Yea i get that, but it should serve as a cautionary tale. Just because it has legs doesn't mean it's the only one in the race.

Murray may want him, but he doesn't really have anything Sakic would want. Toronto does.
- Sabresfan-365

Oh, I'm sure he does. But it's probably not something Murray wants to part with either. I could very well see Colorado saying they want Ristolainen.

Yea i get that, but it should serve as a cautionary tale. Just because it has legs doesn't mean it's the only one in the race.

Murray may want him, but he doesn't really have anything Sakic would want. Toronto does.
- Sabresfan-365

not really, Dion isn't a fit, too heavy of a contract for too long just to be a number 3 on the team. Gardiner wont be a good fit with EJ long term, and a combo of him and Barrie would be a disaster, so doesntfit in the top 4 long term.

Only guy that actually makes sense for the Avs is Morgan Rielly and the Leafs are not moving him. Leafs have LHS dmen but not the ones the Avs need

not really, Dion isn't a fit, too heavy of a contract for too long just to be a number 3 on the team. Gardiner wont be a good fit with EJ long term, and a combo of him and Barrie would be a disaster, so doesntfit in the top 4 long term.

Only guy that actually makes sense for the Avs is Morgan Rielly and the Leafs are not moving him. Leafs have LHS dmen but not the ones the Avs need
- DDM-Coga

How about Gorges?

He's a LHD.

not really, Dion isn't a fit, too heavy of a contract for too long just to be a number 3 on the team. Gardiner wont be a good fit with EJ long term, and a combo of him and Barrie would be a disaster, so doesntfit in the top 4 long term.

Only guy that actually makes sense for the Avs is Morgan Rielly and the Leafs are not moving him. Leafs have LHS dmen but not the ones the Avs need
- DDM-Coga

Neither do the sabres, so if you know you're going to lose him july 1 next year who do you move him for, Phaneuf or Gorges? or do you take the chance that Zadorov can step in right away and preform consistently like #3 for 82 games?

How about Gorges?

He's a LHD.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think hes worse than Stuart

Neither do the sabres, so if you know you're going to lose him july 1 next year who do you move him for, Phaneuf or Gorges? or do you take the chance that Zadorov can step in right away and preform consistently like #3 for 82 games?
- Sabresfan-365

Remember a few years ago when we pretty much only had 1 RHD in the organization and it was Myers? Now it seems we have a plethora of them and very few LHD.

Neither do the sabres, so if you know you're going to lose him july 1 next year who do you move him for, Phaneuf or Gorges? or do you take the chance that Zadorov can step in right away and preform consistently like #3 for 82 games?
- Sabresfan-365

They have big hopes for Bigras, he should step in next year and be a solid addition to the Top 4. Needs a full AHL season and he should be good to go.

It all depends what they do b/w now and July 4th. Draft they are going BPA, so if they get a Dman at 10 and go hard at one of the UFA dmen...Sakic did mention they are goign to target some of the LHS UFAs this year. They might not have to target a Dman with a ROR trade.

They have big hopes for Bigras, he should step in next year and be a solid addition to the Top 4. Needs a full AHL season and he should be good to go.

It all depends what they do b/w now and July 4th. Draft they are going BPA, so if they get a Dman at 10 and go hard at one of the UFA dmen...Sakic did mention they are goign to target some of the LHS UFAs this year. They might not have to target a Dman with a ROR trade.
- DDM-Coga

That's the smart thing for any team to do for the most part. At least in the first 3ish rounds. These kids take so long to develop that your needs when they're ready could be completely different at that point.

Remember a few years ago where we pretty much only had 1 RHD in the organization and it was Myers? Now it seems we have a plethora of them and very few LHD.
- HonkFortheGoose

how times change.

To be fair there's some depth there in Zadorov and McCabe but i have serious doubts about either being a top pairing guy, which i still think our biggest need.

how times change.

To be fair there's some depth there in Zadorov and McCabe but i have serious doubts about either being a top pairing guy, which i still think our biggest need.
- Sabresfan-365

I'm definitely excited about who we have on the right. Risto, Pysyk, Bogosian. I know I've said that McCabe is the one I'd be most ok with trading, but at the same time, it seems that a lot of people really like him, so maybe he turns out to be a good fit with Risto on the top line in a few years.

They have big hopes for Bigras, he should step in next year and be a solid addition to the Top 4. Needs a full AHL season and he should be good to go.

It all depends what they do b/w now and July 4th. Draft they are going BPA, so if they get a Dman at 10 and go hard at one of the UFA dmen...Sakic did mention they are goign to target some of the LHS UFAs this year. They might not have to target a Dman with a ROR trade.
- DDM-Coga

I think that worsens our chances. If he can fill that need without dealing ROR, then the trade just becomes about value. You get more teams involved and suddenly the price is through the roof.

I'm definitely excited about who we have on the right. Risto, Pysyk, Bogosian. I know I've said that McCabe is the one I'd be most ok with trading, but at the same time, it seems that a lot of people really like him, so maybe he turns out to be a good fit with Risto on the top line in a few years.
- HonkFortheGoose

Im only guessing but part of what makes me want to keep him is that he holds far more value in the organization as a potential #3 or 4 than he does in any trade talks.

