Blues Acquire Ryan Miller And Steve Ott

[sabresfaninthesouth]

And don't forget Oshie.



^^ Wow.



I honestly cannot imagine Darcy making these kinds of moves. This is downright masterful.


From a nuts and bots perspective, I don't know why the Blues felt they needed an upgrade over Halak. But maybe there was something that Hitch was uncomfortable with about him. They got two pieces for right now. But if everyone signs where they are now... Buffalo scalped 'em.

If STL wins the Cup this year though, nobody will care.

 

[dash]

From a nuts and bots perspective, I don't know why the Blues felt they needed an upgrade over Halak. But maybe there was something that Hitch was uncomfortable with about him. They got two pieces for right now. But if everyone signs where they are now... Buffalo scalped 'em.

I think Hitch thinks the Blues should have beaten the Kings in the playoffs last year (you could argue the Blues outplayed LA), but the difference was in net (Quick outplayed Halak by a big margin).

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Not a bad clause for Buffalo; Chicago/Colorado are locks to play St. Louis before they get to the WCF. That might be harder than the Pacific matchup in Round 3 though.

Agreed.

Wow. So the Sabres could have their own pick (1 or 2), possibly the Isles pick (top 5 likely), The Blues pick (27-30) and will probably get a first rounder for Moulson (16-30). They'll also have number 30 (first pick of the second round this year). In essence they could have 5 first rounders this year if they move Moulson for a 1st. Almost sure to have 4 picks out of the top 30. Crazy stuff.

Add that to Zadorov, Ristolainen, Girgensons, Grigorenko, etc. and that is a lot of youth. In a really good spot to rebuild.

I thought the Isles pick was protected? I could be wrong though. They're doing an excellent job up North.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

The Isles have the option to defer the first rounder this year if it is a top ten pick, which appears highly likely. Buffalo would get the 2015 first rounder no matter what then.

I know about the Isles deferral option but with how good next year's draft is supposed to be, I think the Isles should just consider giving up their pick this year. Probably won't but it should be an option. If they somehow are as bad, or worse, next year that pick could be a real kick in the teeth. That's the kind of thing that gets GMs fired.

We'll have to see. I'm sure the Sabres will be fine with it either way. Top 5-6 this year in what is supposed to be a relatively weak draft or pick 5-20 next year in a draft that is supposed to be excellent.

 

[forty_three]

If STL wins the Cup this year though, nobody will care.

Of course. But that's a big if, and long term this is a big win for Buffalo. Again provided everyone signs. A few of the guy leaving FA swings the outcome considerably.

I think Hitch thinks the Blues should have beaten the Kings in the playoffs last year (you could argue the Blues outplayed LA), but the difference was in net (Quick outplayed Halak by a big margin).

Quick outplayed Miller by a big margin in Sochi. Just sayin'

 

[DevilishWon]

The Sabres now possess 10 picks in the first two rounds of the 2014 and 2015 Drafts combined.

Trying for the pittsburg method. Put a crap product on the ice and get a bunch of top picks!

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

With Elliott an UFA & Halak gone STL should have a shot at resigning Miller. I think they made a mistake in making this trade. Granted I don't think they gave up much. The Blues really need a big time scorer. They certainly didn't get one in this deal. Stewart has been in the doghouse all season. The Sabres are obviously banking on the draft. We'll see if the crapshoot works for them in time.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Trying for the pittsburg method. Put a crap product on the ice and get a bunch of top picks!

I see a slight hiccup in the plan coming when ted nolan brings on all the latvians who have failed drug tests

 

[DevilishWon]

I see a slight hiccup in the plan coming when ted nolan brings on all the latvians who have failed drug tests

And starts bangin Halak's wife....

THERE I SAID IT!

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Trying for the pittsburg method. Put a crap product on the ice and get a bunch of top picks!

Pittsburgh was given a gift in Crosby to save the franchise. I'll always believe this no matter what anyone else says. The Sabres haven't been given McDavid, YET. Hopefully the Sabres draft better under new management. Darcy had more than a few busts in round 1.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Of course. But that's a big if, and long term this is a big win for Buffalo. Again provided everyone signs. A few of the guy leaving FA swings the outcome considerably.



Quick outplayed Miller by a big margin in Sochi. Just sayin'

Miller has outplayed Quick by a big margin all season. And all last (shortened) season. I'll take that over two weeks.

But with regard to Sochi, Miller only played one game. And he had better stats in that game than Quick had in his 5 anyway (.944 SV% while Quick was at .923... yes, I know it was Slovenia). Where'd Quick "outplay him by a big margin", playing mini stick in the hallways?

I swear, the overrating of Quick will just never stop, I guess once you win a Stanley Cup you drink for free. Let's look at the SV% rankings for the tournament just to throw a little more light on what happened in Sochi:

1. Price CAN .972
2. Hiller SUI .971
3. Bobrovsky RUS .952
4. Lange AUT .952
5. Masalskis LAT .946
6. Lundqvist SWE .943
t7. Rask FIN .938
t7. Laco SVK .938
9. Quick USA .923
10. Kristan SLO .916
t11. Pavelec CZE .889
t11.Haugen NOR .889

Well, it looks like he managed to outplay two guys who aren't in the NHL and one guy who probably won't be soon enough at least.

