Don't want O'Reilly, already have enough 3rd line centerman...he's not a 1st liner, not thank you, especially with that contract.

Yeah, I got a feeling we are going to resign Miller!
In that case, we should trade Enroth.
Send Ehrhoff anywhere, but please not to Boston!
- Sabresfan88

It does not make sense to me for the Sabres to deal Ehrhoff. They have incredible prospects on the back end. But you need a skill guy to teach the NHL game to the raw talented rookies. They are going to be awfully good, very big and very mean.

Sometimes your best deals are doing nothing.

Don't want O'Reilly, already have enough 3rd line centerman...he's not a 1st liner, not thank you, especially with that contract.
- ThePresident

He's a rock solid 2nd line center. You're not getting a 1st line center for Gardiner and a prospect.

Don't want O'Reilly, already have enough 3rd line centerman...he's not a 1st liner, not thank you, especially with that contract.
- ThePresident

Is JVR a 1st liner?

Is JVR a 1st liner?
- eddieavs

You've just opened up a very big can of worms my friend.

You've just opened up a very big can of worms my friend.
- Nucker101

Genuinely curious as to whats his definition of a 1st liner.

For some reason, it seems that unless youre an 80pt player, youre no longer a first liner.

The league has changed.

awesome
- SpoiledByOil

well, in a way he's right. O'Reilly is an upgrade right now, but not a huge one. He's basically a mid-50s point player, pretty solid defensively. Tougher than Bozak. Bozak is about the same offensively (and don't tell me his line carries him, because Bozak plays on a great line too), pretty good defensively (that's why he's on that line), just not that tough. Solid on faceoffs though.

The difference is that Bozak is in his prime, and not getting any better. We've just scratched the surface on O'Reilly, and he is still growing as a player. A 70 to 80 point centre is fully possible. Those saying that he's just a second line centre seem to forget he's just 22. Still lots of upside on this kid.

So, if you want to look at right now, he's not that much better. In a couple of years though, I think it's a possible landslide win for RoR.

You've just opened up a very big can of worms my friend.
- Nucker101

I agree.....but he has a point:
JVR - 31 pts (15-16) -4
ROR - 28 pts (14-14) +3

Seems like they are pretty equal players this year. If anything edge goes to ROR for playing in the tougher West?

If I'm the incoming GM looking to deliver my boss (Pegula) his bell cow (Miller), I'm trying to sell Miller on a blueprint that looks like the ones in LA, Stl, & Chi...

Meaning, I tell Millsy we are going to build him a world class defensive corps to play behind. One with all the bells and whistles (size, muscle, awareness & skill).



Myers, Ristolinen, Zadorov, & McNabb bring the size. Erhoff & Pysyk bring some slick puck skills...

But something is still missing, and that's Arron Ekblad!


Yup... If I'm trying to keep Miller, I tell him were going all out to bring Ekblad to Buffalo!

people who look at just point totals to determine a players worth are flawed. Unless you watch the guy play and see his whole 200ft game, to say he isnt worth is the wrong assesment.

6m now maybe too much, 6m on a long term contract 3 years from now, worth it and potentially a steal.
- DDM-Coga

Sure, but if you're going to argue that's why RoR is so much better than Bozak, then you have to start realizing that you need to see Bozak play as well. The entire reason he plays on that line is to all the defensive lifting, so Kessel and JVR can do their thing.

If I'm the incoming GM looking to deliver my boss (Pegula) his bell cow (Miller), I'm trying to sell Miller on a blueprint that looks like the ones in LA, Stl, & Chi...

Meaning, I tell Millsy we are going to build him a world class defensive corps to play behind. One with all the bells and whistles (size, muscle, awareness & skill).



Myers, Ristolinen, Zadorov, & McNabb bring the size. Erhoff & Pysyk bring some slick puck skills...

But something is still missing, and that's Arron Ekblad!


Yup... If I'm trying to keep Miller, I tell him were going all out to bring Ekblad to Buffalo!
- SuperCat

Not gonna lie, I'd love to see Buffalo get 1st and draft Eklbad over Reinhart and Edmonton keep the 2nd pick despite likely trying to shop the pick and draft Reinhart.

Eklund: Rumor Update: On O'Reilly for Gardiner, Gagner for Enroth, Bruins
- Eklund

Bruins do need a defensman, but I'm not seeing why you would even bother blogging a rumor involving Ehrhoff. His contract is the last thing the Bruins would take on.

