i dont know what's funnier.

stastny for vanek

or
steve ott penciled in on the first line.
- alexthegr8

both are equally hilarious

i dont know what's funnier.

stastny for vanek

or
steve ott penciled in on the first line.
- alexthegr8

yeah, no sh!t.

yeah, no sh!t.
- Powerslave

If you bring in a guy like Stastny it'd be to play with Vanek not to ship Vanek out, that deal is a horrible hockey trade

If you bring in a guy like Stastny it'd be to play with Vanek not to ship Vanek out, that deal is a horrible hockey trade
- sabresfandan

Not to mention leaving us paper thin with Lwers that can score

I'm all for the Vanek for Nash, if ONLY to shake things up further.

However - and I'm not saying you are in this group - there are people out there who think that Rick Nash is soooooo much better than Thomas Vanek. To them I say:

Nash: 32.1 goals/year

Vanek 32.8 goals/year
- Powerslave

Them will retort Columbus, and they'll have a valid argument. Nash is the better player. I'd consider sending out Vanek for him, but that's the only deal involving Vanek I would consider. Any other move, be it a center or a Bobby Ryan, only helps this team if Vanek is still a Sabre. I do Nash for Vanek because I believe Nash makes the team better.

If they find a quality playmaker for Vanek he will be a dominant goal scorer again (though I'd say he still is one anyway).

Vanek also would really benefit from playing with someone capable of actually finishing his passes. The majority of those shots Roy and Pominville put over the net or off a post came from a Vanek pass. Vanek's passing ability is very underrated and it's because the only player he is ever on the ice with that is even remotely close to being capable of handling his passes is Pominville and Roy when the mood struck him. If you put a Bobby Ryan on the ice with Vanek, his assists will skyrocket. He also probably wouldn't get hurt so much because the other team would actually have to pay attention to someone else on the ice for a change.

Exactly. I saw 'fans' saying Vanek for Ryan and now Vanek for Stastny, when he outproduces both of them and he's done it on the wing with arguably no true #1 center. He carried us on his back for half the season, then battled injuries and got cold so he's tradebait?

People will disagree with me, but I don't think we need a #1 center. All we need is Ennis, Hodgson or Grigorenko to progress enough to play on the #1 line and we're fine. That leaves the other 2 able to center #2 and #3. Then you still have Luke Adam who is right on the cusp of being an every day NHL player and Girgensons maybe a year away. Now we have Porter too as well as the other scrub centers who can play #4 or possibly #3.

Ennis, Hodgson and Grigorenko all have potential to be a #1 center, all we need is one of them to do it soon, case closed.

Maybe our fans should actually consider building a perennial contender rather than change a team every year to try and win the cup immediately. Having the best team doesn't guarantee anything, ask Vancouver. Or see what LA did this year while Vancouver, St. Louis, NYR, Pitt and Philly all struck out. We need a perennial contender and even then you still need to get hot at the right time.
- tuffgongc9

Without richards and carter, LA does not win the cup.

we only trade our top 6 for 3rd and 4th line players.

Nash has literally had nobody with him in Columbus. It'd be nice to get some insider info from Homer, haven't seen him on in days.
- sabresfandan

When you pay someone 7.8 million a year, it should not matter who is his supporting class, at that money he should raise the level of play of his teammates, not the other way around.

When you pay someone 7.8 million a year, it should not matter who is his supporting class, at that money he should raise the level of play of his teammates, not the other way around.
- Mentalorgasm5

Rick Nash is a STUD player say what you will he deserves to go somewhere where he will have a better surrounding cast.

When you pay someone 7.8 million a year, it should not matter who is his supporting class, at that money he should raise the level of play of his teammates, not the other way around.
- Mentalorgasm5

Rick Nash is a STUD player say what you will he deserves to go somewhere where he will have a better surrounding cast.
- sabresfandan

I remember five or six years ago when everyone said that about olli too

if the sabres want a better winger, go sign semin or trade for ryan, nash is one the most overrated players in the NHL

When you pay someone 7.8 million a year, it should not matter who is his supporting class, at that money he should raise the level of play of his teammates, not the other way around.
- Mentalorgasm5

Maybe he is raising the level of those around him. I don't think you're fully appreciating just how terrible Columbus has been.

