Don Cherry
08-06-2005, 08:29 PM
Just hear me out for a minute-
Before I go into this- let me state the following-
1) Because of ownership and money issues with the Sabres I am willing to give R & R some slack in running/coaching this team
2) I have been mystified with the lack of players signed. Teppo Neuminnen is a good addition, a solid Defenseman. But that's been it.
After looking at the free agent tracker on the other thread I posted, I noticed some teams signing players left and right. Sure, they get some big names in big markets- but I'm also noticing that some of these teams are creeping toward the $25-$30 million mark on this early feeding frenzy but are only about half-stocked. They still have significant RFA's to sign, or will have to start chopping players/trading players off.
My guess is that there are
1) Players that you want to jettison immediatly based on salary/ age/production/health. (Example- John LeClair- Philly)
2) Players you are hanging on too as insurance in case you fail to sign that big name guy you had your eyes on. If you get that prized free agent, then you can jettison the insurance (See Jeremy Roenik- Philly- traded after Forsberg signed)
3) Guys you don't want to get rid of, but will hang on too until you have to let them go/trade them because you have to trim down to meet the cap.
I see a lot of teams out there with #2 and #3. Tampa for instance. (Boy- did they ever pick the worst time to win a Cup) , Ottawa, & Philly just to name a few.
Once they try to fill out their rosters with their own RFA's- you could see them tight with the cap with no future cap wiggle room. Tampa and Philly both intrigue me in particular, Neither has a solid #1 Goalie under contract.
I can see a number of teams trying to fill holes and reduce their payroll by dealing some quality players- who may be signed to some decent deals.
This better be part of the grand Reiger plan, because the silence has been deafaning so far at One Seymour H. Knox III Plaza.
Before I go into this- let me state the following-
1) Because of ownership and money issues with the Sabres I am willing to give R & R some slack in running/coaching this team
2) I have been mystified with the lack of players signed. Teppo Neuminnen is a good addition, a solid Defenseman. But that's been it.
After looking at the free agent tracker on the other thread I posted, I noticed some teams signing players left and right. Sure, they get some big names in big markets- but I'm also noticing that some of these teams are creeping toward the $25-$30 million mark on this early feeding frenzy but are only about half-stocked. They still have significant RFA's to sign, or will have to start chopping players/trading players off.
My guess is that there are
1) Players that you want to jettison immediatly based on salary/ age/production/health. (Example- John LeClair- Philly)
2) Players you are hanging on too as insurance in case you fail to sign that big name guy you had your eyes on. If you get that prized free agent, then you can jettison the insurance (See Jeremy Roenik- Philly- traded after Forsberg signed)
3) Guys you don't want to get rid of, but will hang on too until you have to let them go/trade them because you have to trim down to meet the cap.
I see a lot of teams out there with #2 and #3. Tampa for instance. (Boy- did they ever pick the worst time to win a Cup) , Ottawa, & Philly just to name a few.
Once they try to fill out their rosters with their own RFA's- you could see them tight with the cap with no future cap wiggle room. Tampa and Philly both intrigue me in particular, Neither has a solid #1 Goalie under contract.
I can see a number of teams trying to fill holes and reduce their payroll by dealing some quality players- who may be signed to some decent deals.
This better be part of the grand Reiger plan, because the silence has been deafaning so far at One Seymour H. Knox III Plaza.