Has had a max 30 points and averages 10 goals a year

Sounds like a guy I want for 5m

At the time hitting someone in the head with a shoulder was perfectly legal. Hard to celebrate Campbell on Umberger as a great hit and object to Neil on Drury because of shoulder to head.

Yes it was a dirty hit in that it was late, even by the past standards.

Saying it was Drury's fault, I don't buy it.

Gotta love hockey, the "She was asking for it" excuse lives on!
- gcomella34

But Umberger had the puck, did actually have his head down, and Campbell hit him shoulder to shoulder/chest, not in the head

The point is that Neal was targeting Drury’s head, and it was late

Campbell’s hot was clean,
Neal’s was dirty

He did have 15 points (all EV) in 21 playoff games which is basically a PPG if you ask Gerbe.
- adambuffalo

I can’t comment on that as I was too young. Tom
Wilson was good in the playoffs but it was Kuznetsov, Ovechkin, and Holtby that won that cup for them not Wilson’s intangibles. If paying a tough guy close to $2M more then what he should be making takes away from adding skill to your organization will it matter how much he brings to the table if your team is getting knocked out of the first round every year ?
- Pegullaville

Your point is valid for a team like the Sabres who are building and still a bit away.
That $5m could be spent on a highly skilled winger, so point well taken.

However for tne caps who were stacked, that infushion of toughness, wildness and ability to pot some points was in fact a very active ingedient to their success.

I ask this
If a tom Wilson type was enough to giive a guy like samson the confidence to stand in front of the net, to go behind the net for passes to the front...rather thaan getting killed trying to do so...is that confidence worth something? And if a player who instills that confidence can also pot 15 poi ts along the way in the playoffs...is that worth something?
Add them together, does tht nkt indeed provide higher value that eitber alone?

There is a place for Tom wilson, if he were to be a key ingedient in bring a cup to Buffalo...I would pay him $5m.

Agreed that it was Ovie, Kuz and Holtby leading the team and you could add Oshie to that list too. Wilson plays a different role than those guys and is going to get paid less than them too. Be honest though, would you rather have Oshie who is 31 for seven more years at his $5.75 cap hit or Wilson at 24 y/o for six years at $5.17? I would go with Wilson every time. He did have 15 points (all EV) in 21 playoff games which is basically a PPG if you ask Gerbe.
- adambuffalo

Why would you bring up TJ when that contract he received was him putting in the work ..

Im definitely in group that says we don’t need him ..
- gerbe75pts

Wilson wouldn't stand by and watch a guy get his ass kicked.

Has had a max 30 points and averages 10 goals a year

Sounds like a guy I want for 5m
- gerbe75pts

Figured so.


You mean the guy who is wearing a SC ring that he was an integral part of.
Ok, noted.

Wrong. So wrong.

it hasnt happened to the Sabres because the Sabre haven't played deep into the playoffs since the '90's. ...christ, they havent played a meaningful game in practically 10+ seasons, lol.

Tough physical hockey is played EVERY year in the playoffs....doesn't always win, but it gets played alot and winning teams have to play through it.
Tom Wilson was an integral part of the team's success, like it or not, it is a fact. His tough, bone crunching hits, willingness to fight anyone was a key ingredient in the team's success...and he added some points to contribute on the scoreboard.
If he was a Sabre, you would love him.

He got paid, just like Boss34 said.
Like. Many contracts given out, will he earn every ooenny, especially in the "out years" of a 5 year deal...probably not...but the GM kept term relatively short.

Good call Boss!
- IonSabres

Well we aren’t getting Tom Wilson,
(even though I’ve wanted us to trade for him for years)
so it’s a moot point

There aren’t too many guys in the league like him who can be such a physical pest
AND
actually play hockey

And you’re overdoing it a bit
He had 1 fight this postseason i believe

Your point is valid for a team like the Sabres who are building and still a bit away.
That $5m could be spent on a highly skilled winger, so point well taken.

However for tne caps who were stacked, that infushion of toughness, wildness and ability to pot some points was in fact a very active ingedient to their success.

I ask this
If a tom Wilson type was enough to giive a guy like samson the confidence to stand in front of the net, to go behind the net for passes to the front...rather thaan getting killed trying to do so...is that confidence worth something? And if a player who instills that confidence can also pot 15 poi ts along the way in the playoffs...is that worth something?
Add them together, does tht nkt indeed provide higher value that eitber alone?

There is a place for Tom wilson, if he were to be a key ingedient in bring a cup to Buffalo...I would pay him $5m.
- IonSabres

Sam’s goals all come from around the net already

Sadly for you guys, and everyone else, we found out yesterday that the Flyers have the best prospect pool.

Agreed that it was Ovie, Kuz and Holtby leading the team and you could add Oshie to that list too. Wilson plays a different role than those guys and is going to get paid less than them too. Be honest though, would you rather have Oshie who is 31 for seven more years at his $5.75 cap hit or Wilson at 24 y/o for six years at $5.17? I would go with Wilson every time. He did have 15 points (all EV) in 21 playoff games which is basically a PPG if you ask Gerbe.
- adambuffalo

Answer me this. If Burakovsky puts up 25 goals next year and prices himself out of Washington. Was paying Wilson then worth it ?

