Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

Sabres GM Darcy Regier is approaching the March trade deadline cautiously optimistic about acquiring a significant asset, reports the Buffalo News.

Max could be dealt in the upcomming weeks

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Sabres are interested in Blue Jackets defenseman Rostislav Klesla, with the team looking for a top center.

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/buf090208.html

looking at the standings,

right now Florida is in 9th place if they fall further out of the playoff race come March 4th they might trade Bouwmeester. He's an UFA and he's going to command BIG on the open market so I was thinking instead of Klesla who is a good player but why not take a shot at Bouwmeester if he's available. Package either Connolly, Afinogenov or spacek and Tallinder with a draft choice if you have to!

[Mski]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

im still up in the air about trading conolly, there are pro's and cons to it, i think most anyone on the blue line is up for grabs except for spacek and rivet... that being said i would gladly give up conolly and another for bouwmeister, if we could re-sign him, if it were for purely a rent-a-player situation that my be too much

[Nighthawk]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

They better be buyers at the deadline...they've got a little momentum, how about capitalizing on it?

[OpIv37]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

This is bad news for Connolly.

Max has no trade value.

Tallinder and Spacek have very little- the only teams that might take them are non-contenders that have no experience on D.

If the Sabres are going to make a move, it's going to have to be Connolly.

[SkateZilla]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

Connolly is the teams only hope at this moment...

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

Connolly is the teams only hope at this moment...

Hope for what exactly?

[SabreEleven]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

Sabres cautiously looking = Sabres do nothing

[jamze132]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

I think trading Connolly would be a mistake. The guy is still relatively young and is "currently" healthy. If he is past his injury issues, he could be a top 10-15 guy in the NHL. I understand that is what makes him so valuable, but I would rather hang onto him unless we are blown away with an offer.

[OpIv37]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

I think trading Connolly would be a mistake. The guy is still relatively young and is "currently" healthy. If he is past his injury issues, he could be a top 10-15 guy in the NHL. I understand that is what makes him so valuable, but I would rather hang onto him unless we are blown away with an offer.

the problem is that he's a FA and will likely require something north of $4 million a season to retain. If he plays he's worth every penny, but it's a huge risk to throw that kind of money at a guy who hasn't been reliable.

To complicate the issue, unlike the NFL, contracts are guaranteed in the NHL. In the NFL, a guy can get cut and the team just has to eat the amortized portion of his bonus. They don't have to pay the balance of the contract. If Connolly were to retire due to injury or die in a feak bus accident or something along those lines, the Sabres would be forced to eat the balance of his contract. Obviously this risk exists for every player, but it's an even bigger risk for a guy like Connolly with injury and concussion problems.

The Sabres have 3 equally ****ty options:
1. Trade Connolly before the deadline and potentially give up an excellent player.
2. Let him walk after the season and get NOTHING in return.
3. Give him a big fat paycheck and hope he stays healthy.

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

I just don't see how a guy who has spent the better part of the last three years out of the lineup with injuries is all of a sudden worth the chance of him playing full time.

[rbochan]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

I just don't see how a guy who has spent the better part of the last three years out of the lineup with injuries is all of a sudden worth the chance of him playing full time.

Mostly because he STILL produces better than the huge majority of those that weren't injured during all that time. Not that I'm trying to make a case for him, but it's solid reasoning.

[OpIv37]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

I just don't see how a guy who has spent the better part of the last three years out of the lineup with injuries is all of a sudden worth the chance of him playing full time.

21 points in 21 games.

Seriously, I don't disagree with you. It's a huge risk. But the guy's putting up superstar numbers right now. That's the only reason we're having this conversation. If he had 8 points in 21 games, no one would care to keep him.

[jamze132]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

21 points in 21 games.

Seriously, I don't disagree with you. It's a huge risk. But the guy's putting up superstar numbers right now. That's the only reason we're having this conversation. If he had 8 points in 21 games, no one would care to keep him.

Exactly.

So what would you do?

And for the record, I don't think he will ask for $4m per year to remain in Buffalo.

[SkateZilla]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

I just don't see how a guy who has spent the better part of the last three years out of the lineup with injuries is all of a sudden worth the chance of him playing full time.

Because he's running out of body parts to injure...

[Mitchell55]

Re: Sabres Cautiously Looking To Buy

Sabres GM Darcy Regier is approaching the March trade deadline cautiously optimistic about acquiring a significant asset, reports the Buffalo News.

Max could be dealt in the upcomming weeks

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Sabres are interested in Blue Jackets defenseman Rostislav Klesla, with the team looking for a top center.

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/buf090208.html

looking at the standings,

right now Florida is in 9th place if they fall further out of the playoff race come March 4th they might trade Bouwmeester. He's an UFA and he's going to command BIG on the open market so I was thinking instead of Klesla who is a good player but why not take a shot at Bouwmeester if he's available. Package either Connolly, Afinogenov or spacek and Tallinder with a draft choice if you have to!

So you want us to trade our best player and our best offensive D-man? You show no logic.