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No Go Ennis and Leino; Yes For Myers

January 5, 2012, 2:45 PM ET [ Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT





The Sabres skated at First Niagara Center earlier this afternoon. Before they loaded into the charter for their flight to Raleigh, Lindy Ruff took time out to address the stratus of his three soon-to-be-activated players.

According to sabres.com, Tyler Ennis has suffered a "setback" in his recovery from wonky ankle. Therefore, he will not be returning to the Buffalo lineup in Raleigh. Likely next week.

As for Ville Leino, similar story. He skated today but is not quite there. Leino isn't a consideration for the Canes game, however, he may return for the Winnipeg game.


As for Tyler Myers, he's ready to rock-n-roll in Raleigh.


Time to play Buffalo's newest game show: " Subtract To Add".

Of Regehr, Leopold, McNasty, Weber, Gragnani, or Brennan....


Who sits out the game in Raleigh to make way for Tyler Myers?


The team can opt to return Brennan to Rochester, or, it can decide to keep him up with the big squad, then park Gragnani in the press box.

Regehr, Leopold, McNasty, Weber are all set at their respective D positions. Brennan and Grags, not so much.



You make the call.


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Anaheim Ducks GM, Bob Murray, is one power-skating stride away from picking in the NHL lottery next Spring.

His team team is a mess. Next stop: the NHL basement.

Murray has told the LA Times that he has seen enough of the ineptitude from his veteran-laden team. Murray looks to have both hands wrapped around the plunger on the dynamite keg. His team has not responded the way he wanted it to to the ouster of Cup-winning coach, Randy Carlyle, and his coaching staff last month. Bruce Boudreau has not been able to correct the bad habits of the forwards and the repeated gaffes of the Ducks D-men. The goal tending has only been so-so. Crickets are chirping in Anaheim right now. There's been no response from the players in the room and on the ice. Now its time for Murray to put his dealin' shoes on.


"We're going to get ready for next year," Murray told the LA Times. "I think this team can be turned around to make the playoffs next year. I think it's going to be hard to do it this year but I do want them to make a run. But it's got to happen quick. Everybody knows that."

Its Duck hunting season. Which means that the chatter about Murray trading his studs Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry, Lubomir Visnosky, and Jhonas Hiller will intensify, to a crescendo in the hours, days, and weeks to come.


Its Duck Season!




Let me preface this by saying that I believe that Murray will trade away some, not all of his assets in order to stabilize his team, and to re-purpose it for a deep run in next season's NHL postseason tourney.

Do I think he'll trade Ryan? Yes, I do. Getzlaf? yes, I do. Perry? Not a chance in Hell.


Do I think the Sabres can barge their way to the feeding trough to get a sniff at either Rayn or Perry? Sure, I do. Do I think that Murray would want to craft a deal with Buffalo that will fetch a bevy of prospects and picks for Anaheim to use in their re-build?

No, I don't.

Murray has said, on the record, that his team "will not go to draft picks. Its not my intention".

Translation: Murray wants roster players. He wants to trade a difference-maker to get a game-changer in return. He's not looking to dump salary for futures, that may of may not pan out.


At the present time, do you see the Sabres trading Thomas Vanek or Ryan Miller to the Ducks as part of a package for Ryan Getzlaf or Bobby Ryan? I don't. Thats the price of poker right now. The Sabres are looking to add veteran depth and offense. They are not looking to send away their assets. If you thiunk that Murray would accept a "Derek Roy and Drew Stafford for Ryan Getzlaf" trade, you've got another thing coming. The Ducks have been scouting Buffalo for weeks. Their scouts see the same things that the loyal season ticket holders in the 300 Level see. The Ducks are looking for hyrdoponic results. They don't want to rip the packet, plant the seeds and wait 90 days for the seeds to germinate. They want to "86" the soil, sprinkle in the seeds and see foliage in days and weeks, not months.

The Sabres have deep cupboards inside the organization. Most other GMS would be salivating at the prospect of crafting a deal with the Sabres for their talented futures like McNabb, Kassian, Schiestel, Pysyk, Brennan, Foligno, et al. Not the Ducks. I'm told that Murray wants reciprocity in any deal the he would consider making for Getzlaf. Meaning, he wants a guy who's played 400 some games and has scored 400 some points, just like Getzlaf. Otherwise, he will shop elsewhere. The only guy on the Buffalo roster that meets that description is Vanek. I do not see Buffalo wanting to part with the MVP at this juncture. Do you?

One team I can see Murray doing a deal with is the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Murray and Brian Burke are goombas. They go way back. Hell, they won a Stanley Cup together inn Anaheim in 2008. Burke, like Murray, likes trading within a small circumference of friends. Since Burke has been the GM in Toronto, he's crafted three trades with Murray. Burke sent Blake and Toskala to Anaheim for Giguere. Last season, Burke sent beauchemin to the Ducks for Lupul and Gardiner. earlier this week, Murray swapped minor leaguers (Deschamps for Caputi) with Burke.

