Definitely, but a true #1 with even OK defensive abilities would cure many of our ills.
- stashu

Ryan O'Reilly would cure a lot of what ails this team almost by himself.
Then, in two years, you hope and pray you get lucky and hit the lottery.
Having that kid, O'Reilly, and Hodgson would turn the team around completely.

Not getting into the Miller stuff again, but wanted to reply to you.

The bolded part is something all should do, especially someone jumping to conclusions....I wasn't mocking your post with the comment you quoted and carried over here...

I will mention one thing about Miller vs Enroth and that Miller has had 5+ goals allowed games "regularly", so someone panicking (again, not you) that Enroth is suddenly going to be the worst goalie ever and allow "7-10" goals is ludicrous, IMO.
- stashu

3 times in his last 60 games but whos counting

Ryan O'Reilly would cure a lot of what ails this team almost by himself.
Then, in two years, you hope and pray you get lucky and hit the lottery.
Having that kid, O'Reilly, and Hodgson would turn the team around completely.
- kingcong39

I've seen lots of people praise O'reilly, but I can't say much about him myself, but yes, that sounds like a great start for sure. Pick up a top line W to go with it and it would turn things around nicely.

[quote=Stripes77]


Smaller goalies... Hasek... Crozier... They seemed to do pretty well in spite of their small frame......

I wouldn't rule it out. They need some serious change there
- sbroads24

Yea but Edmonton's current management group is like our previous one. They won't trade one of those guys unless it's for Crosby

I've seen lots of people praise O'reilly, but I can't say much about him myself, but yes, that sounds like a great start for sure. Pick up a top line W to go with it and it would turn things around nicely.
- stashu

The guy is Chris Drury reincarnate.

This upcoming offseason is going to be ugly, outside of the draft, because I don't think they can spend any real money, meaning going after big free agents, until after the following season (2014-2015). The proper plan is to be bad again next year and hope you get the 1st overall pick.

Whatever happens after the lottery is held, win or lose, is when the being active plan is put into action. Doing it prior to that would be a bad idea IMO.

3 times in his last 60 games but whos counting
- sbroads24

My apologies, I forgot his history is only 20 games this year (done it twice in his last 13 games) and a shortened season last year.

I'll stop now since I'm not interested in starting up all the Miller stuff again.

Yea but Edmonton's current management group is like our previous one. They won't trade one of those guys unless it's for Crosby
- Sabresfan-365

That is precisely why they won't win.

The guy is Chris Drury reincarnate.

This upcoming offseason is going to be ugly, outside of the draft, because I don't think they can spend any real money, meaning going after big free agents, until after the following season (2014-2015). The proper plan is to be bad again next year and hope you get the 1st overall pick.

Whatever happens after the lottery is held, win or lose, is when the being active plan is put into action. Doing it prior to that would be a bad idea IMO.
- kingcong39

I'm not sure he'll ever be as good offensively but there are many similarities. I'd take him any day.

The guy is Chris Drury reincarnate.

This upcoming offseason is going to be ugly, outside of the draft, because I don't think they can spend any real money, meaning going after big free agents, until after the following season (2014-2015). The proper plan is to be bad again next year and hope you get the 1st overall pick.

Whatever happens after the lottery is held, win or lose, is when the being active plan is put into action. Doing it prior to that would be a bad idea IMO.
- kingcong39

What's Callahan? C or winger? Would love him here, tho likely he's a 2nd liner I imagine.

All the problems with this team and we are worried about Ott being the Captain and if it's changed him? you gotta be kidding me.

Ryan O'Reilly would cure a lot of what ails this team almost by himself.
Then, in two years, you hope and pray you get lucky and hit the lottery.
Having that kid, O'Reilly, and Hodgson would turn the team around completely.
- kingcong39

R you saying ROR specifically or a top line center?
imo Id rather trade all of our picks this year for a sure top line center than roll the dice pray we get teh #1 pray he works out

My apologies, I forgot his history is only 20 games this year (done it twice in his last 13 games) and a shortened season last year.
I'll stop now since I'm not interested in starting up all the Miller stuff again.
- stashu

It's not. I looked at his 2 worst statistical seasons. He averages a 5 goal game every 20 games. Not regularly. That's about 4 times a year if he played every game.

