hall of fame?

or just really good in his era?

stats say HOF, but I am torn
- homiedclown

I'd say "to be determined" still
Lots of guys made the Hall of Fame without winning personal awards in the Gretzky/Lemieux/Jagr era

Is is fair to hold it against guys who don't win scoring titles or Hart trophies in the Crosby/Ovechkin/McDavid era?


Among current Centers, I'm gonna say Backstrom is definitely top10
Maybe top5...

Crosby & McDavid...
then u can probably arrange the next group in a highly debatable order
Right now,
I'd say Backstrom is at the top of that next group
The only other guys I'd definitely have ahead of him is Tavares & Malkin

Besides that...
guys like Thornton, Sedin, etc. are winding down
and guys like Eichel, Matthews, etc. need to do it a little longer (and better) before I'm ranking them ahead of Backstrom

He's also such a high point producer, that I'd probably even list him ahead of guys like Toews, Burgeron & Kesler
Backstrom is pretty good defensively as well

I guess I have him 5th on my list of current Centers

How the hell did Vegas manage to get shipachyov don't be surprised if Kovalchuk goes there And rads
- GERBE!!!75PTS

I have a hard time seeing Kovalchuk going anywhere but NJ. Would you ok him going to Toronto? Boston? Montreal? How do you think Calgary is going to feel about him going to Vegas? Or any of the division really? I don't know how long he has to play in NJ before he's allowed to become a UFA. But I have a feeling it's going to be there first.

hall of fame?


or just really good in his era?


stats say HOF, but I am torn
- homiedclown

I think he's like a Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Kopitar, Hall type player. Great players, but not HOFers.

They aren't buddies and he signed with us
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Did he? Is it official? You're the king of putting the cart before the horse.

I have a hard time seeing Kovalchuk going anywhere but NJ. Would you ok him going to Toronto? Boston? Montreal? How do you think Calgary is going to feel about him going to Vegas? Or any of the division really? I don't know how long he has to play in NJ before he's allowed to become a UFA. But I have a feeling it's going to be there first.
- Wetbandit1

Or Jersey could trade his rights...
I'm guessing that's what would happen

They aren't buddies and he signed with us
- GERBE!!!75PTS

that would be news to everyone here...... except you apparently.

We would be lucky to get him for what I offered, it might take more, money or no money. Enough with the picks, it's time to put up or shut up.
- SABRES 89

A) this preposterous proposal will never go anywhere. Even if they reload the acaps aren't doing it by getting rid of Ovechkin

B). It's not YOUR idea, it was hatched and explained at length by Beady Eyed Douche. That should tell you even more so why nobody should think it's worthwhile.

A) this preposterous proposal will never go anywhere. Even if they reload the acaps aren't doing it by getting rid of Ovechkin

B). It's not YOUR idea, it was hatched and explained at length by Beady Eyed Douche. That should tell you even more so why nobody should think it's worthwhile.
- Der Kaiser

In addition to all of the above, it's a move that both guts the team and hamstrings it going forward.

No thanks.

A) this preposterous proposal will never go anywhere. Even if they reload the acaps aren't doing it by getting rid of Ovechkin

B). It's not YOUR idea, it was hatched and explained at length by Beady Eyed Douche. That should tell you even more so why nobody should think it's worthwhile.
- Der Kaiser

I added in Nylander he didn't have him included.

.......

I added in Nylander he didn't have him included.
- SABRES 89

That makes it even worse of an idea, IMO.

There are numerous other players I would target with the 8th, Nylander, and Reinhart then somebody making $9.5M for the next 4 years.

I love OV8...
but I don't like that deal

Doesn't leave us anything at all to trade for a top defenseman

And Ovechkin has more talent around him in Washington & can't even get to the Cup, let alone win it
How's he gonna win it here?

Interesting idea...
but I don't think it gets us where we wanna be
- jdfitz77

Which is no where near his fault in the slightest

That makes it even worse of an idea, IMO.

There are numerous other players I would target with the 8th, Nylander, and Reinhart then somebody making $9.5M for the next 4 years.
- kingcong39

Wait, so now all the sudden, getting the best player in a deal isn't the greatest thing ever?

Which is no where near his fault in the slightest
- sbroads24

when your pretty much a point per game player in the playoffs, it's not your fault



does the new gm reach out to thornton or marleau on a 1 year deal this summer?

We are doomed.

Think of all of the time wasted caring about Buffalo sports teams. Has it been worth it? Have we enjoyed the ride? I've spent too much time thinking about these teams, watching them and talking about them. Why? What has been the payoff?

