Blasill to coach Detroit
- Irish 14

Shock of the offseason!!

Shock of the offseason!!


- Stripes77

Never saw that one coming... Totally blindsided.

Shock of the offseason!!


- Stripes77

When he acquired Kane & Bogosian he mentioned how they were "hard to play against"
He likes Reinhart's "hockey sense"
He's mentioned size & speed before as well

Hodgson & Grigorenko don't really seem to fit

But guys like Girgensons & Ennis have some of the above characteristics.
And we've got guys on the way who do as well...
Larsson, Baptiste, Bailey, Fasching & Compher all seem to fit in to the style of team Murray is looking to build
- jdfitz77

Spikes done as a pat next is jail
- gerbe75pts

will he share a cell with Hernandez?

You're still missing the point both Taco and I are making. The players you're moving are very strong depth pieces that you already know are going to be NHL contributors. There's no guarantee that the guys you bring in to replace them can do what we know they already can. It's not like Girgensons and Risto are guys that have 0 NHL experience. Girgensons has 2 full seasons under his belt. Risto has a portion of one and then a full year. They're also still ridiculously young and haven't hit their ceiling yet.

So no, I want no part of that trade in any way, shape, or form.
- HonkFortheGoose

I'd feel a lot better about a move like this if the sabres were actually a decent drafting team beyond the 1st round. At least that way you can say that you've got a few sleepers with a shot at replacing some of the production you lost in that trade. Going back to 07 and looking at the picks between rounds 2-7 makes me want to give those two players 8 year extensions yesterday...

When he acquired Kane & Bogosian he mentioned how they were "hard to play against"
He likes Reinhart's "hockey sense"
He's mentioned size & speed before as well

Hodgson & Grigorenko don't really seem to fit

But guys like Girgensons & Ennis have some of the above characteristics.
And we've got guys on the way who do as well...
Larsson, Baptiste, Bailey, Fasching & Compher all seem to fit in to the style of team Murray is looking to build
- jdfitz77

This is pretty spot on. Murray has 2 types of guys he seems to target. Those with a real strong hockey IQ (Reinhart type guys) or guys that have a big body and are willing to play physical (Fasching, Deslauriers, Kane). Obviously some guys can have both, but in general those seem to be the 2 big things Murray is looking for.

He's trying to build a very smart, physical team. Those big bodies help to create space for the guys that have the high hockey IQ. Hopefully it turns out to be a winning combination.

will he share a cell with Hernandez?
- IndianaSabresFan

Jail is not = Prison. I highly doubt Spikes goes to prison over this. But Jail time is a possibility.

Jail is not = Prison. I highly doubt Spikes goes to prison over this. But Jail time is a possibility.
- DynamicThreads

i have no clue what happened i just saw something about a car accident realized i don't give a crap about these rich dumbasses and kept moving along so i could watch some girl in a bikini get slapped around for not listening



edit: that is one impressive run on sentence

I'd feel a lot better about a move like this if the sabres were actually a decent drafting team beyond the 1st round. At least that way you can say that you've got a few sleepers with a shot at replacing some of the production you lost in that trade. Going back to 07 and looking at the picks between rounds 2-7 makes me want to give those two players 8 year extensions yesterday...
- Sabresfan-365

I think they've got a few guys that have been drafted later that could be contributors, but I agree.

I might go on a murderous rampage if Girgensons gets traded. (And for those of you who are going to say "You wouldn't trade Girgensons for McDavid, the answer to that is, yes I would - but it would have to be the right deal and the one proposed earlier isn't that, at all). Girgensons is the type of guy you need on a Cup contender, so any trade he could end up a part of better be a hell of a trade or there would be a lot of really upset people in Buffalo.

i have no clue what happened i just saw something about a car accident realized i don't give a crap about these rich dumbasses and kept moving along so i could watch some girl in a bikini get slapped around for not listening



edit: that is one impressive run on sentence
- IndianaSabresFan

Agreed

Jail is not = Prison. I highly doubt Spikes goes to prison over this. But Jail time is a possibility.
- DynamicThreads

hit and run is 2 years and he left the car and ran away so he's pretty much (frank)ed

I think they've got a few guys that have been drafted later that could be contributors, but I agree.

I might go on a murderous rampage if Girgensons gets traded. (And for those of you who are going to say "You wouldn't trade Girgensons for McDavid, the answer to that is, yes I would - but it would have to be the right deal and the one proposed earlier isn't that, at all). Girgensons is the type of guy you need on a Cup contender, so any trade he could end up a part of better be a hell of a trade or there would be a lot of really upset people in Buffalo.
- HonkFortheGoose

I would leave town for a few days .

hit and run is 2 years and he left the car and ran away so he's pretty much (frank)ed
- gerbe75pts

http://www.mymassachusett...aving-the-scene-accident/

You're not ready...

As always good article Mike. I agree with trading Cody Hodgson, he's a defensive liability and not in the future top six of this team. Also, his style of play does not suit bottom six consideration either. Therefore, you either trade him or buy him out. If you're able to get anything for him in a trade that would be a small victory.