What's Callahan? C or winger? Would love him here, tho likely he's a 2nd liner I imagine.
- stashu

He's a winger and I doubt he leaves NYC.

It's not. I looked at his 2 worst statistical seasons. He averages a 5 goal game every 20 games. Not regularly. That's about 4 times a year if he played every game.
- sbroads24

Wow...

Regularly was in quotes...it's not like I meant every couple weeks he's letting in 5+ per game. The whole point was that a poster feared Enroth is going to poop the bed and allow 7-10 goals, so I just wanted to point out how Miller has those crap games too.

Enroth has played 62 games in the NHL and has done it 5 times. To think he's suddenly going to surrender tons of goals doesn't compute to me.

R you saying ROR specifically or a top line center?
imo Id rather trade all of our picks this year for a sure top line center than roll the dice pray we get teh #1 pray he works out
- hubie

Both, meaning they trade for O'Reilly and somehow get lucky and get the kid in the draft with the number 1 pick in two years.

Wow...

Regularly was in quotes...it's not like I meant every couple weeks he's letting in 5+ per game. The whole point was that a poster feared Enroth is going to poop the bed and allow 7-10 goals, so I just wanted to point out how Miller has those crap games too.

Enroth has played 62 games in the NHL and has done it 5 times. To think he's suddenly going to surrender tons of goals doesn't compute to me.
- stashu

That has yet to be seen. It's unfair to Enroth or Miller to compare the two.

He's a winger and I doubt he leaves NYC.
- Sabresfan-365

That and he will command big dollars while being injury prone due to how he plays.

I'm not sure he'll ever be as good offensively but there are many similarities. I'd take him any day.
- Sabresfan-365

Outside of that one outlier season and a half in Buffalo, just how good was Drury offensively? I do get your point though. O'Reilly is clearly a guy you pay who will make a difference.

Ott should be the least of this team's worries. He's a 3rd liner who can take faceoffs and play some PP. There is nobody else on this team capable of wearing the C in my opinion. This team is poop, and Steve Ott is not to blame.

and if we re-sign him, great, but he can't be playing on the first line. If we could get a first rounder or something along those lines, I wouldn't be upset about losing him, however.

Both, meaning they trade for O'Reilly and somehow get lucky and get the kid in the draft with the number 1 pick in two years.
- kingcong39

I agree, I dont care what the name is on the back as ling as they are a real top line center not a oh they could be one someday.

We all joked about bringing in Burke but id love it. HEd trade every pick for us to get a real established scoring top line.

Ott should be the least of this team's worries. He's a 3rd liner who can take faceoffs and play some PP. There is nobody else on this team capable of wearing the C in my opinion. This team is poop, and Steve Ott is not to blame.

and if we re-sign him, great, but he can't be playing on the first line. If we could get a first rounder or something along those lines, I wouldn't be upset about losing him, however.
- CaptainRivet

Welcome to Buffalo. We make 3rd liners and 3rd pairing defensemen folk heroes. I agree though, he's not the problem. Him being in the top 6 is a problem and if he wants 4 mil a season I would walk away

Ott should be the least of this team's worries. He's a 3rd liner who can take faceoffs and play some PP. There is nobody else on this team capable of wearing the C in my opinion. This team is poop, and Steve Ott is not to blame.

and if we re-sign him, great, but he can't be playing on the first line. If we could get a first rounder or something along those lines, I wouldn't be upset about losing him, however.
- CaptainRivet

+1 hes essentially a smaller more athlethic goose

Welcome to Buffalo. We make 3rd liners and 3rd pairing defensemen folk heroes. I agree though, he's not the problem. Him being in the top 6 is a problem and if he wants 4 mil a season I would walk away
- sbroads24

All of what you said is true, however, Buffalo is going to have pay someone after Miller leaves and Leino is bought out.

I believe their cap payroll for next year is barely at $30M, and that may actually go down, hard as that is to believe.

Welcome to Buffalo. We make 3rd liners and 3rd pairing defensemen folk heroes. I agree though, he's not the problem. Him being in the top 6 is a problem and if he wants 4 mil a season I would walk away
- sbroads24

dont forget hes 31 so he can walk at any time