This is all starting to sound good.
This team will have a bright future.
I would love to see another #89 Sabres jersey.

Get Shane Doan forget Parise and trading Vanek is stupid especially for another D-man. We need scoring. My hopeful scenario for the forward line:

Vanek-Hodgson-Pominville
Foligno-Ennis-Stafford
Leino-Grigorenko-Doan
Gerbe-Moen-Kaleta
- Mathwil3

Doan
I have a hard time seeing him on the third line, and not resigning in phoenix though.

Get Shane Doan forget Parise and trading Vanek is stupid especially for another D-man. We need scoring. My hopeful scenario for the forward line:

Vanek-Hodgson-Pominville
Foligno-Ennis-Stafford
Leino-Grigorenko-Doan
Gerbe-Moen-Kaleta
- Mathwil3

Doan

Doan
I have a hard time seeing him on the third line, and not resigning in phoenix though.
- Punch70

Even with Phx having money problems, I just dont see him leaving that city.

I think after Parise, there next best FA options would be guys like Stempniak and David Moss, which is why im pretty sure any acquisitions from here on out will be through trades. Unless they grab a 4th line C in FA (McClement, Gaustad, Konopka, etc..)

my first reaction: isn't he almost 40?

my second reaction (after looking at stats): holy @#$#!

my third reaction: we can do better
- FIREonICE

totaly agree with the first two...not so much on the latter


this guy at 39 put up 77pts? that is some sort of mistake holy s*&!^

Hed probably want a two year deal after that typer of year...but im not willing to give him that

Even with Phx having money problems, I just dont see him leaving that city.

I think after Parise, there next best FA options would be guys like Stempniak and David Moss, which is why im pretty sure any acquisitions from here on out will be through trades. Unless they grab a 4th line C in FA (McClement, Gaustad, Konopka, etc..)
- CaptPantalones

Agreed

How about (FA-to-be) Alex Semin? He's got a ton of talent and might be able to help Grigorenko adjust.

Vanek/Roy/Pominville
Foligno/Ennis/Stafford
Leino/Grigorenko/Semin
Gerbe/Hodgson/Kaleta
- SuperCat

there is literally no meat to that roster...try again

How about Brandon Prust from the NYR?

A sandpaper type guy who's not afriad to drop the gloves (over 150 pim in his past three seasons).

Vanek/Roy/Pominville
Foligno/Ennis/Stafford
Gerbe/Grigorenko/Leino
Prust/Hodgson/Kaleta


...

Trade Roy at the deadline and then use McKormik as your 4th line C.

I think our top 6 are fine. Its our bottom six that needs rounding out.

The current roster has the makeup of three scoring lines with one of those being defensively responsible and a grind line. Personally our grind line isnt that good.

Leino - Roy/Hodgson - Gerbe
Ellis - McCormick - ??

That is our bottom 6 right now. Roy/Hodgson is contingent on who Lindy plays on top line. I think it will be Roy, but at times I can see Lindy swapping.

I see McCormick as our 13th forward this season. Ellis is on a 1-way contract this year. We can move him up and down, he'd go through waivers though. Start him in the A.

We will most likely resign Kaleta, which I think isnt a bad thing so long as its not for more than $1M.

I think we should go after Ryan Carter for C and Brandon Prust for the other wing with Kaleta.

Gerbe has to go. Like the guy. Love his personality, his work ethic, but hes gotta go. Just doesnt fit.

After rounding out our 4th line, we need a solid third line RW.

Honest question, who do you see coming here?
- CaptPantalones

But seriously...we always shut down different options/ideas


realistically what can we expect on July 1? Stop saying parise (he doesnt fit) nash (too much to give up) suter (too much)



and yes I get it that the sabres are interested...but wed have to dump a winger first (vanek...anyone?)


if the sabres expect grigor to make the opening night roster then i find it hard to believe that they will be targeting a #1 center this summer..contrary to what darcy has said

How about Brandon Prust from the NYR?

A sandpaper type guy who's not afriad to drop the gloves (over 150 pim in his past three seasons).

Vanek/Roy/Pominville
Foligno/Ennis/Stafford
Gerbe/Grigorenko/Leino
Prust/Hodgson/Kaleta
- SuperCat

Living in NJ, I get to watch (Unfortunately) lots of NYR games on MSG. Prust plays with grid, and he will drop the gloves against anyone.
Prust will be a good addition to this team.
We could use some sandpaper on this team.

How about Brandon Prust from the NYR?

A sandpaper type guy who's not afriad to drop the gloves (over 150 pim in his past three seasons).

Vanek/Roy/Pominville
Foligno/Ennis/Stafford
Gerbe/Grigorenko/Leino
Prust/Hodgson/Kaleta
- SuperCat

face it...roy is not going to be on the first line this season and he probably wont even be on the opening night roster.

if you think hodgson will be on the 4th line you are out in left field. i absolutely love prust though and if we can get him at 1.4 or less id sign today


(and before all of you female dog that 1.4 is too much figure in that the cap is going to 72 ish)

But seriously...we always shut down different options/ideas


realistically what can we expect on July 1? Stop saying parise (he doesnt fit) nash (too much to give up) suter (too much)



and yes I get it that the sabres are interested...but wed have to dump a winger first (vanek...anyone?)


if the sabres expect grigor to make the opening night roster then i find it hard to believe that they will be targeting a #1 center this summer..contrary to what darcy has said
- HAMgerber

You make him fit with the team. If you have an opportunity to get a player like that, you do it.

