Buffalo added guys to fill those rolls through trade and free agency

There's really just a lot of luck and injuries that separate the two rebuilds
- Redmile247

They added them after all their players are ruined though.
Nikita Zadorov not doing very good for a 16OA
Grigorenko and Girgensons not doing very well for 14OA or 16OA.

Myers, Armia, Pysyk, Kassian and a couple mentioned above all traded away.

It's really been an epic screw up in Buffalo. Instant success of throwing players in when not ready.

Van could probably get Buffalo's 8OA for Tanev.

TBH I'd take my chances with putting a deer on skates...
- lumlums

This will be our D next year . Benning is in Europe looking for a Dman .

Edler Stecher
Juolevi Tanev
Hutton Gudbrandson

Pedan Biega

They added them after all their players are ruined though.
Nikita Zadorov not doing very good for a 16OA
Grigorenko and Girgensons not doing very well for 14OA or 16OA.

Myers, Armia, Pysyk, Kassian and a couple mentioned above all traded away.

It's really been an epic screw up in Buffalo. Instant success of throwing players in when not ready.

Van could probably get Buffalo's 8OA for Tanev.
- manvanfan

You keep my Avs names off your lips

I am not sure Sbisa will be part of the team this year.
- VANTEL

I'm not so sure either.

You keep my Avs names off your lips
- DDM-Coga

Was it worth it for O'Reilly?

I think toronto drafted better, signed more college free agents, filled holes(anderson) and let their players dictate when they are ready.

Buffalo traded picks for Lehner, signed players to make them better now when the players they had (other than eichel) werent ready to take that next step. They also completely ignored the defense which is going to be next to impossible to fix now, even last year taking nylander over sergachev.

This is why I really hope benning takes his time to acquire as many assets as possible over the summer and next 2 drafts before he starts looking to add vet UFAs.. We at least have some nice young players in various positions.. We still need legit top pairing Dmen and a top center. All of which can be added over the next 3 drafts.
- mauryballstein

The other thing is that TO didn't dive in too heavily on the UFA market. In fact, the only two on our team who we picked up in July as UFA are Martin and Hunwick. All the rest were either drafted, traded for, or signed to ELCs out of college/Europe.

Was it worth it for O'Reilly?
- manvanfan

One of the worst decisions by Sakic, should have given O'Reilly his money.

Was it worth it for O'Reilly?
- manvanfan

Since he didn't want to sign with the Avs and would have walked for free. Yes it was worth it.

I love Zads, hes a beast. You might not think hes good bc his "stat line" isn't flashy, but he really made a lot of strides this year.
Grigo is meh, hes still an NHL player but a bottom 6er.

The big prize is JT Compher and AJ Greer (From the 2nd round draft pick). Those guys are going to be solid contributors for the Avs for a very long time.

Love ROR as a player but he didn't want to be with the Avs and that was the best offer they had at the time

They added them after all their players are ruined though.
Nikita Zadorov not doing very good for a 16OA
Grigorenko and Girgensons not doing very well for 14OA or 16OA.

Myers, Armia, Pysyk, Kassian and a couple mentioned above all traded away.

It's really been an epic screw up in Buffalo. Instant success of throwing players in when not ready.

Van could probably get Buffalo's 8OA for Tanev.
- manvanfan

Yeah, they got rich quick with Pegula, tried to throw money at the problem (Ehrhoff, Leino etc), then didn't properly remedy those ills after it became patently obvious that they'd (frank)ed up.

One of the worst decisions by Sakic, should have given O'Reilly his money.
- LeftCoaster

Highly highly disagree. ROR is a good player but he is not a 7.5m player. If you look at his production, his 5v5 is pretty discouraging. He has benefit from the number 1 PP in the league.

It wil be interesting to see how he does next year under a new coach

I think toronto drafted better, signed more college free agents, filled holes(anderson) and let their players dictate when they are ready.

Buffalo traded picks for Lehner, signed players to make them better now when the players they had (other than eichel) werent ready to take that next step. They also completely ignored the defense which is going to be next to impossible to fix now, even last year taking nylander over sergachev.

