There's always the one of, if we let Vanek go to Edmonton and do our rebuild a few years ago what happens? Can always do coulda, woulda, shoulda. What if we didn't play 4 AHL defensemen against Carolina?
- Zschalberg

Right, but I was looking at it from a different perspective. I am thrilled that we blew it up. I wonder if things had gone a little better for us 4 years ago that we might have stuck with the same core?

I should have added keeping LaFontaine as VP to that list. He didn't want to blow it up (if the rumors are true).

So Armia had a mini-decent streak and his value went up? So what? Congrats, he might be an NHL player. By this logic Avalanche fans should be jumping out windows.

Once again, if you never want to give up a potentially good player you better be really really good at drafting because you're surely not going to trade for good players with that mentality. This is why other GM's wouldn't trade with Darcy - they said he had to try to kill the other GM to make a trade.
- Slump Buster

For me the exhaustion started during that era. I hated the teams post Drury/Briere. They were absolutely nauseating to watch. This season hasn't actually been that bad for me as the kids have played well and we are still in line for a choice pick. That said... it better be on next year.
- Slump Buster

I was still a kid, wide eyed and excited whenever we played. 09-10 was a fun year for me and I thought we could have won that if Vanek wasn't taken out. 10-11 was fun when Roy went down and we went on that run. Philly was the better team but I was so depressed when we lost that 6th game.

Those teams were so frustrating and so hard to love. I'm hoping it starts to come back soon

Right, but I was looking at it from a different perspective. I am thrilled that we blew it up. I wonder if things had gone a little better for us 4 years ago that we might have stuck with the same core?

I should have added keeping LaFontaine as VP to that list. He didn't want to blow it up (if the rumors are true).
- Slump Buster

Ah I see. God I'm glad that didn't happen. Vanek seems to think we were 3-4 pieces away but as we've said before those would have had to have been huge pieces. Look at them now. Vanek and Pommer are cold as ice and disappointments in Minny but have started to get better recently, I don't even think Roy is in the NHL anymore, Goose is a 4th liner in Nashville but is finally playing the role he was meant for, Miller is in Vancouver and not doing great up there anymore. And Staff is in Winnipeg where he's done as expected.

It was time to let go. That core was us hanging on to 05-06 and 06-07. We had to let go before we could move on.

I was still a kid, wide eyed and excited whenever we played. 09-10 was a fun year for me and I thought we could have won that if Vanek wasn't taken out. 10-11 was fun when Roy went down and we went on that run. Philly was the better team but I was so depressed when we lost that 6th game.

Those teams were so frustrating and so hard to love. I'm hoping it starts to come back soon
- Zschalberg

Wow, if that is your high water mark I feel for you!

Wow, if that is your high water mark I feel for you!
- Slump Buster

Well 05-06 was the best for me of course. That's when I got into hockey more because my dad was into it.

So Armia had a mini-decent streak and his value went up? So what? Congrats, he might be an NHL player. By this logic Avalanche fans should be jumping out windows.

Once again, if you never want to give up a potentially good player you better be really really good at drafting because you're surely not going to trade for good players with that mentality. This is why other GM's wouldn't trade with Darcy - they said he had to try to kill the other GM to make a trade.
- Slump Buster

I don't agree. Of course you have to give to get, but you don't have to sell off assets at their low points and overpay for players that aren't core players.

I don't agree. Of course you have to give to get, but you don't have to sell off assets at their low points and overpay for players that aren't core players.
- sbroads24

Ever notice that when a player is struggling in comparison to past performance they all of a sudden turn up on the trade market?

In general, you don't WANT to do that, but it happens a lot more often than not.

Maata extension makes me think we can get Risto under 5 mil long term. This would be almost as good as winning the lottery.

Ever notice that when a player is struggling in comparison to past performance they all of a sudden turn up on the trade market?

In general, you don't WANT to do that, but it happens a lot more often than not.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yes, like Kane was.

If Kane were in the middle of a 25 goal 55-60 point season, I would feel much differently. He's proving that he's a complimentary player, and not a production driver.

I just wouldn't trade what we did for that, ever.

O'Reilly is different. He makes others around him better. Reinhart has been lost without him. I'd do the O'Reilly deal 100 times over

@generalfanager
Some more Maatta comparables:
Klingberg 7yrs @ $4.25M
Klefbom 7 @ $4.167M
Gardiner 5 @ $4.05M
Josi 7 @ $4M
Fowler 5 @ $4M
Hedman 5 @ $4M


Figure risto to end up somewhere in the middle of this list

I don't agree. Of course you have to give to get, but you don't have to sell off assets at their low points and overpay for players that aren't core players.
- sbroads24

It wasn't a "selling of assets". He had a guy or guys that he wanted to obtain so he had to trade assets to get him. Some may have been high, some were low. It isn't like Tampa trying to sell a damaged asset and everyone knows it. Armia's value wasn't great because he wasn't a blue-chip prospect and probably never will be. He might be a middle 6 winger, he might be in Europe in two years.

Maata extension makes me think we can get Risto under 5 mil long term. This would be almost as good as winning the lottery.
- Sabresfan-365

My first offer would be 6 years 30 M

Yes, like Kane was.

If Kane were in the middle of a 25 goal 55-60 point season, I would feel much differently. He's proving that he's a complimentary player, and not a production driver.

I just wouldn't trade what we did for that, ever.

O'Reilly is different. He makes others around him better. Reinhart has been lost without him. I'd do the O'Reilly deal 100 times over
- sbroads24

If you're going to make the argument that we gave up too much for Kane/Bogo, that is fair. I wouldn't argue it from the point that Armia has a few points this week. I still don't think anyone sees him as a top prospect.

My first offer would be 6 years 30 M
- Pegullaville

Really? I'd go much lower like around 4 mil

My first offer would be 6 years 30 M
- Pegullaville

Why would you start over the comparatives?

Yes, like Kane was.

If Kane were in the middle of a 25 goal 55-60 point season, I would feel much differently. He's proving that he's a complimentary player, and not a production driver.

I just wouldn't trade what we did for that, ever.

O'Reilly is different. He makes others around him better. Reinhart has been lost without him. I'd do the O'Reilly deal 100 times over
- sbroads24

Yes and no. Not only is he missing the player he seems to have the most chemistry with, he's being asked to do much different things now that he's at C and not W. The combination of the two is the problem. I think if he stays at C, by the end of O'Reilly's absence he'll look more like he did when ROR was in the lineup than he does right now.

Thank God it's Friday im physically, mentally and emotionally tired from school.. the next three days will be a blessing


It's almost Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank God it's Friday im physically, mentally and emotionally tired from school.. the next three days will be a blessing


It's almost Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- gerbe75pts

You should try going to school and working 50+ hours a week.

Why would you start over the comparatives?
- Slump Buster

Is Oli Matta really a comparable ? Been hurt and up and down in the minors for the last year and a half. Risto at 5M/per is still a bargain. Risto is putting 40 + points up this year. Klingberg got his deal before his explosion this year and he got 4.25. I can't see Risto getting less then 4.5 especially putting these stats up with this roster. Swap klingberg with Risto and how many points does he put up in Dallas