Regardless of how strongly Murray feels, Lehner is still far from a sure thing
I do like his potential though
And yes, it does matter if we keep giving up 1sts when we should be giving up 2nds
Sometimes the best deal is to not make one
- jdfitz77

Not if you think you're getting the right player!

Murray feels he has, I have reservations about it but I don't hate it.

We have tha much now...
We won't when Ennis, Reinhart, Kane, Eichel, Girgensons, Bogosian, Ristolainen & Lehner (if he works out) all need big $$ deals within the next 5yrs

The Cap will absolutely be an issue
Look at all the teams up against it right now
Like I said...
I'm looking ahead
- jdfitz77

The cap we took in that trade is meaningless. Legwand is on an expiring contract.

Bruin fans seem very bitter
- SABRES 89

When we want to complain, all we have to do is think of them. That was BAD!

Maybe he tried to pawn them off, to no avail. Who knows?
- sippyd

True
But there's nothing wrong me me saying I'd tether have moved a prospect other than Compher
Yet quite a few ppl on here are basically telling me to get a grip BC not all prospects work out
Obv I know that... But clearly my opinion is that Compher will work out & we have others that won't...
So why would I be happy with losing him?

All of that means that the next 2 drafts 2016 and 2017 Murray needs to hit on just like Chicago had hit on theirs to replace their role players.

If Chicago can pay Crawford, Kane, Toews, Hossa, and Keith (and win 3 Cups in the process) the Sabres can make it work as well
- Stripes77

You just listed 5 guys
We have EIGHT that we'll have to pay
And the price of ROR will drive up the price for the other 5 forwards

Agreed, but Murray believes and sees something we don't. Remember the best goaltender in the league in many peoples eyes hasn't won a cup...but Corey Crawford had 2!
- Stripes77

In all fairness,
I could see Lehner turn into a "Crawford" quality goalie
But it's still a risk (big one), and we still shouldn't have had to give up a 1st
My opinion though

Not if you think you're getting the right player!

Murray feels he has, I have reservations about it but I don't hate it.
- Stripes77

What?
So if you think you're getting the "right" player then u should just pay whatever?
I feel pretty good that no one else was gonna give a 1st for Ottawa's 3rd string goalie coming off a pretty rough season
That was a bad trade
It was a big overpayment
I like Murray's enthusiasm, but he was too aggressive in this case
Far more sellers than buyers
Look what other goalies went for!
I know they aren't exactly comparable, but they was a BIG difference in cost
Murray got hosed by his uncle on this trade

You just listed 5 guys
We have EIGHT that we'll have to pay
And the price of ROR will drive up the price for the other 5 forwards
- jdfitz77

ROR is getting paid as a 25 year old 7 year veteran who has won a Lady Byng. Multiple factors when leveraging for contracts, but I can assure you that ROR getting a big pay day will not mean our young guys will demand that.

Eichel wont be commanding $10M coming off his ELC unless he delivers a Cup, a Hart a Conn Smythe..... Kane, Toews, Stamkos... they all received lower tier salary relative to the total cap prior to receiving their big pay days. Eichel, Reinhart, Risto, Girgensons will all be the same.

In all fairness,
I could see Lehner turn into a "Crawford" quality goalie
But it's still a risk (big one), and we still shouldn't have had to give up a 1st
My opinion though
- jdfitz77

I agree.
Look, I appreciate the upside he could have; however, no way in hell
he was worth giving away that precious 21st overall.
IMO, that pick should have been used to capture a solid player in draft, or a "D", since we have lost Zadorov.
I really hope he turns out to be what GMTM tries to sell us.

The cap we took in that trade is meaningless. Legwand is on an expiring contract.
- Mentalorgasm5

Huh?
I never said anything about legwand & his cap hit
I'm talking about how much we pay ROR being the baseline when out other forwards negotiate their next deals

The rest of the east is starting to see it too
- Mentalorgasm5

Please play this Every time we beat a team from the East or McDavid!

What?
So if you think you're getting the "right" player then u should just pay whatever?
I feel pretty good that no one else was gonna give a 1st for Ottawa's 3rd string goalie coming off a pretty rough season
That was a bad trade
It was a big overpayment
I like Murray's enthusiasm, but he was too aggressive in this case
Far more sellers than buyers
Look what other goalies went for!
I know they aren't exactly comparable, but they was a BIG difference in cost
Murray got hosed by his uncle on this trade
- jdfitz77

I completely agree with you.
He got FLEECED big time, no ifs and buts about it.

