Patience ? it's been 45 years of it, enough is enough.
- SABRES 89

We are almost there, believe me I remember crying in front of the TV at 8 years old after the Islanders beat us in 80', I feel the urgency, but we are in a different place organizationally( is that even a word) than we ever have been, now it's time to be smart, and focused. Plan A should be doing everything possible to bring in Vesey, he makes the most sense. Plan B is our offensive D man. A couple of other tweeks, and then look out!!!!

No Sabres on this list...
Interesting

http://espn.go.com/nhl/st...gas-expansion-team-roster
- jdfitz77

There's your problem, ESPN

Except Stamkos isn't the best centerman in the league. I'd take Kopitar, Seguin, Pavelski, Getzlaf and Crosby over him. And Scheifele, Johansen, McDavid and Monahan coming up too. Not saying I'd take the last 4 over him today aside from McDavid, but in 2-3 years probably, yeah.
- Wetbandit1

Come on. Crosby, McDavid ok. Pavelski?

Ya when i looked at it after i knew we'd need to add to the Edmonton trade. I just sign the rfa then trade them
- OGAR91

What about if it's for an RFA on another team? Like Ottawas Hoffman for instance?

So your going to have Eichel, or O'Reilly as a 3rd line center?????
- bobmack13

Even if we did...
I've been saying for a while now that it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing

Pittsburgh just won the Cup with Crosby, Malkin & Kessel all on separate lines

Think back to how dangerous we were when our 3rd line was
Vanek-Roy-Afinogenov

We'd have won the Cup that year if not for all those defense injuries

Putting those 3 guys on separate lines creates huge matchup problems for other teams
All three lines get roughly equal playing time 5v5
And then u put the studs together for the PP minutes

We don't have to do it that way
But Pitt just proved the theory that it could work

No offense but you can't come close to comparing O'Reilly and Reinhart to Stankos. That's just lunacy. I know you didn't say they were better, but at Reinhart's age Stamkos was a 50 goal scorer. O'Reilly has never had as good of a year as Stamkos's "Down year" this year.

We will be lucky if Eichel ends up better than him. I don't think people realize how great Stamkos is
- sbroads24

I don't like the idea of giving a guy 12M for 7 years that already has blood clot issues at the age of 26. Might turn into a Pronger, Clarkson, Horton type deal by the end.

Stamkos is amazing but I'm not sure people realize we'd make him the highest paid player in the league by about 1.5M when most would take about 5 or 6 other guys over him to begin.

I love the idea of Stamkos on this team but I also know there are cons. Will I cry if he doesn't come here... No. Do I think that we can still be a cup contender without Stamkos though. Absolutely.

Come on. Crosby, McDavid ok. Pavelski?
- sbroads24

I think Pavelski has been underrated for a while now
Wanted us to trade for him for years
Guys like him & Bergeron are so key to building a winning team IMO
We have that guy in O'Reilly though
You also need goal scorers
And obviously that's where Stamkos would come in
Wing, Center...
Wherever he plays, he's gonna be really good
If he does come here,
There's many options where we can play around with the lines to see how chemistry develops

I don't like the idea of giving a guy 12M for 7 years that already has blood clot issues at the age of 26. Might turn into a Pronger, Clarkson, Horton type deal by the end.

Stamkos is amazing but I'm not sure people realize we'd make him the highest paid player in the league by about 1.5M when most would take about 5 or 6 other guys over him to begin.

I love the idea of Stamkos on this team but I also know there are cons. Will I cry if he doesn't come here... No. Do I think that we can still be a cup contender without Stamkos though. Absolutely.
- JVince11

Even if the blood clot issues come back...
He'd just be placed on IR & his cap hit won't affect us

Sure, it's gonna take $$$ to get him
But that's what happens with UFAs
If Tavares goes that route,
He'll make even more next year
That's just how it goes

I don't like the idea of giving a guy 12M for 7 years that already has blood clot issues at the age of 26. Might turn into a Pronger, Clarkson, Horton type deal by the end.

Stamkos is amazing but I'm not sure people realize we'd make him the highest paid player in the league by about 1.5M when most would take about 5 or 6 other guys over him to begin.

