Bucky tries to save face and support his bitter column today. Watch this and see how he talks about this trade. I have been one of Darcy's many critiques but I think and can say he had a great day today. Seems like Bucky is too small to do the same.

http://blogs.buffalonews....son-on-sabres-trades.html
- GilPerreault

Bucky misses the boat on this.
1) How many 1st round picks have teams traded since 1980? Yet, Reiger has managed to get another one that will be in the top 25 if not the top 20.
2) For Gaustad, (and a 4th round pick) who at best is a 3rd line center that has never scored any more than 40 points in a season. Yes he is good on faceoffs, a good leader, a big guy (who does not average more than 75 PIMs per year), takes few shots, does not hit a lot, and PKs well. However, is he replaceable for less money? Yes....he comes back in the fall or the team signs someone like Jarred Stoll to do the same job, perhaps for less money
No 3rd line center should get more than $3 million per year. But even more importantly no 3rd line center will ever be traded for on draft day for a 1st round pick.
3) Kassian is essentially playing like Gaustad on the wing, maybe with a little more upside, but not a Shane Doan or Cam Neely and defintely not Wendel Clark. If he ends up being Dustin Penner or Steve Bernier, Vancouver will not be happy.
4) Cody Hodgson has been a leader among boys for years. A back injury in his last year of junior set him back and those types of injuries can last a couple of years before you get back to full strength. In Vancouver he was playing with muckers on the 3rd line.....if he only moves into the slot vacated by Gaustad he will provide more offence, better PK and just as much leadership for a lower price. The upside is that he won't be on the 3rd line in Buffalo....he will play with Pominville, Ennis, Vanek, Stafford and God help us if he puts on the afterburners and helps ignite these guys. Personnaly, I would put him between Leino and Boyes for 1 game, just to see what happens.
5) Gragnani and Kassian are interchangeable parts that can be replaced by Sulzer, Tropp, Foligno, Adam, Brennan, Finley.......they are not top 6 forwards now or top 4 defensemen and may never be that....Hodgson is a top 6 forward if not your top center.
6) Sulzer, the unsung hero of all the deals. He has played on Germany's team for the last two Olympics....is familiar with Erhoff and will likely work out well as a 7th if not a good 6th defenseman partnered with Weber for 10 to 12 minutes per game, if Sekera, Reiger or Erhoff come out of the line-up (as he shoots left)
7) Bigger and Stronger: Gragnani and Sulzer are equal in size, but sulzer is more like Weber than Gragnani was. However, Bucky should give come credit to Darcy and the sabre's management here.....centers, and potential top sixforwards are hard to acquire or even get on July 1. Look at Connolly, Richards and Leino......all may have been overpaid.....will anyone have to overpay to get a Stoll, Winnick, etc.?
8) Bucky fails to recognize that toughness can come from McCormick, Kaleta, Myers, Reiger, Finley, Foligno, Weber, Turnbull, McNab

I wish reporters would write the facts, rather than ignore them and just make up stories!

You're right. I think maybe I was just hoping that he would develop into another Bertuzzi. Bert was showing flashes of greatness even when he was on Long Island and had snarl in his game from day one.
- The_Inkwell

Bert was unstoppable for a couple years, to bad he lost his head for a moment.

I never thought Kassian had the scoring upside that most fans thought, he played with some pretty good talent the last year and a half in Windsor and didn't put up earth shattering stats. I think he can become a very good player in the NHL but I don't think he's got the 25 goal upside a lot of fans thought he did. Of course, he could surprise everyone but he needs to improve his skating for that to happen. He'll have a tough time keeping up in Van.

Dear Sabres fans;

Although we didn't wanna see Cody go I'm hearing kassian is something to look forward too and if Cody had to go anywhere I'm glad it was too you guys. I just have two requests :

1) keep his nickname; CoHo

2) love and enjoy the kid as much as we did... Phenomenal & brilliant hockey player.


Best of luck to the Sabres in the next few years


To Coho: rip the leafs a new one on a regular basis!!!
- I-own_da-Northwest

Honestly, the legend of Kassian was way more than what Kassian really was for us. The hype that followed him was unreal.
I think he will be a good power forward & maybe playing in the west is just the tonic he needs to realize what he should be doing every night.

Just watched Bucky and Harrington.

Jesus Bucky hates Darcy.

Darcy gets a 1st for goose and Bucky says "at the end of the day this team is smaller and softer"

I'm bad and I don't like Darcy much but getting a 1st for Goose and the chance to sign him back (if they want) 1 july. You have to do that deal. That was a good move.
- Pope of Pucks

And I forgot to mention Bucky, Reiger is a genious for one more reason: he trades Gaustad to Nashville who have to deal with Weber and Suter and Rinne's contracts in the off season. Nashville is not Florida or California or Detroit or Toronto or even New York.....life style is a little tricky. I will be shocked to see Gaustad sign a multi year contract there and Reiger and his team chose to send him there because they at the very least know they have as good a shot at re-signing him on July 1 as anyone else.....I think they left on good terms and Reiger made a point of thanking Gaustad for his time and leadership......so there are no hard feelings. I am sure just like with Jay McKee, they will find a place for Gaustad once his playing days are done, so I will not be surprised to see him come back for a long term reasonable contract.

