Lieuwen has had a really rough go of it in Rochester this year. Not sure why, because he was really good for them last year, but he seems to be fighting the puck.

While I'm good with trading away a goaltender, you still need someone competent behind the starter. Right now, that's not Lieuwen.
- HonkFortheGoose

I don't see them moving Enroth or Neuvirth.

Did anyone else get the pop up from Hockeybuzz today?


- jochfr

What? Seriously? I am on my phone, but I'm sure it's on my browser back home. "We here at Hockeybuzz encourage you to not use your software for what it's meant for."

You're forgetting the 2 top 5 draft picks that helped tremendously in creating their Stanley cup team... Jack Johnson and Brayden Schenn
- theblueandgold

They were used as trade pieces to bring in major components of their Cup runs, though.

Yes.
- mhp

Time to go buy a season ticket!

They were used as trade pieces to bring in major components of their Cup runs, though.
- buffalofan19

That was my point. They're cup team wasn't built a around just one top pick (Doughty #2). Richards and Carter were key pieces for that team. LA was willing to part with 2 top 5 draft picks to get what they needed to win. He said he favored the LA model and only mentioned Doughty as a top pick, but you cNt forget about the other two.

Time to go buy a season ticket!
- CaptainRivet

I'd rather stick a fork in my eye...

What? Seriously? I am on my phone, but I'm sure it's on my browser back home. "We here at Hockeybuzz encourage you to not use your software for what it's meant for."
- buffalofan19

I use AdBlock and haven't gotten this today. Though most of the time I'm at work and I'm stuck seeing the ads because we only have IE on our PCs.

That was my point. They're cup team wasn't built a around just one top pick (Doughty #2). Richards and Carter were key pieces for that team. LA was willing to part with 2 top 5 draft picks to get what they needed to win. He said he favored the LA model and only mentioned Doughty as a top pick, but you cNt forget about the other two.
- theblueandgold

Which IMO is exactly what will happen if we miss out on McDavid or Eichel.

I can see one of our better prospects along with our pick being used to get a great player here.

I use AdBlock and haven't gotten this today. Though most of the time I'm at work and I'm stuck seeing the ads because we only have IE on our PCs.
- HonkFortheGoose

I have ad block and I'm getting it.

Which IMO is exactly what will happen if we miss out on McDavid or Eichel.

I can see one of our better prospects along with our pick being used to get a great player here.
- sbroads24

But LA didn't get a "great" player in either. They got two very good complimentary players, to the two guys that they already had.

If Carter and Richards are their best players, they never win those two cups.

Looks like you got a phone with a fat-finger keyboard....
- Der Kaiser

No, it's just Hubie...

But LA didn't get a "great" player in either. They got two very good complimentary players, to the two guys that they already had.

If Carter and Richards are their best players, they never win those two cups.
- Sabresfan-365

Sure, but we won't need them to be either.

The best team wins the cup, not the best individual player.

We are shaping out to have an incredibly strong team all around.

If we were to get a generational player, I think it's only a matter of time before we would win 1-2 cups. Without one, we would need to make some moves to be competitive sooner.

Kopitar and Doughty are great players, but by no means are they generational, and saying so is taking a lot of meaning out of that word

Sure, but we won't need them to be either.

The best team wins the cup, not the best individual player.

We are shaping out to have an incredibly strong team all around.

If we were to get a generational player, I think it's only a matter of time before we would win 1-2 cups. Without one, we would need to make some moves to be competitive sooner.

Kopitar and Doughty are great players, but by no means are they generational, and saying so is taking a lot of meaning out of that word
- sbroads24

Not to mention Richards is being severely under rated in this conversation. Philly has to be kicking themselves in the ass for giving up those two like that. But hey... Dry island.

Sure, but we won't need them to be either.

The best team wins the cup, not the best individual player.

We are shaping out to have an incredibly strong team all around.

If we were to get a generational player, I think it's only a matter of time before we would win 1-2 cups. Without one, we would need to make some moves to be competitive sooner.

Kopitar and Doughty are great players, but by no means are they generational, and saying so is taking a lot of meaning out of that word
- sbroads24

Yea I get that but I feel like the team still needs 1 or 2 players who can lead the team in terms of talent. The kind of player who makes everyone else look better, carry your team etc.

We have a lot of good to very good players, that will give us a well balanced lineup but none of them really strike me as game changers aside from maybe(and i think im being a little optimistic) Ristolainen.

But LA didn't get a "great" player in either. They got two very good complimentary players, to the two guys that they already had.

If Carter and Richards are their best players, they never win those two cups.
- Sabresfan-365

Richards isn't a complimentary player. He was part of a core that came close to beating the Hawks of all teams in the Cup finals. If Philly had any goaltending they probably would've lifted the cup.

