Kessel is a MUCH better player than Evander Kane. His contract is not terribke for what he brings.
- Cptmjl

I have to agree. i would give up quite a bit to get Kessel on the Sabres.

Buffalo top 6 going into next year

Kane-McEichel-Kessel
Moulson-Reinhart-Ennis


I like that a lot.

He beat the rush, not jumped the gun. We traded for a 23 year old and a 24 year old. They are part of the build, not a complimentary finishing piece like Kessel would be.
- Slump Buster

Wingers are complimentary pieces in general.

Wingers are complimentary pieces in general.
- sbroads24

Right, I completely agree with that which is another reason why he wouldn't get what a center would cost.

Yes, they were absolutely lining up. This has been widely reported by the respected names in hockey reporting. If he weren't oft-injured and had the red flags around him he wouldn't have been available at all. Guys with his skill and grit don't usually get traded and it usually doesn't work out for the team that trades them.

Yeah, our D is going to be nails. The Zads and Risto should be a big and mean top pair that can really skate. Bogo slots next to Pysyk on the second pair and the third pair is probably McCabe and Gorges. It seems that getting a top line and good D are the hardest thing to do and we would have these checked off.
- Slump Buster

"Should be" is the key part of you post (s). Gambling on first yr defenseman is a crap shoot to say the least and who is playing goal? If rebuilds were that easy every team would do it without blinking an Eye. As far as Kane goes hes an absolute coin flip. You may not want to believe it but what exactly has he done to show otherwise? Hes been injured a TON he just got shoulder surgery, his entire team hated his guts. He has potential to turn his career around but that is far from a sure thing and why would I, you, or anyone else think otherwise?


What exactly has he done to make anyone think hes going to suddenly transform into a leader and a great piece for a rebuilding team with young players? Honestly he would be the last player id want near my developing players. I doubt very much teams were lining up to get Kane when he just got shoulder surgery on top of it. I wouldnt mind Kane in a complimentary role on a strong team but to me hes such a long shot on a rebuilding one.

I have to agree. i would give up quite a bit to get Kessel on the Sabres.

Buffalo top 6 going into next year

Kane-McEichel-Kessel
Moulson-Reinhart-Ennis


I like that a lot.
- ImThatGuy

Exactly. And like I said on the last page, isn't the heavy lifting in the rebuild done at that point? You sprinkle in some vets that fill specific needs for the third line and you're done.

Probably, this is a player he's really wanted for sometime now so I'm not surprised he jumped the gun/overpaid.

Hopefully it fits in well with his plans, no choice but to give him the benefit of the doubt.
- Sabresfan-365

I think this team will be fine either way. But it wouldn't shock me if Kane wears out his welcome in two years either. It was a risk I was willing to take with a late 1st and someone like Foligno.

I have to agree. i would give up quite a bit to get Kessel on the Sabres.

Buffalo top 6 going into next year

Kane-McEichel-Kessel
Moulson-Reinhart-Ennis


I like that a lot.
- ImThatGuy

Id love to have him. Him on a line with tavares would be lethal. Id never be willing to give up what would be needed to get him though.

"Should be" is the key part of you post (s). Gambling on first yr defenseman is a crap shoot to say the least and who is playing goal? If rebuilds were that easy every team would do it without blinking an Eye. As far as Kane goes hes an absolute coin flip. You may not want to believe it but what exactly has he done to show otherwise? Hes been injured a TON he just got shoulder surgery, his entire team hated his guts. He has potential to turn his career around but that is far from a sure thing and why would I, you, or anyone else think otherwise?


What exactly has he done to make anyone think hes going to suddenly transform into a leader and a great piece for a rebuilding team with young players? Honestly he would be the last player id want near my developing players. I doubt very much teams were lining up to get Kane when he just got shoulder surgery.
- Cptmjl

The D are in their first year this year (they played some last year) and are upper first rounders. Pysyk is also a first rounder that by all accounts would have been here if we were trying to win. No, they aren't "sure things" but nobody is. The point is that all of the hard-to-acquire building pieces are here and we are ready to move forward. Kessel would be the finishing piece to this phase of the build.

I think this team will be fine either way. But it wouldn't shock me if Kane wears out his welcome in two years either. It was a risk I was willing to take with a late 1st and someone like Foligno.
- sbroads24

I was just going to ask if people would have been happier/angrier if the deal was Foligno instead of Armia?

In his WGR interview after it sounded like Murray was reluctant to give him up (foligno i mean)

"Should be" is the key part of you post (s). Gambling on first yr defenseman is a crap shoot to say the least and who is playing goal? If rebuilds were that easy every team would do it without blinking an Eye. As far as Kane goes hes an absolute coin flip. You may not want to believe it but what exactly has he done to show otherwise? Hes been injured a TON he just got shoulder surgery, his entire team hated his guts. He has potential to turn his career around but that is far from a sure thing and why would I, you, or anyone else think otherwise?


What exactly has he done to make anyone think hes going to suddenly transform into a leader and a great piece for a rebuilding team with young players? Honestly he would be the last player id want near my developing players. I doubt very much teams were lining up to get Kane when he just got shoulder surgery.
- Cptmjl

They weren't lining up to offer blockbuster deals for him I can assure you that much.

Id love to have him. Him on a line with tavares would be lethal. Id never be willing to give up what would be needed to get him though.
- Cptmjl

I think I would. This team has been so speed deprived that having Kane and Kessel on one line would be so fun to watch.

