Smoker2Buffalo Posted July 15, 2005 Author Share Posted July 15, 2005 I'm not too concerned about letting Zhitnik go. But we need to keep a good deal of our RFA. I definitely want to see Satan, Campbell, Afinogenov, Biron, Briere, Dumont, Grier, Hecht, Kotalik, Pyatt, and Tallinder back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 I'm not too concerned about letting Zhitnik go. But we need to keep a good deal of our RFA. I definitely want to see Satan, Campbell, Afinogenov, Biron, Briere, Dumont, Grier, Hecht, Kotalik, Pyatt, and Tallinder back. 382388[/snapback] You better rethink your stand on Zhitnik. Unless the Sabres plan on bringing in 1 or 2 top notch defensive defensemen, your #3-6 guys on the blueline are filled with journeymen like Jillson, Brown, Campbell and a 40-something James Patrick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoker2Buffalo Posted July 15, 2005 Author Share Posted July 15, 2005 You better rethink your stand on Zhitnik. Unless the Sabres plan on bringing in 1 or 2 top notch defensive defensemen, your #3-6 guys on the blueline are filled with journeymen like Jillson, Brown, Campbell and a 40-something James Patrick. 382392[/snapback] Oh, of course I do count on them bringing at least one more D-Man in. Scott Niedermayer, Brian Rafalski, Roman Hamrlik, Adam Foote, Sergei Gonchar, and Sandis Ozolinsh are all very appealing to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My Friends Call Me Tebucky Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Unless 90% of the guys on that list are UFAs, it's way, way too long. There won't be nearly that many buyouts. If only a few teams made it through the last couple of years turning a profit, they're not going to have the money to do it. It'll just be teams doing it to get under the salary cap, not to get rid of overpriced guys. Look at it this way...could the Islanders theoretically afford to give Alexei Yashin a 28 million dollar signing bonus all payable up front? There's no way....it would cripple their franchise. Paying Alexei Yashin 40 or 45 million dollars and getting his ability (even if he is pretty useless now) is wiser than giving him 28 million dollars and getting nothing for him. And I can't believe somebody actually said that he's not concerned about Zhitnik going, but that we need to keep Pyatt, Campbell, and Biron. Pyatt's never going to explode into Todd Bertuzzi like Darcy Regier thinks, Campbell will never be an NHL defenseman, and Biron just isn't worth the modest money he'll be asking for- they have a better guy behind him in Miller and a capable backup in Noronen. Peca's not coming back to Buffalo, way too many bridges burned there. Of Niedermayer, Rafalski, Hamrlik, Foote, Gonchar, and Ozolinsh, I'd take any of them just because we desperately need a power play QB. But Ozolinsh is almost as bad as Campbell in his own end, Foote is very similar to McKee and not much of a power play force, and Rafalski's gonna cost too much/ is a midget. Niedermayer's the best of the bunch but he's older, so I'd go with Hamrlik and try really hard to keep Zhitnik. Gonchar would be nice, but he'll be pricey, and isn't that good in his own end. Keep Zhitnik! Get a power play QB, preferably one that knows how to play in his own end too! McGillis, Zubov, and Kim Johnsson off of that list may be better fits... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jokeman Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 Niedermayer's the best of the bunch but he's older, so I'd go with Hamrlik and try really hard to keep Zhitnik. Gonchar would be nice, but he'll be pricey, and isn't that good in his own end. Keep Zhitnik! Get a power play QB, preferably one that knows how to play in his own end too! McGillis, Zubov, and Kim Johnsson off of that list may be better fits... 382757[/snapback] I'm pleasantly surprised you didn't mention Adrian Aucoin. He's not the PP QB in the sense he's more of a #2 but still better offensively than any Dman on the Sabres current roster. As his ability to put the puck in the net and size might make him a good fit here and good mentor for Jeff Jillson. Of course add him as a complement to Zhitnik. Making our top 6: Zhitnik, Aucion, Kalinin, McKee, Tallinder and Jillson. Thus leaving Brown and Campbell as depth as neither one should be playing every night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted July 16, 2005 Share Posted July 16, 2005 Niedermeyer is the best player on that board and it isn't even close. Of course, Louey Lam ain't letting that guy outta Hoffa land. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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