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Reputation:90
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 2, 2006
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Players keep coming off the free agency board as we just sit here on our hands (and check books). Now we are trading away our restriced Free Agents for future draft picks. Wasn't Bernier supposed to be the "prize" of the Campbell trade? Maybe we should just let this team leave town before it is ran into the ground. Sooooo freakin' sad how far we have fallen in two short years.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 24, 2006
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Bernier was nothing special. We traded Campbell for 3 picks which isn't too shabby considering we weren't (and shouldn't) going to pay him. I can accept this if the Sabres re-sign MIller and Pominville to long deals. If neither get signed this summer, there will be some dark days in HSBC Arena
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 16, 2006
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I agree that Pominville and Miller extensions are the top priority for the offseason but the this trade is still a little puzzling to me. Bernier may have been a disappointment but he has a lot of potential and wasn't going to be that expensive. If they were going to trade him for picks they should have done it earlier and gotten more picks in this years draft.
I also think we would have been better off keeping him for more offensive depth so we could afford to trade Afinogenov, Kotalik or Connolly for a veteran defensemen. I agree Campbell would not be worth that kind of money but he was the best we had and losing him and Kalinin is gonna be a big blow.
Roy, Vanek and Pominville could all be 100 point scorers very soon and I really think that Stafford and MacArthur have that same kind of potential. But we are going to need some kind of defense to put behind them.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 25, 2007
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Well, as a Canucks fan, I really like this trade. We didn't give up too much for him because he was an unsigned RFA. and from his interview with the canucks (canucks.com) it doesn't sound like he is too interested in signing offer sheets else where but the Canucks at this point. It would be nice to lock him up long term.
Ofcourse, the Canuck fans are still waiting for another splash to round out a decent top 6, perhaps less competitive...but more youthful. Only boneheads will continue to call out Mike Gillis. Then again...some of us fans will complain about anything...our players, excuses for losing, not trading (for the sake of trading), losing in the free agent market (because we are trying not to over pay overwhelmingly) and so on...
I mean get this...
last season, Naslund was the scapegoat for them for us not winning
and now, the SAME fans are calling out Mike Gillis for not resigning him and losing him to the Rangers.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 25, 2007
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Oh and tydalk, I think the Canucks were looking to trade for Kotalik/Afinni as well, except it didn't work out as of right now. Could it happen later this week...possible, and I hope it does.
Bieska and CrackerJack are potentially on their way out for them if it happens
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 21, 2006
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I like the trade for the Sabres. Bernier has potential, but the last thing the Sabres need is yet another young forward who has yet to reach his potential. What the Sabres needed, and got, out of the deal was a veteran defenseman. They weren't trading Bernier for picks, they were trading him to give San Jose picks for Rivet. The Sabres may have trouble keeping their talent, but rarely to they make a mistake in evaluating talent.
Also, Im not so sure why everyone is so ready to run Kotalik out of town. He doesn't have a great all around game, but he fills a role on the team. You have to have players who can shoot. Yeah we missed the playoffs this year by a few points, but take Kotalik out of the lineup and it wouldn't have even been that close. The shootout was one of Buffalo's glaring weaknesses last year, but Kotalik was the only reason why they won as many shootouts as they did.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 15, 2006
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I totally agree with NY JeT. I don't get the Kotalik bashing either. He has the best shot on the team, and fills the role of a sniper. You can pretty much count on 20 goals from him barring injury. I just wasn't that impressed with Bernier. I really didn't hear his name towards the end of the year. He had a great first game and then disappeared. As far as Max goes, he's always been a favorite of mine. You just can't teach speed. What happened to him last year is a mystery. An explanation could be that his injury hampered him while he was playing. Mostly, I think what hampers Max is his head. He has a hot woman in Dementieva, I'll give him that. I'm hoping last year was just an anomaly.
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