I love the idea of Stamkos on this team but I also know there are cons. Will I cry if he doesn't come here... No. Do I think that we can still be a cup contender without Stamkos though. Absolutely.
- JVince11

Are those 5-6 other guys available?

No offense but you can't come close to comparing O'Reilly and Reinhart to Stankos. That's just lunacy. I know you didn't say they were better, but at Reinhart's age Stamkos was a 50 goal scorer. O'Reilly has never had as good of a year as Stamkos's "Down year" this year.

We will be lucky if Eichel ends up better than him. I don't think people realize how great Stamkos is
- sbroads24

Team game, it's great that Stamkos was a 50 goal scorer. Is he ever going to again? I'd bet no, the NHL had Ovi at 50, and Kane at 46 this year, that's it. I'm more about "the right fit", than "oh, he scored 60 goals 5 years ago". Stamkos comes in, and most everyone has to move to accommodate him. How good is that for the locker room? "Hey Jack, remember last year when we told you that this is going to be your team...well it will be 7 years from now, oh and by the way, your a winger now.

There's your problem, ESPN
- SABRES 89

Hahaha
Touché sir

I'm guessing we end up losing a guy like Foligno or Pysyk
Someone wed prob like to keep,
But won't kill us if he's taken

I don't like the idea of giving a guy 12M for 7 years that already has blood clot issues at the age of 26. Might turn into a Pronger, Clarkson, Horton type deal by the end.

Stamkos is amazing but I'm not sure people realize we'd make him the highest paid player in the league by about 1.5M when most would take about 5 or 6 other guys over him to begin.

I love the idea of Stamkos on this team but I also know there are cons. Will I cry if he doesn't come here... No. Do I think that we can still be a cup contender without Stamkos though. Absolutely.
- JVince11

This is a good post

We talking just forwards? Because there's definitely a few defenders I'd take over Stamkos

Just forwards...

Toews
Kane
Benn
Seguin
Tarasenko (Maybe)
McDavid
Kopitar
Taveres
Crosby
Ovi

*Fixed
- feetontheair22

He's already on the team. I meant guys not already on the team.

Come on. Crosby, McDavid ok. Pavelski?
- sbroads24

Yes.

http://public.tableau.com...DZSRJ3?:display_count=yes

We talking just forwards? Because there's definitely a few defenders I'd take over Stamkos

Just forwards...

Toews
Kane
Benn
Seguin
Tarasenko (Maybe)
McDavid
Kopitar
Taveres
Crosby
Ovi
- bluengold12

Excellent post.

Might I add perhaps Giroux and Perry as possibilities.

Defensemen.

OEL
Weber
Subban
Karlsson
Keith
Seabrook

Come on. Crosby, McDavid ok. Pavelski?
- sbroads24

He has Steve Ott syndrome. He isn't a center.

Salary cap up to 73 million, if it hasn't been said. I know there were rumors it might have went down

Excellent post.

Might I add perhaps Giroux and Perry as possibilities.

Defensemen.

OEL
Weber
Subban
Karlsson
Keith
Seabrook
- JVince11

Not Perry. He's on the decline. Won't have as good of a year as he's had in his career again.

Giroux is debatable.

He's already on the team. I meant guys not already on the team.
- Wetbandit1

We talking just forwards? Because there's definitely a few defenders I'd take over Stamkos

Just forwards...

Toews
Kane
Benn
Seguin
Tarasenko (Maybe)
McDavid
Kopitar
Taveres
Crosbye
Ovi
- bluengold12

Are they free to sign without giving up a arm and leg

Defense I'd go

Karlsson
OEL
Doughty
Keith
Hedman
Subban is a close call

Are they free to sign without giving up a arm and leg
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Next year Taveres should he not resign. I wasn't saying I'm against signing Stamkos just listing players I view as better

Yes.

http://public.tableau.com...DZSRJ3?:display_count=yes
- Wetbandit1

Why don't you do it over a 3 year period instead of limiting the sample size to Stamkos only bad season?

Next year Taveres should he not resign. I wasn't saying I'm against signing Stamkos just listing players I view as better
- bluengold12

He's elite At scoring goals some of the ones you liśted are not that
That's the number one thing we don't have ..