Yet none of this is due to a DEFENSIVE system, one of the best in the league, incredible forward depth, a reduced role and being a part of the worst regular season playoff team in recent memory?

Knee deep in center in 6 months? Tell me, which of our centers will come in the league and make an impact on Faceoffs and scoring immediately? And getting to the cap floor easily? Doesn't that statement prove my logic of picking him up to do so right? Pat Kaleta, Drew Stafford and Chris Stewart are all gone. Need taken care of by claiming Richards and if any of those 3 come back I'd say its the thing that put me under on GMTM instead of over because he really hasn't done crap in my eyes.
- DynamicThreads

You must know something that the rest of the GM's can't see. Plenty of other players are succeeeding in LA. Take a second and think about it: they are paying him NOT to play for them.

Which one of the young centers can help us immediately? The answer is probably "None of them". So what? The point is to get them ready, not to (maybe) marginally improve us right now. I'd rather give those minutes to a guy like Schaller. Also, at some point Uncle Terry is going to go shopping or trading. We have gobs of money and assets - why tie ourselves to an expensive 4th line C?

If people are so keen on going shopping for bad contracts there are more attractive options. Clarkson and Bolland come to mind - I would probably swap Hodgson for either of them. Those guys are also 3rd liners but at least they have something left in the tank. And save the "he has two rings" arguement. He could have cured cancer - it doesn't do me any good right now.

You must know something that the rest of the GM's can't see. Plenty of other players are succeeeding in LA. Take a second and think about it: they are paying him NOT to play for them.

Which one of the young centers can help us immediately? The answer is probably "None of them". So what? The point is to get them ready, not to (maybe) marginally improve us right now. I'd rather give those minutes to a guy like Schaller. Also, at some point Uncle Terry is going to go shopping or trading. We have gobs of money and assets - why tie ourselves to an expensive 4th line C?
- Slump Buster

Let's be fair, he has more points than all but 4 Sabres (and tied with 1 other) and he plays 4th line minutes and likely with poor linemates.

Let's be fair, he has more points than all but 4 Sabres (and tied with 1 other) and he plays 4th line minutes and likely with poor linemates.
- stashu

Is he better than half the guys here? Sure, of course. We've got guys in Rochester that are better than guys that are here so that isn't saying much. It doesn't change the fact that it would be a terrible idea. I could maybe see taking a chance on him if he was younger and cheaper. 6 years is a looooooooooooooong time.

Late start in Calgary = extra pregame.
- Der Kaiser

Nice reminder . forgot

He is old and not very good. It's a no brainer that they don't touch him
- sbroads24

Wow, thanks for adding to the conversation with your incredible insight.

Let's be fair, he has more points than all but 4 Sabres (and tied with 1 other) and he plays 4th line minutes and likely with poor linemates.
- stashu

I'd just like to see another player to plug in to the lineup besides Stewart and Stafford.

Hell, if he can bring leadership, kill penalties and chip in the occassional goal then he's TWICE the player that Staff or Stew are/were.

Even if he's broken down and old (at 29 years old) if given top 6 minutes on this crap lineup he'd be either leading the team or just behind Ennis. If it doesn't work out then waive his ass and pay him to play in the minors.

If people are so keen on going shopping for bad contracts there are more attractive options. Clarkson and Bolland come to mind - I would probably swap Hodgson for either of them. Those guys are also 3rd liners but at least they have something left in the tank. And save the "he has two rings" arguement. He could have cured cancer - it doesn't do me any good right now.
- Slump Buster

Um. Wow.

I'd just like to see another player to plug in to the lineup besides Stewart and Stafford.

Hell, if he can bring leadership, kill penalties and chip in the occassional goal then he's TWICE the player that Staff or Stew are/were.

Even if he's broken down and old (at 29 years old) if given top 6 minutes on this crap lineup he'd be either leading the team or just behind Ennis. If it doesn't work out then waive his ass and pay him to play in the minors.
- Pairo11

This guy gets it.

Um. Wow.
- DynamicThreads

Didn't you just slam someone else for not providing insight?

You must know something that the rest of the GM's can't see. Plenty of other players are succeeeding in LA. Take a second and think about it: they are paying him NOT to play for them.

