Want to ask this before the next blog comes so that it doesn't take it over.

If Stamkos were to win a cup this year with the Lightning how would it affect his decision? Would he think, OK, I have my cup I can go to a team that's a little farther out? Would he be even more adamant about winning now because of it? Would it make him want to stay in Tampa more?

the bigger question is the country of canada tanking with dignity ?
- homiedclown

There were 5 teams from Canada in the Playoffs last year
Crazy that they've all missed this year

I'm not sure who I'd pick out of them to make it next year?

Montreal is most likely, but I don't think they're a sure thing
Ottawa is a long shot at best, no chance for the Leafs

With how strong the west is...
Maybe Winnipeg could get in over Minnesota, but they'd also have to beat out the AVs
And Calgary/Edmonton/Vancouver would have to try & catch San Jose, which I don't really see happening either

Want to ask this before the next blog comes so that it doesn't take it over.

If Stamkos were to win a cup this year with the Lightning how would it affect his decision? Would he think, OK, I have my cup I can go to a team that's a little farther out? Would he be even more adamant about winning now because of it? Would it make him want to stay in Tampa more?
- Zschalberg

I think if he was gonna stay in Tampa that the deal would've happened by now
Maybe a Cup win changes both sides minds... Or maybe it's easier for both sides to walk away...
Seems to me like its gone too far
Stamkos should've been signed or traded before the season started
Yzerman really screwed up IMO

I think if he was gonna stay in Tampa that the deal would've happened by now
Maybe a Cup win changes both sides minds... Or maybe it's easier for both sides to walk away...
Seems to me like its gone too far
Stamkos should've been signed or traded before the season started
Yzerman really screwed up IMO
- jdfitz77

You don't trade Stamkos you sign him, if they lose him Stevie Y should be fired before Stamkos is out the door. You are slapping your star player and face of your team in the face by treating him this way. He should be priority 1 for them.

I think if he was gonna stay in Tampa that the deal would've happened by now
Maybe a Cup win changes both sides minds... Or maybe it's easier for both sides to walk away...
Seems to me like its gone too far
Stamkos should've been signed or traded before the season started
Yzerman really screwed up IMO
- jdfitz77

I think Stevie Y is developing a bad reputation. Connolly...Drouin...Stamkos.

It almost looks unintentional. Like just flipping over too get up.
- cabin

It was intentional, I love the way he plays but he is one of the dirtiest players in the league.

You don't trade Stamkos you sign him, if they lose him Stevie Y should be fired before Stamkos is out the door. You are slapping your star player and face of your team in the face by treating him this way. He should be priority 1 for them.
- SABRES 89

IMO, it's the same as Briere/Drury for us
All of those guys should've been re-signed BEFORE the season started...
BUT
if u can't get the deal done, for whatever reason, you've gotta make a deal so u don't lose such an asset for nothing!!!

Look how bad it set us back
Tampa really screwed this up

You don't trade Stamkos you sign him, if they lose him Stevie Y should be fired before Stamkos is out the door. You are slapping your star player and face of your team in the face by treating him this way. He should be priority 1 for them.
- SABRES 89

Only thing about that is the stat that I saw here I think last week about how scoring isn't down as much as people expect but it's leveling off where you have less players getting a ton of goals. If that's Yzerman's thinking that he'd rather have 3 players scoring 20 than 1 player scoring 60 (as an example) then I get it. I don't agree but I get it.

That said, I look at the Sabres of years past and know that type of team generally doesn't get it done.

IMO, it's the same as Briere/Drury for us
All of those guys should've been re-signed BEFORE the season started...
BUT
if u can't get the deal done, for whatever reason, you've gotta make a deal so u don't lose such an asset for nothing!!!

Look how bad it set us back
Tampa really screwed this up
- jdfitz77

Drury didn't want to be here and Briere did so that might be a little different then whats going on with Stamkos. No reason they can't get a deal done in Tampa with Stamkos.

IMO, it's the same as Briere/Drury for us
All of those guys should've been re-signed BEFORE the season started...
BUT
if u can't get the deal done, for whatever reason, you've gotta make a deal so u don't lose such an asset for nothing!!!

Look how bad it set us back
Tampa really screwed this up
- jdfitz77

And that's potentially the biggest point. It's seen all the time from big name players that are on their final years. No one wants to lose them but if you do you at least get something back for them. If Stamkos walks as a free agent and the Lightning don't win the cup with him then they lost the opportunity to help their team long term. If they're confident they can win without him next year and are willing to lose him to FA they should have done the trade this year and gotten something back in return.

Only thing about that is the stat that I saw here I think last week about how scoring isn't down as much as people expect but it's leveling off where you have less players getting a ton of goals. If that's Yzerman's thinking that he'd rather have 3 players scoring 20 than 1 player scoring 60 (as an example) then I get it. I don't agree but I get it.

That said, I look at the Sabres of years past and know that type of team generally doesn't get it done.
- Zschalberg

You still don't trade him, you keep him.

I think Stevie Y is developing a bad reputation. Connolly...Drouin...Stamkos.
- Deuce81

Drouin is being a little b!tch. The coach started him on the top line with Stamkos this season & he wasn't producing, so he got bumped down the lineup...
All the way to the AHL
Yzerman needs to trade him at the draft

Connolly... Meh. Don't really care much about that. Sometimes it just doesn't work out for one reason or another.

The HUGE screwup is Stamkos
Losing him for nothing is a disaster. They could've gotten a great return for him before the season started.

Drouin is being a little b!tch. The coach started him on the top line with Stamkos this season & he wasn't producing, so he got bumped down the lineup...
All the way to the AHL
Yzerman needs to trade him at the draft

Connolly... Meh. Don't really care much about that. Sometimes it just doesn't work out for one reason or another.

