A disappointing year for Buffalo, over the next few weeks, expect the SAbres GM to try and rehash what went wrong, what went right and where this team is headed pre-draft.
In the meantime of course a number of teams are still in the running for the Holy Grail, and Looooob continues to hear interesting inquiries from a number of teams. So who is available? who isn't? who cares?
1.Pretty unavailable: Well lets face it, no-one is untouchable, but this is our core moving forward to next year. Unlikely a playoff bound team will want to deal for these guys as it will cost alot in terms of current contributors: Giguere,Regehr,Visnovsky,Liles,Palffy,Marleau,Fedo tenko,Vasicek
2. Available, in the right circumstance
LW/C Prospal: he's signed cheap for 3 years, versatile, a great passer and last years scoring champ. Still he's available but would want a younger top 6 ready forward (ie mid 70s) plus something else to entice me
G Gerber: another popular name, one of the better backups in the game. Available, but would take a fair amount--in terms of a player who contribute in my top 2 units, plus or minus a very good young goalie, to interest me
Lw/RW Isbister: the much maligned Brad Isbister has had a good year. Versatile and big, also has contributed to Buffalos PK which has been very good
LW/C Gratton: another versatile big player, that could be moved for a younger version of the same
Lw/C Pahlsson: has really solidified my 3rd line. valuable as a PK guy. probably will hold onto him
LW/RW Ekman. probably has more value to me than to any other teams, but versatile and a decent scorer
LW Battaglia. Good defensively and always scores goals in a Sabres uniform
D Sarich. Young and cheap, should get better as he is a NHL stanley cup champ.
D McKee. good dman but we carry 7 or 8 in Buffalo. could be moved for a F
D Zidlicky. Very cheap with high upside. we'll probably keep him, but for a slighlty more expensive but more developed d man, we'd listen
D Eaton: alot of value to buffalo as a cheap number 7 guy, but could help with depth on a cup run
C Hahl. Young, good PK guy, not that ready for prime time otherwise
D/RW Belak. versatility means we'll probably keep
Definitely available
C/RW Knutsen. buried on the 4th line, scores when given the chance
RW Marshall: former CPHL allstar deserves a cup run
D Heins. ranking not great, but has played very well for us. as a cheap playoff dman might help someone . almost free
LW May. see Heins
RW WEbb see May
I've been on MSN a bit this weekend, but email will be more likely by this afternoon
good luck to the playoff bound teams
G Prusek see Webb
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