The Sabers are at the point of no return.
Do you rebuild your soft/weak/entitled core the Chicago/Pitt/Edm way?
Or do you put the blinders on and attempt a MTL/Calgary rebuild?
Perhaps if UFA's were more willing to sign in Buffalo they could try a NYR style
rebuild? - Whiskey-Tango
To be a perennial contender for the #1 draft choice?
Location: We've had our pee pee slapped here, NY Joined: 02.21.2007
Jan 26 @ 1:43 PM ET
Just glad you guys gave Erhoff that horrible contract for a decade. Because there is no doubt that we would have done the same contract and probably paid more lol - the ceez
You would have done the same contract?
I know it was years and years ago, but once upon a time, Ehrhoff belonged to the Islanders and they couldn't work out a deal.
Why is $4mil per for 10 years a horrible contract? I know a team that gave an injury prone goaltender $4.5 mil for 15 years. Same goalie is averaging <33 games a season since then, has a mediocre .905 save % since then, has a pedestrian 2.76 GAA since then and has only won 48% of his starts since then.
That's a horrible contract!
Edit: Funny, said goalie and Ehrhoff become UFA's the same summer.
Just glad you guys gave Erhoff that horrible contract for a decade. Because there is no doubt that we would have done the same contract and probably paid more lol - the ceez
Islander fans are still hurt over Ehrhoff not signing there?
I know it was years and years ago, but once upon a time, Ehrhoff belonged to the Islanders and they couldn't work out a deal.
Why is $4mil per for 10 years a horrible contract? I know a team that gave an injury prone goaltender $4.5 mil for 15 years. Same goalie is averaging <33 games a season since then, has a mediocre .905 save % since then, has a pedestrian 2.76 GAA since then and has only won 48% of his starts since then.
That's a horrible contract!
Edit: Funny, said goalie and Ehrhoff become UFA's the same summer. - keptupl8
NOOOOOO.......................Hoff signed in Buffalo to win a cup, remember?
Ahahaha very accurate.
That's the same tactic your GM is using.
However its leveled to you and your fanbase.
Enjoy watching that great product the rest of the season - Whiskey-Tango
If the goal is to win a cup in 3 years, no. 1 draft pick will help as a means to acquire talent. With it looking more likely that we'll draft top 5, that pick is as good as a top 6 player. If we want return now, find a trade partner willing to draft in the top 5. Best example is Kessel for a number 1 pick a few years back. Maybe the Avs would be willing to deal or maybe Anahiem. As for Darcy, end of the year is perfect timing for his dimissal. Bringing in new GM then, makes sense. More choices, more time to evaluate and with what could be a long off season more time for new GM to make necessary changes. With labor uncertainty NHL may go the route of NFL and suspend free agency. Plus who knows what salary cap or free agency will be when agreement reached btw NHLPA and owners. For now make cap space for next year.
If you're doing it right....I'm willing to wait. Been 31 years for me so far.
Problem is they need to suck and they are going to work their way up to a mid-round draft spor that won't provide a top-flight, can't-miss center.
I do like the trade 'em all now, "Fail for Nail" and let's go next year! I'm guessing it can't get much worse no matter what we do. - Charlie Conway
I could be convinced to wait.. although I don't think you ever get this management team to tell you that, maybe that is what is happening.
If so, I can see waiting until closer to the trade deadline to maximize value for parts you want to move. Horde your picks, and then draft away.
My personal view on building a team is you need solid centers and defense with adequate goaltending (the other 2 make the goaltenders better). I tend to see wingers as interchangeable.
So, draft the best center / defensemen at your spot and see how it all comes out. The only exception is if there is a bona fide, gonna be a rock star winger on the board.
Location: We've had our pee pee slapped here, NY Joined: 02.21.2007
Jan 26 @ 1:53 PM ET
If the goal is to win a cup in 3 years, no. 1 draft pick will help as a means to acquire talent. With it looking more likely that we'll draft top 5, that pick is as good as a top 6 player. If we want return now, find a trade partner willing to draft in the top 5. Best example is Kessel for a number 1 pick a few years back. Maybe the Avs would be willing to deal or maybe Anahiem. As for Darcy, end of the year is perfect timing for his dimissal. Bringing in new GM then, makes sense. More choices, more time to evaluate and with what could be a long off season more time for new GM to make necessary changes. With labor uncertainty NHL may go the route of NFL and suspend free agency. Plus who knows what salary cap or free agency will be when agreement reached btw NHLPA and owners. For now make cap space for next year. - bflodukes
Kessel was for 2 first round picks and the team that acquired him hasn't made the playoffs since and currently sits in 9th. The team that traded Kessel for the 1st round picks won the cup.
I like Adam, don't get me wrong, he has a tremendous upside, HOWEVER, you watch young kids like eberle, hall, skinner, etc who have an impact on a game almost everynight, and hey skate great. Adam isn't a very strong skater, he knows how to put the puck in the net but that's about it at this point. I'm not saying give up on him but does he really deserve more ice time? Come on.
Kessel was for 2 first round picks and the team that acquired him hasn't made the playoffs since and currently sits in 9th. The team that traded Kessel for the 1st round picks won the cup.
I'm not a fan of your "best example" - keptupl8
Understand, but Kessel is the building block on which everything else happened. My point is do we want to wait 3 or 4 years for a pick to develop or trade for a 20 something center now. Looking at the draft, how many sure bets are there?
Location: We've had our pee pee slapped here, NY Joined: 02.21.2007
Jan 26 @ 2:00 PM ET
Understand, but Kessel is the building block on which everything else happened. My point is do we want to wait 3 or 4 years for a pick to develop or trade for a 20 something center now. Looking at the draft, how many sure bets are there? - bflodukes
I gotcha. But Anaheim is close to a lottery pick of their own and the Avs are very young with tons of cap space. I'm not sure if there is another Kessel deal out there, especially for a young, talented center. GMs tend to keep a death grip on them
I like Adam, don't get me wrong, he has a tremendous upside, HOWEVER, you watch young kids like eberle, hall, skinner, etc who have an impact on a game almost everynight, and hey skate great. Adam isn't a very strong skater, he knows how to put the puck in the net but that's about it at this point. I'm not saying give up on him but does he really deserve more ice time? Come on. - player
Who of our forwards do deserve the ice time?
Leino? Stafford? Roy?
At least with Adam, you can reason that he is learning, and is going to get better, along with playing center.
Part of the problem is that Ruff rewards effort with ice time. While I can see some of the merit of this, it also means that you don't have a chance to work out any problems with your linemates (don't even get into line switching)
There are 4 teams in the central that can beat Vancouver in a 7 game series. But I hope you have a great regular season. - keptupl8
Yes and no. I believe we could take Det/Chi.
Im scared poopless of St Louis
Kesler can take Nashville single handily....again.
It will all come down to match-ups, mind you this is a post season discussion, one in which you all have no place in.
I gotcha. But Anaheim is close to a lottery pick of their own and the Avs are very young with tons of cap space. I'm not sure if there is another Kessel deal out there, especially for a young, talented center. GMs tend to keep a death grip on them - keptupl8
Used them as example. If reports of NJ having financial issues is true maybe they become a target. Lets say our #1 and McNabb for Zach.
