So let me get this straight. The Isles who are in the middle of a playoff race are gonna send down one of their better D-men for the last 5 or 6 games before the break so he can play in the AHL during the break???
- Vukota

Seems pretty stupid to me too. Don't understand this one?

I don't think Donovan has been one of our better defenseman last 5 or 6 games
- dbobby12000

Just because BD suggests that doesn't mean its true.
- Vukota

Actually, quite the opposite

The wife is from Minnesota....you know how that one usually works out for you, if she's adamant about it.
- dcb1

And that's a big question to me as well. The wife is from Minnesota however they've been living away from there for better than 8 years now. It's not as though she's 'homesick' from just having left there. They've lived a pretty 'happy' life according to Vanek in Buffalo, but the decision to move on was about wanting to not go through a rebuild.

I think the speculation, and reasonably so, is that the wife wants to return to MN, but no one really knows that for sure. It's just been assumed.

Would you rather them mail it in or go down fighting? I'd much rather them play like a team that has pride and play like there's light at the end of the tunnel. If they're 3 points out at the break, would you still think it's a pipe dream? Take it one game at a time, and play like you give a shat. That's the way I'd like it to play out.
- Charlie21

Absolutely go down swinging. Worst thing that can happen is we make that pick worse for the Sabres.

The isles will offer the money (I'm sure the Isles had a ball park the cost to resign Vanek prior to making the trades) and Vanek has stated he loves playing here. Min have too much invested hundreds millions of dollars in Suter and Parise. I can't see them giving out another 60 million dollar contract. That would be 3 players making almost 25 million a year. I have no doubt Vanek he will sign here. Snow will need to get a consistent starting goalie and a solid big stay home defensemen.....which could be Reinhart.

I generally agree, but in all due fairness to the Red Wings, they beat Anaheim last year in the playoffs, and took the Stanley Cup Champions to Game 7 overtime after being up 3-1 in the series. They have been ravaged by injuries this year, so while they are not the same dominant Red Wings of year's past, I think they will look like way more of a threat at season's end than they do now. Plus, they have some good young, underrated players in that system, like Tatar and Nyquist.

Just saying that I think the predicted demise of the Red Wings may be a little premature.
- Pete V

Agreed, have no idea why people are saying this?

Perfect world the Isles sign Vanek before the Deadline.. not July 1st.

I will be pretty upset if they send Dehaan down...

I am slightly upset they sent Donovan down instead of sitting Martinek.

Absolutely go down swinging. Worst thing that can happen is we make that pick worse for the Sabres.
- Cptmjl

Agreed. Not to mention the team is going to have to play pedal to the metal for the rest of the season due to their situation which can be nothing but good experience for kids like Strome and de Haan. I could care less if they get 3 weeks of extra ice time in a league that's inferior to their skills. No thanks. These kids are not adjusted to the NHL speed and don't need to be playing half speed for a month to get 'better'.

Agreed. Not to mention the team is going to have to play pedal to the metal for the rest of the season due to their situation which can be nothing but good experience for kids like Strome and de Haan. I could care less if they get 3 weeks of extra ice time in a league that's inferior to their skills. No thanks. These kids are not adjusted to the NHL speed and don't need to be playing half speed for a month to get 'better'.
- keaner17

Also agree. Think it's a really stupid move. Strome to me makes more sense but DeHaan is a definite no.

He is not coming back. If he doesn't sign by March 5th you will never see him again. Minnesota will sign him and I'm sure he'll take a little less to go there as well. Its a shame to because that 1st line is dynamite They better get a haul for him and that still won't take the sting away from having to find yet another guy to play with JT. Joke!!!
- Vukota

They lose Heatley's 7.5 off their cap this summer so I see it as a possibility.. but not as sure as u are it will happen.

Donovan was sent down not dehaan
- dbobby12000

Third base.

Perfect world the Isles sign Vanek before the Deadline.. not July 1st.

I will be pretty upset if they send Dehaan down...

I am slightly upset they sent Donovan down instead of sitting Martinek.
- niteislander

Martinek will be sitting anyway. They aren't going to keep Donovan up to be the 7th d-man

I thought home for him was Austria? It depends. I think the odds are long for Vanek to re-sign after a trade, but you never know. The important thing is that they put the best offer out there now, 8 years, $58+M or whatever, and if Vanek doesn't take it, move him for a solid return. The isles can't force Vanek to take their offer. All they can do is make the best offer he's likely to get and to flip him for the best return possible if Banek chooses to hit UFA, which is his right to do.
- Jethro09

G'day mate throw another shrimp on the Barbie

Martinek will be sitting anyway. They aren't going to keep Donovan up to be the 7th d-man
- Vukota

I just thought he was playing much better as of late... and liked the idea of Him, with Viz, Hamonic, deHaan, as a top 4 ... and move Strait and Hick as 5/6

G'day mate throw another shrimp on the Barbie
- niteislander

um

I just thought he was playing much better as of late... and liked the idea of Him, with Viz, Hamonic, deHaan, as a top 4 ... and move Strait and Hick as 5/6
- niteislander

I think Donovan has some good potential but he's been pretty bad. Saturday he was hard too watch.

Third base.
- niteislander

You drinking today?

You drinking today?
- Cptmjl

was a reference to abbottt and Costello... who's on first....

You drinking today?
- Cptmjl

and ... I wish.

The wife is from Minnesota....you know how that one usually works out for you, if she's adamant about it.
- dcb1

Mrs. Vanek is the key to the whole thing.

Mrs. Vanek is the key to the whole thing.
- ses111

I'll work her over.

was a reference to abbottt and Costello... who's on first....
- niteislander

OK, the shrimp on the barbie one threw me off. Dumb and Dumber I presume?

And that's a big question to me as well. The wife is from Minnesota however they've been living away from there for better than 8 years now. It's not as though she's 'homesick' from just having left there. They've lived a pretty 'happy' life according to Vanek in Buffalo, but the decision to move on was about wanting to not go through a rebuild.

I think the speculation, and reasonably so, is that the wife wants to return to MN, but no one really knows that for sure. It's just been assumed.
- keaner17

Yeah, I agree...I'm just saying that's the reasoning behind the speculation.

I think Donovan has some good potential but he's been pretty bad. Saturday he was hard too watch.
- Cptmjl

Slow, like 47. Probably won't make this team three years from now. Just my opinion.