Michael Pachla: Defense. Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. Plus, lookin' for another top-six LW

Fist.

Get Vanek and Staff Infection back - put them on the 2nd line and enjoy the free wins.

gm wants a north south team
coach wants up tempo



so why does half the posters want vanek?
he is the exact opposite of what they want

gm wants a north south team
coach wants up tempo



so why does half the posters want vanek?
he is the exact opposite of what they want
- homiedclown

i dont get it either

Vanek for his shootout capabilities?

I would much rather get Yakupov for $2 million per than Vanek at $4-5 million per.

Vanek for his shootout capabilities?
- thatsapickle

He half-assed that around the world thing so many times with hardly any success. Watching him play infuriates me. He is very skilled but he always looks like he's not trying very hard. Hard pass.

Vanek for his shootout capabilities?
- thatsapickle

Kotalik is a cheaper option in that regard.

He half-assed that around the world thing so many times with hardly any success. Watching him play infuriates me. He is very skilled but he always looks like he's not trying very hard. Hard pass.
- Pierceme69

I was joking.

I don't know why anyone would want him.

Unless you want to watch him look up to the rafters while skating 80% of his shifts?

Kotalik is a cheaper option in that regard.
- sambarugh

Now that guy was a killer in shootouts with that backhand top-shelf shot.

I was joking.

I don't know why anyone would want him.

Unless you want to watch him look up to the rafters while skating 80% of his shifts?
- thatsapickle

I can see why Botterill might want him. He wasn't a part of our organization when Vanek was here for the most part, and the guy does score. He probably wouldn't be a bad addition, but I don't think I can stomach him again.

He half-assed that around the world thing so many times with hardly any success. Watching him play infuriates me. He is very skilled but he always looks like he's working off three quarters of a bottle of vodka from the night before. Hard pass.
- Pierceme69

Holy cow, it sounds like you met him.

gm wants a north south team
coach wants up tempo



so why does half the posters want vanek?
he is the exact opposite of what they want
- homiedclown

wants and needs are different...who's gonna be in the top-six at LW besides Kane?

ennis, who's been injured, plays an east/west game and has had two awful seasons?
Foligno?
Girgensons?

marleau who won't come to buffalo?
Sharp who's old and is coming off of hip surgery?
Yak?

I would much rather get Yakupov for $2 million per than Vanek at $4-5 million per.
- Pierceme69

do you really think some team will give vanek $4-5M?

am thinking $3m on a one-year deal for some team

He half-assed that around the world thing so many times with hardly any success. Watching him play infuriates me. He is very skilled but he always looks like he's not trying very hard. Hard pass.
- Pierceme69

People said that when he was scoring 75 points a year, too. The dude slows the game down around him and makes solid plays. It's not that he isn't trying, he just doesn't have the extra speed gear, so he relies on positioning and skill.

Most underrated Sabre of the past 10 years imo. He never got the respect he deserved

wants and needs are different...who's gonna be in the top-six at LW besides Kane?

ennis, who's been injured, plays an east/west game and has had two awful seasons?
Foligno?
Girgensons?

marleau who won't come to buffalo?
Sharp who's old and is coming off of hip surgery?
Yak?
- Michael Pachla

Why not Yak? He's going to be relatively cheap, he's fast, young, and has top-end skill. It's intriguing to me what he might look like on a line with Eichel dishing him precision passes every night.

He half-assed that around the world thing so many times with hardly any success. Watching him play infuriates me. He is very skilled but he always looks like he's not trying very hard. Hard pass.
- Pierceme69

his 48 points would have placed him third on the sabres last season...and he was 5/5 in the shootout

do you really think some team will give vanek $4-5M?

am thinking $3m on a one-year deal for some team
- Michael Pachla

He's the best LW available. Either he'll choose the team he wants to play for on a one-year deal, or hecan get the best offer available. Someone will offer him 3x3 i bet. Does he want a cup, or a paycheck for a few years?

wants and needs are different...who's gonna be in the top-six at LW besides Kane?

ennis, who's been injured, plays an east/west game and has had two awful seasons?
Foligno?
Girgensons?

marleau who won't come to buffalo?
Sharp who's old and is coming off of hip surgery?
Yak?
- Michael Pachla

https://oilersnation.com/...-need-to-play-right-wing/

It might not be wise.

wants and needs are different...who's gonna be in the top-six at LW besides Kane?

ennis, who's been injured, plays an east/west game and has had two awful seasons?
Foligno?
Girgensons?

marleau who won't come to buffalo?
Sharp who's old and is coming off of hip surgery?
Yak?
- Michael Pachla

Player X in FA who will produce because he's playing with Jack Eichel

Why not Yak? He's going to be relatively cheap, he's fast, young, and has top-end skill. It's intriguing to me what he might look like on a line with Eichel dishing him precision passes every night.
- Pierceme69

he was mentioned in the blog, as were vanek and beau Bennett, whom the pens drafted in the first round when Botterill was there

He's the best LW available. Either he'll choose the team he wants to play for on a one-year deal, or hecan get the best offer available. Someone will offer him 3x3 i bet. Does he want a cup, or a paycheck for a few years?
- jcragcrumple

Radulov

Player X in FA who will produce because he's playing with Jack Eichel
- sbroads24

or matt moulson

Radulov
- sbroads24

Ah, fair. I guess I've written him off as going back to MTL

do you really think some team will give vanek $4-5M?

am thinking $3m on a one-year deal for some team
- Michael Pachla

I guess he got $2.6 last year. Maybe at $3 he isn't the worst option. I still think Yak is a low-risk, high-reward option. If he clicks with Jack we could have a top-line winger for cheap.