I can complain about it all I want! Freedom of speech! If Gary Bettman wasn't such an idiotic moron he'd outmuscle the measly CHL and convince them to compromise but he's an idiot so obviously players like Drouin or Grigorenko suffer because of it.
- bluengold12

He did not suffer it made him a way better player this year ..

it was a smart move

I can complain about it all I want! Freedom of speech! If Gary Bettman wasn't such an idiotic moron he'd outmuscle the measly CHL and convince them to compromise but he's an idiot so obviously players like Drouin or Grigorenko suffer because of it.
- bluengold12

I wouldn't exactly call 108 points in 46 games "suffering". Yzerman knows what he's doing, I think tampa fans will be satisfied.

He did not suffer it made him a way better player this year ..

it was a smart move
- gerbe75pts

He'd been better off in the AHL then dominating in the AHL ditto for anyone playing in a league where defense is probably on par with a high school team from Toronto..

I wouldn't exactly call 108 points in 46 games "suffering". Yzerman knows what he's doing, I think tampa fans will be satisfied.
- Sabresfan-365

I'm fine with him not playing in NHL but he should've been in the AHL.. All playing in the weak defensive Q league did was prove that he's better than the competition but not sure if he's good enough for NHL play

It actually did hurt him.. That's my whole point.. He wasted a year of his development playing in Juniors last year. He should have been playing in Rochester all last year now he's a year behind.
- bluengold12

Year behind what? He was playing big minutes against good competition for an 18 year old. He belongs in juniors right now.

He's not Ristolainen, he's gonna take a lot longer

He'd been better off in the AHL then dominating in the AHL ditto for anyone playing in a league where defense is probably on par with a high school team from Toronto..
- bluengold12

Did you see Girgensons almost get killed by a cheap shot in the AHL? 18 year olds have no place there

Year behind what? He was playing big minutes against good competition for an 18 year old. He belongs in juniors right now.

He's not Ristolainen, he's gonna take a lot longer
- OneKaneOneCup

I was talking about Grigorenko here..

Did you see Girgensons almost get killed by a cheap shot in the AHL? 18 year olds have no place there
- OneKaneOneCup

Yeah and look how he turned out after that... He became a much better player in the AHL then had he taken the route of the CHL

Yeah and look how he turned out after that... He became a much better player in the AHL then had he taken the route of the CHL
- bluengold12

He'd probably have been even better if he didn't miss a ton of time with a concussion. Kids get targeted in the AHL.

The way Zadarov plays he will be one of them.

Yeah and look how he turned out after that... He became a much better player in the
- bluengold12[AHL then had he taken the route of the CHL

I still think it would of been smart to go to the rockets he could have developed his scoring more but now he will just have to do it in the NHL

I can complain about it all I want! Freedom of speech! If Gary Bettman wasn't such an idiotic moron he'd outmuscle the measly CHL and convince them to compromise but he's an idiot so obviously players like Drouin or Grigorenko suffer because of it.
- bluengold12

I am no Bettman fanboy . But you suggest he go strong arm the biggest feeder system for the NHL? Over the few exception to the rules every year . Ready for ticket prices to go up ? Because the NHL will be expected to hand over big dough to the CHL if such a move happens . All those CHL franchises are independently owned businesses that depend on putting a quality product on the ice to put people in the seats . They are not subsidized like AHL franchises are. The rule is by no means perfect but . It protects the CHL a little. You need to get to more OHL games . The hockey is not as lame as you seem to think.

I still think it would of been smart to go to the rockets he could have developed his scoring more but now he will just have to do it in the NHL
- gerbe75pts

Considering he's probably overall right now the 2nd best player on our team I'd say playing in the measly USHL or whatever its called would have been a poor decision..

Considering he's probably overall right now the 2nd best player on our team I'd say playing in the measly USHL or whatever its called would have been a poor decision..
- bluengold12

He would of played in Kelowna or Collage he could have already developed his scoring
now he's doing it in the NHL ( not a bad thing )

He would of played in Kelowna or Collage he could have already developed his scoring
now he's doing it in the NHL ( not a bad thing )
- gerbe75pts

Yeah your saying it would have been a good thing to play in college or the USHL which I think is obviously not the case considering he's all ready the hardest worker on our team and though his scoring isn't great yet he was never really suppose to be a great scorer anyway.. I think he made the right move going straight to the AHL

Do you think this is a fair trade?