As for Mikhail Grigornenko, I disagree with trading him. Similar to Hodgson, his style of play only fits within the top six forwards. I understand the argument to trade him since the team no longer has room for him as a top 1-2 center since those spots will/should belong to Eichel and Reinhart. At the same time, he just turned 21, has been handled horribly by the previous regime, and did just produce 36 pts in 43 games with Rochester last year. Plus he is 6'3 and 220 pounds with the skill level to play in the top six.

With that in mind why trade low on him now? The return will be no where near the 12th overall pick we used on him. Why not give him a chance on the wing next year? The reality is the Sabres will not be making the playoffs next year, so give him a two year prove it contract and see what he can do. With some stability, and playing with more talent he could finally live up to expectations. I would rather see him fail here the next two years than get a 2nd rounder or less and watch him succeed somewhere else. The only future he has with the Sabres would have to be wing though.

I think they've got a few guys that have been drafted later that could be contributors, but I agree.

I might go on a murderous rampage if Girgensons gets traded. (And for those of you who are going to say "You wouldn't trade Girgensons for McDavid, the answer to that is, yes I would - but it would have to be the right deal and the one proposed earlier isn't that, at all). Girgensons is the type of guy you need on a Cup contender, so any trade he could end up a part of better be a hell of a trade or there would be a lot of really upset people in Buffalo.
- HonkFortheGoose

I would've considered moving him in a package if they had missed out on eichel. If they get to a point where the top 6 is set but they're still short that other top pairing guy i could see him being moved for that.

We should trade Grigo for O'Reilly

We should trade Grigo for O'Reilly
- sbroads24

I was just about to mention this...

I was just about to mention this...
- jochfr

I heard ROR is available does Grigo and the 21st pick get it done?

I heard ROR is available does Grigo and the 21st pick get it done?
- Stripes77

Need to add Pysyk

I heard ROR is available does Grigo and the 21st pick get it done?
- Stripes77

Who is ROR ?

After reading this a trade with Zona seems to make sense. We seem to have quite a log jam of centers that chart out somewhere between 2nd and 3rd line between Girgensons, Grigorenko, Larsson, Hodgson and Reinhart. Reinhart is untouchable and will likely start in ROCH so he's really not part of the equation right now.

Girgensons and Larsson seem to be more valuable because they have shown an ability to play up and down the lineup and with a team in so much transition, having players that can move around is useful.

Hodgson's value is that he's right handed and therefore convert to RW, which is a position of weakness for the next few years till we see what we have in the likes of Baptiste, Bailey, Compher. The problem with Hodgson is his defense. With such a young team full of offensive talent, more than anything, we need vets that can help shelter the kids and make up for bad defense that inevitably happens with youth. Hodgson can't shelter anyone; in fact, he's probably more of a liability than these kids are.

And Grigorenko seems to slot in as a 2nd line center/LW or nothing (some say RW but that completely ignores his poor skating IMO and you generally have to be a tremendous skater to play off hand RW ala Ennis or Pat Kane). His lack of versatility coupled with the center depth makes, IMO, he and hodgson the most expendable. I think the only way Grigo stays is if we find some way of moving moulson, who has, IMO, just as bad a contract as hodgson.

I'd be very happy to move one or both (plus) for either a young top 6 rw who is a current roster player or a top 6 lw or top 4lhd prospect who projects out in 2-3 yrs.
- cornball

**** Old German man stands (wobbles a little unsteadily, takes a long sip of beer) and claps. ****

This is pretty spot on. Murray has 2 types of guys he seems to target. Those with a real strong hockey IQ (Reinhart type guys) or guys that have a big body and are willing to play physical (Fasching, Deslauriers, Kane). Obviously some guys can have both, but in general those seem to be the 2 big things Murray is looking for.

He's trying to build a very smart, physical team. Those big bodies help to create space for the guys that have the high hockey IQ. Hopefully it turns out to be a winning combination.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think we're also becoming a pretty fast team too
Kane, Ennis & Eichel will fly
I don't see any way Baptiste isn't a part of the Sabres long term.
He's got tons of speed and has a gritty quality to his game as well. I did hear McKee on the radio recently saying he's got an nhl shot, so hopefully that part of his game will translate as well. But even if not, sounds like a guy that can at least be a quality 3rd line role player. My hopes are that he becomes a winger that can ride shotgun with Reinhart on the 2nd line. They might play together this year in Rochester.

The more I think about it,
I'm really liking the idea of Reinhart in Rochester for at least part of this year.
I really like the way the Red Wings do things.
Their guys become good players in the AHL, building confidence & a winning tradition, and then they are brought up to the NHL where they grow into the roles envisioned for them.
It just makes sense

I know we're all anxious to get back to the playoffs ASAP...
But building the "Culture" that Bylsma keeps referring to won't be done overnight either

I think almost all of us can agree that we are finally headed in the right direction...
And IMO, the future looks pretty bright

Wild blogger is saying they need a #2 center in the off season. May be GMTM should send their GM a highlight reel of Hodgson/Vanek/Pommenville.
This could be YOU!!!!!

Not sure where they are cap wise and too lazy to look it up.....

The more I think about it,
I'm really liking the idea of Reinhart in Rochester for at least part of this year.

- jdfitz77

Me too. We could trade for a band-aid 2nd line center and then trade him at the deadline or play Girgensons at #1A and Eichel at #2B with Larsson, Grigorenko or Hodgson at the #3. We would look better than this past season, but not awesome by any means.