Im only guessing but part of what makes me want to keep him is that he holds far more value in the organization as a potential #3 or 4 than he does in any trade talks.
- Sabresfan-365

That's how I feel about Pysyk too. And it seems like many around here like to throw Pysyk's name into trade deals as an after thought. It drives me crazy. I want him on this team. Between his skating and his outlet pass, he's going to be a good one to have back there for years to come.

That's how I feel about Pysyk too. And it seems like many around here like to throw Pysyk's name into trade deals as an after thought. It drives me crazy. I want him on this team. Between his skating and his outlet pass, he's going to be a good one to have back there for years to come.
- HonkFortheGoose

Thing is i think they will eventually have to move one of those righty's because i can't see Risto or Pysyk wanting to play 3rd pair minutes and having a 5+ million dollar guy on your 3rd pair is just plain dumb.

That's the smart thing for any team to do for the most part. At least in the first 3ish rounds. These kids take so long to develop that your needs when they're ready could be completely different at that point.
- HonkFortheGoose

Sakic did talk abotu trading up or trading down too, they like their options. So They might even put ROR in a deal to get up in the draft to snag Provorov. They do have a lot of options to get their D issues worked out wihtout moving ROR, at least they have that in their back pocket as a last resort.

But if they do move him, they are going for the exact guy they want, not just a guy that is available

I think that worsens our chances. If he can fill that need without dealing ROR, then the trade just becomes about value. You get more teams involved and suddenly the price is through the roof.
- Sabresfan-365

I have been pretty enemphatic about moving him for a forward, finally giving Dutch a guy to ride and die with long term. D is the easy move for him. Getting a Top 6 Winger would be killer.

But the Radulov rumours make things more interesting now, it seems that him comign to colorado has some series legs to it

Yes he does. He is not waiver exempt this year. This discussion comes up every year.
- HonkFortheGoose

I don't even understand the point of a 2 way contract other than cap hit. At this juncture, not like his cap hit would be all that high anyways. Shouldn't even be an issue with Murray.

Thing is i think they will eventually have to move one of those righty's because i can't see Risto or Pysyk wanting to play 3rd pair minutes and having a 5+ million dollar guy on your 3rd pair is just plain dumb.
- Sabresfan-365

Eh. The contract thing doesn't really bother me that much. If you've got 3 solid pairs, it's possible they get pretty equal time. As long as it's not causing cap issues and the team looks good and is performing well, I try not to get hung up on it.

I have been pretty enemphatic about moving him for a forward, finally giving Dutch a guy to ride and die with long term.
- DDM-Coga

I really like the guy but I can't wait till the saga is over. Since his offer sheet the guy has probably gotten more mentions on tv, twitter and here than some of the superstars in the league.

I don't even understand the point of a 2 way contract other than cap hit. At this juncture, not like his cap hit would be all that high anyways. Shouldn't even be an issue with Murray.
- TheSabresTaco

I don't get it either. I guess I can see why Grigs would be pushing for the 1 way, because he knows he could get sent down either way, but at least he's making the same kind of money in either place. There's a significant difference in the AHL salary and the NHL salary usually.

It could be more or less that Murray is flexing his muscles and letting Grigorenko know that he still has work to do.

I really like the guy but I can't wait till the saga is over. Since his offer sheet the guy has probably gotten more mentions on tv, twitter and here than some of the superstars in the league.
- Sabresfan-365

I've been over hearing his name since his first contract negotiation after his ELC expired. I get that he came in and really killed it considering his draft position and stuff, but I thought his contract demands back then were ludicrous and he hasn't gotten any easier to deal with in that regard.

I really like the guy but I can't wait till the saga is over. Since his offer sheet the guy has probably gotten more mentions on tv, twitter and here than some of the superstars in the league.
- Sabresfan-365

amazing player, just a lot of baggage that has come with him bc of that offer sheet.
If they Avs just would have signed him to that 5-6 year deal that he was looking for back then.

Just shows when you think you have a young core player, dont mess around with them forcing them to take bridge deals, extend them long term

So should I also assume that when he said Saad isn't going anywhere either that he's just saying that?

I honestly don't think they're going to move Crawford. He's helped them win 2 Cups in 4 years. He's been pretty close to just as important to them as Toews, Kane, and Keith.
- HonkFortheGoose

That is a bit different. Saad is part of the core. You will sacrifice a high priced goalie for a young scoring forward every time, IMO.

There are only a handful of goalies that are worth it.

Wasnt it just last year that Crawford was getting the majority of the blame for the Hawks losing?

Eh. The contract thing doesn't really bother me that much. If you've got 3 solid pairs, it's possible they get pretty equal time. As long as it's not causing cap issues and the team looks good and is performing well, I try not to get hung up on it.
- HonkFortheGoose

Im referring more to a few years from now, having that much money tied up in a guy on the third pair prevents you from making other additions and signings (Matt Carle for the lightning comes to mind). Short term ice time may be equal amongst the three pairings but by the time this team is any good i imagine it will because our top pair is playing a huge chunk of the minutes.

amazing player, just a lot of baggage that has come with him bc of that offer sheet.
If they Avs just would have signed him to that 5-6 year deal that he was looking for back then.

Just shows when you think you have a young core player, dont mess around with them forcing them to take bridge deals, extend them long term
- DDM-Coga

Of course if you're wrong you end up looking even worse (hello cody hodgson)