ROR is getting paid as a 25 year old 7 year veteran who has won a Lady Byng. Multiple factors when leveraging for contracts, but I can assure you that ROR getting a big pay day will not mean our young guys will demand that.

Eichel wont be commanding $10M coming off his ELC unless he delivers a Cup, a Hart a Conn Smythe..... Kane, Toews, Stamkos... they all received lower tier salary relative to the total cap prior to receiving their big pay days. Eichel, Reinhart, Risto, Girgensons will all be the same.
- theblueandgold

We will see
ROR has been demanding big bucks since his ELC ended
I don't trust agents

Please play this Every time we beat a team from the East or McDavid!
- MEBSabresFAN

True
But there's nothing wrong me me saying I'd tether have moved a prospect other than Compher
Yet quite a few ppl on here are basically telling me to get a grip BC not all prospects work out
Obv I know that... But clearly my opinion is that Compher will work out & we have others that won't...
So why would I be happy with losing him?
- jdfitz77

There is nothing wrong. I didn't like trading Zadorov either. Too bad he couldn't have traded Ruhwedel. Maybe he tried. We don't know and probably will never know.

Yes, he did get hosed by his Uncle. He should have waited till the other goalies trades went through and maybe could have paid a lower price. I'm sure no one else would have paid what he did.

Anyone want to make bold predictions on how the division will play out?

1.TBL
2.Mon
3.FLA
4.Ott
5.Buff
6.Bos
7.Det
8.Tor

We will see
ROR has been demanding big bucks since his ELC ended
I don't trust agents
- jdfitz77

TM is friendly with his agent. Hope that helps.

Anyone want to make bold predictions on how the division will play out?

1.TBL
2.Mon
3.FLA
4.Ott
5.Buff
6.Bos
7.Det
8.Tor
- Cheeseballin

WOOW!!!
You are giving FLA much more respect than they deserve!!

Anyone want to make bold predictions on how the division will play out?

1.TBL
2.Mon
3.FLA
4.Ott
5.Buff
6.Bos
7.Det
8.Tor
- Cheeseballin

1. TBL
2. Mon
3. Ott
4. Buff
5. FLA
6. Det
7. Bos.
8. Tor


Ottawa will beat out Buff for 3rd in the div by 3 or 4 points...but not much really..

1. TBL
2. Mon
3. Ott
4. Buff
5. FLA
6. Det
7. Bos.
8. Tor


Ottawa will beat out Buff for 3rd in the div by 3 or 4 points...but not much really..
- feetontheair22

I could see us finishing in front of "F the SENS!!!"

Obv not,
But the lower we pick (esp in the 2nd & beyond) then less chance we have of hitting on guys that will eventually be able to contribute

We need defense BAD now
McCabe is the only LH guy we have with top4 potential
That's a big deal for me
- jdfitz77

Jesus Cristo we just had the #2 picks in the draft the last two years and you're worried about our draft position falling because the team gets better?

I could see us finishing in front of "F the SENS!!!"
- Sabresfan88

me 2...it will be close...i just think the sens sneak into the 3rd right at the end

Jesus Cristo we just had the #2 picks in the draft the last two years and you're worried about our draft position falling because the team gets better?

- GilPerreault11

I think these 2 years of TANKING has screwed up our heads big time!!!

Agreed, but Murray believes and sees something we don't. Remember the best goaltender in the league in many peoples eyes hasn't won a cup...but Corey Crawford had 2!
- Stripes77

I said one thing last week...no Russians on the the Blackhawks...well well

Regardless of how strongly Murray feels, Lehner is still far from a sure thing
I do like his potential though
And yes, it does matter if we keep giving up 1sts when we should be giving up 2nds
Sometimes the best deal is to not make one
- jdfitz77

I understand your concerns. You want to win a cup and believe me all of us do.

Its ironic that the Very reason we had to give up more for Lehner than for Lack is the very reason you are conerned about. Murray said it himself, "Lehner's contract has three more years before he would have to get paid IF he turns into our guy" Lack and Talbot will have to be paid next year! Do you see why it costs more to get a guy with a longer Lower Cap hit?

It would've been easy for Murray to take the easy road and grab Lack with one of our 2nd rd picks, but he doesn't have the "Potential" that Lehner has nor does he have the "Contract"