32 year old that costs almost 8 Million for the next 2 years? If we're doing that I want half the salary taken. Otherwise, no thanks. Especially if I'm giving up assets to get him.
- Zschalberg

3 mil retained. Just a hunch. He seems like a player Murray would like.

Numbers can tell you anything you want them to. Two fundamental weaknesses to this analysis as it stands:

1. NHL goals per game needs to be incorporated into this for each year
2. It doesn't take into account what his Sabres' linemates would do for his stats (let's say Eichel and Reinhart in this case) and what he'd do for their production.
- turbo044

1. since 2010 goals per game has remained at about 2.21 - 2.25, it has been very steady. there is a constant undercurrent that scoring is down in the NHL. It isn't. This was validated by Statshu's efforts as well...I think like on Friday or sat of last week.

2. this is a valid point. there's no doubt in my mind that he will have an impact. When you chart Tampa's Team point production(Avg points per game over the various seasons) during the Stamkos years, it nearly mimics Stamkos...it goes up when he was producing at higher levels, and it has dropped as his production has dropped. Not sure what to make of that.

I finally put a finger on exactly what's been bothering me.

And let me say it up front, I'm not saying we shouldn't go for stamkos, I'm just saying we should be careful about it.

ONE OF THE TOP FA's in the last few years, an elite guy who averaged 45 goals a season until he was 26, and then averaged 22 goals a season after he signed an unprecedented Free Agent Contract

is Ilya Kovulchuk.


And we all know how that turned out.
- Der Kaiser

We should get him when he comes back to the NHL next year.

We should get him when he comes back to the NHL next year.
- Pierceme69

Absolutely not. The guy can't score in the KHL and is being benched over there, why would we think he can score in the NHL? If he wants to take a 1M contract and play on the 3rd line, sure. That way if he sucks you buy him out no hard no foul. Otherwise, stay away and don't let him back in the league.

Absolutely not. The guy can't score in the KHL and is being benched over there, why would we think he can score in the NHL? If he wants to take a 1M contract and play on the 3rd line, sure. That way if he sucks you buy him out no hard no foul. Otherwise, stay away and don't let him back in the league.
- Zschalberg

I mean, I wasn't serious. But if he'd take $1 million a year for a 3rd line role, you could do worse. He won't though.

Just another take on the Stamkos thing............

If he hits the open market he's going to be motivated to land in a spot that gives him the best chance to win. There are teams in this league that are a player like him away from being a dominate force. Teams that are really good now but can't quite seem to break through to the top. Teams like Nashville, St. Louis, Dallas, Florida, San Jose, Detroit etc.

Now not all if any of these teams will be able to afford him but those are where I see the best fit for him ......... if he wants to win. The Sabres are not close to that group. We are what we are unfortunately ...............likely a playoff team next year with him but not at the level of the teams I mentioned above for a few more years.

People say .... why wouldn't you want Stamkos ....... it's crazy ! It's not necessarily that I wouldn't want him on the team .......... I just know it's never going to happen so why fret over it and be disappointed in the end. There's quite a few guys here that are going to be calling for Murray's head when he doesn't land Stamkos based on the pipedream ............... not fair to Murray. We're just not there yet .....
- fastek

We're closer than Toronto is. If I'm ranking where I think he goes it's

Montreal
Detroit
Toronto
Buffalo

Simply because we have the cap space, we have the core of young players, and we're close enough to Toronto if that's what he cares about. I don't expect it to happen, but that said, if he came to Murray and wanted to do the deal I'm never going to be the fan that said I didn't want him.

I mean, I wasn't serious. But if he'd take $1 million a year for a 3rd line role, you could do worse. He won't though.
- Pierceme69

Thank god... I thought this was going to start a whole think on Kovy. He'd never take that, but I could see him going to a team like Washington for cheap. Do the Alex Semin type thing where he plays cheap for a year and then earns his next contract.

Thank god... I thought this was going to start a whole think on Kovy. He'd never take that, but I could see him going to a team like Washington for cheap. Do the Alex Semin type thing where he plays cheap for a year and then earns his next contract.
- Zschalberg

If we could get him on a Semin type deal, I'd take him. Whatever you say about Kovy, he is far superior to Semin in every way.

I finally put a finger on exactly what's been bothering me.

And let me say it up front, I'm not saying we shouldn't go for stamkos, I'm just saying we should be careful about it.

ONE OF THE TOP FA's in the last few years, an elite guy who averaged 45 goals a season until he was 26, and then averaged 22 goals a season after he signed an unprecedented Free Agent Contract

is Ilya Kovulchuk.


And we all know how that turned out.
- Der Kaiser

Any drop in production can be explained by him having to use a legal stick after being called out by Trotz (Sarcasm this is just my favorite anything involving Kovalchuk)

Interesting


http://www.wgr550.com/Sab...on-in-player-per/22569238

If we could get him on a Semin type deal, I'd take him. Whatever you say about Kovy, he is far superior to Semin in every way.
- Pierceme69

No disagreement from me. I haven't watched any KHL games he's been in but from what I've heard he's lost a step. If his lack of scoring in the playoffs and subsequent benching is any indication he's either given up caring or has just lost it. Not sure. If he comes back someone will take a flyer on him.

Interesting


http://www.wgr550.com/Sab...on-in-player-per/22569238
- Havic3814

Finlay didn’t even last a full year with the Sabres. Questions about his qualifications have been popping up all year and some players had lost trust in him.

Robin Lehner, Zach Bogosian, Cody Franson and Tyler Ennis all have had setbacks at times during the season under Finlay’s supervision.

So he's the one responsible for Ennis, eh?

It's interesting that they'd say that the players lost faith in him.

3 mil retained. Just a hunch. He seems like a player Murray would like.
- sbroads24

Feels a lot like regehr 2.0 acquiring a guy a few years too late just cuz of his name.

3 mil retained. Just a hunch. He seems like a player Murray would like.
- sbroads24

Eh, pass. Unless we can get him cheap because his cap.

Feels a lot like regehr 2.0 acquiring a guy a few years too late just cuz of his name.
- Sabresfan-365

IMO he could be our version of Marian Hossa. A big 2 way forward that won't be needed to be "the guy".

IMO he could be our version of Marian Hossa. A big 2 way forward that won't be needed to be "the guy".
- sbroads24

It'd all depend on what we give up to get him. I wouldn't want to give up a 2nd for him. Maybe a 3rd and a prospect. But obviously that doesn't get a player like Nash. Just too much salary, too far in his career, and not what I want at this point.