What about Lecavalier for a top line center? He is clearly frustrated in Tampa Bay and the Lightning could use some structure back on the blue line. We have a log jam on D and perhaps this is a trade we could complete! Plus they are struggling in goal and maybe Enroth is appealing to them. I love Enroth but you got to give up something for something. Just a thought and I have always loved Vinny and perhaps getting him back into a real hockey market like Buffalo would inspire him to play better on all cylinders. Does he have a no-trade clause and what would it cost Buffalo? I forget how a winning streak feels since we havent had one for so long! We dont need to blow it up but need a better core! Could this deal happen?! Go Sabres

CAREER REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS

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SEASON	TEAM	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	S	S%
1995-1996	Notre Dame Midget Hounds-SMHL	22	52	52	104
1996-1997	Rimouski Oceanic-QMJHL	64	42	61	103		38
1997-1998	Rimouski Oceanic-QMJHL	58	44	71	115		117
1997-1998	Canada-WJC-A	7	1	1	2		4
1998-1999	Lightning	82	13	15	28	-19	23	2	0	2	125	10.4
1999-2000	Lightning	80	25	42	67	-25	43	6	0	3	166	15.1
2000-2001	Lightning	68	23	28	51	-26	66	7	0	3	165	13.9
2000-2001	Canada-WC-A	7	3	2	5		29
2001-2002	Lightning	76	20	17	37	-18	61	5	0	3	164	12.2
2002-2003	Lightning	80	33	45	78	0	39	11	2	3	274	12.0
2003-2004	Lightning	81	32	34	66	23	52	5	2	6	242	13.2
2004-2005	Canada-W-Cup	6	2	5	7	1	8
2004-2005	Ak Bars Kazan-Russia	30	7	9	16		78
2005-2006	Lightning	80	35	40	75	0	90	13	2	7	309	11.3
2005-2006	Canada-Olympics	6	0	3	3		16
2006-2007	Lightning	82	52	56	108	2	44	16	5	7	339	15.3
2007-2008	Lightning	81	40	52	92	-17	89	10	1	7	318	12.6
2008-2009	Lightning	77	29	38	67	-9	54	10	1	6	291	10.0
2009-2010	Lightning	82	24	46	70	-16	63	5	0	3	295	8.1
2010-2011	Lightning	65	25	29	54	-5	43	12	0	5	210	11.9
2011-2012	Lightning	44	17	17	34	-2	42	4	0	5	135	12.6
	NHL TOTALS	978	368	459	827	-112	709	106	13	60	3,033	12.1

CAREER PLAYOFF STATISTICS

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SEASON	TEAM	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	S	S%
1996-1997	Rimouski Oceanic-QMJHL	4	4	3	7		2
1997-1998	Rimouski Oceanic-QMJHL	18	15	26	41		46
2002-2003	Lightning	11	3	3	6	-2	22	1	0	1	32	9.4
2003-2004	Lightning	23	9	7	16	-2	25	2	0	0	76	11.8
2004-2005	Ak Bars Kazan-Russia	4	1	0	1		6
2005-2006	Lightning	5	1	3	4	0	7	1	0	0	17	5.9
2006-2007	Lightning	6	5	2	7	4	10	1	0	1	30	16.7
2010-2011	Lightning	18	6	13	19	6	16	3	0	3	56	10.7
	NHL TOTALS	63	24	28	52	6	80	8	0	5	211	11.4

I think Ted Black said it best, " We have to be patient." I understand we have had some big time injury problems but when is someone going to start taking responsability?! I am not a big believer in swapping players at the deadline unless your adding to a cup contender but this team continues to make the same dumb mistakes every night. If any trades were to happen, what players do you think would be on the block and what do we want in return. ??? Ive said for years that this team is week up the middle and with Leino a bust in the center position, is there someone else we could get or trade one of our million wingers for? Thoughts? Go Buffalo

 

The Buffalo Sabres are over the cap signing Grags. Assuming Kotalik and Morrison go to the minors. Arent we still over???? Im assuming with our full lineup the likes of Luke Adam, Kassian and ant others goin to camp will not be joining the team this year at least in the beginning with our full lineup. If anyone was to go to free up space personally I would say Hecht.  Just a thought and didnt know if anyone had some clarification on that.  So excited for this year and the Rochester Americans as well. Lets GO BUFFALO!.....Go Amerks!

Should Buffalo keep Nathan Paestch? With the log jam on D and Myers most likely staying on the team for at least the first ten games (How much he can play up b4 goin back to juniors) it is lloking like there are 9 spots for 6 defensmen. With that said Weber is a perfect candidate for starting job as well and he would not be to happy if he had to go back to Portland.  Should we keep Peastcg as a reserve and depth player or should we send him down to Portland on waivers with risk to loosing him.  Remember though with Lydman and Tallinders contract up at the end of the year that puts to open spots out on the roster next year and given there big salaries I dont think we will be resigning them anytime soon.  Even a trade at the deadline could be in order.  So that leaves the question still. Should Paestch go down so Weber is up as the next reserve for a spot or send Weber down and have a disgruntled Dman who could want a trade or out of BUFF???  Just blooging not sure myself

Liindy Ruff definatly has some tough decisions to make with the season around the corner.  Training camp is underway for the rookies and youngens while the big guns loin the fun this Saturday at HSBC for a free practice at 10am.  There are 2-3 opening spots do deal before the season starts and with Mair out 6 weeks or so with a hip injury there is definatly some openings.  Ruff and Reiger sound like excited school girls over 6'8 Dman Tyler Myers and it will be interesting if they give him a look right out of training camp.  Kennedy another young star looks very promising and will definatly get a shot at some point in the season but I think he has a real shot at a roster spot by opening day at least for the begiining of the season.  Here is how I see the lines playing out for the beginning of the season.