The HUGE screwup is Stamkos
Losing him for nothing is a disaster. They could've gotten a great return for him before the season started.
- jdfitz77

Yes they could have gotten a big return for Stamkos, Murray said no at the last minute

You still don't trade him, you keep him.
- SABRES 89

I agree. Just saying, if that's his justification I understand a bit.

Drury didn't want to be here and Briere did so that might be a little different then whats going on with Stamkos. No reason they can't get a deal done in Tampa with Stamkos.
- SABRES 89

I'm talking BEFORE the season started though
Remember,
Drury had agreed to a contract & it never got finalized on the Sabres end bc Quinn wouldn't approve it
That's when Drury said F it, we'll talk at the end of the season

We could've signed one, or both, before the season started

Drouin is being a little b!tch. The coach started him on the top line with Stamkos this season & he wasn't producing, so he got bumped down the lineup...
All the way to the AHL
Yzerman needs to trade him at the draft

Connolly... Meh. Don't really care much about that. Sometimes it just doesn't work out for one reason or another.

The HUGE screwup is Stamkos
Losing him for nothing is a disaster. They could've gotten a great return for him before the season started.
- jdfitz77

St. Louis, Drouin, Stamkos. The common denominator is Yzerman. The thing is, if he wins the cup he's a genius. If not, it's questioned.

Like Chip Kelly. Some players hated him. If he had won it'd be brushed off as "whiny" players and Chip was the genius. But he didn't win. So he looks terrible. So far, Stevie has won.

Yes they could have gotten a big return for Stamkos, Murray said no at the last minute
- SABRES 89

I get what you're saying...
They should've just gotten him signed
But since they couldn't agree...
Then u really gotta move him

I'm sure we weren't the only team making an offer
I bet the Leafs would've given up a TON
Something like Kadri, Nylander/Marner, 1st round pick
Tampa has got to regret not moving him when they could
Now, maybe they get a 2nd for his rights, maybe

I'm talking BEFORE the season started though
Remember,
Drury had agreed to a contract & it never got finalized on the Sabres end bc Quinn wouldn't approve it
That's when Drury said F it, we'll talk at the end of the season

We could've signed one, or both, before the season started
- jdfitz77

Briere said he would play 5 yrs 25 mill Quinn and Darcy said no without saying no, it was more waiting on Drury. Drury didn't want to be here. Quinn and Darcy could have saved some of this disaster and signed Briere but they wanted to play hard ball and look where it got them.

I get what you're saying...
They should've just gotten him signed
But since they couldn't agree...
Then u really gotta move him

I'm sure we weren't the only team making an offer
I bet the Leafs would've given up a TON
Something like Kadri, Nylander/Marner, 1st round pick
Tampa has got to regret not moving him when they could
Now, maybe they get a 2nd for his rights, maybe
- jdfitz77

Leafs wouldn't have beat our deal, no way.

St. Louis, Drouin, Stamkos. The common denominator is Yzerman. The thing is, if he wins the cup he's a genius. If not, it's questioned.

Like Chip Kelly. Some players hated him. If he had won it'd be brushed off as "whiny" players and Chip was the genius. But he didn't win. So he looks terrible. So far, Stevie has won.
- Zschalberg

Fair enough...
There certainly is a trend
I think it's more HOW Yzerman is going about it than his actual decisions though

Even if they win the Cup this year...
(Long shot IMO)
Yzerman still will look bad if/when Stamkos walks

We never forgave Regier, even though his hands were tied to a degree.
This appears just to be Yzerman's doing

Leafs wouldn't have beat our deal, no way.
- SABRES 89

Didn't say they'd have beat it
How could u top Eichel?
But when we backed out, I'm sure that many teams were making respectable offer that Tampa should've gone with

Briere said he would play 5 yrs 25 mill Quinn and Darcy said no without saying no, it was more waiting on Drury. Drury didn't want to be here. Quinn and Darcy could have saved some of this disaster and signed Briere but they wanted to play hard ball and look where it got them.
- SABRES 89

"Drury didn't wanna be here" didn't happen until that messy contract agreement that didn't get finalized happened
He agreed to a deal before the season started

Leafs wouldn't have beat our deal, no way.
- SABRES 89

Thankfully it never happened...

Patience could have paid off for Murray here...

Who would have thought 2 off seasons and 2 TDL we could possible see...Eichel, Kane, and Stamkos as the new additions...

Fair enough...
There certainly is a trend
I think it's more HOW Yzerman is going about it than his actual decisions though

Even if they win the Cup this year...
(Long shot IMO)
Yzerman still will look bad if/when Stamkos walks

We never forgave Regier, even though his hands were tied to a degree.
This appears just to be Yzerman's doing
- jdfitz77

Had Darcy won the cup that year he could have done whatever he wanted and I would have forgiven it.

If Yzerman wins the cup this year it means he didn't trade Stamkos because he thought they could win it all with him and he was right. It would mean they're confident on life after him but will use him while they have him. Not the best asset usage in the future but if you get a cup it's all worth it. Always.

Had Darcy won the cup that year he could have done whatever he wanted and I would have forgiven it.

If Yzerman wins the cup this year it means he didn't trade Stamkos because he thought they could win it all with him and he was right. It would mean they're confident on life after him but will use him while they have him. Not the best asset usage in the future but if you get a cup it's all worth it. Always.
- Zschalberg

Agreed. I think a Cup trumps losing a key player for nothing.

However if we won a cup and still lost both of Briere and Drury, Darcy should still be blamed. I could handle losing one piece to a Cup team I couldn't handle losing 2