This is why I really hope benning takes his time to acquire as many assets as possible over the summer and next 2 drafts before he starts looking to add vet UFAs.. We at least have some nice young players in various positions.. We still need legit top pairing Dmen and a top center. All of which can be added over the next 3 drafts.
- mauryballstein

I just look at them as very similar rebuilds ...but the leafs got lucky how the draft lotto worked out

Buffalo has better luck they end up with mcdavid and ekblad ...leafs have worse luck and they end up with JP and strome

They added them after all their players are ruined though.
Nikita Zadorov not doing very good for a 16OA
Grigorenko and Girgensons not doing very well for 14OA or 16OA.

Myers, Armia, Pysyk, Kassian and a couple mentioned above all traded away.

It's really been an epic screw up in Buffalo. Instant success of throwing players in when not ready.

Van could probably get Buffalo's 8OA for Tanev.
- manvanfan

I was thinking that or coyotes 7th. Both are basically in win now mode.

Exactly why you dont rush prospects. You can look JV and JM to that list from Van, the oil with all their top picks.

The other thing is that TO didn't dive in too heavily on the UFA market. In fact, the only two on our team who we picked up in July as UFA are Martin and Hunwick. All the rest were either drafted, traded for, or signed to ELCs out of college/Europe.
- lumlums

The leafs went after stamkos ...just because they didn't sign others doesn't mean they didn't try to ...maybe free agents didn't want to go to TO

I just look at them as very similar rebuilds ...but the leafs got lucky how the draft lotto worked out

Buffalo has better luck they end up with mcdavid and ekblad ...leafs have worse luck and they end up with JP and strome
- Redmile247

You cant take steps forward until the players you have are ready to do so. If you blow a couple drafts then you have to wait a coule years to keep adding. Trading away picks and prospects and tossing money at the team is doing nothing for long term success.

Highly highly disagree. ROR is a good player but he is not a 7.5m player. If you look at his production, his 5v5 is pretty discouraging. He has benefit from the number 1 PP in the league.

It wil be interesting to see how he does next year under a new coach
- DDM-Coga

That's it - for just $637k more this season than ROR we have out entire shut-down line which features a 30 goal scorer, a 20G rookie and a solid defensive winger

One of the worst decisions by Sakic, should have given O'Reilly his money.
- LeftCoaster

I would have to agree also. He is one of the better defensive centers in the game behind kesler, Bergeron, Kopitar who are paid in very similar fashion to O'Reilly except he is quite a bit younger then them.

The leafs went after stamkos ...just because they didn't sign others doesn't mean they didn't try to ...maybe free agents didn't want to go to TO
- Redmile247

Of course - when a player of Stamkos' ability comes up, you're not doing your job if you don't try and have discussions with them.

I would have to agree also. He is one of the better defensive centers in the game behind kesler, Bergeron, Kopitar who are paid in very similar fashion to O'Reilly except he is quite a bit younger then them.
- manvanfan

So you give ROR the 8m 8year deal he was asking for the Avs....and wanting to be 1C and be named the captain. He pouted that he was never given a letter for the team, not even making that up.

What does that do to the team. Make MacKinnon a Winger or 2C. Burn up more cap space. Have to move More than just Duchene out to make the cap work.

Sorry but moving ROR was a needed move. He didn't want to be part of the Avs team, he wanted them to build around him. It sucks that they had to move him, but there was no logical way to keep him.

1st, Nylander and Nielsen?
- walshyleafsfan

No, that was mid-season and it was 2 1sts plus

Of course - when a player of Stamkos' ability comes up, you're not doing your job if you don't try and have discussions with them.
- lumlums

Sedins are UFAs after this year they would look great for your rebuild

Sedins are UFAs after this year they would look great for your rebuild
- VANTEL

How about we get a jump on negotiations and offer you folks a first for them instead...?

Sedins are UFAs after this year they would look great for your rebuild
- VANTEL

I have a feeling we will be resigning to one year deals after next season

How about we get a jump on negotiations and offer you folks a first for them instead...?
- lumlums

A first for each of them and deal

How about we get a jump on negotiations and offer you folks a first for them instead...?
- lumlums

It starts and ends with Mathews

I have a feeling we will be resigning to one year deals after next season
- mauryballstein

PAAAALLLLEEEEEAAASSSEEE

I just ate don't bring up such nonsense