Well that comment was about Vanek.

And you just compared Miller to a bunch of HOF goalies.
- dadeadhead

HAHAH my bad I was l istening to someone on the radio talk about trading him and I didn't read the rest of your post. Doh, I do agree with you on Vanek.

Tim Thomas? Best years 34-37
Jacques Plante? age 33 - Most wins in his career, age 40 and 42 sub 2.00 GAA in over 37 GP
George Hainsworth? Played every single game from 35-40
Andy Moog - Didn't get good until he was 35!
Turk Broda - 4 Stanley Cups between 32-36
Ed Belfour - Beast all career long, especially good between 30-42
Patrick Roy - Stanley Cup @ 35 - 4 more elite level years, although he only played 2 of them
Tony Esposito - 2 of his top years were when he was 36-37
Gump Worsley - Didn't get good until he was 33... played until 39 before he broke down and was serviceable until 44
Gary Cheevers - ...
Johny Bower - Didn't win a stanley cup until he was 37 AND THEN HE WON 4!!!!!
If you want anymore examples I will get the next 10 ready. Ryan Miller is on par with all of the players. Barring any horrible freak accidents I will make an educated wager that he plays through 40...
- JCSabs06

I could name a whole lot more goalies who never did crap late in their career, but it wouldn't matter bc....
We don't have the team around miller to win the cup!

Miller's situation with the Sabres more closely mirrors Curtis Joseph on Toronto late in his career where he made a subpar team into a playoff team, but not a legit contender.....
The goalies u listed above all had elite talent around them...
The Sabres CLEARLY do not

HAHAH my bad I was l istening to someone on the radio talk about trading him and I didn't read the rest of your post. Doh, I do agree with you on Vanek.
- JCSabs06

Wasn't my post.

I could name a whole lot more goalies who never did crap late in their career, but it wouldn't matter bc....
We don't have the team around miller to win the cup!

Miller's situation with the Sabres more closely mirrors Curtis Joseph on Toronto late in his career where he made a subpar team into a playoff team, but not a legit contender.....
The goalies u listed above all had elite talent around them...
The Sabres CLEARLY do not
- jdfitz77

Most were playing before many here were born or to young to remember.

I could name a whole lot more goalies who never did crap late in their career, but it wouldn't matter bc....
We don't have the team around miller to win the cup!

Miller's situation with the Sabres more closely mirrors Curtis Joseph on Toronto late in his career where he made a subpar team into a playoff team, but not a legit contender.....
The goalies u listed above all had elite talent around them...
The Sabres CLEARLY do not
- jdfitz77

Ryan Miller is built for longevity... As long as there's no more Lucic type incidents...

Tim Thomas? Best years 34-37
Jacques Plante? age 33 - Most wins in his career, age 40 and 42 sub 2.00 GAA in over 37 GP
George Hainsworth? Played every single game from 35-40
Andy Moog - Didn't get good until he was 35!
Turk Broda - 4 Stanley Cups between 32-36
Ed Belfour - Beast all career long, especially good between 30-42
Patrick Roy - Stanley Cup @ 35 - 4 more elite level years, although he only played 2 of them
Tony Esposito - 2 of his top years were when he was 36-37
Gump Worsley - Didn't get good until he was 33... played until 39 before he broke down and was serviceable until 44
Gary Cheevers - ...
Johny Bower - Didn't win a stanley cup until he was 37 AND THEN HE WON 4!!!!!
If you want anymore examples I will get the next 10 ready. Ryan Miller is on par with all of the players. Barring any horrible freak accidents I will make an educated wager that he plays through 40...
- JCSabs06

Its a lot easier for goalies to play later in their careers than it is skaters. Vanek wont be putting up his best numbers after the age of 35, which is 4 years into his next contract, or half of the contracts life.

Its a lot easier for goalies to play later in their careers than it is skaters. Vanek wont be putting up his best numbers after the age of 35, which is 4 years into his next contract, or half of the contracts life.
- theblueandgold

I agree and apologize for the mistake. Especially with the game that Vanek is asked to play. He takes more abuse than most I would say...

Ryan Miller is built for longevity... As long as there's no more Lucic type incidents...
- JCSabs06

4 good years left.

