Actually LAK can take on 2.5M at the deadline and Moulson's prorated salary is 2.75M.. so adding Toffoli's 750K salary into this deal makes it approved.
- JVince11

toffoli stays because he actually shoots the puck and that is what we need so don't think for a second he is involved,, Vey on the other hand might be a move-able piece.

Phew! I saw red when I read Bourque If I may ask, why such a significant drop-off from Eberle to Yakupov? Yak is a 1st overall and has played with Galchenyuk before. I understand that Eberle has proven more, but Yak's upside is a fair deal higher than Eberle's.
- MaximumBone

I believe the perception of Yak bolting to the motherland - regardless of his overtures to stay in the NHL - his confrontation or perceived confrontation with coaching etc about ice time - Eberle is a safer player not to disturb the team

Bergevin and Mike are preaching team first - not sure if Yak is that of player - I dont see him on a regular basis so I cant comment one way or another- can only go by the media

Maybe Umberger as his production was starting to drop-off, but no chance on Johansen.
- MaximumBone

Florida traded the 1st overall twice.

Once they traded it Columbus for the right to swap 1sts the next year. They still finished worse that Columbus, so they didn't excercise it.

Another time, they traded a 1st overall and a 3rd for a 3rd overall, a late 2nd and Mikael Samuelsson.

Equivalent package for us would have been Yakupov and Jujhar Khaira (our 3rd) for Murray (assuming we get him), a 2nd and...Matt Calvert?

Snow shouldn't be making trades to appease fans. He should be making trades to field a winning team on the ice which will go the furthest to appease fans.
- uf1910

SNow makes trades to appease himself. I doubt he cares what the fans want. A guy like Sather is a GM who does what the fans

Jones may be moved in the future if he continues on this path due to Quicks long term commitment
- MTL1

we are running out of back up tenders man, LOL Zak gone, Berny gone, can't get rid of jones, but, I agree it would take a couple years of pine riding for him to get anxious enough to pull a Berny maneuver

true, bitterness ive had in my mouth since last year...but yes bitter nonetheless. i just see moulson as a 1 trick pony. no ways around it. he WILL be overpaid both contractually and for the return the sabres get for him at the deadline.
- LetsGoIsles

Vanek is also a 1 trick Pony. A pony that likes to sleep walk for 10 games at a time

true, bitterness ive had in my mouth since last year...but yes bitter nonetheless. i just see moulson as a 1 trick pony. no ways around it. he WILL be overpaid both contractually and for the return the sabres get for him at the deadline.
- LetsGoIsles

Correct Moulson will most likely get overpaid in contract terms and for a deadline rental.
But what pending UFA's dont get overpaid?

It's not surprising Vanek doesn't want to play for a dysfunctional organization, starting with a meddling owner, a GM who's yet to prove anything other than he can draft first overall fairly well and a coach who shouldn't be coaching in the NHL.
- LeftCoaster

That is so funny, Vancouver fits your description of the Isles to a tee. I would take Snow over Gillis anyday of the week. Your canucks are going nowhere fast.

This is being bitter.

Reports from the TSN guys is there are double digit teams interested in Moulson.

Vanek turing down offer from both Buffalo and now NYI really hurst his value.
- ImThatGuy

I think it's pretty obvious that Moulson doesn't suck. His career numbers are no where near Vaneks, but he's still managed to average almost .70 points per game over 6 plus seasons.

Florida traded the 1st overall twice.

Once they traded it Columbus for the right to swap 1sts the next year. They still finished worse that Columbus, so they didn't excercise it.

Another time, they traded a 1st overall and a 3rd for a 3rd overall, a late 2nd and Mikael Samuelsson.

Equivalent package for us would have been Yakupov and Jujhar Khaira (our 3rd) for Murray (assuming we get him), a 2nd and...Matt Calvert?
- Morris

Great post

Maybe they dont actually pay attention.
Maybe because edmonton is becoming a yearly joke at the bottom, they just assume.

Either way, these easy fixes and assumptions on what the real oiler problems are, are almost always wrong

Looks like the Isles will draft 3rd or 4th overall.

Gotta keep the pick this year.

Plus the first rounder for Vanek... the Isles will be fine this year @ the draft.
- jimmc7722

No, no. Give it to the Sabres this year.

Snow has to ask himself if he wants to go into '15 without picks in rd 1 and 2.

With all those picks and assets, shouldn't the future of the goaltending position look a lot brighter than the choice between a tandem of goalies with an .870SV% and a single year or what looked like a panic signing?
- Johnny Wrath

Would you be asking a question about the future of our defense if we had used a pick for a forward on a goaltender? Yes, you still would.

Would our forward future look that bright? no, it wouldn't. We suffered from having spent a 14th overall in 2004 and a 33rd overall in 05 and trading a 1st and 3rd in 06 all for goaltending goaltending and having no of those things provide a long term solution. We didn't suffer from neglecting the position.