I have other interests that don't frustrate the heck out of me.

i am now going to be a bandwagon fan, and I don't care. If either team is ever good again, I will watch and potentially follow from a distance. Other than that, I'm tired of watching the car wreck.

Just 86'd ESPN and I feel pretty good about. Ef that station!

We are doomed.

Think of all of the time wasted caring about Buffalo sports teams. Has it been worth it? Have we enjoyed the ride? I've spent too much time thinking about these teams, watching them and talking about them. Why? What has been the payoff?

I have other interests that don't frustrate the heck out of me.

i am now going to be a bandwagon fan, and I don't care. If either team is ever good again, I will watch and potentially follow from a distance. Other than that, I'm tired of watching the car wreck.
- hawk33

For supposedly not being frustrated, you seem frustrated.

Back away from the ledge. It's just sports.

We are doomed.

Think of all of the time wasted caring about Buffalo sports teams. Has it been worth it? Have we enjoyed the ride? I've spent too much time thinking about these teams, watching them and talking about them. Why? What has been the payoff?

I have other interests that don't frustrate the heck out of me.

i am now going to be a bandwagon fan, and I don't care. If either team is ever good again, I will watch and potentially follow from a distance. Other than that, I'm tired of watching the car wreck.
- hawk33

Just 86'd ESPN and I feel pretty good about. Ef that station!
- Khmylev

I am getting trashed at the concert tonight

f@ck sobriety

Damn, 89, homie and myself all on board with the Ovechkin trade, I like it.

Obviously it's just a scenario, but I went into detail about it. On paper it's crazy but it's not unrealistic. Given his age, cap hit and Washington needing to shake it up, this move would be great for both teams and the NHL.

Buffalo has some of the highest viewership ratings in one of the smallest markets in the NHL. His jersey would sell like hot cakes.

I also considered any trade scenario involving getting a defenseman such as Fowler/Vatanen, etc....

They might be just as, if not more expensive. And again, transitioning from the West to the East is something that players, especially defenseman, have a history of struggling with. Exception Pronger but he's Pronger.

I'm more for shaping a team that can outscore opponents and our D isn't in as bad of shape as everyone seems to think.

Ristolainen/Guhle/McCabe/Antipin/FA/Bogosian/Gorges/Falk/Nelson next year to some capacity. As long as our bottom pair consists of Gorges/Falk/Bogosian for most of the year, I think we're good picking up a solid guy in Free Agency.

And let's face it, our top priority should be getting a scoring winger for Eichel. I don't see any of them in FA this season or on the team or in the minors.

In addition to all of the above, it's a move that both guts the team and hamstrings it going forward.

No thanks.
- kingcong39

Trading one roster player, a draft pick and a prospect for a roster player is gutting a team? Oh-kay.

I am getting trashed at the concert tonight

f@ck sobriety



- homiedclown

Yeah!

Damn, 89, homie and myself all on board with the Ovechkin trade, I like it.

Obviously it's just a scenario, but I went into detail about it. On paper it's crazy but it's not unrealistic. Given his age, cap hit and Washington needing to shake it up, this move would be great for both teams and the NHL.

Buffalo has some of the highest viewership ratings in one of the smallest markets in the NHL. His jersey would sell like hot cakes.

I also considered any trade scenario involving getting a defenseman such as Fowler/Vatanen, etc....

They might be just as, if not more expensive. And again, transitioning from the West to the East is something that players, especially defenseman, have a history of struggling with. Exception Pronger but he's Pronger.

I'm more for shaping a team that can outscore opponents and our D isn't in as bad of shape as everyone seems to think.

Ristolainen/Guhle/McCabe/Antipin/FA/Bogosian/Gorges/Falk/Nelson next year to some capacity. As long as our bottom pair consists of Gorges/Falk/Bogosian for most of the year, I think we're good picking up a solid guy in Free Agency.

And let's face it, our top priority should be getting a scoring winger for Eichel. I don't see any of them in FA this season or on the team or in the minors.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I'm in too. I'd offer them pick 8, busthart, and one of Foligno or Girgensons (or both?)

I'm in too. I'd offer them pick 8, busthart, and one of Foligno or Girgensons (or both?)
- Khmylev

B.E.D., add me to the list

I don't know bout the trade itself but this was ovi's worst goal total in a full season in quite some time. May be it's a one off, maybe it's the fact that he's gunna be 32 soon. Either way may wanna go all out for a D-man instead of a winger