The Sabres can barely score either on most nights and Eichel needs wingers to play with not Foligno long term, that just stifles our greatest asset, and that is dumb. Get a D but do it with other assets, not wingers which we are light on as well.
- GilPerreault11

My point is, we are not winning anything this year, if the plan isn't to keep Kane long term... why not strike while the iron is hot? And get that d-man you need? This is what everyone's point is. Its not like we are talking about a guy who we have locked up for 6 years.

Where is your source? I know the Sabres win when the score 4 or more goals and that has been 10 times this year, whipty freaken do.
- GilPerreault11

Pach wrote a blog about it last week
At the time, we were tied for 8th with Edmonton

It's not opinion, it's something u can look up
Deny it if u want...
but those are the FACTS

My point is, we are not winning anything this year, if the plan isn't to keep Kane long term... why not strike while the iron is hot? And get that d-man you need? This is what everyone's point is. Its not like we are talking about a guy who we have locked up for 6 years.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

My point is you don't trade assets like Kane, you trade for him...and there is no guarantee you will get the D you want anyway. I'm not averse to trading Kane but only if we know for sure he will not sign here, not based on Buffalo insecurity.

IDK why anyone is trying to trade Kane, regardless of his stats. At least not this year. You wait until next year, if he's made clear he won't resign, you trade him at the deadline in 2018. Simple.

IDK why anyone is trying to trade Kane, regardless of his stats. At least not this year. You wait until next year, if he's made clear he won't resign, you trade him at the deadline in 2018. Simple.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Another voice of reason

My point is you don't trade assets like Kane, you trade for him...and there is no guarantee you will get the D you want anyway. I'm not averse to trading Kane but only if we know for sure he will not sign here, not based on Buffalo insecurity.
- GilPerreault11

just trying to figure out who's gonna give up what the sabres would want for kane at his present value--#2/3 d-man

2017 Free agent Left wingers

Bickell, Bryan CAR LW UFA 4,500,000
Kunitz, Chris PIT LW UFA 3,550,000
Burrows, Alexandre VAN LW UFA 3,000,000
Dupuis, Pascal PIT LW UFA 3,000,000
King, Dwight LA LW UFA 1,950,000
Bollig, Brandon CGY LW UFA 1,300,000
Miller, Drew DET LW UFA 1,025,000
Glass, Tanner NYR LW UFA 1,000,000
Versteeg, Kris CGY LW UFA 950,000
Upshall, Scottie STL LW UFA 900,000
Rinaldo, Zac BOS LW UFA 850,000
Bourque, Gabriel COL LW UFA 800,000
Kearns, Bracken NYI LW UFA 800,000
Gallant, Brett CLB LW UFA 750,000
Bellemare, Pierre-Edouard PHI LW UFA 725,000
Gazdic, Luke NJ LW UFA 700,000
Peluso, Anthony WIN LW UFA 700,000
Terry, Chris MON LW UFA 600,000
Whitney, Joe COL LW UFA 600,000
Abbott, Spencer CHI LW UFA 575,000
Boulton, Eric NYI LW UFA 575,000
Bourque, Christopher WAS LW UFA 575,000
Carey, Greg PHI LW UFA 575,000
Halmo, Mike TB LW UFA 575,000
Kristo, Danny STL LW UFA 575,000
Labrie, Pierre-Cedric CHI LW UFA 575,000
Liambas, Mike NAS LW UFA 575,000
Mashinter, Brandon CHI LW UFA 575,000
Sestito, Tommy PIT LW UFA 575,000
Wilson, Garrett PIT LW UFA 575,000
Zolnierczyk, Harry NAS LW UFA 575,000

