I wouldn't jump in on the Kassian train yet. Caution.
He had a streak at the end of the year last year also.
- VANTEL

Patterns like that worry me, it is why I'm not hyped on Matthias as much as everyone else seems to be. Scores like this every spring

Give Vey some time, he is still young and has 21 points this season, which is a decent rookie year
- bezz44

4 less than Bonino who has played a few years

I wouldn't jump in on the Kassian train yet. Caution.
He had a streak at the end of the year last year also.
- VANTEL

I've always been okay with Kassian, wanting to wait it out to see. There is potential, he just needs to find consistency.

4 less than Bonino who has played a few years
- VANTEL

Bonino has missed quite a few games but yea I get your point

Note that I said they don't deserve big money!
- KB3Point0

Yes I know, was agreeing with you. Was that not obvious?

4 less than Bonino who has played a few years
- VANTEL

Bonino is someone I haven't been sold on. I like his game and love his cap hit but as a second line Center no. Third at his price yes. Which next year will probably be
1. Henrik
2. Horvat
3. Bonino
4. McCann or Cassels (guessing)

Now that I think about it. If Vey can be cheaper then 1.9 a season then he could be 3rd and bonino could be used as a trade chip to Boston

Patterns like that worry me, it is why I'm not hyped on Matthias as much as everyone else seems to be. Scores like this every spring
- bezz44

Matthias was on a horrible team before. This is his first year on a team that has offence

Bonino is someone I haven't been sold on. I like his game and love his cap hit but as a second line Center no. Third at his price yes. Which next year will probably be
1. Henrik
2. Horvat
3. Bonino
4. McCann or Cassels (guessing)
- manvanfan

His face off % is horrible . Don't be surprised to see him moved to wing or traded.

His face off % is horrible . Don't be surprised to see him moved to wing or traded.
- VANTEL

You have to be big or play big to be a wing now a days. Traded.

You have to be big or play big to be a wing now a days. Traded.
- manvanfan

Patrick Kane says hello

Patrick Kane says hello
- VANTEL

Sorry I should add superstar skill.
Kane has more hits then both sedins, bonino and vey. Vey has 11 hits in 56 games.

Matthias was on a horrible team before. This is his first year on a team that has offence
- VANTEL

And his total numbers reflect that. He has seen a points increase from last year but he always pads his stats this time of year. IMO you can't discount this repetitive pattern for Matthias if you are going to suggest that Kassian only finishes the year strong with only 2 years to support the pattern. I agree we should be wary for next year, but you can't ignore that with Matthias. That said, I like Matthias, but for what he is

And his total numbers reflect that. He has seen a points increase from last year but he always pads his stats this time of year. IMO you can't discount this repetitive pattern for Matthias if you are going to suggest that Kassian only finishes the year strong with only 2 years to support the pattern. I agree we should be wary for next year, but you can't ignore that with Matthias. That said, I like Matthias, but for what he is
- bezz44

If he always gets better at this time of the year. I wonder what would happen in the playoffs?

Yes I know, was agreeing with you. Was that not obvious?
- Scooby_Doo

It was. Hence the laughy face...

If he always gets better at this time of the year. I wonder what would happen in the playoffs?
- manvanfan

I'm also curious. Could be a Bickell type

Tanev is going to get 4.5 x 5 which is fair he is easily our steadiest dman
- The_Kuze

It is too much for what he brings to the table. Minimal offence, minimal size, agression and physicality.

Burrows not skating again today! Injured or trade

Yeah it's defence. If you can score your going to get 7 plus now a days.
- manvanfan

I defer to Ken Holland who says you do not pay big money for D who can't score.

I defer to Ken Holland who says you do not pay big money for D who can't score.
- KB3Point0

Gillis and Benning have both been reluctant to throw big money long term at him. Let's see what happens this time around

There is value in keeping the puck out of your own net. Otherwise every goalie but Mike Smith would be making the league minimum
- bezz44

Of course, but $4M is a lot of money for a D who can keep the puck out of his own net, but can't put it in the other net or intimidate anyone physically. Why does he deserve more than that?

Da Sabres lineup...


Foligno – Flynn – Stewart
Moulson – Mitchell – Gionta
Deslauriers – Ellis – Hodgson
Larsson – Varone – Dalpe

Benoit – Bogosian
Weber – Ristolainen
Meszaros – Pysyk

Neuvirth

It is too much for what he brings to the table. Minimal offence, minimal size, agression and physicality.
- KB3Point0

One could argue that Patrick Kane provides minimal defence, minimal size, aggression and physicality, and he will be making 10.5 mil

Of course, but $4M is a lot of money for a D who can keep the puck out of his own net, but can't put it in the other net or intimidate anyone physically. Why does he deserve more than that?
- KB3Point0

The way I look at it is that salary is always shifting, and we need to simply ask, can we replace Chris Tanev? IMO not signing him is less valuable to us than the extra .5mil/year between 4-4.5
Edit: it has nothing to do with what they deserve but what the current market dictates and how badly you need that player

And his total numbers reflect that. He has seen a points increase from last year but he always pads his stats this time of year. IMO you can't discount this repetitive pattern for Matthias if you are going to suggest that Kassian only finishes the year strong with only 2 years to support the pattern. I agree we should be wary for next year, but you can't ignore that with Matthias. That said, I like Matthias, but for what he is
- bezz44

I get what you are saying, and it would be nice to have consistent production throughout the season, but just to play Devil's advocate, I wouldn't call it padding the stats this time of year. Teams are starting to tighten up and make their playoff pushes, it's harder to score, at least in theory, at this point of the season. If I had to choose when a player gets hot, it would be in the spring with the playoffs on the horizon.

One could argue that Patrick Kane provides minimal defence, minimal size, aggression and physicality, and he will be making 10.5 mil
- bezz44

That proves scoring gets the big money and D is not a huge issue