Kevin Freiheit: Hodgson, Sulzer > Kassian, Gaustad

try points per minutes played er something, a whole lot easier to make the sabres lineup and get quality minutes.

If only Hodgson could play defense and was stronger, faster and had less entitlement...what a player he would be.

cody "coach assassin" hodgson

If only Hodgson could play defense and was stronger, faster and had less entitlement...what a player he would be.
- Boinker

Not sure about the entitlement comment but I agree that his Dzone play has been noticeably horrendous even among the atrocity that is the entire sabres' Dzone play.

What is your point Kevin???? Being neutral I would still take Kassian over Hodgson long term and it is only one year. It is no wonder the Sabres are in near last place and it is because of wimpy egotistic Cody Hodgson players, no grit whatsoever. Zack will eventually score more but brings an element Cody could never bring and that is pure toughness and a total team player. Zack is a monster on the ice who can also play hockey and that is huge. Stats wise Cody is better but that is the only category he wins at. Sulzer was never going to play in Vancouver anyway and that just shows you #8 dmen can play #4 in Buffalo. Gragnani was a throw in the Canucks did not want but had to take him to get Zack. I call this overall trade a tie but both teams got what they wanted.

Kevin you and Garth are dreamers, also known as homers if you get the drift. Why not call a spade a spade and earn some respect.

Kevin Freiheit: Hodgson, Sulzer > Kassian, Gaustad
- KevinJames

Nice bait.

What is your point Kevin???? Being neutral I would still take Kassian over Hodgson long term and it is only one year. It is no wonder the Sabres are in near last place and it is because of wimpy egotistic Cody Hodgson players, no grit whatsoever. Zack will eventually score more but brings an element Cody could never bring and that is pure toughness and a total team player. Zack is a monster on the ice who can also play hockey and that is huge. Stats wise Cody is better but that is the only category he wins at. Sulzer was never going to play in Vancouver anyway and that just shows you #8 dmen can play #4 in Buffalo. Gragnani was a throw in the Canucks did not want but had to take him to get Zack. I call this overall trade a tie but both teams got what they wanted.
- flyerdude17

I like Hodgson. I think he has shown here that he is a team player, I guess you could point to the fact that he was unhappy in Vancouver but that kind of made sense. He is a little shaky in the defensive end, but I think that will come in time. That bad aspect of his game I think has been exaggerated a bit too. I don't necessarily think that Kassian will score many goals, but what he is good at is hitting, creating space on the ice, and starting fights. He wasn't playing well at all in Buffalo when we traded him, and only really has played well in Vancouver when he is playing with the Sedins. Yes I know Hodge is playing with quality lineys too.

We needed an offensive center, they needed a tough guy. Win-Win. I think Cody has a lot more upside than Zach. I agree with you though that you can't just look at stats, but I agree with OP that Cody is a better long-term overall player than Zach.

Gaustad left a huge void in our lineup and it has absolutely showed this year. I miss the hell out of him and wish that we could have brought him back from Nashville this year somehow. Gaustad is absolutely > Hecht. Long term I think it will work out because he got us Girgensons but for now it hurts. A lot.

What is your point Kevin???? Being neutral I would still take Kassian over Hodgson long term and it is only one year. It is no wonder the Sabres are in near last place and it is because of wimpy egotistic Cody Hodgson players, no grit whatsoever. Zack will eventually score more but brings an element Cody could never bring and that is pure toughness and a total team player. Zack is a monster on the ice who can also play hockey and that is huge. Stats wise Cody is better but that is the only category he wins at. Sulzer was never going to play in Vancouver anyway and that just shows you #8 dmen can play #4 in Buffalo. Gragnani was a throw in the Canucks did not want but had to take him to get Zack. I call this overall trade a tie but both teams got what they wanted.
- flyerdude17

Carter, Richards>>>Simmonds, Schenn, Voracek

I still would take Kass's grit. Buffalo's in last place for a reason. Their tough guy has no skill. Kass has really lit a fire under this whole team in regards to their physicality. I am more than happy with how it's turned out. Its easy to determine who won the trade. Check the standings

Kevin Freiheit: Hodgson, Sulzer > Kassian, Gaustad
- KevinJames

I think we both won on that trade. Kass has become my favourite player on the team right now. I've always liked Cody and am really happy to see that he is thriving. Buffalo is a great environment for him, and I see him having even greater success there as he reaches his prime. But Kass will have be a star in Vancouver as well, and will be a fan favourite for as long as he decides to stay here. I don't think its fair to say anyone won or lost that trade. both teams got what they wanted and needed, and are better moving forward. it was a good hockey trade. A year ago today I discovered that Buffalo fans are the best in the league as they comforted me from the loss of Cody. For the first time I became a fan of a hockey team for reasons that had nothing to do with ice. I'm cheering buffalo on now.

Carter, Richards>>>Simmonds, Schenn, Voracek
- rmiethaner

In what messed up world?

Carter, Richards>>>Simmonds, Schenn, Voracek
- rmiethaner

Carter,Richards = cup

Also Kevin. Really we only need to dress Scott when we are playing teams with badass fighters. He brings nothing desirable on the ice, he skates like a donkey. Am I impressed with Hecht or Gerbe's play so far? No. But they actually have a chance of producing, unlike Scott.

TL;DR Only dress Scott when we want to beat people up. He sucks.

Carter,Richards = cup
- LamontSanford

If I'm philly I'm looking at the steal I got in Voracek and the future all 3 have. Long term I'm taking Voracek, Schenn and Simmonds over Carter and Richards ANY day. AND they got a first which was Couturier

Carter,Richards, Quick, Kopitar = cup
- LamontSanford

Fixed that for ya. No need to thank me.

I still would take Kass's grit. Buffalo's in last place for a reason. Their tough guy has no skill. Kass has really lit a fire under this whole team in regards to their physicality. I am more than happy with how it's turned out. Its easy to determine who won the trade. Check the standings
- JameyVinnick9

Right. Because Zach Kassian made your team good, and Hodgson made us bad? I like Zach too, I like Cody more on our team. It was a win for both teams.

Fixed that for ya. No need to thank me.
- Nucker101

I won't.

Right. Because Zach Kassian made your team good, and Hodgson made us bad? I like Zach too, I like Cody more on our team. It was a win for both teams.
- rsj2588

Kassian helped bring a fire to this team. Watching the Sabres, I think they lack a strong power forward. Could be wrong, thats just me

In what messed up world?
- JameyVinnick9

Stanley's.

Fixed that for ya. No need to thank me.
- Nucker101

Meh, they weren't the sole reasons, they were more secondary.
Can't forget guys like Mitch, Doughty, and Brown

Also Kevin. Really we only need to dress Scott when we are playing teams with badass fighters. He brings nothing desirable on the ice, he skates like a donkey. Am I impressed with Hecht or Gerbe's play so far? No. But they actually have a chance of producing, unlike Scott.

TL;DR Only dress Scott when we want to beat people up. He sucks.
- rsj2588

Damnit sorry Kevin that should have been in Garth's blog directed to him. My bad.

Kassian helped bring a fire to this team. Watching the Sabres, I think they lack a strong power forward. Could be wrong, thats just me
- JameyVinnick9

No, you are right. Hopefully Foligno will fill that roll. But from what I understand, since Kassian was taken off the Sedin line, he has not been scoring and is going back to his old habits of disappearing for long stretches.