2017 Free agent Left wingers

Bickell, Bryan CAR LW UFA 4,500,000
Kunitz, Chris PIT LW UFA 3,550,000
Burrows, Alexandre VAN LW UFA 3,000,000
Dupuis, Pascal PIT LW UFA 3,000,000
King, Dwight LA LW UFA 1,950,000
Bollig, Brandon CGY LW UFA 1,300,000
Miller, Drew DET LW UFA 1,025,000
Glass, Tanner NYR LW UFA 1,000,000
Versteeg, Kris CGY LW UFA 950,000
Upshall, Scottie STL LW UFA 900,000
Rinaldo, Zac BOS LW UFA 850,000
Bourque, Gabriel COL LW UFA 800,000
Kearns, Bracken NYI LW UFA 800,000
Gallant, Brett CLB LW UFA 750,000
Bellemare, Pierre-Edouard PHI LW UFA 725,000
Gazdic, Luke NJ LW UFA 700,000
Peluso, Anthony WIN LW UFA 700,000
Terry, Chris MON LW UFA 600,000
Whitney, Joe COL LW UFA 600,000
Abbott, Spencer CHI LW UFA 575,000
Boulton, Eric NYI LW UFA 575,000
Bourque, Christopher WAS LW UFA 575,000
Carey, Greg PHI LW UFA 575,000
Halmo, Mike TB LW UFA 575,000
Kristo, Danny STL LW UFA 575,000
Labrie, Pierre-Cedric CHI LW UFA 575,000
Liambas, Mike NAS LW UFA 575,000
Mashinter, Brandon CHI LW UFA 575,000
Sestito, Tommy PIT LW UFA 575,000
Wilson, Garrett PIT LW UFA 575,000
Zolnierczyk, Harry NAS LW UFA 575,000
- 22sabresQ

Pass on all

2017 Free agent Left wingers

Bickell, Bryan CAR LW UFA 4,500,000
Kunitz, Chris PIT LW UFA 3,550,000
Burrows, Alexandre VAN LW UFA 3,000,000
Dupuis, Pascal PIT LW UFA 3,000,000
King, Dwight LA LW UFA 1,950,000
Bollig, Brandon CGY LW UFA 1,300,000
Miller, Drew DET LW UFA 1,025,000
Glass, Tanner NYR LW UFA 1,000,000
Versteeg, Kris CGY LW UFA 950,000
Upshall, Scottie STL LW UFA 900,000
Rinaldo, Zac BOS LW UFA 850,000
Bourque, Gabriel COL LW UFA 800,000
Kearns, Bracken NYI LW UFA 800,000
Gallant, Brett CLB LW UFA 750,000
Bellemare, Pierre-Edouard PHI LW UFA 725,000
Gazdic, Luke NJ LW UFA 700,000
Peluso, Anthony WIN LW UFA 700,000
Terry, Chris MON LW UFA 600,000
Whitney, Joe COL LW UFA 600,000
Abbott, Spencer CHI LW UFA 575,000
Boulton, Eric NYI LW UFA 575,000
Bourque, Christopher WAS LW UFA 575,000
Carey, Greg PHI LW UFA 575,000
Halmo, Mike TB LW UFA 575,000
Kristo, Danny STL LW UFA 575,000
Labrie, Pierre-Cedric CHI LW UFA 575,000
Liambas, Mike NAS LW UFA 575,000
Mashinter, Brandon CHI LW UFA 575,000
Sestito, Tommy PIT LW UFA 575,000
Wilson, Garrett PIT LW UFA 575,000
Zolnierczyk, Harry NAS LW UFA 575,000
- 22sabresQ

I like dupuis...as for the rest, the sabres probably have a comparable on the roster or in the system, save for maybe kunitz

