GARTH'S CORNER: Miller Deserves Better Fate

Were it not for Ryan Miller's net heroics, the Sabres could have easily lost 6-1 to the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. once again, Miller was a rock star, making save after dramatic, game-changing save.


U sure it changed the game??....

Miller deserves the chance to play for a NHL team.

Miller's going to have to sit tight.

Darcy won't turn the ringer on until a week or so before the deadline.

Darcy needs to part with some of his over-valued, mid-level prospects (either in Buffalo or minors) or draft picks that he has acquired and bring in one or two guys who can score 20-25 goals. If this team had any offensive talent after Vanek and Hodgson, they would be at least a .500 team right now. Defense hasn't been as great as Garth likes to make them out to be, but their goaltending really has been pretty special in most of the games so far. Ennis needs to go before he isn't worth anything anymore, Stafford needs to be dealt to Minnesota so that his good friend (Parise) can help him resurrect his career, and they'll have to take on some guys who are underachieving for their current teams (Stafford for Heatley is one scenario I think would make sense for both teams).

Before you guys attack that last comment... here is my thinking, Stafford (2 yrs, $8 million remaining) and Heatley (1 yr, $7.5 million remaining). Heatley and Stafford both need a change of scenery, both are vastly underachieving, deal gives Wild some breathing room come deadline time, Sabres can walk away at year end from Heatley or trade him for a pick at deadline if they don't like what they get from him (and ultimately save $500k). I actually do believe that Stafford would respond to a trade and if he were able to play with his good friend, Parise, it should only help him to regain his confidence. Personally, as much as I have feelings of disdain for Stafford, I believe this deal would more significantly help the Wild than the Sabres... but the Sabres should take a chance on reviving Heatley. Hodgson is playing pretty well, another pure goal-scorer on his line might be exactly what they need to show the kids how to get it done.

Darcy needs to part with some of his over-valued, mid-level prospects (either in Buffalo or minors) or draft picks that he has acquired and bring in one or two guys who can score 20-25 goals. If this team had any offensive talent after Vanek and Hodgson, they would be at least a .500 team right now. Defense hasn't been as great as Garth likes to make them out to be, but their goaltending really has been pretty special in most of the games so far. Ennis needs to go before he isn't worth anything anymore, Stafford needs to be dealt to Minnesota so that his good friend (Parise) can help him resurrect his career, and they'll have to take on some guys who are underachieving for their current teams (Stafford for Heatley is one scenario I think would make sense for both teams).

Before you guys attack that last comment... here is my thinking, Stafford (2 yrs, $8 million remaining) and Heatley (1 yr, $7.5 million remaining). Heatley and Stafford both need a change of scenery, both are vastly underachieving, deal gives Wild some breathing room come deadline time, Sabres can walk away at year end from Heatley or trade him for a pick at deadline if they don't like what they get from him (and ultimately save $500k). I actually do believe that Stafford would respond to a trade and if he were able to play with his good friend, Parise, it should only help him to regain his confidence. Personally, as much as I have feelings of disdain for Stafford, I believe this deal would more significantly help the Wild than the Sabres... but the Sabres should take a chance on reviving Heatley. Hodgson is playing pretty well, another pure goal-scorer on his line might be exactly what they need to show the kids how to get it done.
- djc1877

yeah, I mean if any team wanted Stafford at this point, even for future considerations, it would be worth it. He's deadwood.

I agree with ennis. I really feel like he needs to be a piece to a trade for something better. I envision an ennis + mcnabb trade or something. Bobby Ryan would have been an option for that but they wanted two similar players AND a 1st round pick and we're so bad that pick would've been super high.

Miller deserves the chance to play for a NHL team.
- IRON.MAIDEN

Couldn't have said it better myself, and so does Vanek. He sets up guys left in right for tap-ins and they miss. They both deserve to be traded now. They will both be dealed by the deadline. Some team will lose their goalie or top scorer to injury and will desperately give Darcy what he wants. Also, am I the only one pissed we didnt take the Caps offer of a second rounder for Stafford?

Trade them to the Islanders lmao.

Although if Lundquist bails on NYR I could see them signing Miller.

Couldn't have said it better myself, and so does Vanek. He sets up guys left in right for tap-ins and they miss. They both deserve to be traded now. They will both be dealed by the deadline. Some team will lose their goalie or top scorer to injury and will desperately give Darcy what he wants. Also, am I the only one pissed we didnt take the Caps offer of a second rounder for Stafford?
- Djtyczy

Booth, 1st and Jensen for Vanek.

Miller and Vanek do not deserve to be a part of this sh*t show.

I still cannot understand the thinking here..... remove Connely , Gaustad , Roy and add one18 year old Russian Center? What kind of plan is this? The have 4 first round picks in the past two years. You mean to tell me that these scouts cannot find a single center in all of North America that is good enough for them? All we hear about is how this team lacks depth at the Center position, but yet we draft 2 D-men this year in the first round? How is this solving our shortage up the middle? I find it very hard to believe Patrick Roy would have let this happen but yet, why would Darcy ever let a real hockey man in the door?? At least Mr Black is concentrating on the important things like replacing the organ with a piano and coming on local radio shows to talk about how they plan on having blue & gold cotton candy. It may not sound like it , but I am a life long fan of this club and this is extremely painful to watch Kevin Devine and Darcy Reiger continue to take us down a road of certain failure. A real shame..

By the way..... you know it's bad when Garth is showing his frustration on his sleeve now......