Which one of the young centers can help us immediately? The answer is probably "None of them". So what? The point is to get them ready, not to (maybe) marginally improve us right now. I'd rather give those minutes to a guy like Schaller. Also, at some point Uncle Terry is going to go shopping or trading. We have gobs of money and assets - why tie ourselves to an expensive 4th line C?
- Slump Buster

You are arguing yourself right out of your own argument.

Is he better than half the guys here? Sure, of course. We've got guys in Rochester that are better than guys that are here so that isn't saying much. It doesn't change the fact that it would be a terrible idea. I could maybe see taking a chance on him if he was younger and cheaper. 6 years is a looooooooooooooong time.
- Slump Buster

If he was younger and cheaper someone would have already traded for him.

If the Sabres do it I am all for it. They ware the worst team in hockey in terms of offense, puck possession, shots, faceoffs.

He has 2X cup rings and is a vet. Which this team will not have once Staff, Stewart, Mez, Benoit etc are traded.

I'd just like to see another player to plug in to the lineup besides Stewart and Stafford.

Hell, if he can bring leadership, kill penalties and chip in the occassional goal then he's TWICE the player that Staff or Stew are/were.

Even if he's broken down and old (at 29 years old) if given top 6 minutes on this crap lineup he'd be either leading the team or just behind Ennis. If it doesn't work out then waive his ass and pay him to play in the minors.
- Pairo11

I don't get the comparisons to other guys that we don't want anymore. We could find guys anywhere that would be better than what we have now. So what?

Wow, thanks for adding to the conversation with your incredible insight.
- DynamicThreads

Here's some insight. An NHL team waived him because no one would trade for him and his contract. If he was good and it was just a "system" issue, another team would have given up an asset for him.

I find it funny people think Mike Richards is done, off year this year but he's not done. Would be a nice addition to the Sabres but the years left on his contract are the question.

Didn't you just slam someone else for not providing insight?
- Slump Buster

Read the bolded part of my quote? You know, the one about curing cancer not doing you any good and its comparison to playing a professional sport?

You are arguing yourself right out of your own argument.
- DynamicThreads

How so? I fully admit that he is better than what we have. That doesn't make bringing in Richards a smart move. That's what you and others are missing.

Read the bolded part of my quote? You know, the one about curing cancer not doing you any good and its comparison to playing a professional sport?
- DynamicThreads

Yes, it was an exaggeration meant to demonstrate that I don't care what he did several years ago when he was a good player on a good team.

I find it funny people think Mike Richards is done, off year this year but he's not done. Would be a nice addition to the Sabres but the years left on his contract are the question.
- SABRES 89

Agreed. He becomes a Sabres and some are worried in 2 yrs we can't wait for him to be gone. (me included). Would be great if he can produce for 4 of the 6

I find it funny people think Mike Richards is done, off year this year but he's not done. Would be a nice addition to the Sabres but the years left on his contract are the question.
- SABRES 89

The years left aren't just a question mark, it's THE reason no one will claim him. 5 years for someone who's 30 and trending downwards for 4 straight seasons is an awful idea for this team

We literally just got rid of a bad contract in Leino

Agreed. He becomes a Sabres and some are worried in 2 yrs we can't wait for him to be gone. (me included). Would be great if he can produce for 4 of the 6
- cabin

Sounds like Moulson.

Sounds like Molsoun.
- stashu

I think Moulson is the classic example of a truely complimentary player. He will be a very good and affordable second line winger when we get better talent at center (and he is on the second line).

People will never be happy, we can get McDavid and they would still complain. People think what we have in the AHL are the saviors and bring the team to the promised land, we can't add this guy, we can't add that guy...............when does it end.

Sounds like Molsoun.
- stashu

Pretty much.

I have a feeling Richards will be a Sabre today. And I will be ok , but have my worries too.

Here's some insight. An NHL team waived him because no one would trade for him and his contract. If he was good and it was just a "system" issue, another team would have given up an asset for him.
- sbroads24

NHL is a business, Ok. An NHL team waived him because no one would trade for him and his contract? This can't be a serious statement. And why give up an asset for a guy you can get for free?

There are several reasons he was put on waivers. I highly doubt that the reason he was is because no one would trade for his contract. How about a stacked team with a high payroll, not being on a two-way contract because of not being Matt Ellis, and being a part of a constantly under-performing team that stacked too many high quality/similar type of players and choosing 1 out of 6 to make a business decision related to cap issues?