I have the maturity of an 18 year old...
- jochfr

Fixed that for ya...but Oprah approves

There are better options for a young team who are being molded to be "tough to play against". Semin in a locker room full of kids doesn't fit this rebuild.

There are better options for a young team who are being molded to be "tough to play against". Semin in a locker room full of kids doesn't fit this rebuild.
- bobmack13

Who says he has to mold these kids? That's what Gionta, Gorges, and Moulson are for. Semin is here to score.

They lack scoring in a big way, they also lack true RWers. Semin fits both needs.

Solid blog B00s, complimenting you at this point almost seems redundant.

You laid out a lot of quality points, but I just disagree. Semin lost his edge years ago, and if he can't score playing with guys like Skinner and Staal, I don't believe he'll fare much better on this team. I don't like the guy, and that may bias me a bit, he doesn't fit what this team's identity will be.

I would prefer holding onto Hodgson, despite the animosity he's caused most of this fan base already. He's steadily improved every year in this league, and last year for God knows why, he absolutely collapsed. Now don't get me wrong, if we could find a trade partner who values his future potential instead of last year's seemingly anomaly, I would not only be not opposed to it, but I'd fully support it. At this point in time, I see Hodgson actually holding more value than Semin does. As with Semin's performance over the last few years, Hodgson really hasn't proved that he's in decline.

One of the best players in the game, Getzlaf, had a very rough season only a few years ago, to his standards, scoring only 52 points in 82 games. It turned out to be an anomaly and he was in the age of his prime, something Cody Hodgson is just entering. Not that I'm comparing the two players in the slightest.. just saying it can happen to the best players in this league. I have faith Cody can get back up to 40 points if he's willing to put in the work to become a 200 foot player (which he sounds like he's willing to do, and a coach willing to put confidence in him. A better system may serve him very well. We'll see and it's all speculation at this point, but again, I just see Hodgson more valuable than Semin today.

Solid blog B00s, complimenting you at this point almost seems redundant.

You laid out a lot of quality points, but I just disagree. Semin lost his edge years ago, and if he can't score playing with guys like Skinner and Staal, I don't believe he'll fare much better on this team. I don't like the guy, and that may bias me a bit, he doesn't fit what this team's identity will be.

I would prefer holding onto Hodgson, despite the animosity he's caused most of this fan base already. He's steadily improved every year in this league, and last year for God knows why, he absolutely collapsed. Now don't get me wrong, if we could find a trade partner who values his future potential instead of last year's seemingly anomaly, I would not only be not opposed to it, but I'd fully support it. At this point in time, I see Hodgson actually holding more value than Semin does. As with Semin's performance over the last few years, Hodgson really hasn't proved that he's in decline.

One of the best players in the game, Getzlaf, had a very rough season only a few years ago, to his standards, scoring only 52 points in 82 games. It turned out to be an anomaly and he was in the age of his prime, something Cody Hodgson is just entering. Not that I'm comparing the two players in the slightest.. just saying it can happen to the best players in this league. I have faith Cody can get back up to 40 points if he's willing to put in the work to become a 200 foot player (which he sounds like he's willing to do, and a coach willing to put confidence in him. A better system may serve him very well. We'll see and it's all speculation at this point, but again, I just see Hodgson more valuable than Semin today.
- TheSabresTaco

That's flat out wrong

He scored 44 in 44 3 seasons ago with Carolina in the shortened season, the year after 42 in 65 games which is still above a 50 point pace and last year was the anomaly.

He is a 55-65 point player on average. He is not a ppg player anymore however there is a need for scoring on this team and he simply does it better than Hodgson. Not to mention his resume would fetch more at the deadline than Hodgson's would if they wanted to move him.

Realistically, with how the rosters look right now (no trades) Hodgson seems to be that other top six winger. I think we all believe that there will be a trade for a top six winger, but as it stands now it's Cody. To me it boils down to a game of "Would You Rather"

Cody - shown he can work in the offseason, but had a terrible year where he was taken off the power play. Given little opportunities to play with quality players this year and is still young/entering his "prime"

Semin - Has proven his place in the league. Could use the revitalization of younger Russians like Gringo and Zads to overcome the "lazy" stigma and have people to connect to. I don't know the 'Canes roster enough to know what their Russian contingency is though.

Ultimately it's a gamble either way. If they can make a deal, it can't hurt.

All that I'm saying is that $7 mill. could be better spent than banking on a guy who may, or may not decide to show up on a nightly basis. Sure Semin put up some big numbers in Washington, hell, my mother could have, playing on a power play w/ Backstrom, Ovi, and Green in his prime. Better options out there. Have some faith in Murray!!!

All that I'm saying is that $7 mill. could be better spent than banking on a guy who may, or may not decide to show up on a nightly basis. Sure Semin put up some big numbers in Washington, hell, my mother could have, playing on a power play w/ Backstrom, Ovi, and Green in his prime. Better options out there. Have some faith in Murray!!!
- bobmack13

A ppg player 3 years ago in Carolina.

A 50 plus point pace 2 seasons ago in Carolina

A bad last season.

Find me a player that can put up 50 points on the regular that you can get for Cody Hodgson...

I am not saying this is a move to make at this point as we are rebuilding but if its Hodgson or Semin I would rather have Semin.

That $7 million isn't going to hurt the team at all. They have $35 million in space and if you swap Hodgson for Semin they still have $32 million in cap space and Semin's contract is a year shorter than Hodgson's.

That's flat out wrong

He scored 44 in 44 3 seasons ago with Carolina in the shortened season, the year after 42 in 65 games which is still above a 50 point pace and last year was the anomaly.

