If we aren't competing for a Cup in the time we have Sharp,
Why do we NEED him?
Makes more sense to just sign another Vet if for some reason Gionta & Moulson can't provide the leadership that Sharp supposedly can.
If we are going to trade for someone,
He should be here for the long run...
Not just 2 years
I don't see what Sharp can provide in that time span that's so valuable
- jdfitz77

We don't need him. He is and should be an option though. Hell, he may even still be able to pot 15-20 goals at 36 and maybe he agrees to resign for a year when we are competing

I would actually say he's played with elite talent, not behind it. Behind implies he doesn't play on the same line as the elite talent, and for most of the past 5 years, he has.
- HonkFortheGoose

I think we're splitting hairs. I've always liked him as a player and I'm not taking away from what he did. If people are going to play the "played on championship teams" then we've got the box filled with a former captain. Once again, he would be 36 and potentially a UFA by the time we're ready. If we didn't have to give up much to get him? Sure, why not.

The problem is we don't just need vet players. We need guys that can teach the youth about how to win. We need guys who have been there and competed for it year after year. There's something to be said about having a roster full of guys that don't have any or very little playoff experience.
- HonkFortheGoose

I hear this a lot here and I don't get it. We have vets that have won before. It is easy to acquire more.

I hear this a lot here and I don't get it. We have vets that have won before. It is easy to acquire more.
- Slump Buster

Very few. Gionta is the only player with a Cup on his resume. Nobody else has really come close.

StL isn't gonna sign him to a 10mil a year deal
Another team might
If I were Toronto I'd certainly try
- jdfitz77

I don't know if they can risk the 4 1st round picks.

I hear this a lot here and I don't get it. We have vets that have won before. It is easy to acquire more.
- Slump Buster

We do? Other than Gionta and Gorges, who exactly do we have? Gionta has 112 playoff games, Gorges has 68, and then the next closest is Cody McCormick with 27.

03/04 Hurricanes 76 points the 05/06 Hurricanes 112 points.
05/06 Pens 58 points the 06/07 Pens 105 points.
66/67 Bruins 44 points the 67/68 Bruins 88 points.

It happens.

The point is Murray purposefully put together a team of misfit players. If he wishes he has the assets and money to put together a playoff caliber team but like the Clown says "This is a conversation that needs to be revisited in July/August".
- dadeadhead

x10

We do? Other than Gionta and Gorges, who exactly do we have? Gionta has 112 playoff games, Gorges has 68, and then the next closest is Cody McCormick with 27.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yes. Not that we have it but that we need it. Look at all of the cup winners over the last few years that were led by young stars and not over-the-hill-vets. I'll take young talent any day.

Yes. Not that we have it but that we need it. Look at all of the cup winners over the last few years that were led by young stars and not over-the-hill-vets. I'll take young talent any day.
- Slump Buster

They also had multiple guys that had won before. The Sabres have had very few. The lack of those guys is the reason they're in this position in the first place.

Ennis is a better player than Sharp right now. Sharp also had the benefit of playing behind elite talent. Not sure what your point is.
- Slump Buster

Sharp is 1 year removed from a 70 point season. Ennis is one year removed from a 40 point season. Yes Ennis is going to get better but Sharp's jock has more playoff experience than Ennis has.

Cause Tyler Ennis has won a playoff series let alone 2 Cups? Tyler Ennis has put up over 70 points in a year before? I'm not comparing skill set I'm comparing experience. Crosby had Mario and Guerin Stamkos had St Louis who the hell does Eichel have? Matt Moulson? Sharp is and will be better in 2 years than Moulson.
- Stripes77

"Experience" doesn't "shelter" Eichel on the ice
U keep changing your argument

Gionta can teach Eichel how to be a pro
Ennis is just as capable as Sharp of on ice support
I believe he just put up better stats on a worse team, a MUCH worse team

If Sharp was 28 & gonna be here for 6years then I'd be with ya
But he's too old
Why wouldn't U want to get someone younger?
Makes no sense to me

Yes. Not that we have it but that we need it. Look at all of the cup winners over the last few years that were led by young stars and not over-the-hill-vets. I'll take young talent any day.
- Slump Buster

The Cup winners over the past few years had a mix of both. If you don't think so, then I'm not going to keep beating my head against the wall with this discussion.