But seriously...we always shut down different options/ideas


realistically what can we expect on July 1? Stop saying parise (he doesnt fit) nash (too much to give up) suter (too much)



and yes I get it that the sabres are interested...but wed have to dump a winger first (vanek...anyone?)


if the sabres expect grigor to make the opening night roster then i find it hard to believe that they will be targeting a #1 center this summer..contrary to what darcy has said
- HAMgerber

Why would you say that Parise does not fit??
Heck, we make him fit. He will help this team more than you think.

You make him fit with the team. If you have an opportunity to get a player like that, you do it.
- Punch70

My son was born in Khabarovsk. When we were adopting him I found out that Mogilny (my all time fave player) was also from Khabarovsk.

When I heard Grigorenko was from Khabarovsk also, I was really hoping the Leafs would draft him so I can get my son a Leafs Grigorenko shirt...

I'll get him a Buffalo Grigorenko shirt now, and number 89 would be cool
- GoneFullRetard

First off, just a little props your way for the adoption. I have several adopted members of my family and my wife and I plan to do the same someday.

Second, pick him up a Russian National sweater, all the connection, none of the conflict.

face it...roy is not going to be on the first line this season and he probably wont even be on the opening night roster.

if you think hodgson will be on the 4th line you are out in left field. i absolutely love prust though and if we can get him at 1.4 or less id sign today


(and before all of you female dog that 1.4 is too much figure in that the cap is going to 72 ish)
- HAMgerber

I put Hodgson there for two reasons: 1). He ended up there last season after not scoring a goal for 10 games (or however many it was). 2). He can play solid two-way hockey.

Obviosly Roy isn't going to have his contract renewed after it expires this season and when that happens, McKormik becomes your 4th line center again.

You make him fit with the team. If you have an opportunity to get a player like that, you do it.
- Punch70

totally 100% agree with this but i think its easier said than done. the only way for it to work is to dump vanek...but do we think parise is THAT much better than vanek? i think its totally not worth it to dump vanek for him. we all know theyre not breaking up foligno ennis staff line....so it comes down to van being moved.


at the end of the day vanek has not reached full potential because hes never had a #1 center (and for those of you that will say brier or drury...spare me)

at this point i honestly (and sadly) think its in our best interest to just wait for these draft picks to grow and try to target another defeseman and a solid 4th liner that turns into a great role player



ps how is ellis still in the NHL?..

Why would you say that Parise does not fit??
Heck, we make him fit. He will help this team more than you think.
- Sabresfan88

our top 4 wingers are vanek, pommer, staff, foligno (presumably they dont break up foligno ennis staff line)...who do you get rid of?


i mean there are so many options obviously but like i dont even want to think about the combinations haha

dump ennis for picks/prospects? stafford for the same? i mean ya gotta make room for him somehow


clearly foligno isnt going anywhere and neither is pommer

I put Hodgson there for two reasons: 1). He ended up there last season after not scoring a goal for 10 games (or however many it was). 2). He can play solid two-way hockey.

Obviosly Roy isn't going to have his contract renewed after it expires this season and when that happens, McKormik becomes your 4th line center again.
- SuperCat

That's a very small sample size for Hodgson especially on a new team. If you're going to put him on the fourth line you might as well trade him. (which we shouldn't)

So which one of Myers, Regehr, Leopold, Ehrhoff, Sekera, Weber, McNabb and Sulzer get sent packing? Are we really going to go into the season with 8 d-men on the team?

I totally forgot that Ellis was on a 1-way this year and people are forgetting about Tropp as well. He played pretty well last season and would look good on the 4th line. Once again we've got a few too many forwards going into the season. Unless a few dudes are moved out, there really isn't room on the team for Grigorenko let alone a FA or two on July 1st.

I think our top 6 are fine. Its our bottom six that needs rounding out.

The current roster has the makeup of three scoring lines with one of those being defensively responsible and a grind line. Personally our grind line isnt that good.

Leino - Roy/Hodgson - Gerbe
Ellis - McCormick - ??

That is our bottom 6 right now. Roy/Hodgson is contingent on who Lindy plays on top line. I think it will be Roy, but at times I can see Lindy swapping.

I see McCormick as our 13th forward this season. Ellis is on a 1-way contract this year. We can move him up and down, he'd go through waivers though. Start him in the A.

We will most likely resign Kaleta, which I think isnt a bad thing so long as its not for more than $1M.

I think we should go after Ryan Carter for C and Brandon Prust for the other wing with Kaleta.

Gerbe has to go. Like the guy. Love his personality, his work ethic, but hes gotta go. Just doesnt fit.

After rounding out our 4th line, we need a solid third line RW.
- theblueandgold

we agree 100%

3rd line rw
1 or 2 4th line guys

and a freakin stud d man

I put Hodgson there for two reasons: 1). He ended up there last season after not scoring a goal for 10 games (or however many it was). 2). He can play solid two-way hockey.

Obviosly Roy isn't going to have his contract renewed after it expires this season and when that happens, McKormik becomes your 4th line center again.
- SuperCat

Hodgson belongs on the 1st/2nd line and 3rd at the ABSOLUTE worst. for him to be put on a 4th line would be one of the biggest meltdown hockey personnel decisions of all time


he doesnt fight/hit/ cause trouble


hes a playmaker

Parise isn't center.

Why would you say that Parise does not fit??
Heck, we make him fit. He will help this team more than you think.
- Sabresfan88

vanek pommer foligno staff

thats why he does not fit