For those worried about who would play where if we signed Stamkos...


If we did sign Stamkos & there wasn't the chemistry there with him & Eichel together (with whichever one of them on the wing)...

Pittsburgh is showing how u can have your best 3 forwards split up on 3 different lines & they all get their icetime

Crosby, Malkin & Kessel all on different lines, all got over 18min of icetime
And their 4th line all got over 10min of icetime each as well

so there's multiple ways to make it work
No need to worry about that aspect of signing him IMO

I think Chychrun and Juolevi will be gone by #8. I'm putting our draft at 40% trade the pick for Risto's partner. 60% Nylander being there for us.

And, if we want to shut Toronto fans up, sign Stamkos. If we really want to be considered a legit contender with the big guys in this league, it's time for us to step up and take what we want.
- sskkoo1

We WILL NOT go silently into the night, AND we will have the brothers Nylander come puck drop next year. Book it.
You can have Stammer & his 10 milly contract, we won't need him.

If that's the case, Buffalo is out of the running for it. The only "established player" the Oilers would want in that scenario is Ristolainen, and we both know that's not going to happen.
- buffalofan19

Pretty much my thoughts exactly

Risto isn't happening

Not interested in Bogos contract

Pysyk isn't at that level yet

"Agreed that Matthews is "certainly not Eichel". Eichel isn't a bad player, but we've already got a few of his caliber, and he's certainly not the kinda guy you're hoping for after finishing dead last.

Though, even if Matthews only tops out as an Eichel-like player, at least we didn't have to watch two historically bad rosters, built entirely for the purpose of getting someone else, to get him.

That would suck.
- Feeling Glucky?"


From Garths blog.... I guess the former mayor passed down some good stuff to some of the residents.
- gordong

I am not sure if Matthews will be better than Eichel. Selfishly, I hope not. And Eichel is definitely better than any other forward in the Leafs system. He is right about one thing: going through two historically bad seasons only to get the second best player in a targeted draft will always sting.

I am not sure if Matthews will be better than Eichel. Selfishly, I hope not. And Eichel is definitely better than any other forward in the Leafs system. He is right about one thing: going through two historically bad seasons only to get the second best player in a targeted draft will always sting.
- buffalofan19

It's a good rivalry thing to talk about, well have to wait and see how it plays out....... But didn't Mathews put up nu,ber similar if not better numbers at each stage?

Pretty much my thoughts exactly

Risto isn't happening

Not interested in Bogos contract

Pysyk isn't at that level yet
- HB77

That's fair, he would be a low end top 4 guy next year or at least be solid on the bottom pairing. I'm just not sure how much higher end than that you will get to only move back 4 spots. The deal may just not work, which is okay too.

F the Laughs...

Anyways after looking at the hit I think Orpik ends up with a 1 game suspension

Am I the only one who's actually excited for this?

Toronto vs. Buffalo actually will mean something. We will probably down the road face each other in the playoffs


Eichel, O'Reilly, Reinhart, Risto, Kane
Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Reilly.

This will become an actual rivalry again

Am I the only one who's actually excited for this?

Toronto vs. Buffalo actually will mean something. We will probably down the road face each other in the playoffs


Eichel, O'Reilly, Reinhart, Risto, Kane
Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Reilly.

This will become an actual rivalry again
- sbroads24

Sounds fun.

Sounds fun.
- burn

Nylander Nylander Nylander Nylander

Nylander Vs Nylander
Matthews Vs jack

Sabres vs leafs rivalry back

I know I'm beating a dead horse, but doesn't anybody find it interesting that Toronto won the lottery. Buffalo didn't win the lottery for two straight years. They only won the lottery twice in 46 years. Toronto gets it on the first chance. Brendan Shanahan is the president of the leafs and he also worked under Bettman as NHL's Vice President of hockey and business development, then NHL's senior Vice President. Coincidence?

Seems like Stamkos, Vesey, and top 4 D are the pie in the sky Sabres wish list for this offseason.

Right now if you told me we could get Tkachuk, Caggiula and Fowler, I'd gladly take it. Granted this doesn't come free. So if Girgs/Ennis, Pysyk, picks and a prospect is the cost, I'm in. I'd even throw in Matt Ellis to sweeten the deal.

That's fair, he would be a low end top 4 guy next year or at least be solid on the bottom pairing. I'm just not sure how much higher end than that you will get to only move back 4 spots. The deal may just not work, which is okay too.
- RhinoFan

You've gotta think of it from their point of view though

Would u move back 4 spots for a solid 3rd pair, maybe decent 2nd pair guy?
Those type defensemen aren't hard to find
They're way better off staying in that spot & taking Tkachuck or the defenseman of their choice

Seems like Stamkos, Vesey, and top 4 D are the pie in the sky Sabres wish list for this offseason.

Right now if you told me we could get Tkachuk, Caggiula and Fowler, I'd gladly take it. Granted this doesn't come free. So if Girgs/Ennis, Pysyk, picks and a prospect is the cost, I'm in. I'd even throw in Matt Ellis to sweeten the deal.
- Khymlev13

Let's not ruin a good rebuild by trading away our best assets...

I know I'm beating a dead horse, but doesn't anybody find it interesting that Toronto won the lottery. Buffalo didn't win the lottery for two straight years. They only won the lottery twice in 46 years. Toronto gets it on the first chance. Brendan Shanahan is the president of the leafs and he also worked under Bettman as NHL's Vice President of hockey and business development, then NHL's senior Vice President. Coincidence?
- c1067

It's not rigged. It completely sucks but it's not rigged. Be more annoyed at how the Canadian media glorified Tor for the same thing they bashed the Sabres for.