Vanek  Connelly  Stafford

CMac       Roy       Pominvile

Grier     Hecht      Paille

Kaleta   Gaustad  Ellis

reserves...Kennedy, Mair(hurt), McCormick (portland most likely to start)

 

Lydman  Tallinder

Rivet      Butler

Sekera   Montador

reserve...Paestch, Weber, Meyers will have a shot at some point this year but really, IDK

 

Some variation of the lines...just my prediction.

Due to the fact that Buffalo will be having many free egents next year and by the deadline, (Mair, CMac, Grier, Paille, and who knows bout Staff) will the young guns make the jump to the NHL? Well Girbe was the ahl's top rookie leading scorer 30g 26a and kennedy was 1st in points with 18g 59a on the Portland Pirates. Both had stints with Buffalo last year but both looked a little rattled and inefective. (Girbe 11 games, Kennedy 1 gp)  Till they can make the jump Buffalo will have to resign the ufa Kennedy during the season or near the end of the season if they want him to still be wearing the blue and gold.  Both young men are playmakers and very effective forwards on the first line for the Pirates.  They will definatly have the oppertunity to shine next season as Reiger and Ruff both speak highly of these players in there second year.  Also with the likes of Mancari if he does resign, he is another top prospect that has more size and experiance and there could be a chance that they all make the jump next year.  If called up this year it will most likely be because of injury and prolly wouldnt be up for long.  Cant wait til the season gets started and tell me what you think will happen.  Looks like a trade or two by the deadline the way things are shappin up!?

Poll

Are they ready!?

59%

yes

22 votes

40%

no

15 votes

37 votes | Poll has closed

With the recent signing of Mike Grier, Cody McCormick, Steve Montador and Drafted players like Kassian and Foligno, Buffalo is shaping out tobe a pretty grity team for the 09-10 season. To add to that, resigning Ellis and Cmac to deals was a good deal. With the likes of Goose, Kaleta and Mair the Buffalo Sabres should be one of the hardest hitting teams in the eastern conferance along side the Bruins.  Also in the system are the likes of Tyler Myers a big 6'7 deman who destroyed the junior league with the Kewlona Rockets and team Canada for the Gold Medal.  My main point here is that if you go in the corner this year agianst the Buffalo Sabres theyre in all likely hood coming out with it. Something that we lacked hard body last year and in the playoffs.  I like managments approach to the grit this year but it will be a defining year for those big contract players to step up and win some home games this year. Buffalo was way under 500 at home last season. Will Hecht have a break out year? (prolly not) A trade will be in works i believe some time this season, perhaps a couple of them.

Poll

Rating on Buffalo Grit

56%

Like it its awesome

56 votes

32%

To much grit no enough talent

32 votes

12%

Or as long as i dont get hit by Grier, McCormick, Goose, Kaleta, Mair or Montador cause u will die

12 votes

100 votes | Poll has closed

Max Afinogenov proved to be a 20-30 goal scorer 2 years ago but enlight of his injuries the last 2 seasons he hasnt been able to get any playing time back with the sabres due to many young players and talent they have.  Max is only 29 i think or around there but I defly think a change of pace and scenery would be good for Max and i think Florida or the Wild are good fit for him and his still.  Though a healthy scratch many nights with buffalo, when ur in Lindy Ruffs Dog house your there for good or you have to be monumental. Just look at Tallinder! Just thinkin out loud but Max could be a good addition to there team with his speed passing.  Relativly cheap now, he's still looking for a job.

Poll

Max to the Wild

40%

Yes

8 votes

15%

No

3 votes

45%

Only if we get a deal

9 votes

20 votes | Poll has closed

We sent a 2nd round draft pick to get him and i like his style of play and i think he fits buffalo's system very well.  IDK what do you think? We could be losing mair paille macarther and ellis and kennedy next year due to contracts but idk just speculating. I saw Kennedy in Portland and he's very impressive and soon to be a good playmaker in the nhl some day.  Roy's is up soon to....hmmm? I think Hank should go bye bye, he needs a fresh start.

Likely hood for trading or aquiring Zherdev for Buff. He would need to take a pay cut based on last years performance but even a 28 goal season aint bad and besides our main 3 (Connelly, Vanek, Roy) We could use another hefty scorer at least for a year or two. Would be a short contract 1-2 years.  Will Sabres administration go for it? Probably not but there has been some rumors and i like to speculate.  After all we did offer Gionta a contract but the Habs have a lot o money and thats where every player seems to want to be. (There or Detroit)

Buffalo Sabres

Poll

Zherdev a yes or no for Sabres?

59%

Yes

89 votes

40%

No

61 votes

150 votes | Poll has closed

Im sure im not the only Buffalo fan that loves Drew Stafford for all aspects of his game. Goals when they count and a creative young player to say the least.  So why is Reiger waiting so long to sign him? Either Staff is being unreasonable (Doubt it) or Reiger is to patient. The patience that lost us Drury, briere, almost Vanek with that outragiuos offer from the oilers, and now Spacek. Is Spacek worth 3 years at 11 mil? NO! But besides the point, i feel like if we gave up a young player like Drew it would be a waste. His play over last year was inconsistant but then again so was the whole team.  If we dont keep him then ok but lets not loose him for nothing like everyone else in the past.

What do you think?Buffalo Sabres