Thanks 89. Ive been waiting for someone to bring up the C.

The question I opse to everyone:

If the roster stands as-is, whose your captain? Do you give it to Vanek to try and entice him to stay? Do you give it to another vet? Do you go with a kid? Do you go the Rivet route (give it to the vet you just added)?

If Vanek is gone ( and Stafford either is or isnt an option), whose the choice then?
- CaptPantalones

sign Ott to a 5 year extension and slap the C on him.

Cleary resigns in det... 3 yrs
- MillerTime1130

ugh

Three guys wearing an "A"
No real "captain" on this roster IMO
- jdfitz77

Vanek if still here
Ott
Ehrhoff

If not vanek then maybe weber or kaleta

I'm not thrilled with that, rather Mike Weber
- SABRES 89

If Weber can show that he can play like last season on a regular basis, I'd be alright with him getting a letter.

But if we can't get something figured out with hodge for less than 4m per... hodge might be traded and stastny becomes needed
- MillerTime1130

Needed for what?
He'll just walk at the end of the season...
Or worse, we'd pay a 60point player $8mil per to get him to stay...
F that

I was talking about stafford
But I think Vanek should be traded
We should get a return similar to Ryan

If we're rebuilding it doesn't make sense to sign him
And his back issues worry me
- jdfitz77

The problems are Ryan is three years younger, and has three years left on his contract. I don't see as strong a return for Vanek as Ryan.

probably wont hear or see anything until training camp unless it leaks
- CaptPantalones

Suddenly the outrage on here back in 2006 when the "slug" leaked comes to mind lol. I would kill for those days. The biggest worry about the Sabres was the crappy logo that leaked .

Edit: Actually, I wouldn't kill for those days. I'm not Aaron Hernandez.

Vanek if still here
Ott
Ehrhoff

If not vanek then maybe weber or kaleta
- MillerTime1130

Kaleta is no leader and he's hurt to much.

Needed for what?
He'll just walk at the end of the season...
Or worse, we'd pay a 60point player $8mil per to get him to stay...
F that
- jdfitz77

When stastny gets 55 assists and vanek pots 35 goals. .

u guys want anyone?
bertuzzi,samulsson, emmerton, tootoo?

If Weber can show that he can play like last season on a regular basis, I'd be alright with him getting a letter.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

People won't like this but, I would have traded Erhoff already, I don't see what's so special about him. Money could be used elsewhere.

Kaleta is no leader and he's hurt to much.
- SABRES 89

He has paid his dues and goes balls to the wall every night

u guys want anyone?
bertuzzi,samulsson, emmerton, tootoo?
- Jurco_28

NO

He has paid his dues and goes balls to the wall every night
- MillerTime1130

Hurt to much, you don't put an A on Kaleta.

I'm not thrilled with that, rather Mike Weber
- SABRES 89

I was going to wait to bring up my choice for captain until I saw a few more responses, but thats my trigger word.

Since I dont subscribe to the idea of giving a player the C to try and sway him into staying (Vanek), and Im not sure if 1 of the leagues 10 most hated players is exactly the kind of leader or recruiter you want (Ott, or Kaleta for that matter), my choice for captain is Mike Weber.

If/when Miller, Vanek and Stafford all move on, Weber will remain as your longest tenured Sabre. And his road to that has been nothing more then bumpy and winding.

Hes been:

demoted
healthy scratched (way more then he should)
benched
played on great pairings (remember him and Sekera in 08-09? They were dynamite after Weber was called up from Portland)

Hes had his troubles, and his triumphs. But this year he looked like a 180 degree different player. You heard more stories about him being vocal in the room. He was a leader on the ice. He was always a hard worker, and always had that fire to be on the ice (I remember him telling a fan back in 2011 when he was benched for 10 or more straight before the season that "its about f'n time" when he dressed for his 1st game)

Im not sure if it was the addition of Ott or just the maturation of a guy whose been around, but Weber's play showed me he can handle the responsibilities and has the qualities you tend to look for.

