well apparently it didnt work out for them. thats the point.. so much dedicated to those 4 that the rest of the roster was a wet rag
- robz228

This again? Please observe the following:

http://www.capgeek.com/blackhawks/

We'll make things work.

This again? Please observe the following:

http://www.capgeek.com/blackhawks/

We'll make things work.
- MaximumBone

That's a bad example. The Hawks were a cup team

That's a bad example. The Hawks were a cup team
- sbroads24

A bad example? Hardly. They're a perfect example of a team being able to fill out a successful team while having 5 or so contracts between 5 and 6.5 million. This, in case you hadn't noticed, is what my point was addressing. Hall and Eberle make up two of our big contracts leaving room for Yakupov, Schultz, and Nuge as the other 3. Seeing as bothHorcoff and Hemsky's caps come off the books within the next two years (coinciding with the aforementioned raises), I see no problem extending those guys. Gagner will likely get around 4 (assuming he isn't traded), while Petry will get a similar dollar amount as Smid ($3.5). Add to that Dubnyk's likely 4-4.5ish cap hit (assuming he maintains his play) and you get something resembling the Blackhawks' cap structure.

Worst case scenario is we have to trade one of our bigger salaries.

For good reason...
Best player in the draft IMO
It's gonna cost so much to trade up that hight though (I could see him go as high as 3rd)
We'd prob be better off trying to trade for him after a year or two & some of the draft hype wears off

If we stay at 8, I'd want either Lindholm or Ristolainen
Monahan, Nurse & Shinkaruk are other possibles...
3 of those 5 will be available for us to choose from

Nurse has the biggest "bust" potential of that group IMO, but they'll prob all be at least solid NHLers
- jdfitz77

Was talking about Edmonton, not us.

IMO Nichushkin will end up being the best player in this draft.

A bad example? Hardly. They're a perfect example of a team being able to fill out a successful team while having 5 or so contracts between 5 and 6.5 million. This, in case you hadn't noticed, is what my point was addressing. Hall and Eberle make up two of our big contracts leaving room for Yakupov, Schultz, and Nuge as the other 3. Seeing as bothHorcoff and Hemsky's caps come off the books within the next two years (coinciding with the aforementioned raises), I see no problem extending those guys. Gagner will likely get around 4 (assuming he isn't traded), while Petry will get a similar dollar amount as Smid ($3.5). Add to that Dubnyk's likely 4-4.5ish cap hit (assuming he maintains his play) and you get something resembling the Blackhawks' cap structure.

Worst case scenario is we have to trade one of our bigger salaries.
- MaximumBone

It's a bad example because they are and were a great team that had big contracts. They traded away secondary pieces like Versteeg, Campbell and Buff that would be at the top of EDM roster, or the Sabres roster for that matter. To compare a basement team and their talent or cap situation to a cup winning team who is close to their 2nd finals appearance in a few years is a bad comparison

Vanek is not going anywhere, there going to retool & be good & van will sign
- 716buffalo

will see i think he's good as gone ..

so we passed on alex lepkowski was hoping we sign him could be a good stay at home D

I would be suprised if EDM ends up drafting in their current slot. They could move down and take a 2way center since Monahan will be gone. Say Wenneberg. IMO they are gonna try to get quite a few roster players this offseason to try to make the playoffs, trading their pick is a start
- sbroads24

Edmonton wants D, look at all the forwards they already have.

Edmonton wants D, look at all the forwards they already have.
- Djtyczy

they won't use the 7th pick on D

Trading a top 5 pick for a goalie is dumb...unless your team is a Cup contender that only needs a netminder.

Not taking away anything from Miller, but goalies are almost never worth a top 15 pick. Franchises have torched their futures by using those picks on goalies and trading it here would be no different. Too many of the league's best goalies have been found in the 5th round or later to be using a pick like that on Miller.

Especially in a draft like this...I just don't see it unless Buffalo goes retarded and throws in another huge asset.

Edmonton wants D, look at all the forwards they already have.
- Djtyczy

Rumor is they want a two way center. They should go D but might not

Trading a top 5 pick for a goalie is dumb...unless your team is a Cup contender that only needs a netminder.

Not taking away anything from Miller, but goalies are almost never worth a top 15 pick. Franchises have torched their futures by using those picks on goalies and trading it here would be no different. Too many of the league's best goalies have been found in the 5th round or later to be using a pick like that on Miller.

Especially in a draft like this...I just don't see it unless Buffalo goes retarded and throws in another huge asset.
- PoileRulezzzYo

i'm hoping we send vanek for one of the top 3 .. ( but i think he have to be signed imo or we have to add a lot more )

Rumor is they want a two way center. They should go D but might not
- sbroads24

if they don't get sean monahan they will pick curtis lazar

i'm hoping we send vanek for one of the top 3 .. ( but i think he have to be signed imo or we have to add a lot more )
- gerbe75pts

Yeah....I don't see Vanek alone getting you in the top 3. Again...I think teams will have to turn in some retarded offers to break into the top 5. We can only hope that happens.

This again? Please observe the following:

http://www.capgeek.com/blackhawks/

We'll make things work.
- MaximumBone

okay? i never refuted its possible just the guy picked the worst possible example

Yeah....I don't see Vanek alone getting you in the top 3. Again...I think teams will have to turn in some retarded offers to break into the top 5. We can only hope that happens.
- PoileRulezzzYo

I would do Vanek , McNabb, 8th ..

if they don't get sean monahan they will pick curtis lazar
- gerbe75pts

I bet they move down. They end up with Wennberg, Pulock or Morrissey in the middle of the round

Not that anyone cares what I think, but assuming there aren't any trades regarding the picks leading up to the Sabres' selections...