Burke has a need for a #1 centreman. Tim Connolly is a solid #2. Burke can absorb Getzlaf's $5,325,000 cap hit this and next season. Murray doesn't want to get into a situation nwhere he has to trade Getzlaf in the final year of his deal next season. Makes sense for him to get quality and quantity for Getzlaf now. Burke has assets in Schenn, Kadri, Colborne, Frattin, and Bozak to work with. They also have Gustavsson to work into a deal.

Makes sense to me that Burke and Murray will once again hook up to finalize a deal that both men feel good about.

Where's that leave Buffalo in their pursuit of their sniper?

I'd turn my attention to two cellar dwellers who's organizations are malnourished in terms of future depth of prospects: Carolina and Columbus.

Buffalo play in Raleigh on Friday night.

Were I Buffalo GM, Regier, I'd have a heart to heart with Canes GM, Jim Rutherford (if one hasn't happened already) about the availability and list of demands for Eric Staal.

Canes GM, Jim Rutherford, has been quoted as saying that Staal is not available. The Canes were in Toronto last week and the buzz around Staal was deafening.

Staal hears the rumours associated with his name.


"Growing up in Ontario and growing up with a lot of people that I know are Leaf fans, they'll let you know pretty quickly what they hear," Staal told the Toronto Sun last week.

"They'll let you know what’s going on.

"(Trade talk) just kind of comes with the territory with what's going on with the season. But I'm trying to focus on what I'm trying to do here."



No exactly a proclimation that "Come hell or high water, I'm not leaving Raleigh!" from Staal
.
The Canes continue to deflect and deny Staal trade rumours.

Of course they are going to take that position. In the hockey business, you create demand by denying access. The Canes are a team is disrepair right now. They, like the Ducks, have already fired their head coach this season, to no avail. Kirk Muller can only do so much with the players and prospects that he is given to work with. Take away Skinner, Sutter, and Dalpe what future depth does Carolina have in its system right now? Their cupboard are bare. The Canes would benefit greatly from an infusion of prospects, draft picks, and active roster players right now. Like the Ducks in the West, the Canes have been kissing the ocean floor all season long. There seems not to be a huge turnaround in the near future. So why hold onto Staal, when you can trade him and his big contract for the exact piece that the organization will use for their ascent in the next year?


Staal has an $8.25 million cap his for this year, and the next four to come. He's not an easy player to acquire, however, like Getzlaf, he's a former Cup winner, who has a ton of great tread on his tires, and ton more magic left in his stick. Staal is the exact player that the Sabres have needed since Briere and Drury pulled the chut for bluer skies. Staal is 6'4 210 pounds, and is only 27 years of age. He wins face-offs, kills penalties, has silky mitts that he uses to dish and to finish with.


Staal is a winner. He's played at a high level in two Olympics for Canada. He's competed at a high level in Carolina since he entered the NHL in '03/04. He's got a boat-load of Playoff battle scars, many of which he sustained in the epic 2006 ECF vs. Buffalo.

In fact, it can be argued that Staal's growth has been stunted the past 24 months in Carolina since Brind'Amour, Stillman, Wesley, and the other vets from the 2006 Cup winning team have retired and moved on. Staal thrived as a youngster on that Cup team. He was mature beyond his years. His problem is that the Canes have not replaced those vets yet. Skinner is a stud, and Sutter will be a good pro in time, however, the present Canes roster is a collection of cast-offs, journeymen, and never-will-be guys. All the more reason for the Canes to move him now. Acquiring a Staal now would put heavy pressure on the Buffalo cap. They'll have to move contracts out in order to make it work. Staal has approximately 50% of his $8.25 million left for this season. If Buffalo feels so inclined, they can create cap room in order to land Staal. Put an active forward, a roster D, and a pick in the deal and fly it up the flag pole for Carolina's review. They may even include their 2011 First Rounder, Joel Armia, who has been a beast at the IIHF World Junior Championships in Calgary. Armia is a very intoxicating player because he does all things well. He's a future star in the NHL.

Staal has a no-trade clause in his contract that kicked in on 7/1/10.


Its time the Sabres correct their course of action.

Landing Staal would be a preemptive strike for an inevitable Leafs trade for either Getzlaf or Ryan.

You have to fight fire with fire.

The Sabres and Leafs will be scrapping, biting, and eye-gouging one another for the eighth and final playoff spot.


I'm a big fan of Rick Nash for all of his international hockey heroics with Team Canada at the Olympics and World Championships, however, what has he done in the NHL? , He's not a leader, in my opinion. Great talent to be sure. I question his desire to lead a team to Playoffs and the Stanley Cup. He's made a ton of cash playing on a doormat team, however, he reminds me way too much of Dany Heatley. No thanks.


For now, help is on the way this weekend with Myers, Leino, and Ennis returning to the lineup. The Sabres will see an immediate up-tick with the infusion of three key cogs that they have had high hopes for since training camp in September.



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