Totally, vintage Rico gold right there.
- nfph

You have to appreciate it. It's not for everybody

My family had a cottage in Mayville on the lake until my junior year in high school. We sold it. Chautauqua Lake was probably the dirtiest lake I've come across. I wonder if they have cleaned it up?

I do miss the Hartfield Deli.
- Oneonta Penguin

The lake is no way "Dirty" unless you're talking about certain spots where the weeds are somewhat bad. In all my life the lake has never actually been considered "dirty". In fact, I really don't know where that comes from? People with big big big money come to live on the lake, and inside Chautauqua institution. So again, not sure when you were a Junior in HS, but I wouldn't consider it dirty.

- mhp

For a guy who says he LOVES playing in Pittsburgh and the city, I doubt he is as fed up with playing third fiddle as you think. It's moreso the years. 10 years is a long time. They need to offer three or four years. Roy and a second? LOL ... I'd rather have Staal walk away for nothing than receive that.
- Oneonta Penguin

Bullpoop. I get that you are trying to show off your contempt for Roy, but you would rather have a pick than nothing, and a pick and a reasonably productive center at the same salary would be better. You're either exaggerating or, well... Or I can stop paying attention I guess.

The lake is no way "Dirty" unless you're talking about certain spots where the weeds are somewhat bad. In all my life the lake has never actually been considered "dirty". In fact, I really don't know where that comes from? People with big big big money come to live on the lake, and inside Chautauqua institution. So again, not sure when you were a Junior in HS, but I wouldn't consider it dirty.
- Fotes18

In Mayville, it was what I would consider dirty. The weeds were horrendous. Nothing like having a nice ski ... hit a patch of weeds ... fall in and be among a dozen or so dead fish as well. Heck, the birds would walk across the lake on the weeds where we were. I agree, they kept parts of the lake pretty good - the Institute and parts of Bemus Point.

Bullpoop. I get that you are trying to show off your contempt for Roy, but you would rather have a pick than nothing, and a pick and a reasonably productive center at the same salary would be better. You're either exaggerating or, well... Or I can stop paying attention I guess.
- nfph

I would rather ride it out with Staal with the risk of losing him, no bs. Roy in Pittsburgh makes very little sense to me.

I really don't get why you all are so mean to Rico. I think he seems like a nice guy, and his trade proposals provide tons of comments on here.

They're often silly, but I love it when Rico shows up.
- nfph

It's entertaining as hell

Yeah, I don't see it the that way at all.

They know they're the favorites to get him as a UFA now wihtout giving you or anyone else a damn thing, and the risk of him getting injured is yours, he's your asset until he puts on another sweater.

There's no risk if you haven't spent anything, remember. And now if reports are true, he's just basically blown your whole bluff. He won't sign anywhere long term but Carolina. To Carolina, he's just said "trade low or wait a year."

Your leverage is toast. Sorry.

*again, assuming there's a shade if truth to this.
- nfph

Yes, but that's why my proposal is outside the box, perhaps insane....First , quietly acquire Jordan from Pittsburgh for Roy, Sekera and a pick, leveraging the Carolina problem before anyone has a chance to think this through. Then go hard at Carolina to get Eric Staal. Make them an insane offer like Vanek and a couple of picks and a couple of prospects....money in the bank to build a strong team in the future.

Think about it we subtract Vanek, a 1st pick this year, a pick next year and another player like Adam to get Eric; we subtract Roy, Sekera and a prospect to get Jordan.....look at your new team:

Eric Jordan with Pominville
Foligno Ennis and Stafford
Leino Hodgson Tropp
Gerbe McCormick Kaleta
Ellis

erhoff myers
reigher leopold
sulzer weber
mcnab brennan

Miller and Enroth

And you still have other pieces to make more deals and free agents on wing and on defense. Maybew you bring back Gaustad or sign Stoll; maybe you sign Hecht and sullivan; maybe you get sarich; maybe you sign several 2nd tier UFAs.....there is a lot more that still can be done.