Let's not ruin a good rebuild by trading away our best assets...
- RhinoFan

Ya gotta give to get!

Seems like Stamkos, Vesey, and top 4 D are the pie in the sky Sabres wish list for this offseason.

Right now if you told me we could get Tkachuk, Caggiula and Fowler, I'd gladly take it. Granted this doesn't come free. So if Girgs/Ennis, Pysyk, picks and a prospect is the cost, I'm in. I'd even throw in Matt Ellis to sweeten the deal.
- Khymlev13

I do believe one of Stamkos or Vesey will be here.

Change the top 4 D to a top 2 D and you get the pie in the sky.

I think its pretty plausible a top 4 D will be added.

Seems like Stamkos, Vesey, and top 4 D are the pie in the sky Sabres wish list for this offseason.

Right now if you told me we could get Tkachuk, Caggiula and Fowler, I'd gladly take it. Granted this doesn't come free. So if Girgs/Ennis, Pysyk, picks and a prospect is the cost, I'm in. I'd even throw in Matt Ellis to sweeten the deal.
- Khymlev13

If Stamkos & Eichel didn't fit on a line together for whatever reason...

_____ -Eichel- Reinhart
_____ -STAMKOS- Ennis
Kane -O'Reilly- _____
Foligno-Larsson-Gionta


Hell yes I'm alright with that
Think of all the guys we have coming up that could potentially fill in those blanks

Fasching, Bailey, Baptiste, Rodrigues, Hurley, Cornel, Olofsson, Possler, Carrier, Catenacci, Karabacek, Malone, Estephan...

All those guys rated as "top9" or better talents
So we only need a couple of them to work out

And that's keeping Foligno & Larsson on the 4th line & not accounting for Girgensons anywhere

And what if we signed Vesey &/or Caggiula?


YEAH...
I'm REALLY liking what I see here quite a bit

That's fair, he would be a low end top 4 guy next year or at least be solid on the bottom pairing. I'm just not sure how much higher end than that you will get to only move back 4 spots. The deal may just not work, which is okay too.
- RhinoFan

I'm not even sure you get player of pysyks quality to move back just 4 spots
I'm sure we'd have to add in this scenario.

But still, I think the focus would be on someone at a higher level, and if it was the 4th straight across, that still probably makes more sense for edm


Now that we're out of the top 3, I think chiarelli will move hard to entice the islanders on that pick for hamonic

If Stamkos & Eichel didn't fit on a line together for whatever reason...

_____ -Eichel- Reinhart
_____ -STAMKOS- Ennis
Kane -O'Reilly- _____
Foligno-Larsson-Gionta


Hell yes I'm alright with that
Think of all the guys we have coming up that could potentially fill in those blanks

Fasching, Bailey, Baptiste, Rodrigues, Hurley, Cornel, Olofsson, Possler, Carrier, Catenacci, Karabacek, Malone, Estephan...

All those guys rated as "top9" or better talents
So we only need a couple of them to work out

And that's keeping Foligno & Larsson on the 4th line & not accounting for Girgensons anywhere

And what if we signed Vesey &/or Caggiula?


YEAH...
I'm REALLY liking what I see here quite a bit
- jdfitz77

I'm with you on this. I want any of stamkos/Vesey/Caggiula. All three by some miracle. And I like the 3 line idea if we get #91. But even if stamkos and Vesey go elsewhere there are still plenty of things we can do this offseason. As for the Leafs, huge win with Matthews but their D is very weak and they have zero goaltending. I think they'll likely be bottom 8 next year.

I'm just hoping my boy Laine does not brainwash the leafs into taken him first it's a hard one I don't want Matthews to be miserable with the jets ..

I'm excited For the leafs

Seems like Stamkos, Vesey, and top 4 D are the pie in the sky Sabres wish list for this offseason.

Right now if you told me we could get Tkachuk, Caggiula and Fowler, I'd gladly take it. Granted this doesn't come free. So if Girgs/Ennis, Pysyk, picks and a prospect is the cost, I'm in. I'd even throw in Matt Ellis to sweeten the deal.
- Khymlev13

my hangover needed that laugh

If Stamkos & Eichel didn't fit on a line together for whatever reason...

_____ -Eichel- Reinhart
_____ -STAMKOS- Ennis
Kane -O'Reilly- _____
Foligno-Larsson-Gionta


Hell yes I'm alright with that
Think of all the guys we have coming up that could potentially fill in those blanks

Fasching, Bailey, Baptiste, Rodrigues, Hurley, Cornel, Olofsson, Possler, Carrier, Catenacci, Karabacek, Malone, Estephan...

All those guys rated as "top9" or better talents
So we only need a couple of them to work out

And that's keeping Foligno & Larsson on the 4th line & not accounting for Girgensons anywhere

And what if we signed Vesey &/or Caggiula?


YEAH...
I'm REALLY liking what I see here quite a bit
- jdfitz77

with what you outlined, you really need a speed player on each line to make the other teams d cringe whenever any of those 3 lines are out there


it really would be fun to watch

I know I'm beating a dead horse, but doesn't anybody find it interesting that Toronto won the lottery. Buffalo didn't win the lottery for two straight years. They only won the lottery twice in 46 years. Toronto gets it on the first chance. Brendan Shanahan is the president of the leafs and he also worked under Bettman as NHL's Vice President of hockey and business development, then NHL's senior Vice President. Coincidence?
- c1067

They did have the best chance though. It sucks for you guys to lose 2 straight. He'll even one. But they were the favourites to win, and they did. If they were 8th favourite I'd be on your side. But they were favourites. Although I said last year Shanny would threaten Betman with all the stuff he knew to get McDavid. Didn't happen.