Yea I get that but I feel like the team still needs 1 or 2 players who can lead the team in terms of talent. The kind of player who makes everyone else look better, carry your team etc.

We have a lot of good to very good players, that will give us a well balanced lineup but none of them really strike me as game changers aside from maybe(and i think im being a little optimistic) Ristolainen.
- Sabresfan-365

There are 29 other NHL GMs that would love to have Girgensons on their roster right now.

Richards isn't a complimentary player. He was part of a core that came close to beating the Hawks of all teams in the Cup finals. If Philly had any goaltending they probably would've lifted the cup.
- theblueandgold

In his prime, you're right he was part of a core that came close but ultimately wound up losing to a team that had a better one.

But in his time in LA, he's been a complimentary player and I don't mean that in a derogatory way nor am i suggesting he wasn't important. Just that he wasn't acquired with the purpose of being the go to guy because they already had 2 at the time.

In a scenario where we miss out on a guy like that in this draft, Murray has to get creative and try and land a guy who can be that player, (which doesn't happen to often) unless one of our current picks exceeds expectations.

There are 29 other NHL GMs that would love to have Girgensons on their roster right now.
- theblueandgold

No doubt but would they take him over a guy like Hall or Mackinnon? Not trying to knock the guy down but I just don't see him having the kind of impact that those two will.

No doubt but would they take him over a guy like Hall or Mackinnon? Not trying to knock the guy down but I just don't see him having the kind of impact that those two will.
- Sabresfan-365

Here's what's interesting to me about that statement, their stats are both marginally better than Girgensons, and he's playing on the team with the worst goals per game number.

And if Hall was really all that much better, then shouldn't he be able to put Edmonton on his back the way that Girgensons has done recently by now?

No doubt but would they take him over a guy like Hall or Mackinnon? Not trying to knock the guy down but I just don't see him having the kind of impact that those two will.
- Sabresfan-365

Girgensons>Yakupov or Galchenyuk right now

This is what will help us, when out picks like Girgensons, Risto, and Zadorov play like top 5 picks

In his prime, you're right he was part of a core that came close but ultimately wound up losing to a team that had a better one.

But in his time in LA, he's been a complimentary player and I don't mean that in a derogatory way nor am i suggesting he wasn't important. Just that he wasn't acquired with the purpose of being the go to guy because they already had 2 at the time.

In a scenario where we miss out on a guy like that in this draft, Murray has to get creative and try and land a guy who can be that player, (which doesn't happen to often) unless one of our current picks exceeds expectations.
- Sabresfan-365

Richards was acquired at the start of his prime (27). You're right he wasn't acquired to be the main offensive player that he was in Philly since they had Kopitar. But Richards was acquired add depth down the middle. With him and Kopitar they could now roll two offensive lines that were defensively responsible and stifling. They don't have a Crosby or Stamkos. So they did the next best thing and loaded their lineup with guys who could play both ends of the ice.

Here's what's interesting to me about that statement, their stats are both marginally better than Girgensons, and he's playing on the team with the worst goals per game number.

And if Hall was really all that much better, then shouldn't he be able to put Edmonton on his back the way that Girgensons has done recently by now?
- HonkFortheGoose

Hall is a great player. Girgensons is no where near him right now

Hall is a great player. Girgensons is no where near him right now
- sbroads24

Is Hall a good player? Yes. I wouldn't call him great right now. His team is on a 10 game losing streak. He's had trouble staying healthy because he wants to play physical but doesn't seem to know how to do so without putting himself in harms way.

I'm not saying that Girgensons is better skill wise, but I think he has more of the intangibles that you need guys to have. Those aren't things you can teach.

No doubt but would they take him over a guy like Hall or Mackinnon? Not trying to knock the guy down but I just don't see him having the kind of impact that those two will.
- Sabresfan-365

First you don't build your team around wingers. So for 2/3 the teams in the NHL, yes I think they would take a C of Z's caliber over Hall because they don't have that. MacKinnon a no brainer. Disappointing to see him struggling this year all things considered.

I want McDavid or Eichel because I know it will speed up our rebuild. Girgensons will be just as important of a player to this team than those 2 would be.

Here's what's interesting to me about that statement, their stats are both marginally better than Girgensons, and he's playing on the team with the worst goals per game number.

And if Hall was really all that much better, then shouldn't he be able to put Edmonton on his back the way that Girgensons has done recently by now?
- HonkFortheGoose

The thing is he has (or at least done his best) for a while now, that team is just as broken(probably worse at this point, at least we have goaltending) as the sabres. Girgensons may be on a hot streak right now, but I suspect over 82 games Hall and Mackinnon will wide the gap against him statistically.

I think Girgensons is very good, he's an important piece of our future core and there's very little out there that i'd trade him away for. But Hall and Mackinnon are an example of two players I would, you're more likely to win a cup with Mackinnon as your best forward vs. Girgensons.