When they are expected to win, they are a hot ticket.

People want to be seen there when they are winning.

Just making the playoffs and out the first round gets old quick.
- hillbillydeluxe

They should have been acting on that after 2012 . Three wasted years

They should have been acting on that after 2012 . Three wasted years
- VANTEL

Never addressing needs and bleeding talent and picks.

I think they missed Salo when he left. People must have been happy to see him leave when he signed that big contract with the Lightning, wasn't going to get it here, and I don't think his skill set was ever replaced.

Guess that highlights the need to spend cap dollars wisely, so you have it to spend on the good players and not waste on the fringe. Damn Sbisa.

Never addressing needs and bleeding talent and picks.

I think they missed Salo when he left. People must have been happy to see him leave when he signed that big contract with the Lightning, wasn't going to get it here, and I don't think his skill set was ever replaced.

Guess that highlights the need to spend cap dollars wisely, so you have it to spend on the good players and not waste on the fringe. Damn Sbisa.
- hillbillydeluxe

Sbisa is Aaron Rome 2.0

I am a huge believer every year at least one player out one in from the farm. If you don't have someone ready on the farm you are doing it wrong

Sbisa is Aaron Rome 2.0

I am a huge believer every year at least one player out one in from the farm. If you don't have someone ready on the farm you are doing it wrong
- VANTEL

At the time Grabner was traded, I was shocked it wasn't Raymond gone. Maybe Grabner doesn't have Raymond's defensive game, but I thought similar speedy offensive players, get the bigger return by trading Raymond and keeping the cheaper Grabner.

But sometimes players don't seize that role or opportunity either. I'd be happier with Edler if he was putting up more offensive numbers. With some of his gaffes, you could have young prospects making similar mistakes for a fraction of the cap.

At the time Grabner was traded, I was shocked it wasn't Raymond gone. Maybe Grabner doesn't have Raymond's defensive game, but I thought similar speedy offensive players, get the bigger return by trading Raymond and keeping the cheaper Grabner.

But sometimes players don't seize that role or opportunity either. I'd be happier with Edler if he was putting up more offensive numbers. With some of his gaffes, you could have young prospects making similar mistakes for a fraction of the cap.
- hillbillydeluxe

I thought Kesler Grabner and Raymond were an exciting line to watch.

Edler I am not a fan

At the time Grabner was traded, I was shocked it wasn't Raymond gone. Maybe Grabner doesn't have Raymond's defensive game, but I thought similar speedy offensive players, get the bigger return by trading Raymond and keeping the cheaper Grabner.

But sometimes players don't seize that role or opportunity either. I'd be happier with Edler if he was putting up more offensive numbers. With some of his gaffes, you could have young prospects making similar mistakes for a fraction of the cap.
- hillbillydeluxe

When that happened they were trying to win the cup, Raymond was the "safer" bet.

Plus, pretty much everyone poop their pants when Nonis picked Grabner in the first place...

I think NUcker has gone full Flamer.
- thundachunk

Never addressing needs and bleeding talent and picks.

I think they missed Salo when he left. People must have been happy to see him leave when he signed that big contract with the Lightning, wasn't going to get it here, and I don't think his skill set was ever replaced.

Guess that highlights the need to spend cap dollars wisely, so you have it to spend on the good players and not waste on the fringe. Damn Sbisa.
- hillbillydeluxe

He never replaced anyone's skill set who he let walk. Torres, Erhoff, Salo, Malhotra, etc. For the most part, those are replaceable players, but you have to actually, you know, replace them. We lost whatever contributions those players could have made, and we didn't get so much as a draft pick to show for it. And so here we are.

I thought Kesler Grabner and Raymond were an exciting line to watch.

Edler I am not a fan
- VANTEL

Edler is mostly god-awful defensively, that's my first guy to go if there is decent return.

He never replaced anyone's skill set who he let walk. Torres, Erhoff, Salo, Malhotra, etc. For the most part, those are replaceable players, but you have to actually, you know, replace them. We lost whatever contributions those players could have made, and we didn't get so much as a draft pick to show for it. And so here we are.
- CubanBuffet

When that happened they were trying to win the cup, Raymond was the "safer" bet.

Plus, pretty much everyone poop their pants when Nonis picked Grabner in the first place...
- 1970vintage

People complain more about Benning it seems. Man Nonis was terrible.

When that happened they were trying to win the cup, Raymond was the "safer" bet.

Plus, pretty much everyone poop their pants when Nonis picked Grabner in the first place...
- 1970vintage

The piss off for me is that Grabner was a total throw in. If Tallon had any interest in him at all then he wouldn't have been on waivers before the season even started.

Higgins, Hansen, Sbisa will all be gone... At the expansion draft.

Higgins, Hansen, Sbisa will all be gone... At the expansion draft.
- Gullzy

Expired contracts when that happens

I think NUcker has gone full Flamer.
- thundachunk

It was inevitable after all of the "eighteen year old rookie sensation Sam Bennett" talk.

The piss off for me is that Grabner was a total throw in. If Tallon had any interest in him at all then he wouldn't have been on waivers before the season even started.
- CubanBuffet

There had to be other throw in options.

Grabner starts to show some stuff and then you just toss him away. How fecked up was that? What a waste.

The piss off for me is that Grabner was a total throw in. If Tallon had any interest in him at all then he wouldn't have been on waivers before the season even started.
- CubanBuffet

Not like it has worked out super terrific for Fla either. Howden or whatever his name isn't exactly lighting it up. Bernier, thank you and Grabner who they waived.

That's got to be one of the worst "Big" trades to ever go down in the NHL.

Edit, wait, was it Bernier? So many trades with Florida I forget which one's which.

Not like it has worked out super terrific for Fla either. Howden or whatever his name isn't exactly lighting it up. Bernier, thank you and Grabner who they waived.

That's got to be one of the worst "Big" trades to ever go down in the NHL.

Edit, wait, was it Bernier? So many trades with Florida I forget which one's which.
- 1970vintage

Hodgson / Kassian

Hodgson / Kassian
- VANTEL

Yeah, wonder how each of their careers would have worked out if that trade had never happened?

Yeah, wonder how each of their careers would have worked out if that trade had never happened?
- 1970vintage

Probably the same.

Yeah, wonder how each of their careers would have worked out if that trade had never happened?
- 1970vintage

Imagine what we could have gotten for Hodgson at the time if Gillis wasn't the man trading him.

Imagine what we could have gotten for Hodgson at the time if Gillis wasn't the man trading him.
- CubanBuffet

Pretty sure Toronto would have given us Phaneuf for him

Probably the same.
- Marwood

We'll never know. Kassian would still be a Richard, and Gagner would have more natural teeth than he does now.

Not like it has worked out super terrific for Fla either. Howden or whatever his name isn't exactly lighting it up. Bernier, thank you and Grabner who they waived.

That's got to be one of the worst "Big" trades to ever go down in the NHL.

Edit, wait, was it Bernier? So many trades with Florida I forget which one's which.
- 1970vintage

The only gm who came out of that looking good is Garth Snow, which is fcking crazy.

Vantel I hope you have some fun with this one.