We will see . It really comes down to whether your GM is ready to make the move to win a cup . The other power houses in the west will make those moves. A top flight goalie and the Blues become the Stanley Cup favorites. The stars do not align every year to win a cup. Get those golf clubs ready because come June the Blues will be watching the Stanley cup finals on TV. We wish our GM had made the extra move when the Sabres were at that level.
- Maximum Signal

Completely agree and I do believe this is the year the Blues put their foot on the gas and go for it.

Their owner wants to win and has spent nearly up to the cap for talent and this year makes it optimum for the Blues as a mid market team.

Big market teams will be limited as to what they can do. Come next season when the cap raises significantly the Blues again will be at a disadvantage as to how much they'll be willing to spend.

What do you think the Caps would offer? Wilson + a 1st? Strong young player who could fit in well with a re-building team. I'd love to have him on the Oil.
- haymac

I'd love Wilson as would any young rebuilding team. They would probably have to throw a cap dump in as well (Erat)

Easy.

They initiated talks with Zach Parise and Ryan Suter last off-season.
- TommyHawk

Seriously though. I can't think of one bold move made by Chicago in last 5 years. Maybe the Hossa contract.

Seriously though. I can't think of one bold move made by Chicago in last 5 years. Maybe the Hossa contract.
- AlfieFever

Under Stan Bowman nothing bold has been done.

And I don't foresee anything bold being done anytime soon either. With limited cap space (a tad over $1 million) and a pretty loaded squad, there isn't much to tinker with. Second line center is a pressing need, but again, with no cap space and no real urge to upgrade, I don't see a move being made in that regard.

Come T.D. I expect minimal activity. As aforementioned earlier, perhaps a bottom-six depth forward. I'd love to find a sucker to take on Brian Bickell's contract, however.

Paajarvi and a 26+ 1st for Miller....

Seriously though. I can't think of one bold move made by Chicago in last 5 years. Maybe the Hossa contract.
- AlfieFever

They traded away Campbell.....?

Signed Hossa...?

Traded for Oduya...?

Seriously though. I can't think of one bold move made by Chicago in last 5 years. Maybe the Hossa contract.
- AlfieFever

Here's a list of all the moves Bownman has made...

http://committedindians.c...as-chicago-blackhawks-gm/

The Chicago Blackhawks under Stan Bowman 'like to make bold moves' and 'take chances'? When has this ever happened?
- PuckAndSticks

You wanna see bold moves?

http://fuldans.se/?v=xapeifcwtg

Paajarvi and a 26+ 1st for Miller....




- JVince11

I think it gets done for that and throw in Halak or Elliott, unless it's a sign and deal

Man what the hell is the deal with the goaltending in Washington. Grubauer starts 14 of the last 20 games, not even close to the other two statistically and he gets sent down?

I only care because I have him in fantasy and don't like the idea I have to drop him for freakin Neuvirth now.

Seriously though. I can't think of one bold move made by Chicago in last 5 years. Maybe the Hossa contract.
- AlfieFever

I think all of Ek's perceptions come from what teams were like about 3-5 years ago, particularly the Western teams

lol WHAT???

since when is Chicago a team that makes bold moves??

bowman and co are as tight wadded as can be

they are the exact opposite of that eklund

all the guys that had balls in the front office in Chicago are elsewhere now post 2010

Difference being they are under contract...
- cuethenoise

Yeah, that's the rental price, if you think paajarvi and a late first round pick gets miller you're out of your mind it took paajarvi and a pick to get Perron. Paajarvi has some tools, but has had all the chances in the world to prove he can be effective at the nhl level, and never has, you're putting to much trade value in him.

Under Stan Bowman nothing bold has been done.

And I don't foresee anything bold being done anytime soon either. With limited cap space (a tad over $1 million) and a pretty loaded squad, there isn't much to tinker with. Second line center is a pressing need, but again, with no cap space and no real urge to upgrade, I don't see a move being made in that regard.

Come T.D. I expect minimal activity. As aforementioned earlier, perhaps a bottom-six depth forward. I'd love to find a sucker to take on Brian Bickell's contract, however.
- TommyHawk

signing O'Donnell, turco, brunette, brookbank

and trading for frolik, Morrison, oduya, handzus, campoli screams BOLD

I think it gets done for that and throw in Halak or Elliott, unless it's a sign and deal
- cuethenoise

Only on your Video game!

Only on your Video game!


- Maximum Signal

Also like to reiterate for the hundredth time, sign and trades are a nice idea in theory but for whatever reason they simply do not happen in the NHL.