I remember five or six years ago when everyone said that about olli too
- Mentalorgasm5

Great comparison Olli Jokinen to Rick Nash total opposite ends of the spectrum LOL

I remember five or six years ago when everyone said that about olli too

if the sabres want a better winger, go sign semin or trade for ryan, nash is one the most overrated players in the NHL
- Mentalorgasm5

Nash-overrated LOL that's the best thing I've heard in a long time

When you pay someone 7.8 million a year, it should not matter who is his supporting class, at that money he should raise the level of play of his teammates, not the other way around.
- Mentalorgasm5

When your paying a player top dollars like that you don't let him rot away on a team with bums.

Ovi? They built around him
Crosby? Built around him
Malkin? built around him
Giroux? Built around him
Stamkos? Place in the perfect situation
Nash? Not built around
Vanek? placed in a good situation for a couple year and then nothing

The list goes on and on and on. I hope you get my point here.

PowerSlave

Vanek's
http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...&viewName=rtssPlayerStats

Nash's
http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...&viewName=rtssPlayerStats

Great comparison Olli Jokinen to Rick Nash total opposite ends of the spectrum LOL
- sabresfandan

apparently you do not remember when Olli was in florida and how everyone and their grandma was saying if he was traded he would put in 70-80pts.

apparently you do not remember when Olli was in florida and how everyone and their grandma was saying if he was traded he would put in 70-80pts.
- Mentalorgasm5

I remember very clearly but to compare Jokinen to Nash is just foolish.

Rick Nash is a STUD player say what you will he deserves to go somewhere where he will have a better surrounding cast.
- sabresfandan

He deserves nothing.Hes lucky to be playing inthe NHL.The last couple of seasons all hes been doing is crying the blues in Columbus.

I have a serious question.

Why are people so hung up on what Vanek makes per year?
We didn't write up that contract...Edmonton did.
Also...are YOU paying him out of your own pocket?

So who cares? We have space under the cap to add...and nobody here was complaining last year when it was Vanek and Pommer carrying this team in the beginning of the year, because nobody else could score. Take Vanek out of the equation and this team more than likely would not have sniffed the 9 spot at the end of the year...IMO

With the cap continuing to go up so are salaries. Teams overpay all the time...its the nature of this league. Zach Parise is an AMAZING hockey player but there is NO way he is worth the contract he just received, but you know what? Minnesota decided what his value was and paid him accordingly.

Every once in a while a team gets burned with a bad contract (Scott Gomez) but I don't think that's the case with Vanek. He is the most consistent goal scorer and producer on this team. You don't get rid of guys like that...unless you are bringing back a superstar...you build around them.

Just my two cents. Agree or don't.

I am not here to start sh!t or piss people off...it's a internet hockey blog. Have fun,be nice and chill with the personal attacks.

When your paying a player top dollars like that you don't let him rot away on a team with bums.

Ovi? They built around him
Crosby? Built around him
Malkin? built around him
Giroux? Built around him
Stamkos? Place in the perfect situation
Nash? Not built around
Vanek? placed in a good situation for a couple year and then nothing

The list goes on and on and on. I hope you get my point here.
- Smittyx36

really who are sids wingers?
malkin has new linemates every season
Stamkos plays with a 35 year old winger

please with the exception of Nash and Vanek, all those players have lifted the play of their teammates.

He deserves nothing.Hes lucky to be playing inthe NHL.The last couple of seasons all hes been doing is crying the blues in Columbus.
- buffalo 1

Wow you sound like a 10 year old.

All his crying yet he has still managed to be the top point producer in Columbus. You kids make me laugh.

I remember very clearly but to compare Jokinen to Nash is just foolish.
- sabresfandan

No its not, because you are saying the same argument they did about olli. And it goes back to my original point. Great players make other players better.

He deserves nothing.Hes lucky to be playing inthe NHL.The last couple of seasons all hes been doing is crying the blues in Columbus.
- buffalo 1

No Nash hasn't cried at all he is a classy player he finally stated he would like a trade, after he had been in Columbus for his whole career and they never put any pieces with him at all I agree 100% why he wants out of there.

No its not, because you are saying the same argument they did about olli. And it goes back to my original point. Great players make other players better.
- Mentalorgasm5

Olli Jokinen cannot be compared to Rick Nash, they are two total opposite type of players.

really who are sids wingers?
malking has new linemates every season
Stamkos was played with a 35 year old winger

please with the exception of Nash and Vanek, all those players have lifted the play of their teammates.
- Mentalorgasm5

Are you serious? Malkin and Crosby have played with with players 10x better then Nash and Crosby.

Stamkos was placed on a team with one of the most underrated players in are generation MSL.

Your argument is weak.

What I did was provide examples of teams that have built around there top dollar players.