Sabre Mafia: Off-Season GM

[scottkoz20]

Since I'm a rip-off artist (thanks Dave). Let play GM Sabre Style.


Just a few thoughts at this point... nothing major with UFA's (buh-bye Lalime) tonight.


* I'd SERIOUSLY look to deal Vanek at the Draft. His Cap Number is 7.143 Million for the next 4 years with 6.4 Million in real money for those years. A team that is near the floor might be able to pick this contract up. I would not give him away, but if you can get something decent in return, well... i'd look at it. This would go for Hecht also.

* Drew Stafford needs to be sent away (sorry Joe). He needs a change of scenery. I'm not a huge fan, but a Stafford for Andrew Cogliano might do both some good

* Ennis, Gerbe and Weber should be on the opening day lineup, IMO, which makes Ellis and Lydman goners.

* RESIGN MIKE GRIER!!!


Depth Currently (without the UFA's and any suggested moves)
Forward
Vanek-Roy-Connolly
Pommer-Hecht-Ennis
Kaleta(RFA)-Gerbe-Gaustad
Kennedy(RFA)-Luke Adam-Mancari(RFA)

Defense
Myers-Montador
Rivet-Sekera
Butler-Weber
Brennan-Schistel

Goalie
Miller
Enroth


Cap Hit SO FAR: 43.118 Million for next season, not counting Weber, Brennan, Schistel, Adam, Kaleta and Kennedy.

YIKES!!!

Maybe it's just me, but this MIGHT be the time to kick Darcy out the door and just blow this up.

[MasonRaymond0320]

Im not a Sabres fans, but I think Stafford would fit in perfectly with Edmonton. Cogliano would fit in with Buffalo. What I would do, is see if Cogliano does well with Pominville and Roy, and go from there.

[scottkoz20]

Im not a Sabres fans, but I think Stafford would fit in perfectly with Edmonton. Cogliano would fit in with Buffalo. What I would do, is see if Cogliano does well with Pominville and Roy, and go from there.

and that's why the deal makes so much sense, IMO. It's almost Latendresse/Pouliot version 2.

[30ranfordfan]

Scott. If I were running the team, you'd get your trade. It really would make a lot of sense for both teams.

[TheIronHorse4]

Well, I'll weigh in here as well, but I have to get something off my chest first.

Buffalo fans are the WHINIEST fans in all of sports. The whole chip on our shoulder thing is an old card and needs to be tossed aside for good. Obviously this isn't aimed at everyone, especially on here; But I read comments on WGR550.com and here comments on the radio and it makes my ears bleed. Do most people not realize that only 1 team can win a title each year? Seems to me that unless the Sabres (or Bills for that matter) win the cup, everything is a failure and everyone should be fired/traded/sold to gypsies, whatever... I just wish more Buffalo fans could look at the season, and while being disappointed and want better next year, not fly completely off the handle. I had a lot of fun this season, was excited to see them back in the playoffs/win the divison, see great young players come up and shine, and see a world class goalie on a nightly basis. Maybe I'm just an naive or something, but it's only a game.

Now, sorry for the rant, but on to the topic!

The following players will be UFA's and here was what they made this year and what I would do with each player:
Mike Grier - 1.2M (Try to re-sign at similar price, but I don't think he'll want to come back again...but who knows.)
Adam mair - 775K (I like him at times, but too many penalties and just doesn't do enough, Pass)
Matt Ellis - 500K (Re-sign, great 4th liner for the price)
Raffi Torres - 2.75M (Didn't get a fair shake, but clearly will be gone)
Cody McCormick - 550K (Portland depth? only saw 2 games but like him enough for that)
Toni Lydman - 3.15M (Honestly, i prefer him over Tallinder. Grittier all around player and better defenseman, although I may be in the minority. I try to re-sign him.)
Henrik Tallinder - 3.25M (Never a huge fan, always played kind of soft, although had a resurgent year playing along side Myers, but I pass and hope they keep Lydman instead)
Patrick Lalime - 1M (Great teammate, but I'll go with Enroth next year)

RFA's:
Tim Kennedy - 635K (Had his ups and downs, but player better as the playoffs went on, I'd keep him)
Patrick kaleta - 522K (Goes without saying he should stay for no other reason than his physical presence. Chipped in offensively at times too which was a good sign.)
Mark Mancari - 575K (No opinion)

As far as who we have under contract. I would love if they got rid of Stafford and Roy. Roy has the most value on our team and would maybe pull in a decent piece in return. Stafford is just dead weight to me and would ship him out for a cup of Tim Horton's coffee. Connolly and Pominville aren't too far behind, but I'm not getting good value from them in a trade so they stay.

[cnshockey]

I'd take Vanek in LA for a lower cap hit but its just too high.

[scottkoz20]

Toni Lydman - 3.15M (Honestly, i prefer him over Tallinder. Grittier all around player and better defenseman, although I may be in the minority. I try to re-sign him.)
Henrik Tallinder - 3.25M (Never a huge fan, always played kind of soft, although had a resurgent year playing along side Myers, but I pass and hope they keep Lydman instead)

hmmm... this is going to be the great debate... does one get resigned or is the UFA market looked at. To me, at those numbers, neither should be back (at those numbers). Now if they took a slight cut, then maybe but there are a couple decent D-man that could fill a need that probably could be signed in the 1.5 to 2.5 Million range that might be better.

Leopold, Jordan PIT
Seidenberg, Dennis BOS
Morrisonn, Shaone WAS


Lastly, if the recent changes at WECK are a sign, then maybe WGR will start to lose some the stranglehold on Buffalo Radio. This would help ease the "whoa is me" attitude (and I'm guilty of this also).

[scottkoz20]

I'd take Vanek in LA for a lower cap hit but its just too high.

this is why he's in Buffalo for next season.

As for Derek Roy... his contract makes him almost impossible to move, unless it's for Nathan Horton as they have the same contract!

[CSSports]

Since I'm a rip-off artist (thanks Dave). Let play GM Sabre Style.

I say blow up the Team and start over -

Start with Quick for Miller

[cnshockey]

I say blow up the Team and start over -

Start with Quick for Miller

Nah. We have our savior in goal in JB. We're good.

But yeah...blow up and start over.

We'll take Ennis for the rights to resign the all mighty and godly defender that is RANDY JONES!