Buffalo Sabres send

Christian Ehrhoff
and 2nd round pick 39th overall

to the

Philadelphia Flyers for

1st round pick 17th overall
Matt Reade
and maybe one of their D they want to get rid of.. Coburn or Schenn

What are your thoughts?

I was going to put Voracek instead of Reade but figured it wasn't really fair.

Do you think this is a fair trade?

Buffalo Sabres send

Christian Ehrhoff
and 2nd round pick 39th overall

to the

Philadelphia Flyers for

1st round pick 17th overall
Matt Reade
and maybe one of their D they want to get rid of.. Coburn or Schenn

What are your thoughts?

I was going to put Voracek instead of Reade but figured it wasn't really fair.
- bluengold12

Id rather try to get B Scheen or Cout. in a deal

Id rather try to get B Scheen or Cout. in a deal
- Cheeseballin

Well yeah.. but the Flyers have zero cap room and Murray was saying he'd take on some big contracts to move back into 1st round Schenn and Court are RFA and under 2 million cap space hardly big contracts

Id rather try to get B Scheen or Cout. in a deal
- Cheeseballin

B Schenn

B Schenn
- Irish 14

Do you guys have any info on potential FA's? If we only sign scrubs, we will probably get accused of tanking.

Do you guys have any info on potential FA's? If we only sign scrubs, we will probably get accused of tanking.
- benny948

Info like rumors? No nothing really. Were still like 3 weeks away from FA period I'm sure after the draft things will heat up. Pretty good feeling I'd say 85% we'll have some new players on this team during the draft via salary trade so we'll see who comes with that first. Depending on that I doubt we sign anyone too big but will not be surprised if we make an offer to Ott.

Do you guys have any info on potential FA's? If we only sign scrubs, we will probably get accused of tanking.
- benny948

So let them. Every trade we've made is a legitimate one that has benefited us either for now or the future. If we had traded everyone for just picks and had our AHL team playing in the NHL then maybe.


As for FA, the last decade or so the only FA we've signed that hasn't been or hasn't turned into a scrub is Ehrhoff. Fact is given the teams location and place in the standings, scrubs are really the only players that are going to want to sign here.

The alternative would be to overpay 2nd line wannabe's first line money. No team should cripple their organizations future just to prove some critics wrong. Unless an audio recording of Tim Murray saying "I want to tank next year" gets leaked they'll be in the clear.

So let them. Every trade we've made is a legitimate one that has benefited us either for now or the future. If we had traded everyone for just picks and had our AHL team playing in the NHL then maybe.


As for FA, the last decade or so the only FA we've signed that hasn't been or hasn't turned into a scrub is Ehrhoff. Fact is given the teams location and place in the standings, scrubs are really the only players that are going to want to sign here.

The alternative would be to overpay 2nd line wannabe's first line money. No team should cripple their organizations future just to prove some critics wrong. Unless an audio recording of Tim Murray saying "I want to tank next year" gets leaked they'll be in the clear.
- Sabresfan-365

I dont care who they overpay as long as its short term. Was looking at the centers that are over 35 that we could snag for a year, koivu and jokinen were candidates. Probably wouldnt hurt to grab an overpriced d for depth, that might work out if its a salary dump (especially if the kids are gonna stay down on the farm). So, sign a ufa center and trade for an overpriced d and we are close to where we wanna be. The best way for the league to discourage what we are doing indirectly, would be changing the draft lottery, which they are considering. Sounds like there is enough red tape that we will be ok this year. Just have to reach the floor.

I dont care who they overpay as long as its short term. Was looking at the centers that are over 35 that we could snag for a year, koivu and jokinen were candidates. Probably wouldnt hurt to grab an overpriced d for depth, that might work out if its a salary dump (especially if the kids are gonna stay down on the farm). So, sign a ufa center and trade for an overpriced d and we are close to where we wanna be. The best way for the league to discourage what we are doing indirectly, would be changing the draft lottery, which they are considering. Sounds like there is enough red tape that we will be ok this year. Just have to reach the floor.
- rover16

Unless the changes they plan on making are drastic, it still sounds like tanking is the way to go. Even if 1st overall odds are lowered and there's a separate lottery for the top 3, tanking still becomes the best way to acquire high end talent.

Info like rumors? No nothing really. Were still like 3 weeks away from FA period I'm sure after the draft things will heat up. Pretty good feeling I'd say 85% we'll have some new players on this team during the draft via salary trade so we'll see who comes with that first. Depending on that I doubt we sign anyone too big but will not be surprised if we make an offer to Ott.
- bluengold12

I would be content with that, we need leadership.