Guest Writer: Dog days of summer bite

There is no other way to put it, that Skinner trade was horrible. If this is what they were going to do he should have been moved at the trade deadline last year. You could have gotten a first round pick or a better prospect.

There is no other way to put it, that Skinner trade was horrible. If this is what they were going to do he should have been moved at the trade deadline last year. You could have gotten a first round pick or a better prospect.
- ClaudeFather

Cliff Pu will be an NHLer. He made a good push for a spot last year, even as a major junior player. I'd put his NHL ceiling as a good second liner, and his floor at a serviceable 3rd liner.

That said, I'm glad the Sabres paid that price for Skinner

I would think that the new management has a change in direction and are deciding that they have a pretty decent backend and now want to start bring in the young players like Necas Gauthier Roy etc.
The team will be fine without Skinner.

Yes, the Skinner deal was not ideal for the Canes. But all reason points to the team wanting to part ways with Jeff and go into another direction. I, for one, like the trade and think if will be good for both teams. The Canes' will be just fine for scoring too, with Svech, Necas and likely Zykov filling the Skinner void. I don't think its unreasonable to pencil in 20-25 goals between these three, or another surprise player the makes the team. Real question is the goaltending, if it will be up to snuff or not ?

And since Cliff Pu is caught in the middle of this deal, I'm really rooting for his development and making the team at some point in the future.

And since Cliff Pu is caught in the middle of this deal, I'm really rooting for his development and making the team at some point in the future.
- CappyJr.

I bet he'll play at least some this year. His speed is terrific. He could probably handle a depth role now, but I would imagine he'll be one of the first injury call-ups if he doesn't make the team

Skinner should have been moved at the deadline last year, yes, but that was a different GM in charge.

With or without Skins the Canes are a tire fire!
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!
Those two goalies were terrible last year (worst in the league), and OH YEAH, let's try that again...?? Huh? Couldn't out-score teams with Skins, BUT W/O him...everything should work well...
OH YEAH!
Another high draft pick is all that can happen!!!!

With or without Skins the Canes are a tire fire!
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!
Those two goalies were terrible last year (worst in the league), and OH YEAH, let's try that again...?? Huh? Couldn't out-score teams with Skins, BUT W/O him...everything should work well...
OH YEAH!
Another high draft pick is all that can happen!!!!
- randycane

Boy you sure put a lot of thought into these things, huh?

We took what we could get for Skinner. He had a NTC and decided that Buffalo and Toronto (my guess based on Waddell's comments about cap concerns). Toronto could do much with their cap issues and no way they could afford the big 4 plus Skinner. So any offer from Toronto would have been minimal. That basically left what Buffalo had to offer and when they added the final piece to the deal, Waddell and team jumped on it. The return was light but figuring that our options were limited, the management did the best they could.

Why not wait until the deadline, you ask
1. If the Canes are making a push, would we really trade away a goal scorer? Of course not. Now we lose him for nothing.
2. We have traded away/not brought back 9 of the top 12 minus players on the team from last season. With a team that struggles with goal-tending, we need defensive responsible players. Faulk remains as the 2nd worst minus player, if he stays.

Necas, Svech, Z, Ferland, Hamilton, and possibly another AHLer brought up should easily match Skinner, Lindy, Hanifin and Ryan's scoring from last season. On top of that we have improved the defense greatly and Aho, Turbo, and Faulk should improve their scoring as well next season.

A tire fire what a bunch of BS.

nhlprospectreport.ca

If realizing that the goalies are terrible (Basic Sense) B.S.,..THEN you are dead right!
Enjoy your ignorance, fan-boy!

If nothing else, Skinner can tell his grandkids one day that he was traded for Poo. Which will be more than Dorion can say when he gets fleeced out of Erik Karlsson