Hes not a sexy pick by any means, and id surely understand a guy like Ehrhoff or a vet brought in (ex: Morrow), but on a team as young as ours, having a guy whose been in their shoes and battled through it would speak volumes in the room. Doesnt hurt that he comes off as a very popular guy amongst other veterans

He has paid his dues and goes balls to the wall every night
- MillerTime1130

I don't think 4th line players are really who team's want as their captains

People won't like this but, I would have traded Erhoff already, I don't see what's so special about him. Money could be used elsewhere.
- SABRES 89

With the cap hit that he's got compared to some of the ridiculous deals given to D men, he's cheap. He also just gets the job done. He's just a simple, solid D man that can get a good 35-40 points a year.

I was going to wait to bring up my choice for captain until I saw a few more responses, but thats my trigger word.

Since I dont subscribe to the idea of giving a player the C to try and sway him into staying (Vanek), and Im not sure if 1 of the leagues 10 most hated players is exactly the kind of leader or recruiter you want (Ott, or Kaleta for that matter), my choice for captain is Mike Weber.

If/when Miller, Vanek and Stafford all move on, Weber will remain as your longest tenured Sabre. And his road to that has been nothing more then bumpy and winding.

Hes been:

demoted
healthy scratched (way more then he should)
benched
played on great pairings (remember him and Sekera in 08-09? They were dynamite after Weber was called up from Portland)

Hes had his troubles, and his triumphs. But this year he looked like a 180 degree different player. You heard more stories about him being vocal in the room. He was a leader on the ice. He was always a hard worker, and always had that fire to be on the ice (I remember him telling a fan back in 2011 when he was benched for 10 or more straight before the season that "its about f'n time" when he dressed for his 1st game)

Im not sure if it was the addition of Ott or just the maturation of a guy whose been around, but Weber's play showed me he can handle the responsibilities and has the qualities you tend to look for.

Hes not a sexy pick by any means, and id surely understand a guy like Ehrhoff or a vet brought in (ex: Morrow), but on a team as young as ours, having a guy whose been in their shoes and battled through it would speak volumes in the room. Doesnt hurt that he comes off as a very popular guy amongst other veterans
- CaptPantalones

Not a bad choice, I picked Erhoff only bacause he's a vet but would rather it be Weber.

I don't think 4th line players are really who team's want as their captains
- GilPerreault11

Didn't say captain there boss now did I..

With the cap hit that he's got compared to some of the ridiculous deals given to D men, he's cheap. He also just gets the job done. He's just a simple, solid D man that can get a good 35-40 points a year.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

Was never a fan of signing him

I don't think 4th line players are really who team's want as their captains
- GilPerreault11

You don't put an A on a guy like Kaleta.

Suddenly the outrage on here back in 2006 when the "slug" leaked comes to mind lol. I would kill for those days. The biggest worry about the Sabres was the crappy logo that leaked .

Edit: Actually, I wouldn't kill for those days. I'm not Aaron Hernandez.
- Gmcc24

Awesome post of the week

With the cap hit that he's got compared to some of the ridiculous deals given to D men, he's cheap. He also just gets the job done. He's just a simple, solid D man that can get a good 35-40 points a year.
- LetsGoBuffalo75

This exactly.

And for those who subscribe to the theory of analytics, 1 of the bloggers on this site (which one escapes me ATM) pointed out that Ehrhoff would have been the runaway Norris winner in that regards

The problems are Ryan is three years younger, and has three years left on his contract. I don't see as strong a return for Vanek as Ryan.
- GilPerreault11

Ryan only has two years left
Maybe not as good a return, but same ballpark
Any team that wants a legit scorer...
What better option do they have?
It's not like Stamkos, etc is gonna get traded

u guys want anyone?
bertuzzi,samulsson, emmerton, tootoo?
- Jurco_28

No
No
No
No

Datsyuk yes.