My family had a cottage in Mayville on the lake until my junior year in high school. We sold it. Chautauqua Lake was probably the dirtiest lake I've come across. I wonder if they have cleaned it up?

I do miss the Hartfield Deli.
- Oneonta Penguin

It's an inland lake VERY closely monitored by the DEC. Years and years ago it was surrounded by small fishing cottages that weren't particular about their sewage but nowadays with escalating property values along the lake ALL the shacks have been replaced by modern houses and 'communities'...

Codes strictly enforced and the lake is very clean.

That would have been Shero's first mega term deal. Fleury and Neal are currently the longest at 6.
- Gunner Staal

I remember you saying he wouldn't give out those kind of deals though. It seems like it's starting to be come a bit of a trend.

In Mayville, it was what I would consider dirty. The weeds were horrendous. Nothing like having a nice ski ... hit a patch of weeds ... fall in and be among a dozen or so dead fish as well. Heck, the birds would walk across the lake on the weeds where we were. I agree, they kept parts of the lake pretty good - the Institute and parts of Bemus Point.
- Oneonta Penguin

I guess I've never actually experienced that for myself.

Bullpoop. I get that you are trying to show off your contempt for Roy, but you would rather have a pick than nothing, and a pick and a reasonably productive center at the same salary would be better. You're either exaggerating or, well... Or I can stop paying attention I guess.
- nfph

I would rather keep Jordan Staal for one year and let him walk than take Roy and a second. Remember champ - Roy is a UFA too next year, right? What is the point of trading one of the best two-way centers who will be a potential UFA in a year for a worse center who can be as well? Basically, it would be getting a second round pick.

Yes, but that's why my proposal is outside the box, perhaps insane....First , quietly acquire Jordan from Pittsburgh for Roy, Sekera and a pick, leveraging the Carolina problem before anyone has a chance to think this through. Then go hard at Carolina to get Eric Staal. Make them an insane offer like Vanek and a couple of picks and a couple of prospects....money in the bank to build a strong team in the future.

Think about it we subtract Vanek, a 1st pick this year, a pick next year and another player like Adam to get Eric; we subtract Roy, Sekera and a prospect to get Jordan.....look at your new team:

Eric Jordan with Pominville
Foligno Ennis and Stafford
Leino Hodgson Tropp
Gerbe McCormick Kaleta
Ellis

erhoff myers
reigher leopold
sulzer weber
mcnab brennan

Miller and Enroth

And you still have other pieces to make more deals and free agents on wing and on defense. Maybew you bring back Gaustad or sign Stoll; maybe you sign Hecht and sullivan; maybe you get sarich; maybe you sign several 2nd tier UFAs.....there is a lot more that still can be done.
- RicoMartin

It's the Occam's Razor issue I so often encounter this time of year. Sounds nice though.

I'm one of those who thinks the Sabres are going o make a big deal, just for someone who hasn't been mentioned lately. No Ryan, Parise, Nash, or Statsny. If I had to guess I think we might land Iginla.

It'll take #22, Sekeja, Armia, and maybe Catenacci
- dacks

O'Reilly

I would rather keep Jordan Staal for one year and let him walk than take Roy and a second. Remember champ - Roy is a UFA too next year, right? What is the point of trading one of the best two-way centers who will be a potential UFA in a year for a worse center who can be as well? Basically, it would be getting a second round pick.
- Oneonta Penguin

Honestly, you'll probably end up with an opportunity to get something similar to a #2 for his rights next year. I think I misunderstood your point a bit behind all the Roy hate, so appypollylogies for that. And again, I don't really see why we would try to send a good pick and Roy for a soon to be UFA either.

I remember you saying he wouldn't give out those kind of deals though. It seems like it's starting to be come a bit of a trend.
- HonkFortheGoose

He hadn't.

What are your thoughts on these disputed mega-long-term contacts that players like Kovalchuck have signed? Would you consider giving one to Crosby before his deal expires in two years?