Most were playing before many here were born or to young to remember.
- dadeadhead

They were mostly before my time

Ryan Miller is built for longevity... As long as there's no more Lucic type incidents...
- JCSabs06

What's it matter?

We don't have the team around him!

What's it matter?

We don't have the team around him!
- jdfitz77

Sell him off, sell Vanek. Sell pominville.

Enter a complete rebuild.

Lets suck and complain even more. The Buffalo way.

Sell him off, sell Vanek. Sell pominville.

Enter a complete rebuild.

Lets suck and complain even more. The Buffalo way.
- theblueandgold

Selling them off might be the fastest way to rebuild.

Although I don't trust Darcy to make the moves either way.

Selling them off might be the fastest way to rebuild.

Although I don't trust Darcy to make the moves either way.
- dadeadhead

We sell them all off, its not going to be a quick rebuild, it will take years.

We sell them all off, its not going to be a quick rebuild, it will take years.
- theblueandgold

It doesn't have to though.

It doesn't have to though.
- dadeadhead

In what way? You replacing them with youth, or veteran players? If you go youth with picks and prospects, yeah, it will take years. If you go veteran players... who?

In what way? You replacing them with youth, or veteran players? If you go youth with picks and prospects, yeah, it will take years. If you go veteran players... who?
- theblueandgold

A team doesn't have to go through a lengthy rebuilding process. You can re-tool on the fly, If you have the money.

Bos
Philly
Montreal


Have done it.

4 good years left.
- dadeadhead

3 Before Grigorenko and Girgenson can drink on this side of the border with him....

A team doesn't have to go through a lengthy rebuilding process. You can re-tool on the fly, If you have the money.

Bos
Philly
Montreal


Have done it.
- dadeadhead

Unfortunately Buffalo doesn't have the Colonial Era charm of the first two or the Foreign Allure of Francophones.

Unfortunately Buffalo doesn't have the Colonial Era charm of the first two or the Foreign Allure of Francophones.
- JCSabs06

But they have the money.

If the Sabres play bad enough, getting Barkov or Mackinnon could help a lot on centre.

If the Sabres play bad enough, getting Barkov or Mackinnon could help a lot on centre.
- Thehabsfan93

I keep hearing Barkov's name thrown in the mix, but can't find any good tape of him, what is your assessment of his skills?

A team doesn't have to go through a lengthy rebuilding process. You can re-tool on the fly, If you have the money.

Bos
Philly
Montreal


Have done it.
- dadeadhead

Boston, I kind of see the comparison, but not really. They didnt sell off 3 key pieces within a season.

Philly is definitely not better off than they were with Carter and Richards. Getting Pronger was the downfall of their team.

Montreal exactly how? They didnt sell off any top 6 forwards or #1 goalie in one season. For what its worth, I'm suggesting we follow what Montreal did last season. But that consists of selling off our fat -- Leopold, Regher, Stafford, along with selling off 1 top 6 -- Pominville, getting a top 3 draft pick and infusing some youth.

We have to keep Vanek and Miller.

But they have the money.
- dadeadhead

And hockey players seem to enjoy it here for the most part...http://archives.buffalori...usual_number_of_nhl_playe

Boston, I kind of see the comparison, but not really. They didnt sell off 3 key pieces within a season.

Philly is definitely not better off than they were with Carter and Richards. Getting Pronger was the downfall of their team.

Montreal exactly how? They didnt sell off any top 6 forwards or #1 goalie in one season. For what its worth, I'm suggesting we follow what Montreal did last season. But that consists of selling off our fat -- Leopold, Regher, Stafford, along with selling off 1 top 6 -- Pominville, getting a top 3 draft pick and infusing some youth.

We have to keep Vanek and Miller.
- theblueandgold

Boston traded their former #1 overall pick and #5 overall pick.

I was more talking about Philly being the worst team in the league in 06/07, then the following year doing very well. Zhitnik for Coburn, a 2nd rounder for Biron, Forsberg for a 1st which turned into Kimmo and Hartnall.

Montreal did a different type of re-tooling like you said.

I don't think we have to keep Miller and Vanek. The best time to move them will be over the summer as you have more of a shot at getting roster players for them.

Looks like Howard will be making $5 mil per on his next deal per the Wings blogger. A fair price and allows them to get a veteran back up in the 1-1.2 range.