Leafs should be al over that if they can pull it off. Oilers are now considering moving Gagner? The guy has flat out sucked this year, I'm sure they'd welcome a trade for him to be shipped out for a d-man or a forward with size. Gagner for Enroth isn't the way to go IMO, they can try to make a push for one of the Anaheim goalies or even Halak when/if he hits UFA without giving up assets.
- Nucker101

Gagner has always flat out sucked. Short of one 8 point game.

Genuinely curious as to whats his definition of a 1st liner.

For some reason, it seems that unless youre an 80pt player, youre no longer a first liner.

The league has changed.
- eddieavs

That's ridiculous, PPG players are not a dime a dozen.

If I'm the incoming GM looking to deliver my boss (Pegula) his bell cow (Miller), I'm trying to sell Miller on a blueprint that looks like the ones in LA, Stl, & Chi...

Meaning, I tell Millsy we are going to build him a world class defensive corps to play behind. One with all the bells and whistles (size, muscle, awareness & skill).



Myers, Ristolinen, Zadorov, & McNabb bring the size. Erhoff & Pysyk bring some slick puck skills...

But something is still missing, and that's Arron Ekblad!


Yup... If I'm trying to keep Miller, I tell him were going all out to bring Ekblad to Buffalo!
- SuperCat

And...who's gonna score goals?

Gagner for Gardiner

It does not make sense to me for the Sabres to deal Ehrhoff. They have incredible prospects on the back end. But you need a skill guy to teach the NHL game to the raw talented rookies. They are going to be awfully good, very big and very mean.

Sometimes your best deals are doing nothing.
- spatso

This is true, Buffalo's blue line is still very green... They need at least one vet there to try and stabilize the ship.

Ehrhoff is that guy, and he's already locked in for the long haul. I'd keep him around.



If anything, try trading Myers to Winnapeg for Evander Kane...

Then replace Myers with Aaron Ekblad.

That's ridiculous, PPG players are not a dime a dozen.
- FinAddict

I agree.

Thats what im saying.

But for some reason, others still maintain this idea that you need to be a 70+ point player to be considered a first liner.

The reality is that most teams are lucky if they have 1 or 2 guys that can get to that point total.

Gagner for Gardiner
- OilerFanFromBC

Where would the Leafs even play Gagner? He would end up on the Marlies. Absolutely no need for him. He sucks. He's a downgrade from Bozak, and major downgrade from Kadri, and there is no way Carlyle plays him in a bottom six role, as he sucks defensively and can't take a draw. Plus he's an undersized soft player. He's completely utterly useless to the Leafs.

1% of rumors actually happen. EK is just reporting what he is hearing, rumblings.
- Champ

He should probably eat something then.

If ROR is traded for any package where Gardiner is the most valuable piece...

The avs will have truly crapped the bed.

In no way, does a trade like that make the avs better in the short or the long run.
- eddieavs

At first I thought you were HIGH ....

Dont know what the Sabres would be looking for, but if Ehrhoff is truly on the market, the avs should be all over it.

He's the ideal piece for the avs right now.
- eddieavs

Then you confirmed it for me

This is true, Buffalo's blue line is still very green... They need at least one vet there to try and stabilize the ship.

Ehrhoff is that guy, and he's already locked in for the long haul. I'd keep him around.

If anything, try trading Myers to Winnapeg for Evander Kane.
- SuperCat

They can sign a veteran in FA. Ehrhoff won't be tradeable in 3 years when he's going on 35 years old with 4 years left on his deal. You could actually get a good return for him now.

I agree.

Thats what im saying.

But for some reason, others still maintain this idea that you need to be a 70+ point player to be considered a first liner.

The reality is that most teams are lucky if they have 1 or 2 guys that can get to that point total.
- eddieavs

Yeah people are ridiculous if they think that's the criteria.

Look at the last full season, 9 players had more than 80 points, 21 had over 70.

At first I thought you were HIGH ....



Then you confirmed it for me
- .HOHO.

Right...

Forgive me for valuing O'Reilly significantly higher than Gardiner.
Especially considering the avs needs at this point.

At this point, Gardiner hasnt shown nearly enough to justify moving ROR for.

Secondly, I didnt realize Ehrhoff was now considered terrible because hes on a terrible team. The avs need a competent 2 way dman for the left side. Ehrhoff can log a lot of minutes, and I have no doubt that he'd be incredibly more efficient on the avs right now than the sabres.

You explain to me how moving ROR for Gardiner makes the avalance better.

I would love it if the Leafs were able to get something worked out with a Franson + + package for O'Reilly.