The D are in their first year this year (they played some last year) and are upper first rounders. Pysyk is also a first rounder that by all accounts would have been here if we were trying to win. No, they aren't "sure things" but nobody is. The point is that all of the hard-to-acquire building pieces are here and we are ready to move forward. Kessel would be the finishing piece to this phase of the build.
- Slump Buster

I dont really see the depth up front or developing depth in your farm system so youre not screwed three yrs down the road? Your offense isnt exactly intimidating and you have Nuevirth as your starter. Whether you like it or not its a very rare thing to have a good defense with second yr players its not something id bet on not even close. I think its unrealistic to say the least but if you feel good about it and youre a fan I guess thats what matters.

They weren't lining up to offer blockbuster deals for him I can assure you that much.
- sbroads24

And you know this.... how?

In the end what we gave up for him is unknown. Myers and Bogosian were a wash so in the end they got a rental, a low-end first, a prospect that wasn't in our plans and a kid with a 3rd line ceiling. If I can get star-potential players in return I'd make 10 more trades like that as we are overloaded with prospects and picks.

I dont really see the depth up front or developing depth in your farm system so youre not screwed three yrs down the road? Your offense isnt exactly intimidating and you have Nuevirth as your starter. Whether you like it or not its a very rare thing to have a good defense with second yr players its not something id bet on not even close. I think its unrealistic to say the least but if you feel good about it and youre a fan I guess thats what matters.
- Cptmjl

Our system has been consistently rated as having the most depth so I don't know what you are seeing. Your points would be valid if I was claiming that we were going for the cup. Kessel is 27, not 34. We will be a serious threat before he is 30.

I dont really see the depth up front or developing depth in your farm system so youre not screwed three yrs down the road? Your offense isnt exactly intimidating and you have Nuevirth as your starter. Whether you like it or not its a very rare thing to have a good defense with second yr players its not something id bet on not even close. I think its unrealistic to say the least but if you feel good about it and youre a fan I guess thats what matters.
- Cptmjl

Nobody does since nobody really follows anyone others farm system.

The depth is there, the high end talent is still lacking.

They weren't lining up to offer blockbuster deals for him I can assure you that much.
- sbroads24

Yeah agreed. He had value of course but i think theres some serious over valuing going on in this thread.

Our system has been consistently rated as having the most depth so I don't know what you are seeing. Your points would be valid if I was claiming that we were going for the cup. Kessel is 27, not 34. We will be a serious threat before he is 30.
- Slump Buster

You may be you may not be? Its certainly not written in stone.

I think Homie wanted Methot

@Senators: BREAKING: #Sens sign defenceman Marc Methot to a four-year contract extension. http://t.co/rie8Z8NXHM

Yeah agreed. He had value of course but i think theres some serious rationalizing going on in this thread.
- Cptmjl

Fixed

And you know this.... how?

In the end what we gave up for him is unknown. Myers and Bogosian were a wash so in the end they got a rental, a low-end first, a prospect that wasn't in our plans and a kid with a 3rd line ceiling. If I can get star-potential players in return I'd make 10 more trades like that as we are overloaded with prospects and picks.
- Slump Buster

Myers and Bogosian are far from a wash at this point. Winnipeg has been a better team lately and he hasnt exactly produced. In a year it might look like the opposite.

Murray is banking on Risto/Zads being our 1-2. They have a year or two before we know if they can be those guys yet

I think Homie wanted him



@Senators: BREAKING: #Sens sign defenceman Marc Methot to a four-year contract extension. http://t.co/rie8Z8NXHM
- Irish 14

Every year. "This years FA crop is going to be the best in a long time"
Every year "Player A,B,C,D signs extension"
Every year "There is nothing out there in FA"

Yeah agreed. He had value of course but i think theres some serious over valuing going on in this thread.
- Cptmjl

Which is why I have stated it will be at least 3 season to see who if anyone "Won" this trade.

I remember (myself included) it being said we won the Pommer deal. At this point it is Zads for Pommer as Larsson and Hackett are not what they were cracked up to be.

Nobody does since nobody really follows anyone others farm system.

The depth is there, the high end talent is still lacking.
- Sabresfan-365

I hear you. Having first yr defenseman developing in the nhl has always been a bad idea imo. Having enough depth to bring them along slowly is huge. When we started our rebuild we were forced into doing it bcs of our lack of depth after milbury. That has obviously changed over time and we did the right thing with Lee, pulock, dehaan, and strome amongst others. When you can have your blue chips developing in the ahl thats a true sign of depth imo.

Myers and Bogosian are far from a wash at this point. Winnipeg has been a better team lately and he hasnt exactly produced. In a year it might look like the opposite.

Murray is banking on Risto/Zads being our 1-2. They have a year or two before we know if they can be those guys yet
- sbroads24

Exactly - not a wash. Bogo is a better overall player. Period

Id love to have him. Him on a line with tavares would be lethal. Id never be willing to give up what would be needed to get him though.
- Cptmjl

This is teh most id give up.

2015 Non-Buffalo first
McCabe
Bailey
2015 2nd
2016 2nd (Becomes first if Buffalo Makes playoffs)

It give them 3 picks in the 1st and 2nd round. and 2 2nd rd prospects.

All things said it gives them 5 picks/players in rds 1-2.