonna qualify him at 6.5mil next year, and there's they can't just let him become UFA

For what it's worth,
The AVs could use Miller AND Vanek (who couldn't use Vanek though?)
Then they'd be a contender!
Same goes for the Isles
Have to give up a whole boatload of prospects & picks though
- jdfitz77

He can't be moved until sometime in 2014, so I doubt he'd be the one.

Both O'Reilly and Stastny's contracts expire after this season, with Stastny being a UFA, so I'd expect him to be the one.

This will probably sound crazy & get ripped apart...
But if I'm the Islanders and/or Colorado...
I'm going for a mega-deal with Buffalo that gets me:

Miller, Vanek AND Ehrhoff

From the Islanders...
(this assumes Miller & Vanek sign extensions as part of the trade)
Strome, Reinhart, Nelson, draft picks
Yes, it's the Islander top3 prospects...
But I think ppl overrate prospects. How many DON'T work out? Thing is, teams HOPE their prospects ONE DAY cab become as good as Miller, Vanek & Ehrhoff... It's far from a "sure thing"
Isles make that trade & they are competing with Boston to see who goes to the cup

A deal with Colorado is trickier
They don't really have the prospects we'd covet in a trade, and a guy like O'Reilly can't be moved till March... So that prob prevents the AVs from being able to acquire all 3... But if they somehow could?
Wow, that could be a real good team

Well, it worked in the video game anyways, haha
That's enough drunken rambling from me!

I just hope Miller & Vanek get traded SOON, so we can just get on with our "rebuild"

He can't be moved until sometime in 2014, so I doubt he'd be the one.

Both O'Reilly and Stastny's contracts expire after this season, with Stastny being a UFA, so I'd expect him to be the one.
- jaygeeforty

Moved from center to LW,
Not traded
(the previous post talked about whether or not Stastny would consider switching from Center)
I guess I was kinda vague with my post, my bad... Just got home from the bar, haha


As far as who's more likely to get traded...
I'm sure they'd rather ship out Stastny, but if he's willing to sign a reasonable deal & O'Reilly isn't... Well, then I could see O'Reilly traded for a pretty nice package

Sabre fans want the Oiler trade because they have big hopes of it being one of Eberle, Hall, RNK, Yak or Shultz for Miller.

This will probably sound crazy & get ripped apart...
But if I'm the Islanders and/or Colorado...
I'm going for a mega-deal with Buffalo that gets me:

Miller, Vanek AND Ehrhoff

From the Islanders...
(this assumes Miller & Vanek sign extensions as part of the trade)
Strome, Reinhart, Nelson, draft picks
Yes, it's the Islander top3 prospects...
But I think ppl overrate prospects. How many DON'T work out? Thing is, teams HOPE their prospects ONE DAY cab become as good as Miller, Vanek & Ehrhoff... It's far from a "sure thing"
Isles make that trade & they are competing with Boston to see who goes to the cup

A deal with Colorado is trickier
They don't really have the prospects we'd covet in a trade, and a guy like O'Reilly can't be moved till March... So that prob prevents the AVs from being able to acquire all 3... But if they somehow could?
Wow, that could be a real good team

Well, it worked in the video game anyways, haha
That's enough drunken rambling from me!

I just hope Miller & Vanek get traded SOON, so we can just get on with our "rebuild"
- jdfitz77

I think even though he's a fantastic player, Ehrhoff's contract is immovable. But from a Colorado standpoint, I don't think I'd want Vanek with all due respect. Not a slight against him, but they've drafted forwards for years, they know defense is their top-priority at this point.

Sabre fans want the Oiler trade because they have big hopes of it being one of Eberle, Hall, RNK, Yak or Shultz for Miller.
- Ben37

Probably all of the above.

I think even though he's a fantastic player, Ehrhoff's contract is immovable. But from a Colorado standpoint, I don't think I'd want Vanek with all due respect. Not a slight against him, but they've drafted forwards for years, they know defense is their top-priority at this point.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Also, as a follow-up, adding Miller, Vanek, and Ehrhoff does not make a team a contender. Buffalo had all of them at the start of last year with Pomer, Regher, and Leopold and they shat the bed. Not saying this to be a jerk, I'm just saying if this group of players (Miller, Vanek, Ehrhoff) was worth the Isles three top prospects, they would have to have a history of success. I think you're overvaluing them.

Sabre fans want the Oiler trade because they have big hopes of it being one of Eberle, Hall, RNK, Yak or Shultz for Miller.
- Ben37

we do?

From Colorado standpoint, is Stastny worth keeping and trying at wing? Or is he a center or bust? If he can play wing at all I feel like he's worth hanging onto for your top-6 since he's young enough and has long ties with Sakic.

But if he only plays center and is not willing to switch then yeah, I agree, its time to move him.
- TheJerseyDevil1

His style really isn't meant for wing, and his FO% and 2 way play at center are too valuable to move him to another position. He is a very good player, its just the Avs have 1 if not 2 too many amazing centers

we do?
- Dwight K. Schrute

Or would you prefer Hemsky and Smyth?

I think even though he's a fantastic player, Ehrhoff's contract is immovable. But from a Colorado standpoint, I don't think I'd want Vanek with all due respect. Not a slight against him, but they've drafted forwards for years, they know defense is their top-priority at this point.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Avs still need a top 6 winger. If there was a Stastny for Vanek swap with the avs throwing in a little something extra then I would be all over it. It just fixes a boatload of problems and makes the offense flow a little bit nicer.

Avs still need a top 6 winger. If there was a Stastny for Vanek swap with the avs throwing in a little something extra then I would be all over it. It just fixes a boatload of problems and makes the offense flow a little bit nicer.
- Meeqsb

but le blueline.

I'm a bit bearish on Elliot and Sarich is meh. Hejda will suffice for now but I think looking for Johnson's partner of the future should be front and center on the to-do list.

Edit: but then again, I'm a Devils fan, we always think defense first