Pegulaville26

 I really liked McNabb, thought he was gonna turn into a quality d-man. Giving up him and 2nd's is substantial. This Deslauries kid must be pretty special.

I was always high on McNabb too.  He was just stuck in a log jam of good young talent on the Sabres blue line.  The main target in the McNabb trade was actually University of Minnesota forward Hudson Fasching.  Fasching looks promising but, still has at least two years of college hockey left.  I still think they gave up a lot, but they can do that with the larger quantity of draft picks

Thanks Pegula.

 

Will Z. be playing at center?   And,  I see you have Torrey Mitchell listed as a spare.  What's your opinion of him?

Z will stay at the pivot.  Thats where GMTM wants him.  Girgensons is the future heart and captain of the Sabres.  Gionta will hold the "C" for two years while Z matures.  Mitchell was hurt a lot after the Sabres picked him up.  I don't think he's a bad player, but I don't see him taking Deslauries spot who Nolan and Murray love.  Remember the Sabres gave up McNabb and two 2nd's in that Deslauries trade, although Fasching was the main target.  McCormick was given a new deal to play not go to Rochester and if PK36 can show he's back to form of two-three years ago then he easily earns a spot.  All three of those guys are "Nolan" players.

 Nice write up Pegula!  I'm just wondering out loud if the Sabres don't go with Hodgsen and Rienhart at center as a 1/2 punch and move Ennis to the wing. I guess how proficient all 3 are at face offs may decide their fate, ie where they play.

 Hodgson moved to the wing the 2nd half of last season and played much better.  He struggles in his own end so with him playing on the wing he has less responsibility.  Ennis thrives down the middle so it's an easy call for Nolan.  However a day will come when the Sabres will need to choose either Ennis or Hodgson.  Not enough room for booth (foreshadowing)

Yeah just realized I refered to Tim Murray as Brian Murray in first paragraph. That's pretty embarrassing.

@hf101 ya I read that too. Im 99% sure a player has to pass a physical and that the injury was disclosed to Dallas or I would think the deal would be voided. Kind of a head scratcher from the Stars view. Although if there's a lockout maybe this won't matter if the season starts in late November or December. Hope not.

@yave1964 from outsider it is hard to see how this works. However this is a perfect example of addition by subtraction. Roy was a problem in the locker and did not get a long wit Lindy Ruff. Two years ago when the Sabres made their crazy run to get into the playoffs the run started after Roy went out. Players were telling reporters off the record that they were going go on a run now after Roy went out. Old players also told stories of how Roy would say in scrums "calm down it's just a game". Another example a few years ago during after a players only meeting to say they need to be more focused off the ice Roy went and handed out invites to a toga party. Does this move make them better? Yes and no. Scoring wise no, but grit and size wise yes. If this is the only move Buffalo makes all season it's a failed offseason. If they bring in another center then it is a success.

Good day for Minnesota! Nice to see another small market win big.

I am behind you 100%. It is a joke with these playoff races only have one or two penalties a game called, sometimes zero. Remember when the player dumped the puck in you couldn't stand in front of him. Was there a rule change I missed? Now they want to put the red line back in? Absolute joke that will kill the skill of players like Stamkos, Giroux, Sid, Sedins, Malkin, etc. NHL needs to look itself in the mirror very important CBA coming up.

@Miller time I'm not writing them off either, I'm just sayin most overreacting fans are after one game.

@digityman new blog answers your question.

If I'm the Leafs I don't do it. They don't need a winger, they need a center. Trading for Nash although a heck of a player pretty much ends any chance to afford a top center. 7.8 million dollar handcuffs for 6 years.

I was wondering how long it would take for Leafs fans to turn on Connolly. Just wait until he trips over the blue line in practice again and gets hurt.

This year I think it was the Lucic hit. He didn't come back healthy and it doesn't help that his defense gives out turnovers like it's nobody's business. Ehrhoff and Regher coming back will help.

DiPietro...Ehrhoff....Hossa few years....Kovi few years...I hope they can get that in, but will be tricky with the NHLPA because that would involve non fully guarenteed contracts like the NFL has now. Also could make teams more able to get around the salary cap.

Ouch. But true. I think if the Bryz signing looks worse than the Lieno one right now..... Who would have thought that?

Both of those deals are going to be a disaster in a year or two. Good thing Florida is around to take in all the bad contracts of the NHL.

Not a problem, thanks for overpaying Bryzgalov with that money we saved you. Looks like it will be a great 9 years.

No Boyes was actually playing his best hockey as a Sabres before he got hurt. He was on the PP and back to a point per game guy he was centering Vanek and Pommer for a game or two and then sprained his ankle. He just practiced on the "4th line" because he isn't playing tonight.

I can't really blame Darcy on not having enough depth. I mean both Buffalo and Rochester have injury problems and when your down to junior players nobody can prepare for that.

Ehrhoff has been a horse the last weeks after a slow start playing 30 min a game on average last night he was fanning on every thing his stick touched. Miller I kinda feel bad for he takes shot after shot to the head. Tootoo Satruday and last night McNabb cut him and then JVR I think took his mask of with a bullet of a shot to the head from the top of the circle.

Thanks for letting me know I updated it, Leino should be getting a call from Shanahan too.

Center experiment has been over for about a month now and he's actually produced more on the 3rd line because he is playing his natural position. A 3rd line winger that provides some secondary scoring only problem is 4.5mil cap hit.

I think Detroit should stay in the West too but I keep hearing the NHL promised they'd move them back East and they can't afford to leave Columbus in the West or they are going to lose another franchise. I would hate to see the Hawks, Wings rivalry broken up too. I really hope Detroit stays West though.