Minnesota would be a great trading partner
They have a lot of good forward prospects that are almost "NHL ready"

Only issue with a lot of the proposals I've seen is that we can't take Heatley from them NOW bc of his injury
He can't be traded till he can pass a physical
And if taking him as part of a deal is necessary, it's very risky to wait...
Vanek could get hurt himself
Or could have a subpar season & they could change their mind
And what if Heatley doesn't get healthy by the deadline?

I'd think there'd be other teams that would make "good" offers for him
It makes me nervous to wait for the "right" offer
But I see what Darcy is trying to do (I think)

Last thing we need is an unhappy player here though
As long as we can get good value for him (and we should be able to),
Then the sooner we ship him out, the better
- jdfitz77

Trust me the last thing Buffalo needs is Heatley's cry baby attitude in the locker room. Atlanta, Ottawa, San Jose & now Minnesota relize this. Plus he's in his 30's now & by the time the Sabers are ready for a long playoff run Heatley will be washed up. You guys need prospects & picks .

I don't see a problem with that as the return either. Moulson has put up a ton of points over the last few years on a less than spectacular Isles team (yes, I know he plays primarily with Tavares). And IMO, I don't know that you get much more than that for him at the deadline and I'd rather get something than watch him walk away for nothing.
- HonkFortheGoose

I dont think that enough. Ive said before I have a friend who is a pro scout for the Kings and he scouts both Buffalo and NYI and in his opinion thats a bad trade for Buffalo.

I just dont think you can gloss over the playing with Tavares thing, that's huge. Plus, the Moulson is also a UFA after this season, it just doesnt make much sense to me.

devils advocate.... look at when miller was injured and enroth got the nod.. i think he lost like 10 or more in a row
- SabresFaninIndiana

They were also playing with half of an AHL team then as well. There were 9 regulars out of the lineup at that point. As well as a severely shattered psyche due to the whole Lucic incident.

Just looking at the surface of things, I can see that.
Look a little deeper & it looks worse.... a lot worse.
This team has a lot of "what if's".
If Miller is traded can Enroth be adequate?
What if Myers regains form.
What if our young kids learn to play in the NHL & are legit.
What if someone besides Vanek can score.
What if Vanek gets traded.

I don't see them being in last place this year but bottom 5 is a real possibility.
This will be the year of learning. I will feel better about their chances next season.

#suffering
- cowmad152

I didn't mean to imply that this year was gonna be a successful one in terms of standings.

I said you're further ahead of where edm was in 2010 who are going into year 4 of that total teardown and showed no signs of improvement till last season.

Pittsburgh was mired in 5 years of lottery picks. they still got one after having drafted Crosby and malkin.

what I said was as a team who just got forced into a rebuild, you're way ahead of the curve. you've got a potential franchise dman already a few years into his career. already drafted a possible long term 1C in grigorenko. a ton of good young defenders even before u drafted risto and zadarov etc etc

They need a power forward... Stafford does not fit that mold.
- jochfr

I'd bet a guy like Staff would be A LOT more willing to go to the net if he's playing with those two
He has shown it in the past, just not consistently
At any rate,
I think u could play just about anyone with them and that 3rd guy would rack up goals & points

I do see your point though
Maybe just trading for Vanek would be their best best
They might also be able to get Stafford at a cheap enough price that he's worth the risk though?

Vanek is my favorite current Sabre, but for the sake of his career, he should ask Darcy to trade him.
He would also get to start the season out with his new team rather than try to blend in at the deadline.

This. Plus if Mouslon doesn't want to resign and he pots say 15-20 before the deadline you can move him for most likely a 1st. Essentially your then trading Vanek for 2 1sts. That's fine with me
- sbroads24

See, I also would think you would get a 1st for Moulson but my scout friend says no way. I know what he thinks isn't the end all be all, but it is what he does for a living so I have to put some stock in what his opinion is.

I never really considered Vanek as an option for the Islanders before, I always thought about Miller... but Vanek playing alongside Tavares would be disgusting (in a good way for Islander fans). Seriously, I can't imagine HDTV not scoring 40+ goals and potentially 50 alongside JT (Mike Bossy anyone?). That would take them to another level in terms of being a threat... and I read somewhere that Vanek and Grabner were friends due to their Austrian ties, maybe they played on a National Team together or something (I'm really not sure). So, if that's true, it would probably improve their odds at getting Vanek to re-sign (although, playing with Tavares alone is probably a good enough reason for him). If I were the Sabres, I would try to get Strome in the deal... especially since Buffalo is rebuilding. I'd take Strome and Reinhart for him... even if the Sabres had to include another piece (non-1st round draft pick or D-man, maybe?). Reinhart played alongside Pysyk in WHL, I believe, and Strome (while tearing up the OHL) is already being considered for a position switch to wing because the Islanders need more help along the boards than up the middle, apparently. That or Strome isn't good enough to play Center in the NHL right now.

Let's go big here and have some fun...

Miller AND Vanek to the Isles for Strome, Reinhart, Persson/Lee and a conditional 1st round pick in 2015 (if one of them signs an extension beyond this upcoming season) AND a 3rd rd pick in 2014 (if both extended) OR just a 4th rd pick in 2015 (if neither of the two sign an extension w/ Isles).

When you consider the fact that Pominville (and a 4th rd pick) netted the Sabres Larsson, Hackett, a 1st rd pick in a very strong draft year and a 2nd rd pick the following year. I personally think this may be highway robbery for the Isles. I mean, if you're going to compete in the playoffs do you want Miller or Nabokov between the pipes? Do you not want Vanek on your PP and alongside Tavares? If any Isles fan wouldn't accept this deal, it is only because they've gotten too used to not playing in the playoffs (let alone seriously competing) and drinking the Kool-Aid about prospect potential vs proven NHL top talent. If Strome or Reinhart ever didn't pan out for them and they had turned down this deal now, they'd regret it for a very long time. Trying to win now with JT or not? Pretty simple question.

