Good luck with that. I saw nothing about him that indicated he would fill this role on any good team. You never know, maybe he'll improve by leaps and bounds but I doubt you'll re-sign him.
- whosyodaddy

I think we re-sign him, but that doesn't mean he plays on the big club. He makes a whopping 700k this season and will likely only fetch 800-850 on his next contract, so it could be a decent depth contract for the farm and see if he can develop at all.

Line ideas:

Leino-Hodgson-Vanek
Gerbe-Roy-Pominville
Boyes-Ennis-Stafford
McCormick-Ellis (blech)-Kaleta

Pominville seems to play well enough with Roy, and despite the lack of much toughness on that 2nd line, I think it could produce. I'd be tempted to put Ennis on it, but like others have said, he's done well at Center, so I'd keep him there. If it could change to Roy-Ennis-Pominville, that would be OK as well, but then there's NO physical play on that line then.

I just think it would be good to spread out Vanek and Pominville now that we have what should be a pretty darn good Center.

I am going to surprise quite a few of you with what I am writing today.

I am going to surprise quite a few of you with what I am writing today.
- Gunner Staal

You're going to call Darcy Regier a "winner" from yesterday, aren't you?

I am going to surprise quite a few of you with what I am writing today.
- Gunner Staal

When don't you? Your fluid writing skills not only spark the mind, but touch our hearts.

Line ideas:

Leino-Hodgson-Vanek
Gerbe-Roy-Pominville
Boyes-Ennis-Stafford
McCormick-Ellis (blech)-Kaleta

Pominville seems to play well enough with Roy, and despite the lack of much toughness on that 2nd line, I think it could produce. I'd be tempted to put Ennis on it, but like others have said, he's done well at Center, so I'd keep him there. If it could change to Roy-Ennis-Pominville, that would be OK as well, but then there's NO physical play on that line then.

I just think it would be good to spread out Vanek and Pominville now that we have what should be a pretty darn good Center.
- VanekForC

I think you would see Stafford-Roy-Pominville, right?

You're going to call Darcy Regier a "winner" from yesterday, aren't you?
- buffalofan19

I'm not one for the winner/loser labels a day after the deadline but he certainly didn't "lose".

Any chance Garth could take an ESL class or even a intro to writing class? It would be nice to have a guy who cover this team speak English. Garth and Ty Anderson could be the two worst bloggers on this site.

When don't you? Your fluid writing skills not only spark the mind, but touch our hearts.
- Full Throttle

I think you would see Stafford-Roy-Pominville, right?
- Full Throttle

I want to see the new guy center Pominville and Vanek.

I'm not one for the winner/loser labels a day after the deadline but he certainly didn't "lose".
- Gunner Staal

Whether Hodgson turns out to be what we hope, and I think he will, or not, this is one of those trades we'll be talking about for years. I like those kinds. They involve "big" names going both ways.

I want to see the new guy center Pominville and Vanek.
- Gunner Staal

I think we will see that. we will probably see many line combos, as per usual.

did we get Kaberle yet?

Whether Hodgson turns out to be what we hope, and I think he will, or not, this is one of those trades we'll be talking about for years. I like those kinds. They involve "big" names going both ways.
- buffalofan19

I should finish it up by 10:30/11 but yes, I am 100% with you.

After sleeping on it... I really do like what we did at the trade deadline yesterday. We traded a guy who has not shown much of anything that we want at the NHL level. He was just a pure potential guy that hadn't lived up to it yet in the NHL. Not only did we trade that but we got a great young center with a small salary who is born and raised in Toronto (near buffalo). If Buffalo can't keep him signed for a long term deal then we lose. As much as I think we are going to miss the defensive presence of Gaustad in shutting down other team's top lines I think getting a #1 pick to use at a number of disposals with benefit more. We also got rid of one of our extra offensive d-men that was just withering anyway.

Ultimately.. We traded Gaustad, Kassian, and Grags for Hodgson, a 1st round pick, and a defensive d-man in Sulzer. That is an amazing haul!

I'm curious how many people would still be as happy if it was Sekera or Leo that went back to vancouver for Hodgson instead of Grags?