But we are made up with a lot of French Canadians?
But I agree with you, no one over analyzed the Avs rebuild, it didnt get the mainstream media, maybe the select few of us on hockeybuzz, they werent even that relevant in Denver when you have the Broncos, Nuggets, or Rockies to jump ship to.
- DDM-Coga

Also, Oilers fans would give anything for a reprieve from the basement, even if it's intermittent. You guys have shown more progress obviously even before this year.

To L.A. Gagner
To EDM: GLUE

I think it's pretty obvious that Moulson doesn't suck. His career numbers are no where near Vaneks, but he's still managed to average almost .70 points per game over 6 plus seasons.
- MnGump

Correct. Vanek is one talented player himself, but he is limiting options for NYI, by saying he wants to test FA (Allegedly)

Do you guys know whats wrong with NHL GMs?

No, no. Give it to the Sabres this year.

Snow has to ask himself if he wants to go into '15 without picks in rd 1 and 2.
- ImThatGuy

picks 1-3 Isles need to keep the pick. If we get a #5 overall (We always end up with) it needs to be dealt this year.

this is why it isnt a disaster...

moulson sucks and will not get the same return that vanek will. having said that, the isles knew moulson wasnt going to resign for the amount they would pay OR they just didnt want to resign him.

so they traded away him and 1st and 2nd...1st round pick will hopefully be this years pick in one of the worst draft classes.

they traded for vanek who is a top 20 player in the league; everyone knows the isles have a hard time signing big time names but they DO have experience winning players over so garth took the risk and tried winning him over..so far, it doesnt look pretty. (lets not forget, although its a long shot, vanek can STILL resign come july 1)

being that vanek is a better player than moulson, id say that all garth has to do is get back the equivalent of a 1st round pick and he is back to where he was before the trade...all said and told, it was a risk that didnt work out, disaster??? thats a bit much.
- LetsGoIsles

NO, they need to get back a 1st, a 2nd, and another player similar to mouslon who realistically has the value of another 1st for vanek.

but i look so damn good in it!!!

not what im saying...it is a long shot and i get that...but im also not certain as some here that the Wild are a shoo-in. crazier things have happened.

my point was the book will be closed on the vanek story come july 1...wild. islanders. mets. who knows??
- LetsGoIsles

I don't disagree! I'm not so sure the Wild can afford him. Even if the rumors and reports are actually true, I don't know that Leopold is willing to dole out another max contract.

I get you guys wanted a scorer for JT, makes sense. But if Nelson or Strome are good enough or potentially good enough to play next to JT, then I come back to ask why the need for Vanek in the first place? To me you guys were more than just Vanek away from a serious run, yet you make an "all in" type of trade for someone who doesn't even fill your most glaring need(s) AND leave yourself with less options to go make a trade later to actually fill your needs.

I get that you will get assets back for Vanek, but I'm willing to bet damn near anything it won't be a top 5 pick.

And if Moulson comes back to fill your need for JT's linemate, then was there really a need to trade him away. Sure Vanek is an upgrade over Moulson, but if he is your 1st line solution then wasn't he a possible solution in the first place?
- uf1910

Vanek is an upgrade over any options the Isles had.

The trade was top 10 protected this year... don't forget.

The problem with Mouslon is that he wants 6 million next year.

He had a bad playoffs last year... just looked slow and didn't backcheck.

So I guess the team thought they would take a chance on Vanek.

If they got him early enough... they thought playing with JT on the top line would make him consider staying.

They did form one of the top producing lines while he was there.

To be honest we will not know the true cost of trying to convince Vanek to stay until the trade is made, and where the Isles finish next year.

picks 1-3 Isles need to keep the pick. If we get a #5 overall (We always end up with) it needs to be dealt this year.
- mighty13duck

Steve Ott for the pick the Ducks got from Ottawa.

Steve Ott for the pick the Ducks got from Ottawa.
- ImThatGuy

What does the ducks have to do with anything?

obviously...

vanek > brock nelson.
- LetsGoIsles

I get it, I guess what this comes down to is my feeling is the Isles were more than just a Moulson to Vanek upgrade from being the legitimate contender that to me would justify the price paid to make the upgrade.

What does the ducks have to do with anything?
- mighty13duck

Not a ducks fan?

Color me confused.

I get it, I guess what this comes down to is my feeling is the Isles were more than just a Moulson to Vanek upgrade from being the legitimate contender that to me would justify the price paid to make the upgrade.
- uf1910

When Snow made the trade Isles were playing 500 hockey and still in second place. The metro was pure garbage. SNow figured with Vanek the Isles would be able to solidify a top spot in the metro. Problem is our goaltending is atrocious and requires us to score 5 goals a game to get to ot.