2017 Free agent Left wingers

Bickell, Bryan CAR LW UFA 4,500,000
Kunitz, Chris PIT LW UFA 3,550,000
Burrows, Alexandre VAN LW UFA 3,000,000
Dupuis, Pascal PIT LW UFA 3,000,000
King, Dwight LA LW UFA 1,950,000
Bollig, Brandon CGY LW UFA 1,300,000
Miller, Drew DET LW UFA 1,025,000
Glass, Tanner NYR LW UFA 1,000,000
Versteeg, Kris CGY LW UFA 950,000
Upshall, Scottie STL LW UFA 900,000
Rinaldo, Zac BOS LW UFA 850,000
Bourque, Gabriel COL LW UFA 800,000
Kearns, Bracken NYI LW UFA 800,000
Gallant, Brett CLB LW UFA 750,000
Bellemare, Pierre-Edouard PHI LW UFA 725,000
Gazdic, Luke NJ LW UFA 700,000
Peluso, Anthony WIN LW UFA 700,000
Terry, Chris MON LW UFA 600,000
Whitney, Joe COL LW UFA 600,000
Abbott, Spencer CHI LW UFA 575,000
Boulton, Eric NYI LW UFA 575,000
Bourque, Christopher WAS LW UFA 575,000
Carey, Greg PHI LW UFA 575,000
Halmo, Mike TB LW UFA 575,000
Kristo, Danny STL LW UFA 575,000
Labrie, Pierre-Cedric CHI LW UFA 575,000
Liambas, Mike NAS LW UFA 575,000
Mashinter, Brandon CHI LW UFA 575,000
Sestito, Tommy PIT LW UFA 575,000
Wilson, Garrett PIT LW UFA 575,000
Zolnierczyk, Harry NAS LW UFA 575,000
- 22sabresQ

Sabres fans used to drool over getting/having a player like Kane. A big, tough power forward who could skate like the wind, score and battle down low instead of the weakling Ennis types, or the wimpy, underachieving Stafford types. Now, they want to run this one out of town because he's not a playmaker too. Well, every big skilled body is not going to be Eric Lindros.
- GilPerreault11

I run a business and I when I make decisions, it is based on being objective and not emotional. As it relates to Kane, I supported him the day after the NHL draft (bar) incident when many on this board wanted to send him packing for a bag of Cheetos. Even when he came back from his injury and wasn't producing, I was in the camp of not selling low on Kane, that would be foolish.

Today, things are different. He is playing the best hockey of his tenure in Buffalo. Everyone loves him on the ice and he is keeping his nose clean off the ice which is awesome. At the same time, the Sabres glaring weakness is their lack of quality D. Perhaps more important they lack quality in the pipeline who are NHL impact ready. I am of the opinion that Murray should listen to any and all offers for Kane. If he gets an offer that blows him away - he would be crazy not to take it.

I agree with Gerbe and others who suggest that Buffalo (and Winnipeg) are not his kind of cities. Of course I could be completely wrong and he loves it in Buffalo and will re-sign at a reasonable price. But it's not like he's going backwards on his annual salary. It will cost somewhere in the $6+ range to re-sign him. If Buffalo won't, who doesn't think some other team in free agency wouldn't offer him $6 mil per year?

We have a number of young wingers coming up (Bailey, Baptiste, Carrier etc) who can step in at a fraction of the cost of Kane's salary and fill his role, albeit at a lower production rate. If Kane can get us a stud defencemen, I would be all over it. As I said earlier, it's not like we have a plethora of good d-man in the system.

Lastly, can you imagine the rage on this board one year from now or in June 2018 if Murray got nothing - or virtually nothing for Kane because: 1) he had another off ice incident, 2) he was out for half the year with a broken "X", 3) he doesn't re-sign in Buffalo. Yikes! Team's always pay more for players if they can get 2 playoffs out of them vs 1. His stock has never been higher than it is now.

I hope Murray is listening. If he gets blown away then he should pull the trigger on a trade for Kane. And this is coming from a Kane supporter. If there's no great deals to be had, then I will be happy he remains as a Sabre - hopefully for many years to come.

I like dupuis...as for the rest, the sabres probably have a comparable on the roster or in the system, save for maybe kunitz
- Michael Pachla

Except Dupuis is never playing hockey again. LOL Come on Pach!