He is a 55-65 point player on average. He is not a ppg player anymore however there is a need for scoring on this team and he simply does it better than Hodgson. Not to mention his resume would fetch more at the deadline than Hodgson's would if they wanted to move him.
- Stripes77

His resume got his ass benched for chunks of time this year and he's 31. Hodgson got benched too and he's 25. I want Semin no where near this team, ever. I'd rather have that (frank)tard No'Reilly. Semin will decline. Count on it.

His resume got his ass benched for chunks of time this year and he's 31. Hodgson got benched too and he's 25. I want Semin no where near this team, ever. I'd rather have that (frank)tard No'Reilly. Semin will decline. Count on it.
- TheSabresTaco

His resume also got him $7 million a year. Like I said Semin vs Hodgson at the deadline Semin gets more EVERYTIME.

thx, striper...might even provoke some interesting responses
- Michael Pachla

Like this one




Hate (h8, heyt, hayt) Semin. Million dollar skills, ten cent heart.

I was just coming in to say the same thing about Hodgson's face; very punchable.
- PrinceChill

oh my

A ppg player 3 years ago in Carolina.

A 50 plus point pace 2 seasons ago in Carolina

A bad last season.

Find me a player that can put up 50 points on the regular that you can get for Cody Hodgson...

I am not saying this is a move to make at this point as we are rebuilding but if its Hodgson or Semin I would rather have Semin.

That $7 million isn't going to hurt the team at all. They have $35 million in space and if you swap Hodgson for Semin they still have $32 million in cap space and Semin's contract is a year shorter than Hodgson's.
- Stripes77

it's real simple

Murray needs to

A get his coach
B figure out if they are making a push this year or next year to compete for a top 8 spot
C then find a stud d man and get the special teams in order


if he thinks Gorges belongs on the ice for more then 18 minutes, he is over his head as a GM

it's real simple

Murray needs to

A get his coach
B figure out if they are making a push this year or next year to compete for a top 8 spot
C then find a stud d man and get the special teams in order


if he thinks Gorges belongs on the ice for more then 18 minutes, he is over his head as a GM
- homiedclown

I agree...if he wants to start making that push for a top 8 spot, Semin at least helps the god awful PP.

Hodgson and Pick #31 (or Johan Larsson) to Canes for Jeff Skinner. Similar contracts, both had bad seasons last year, both have potential upside... Skinner is more proven than Hodgson, thus the added draft pick. Both players seem to have disappointed their respective team's upper management. Also, allows Canes to draft Marner without the worry of having 2 of the same type of player (smaller, speedy sniper).

I'd rather buy out Hodgson, trade for O'Reilly , and extend him for 6.5-7mil. What message are you sending the team when your highest paid player scored 6 goals, and was a -10 last year, never mind the fact that he gets hurt every year.

Hodgson and Pick #31 to Canes for Jeff Skinner. Similar contracts, both had bad seasons last year, both have potential upside... Skinner is more proven than Hodgson, thus the added draft pick. Both players seem to have disappointed their respective team's upper management.
- djc1877

Skinner scares me, one more hit to the head and he could be totally done.

Skinner scares me, one more hit to the head and he could be totally done.
- Stripes77

Okay... so you don't sound too attached to Hodgson, either. So, Skinner gets hurt again and his contract becomes a LTIR situation vs buyout scenario. If he stays healthy, the Sabres get a speedy sniper and this team desperately needs speed on the wings.

Skinner scares me, one more hit to the head and he could be totally done.
- Stripes77

plus he only had 2 more points then Gerbe last season playing a similar amount of games

Skinner scares me, one more hit to the head and he could be totally done.
- Stripes77

Devil's Advocate... the same has been said about Crosby for years, right?

I'd rather gamble on Skinner, than Semin any day. I could be wrong, but Semin doesn't seem to be a Murray guy anyway.

Devil's Advocate... the same has been said about Crosby for years, right?
- thatsapickle

If Skinner was anywhere near Crosby I wouldn't be having this conversation. But $6 million a year for a player whose best year (5 years ago) was his rookie season and 63 points is a totally different conversation.

I'd rather gamble on Skinner, than Semin any day. I could be wrong, but Semin doesn't seem to be a Murray guy anyway.
- bobmack13

I'd rather grab a UFA erat, williams, frolik

package a few players to get a front line winger or d man

Devil's Advocate... the same has been said about Crosby for years, right?
- thatsapickle

And... between 2012-13 & 2013-14, both Hodgson and Skinner scored the same number of points (78) in very close to the same number of games.

I want nothing to do with Semin unless it means we don't have to part with a draft pick to acquire Skinner. I don't see Murray allowing Semin anywhere near his team any way that you cut it though, regardless of what his potential scoring ability or past stats may indicate as a need for Buffalo. Personally, regardless of all the talk about Buffalo's prospect depth... they don't have any "stud" offensive prospects of the "can't miss" variety. Sure Baptiste or Bailey or maybe one or two others may turn into great players, but they are not sure things at this point. I would love to see them trade the Isles' 1st round pick (#21) and a defenseman to Columbus for Kerby Rychel and a 1st round pick next year.

If Skinner was anywhere near Crosby I wouldn't be having this conversation. But $6 million a year for a player whose best year (5 years ago) was his rookie season and 63 points is a totally different conversation.
- Stripes77

I was trying to stay away from the production and just the comments about his health. Obviously you would take Crosby 10000 times out of 10. The point I was trying to make is that if you're afraid of one guy being one hit away, you could lose out. It's all a gamble.