Yeah, that's the rental price, if you think paajarvi and a late first round pick gets miller you're out of your mind it took paajarvi and a pick to get Perron. Paajarvi has some tools, but has had all the chances in the world to prove he can be effective at the nhl level, and never has, you're putting to much trade value in him.
- Girouxsalem90

I think that's the case with almost every fan base. They over value their players and under value other teams players (minus the Crosbys, Toews, etc)

Man what the hell is the deal with the goaltending in Washington. Grubauer starts 14 of the last 20 games, not even close to the other two statistically and he gets sent down?

I only care because I have him in fantasy and don't like the idea I have to drop him for freakin Neuvirth now.
- S Kaspar Rollins

Are you saying Miller to Washington?

Also like to reiterate for the hundredth time, sign and trades are a nice idea in theory but for whatever reason they simply do not happen in the NHL.
- S Kaspar Rollins

NHL has never embraced them like the NBA.

Value is nothing unless it helps the team. Look at it this way. If you are shopping at a store and you have to make a meal, you can get a great value 3.99 a pound for chicken that comes with stuffing and a vegatable or 1.99 a pound for chicken if you get 5 or more pounds. The first deal is much better because you get more of what you need for a complete meal. The second deal sucks when you are trying to build something.

Its the same thing here. Ryan Miller could get you 4 draft picks which helps a bit or Ryan Miller can get you a player that adds to the roster is young and then an additional draft pick. That IS the better value
- Stripes77

Hypotheticals are exactly that, hypothetical in nature. What if the best "value" player isn't on the Blues and thus isn't available for Miller. The picks can be traded later (at the draft perhaps) to any multitude of teams for any multitude of players in any multitude of scenarios. As it is you and a couple of other Sabre fans tell me it is better to only make a Miller deal for some 1st or 2nd line young forward on the Blues or Caps (who are pretty much your only market for Miller but I digress). Whereas maybe either the Blues or Caps offer higher value in picks then come draft time a forward on a different team is available, and the Sabres then having even more draft pick ammunition can make the deal for that better young forward. This is obviously asinine to keep arguing with Sabre fan(s) about this, so go ahead and make your hypotheticals about how much the Blues or Caps will give you. Last time I checked there are 27 other teams besides Buffalo/StL/and Washington yet (according to you and others) your best deal will only come from those 2. My point is maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. Take the best value regardless of whether it is picks or some precious forward who is supposedly going to put the Sabres over the top and keep the fans coming.

Are you saying Miller to Washington?
- FinAddict

That would be one of the only ways this makes sense (and certainly Washington is one of the places I could see miller being dealt to.) though I don't know why they need to send down Grubauer before doing it.

Reading some reports it seems like there's just a big goaltending cluster(frank) down there and they're trying to showcase Neuvirth or something. I don't know.

Sign and trade only helps if a team is going to give Miller 8 years vs 7. Otherwise in the NHL any extension Miller signs with Buffalo or any other team is limited by cap space of the signing team.

NHL has never embraced them like the NBA.
- Maximum Signal

Though they may become a thing with the new CBA. the whole point of a sign and trade in the NBA is to give a pending free agent more money while the team losing him gets something. what makes this possible is that a player can sign for one more year with his old team than with a new team. The new NHL CBA also has this provision - the maximum contract for UFAs is 7 years but you can re-sign a guy for 8 years. So you may see sign and trades eventually, depending on if Bettman is cool with it (as the Luongo rule proves, if teams exploit a CBA loophole he will crush them eventually.)

NHL has never embraced them like the NBA.
- Maximum Signal

It is all about the economic system's the 2 sports run. In the NHL the only difference between free agents signing vs team's re-signing players is 8 years vs 7. In the NBA the re-signing team can offer more $ to the player (a higher max contract as it is referred to) vs a player signing in free agency has a lower max contract he can sign

Though they may become a thing with the new CBA. the whole point of a sign and trade in the NBA is to give a pending free agent more money while the team losing him gets something. what makes this possible is that a player can sign for one more year with his old team than with a new team. The new NHL CBA also has this provision - the maximum contract for UFAs is 7 years but you can re-sign a guy for 8 years. So you may see sign and trades eventually, depending on if Bettman is cool with it (as the Luongo rule proves, if teams exploit a CBA loophole he will crush them eventually.)
- S Kaspar Rollins

In the NBA it's actually about $. The re-signing team can offer a higher max which Sterm implemented during their lockout as a way of incentivizing players to stay with their current teams in smaller markets instead of watching players like Chris Paul bolt New Orleans for the glitz and glam of LA