Pach wrote a blog about it last week
At the time, we were tied for 8th with Edmonton

It's not opinion, it's something u can look up
Deny it if u want...
but those are the FACTS
- jdfitz77

If the Sabres could score more, they wouldn't be leaning towards tanking. There wouldn't be calls to support their goalies more with, ya know, goals on those many 2-1 nights even with Jack. So they may get a few goals in winning games that skew the stats but they are no offensive powerhouse when Brian Gionta led the team 5 on 5 scoring pts for most of the year.

just trying to figure out who's gonna give up what the sabres would want for kane at his present value--#2/3 d-man
- Michael Pachla

it's hard to gauge what his value really is. Probably differs from one team to another given his contract situation which is its own issue.

Then there's his value to the team. At his best hes irreplaceable, at his worst we cant get him out of here fast enough. Id just want a bit more consistency out of him before committing that kind of term/money.

UFA Right wingers

Radulov, Alexander MON RW UFA 5,750,000
Iginla, Jarome COL RW UFA 5,000,000
Sharp, Patrick DAL RW UFA 5,000,000
Oshie, TJ WAS RW UFA 4,500,000
Stafford, Drew WIN RW UFA 4,350,000
Hemsky, Ales DAL RW UFA 4,000,000
Jagr, Jaromir FLA RW UFA 4,000,000
Michalek, Milan TOR RW UFA 4,000,000
Doan, Shane PHO RW UFA 3,876,134
Gionta, Brian BUF RW UFA 3,250,000
Williams, Justin WAS RW UFA 3,250,000
Purcell, Ted LA RW UFA 1,600,000
Neil, Chris OTT RW UFA 1,500,000
Parenteau, P-A NJ RW UFA 1,250,000
Eaves, Patrick DAL RW UFA 1,000,000
Vrbata, Radim PHO RW UFA 1,000,000
White, Ryan PHO RW UFA 1,000,000
Flynn, Brian MON RW UFA 950,000
Tootoo, Jordin CHI RW UFA 750,000
Pakarinen, Iiro EDM RW UFA 725,000
Skille, Jack VAN RW UFA 700,000
Smith, Ben TOR RW UFA 675,000
Bourque, Rene COL RW UFA 650,000
Harper, Shane FLA RW UFA 650,000
Bernier, Steve NYI RW UFA 600,000
Cracknell, Adam DAL RW UFA 600,000
Fontaine, Justin NYR RW UFA 600,000
Hagel, Mark MIN RW UFA 600,000
Sislo, Mike COL RW UFA 600,000
Stortini, Zack SJ RW UFA 600,000
Thornton, Shawn FLA RW UFA 600,000
Conner, Chris PHI RW UFA 575,000
Farnham, Bobby MON RW UFA 575,000
Gionta, Stephen NYI RW UFA 575,000
Letourneau-Leblond, Pierre-Luc TB RW UFA 575,000
Setoguchi, Devin LA RW UFA 575,000
Thompson, Paul FLA RW UFA 575,000

His cap hit is 5.25, I really don't see him getting a raise, unless he tears it up next year. It will be a short deal, with the same cap hit. Aka prove you're worth it.
- Mentalorgasm5

Why would he sign a short-term deal? He could just say (frank) off I'll test free agency and see what they will pay me

it's hard to gauge what his value really is. Probably differs from one team to another given his contract situation which is its own issue.

Then there's his value to the team. At his best hes irreplaceable, at his worst we cant get him out of here fast enough. Id just want a bit more consistency out of him before committing that kind of term/money.
- Sabresfan-365

am hoping that inconsistency will get him to sign for a shorter term at a reasonable amount...that said, i'm not holding my breath but if I was murray, that would certainly be my angle

