I still would take Kass's grit. Buffalo's in last place for a reason. Their tough guy has no skill. Kass has really lit a fire under this whole team in regards to their physicality. I am more than happy with how it's turned out. Its easy to determine who won the trade. Check the standings
- JameyVinnick9

Are you that simple minded??? The nucks were a much better team to begin with... You cant say look at the standings for to determine who won the trade .

The Sabres easily won this trade and Kassian has completely disappeared since being demoted from the 1st line to the 3rd-4th line. This is coming from a big Kassian supporter.

I won't.
- LamontSanford

In what messed up world?
- JameyVinnick9

In the world that the Kings won the cup... They wouldn't have won it without Richards/Carter.

I see you've been studying the 'Cloutier Guide On How To Get Hits'.

In the world that the Kings won the cup... They wouldn't have won it without Richards/Carter.
- Smittyx36

Don't forget quick & kopitar

Meh, they weren't the sole reasons, they were more secondary.
Can't forget guys like Mitch, Doughty, and Brown
- JVR2112

Oh for sure, they rolled 4 lines and had 3 solid D pairings and played great team defence and wore teams down with their size and physicality. I'm just saying that Carter and Richards did not carry that team, they excelled as part of the team and Quick was their MVP and Kopitar was and is still the best forward on that team.

Don't forget quick & kopitar
- LamontSanford

You mean Brown and Quick...

In the world that the Kings won the cup... They wouldn't have won it without Richards/Carter.
- Smittyx36

Agreed,but you can say the same for any of their core players IMO.

You mean Brown and Quick...
- Smittyx36

Doughty, Scuderi, Mitchell and Justin Williams weren't bad either. Even Stoll and Penner stepped up.

Agreed,but you can say the same for any of their core players IMO.
- Nucker101

I just don't think the Kings would have won last year with Simmonds/Schenn/Johnson.

You mean Brown and Quick...
- Smittyx36

Doughty, Scuderi, Mitchell and Justin Williams weren't bad either. Even Stoll and Penner stepped up.
- Nucker101

I get it. There whole team played fantastic and thats what wins you the cup. But Carter/Richards were excellent additions to the team

I get it. There whole team played fantastic and thats what wins you the cup. But Carter/Richards were excellent additions to the team
- Smittyx36

Agreed. No arguing that. Philly made out pretty good in the Carter deal though, I'd take Voracek and Couturier over Carter for sure. Simmons is also a nice young player and Richards/Carter were apparently causing some locker room/off ice problems for them.

I still would take Kass's grit. Buffalo's in last place for a reason. Their tough guy has no skill. Kass has really lit a fire under this whole team in regards to their physicality. I am more than happy with how it's turned out. Its easy to determine who won the trade. Check the standings
- JameyVinnick9

Yes we are in last for a reason, one of those is not the absence of kassian . If the defence was even marginally better we would probably be in eighth right now.

There's no questions the trades have been good for the Sabres. They seemed to have served everyone though really. Vancouver needed the physicality of Kassian on the wing and Hodgson was a 3rd line centre behind Sedin and Kesler. I'm sure they would kill for Hodgson this year though without Kesler earlier in the season and now again.

As for Gaustad it was a trade for the future and eventually opened up room for Porter down the middle. But who knows Gaustad may have helped buffalo this season not drop to 29th in the league. It is a loss of experience and face off wins (62% this season is very good!) But buffalo has gained, correct me if I'm wrong, a great prospect in Girgensons.

I think the best trade they made was trading up in the draft with Calgary

Kevin Freiheit: Hodgson, Sulzer > Kassian, Gaustad
- KevinJames

its been working out for the sabres?

well sure the players have more points than those you traded, but how are the teams doing?

What is your point Kevin???? Being neutral I would still take Kassian over Hodgson long term and it is only one year. It is no wonder the Sabres are in near last place and it is because of wimpy egotistic Cody Hodgson players, no grit whatsoever. Zack will eventually score more but brings an element Cody could never bring and that is pure toughness and a total team player. Zack is a monster on the ice who can also play hockey and that is huge. Stats wise Cody is better but that is the only category he wins at. Sulzer was never going to play in Vancouver anyway and that just shows you #8 dmen can play #4 in Buffalo. Gragnani was a throw in the Canucks did not want but had to take him to get Zack. I call this overall trade a tie but both teams got what they wanted.
- flyerdude17

No you wouldn't. If you think this teams problem is size amongst the forwards then you either don't watch sabres hockey and are a troll or you're complete moron. Have you seen this team play D it makes me wanna throw up, regurgitate my puke and then throw it up again. Both teams made a trade that filled a need. Isn't that what the whole purpose of a trade is? sheesh

Yes we are in last for a reason, one of those is not the absence of kassian . If the defence was even marginally better we would probably be in eighth right now.
- Sabresfan-365

IF if if .... I am sure we could say the same about our defense.... which has been pretty bad for the last few. I do agree Kass being gone is not your prob.....

its been working out for the sabres?

well sure the players have more points than those you traded, but how are the teams doing?
- dmarsden2988

Give us Kassian and Gragnani back and we would be winless and be the front runner for the #1 pick! Rather then the 2nd/3rd.

its been working out for the sabres?

well sure the players have more points than those you traded, but how are the teams doing?
- dmarsden2988

They traded a couple of players not their respective teams. Vancouver was better than the Sabres before the trade

Give us Kassian and Gragnani back and we would be winless and be the front runner for the #1 pick! Rather then the 2nd/3rd.
- Smittyx36

just stating that if your going to say that the trade was a pretty big win by stats then you would hope that it would help in the standings, it hasnt so the whole point of this blog is pointless

IF if if .... I am sure we could say the same about our defense.... which has been pretty bad for the last few. I do agree Kass being gone is not your prob.....
- SMP8719

I would take the bad version of your D over what we've got right now any day. Seriously under performing was three weeks ago. After the Islanders game I had to look through a dictionary to try and find an appropriate word

Kevin... Gr8 read! It's nice to see a blog that is informative, without grammar errors, without stalking tendencies, without '80's videos! Too bad the best "Blogger" doesn't get the amount of replies as the "other guy"!
Thanks!!!!

its been working out for the sabres?

well sure the players have more points than those you traded, but how are the teams doing?
- dmarsden2988

Sulzer is probably the only Dman playing above his contract level. Hodgson is getting better every single game. In the long run, this trade was great for the Sabres.

Kassian is what he is. I don't think he'd ever be the impact player here that they wanted when they drafted him. He can be a spark plug for a team, but he doesn't do it frequently enough. Gragnani isn't even with Vancouver anymore.

It was a good trade though for both teams.

I would take the bad version of your D over what we've got right now any day. Seriously under performing was three weeks ago. After the Islanders game I had to look through a dictionary to try and find an appropriate word
- Sabresfan-365

Have you ever seen a team with only left handed Dmen lol we are almost there!!!