[Trade]Vanek for Moulson and 2014 1st and 2015 2nd rounders

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Were moulson and Tavares really good friends?

Very. Tavares is the godfather of Moulson's daughter. Tavares played lacrosse with Moulson's brother growing up and their families became good friends.

I think keeping Tavares happy is important, but he has to realize that hockey trades do happen. The chemistry on ice is less important, in my opinion. Tavares is obviously the straw that stirs the drink on the former line with Moulson. If Vanek and Tavares for some reason can't mesh, Vanek has shown that he can create his own offense playing with Hodgson, he'd be fine anchoring the second line and letting Tavares do his thing on the top line. However, I think it's more likely they gel on that top line.

[rbochan]

It'll be nice to see Vanek finally getting to play with a real center.

[devo22]

The Sabres now have 17 picks in the first two rounds between 2012 and 2015.

2012
1st round - 12th overall - C Mikhail Grigorenko
1st round - 14th overall - C Zemgus Girgensons
2nd round - 44th overall - D Jake McCabe

2013
1st round - 8th overall - D Rasmus Ristolainen
1st round - 16th overall - D Nikita Zadorov
2nd round - 35th overall - LW J.T. Compher
2nd round - 38th overall - C Connor Hurley
2nd round - 52th overall - C Justin Bailey

2014
1st round - BUF pick
1st round - NYI pick
2nd round - BUF pick
2nd round - MIN pick
2nd round - LAK pick

2015
1st round - BUF pick
2nd round - BUF pick
2nd round - NYI pick
2nd round - LAK pick

7 first rounders and 10 second rounders in 4 drafts ... man, that's a lot of bullets in the chamber.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by devo22

The Sabres now have 17 picks in the first two rounds between 2012 and 2015.

2012
1st round - 12th overall - C Mikhail Grigorenko
1st round - 14th overall - C Zemgus Girgensons
2nd round - 44th overall - D Jake McCabe

2013
1st round - 8th overall - D Rasmus Ristolainen
1st round - 16th overall - D Nikita Zadorov
2nd round - 35th overall - LW J.T. Compher
2nd round - 38th overall - C Connor Hurley
2nd round - 52th overall - C Justin Bailey

2014
1st round - BUF pick
1st round - NYI pick
2nd round - BUF pick
2nd round - MIN pick
2nd round - LAK pick

2015
1st round - BUF pick
2nd round - BUF pick
2nd round - NYI pick
2nd round - LAK pick

7 first rounders and 10 second rounders in 4 drafts ... man, that's a lot of bullets in the chamber.

Darcy Regier may not be around to reap the benefits but the GM that replaces him will should be set up with a deep stockpile of young talent. The Sabres are pretty ugly right now on the ice but there does seem to be a plan in place as the amount of high picks they have stockpiled is unheard of. Will be interesting to see how many difference makers they can get out of all these picks. That will be the key for them turning things around.

[killer_carlson]

I think this trade is about NYI wanting to bring in a top calibre winger for Tavares to try and make some noise prior to the franchise move to Brooklyn. This has alot to do with economics and marketing.

For that reason i see it as a good trade for NYI and a very good trade for Buff.

[Meers]

Spectacular trade for the Sabres, as they can move Moulson at the deadline for another pick or two.

I understand Snow's thinking on the upside with putting Vanek or a line with Tavares. But, yeesh, if the Isles don't re-sign him, this could go down as one of the most expensive rentals in history.

[bubbsy]

if they re-sign Vanek, pretty good deal for both sides.

if Vanek walks, then the kind of deal we've come to expect from the Isles of late.

[Poe969]

How funny would it be if the isles fall out of playoff contention and deal Vanek at the deadline for far less.

[devo22]

Thomas Vanek ‏@T_Vanek26
Thank you Buffalo! I really enjoyed my time here, my wife and I got to raise our family in a great community.. Excited to join @NYIslanders

[Poe969]

That was after he edited it..originally it went

Thomas Vanek ‏@T_Vanek26
At least I'm leaving Buffalo! I really thought we had a chanc here but man does this team suck... Wait, I'm going to the @NYIslanders? Crap....

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by devo22

The Sabres now have 17 picks in the first two rounds between 2012 and 2015.

Dammit, I don't like this from the Flames perspective. They are taking all the 1sts and 2nds that I want the Flames to stockpile, ha. Good on them for making these trades now...by the time the trade deadline rolls around, there might not be as many teams with 1sts/2nds left.