UFA Right wingers

Radulov, Alexander MON RW UFA 5,750,000
Iginla, Jarome COL RW UFA 5,000,000
Sharp, Patrick DAL RW UFA 5,000,000
Oshie, TJ WAS RW UFA 4,500,000
Stafford, Drew WIN RW UFA 4,350,000
Hemsky, Ales DAL RW UFA 4,000,000
Jagr, Jaromir FLA RW UFA 4,000,000
Michalek, Milan TOR RW UFA 4,000,000
Doan, Shane PHO RW UFA 3,876,134
Gionta, Brian BUF RW UFA 3,250,000
Williams, Justin WAS RW UFA 3,250,000
Purcell, Ted LA RW UFA 1,600,000
Neil, Chris OTT RW UFA 1,500,000
Parenteau, P-A NJ RW UFA 1,250,000
Eaves, Patrick DAL RW UFA 1,000,000
Vrbata, Radim PHO RW UFA 1,000,000
White, Ryan PHO RW UFA 1,000,000
Flynn, Brian MON RW UFA 950,000
Tootoo, Jordin CHI RW UFA 750,000
Pakarinen, Iiro EDM RW UFA 725,000
Skille, Jack VAN RW UFA 700,000
Smith, Ben TOR RW UFA 675,000
Bourque, Rene COL RW UFA 650,000
Harper, Shane FLA RW UFA 650,000
Bernier, Steve NYI RW UFA 600,000
Cracknell, Adam DAL RW UFA 600,000
Fontaine, Justin NYR RW UFA 600,000
Hagel, Mark MIN RW UFA 600,000
Sislo, Mike COL RW UFA 600,000
Stortini, Zack SJ RW UFA 600,000
Thornton, Shawn FLA RW UFA 600,000
Conner, Chris PHI RW UFA 575,000
Farnham, Bobby MON RW UFA 575,000
Gionta, Stephen NYI RW UFA 575,000
Letourneau-Leblond, Pierre-Luc TB RW UFA 575,000
Setoguchi, Devin LA RW UFA 575,000
Thompson, Paul FLA RW UFA 575,000
- 22sabresQ

Radulov is a stud muffin he's going to get a Payday such a great year he's having

Why would he sign a short-term deal? He could just say (frank) off I'll test free agency and see what they will pay me
- GERBE!!!75PTS

how many teams wanted him when he had the off-ice issues over the summer?...don't you think that's in the back of every gm's mind when considering something like that?

Regarding the rest of Pach's article, unless they are within 5 points of a playoff position with 6 teams to pass, I am in the "sell" camp. It would be terrible asset management if we kept UFA's Franson, Kuli, Gionta, Nilsson etc, finished 12th in the division and let them walk away for nothing.

am hoping that inconsistency will get him to sign for a shorter term at a reasonable amount...that said, i'm not holding my breath but if I was murray, that would certainly be my angle
- Michael Pachla

Mine too but unless the FA class is beyond stacked next year id have to think at least one team(vancouver) would give him term.

Wonder if Kane + a 1st gets you that d-man.

Agreed
- sbroads24

Chocolate Chip ftw

I like dupuis...as for the rest, the sabres probably have a comparable on the roster or in the system, save for maybe kunitz
- Michael Pachla

Dupuis is playing the best hockey of his career right now.

Where is your source? I know the Sabres win when the score 4 or more goals and that has been 10 times this year, whipty freaken do.
- GilPerreault11

This blog was Jan30
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...-All-Star-break/209/82544

Simply put, it's night and day with the return of Jack Eichel on November 29th. Prior to that the team was dead last in the league averaging only 1.81 goals/game with the forwards scoring all but one goal. The Sabres started out well enough averaging 2.50 g/gm in October, but through 13 games in November they managed to score over two goals in a game only once pre-Eichel's return and a total of 18 goals overall. Since Eichel's return the Sabres are averaging 2.92 g/gm


That 2.92 number may have changed, but not much
We've scored 15 goals in the 6 games since, so it will have gone down slightly
Going by that,
We'd be 8th currently
https://www.sportingchart...team-goals-per-game/2016/


So, once again...

Your statement was wrong
We are doing just fine at scoring goals

Dupuis is playing the best hockey of his career right now.
- CaptainRivet

Knee hockey in the basement?