Wow....... The new Sabres are taking shape..............

After sleeping on it... I really do like what we did at the trade deadline yesterday. We traded a guy who has not shown much of anything that we want at the NHL level. He was just a pure potential guy that hadn't lived up to it yet in the NHL. Not only did we trade that but we got a great young center with a small salary who is born and raised in Toronto (near buffalo). If Buffalo can't keep him signed for a long term deal then we lose. As much as I think we are going to miss the defensive presence of Gaustad in shutting down other team's top lines I think getting a #1 pick to use at a number of disposals with benefit more. We also got rid of one of our extra offensive d-men that was just withering anyway.

Ultimately.. We traded Gaustad, Kassian, and Grags for Hodgson, a 1st round pick, and a defensive d-man in Sulzer. That is an amazing haul!

I'm curious how many people would still be as happy if it was Sekera or Leo that went back to vancouver for Hodgson instead of Grags?
- JVince117

I like the moves too, but to say Kassian was a guy that didn't live up to his potential is way to premature. He's 21 years old and one year removed from Juniors, and hasn't even played a full season in the AHL, let alone the NHL, yet. He has time to turn into that player, and most likely will. Buffalo could use a big, strong power forward like Kassian. They could also use a highly drafted, top 2 center a lot more, especially now. Vancouver wanted to get bigger. Buffalo wanted to get more dynamic up the middle. It should work out for both teams. I'm looking forward to watching Wednesday's game (that I wasn't going to...I went to the game at the Garden on Saturday) for the first time in a long time.

I like the moves too, but to say Kassian was a guy that didn't live up to his potential is way to premature. He's 21 years old and one year removed from Juniors, and hasn't even played a full season in the AHL, let alone the NHL, yet. He has time to turn into that player, and most likely will. Buffalo could use a big, strong power forward like Kassian. They could also use a highly drafted, top 2 center a lot more, especially now. Vancouver wanted to get bigger. Buffalo wanted to get more dynamic up the middle. It should work out for both teams. I'm looking forward to watching Wednesday's game (that I wasn't going to...I went to the game at the Garden on Saturday) for the first time in a long time.
- buffalofan19

Fair statement. I just meant that we drafted Kassian and wanted him to be a big Lucic like player. But the fact of the matter was that he was not that player YET in the NHL. But Buffalo needed a dynamic young playmaking center who did not gut the franchise to get.

goat-mez and salmon, y'all

gonna be odd seeing goose wearing a nash jersey, was just looking at his numbers it has been 9 years since he first came into buffalo's system not bad for a guy who many thought was to slow and would never make the NHL

Wow bitter is def the word for it. Its okay to admit when you're wrong. Darcy did a great job today and he deserves credit.
- letsgosabres773

Bucky Gleason is really a fool with a typewriter

A few people on TSN and the like have said that Cody Hodgson is a viable candidate for the Calder Trophy, although most likely a distant third to Landeskog and Nugent-Hopkins. Then again, if he helps propel Buffalo into the playoffs (something I'm not really expecting, but not ruling out either), perhaps that increases his stock for that award.

Fair statement. I just meant that we drafted Kassian and wanted him to be a big Lucic like player. But the fact of the matter was that he was not that player YET in the NHL. But Buffalo needed a dynamic young playmaking center who did not gut the franchise to get.
- JVince117

Agreed. Also, Vancouver, being in the position they are (near the top of the standings, and favored as a contender), have more patience and time to develop players with "potential" than the Sabres. We need players with very immediate results. Hodgson brings those results, and kind of bridges the gap between the younger guys on the team and some of the prospects that are still 1-2 seasons away from making an impact on the NHL level. He is exactly the kind of player the Sabres needed to grab.

gonna be odd seeing goose wearing a nash jersey, was just looking at his numbers it has been 9 years since he first came into buffalo's system not bad for a guy who many thought was to slow and would never make the NHL
- Therat36

I remember a few instances when he was injured and out of the line up, That we couldn't wait for him to get back in the game . We was missed . And will be

goose droppings reported in nashville yesterday