Totally blown away today. Was sitting there expecting late deal to be Raymond for Allen.

When I saw Kassian's name I knew we gave up a lot. And we did.

I've been following Hodgson intently for 4 seasons and Honestly feel he's one of the best players we've ever drafted. You guys are going to LOVE this guy big time. He's only going to get better every year for about 6 years too so enjoy that.

Hodgson was best player in this trade but I think both teams got what they needed.

We were killed by guys like Bolland and Marchand these past few years so we don't need Kassian to be Cam Neely. Anywhere near an Andrew Ladd would help us immensely.

It was a case for Vancouver where we had lots of sports cars and no trucks, so we got a truck now.

I'm happy Cody went to a team I cheer for and I would love nothing better that to see both of our teams hoist a cup as a result of this trade in the next couple years. Go Vancouver!, Go Buffalo!
- natowar

I think I like Couver fans. Or i'm just used to all the idiot trolls from the eastern teams who come in here.

Youtube Kassian & you will see what he can be.

I think I like Couver fans. Or i'm just used to all the idiot trolls from the eastern teams who come in here.

Youtube Kassian & you will see what he can be.
- cowmad152

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAcGSbrEi-c

Just watch this!

We'll get to see #19 of the blue and gold on Saturday...that's kinda cruel...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAcGSbrEi-c

Just watch this!
- Saberia

and after that he has not been the same player .

We'll get to see #19 of the blue and gold on Saturday...that's kinda cruel...
- I-own_da-Northwest

Supposedly, he's wearing #12.

i can go to sleep happy good night

We'll get to see #19 of the blue and gold on Saturday...that's kinda cruel...
- I-own_da-Northwest

I guess we will also see if Kassian had a beef with anyone in the locker room too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAcGSbrEi-c

Just watch this!
- Saberia

So what you guys are saying is...

Vancouver fans thought people hated us before.

and after that he has not been the same player .
- gerbe75pts

I thought.. this is exactly what the Sabres needed when I saw this video.
Blew someone up, granted it was dirty, then beat the piss out of someone in a fight right after.

Wish it worked, but Im a happy fan today.

Supposedly, he's wearing #12.
- buffalofan19

Awww I thougt he was gonna get his # back it woulda been fate...(sakic, yzerman, naslund)

Supposedly, he's wearing #12.
- buffalofan19

dang. i was really hoping to see him in a #90 sweater.

What'd I miss?

What'd I miss?





- dadeadhead

idk i guess we didnt trade ellis for the water boy, im surprised

idk i guess we didnt trade ellis for the water boy, im surprised
- gerbe42

We didn't?



Damn I thought for sure some playoff team would've taken a shot at him.

We didn't?



Damn I thought for sure some playoff team would've taken a shot at him.



- dadeadhead

hes a tier one "grinder" i think we could have got at least a 2nd rounder for him

hes a tier one "grinder" i think we could have got at least a 2nd rounder for him
- gerbe42

Totally blown away today. Was sitting there expecting late deal to be Raymond for Allen.

When I saw Kassian's name I knew we gave up a lot. And we did.

I've been following Hodgson intently for 4 seasons and Honestly feel he's one of the best players we've ever drafted. You guys are going to LOVE this guy big time. He's only going to get better every year for about 6 years too so enjoy that.

Hodgson was best player in this trade but I think both teams got what they needed.

We were killed by guys like Bolland and Marchand these past few years so we don't need Kassian to be Cam Neely. Anywhere near an Andrew Ladd would help us immensely.

It was a case for Vancouver where we had lots of sports cars and no trucks, so we got a truck now.

I'm happy Cody went to a team I cheer for and I would love nothing better that to see both of our teams hoist a cup as a result of this trade in the next couple years. Go Vancouver!, Go Buffalo!
- natowar

very cool post, thank you.

I know something about Cody but nothing like you do. What does he do that we will love him so much? Does he play his arse off every night? Do you see any Chris Drury in him?

As for Kassian, IF you guys can get him to be the big monster he was billed as, you'll love him, but we havent seen that yet...he's a wildcard for sure.

Hope it works out for you, the Canucks have alwasy been my west coast team.

- dadeadhead

all quiet on the western front in here it looks like everyone is worn out from the exciting day apparently

all quiet on the western front in here it looks like everyone is worn out from the exciting day apparently
- gerbe42

More like hour.

More like hour.
- dadeadhead

touche, when that clock hit 3 i was pissed. After that my day got better

Two things..

Somebody mentioned 42 at center and I said I doubt it....looks like I was wrong.

This is just what's being tossed around now, doesn't mean it will stay this way, but what Buffalo is looking to come out Wed is....

26 9 29
63 coho 21
23 42 36
37 22 tropp or foligno

also we did put a claim in on Staubitz but Habs grabbed him.