 

[pixburgher66]

Crosby was a gift, sure (but puhLEASE don't you dare tell me the league rigged things...because seriously, go back to the swamp with that), but there were other parts to winning the Cup, you know. When you look at the Pens roster when Sid came into the league, it was pretty bad. Obviously they had the talent coming in soon behind with Staal/Malkin, but even then. The management did more than sit back and let the guys play. My point being: I hate when people act like the way the Pens won was so easy. The Oilers have been trying to do this forever apparently, and look where they are. Sure, none of their guys are up to Crosby/Malkin caliber, but they were viewed as future stars. It takes a heck of a lot more than picking the easiest choice early in the draft.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Miller getting his first start as a member of the Blues, tonight.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

The Sabres may not get a Crosby-esque player, but they will have a good shot at McDavid next year. Obviously you never know which Next One will play out and which will be a dud (or anywhere in between), but I am all in favor of the approach they're taking of doing a complete fire sale and rebuilding through the draft.

A few years from now when they've drafted a huge pile of young talent and the team is starting to develop, they can then look to supplement with a few well-placed UFA acquisitions and potentially be a strong team for years to come, like the Hawks or the Pens.

Or they could end up like the Oilers.

Hoping for option A.

 

[dash]

Or they could end up like the Oilers.

Tim Murray's frames are more bold than any moves the Oilers have made in recent memory.

 

[forty_three]

Jay welcoming The Miller to the Blues.

 

[dash]

lol - Jay started that with Kipper on the Flames.

 

[buffhockey]

Sabres’ situation is as clear as mud - Sports - The Buffalo News

Downtown in Dysfunction Junction, where Ted Nolan must feel like he’s in some kind of time warp back to 1997, the coach’s emotional state is telling far more of the truth than anything the Sabres are saying.

Nolan has been morose for several days, to the point of tears on more than one occasion. Steve Ott and Ryan Miller, two players he absolutely loved, were getting traded and pretty much everyone in hockey knew it. But nobody knew Nolan was shielding a much deeper secret.

Pat LaFontaine gave Nolan a second chance in Buffalo in November, a chance to have a final act in the wake of the circus that ensued here nearly 17 years ago.

Following practice Sunday morning, Nolan pretty much seemed like he was close to joining LaFontaine out the door. After three months of saying he wanted to be the Sabres coach on a permanent basis, Nolan would no longer make that commitment in the wake of LaFontaine’s stunning departure a few hours earlier.

“Right now is not about my contract,” Nolan said, his voice once again cracking and the tears starting to form in his eyes. “It’s about the situation that just happened. It’s about what transpired in this organization, what happened to a very dear friend and I will leave it at that.”
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More to read in the full article.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Miller has outplayed Quick by a big margin all season. And all last (shortened) season. I'll take that over two weeks.

But with regard to Sochi, Miller only played one game. And he had better stats in that game than Quick had in his 5 anyway (.944 SV% while Quick was at .923... yes, I know it was Slovenia). Where'd Quick "outplay him by a big margin", playing mini stick in the hallways?

I swear, the overrating of Quick will just never stop, I guess once you win a Stanley Cup you drink for free. Let's look at the SV% rankings for the tournament just to throw a little more light on what happened in Sochi:

1. Price CAN .972
2. Hiller SUI .971
3. Bobrovsky RUS .952
4. Lange AUT .952
5. Masalskis LAT .946
6. Lundqvist SWE .943
t7. Rask FIN .938
t7. Laco SVK .938
9. Quick USA .923
10. Kristan SLO .916
t11. Pavelec CZE .889
t11.Haugen NOR .889

Well, it looks like he managed to outplay two guys who aren't in the NHL and one guy who probably won't be soon enough at least.

stray dog saves ????

 

[pixburgher66]

Miller has outplayed Quick by a big margin all season. And all last (shortened) season. I'll take that over two weeks.

But with regard to Sochi, Miller only played one game. And he had better stats in that game than Quick had in his 5 anyway (.944 SV% while Quick was at .923... yes, I know it was Slovenia). Where'd Quick "outplay him by a big margin", playing mini stick in the hallways?

I swear, the overrating of Quick will just never stop, I guess once you win a Stanley Cup you drink for free. Let's look at the SV% rankings for the tournament just to throw a little more light on what happened in Sochi:

1. Price CAN .972
2. Hiller SUI .971
3. Bobrovsky RUS .952
4. Lange AUT .952
5. Masalskis LAT .946
6. Lundqvist SWE .943
t7. Rask FIN .938
t7. Laco SVK .938
9. Quick USA .923
10. Kristan SLO .916
t11. Pavelec CZE .889
t11.Haugen NOR .889

Well, it looks like he managed to outplay two guys who aren't in the NHL and one guy who probably won't be soon enough at least.