Follow Ken Holland's lead and don't overpay for Shane Doan.
I know that you (or your bosses) want to make a splashy addition this off season and dealing Derek Roy for Steve Ott just isn't enough.
But, giving a four or five year deal at $7 million per year or more to a guy who turns 36yo in a few months and averages around 20 to 25 goals and 55 to 65 points per year lately.
I know that Shane Doan has the reputation as a great leader and you think he'll be a great influence on the young core of the team. But come on, signing him to that deal will likely work out as well as overpaying Chris Drury worked for the NY Rangers.
Follow Ken Holland's lead and back away. There will be other good players available in the future.
If you can't help yourself and need to make a stupid move, then sign Jamie Benn or Ryan O'Reilly to a stupid RFA Offersheet.
That way you get a player entering the prime of his career and you address a position of need!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Culture Change
For years the Sabres were viewed as a talented, but soft team.
After Ryan Miller was trucked by Milan Lucic and the reaction from the Sabres was "Meh", it became obvious to many that the Sabres needed to upgrade the team's backbone.
After the team failed to make the playoffs, Darcy Regier talked about wanting to upgrade the team's "compete level". After two days of the NHL off season, Regier has made two moves that have started to change the complexion of the roster.
First, he signed 6'8" 270 lb enforcer John Scott who grew up a Sabres fan in St. Catherines. He won't get a lot of ice time and is a throwback in that he's a pure enforcer who is a liability at 5 on 5. But, he's a monster who can really chuck knuckles and he only costs $600,000.
Then he traded Derek Roy to Dallas for superpest Steve Ott and big defenseman Adam Pardy. This after WGR's Paul Hamilton said Roy had no trade value.
Yeah, on pure talent, Dallas wins the deal. But, on "compete level", the Sabres win this deal going away. But the really interesting piece to me is what comes next. Regier has said that he wants to add a center with size. The team has a lot of depth on defense and some on the wing.
Regier has also hinted that they have offers out to a UFA or two and are awaiting decisions by the players.
I can't wait to see what Regier has up his sleeve as he goes about changing the culture of the Sabres and trying to upgrade the grit and toughness on the team.
Now whether this makes them a better team remains to be seen. But, they do appear to be a tougher team to play against than they were a week ago.
After Ryan Miller was trucked by Milan Lucic and the reaction from the Sabres was "Meh", it became obvious to many that the Sabres needed to upgrade the team's backbone.
After the team failed to make the playoffs, Darcy Regier talked about wanting to upgrade the team's "compete level". After two days of the NHL off season, Regier has made two moves that have started to change the complexion of the roster.
First, he signed 6'8" 270 lb enforcer John Scott who grew up a Sabres fan in St. Catherines. He won't get a lot of ice time and is a throwback in that he's a pure enforcer who is a liability at 5 on 5. But, he's a monster who can really chuck knuckles and he only costs $600,000.
Then he traded Derek Roy to Dallas for superpest Steve Ott and big defenseman Adam Pardy. This after WGR's Paul Hamilton said Roy had no trade value.
Yeah, on pure talent, Dallas wins the deal. But, on "compete level", the Sabres win this deal going away. But the really interesting piece to me is what comes next. Regier has said that he wants to add a center with size. The team has a lot of depth on defense and some on the wing.
Regier has also hinted that they have offers out to a UFA or two and are awaiting decisions by the players.
I can't wait to see what Regier has up his sleeve as he goes about changing the culture of the Sabres and trying to upgrade the grit and toughness on the team.
Now whether this makes them a better team remains to be seen. But, they do appear to be a tougher team to play against than they were a week ago.
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