They were also playing with half of an AHL team then as well. There were 9 regulars out of the lineup at that point. As well as a severely shattered psyche due to the whole Lucic incident.
- HonkFortheGoose

this i know.. just throwing that fact out there.

Trust me the last thing Buffalo needs is Heatley's cry baby attitude in the locker room. Atlanta, Ottawa, San Jose & now Minnesota relize this. Plus he's in his 30's now & by the time the Sabers are ready for a long playoff run Heatley will be washed up. You guys need prospects & picks .
- Erik6Karlsson5

None of us really WANT Heatley
We just realize that we'd have to take back $$$ from Minny bc of cap reasons
And our hope would then be to move Heatley at the deadline for a 1st, maybe more if he's having a good season
Either way,
He's basically a "throw in" part of the trade
No one wants him leading our team of youngsters

I didn't mean to imply that this year was gonna be a successful one in terms of standings.

I said you're further ahead of where edm was in 2010 who are going into year 4 of that total teardown and showed no signs of improvement till last season.

Pittsburgh was mired in 5 years of lottery picks. they still got one after having drafted Crosby and malkin.
- hugefemale dog77

I didn't take it as they would be successful. There is still a little too much optimism based on unknowns.
Enroth may be solid.... he may not. He has never been "the guy" before. He never had to play more than 20 games. Sure he had some nice streaks but he also had some horrible streaks.
There are just too many hopes & dreams surroounding this team for me to think they will be better than the bottom 10 of teams.
If they are better, I will be slightly happy then realize we are screwing ourselves out of a good draft pick... again.

if buffalo trades miller and vanek we should get a top 3 pick..
- SabresFaninIndiana

No doubt
Lets make it happen Darcy!

If darcy made a trade for a heatley or moulson I am pretty sure hed want to move them again at deadline but wouldnt option A be to acquire talent you can keep for awhile and not have to worry of resigning them or not? They need to fit into th youth movement. Vanek has a hot streak and then gets hurt. I vote trade him before season but if no one is throwing out very good offers looks like youre stuck. He prolly expects more than pominville and rightfully so

No doubt
Lets make it happen Darcy!
- jdfitz77

a team in the position to have a top 3 pick wouldnt be in the market for 30 and 26 though

Let's go big here and have some fun...

Miller AND Vanek to the Isles for Strome, Reinhart, Persson/Lee and a conditional 1st round pick in 2015 (if one of them signs an extension beyond this upcoming season) AND a 3rd rd pick in 2014 (if both extended) OR just a 4th rd pick in 2015 (if neither of the two sign an extension w/ Isles).

- djc1877

As much as I like the offer and going big it will be impossible to get strome and reinhart alone for just vanek and miller

a team in the position to have a top 3 pick wouldnt be in the market for 30 and 26 though
- Homer

You're missing the point. In us trading them, we guarantee that we will be in the bottom 3 of the league, thus ensuring a top 3 pick.

I didn't take it as they would be successful. There is still a little too much optimism based on unknowns.
Enroth may be solid.... he may not. He has never been "the guy" before. He never had to play more than 20 games. Sure he had some nice streaks but he also had some horrible streaks.
There are just too many hopes & dreams surroounding this team for me to think they will be better than the bottom 10 of teams.
If they are better, I will be slightly happy then realize we are screwing ourselves out of a good draft pick... again.
- cowmad152

I agree. I think this year might be a trainwreck.

but we're clear that you turning it around this year was in no way the point of my original post......yes?

I fear injury...you have too.

Why would a team give up more for him to play 12 games for them than they would now where they could get 82 games outta him?
- Homer

Stop making sense!
Hahaha

Hopefully the sticking point to a deal getting done isn't really about the $$$
Know if there's any truth to that rumor?

I know Terry will never be hurting for $$$
I can see how keeping part of Vanek's salary or taking on Millions of salary back in a trade would be unappealing to our owner, no matter how rich he is

You're missing the point. In us trading them, we guarantee that we will be in the bottom 3 of the league, thus ensuring a top 3 pick.
- HonkFortheGoose

Oh.

Guarantee is going a little far though.

I agree. I think this year might be a trainwreck.

but we're clear that you turning it around this year was in no way the point of my original post......yes?
- hugefemale dog77

yes

Stop making sense!
Hahaha

Hopefully the sticking point to a deal getting done isn't really about the $$$
Know if there's any truth to that rumor?

I know Terry will never be hurting for $$$
I can see how keeping part of Vanek's salary or taking on Millions of salary back in a trade would be unappealing to our owner, no matter how rich he is
- jdfitz77

I just dont think they have anything worth doing on the table right now?

Oh.

Guarantee is going a little far though.
- Homer

I agree. I was just simply stating the point they were trying to make. Nothing is ever really a guarantee. Other than death and taxes that is.

a team in the position to have a top 3 pick wouldnt be in the market for 30 and 26 though
- Homer

no we would suck to give US the top 3 pick

a team in the position to have a top 3 pick wouldnt be in the market for 30 and 26 though
- Homer

He meant the Sabres would be bad enough to finish with a top3 pick
I think anyways...
That's how I took it

You're missing the point. In us trading them, we guarantee that we will be in the bottom 3 of the league, thus ensuring a top 3 pick.
- HonkFortheGoose

I'm really not looking forward to another year of cheering to lose.