Well hypothetically he's on this team which is not a give in

Oduya Gorges Weber Donovan....

Oduya is the best LHD out of that group no question
- bluengold12

So...we would be better with him than without.

They mean he doesn't have to come in and set the world on fire. He can be a mid-pairing defenseman, shoot left handed and maybe help out on the PP. And in 3 years you hope we have better, younger D.
- Slump Buster

And he's the only option available that can do that?

People are calling him a stop gap defenseman, how does that speak well to him. What about Anton Volchenkov, he's left handed, is he a stop gap too?
- sambarugh

Volchy is probably more gap than stop these days.

one crappy rumor website does not a fan base make... but i agree
- IndianaSabresFan

Granted I've never been to a Dallas game in Dallas but just based on watching a few games here or there and in the playoffs as well I'd rank their fanbase in the low to mid 20's

I just don't see it. He will be 35 years old in October. He was a 4th D-man rotating with Rosizival for bottom pairing for most of the season and playoffs. He had the worst rating and numbers of the Chicago D-men in the playoffs.
- JVince11

I'm with Vince.

So...we would be better with him than without.
- cabin

thats the theory behind paying out the ass for him

Everyone who posts about their major disappointment when we don't sign him will qualify.
- nfph

I head shake everytime someone posts.. "We could have gotten this guy.."

If only it was that easy.

Granted I've never been to a Dallas game in Dallas but just based on watching a few games here or there and in the playoffs as well I'd rank there fanbase in the low to mid 20's
- bluengold12

for a southern team i think they have a decent fan base.. but i think Buffalo has a much more loyal fan base.

And he's the only option available that can do that?
- sambarugh

Again, who else is there? I'd love to go out and get a young d on the rise. It takes two to tango. He is a good alternative and his pricetag is irrelevant as we can't spend to the cap over the next 2 - 3 years.

Volchy is probably more gap than stop these days.
- nfph

How dare you doubt his legs of steel.

I head shake everytime someone posts.. "We could have gotten this guy.."

If only it was that easy.
- cabin

And maybe it's ok we didn't.

How dare you doubt his legs of steel.
- sambarugh

It's his feet of lead I'm more worried about.

Again, who else is there? I'd love to go out and get a young d on the rise. It takes two to tango. He is a good alternative and his pricetag is irrelevant as we can't spend to the cap over the next 2 - 3 years.
- Slump Buster

There are plenty of stop gap lefties left besides Oduya.

for a southern team i think they have a decent fan base.. but i think Buffalo has a much more loyal fan base.
- IndianaSabresFan

That's not even a question.. I'd put Buffalo as a top 10 easily

Dallas is probably above Carolina, Arizona, Florida and maybe Nashville?

And maybe it's ok we didn't.
- nfph

Agreed. Every player will play different on a different team. different role. Who knows how it will turn out. We have a base and build from there. This knew team hasn't hit the ice together yet.

Further proof we deserve JO (though this is quite the stretch):

This thread is about to go over 1,000 posts
The DAL one from a day earlier is at 45. Rabid fan base in Dal, huh?
- turbo044

Maybe they have a life?

That's not even a question.. I'd put Buffalo as a top 10 easily

Dallas is probably above Carolina, Arizona, Florida and maybe Nashville?
- bluengold12

Go to a game in Nashville, You will change your tune. Great atmosphere.

It's his feet of lead I'm more worried about.
- nfph

There are plenty of stop gap lefties left besides Oduya.
- sambarugh

Oduya is the best option available. He isn't a savior for the team but he's certainly an upgrade over Gorges and a huge one over Weber

So by the sounds of it... most people want to pay Oduya 5+M AAV for 3 years as a stop gap until our young'n's are ready to eat more minutes. That just seems like a waste to me.

There has to be someone else better out there than a 34 year old dude for that job. I personally think that Risto could handle the time on the ice. He lead all of our defensemen in points and TOI last season and even had our best +/- if I remember right.

That's not even a question.. I'd put Buffalo as a top 10 easily

Dallas is probably above Carolina, Arizona, Florida and maybe Nashville?
- bluengold12

I don't know about Nashville.
My parents live there, and I have been to a few games there.
Nashville has some good fan base, but nothing close to our fan base !

Go to a game in Nashville, You will change your tune. Great atmosphere.
- ImThatGuy

I second this.... Nashville is a GREAT smaller town market for hockey. It is pretty darn comparable to Buffalo. Not a huge city in per capita like a Philly, Pitt, Boston, Chicago, etc but them fans LOVE their hockey there.

Go to a game in Nashville, You will change your tune. Great atmosphere.
- ImThatGuy

I said maybe Nashville.. I'd actually probably put Dallas ahead of LA. LA probably wouldn't have great fans if it wasn't for the winning. Maybe even St. Louis. I've heard they don't sell out games even when good.

Go to a game in Nashville, You will change your tune. Great atmosphere.
- ImThatGuy

Agreed

A couple years ago it was bad though.

Man I would list weather in Dallas as a huge disadvantage, can't stand the oppressive heat there in the summer. And the fact that the city is in Texas.
- BackSlider

Instant non-starter for me.