So Who's "Core"?

[anEinherjer]

It seems to me, reading through all the crap since the season ended, that the majority of you (and Bucky) seem to think we should never, ever allow any of our players to become UFA or RFA.

Now, I guess I can also accept the argument that no, it's only the "core" guys that we don't want to allow to reach that state.

So the question then becomes, on this team and given the 2 capts from last year, who are the "core" guys? Did Vanek count in that group yet? Roy? Campbell seems to be... Tallinder? Paestch?

[stepsukie]

vanek, campbell, miller...boom

[Thumper]

Here's my top 4 players that are the core of the Sabres:

1) Miller
2) Vanek
3) Tallinder
4) Roy

Another tier of core players:

1a) Campbell
2a) Stafford
3a) Pominville
4a) Lydman

[emo]

replace roy with stafford, and I agree with thumper, stafford is the second best forward on the team. and he'll prove me right this year, paille should be in that core group but he plays stupid defense, and who cares about that?

[TRIPLE P]

paille should be in that core group but he plays stupid defense, and who cares about that?


The though of any fewer than 11 defensive minded forwards makes my dick turtle.

[Hockeystud1414]

It seems to me, reading through all the crap since the season ended, that the majority of you (and Bucky) seem to think we should never, ever allow any of our players to become UFA or RFA.

Now, I guess I can also accept the argument that no, it's only the "core" guys that we don't want to allow to reach that state.

So the question then becomes, on this team and given the 2 capts from last year, who are the "core" guys? Did Vanek count in that group yet? Roy? Campbell seems to be... Tallinder? Paestch?

Bucky Gleason doesn't know shit about hockey, he's probably chewing on a dick right now!

Anywho, I'd say our core though would be vanek, miller, roy, tallinder, soupy, pominville, Stafford, maybe a couple of more guys but that's it for me.

[Thumper]

replace roy with stafford, and I agree with thumper, stafford is the second best forward on the team. and he'll prove me right this year, paille should be in that core group but he plays stupid defense, and who cares about that?


I actually had Stafford in there before I hit the "Submit Reply" button, emo. But NHL longevity changed my mind for this years version of the core players. I think Stafford is going to be this teams best, and most valuable forward in 2 years.

[emo]

I actually had Stafford in there before I hit the "Submit Reply" button, emo. But NHL longevity changed my mind for this years version of the core players. I think Stafford is going to be this teams best, and most valuable forward in 2 years.

I think roy is a cog in the machine, and can be replaced rather easily.

I might actually, no I will put roy below paille, but paille's ability wotn' eb realized as he isn't the offensive guy that ruff and darcy like, he's teh guy who wins battles, hits and plays defense. in reality I do think with regular time pailel could prove to be a valuable asset to this team

[Thumper]

I think roy is a cog in the machine, and can be replaced rather easily.

I might actually, no I will put roy below paille, but paille's ability wotn' eb realized as he isn't the offensive guy that ruff and darcy like, he's teh guy who wins battles, hits and plays defense. in reality I do think with regular time pailel could prove to be a valuable asset to this team

Ruff LOVES defensive forwards. He always has.

[Hockeystud1414]

The though of any fewer than 11 defensive minded forwards makes my dick turtle.

gee wiz I wondered where Bucky dissapeared off to!

[ArlieKoz13]

I don't get the attraction to Paille with everyone around here. Did I miss something? I thought he was ok, but I can't believe that he's even being mentioned in this thread.

Ok, I'm shielding myself from being called a moron, or stupid, or whatever, so go ahead...I know it's coming.

Anyways, I'd have to say Miller, Vanek, Tallinder, Campbell and Stafford. No doubt about it.

[jlpubarch]

For me the core is everyone drafted by us, developed by us and still useful to us.

So that pretty much includes:

All the forwards

All the d-men except Spacek.

[Thumper]

I don't get the attraction to Paille with everyone around here. Did I miss something? I thought he was ok, but I can't believe that he's even being mentioned in this thread.

Ok, I'm shielding myself from being called a moron, or stupid, or whatever, so go ahead...I know it's coming.

Anyways, I'd have to say Miller, Vanek, Tallinder, Campbell and Stafford. No doubt about it.

I'm with you here, Arlie. Doesn't a guy actually have be some what valuable before he's considered a core player? He wasn't on the ice enough between Rochester and his injury to already be considered a core player. Not even close.

He's got some dues to pay before he's labled "core".

[anEinherjer]

So from reading this I see the majority of you listed around 8 guys as "core". And had we not lost the capt's, that's 10.

I'm not sure we can PAY 8, much less 10 "core" guys any more given the league market, particularly after this summer. Average 4 mil apiece for your core guys, and that's nearing 40 mil. I don't think we COULD have kept the other 2 if we want to keep guys like Soupy long term. He's going to get at least 4. Miller will be pushing 5.

We're in it deep. Thanks, NHL. Thanks, ****ing Philthy. Thanks, Rags.

[emo]

So from reading this I see the majority of you listed around 8 guys as "core". And had we not lost the capt's, that's 10.

I'm not sure we can PAY 8, much less 10 "core" guys any more given the league market, particularly after this summer. Average 4 mil apiece for your core guys, and that's nearing 40 mil. I don't think we COULD have kept the other 2 if we want to keep guys like Soupy long term. He's going to get at least 4. Miller will be pushing 5.

We're in it deep. Thanks, NHL. Thanks, ****ing Philthy. Thanks, Rags.


say the number is 4

1. miller
2. vanek
3. campbell
4. stafford

that is your absolute core of players.