Personally, I think they are really doing a fantastic job on hoarding young assets. They are going full-ass.

[FlamesAddiction]

Too bad. I was thinking earlier in the week that with the Isles looking "ok" so far this season, and in their new home, that they would be a team looking to be a buyer even if they weren't a top team. If it was closer to the deadline, they could have been a good partner for us.

I think they paid a pretty hefty price. True that Moulson's stats are padded a little from playing with Tavares, but he is a pretty solid player in other aspects as well. Vanek should really do well with Tavares though.

Still, that first rounder could end up being a mid pick if the Isles disappoint like they have a knack for.

Regier is pretty good at pulling off these trades, but too bad he is obilvious when it comes to chemistry and signing free agents.

[kyuss275]

Some analysists think that Buffalo can get another 1st for Moulson if he will not re-sign. Two 1sts and a 2nd for a ufa player would be out of the ball park good.

[ricardodw]

goals scored since 2009-10
Moulson 30, 31, 36,15, 6
Vanek 28, 32, 26, 20, 4


both are 29 years old

Moulson was playing on a team that was always a lot below the cap Buffalo not so much.

Buffalo made out like a bandit here.


Both are UFAs ... unless Moulson is looking for an 8 year deal worth 64M chances are he would be easier to sign.


Maybe Moulson will not sign with Buffalo and Buffalo ends up with a 1st (10th-20th) and a 2nd for 2nd for Vanek.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Some analysists think that Buffalo can get another 1st for Moulson if he will not re-sign. Two 1sts and a 2nd for a ufa player would be out of the ball park good.

Moulson has outscored Cammalleri 118-81 since Cammalleri signed the big contract with the Habs.

If the Flames think they can get a 1st for Cammalleri at the deadline I am pretty sure the Sabres could get one for Moulson.....

[devo22]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

goals scored since 2009-10
Moulson 30, 31, 36,15, 6
Vanek 28, 32, 26, 20, 4

one had Tavares, one had Roy/Adam/Hodgson/Ott. Seriously, it's easy to rate Moulson highly if you only look at his stat line - it's impressive for sure. But he has always had the same elite center on his line in New York and he has benefited tremendously from being Tavares' sidekick. He's good at crashing the net and scoring garbage goals, but that's about it. Vanek does that and much more.

Leftwinglock has a great feature where they track the most frequent line combinations of teams... unfortunately only for the last two seasons. A comparison:

MOULSON:

2012-13:
* Moulson - Tavares - Boyes: 21.97%
* Moulson - Tavares - Okposo: 5.02%

2013-14:
* Moulson - Tavares - Okposo: 19.94%
* Moulson - Regin - Clutterbuck: 3.19%
* Moulson - Nielsen - Okposo: 1.38%
* Moulson - Regin - Okposo: 0.97%
* Moulson - Tavares - Bailey: 0.73%
* Moulson - Cizikas - McDonald: 0.47%

VANEK:

2012-13:
* Vanek - Hodgson - Pominville: 14.61%
* Vanek - Hodgson - Ennis: 2.69%
* Vanek - Hodgson - Stafford: 1.34%

2013-14:
* Vanek - Hodgson - Ott: 12.52%
* Vanek - Hodgson - Stafford: 10.23%
* Vanek - Hodgson - Flynn: 2.23%
* Vanek - Hodgson - Ennis: 1.10%

So it's virtually always been Moulson-Tavares and Vanek-Hodgson. Not to disrespect Hodgson - I think he's okay and Buffalo easily won that trade with the Nucks - but he's clearly not as good as Tavares. Vanek has carried that line for the most part.

[Ashasx]

Buffalo may not win another game this season.

[bubbsy]

buffalo may do well to just ride out this stinkage, and not inject any value onto the on-ice product (ie. play their kids) and try to ride this bottom dweller performance for next season, and get McDavid.

Curious how many teams try to make a play for mcdavid by setting up for extreme failure next season.

[rbochan]

"For Darcy Regier's trade of Thomas Vanek to the New York Islanders, Patrick Kaleta has been suspended for 10 games."

[19Yzerman19]

Trade Moulson for another first and a prospect at the deadline, and bob's your rebuilding uncle. Like this trade for Buffalo. Only like it for NYI if they can re-sign Vanek.

As far as Cammalleri goes, and people saying Vanek is on another level, yeah, he is. But that's why he got a perennial 30 goal scorer in addition to those two picks. Getting a first and a prospect out of Cammalleri at the deadline (assuming he plays well for the balance) seems totally reasonable.