how excited are we for july 1 this year?

[trapezeus]

Do you think they'll actually bring in a real center this year? they got their defensemen. They got people in the pipeline for wings from the AHL.

is this a year to make a splash in FA to prove we are serious, or does the team have to take stock of the moves they've made thus far with kassian, foligno, regehr, etc and see where they are?

[OpIv37]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

I'll say this: I was a lot more excited before I found out about a potential Connolly re-signing.

Ditching Rivet, the Boyes move (because he had another full year) and the Regehr move were so much different from what the previous ownership did, so that's been encouraging. But the talk of re-signing Connolly makes me question if they really get it.

In a perfect world, Connolly, Lalime, Grier and Special Neids will all be allowed to walk, and we'll get our center. I'd love to grab Brad Richards, but that would pretty much kill all our available cap space for the foreseeable future. Rumor has it that they want Parise.

[trapezeus]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

i absolutely hate the idea of signing connolly, but if it's a one year deal at $2mm or less, i could survive. and in my mind that just signals that they have more of a 3 year horizon on mind than a "win this second" attitude.

parise would be exciting.

[don137]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

According to Regier Connolly's role will be different. He will be a defensive 3rd line center and not a playmaker. I think he can do that role well. I agree I don't want him with a large contract but since his role is different his pay will be according to his role.

[clumping platelets]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

On a scale of 0-10, I'm at an 8

However, I do not have a problem resigning Connolly at say $900,000-$1.1 million and serve in the role as a 3rd line center.

[CuseJetsFan83]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

RealKyper Nick Kypreos



Lots of disappointed #NHL teams hearing #Capitals Brooks Laich re-signs 6 yrs. 27M. 4.5 will be the cap hit.

2 minutes ago

this could be a mixed blessing with some teams having to spend a little extra to prevent them from hitting the market....

but seriously do you think an offer sheet on stamkos (if it gets that far) would be a good idea... or maybe pull an edmonton on them??

[clumping platelets]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

[THATHURMANATOR]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

I couldn't care less about Brooks Laich....

I am not as excited as I could be because there are no centers out there. Doubtful we get Richards so who else is there?

[THATHURMANATOR]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

Where they currently stand:

Vanek 6.4
Pominville 5.5
Stafford 4.0
Roy 4.5
Boyes 4.0
Hecht 3.0
Kotalik 3.0
Gaustad 2.5
Kaleta .95
Ennis .875
Regehr 4.0
Leopold 3.0
Morrisonn 2.075
Myers .875
Miller 6.25
Total: 50.925
source

Salary cap: 64.3

So they're about $13 mil under the cap. Gerbe, Sekera and Weber are RFAs, they're trying to re-sign McCormick, and they need a backup goalie. Doesn't look good for Richards.
The eye-popper on this list is Kotalik. Unless they get him off the books, he's really hurting the chances of making a FA splash.
Face it, this will remain the core. The team is still locked into the direction it chose several years ago.

Dude Morrison is most assuradely going to be bought out and same holds true with Kotalik. ESPECIALLY if there is a free agent they want. Add 5 mil to the total easily.

[CuseJetsFan83]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/freeagents/top30.html

14

Tim Connolly, C (BUF) 2010-11 Salary Cap Hit: $4.5 million | Age: 30 With Darcy Regier, Buffalo's GM, you never really know what's coming, but we'd be shocked if the Sabres re-sign Connolly this summer. Buffalo is expected to go in a different direction, which would make Connolly available on the open market.

Available

according to that list laich was the 2nd best available UFA

connolly is 14th?

[Philagape]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

According to this, they're currently about $12 million under the cap. Add to that RFAs Gerbe, Weber and Sekera (or their replacements), they're trying to re-sign McCormick, and they need a backup goalie. Looks like no chance at Richards.
Bringing back Kotalik at $3 mil is really making a dent.
Face it, the core of the team remains the same. They're still locked into the direction that was chosen five years ago.

[Philagape]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

Dude Morrison is most assuradely going to be bought out and same holds true with Kotalik. ESPECIALLY if there is a free agent they want. Add 5 mil to the total easily.

They'll need replacements. If Morrisonn goes, that leaves three D-men under contract.

[THATHURMANATOR]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

According to this, they're currently about $12 million under the cap. Add to that RFAs Gerbe, Weber and Sekera (or their replacements), they're trying to re-sign McCormick, and they need a backup goalie. Looks like no chance at Richards.
Bringing back Kotalik at $3 mil is really making a dent.
Face it, the core of the team remains the same. They're still locked into the direction that was chosen five years ago.

Heard you the first time and already responded.

Enroth is the backup goalie.

Kotalik will be buried in the minors unless we actually need him.

Morrison is gone as well.

[THATHURMANATOR]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

They'll need replacements. If Morrisonn goes, that leaves three D-men under contract.

Myers - under contract
Weber - been qualified and will be signed
Reigher - under contract
Sekera - been qualified and will be signed
Gragnani - been qualified and will be signed
Leopold - under contract.

Think we are set.....

[SkateZilla]

Re: how excited are we for july 1 this year?

they already said no one will be bought out.

didnt richards say he wants to play in a small market?