I think we all know Darcy is NOT going to make any major moves now. He simply cannot trade Ryan Miller because doing so will be like "pulling the curtain back" on what his real work looks like now. They will continue to lose at a record setting pace with with Miller ( it is not Ryan's fault) but if Darcy trades Miller it will get down right embarrassing for Darcy. His poor judgement really has him backed into a corner now....
I think both Buffalo and Philly are obviously open to any suggestions at this point. What would Buffalo have to give up for Sean Couturier? I realize he is not a savior for Buffalo but he would be a nice piece to add if available.

First off, there is absolutely no sense in making this team better for this year, it's pointless. This year is all about watching the prospects go thru their growing pains and start to gel as a core. Miller and Vanek are my two favorite players, but in order to do a complete rebuild, they need to be shipped out. However, our "GM" lost out on when the time was ripe to trade Miller, and he's playing a dangerous game waiting til the deadline to ship out Vanek. If he's healthy we will get a king's ransom for him, if he's not, we are butt sexed. There is no doubt that Vanek is signing with MN in the offseason anyways, it wouldn't matter if we offered him twice what the Wild will pay him. This has been the most exciting season for me to watch in years because we know they are going to suck, but we finally, for once, get to watch a bunch of our prospects get playing time. So keep thing as they are, besides trading Miller, Vanek, Stafford (I would trade him for a bag of toenails at this point) and keep letting the kids play, then bring up Hackett to see what we have with him and Enroth. But everyone is missing out on the huge stinkfest that is going to hold this thing back regardless, Farcy Regier. Why would I keep taking my car back to a mechanic that has proven that he can't fix it and that he just makes it worse every time he touches it? Pegula has proven to be too big of a fan boy to be a great owner. There isn't a chance in hell that Farcy should still be here and overseeing the rebuild of the mess that he created to begin with! Anyways, that unfortunately, is not going to change either. So sit back, enjoy watching the kids and keep cheering to FINALLY get a good enough draft pick to get a franchise player, that is something that is sorely lacking. Every year, we do a heroic playoff push to 9th and then no playoffs and we screwed our draft position. Let the kids play and grow, put forth a great effort but come up on the losing end, get our top draft pick and then go from there. Good times COULD be on the horizon. Unfortunately with our clueless owner and our completely inept GM, they may indeed keep us from moving forward.

GARTH'S CORNER: People in WNY Deserves Better Fate
- garth

fixed

Booth, 1st and Jensen for Vanek.
- Nucker101

Bo and a first?

I think Bo is going to be a solid NHL player on and off the ice

Well said and I agree. The issue though is that we should be watching the right prospects. This is not the kid's fault but too be honest they have an issue that goes further than the product on the ice. Did you watch the Blue & Gold episode where Devine asked Darcy and Pegula " Do you wanna get tougher to play against ?" The answer should have been hell yeah I do but I need at least one Center first because we do have enough young D-men in the system right now. We needed to draft out of necessity and we didn't do that. This would be like the Bills drafting yet another Running Back when it is painfully obvious they need Cornerbacks ( sorry to get off topic). This problem will not get fixed just because we state we are "rebuilding" . You can give the Buffalo scouts 4 more first round picks and my money says they will still screw it up.

It is going to be a long 3+ years or so before this team has a glimmer of hope but as fans we do need something to pull for. How about this?? Do you think we have a shot at any of these NHL records?? Good Job Darcy and Kevin, job well done.

Fewest Points 21 , by the 74-75 Washington Capitals

Fewest Wins 8 , by the 74-75 Washington Capitals

Most losses 71 , by the 92-93 San Jose Sharks

Worst PP percentage 9.35% , by the 97-98 Tampa Bay Lightning

Worst away record 1-41 , by the 92-93 Ottawa Senators

MOst shutout losses in a season 16 of 82 games , 06-07 Blue Jackets

By the way..... A rebuild does not have to be this painful. There is nothing wrong with slowly working in younger guys along the way each year. This idea works if you have succesful hockey people .That is the challenge of being a good G.M. Only a loser mentality throws in the towel and tells the fans to sit back and relax, it's gonna be painful for a while.

Would have could have should have........ we could have drafted ( without moving our draft order) drafted Max Domi in the 1st Round and Adam Erne in the 2nd. That along with Sean Malone would have been something to be patient for. These kids could have been a future worth waiting for. We did grab Sean late and please mark my words,,, he will be the best player we drafted in this class. I will never understand why Domi and Erne weren't good enough for our team though. Maybe they were busy picking out pianos to replace the organ and figuring out how to make that blue and gold cotton candy.

Trade Miller and Vanek for quality young assests and just enjoy the tank season.

Would have could have should have........ we could have drafted ( without moving our draft order) drafted Max Domi in the 1st Round and Adam Erne in the 2nd. That along with Sean Malone would have been something to be patient for. These kids could have been a future worth waiting for. We did grab Sean late and please mark my words,,, he will be the best player we drafted in this class. I will never understand why Domi and Erne weren't good enough for our team though. Maybe they were busy picking out pianos to replace the organ and figuring out how to make that blue and gold cotton candy.
- gicraig

Is he your grandkid or something? You're absolutely insane

Booth, 1st and Jensen for Vanek.
- Nucker101

Id perfer bo or shinkaruk and a 1st. But the Sedins and Vanek would be deadly.

Is he your grandkid or something? You're absolutely insane
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Yea thats a little much, but Malone will be our 3rd line center some day. Id say he has a better chance to be a steady NHLer then Bailey. Ive seen and played with them both, while Bailey has more skills, Malone is the hardest working kid ive seen and Bailey is lazy. Malone stayed out every saturday skate for an extra hour this summer, and instead of going to the draft early, he was working hard here the day before.