Worst part is, like you said, "the beginning of the end." When did we really have it all that great? The 05/06 the team was okay at best, barely made the playoffs, but then surprised. Then, we had the 06/07 season and came up short. So what did we really have? One decent season. That's what we hang our hats on. Pittsburgh is going on year 12 of being good/great, Detroit had 25 years of straight playoff runs, Chicago 10 years, 3 cups... We had 1 season of watching a dominant team. Whoopty friggin' do.
- sskkoo1

So this is just very incorrect

We were the 4th seed,
with like 110pts and only behind Ottawa for the division by like 4pts or something


It only lasted 2 years, bc of ownership/management...
but those were great teams

Your point is valid for a team like the Sabres who are building and still a bit away.
That $5m could be spent on a highly skilled winger, so point well taken.

However for tne caps who were stacked, that infushion of toughness, wildness and ability to pot some points was in fact a very active ingedient to their success.

I ask this
If a tom Wilson type was enough to giive a guy like samson the confidence to stand in front of the net, to go behind the net for passes to the front...rather thaan getting killed trying to do so...is that confidence worth something? And if a player who instills that confidence can also pot 15 poi ts along the way in the playoffs...is that worth something?
Add them together, does tht nkt indeed provide higher value that eitber alone?

There is a place for Tom wilson, if he were to be a key ingedient in bring a cup to Buffalo...I would pay him $5m.
- IonSabres

That only works though if all those guys take team friendly deals. If Wilson making $5M a year prohibits them from signing Burakovsky and Vrana will he then be worth it ? If Burakovsky is in another teams jersey scoring and is a plug and play 25 goal scorer and you had to give him up because you were short $2M AAV is it worth it then to you ?

👍
Great post.
Physical play, especially in the playoffs is still alive in the nhl.

The key bank center would be filled with tom wilson jerseys
- Boss34

But is there someone like him we might be able to get?
Bc the Caps obviously aren’t moving him any time soon

Answer me this. If Burakovsky puts up 25 goals next year and prices himself out of Washington. Was paying Wilson then worth it ?
- Pegullaville

You mean when Washington inevitably regresses and there core gets older, and they need to rely on younger players like Wilson to play a bigger role, and he continues to score 7-10 goals per year?

Yeah, I think they’ll regret it

Answer me this. If Burakovsky puts up 25 goals next year and prices himself out of Washington. Was paying Wilson then worth it ?
- Pegullaville

We should be asking about him 😍

he finished his check a tad after the whistle blew


he had every right to start a check before that whistle blew

and if drury had his head up, the shoulder would not have done that so thanks for making my point on the head down
- homiedclown

Not true at all

Chris Neal was 6’1 and Drury 5’10
Plus Neal was elevating on the hit, following through upwards- which is why u see his elbow come up after the hit

You’re way off here sir

Troll away

Aside from gerbe, you are wrong more then anyone on this board.
- Boss34

Except when i argue with you

And your “location” should prove it,
if u were man enough to pay up on our bet

Answer me this. If Burakovsky puts up 25 goals next year and prices himself out of Washington. Was paying Wilson then worth it ?
- Pegullaville

Too many variables to consider. What if the Caps win the Cup again? What if Wilson puts 15-20 goals? What if there is a lockout and they can amnesty buyout someone like Oshie? Just a lot of what ifs to say. For sure though, if they repeat than it definitely worth it.

Figured so.


You mean the guy who is wearing a SC ring that he was an integral part of.
Ok, noted.
- IonSabres

Let me see what David Clarkson , Matt Beleskey ,Brouwer are doing


The Capitals would’ve won the cup without him ..

Not true at all

Chris Neal was 6’1 and Drury 5’10
Plus Neal was elevating on the hit, following through upwards- which is why u see his elbow come up after the hit

You’re way off here sir
- jdfitz77

no you are a sabres fan

it's common to not be able to look objectively

Neal had EVERY right to finish his check

Drury had his head turned away and looking down after the shot

the check WAS legal at the time


was it a cheap shot as far as intentions, probably

but it's not like he crossed the line and pulled a dale hunter

Not true at all

Chris Neal was 6’1 and Drury 5’10
Plus Neal was elevating on the hit, following through upwards- which is why u see his elbow come up after the hit

You’re way off here sir
- jdfitz77

height has nothing to do with it


at the time it was legal

Has had a max 30 points and averages 10 goals a year

Sounds like a guy I want for 5m
- gerbe75pts

Tom wilson:
35 points last year, but facts aside.......

Wilson wouldn't stand by and watch a guy get his ass kicked.

- adambuffalo

I’m sure he would

Tom Wilson has averaged 7 goals per season

Holy hell
- sbroads24

While I don’t think the Wilson contract is a good signing, I absolutely agree that there are important and valuable roles on hockey teams that do not result in goals and assists for that individual player.

So focusing on goals - or even points - is an incomplete analysis of a players worth.