[Thumper]

So from reading this I see the majority of you listed around 8 guys as "core". And had we not lost the capt's, that's 10.

I'm not sure we can PAY 8, much less 10 "core" guys any more given the league market, particularly after this summer. Average 4 mil apiece for your core guys, and that's nearing 40 mil. I don't think we COULD have kept the other 2 if we want to keep guys like Soupy long term. He's going to get at least 4. Miller will be pushing 5.

We're in it deep. Thanks, NHL. Thanks, ****ing Philthy. Thanks, Rags.

Don't forget Kevin ****ing Lowe.

[skoorah720]

Top 5

1. Miller
2. Campbell
3. Vanek
4. Roy
5. Stafford

Honorable Mention:

6. Gaustad
7. Pominville
8. Tallinder

[TommyV26]

Top 5

Miller
Vanek
Stafford
Tallinder
Campbell

Honorable mention

Pominville
Lydman
Hecht... because he isn't that bad of a D forward and right now I'd say we don't have a very good PK.

[ArlieKoz13]

I always forget about Hecht. I don't know if that's a good thing. I'm not the biggest Hecht fan, but I would be sad to see him leave. He does some pretty great things for this team.

[HURLS]

C19, 244, and hWo.

Also, Miller, Nate, Petey, and Max. Maybe Max will surprise and take a leadership role. :D

[Smapdi]

Vanek
Roy
Miller
Stafford

These four guys are the future of the franchise. Stafford has some work to put in but after last seasons performance comin out of Rochester, he's lookin pretty good.

Hecht is very overlooked player on this team. He is very smart defensively and wins a lot of battles. In 05-06, I believe the Sabres had the worst record when Hecht was out of the lineup then anybody else (Drury, Briere).

[smashingt2312]

The main core that i would like to see her for awhile:
Miller
Vanek
Roy
Campbell
Stafford

Honorable mention:
Max
Pominville
Lydman

[dasaybz]

I think roy is a cog in the machine, and can be replaced rather easily.

I might actually, no I will put roy below paille, but paille's ability wotn' eb realized as he isn't the offensive guy that ruff and darcy like, he's teh guy who wins battles, hits and plays defense. in reality I do think with regular time pailel could prove to be a valuable asset to this team

Paille is better than Roy?

Ummmmm, what?

[Thumper]

Paille is better than Roy?

Ummmmm, what?

Paille is a whole 3 inches and 9 pounds better than Roy.

That's emo's logic.

Although some how, Paille is a superior defensive player, but Roy, arguably the Sabres second best penalty killing forward behind Hecht, isn't as valuable as Paille because he's smaller. 63 points and +37 in a sophomore season don't matter either.

[dasaybz]

Paille is a whole 3 inches and 9 pounds better than Roy.

That's emo's logic.

Although some how, Paille is a superior defensive player, but Roy, arguably the Sabres second best penalty killing forward behind Hecht, isn't as valuable as Paille because he's smaller. 63 points and +37 in a sophomore season don't matter either.

Paille is a career 3rd liner. Roy plays with Max and Vanek.

Nuff said.

[ArlieKoz13]

Paille is a whole 3 inches and 9 pounds better than Roy.

That's emo's logic.

Although some how, Paille is a superior defensive player, but Roy, arguably the Sabres second best penalty killing forward behind Hecht, isn't as valuable as Paille because he's smaller. 63 points and +37 in a sophomore season don't matter either.

I hope Derek Roy opens my eyes to everything that everyone else sees in his potential. Because honestly I don't see it. And you can point out all his attributes to me as much as you want, but when it comes down to it, all I can see is diving and giveaways. I want to like him, I really do, I just don't. If he stops giving the puck away all the time, and stops being such a stupid punk, I'll like him because I used to love him before the lockout. It's been down hill ever since.

[pigpen65]

All core IMO: Tallinder, Lydman, Campbell on D; Miller; Vanek, Roy, Stafford, Afinogenov, Connolly, Gaustad, and Pominville up front.

[Thumper]

I hope Derek Roy opens my eyes to everything that everyone else sees in his potential. Because honestly I don't see it. And you can point out all his attributes to me as much as you want, but when it comes down to it, all I can see is diving and giveaways. I want to like him, I really do, I just don't. If he stops giving the puck away all the time, and stops being such a stupid punk, I'll like him because I used to love him before the lockout. It's been down hill ever since.

I agree that his whining to the Refs and his ridiculous dives need to stop. Especially if he's going to be looked upon as a leader for this squad. I don't want to see a potential future Captain diving to the ice as if he just got shot with a freaking elephant gun.

But all the said, I'm curious as to why you haven't noticed his flashes of brilliance on offense, and his relentless back-checking 5 on 5.

I know I've said this at least twice here...But nobody can deny that no matter who Derek Roy is paired with, whether it be with Vanek and Max, or Stafford, or when he was switched to the wing on the Drury-Grier line, and even back before the lockout with Milan Bartovic (who hasn't done a damn thing in the NHL since Roy was his center, and actually isn't even in the NHL anymore) Roy is productive and effective. He makes players around him better. He generates chances, and he's a solid defensive forward.

Thomas Vanek lead the team in give away's during the season last year. Roy lead all Buffalo forwards in give away's in the playoffs with 13 (Vanek was 2nd with 12), and he definitely can't do that. But his positives far out-weigh his negatives.

[ArlieKoz13]

Meh. We'll see.

I don't like the Vanek give-away stat. He's my favorite player. I hope to see him continue in the positive direction that he's been going over the past two years.