1 - COL - MacKinnon
2 - FL - Jones
3 - TB - Nichushkin
4 - NASH - Barkov
5 - CAR - Drouin
6 - CAL - Monahan
7 - EDM - Nurse
8 - BUF - Lindholm
9 - NJ - Shinkaruk
10 - DAL - Ristolainen
11 - PHI - Zadorov
12 - PHX - Horvat
13 - WPG - Domi
14 - CBS - Mantha
15 - NYI - Zykov
16 - BUF - Erne

Deals I'd love to see...

Buffalo trades Tyler Ennis and a Draft Pick (NOT a 1st rd pick) to Anaheim for Bobby Ryan.

Buffalo trades Drew Stafford and #16 pick to Columbus for Nick Foligno and #14 pick... OR... Buffalo trades Stafford and first of two 2nd round picks to Columbus for Nick Foligno and LA Kings 1st round pick (prev acquired via Jeff Carter trade).

Big Dream deal... Buffalo trades Miller, Grigorenko and #8 pick to Colorado for #1 pick and Stastny. Roy could use Grigorenko on either 2nd or 3rd line, obtains his top-notch goalie and then can draft his young D-man (Nurse or Ristolainen) with #8 pick. Stastny has not played up to expectations the past 2 years and is in his contract year ($6.6 million) and Sabres get their franchise cornerstone with either MacKinnon (my preference) or Seth Jones.

If Big Dream Deal were to actually happen... then Sabres could package Vanek with a draft pick (reluctantly #16 most likely) to either trade up for Drouin (to pair with MacKinnon) or Nichushkin or Barkov (pair him with Armia).
- djc1877

first, that Bobby Ryan deal will not happen, you will have no choice but to include your 8th overall pick just to get Anaheim to think about the deal. The Stafford deal is pretty good, definitely plausible.

As for your big trade, it does look very good for both sides. I would have a hard time seeing Colorado giving up a franchise player like MacKinnon or Jones but with a return of Miller, Grigs & the 8th pick it could definitely be done. Although if I was Colorado I would make you overpay for Varlamov too since he would have to be moved anyway and the best Colorado could do is a mid-to-late 1st (if their lucky).

So if I am Colorado, I would accept no less than:

Ryan Miller
Mikhail Grigorenko
8th overall pick
16th overall pick
38th overall pick

for:

1st overall pick
Semyon Varlamov
Paul Stastny

I'll admit it is A LOT to give up for the top pick but lets face it to acquire a future superstar you have to pay.

As for trading up to draft Drouin, unfortunately you would have to get either the #2 or #3 pick and the teams that hold the picks are cap floor teams, hard to flip Vanek worth $7M who is UFA for a top pick from a floor team.

Sweet post though.

first, that Bobby Ryan deal will not happen, you will have no choice but to include your 8th overall pick just to get Anaheim to think about the deal. The Stafford deal is pretty good, definitely plausible.

As for your big trade, it does look very good for both sides. I would have a hard time seeing Colorado giving up a franchise player like MacKinnon or Jones but with a return of Miller, Grigs & the 8th pick it could definitely be done. Although if I was Colorado I would make you overpay for Varlamov too since he would have to be moved anyway and the best Colorado could do is a mid-to-late 1st (if their lucky).

So if I am Colorado, I would accept no less than:

Ryan Miller
Mikhail Grigorenko
8th overall pick
16th overall pick
38th overall pick

for:

1st overall pick
Semyon Varlamov
Paul Stastny

I'll admit it is A LOT to give up for the top pick but lets face it to acquire a future superstar you have to pay.

As for trading up to draft Drouin, unfortunately you would have to get either the #2 or #3 pick and the teams that hold the picks are cap floor teams, hard to flip Vanek worth $7M who is UFA for a top pick from a floor team.

Sweet post though.
- Steven_Dean

Stastny no thank you

Stastny no thank you

- gerbe75pts

I also wouldn't even consider trading Grigorenko at this point. I wanna see him develope

I also wouldn't even consider trading Grigorenko at this point. I wanna see him develope
- sbroads24

I would if it meant getting mckinnon

I would if it meant getting mckinnon
- Rally_Shots

There's no guarantee ones better than the other at this point.

you obviously dont pay attention to draft postings.....Monahan is going to the Flames.....Nurse?
- toddkac

Get with the god damn program. That was only 1 situation. I said I believed one of Lindholm or Monahan will slip to us, because Nurse isn't getting past both Calgary AND Edmonton. So go ahead, switch Lindholm with Monahan, I could care less. It still proves my point of 1 being available.

Idaho
- sbroads24

Idaho is beautiful

I wonder if the Oilers still love Stafford. Sabres should try to finagle the 7th and 8th pick.

To EDM: the 16th Stafford or Sekera+ the 38th for 7th

Draft Lindholm+ Ristolainen or Monahan+ Nurse, or use those picks to trade up into the top 3-5 and get Drouin or Barkov. Wishful thinking but for everyone throwing around trade scenarios, it doesn't cost what people think it does to move up. Read draft history
- sbroads24

that is way too much