"Experience" doesn't "shelter" Eichel on the ice
U keep changing your argument

Gionta can teach Eichel how to be a pro
Ennis is just as capable as Sharp of on ice support
I believe he just put up better stats on a worse team, a MUCH worse team

If Sharp was 28 & gonna be here for 6years then I'd be with ya
But he's too old
Why wouldn't U want to get someone younger?
Makes no sense to me
- jdfitz77

Sharp may be the easiest/cheapest if all things work out.

They also had multiple guys that had won before. The Sabres have had very few. The lack of those guys is the reason they're in this position in the first place.
- buffalofan19

No, we are in this position because we lacked high-end talent. So who were these grizzled vets that led the Kings to those cups? How about the Hawks? Sure, they picked up some guys along the way, but everyone does this at the deadline.

Sharp is 1 year removed from a 70 point season. Ennis is one year removed from a 40 point season. Yes Ennis is going to get better but Sharp's jock has more playoff experience than Ennis has.
- Stripes77

If we can find that time machine to import Sharp from 3 years ago then you would have a point.

Screw veterans and leadership
Sabres need to get a new ice crew...take a look at Chicago's Ice Girls!


And they need to paint the Arena Walls a better color, that flat navy blue sucks, too dull and drab.

The problem is we don't just need vet players. We need guys that can teach the youth about how to win. We need guys who have been there and competed for it year after year. There's something to be said about having a roster full of guys that don't have any or very little playoff experience.
- HonkFortheGoose

I agree... But let's get that guy at age 28-29 so he can be here for when we are also good, not just 2years
34 is too old

The Cup winners over the past few years had a mix of both. If you don't think so, then I'm not going to keep beating my head against the wall with this discussion.
- HonkFortheGoose

A mix? Sure, every team has a mix of young and old. The point was that the young stars win the championships these days. This isn't the mid 80's.

"Experience" doesn't "shelter" Eichel on the ice
U keep changing your argument

Gionta can teach Eichel how to be a pro
Ennis is just as capable as Sharp of on ice support
I believe he just put up better stats on a worse team, a MUCH worse team

If Sharp was 28 & gonna be here for 6years then I'd be with ya
But he's too old
Why wouldn't U want to get someone younger?
Makes no sense to me
- jdfitz77

I have not once changed my argument. Sharp is a veteran who would demand more of an honest approach on the ice from an opposing team than Tyler Ennis. No team is worried about Tyler Ennis so that's where having Sharp playing with Eichel shelters him a bit.

I agree... But let's get that guy at age 28-29 so he can be here for when we are also good, not just 2years
34 is too old
- jdfitz77

Where are you going to get that guy? Which GM is intentionally looking to get fired?

No, we are in this position because we lacked high-end talent. So who were these grizzled vets that led the Kings to those cups? How about the Hawks? Sure, they picked up some guys along the way, but everyone does this at the deadline.
- Slump Buster

Sharp Hossa Richards Carter all guys that were over 25 to name a few.

What's with all this Sharp talk ?

I have not once changed my argument. Sharp is a veteran who would demand more of an honest approach on the ice from an opposing team than Tyler Ennis. No team is worried about Tyler Ennis so that's where having Sharp playing with Eichel shelters him a bit.
- Stripes77[/quote

Shelter? What does that mean anyway?

If I were a D I'd be scared Eichel and Ennis coming down on me. I don't think Sharp's cups from years ago would instill the same fear next season.

We don't need him. He is and should be an option though. Hell, he may even still be able to pot 15-20 goals at 36 and maybe he agrees to resign for a year when we are competing
- sbroads24

Well if we don't NEED him, then why give up assets for him?
Let's put those assets towards a younger Vet
Doesn't that make more sense?

A mix? Sure, every team has a mix of young and old. The point was that the young stars win the championships these days. This isn't the mid 80's.
- Slump Buster

A team full of players under 25 do not win championships.