If you sign a guy for 12 or 15 years and you think you have him forever, well let’s be honest, if he doesn’t like the way the team’s run or he doesn’t like the ownership and he’s not happy, in today’s game players will come to you and say, “Look, this isn’t working out like I thought,” and then you’re stuck. But if you sign a guy to a five-year contract like Crosby, or anybody else, and you make every attempt to win and you make a commitment with a brand new building like we have, then you’ll have a much better chance to retain that player. So I’m hopeful that Sidney will want to stay here his entire career and retire a Penguin like Mario did.

Kukla's Korner just retweeted a post that the Yotes have put Yandle back on the trade block

I would rather ride it out with Staal with the risk of losing him, no bs. Roy in Pittsburgh makes very little sense to me.
- Gunner Staal

That makes more sense for the Pens, unless somebody makes a huge offer, or until the trade deadline.

O'Reilly
- Purple Eagle

Cal

Honestly, you'll probably end up with an opportunity to get something similar to a #2 for his rights next year. I think I misunderstood your point a bit behind all the Roy hate, so appypollylogies for that. And again, I don't really see why we would try to send a good pick and Roy for a soon to be UFA either.
- nfph

I should have explained the reasoning in the first post as to why Roy makes little sense.

That makes more sense for the Pens, unless somebody makes a huge offer, or until the trade deadline.
- Terrier13

Please explain your reasoning how it makes more sense for Pittsburgh.

You're delusional. To say Carolina doesn't have the money upfront to offer staal runs contrary to every report saying they're going to make runs at guys like suter Nash and Parise. Not to mention thinking Shero would do anything but laugh at an offer of a 2nd and Roy for staal. For gods sake the sabres got a 1st for gaustad. Not to mention the penguins have a far better shot at a cup with impending UFA staal then they do with impending UFA Roy and whoever they take in the 2nd round this year.
- schiefer466

They have the cap room but they don't have the coin. Money talks and BS walks!
Carolina has been playing at about the 80 to 85 % of the cap in the last 4 years......Buffalo can spend to the cap and bury contracts in the minors now......Reiger has a little more manouevering ability than he had with money available to him. Carolina won't be able to do anything if they cannot afford a payroll of more than $55 million...they cannot pay their top 4 guys $30 million (Staal and Stall $16.5 million, Ward $6.3 Gleason $4mil and Sutter???) and $25 million to the other 18 guys on the team (that's bearly the league minimum per player)

Bullpoop. I get that you are trying to show off your contempt for Roy, but you would rather have a pick than nothing, and a pick and a reasonably productive center at the same salary would be better. You're either exaggerating or, well... Or I can stop paying attention I guess.
- nfph

If its Roy and a 2nd it really is stupid. Both Roy and staal are UFA after this year. So essentially you give your chances for this year go way down and all you get is a 2nd round pick. Keeping staal for one last run and getting nothing is a far better option than making one run with Roy and adding a 2nd. The pens with Sid malkin and staal are a very serious threat. Sid malkin and Roy not so much. What role does Roy even play on that team? This isn't nhl12 where you can just trade 2 guys with similar ratings and have it go through.

yotes in 6

They have the cap room but they don't have the coin. Money talks and BS walks!
Carolina has been playing at about the 80 to 85 % of the cap in the last 4 years......Buffalo can spend to the cap and bury contracts in the minors now......Reiger has a little more manouevering ability than he had with money available to him. Carolina won't be able to do anything if they cannot afford a payroll of more than $55 million...they cannot pay their top 4 guys $30 million (Staal and Stall $16.5 million, Ward $6.3 Gleason $4mil and Sutter???) and $25 million to the other 18 guys on the team (that's bearly the league minimum per player)
- RicoMartin

Who are you to say they don't have the coin? What is that based on? If as everyone is reporting they're planning to make runs at Nash staal Parise and suter there clearly have to be some cash available. If they're willing to take on Nash and his contract they clearly have some financial flexibility.