My tentative offseason plan...

Posted by Carl J. Ironsides:

Trades:

To Philadelphia - Jochen Hecht
To Buffalo - Daniel Briere

In terms of a player-for-player swap, Buffalo wins this hands down. However, the Flyers are desperate to get rid of Briere's six-year, $34 million contract. To do so, they'll likely need to lose the trade because Briere's contract really brings his value down. If they got rid of Briere and took Hecht's three-year deal for just over $10 mill, they might be able to pursue Jay Bouwmeester, whom they covet.

To Vancouver - Derek Roy
To Buffalo - Kevin Bieksa

The re-acquisition of Briere makes Roy redundant, although the latter is a better two-way center; however, Connolly is no slouch in that department. Plus, Roy embodies everything that's wrong with these Sabres. I'm tired of his on- and off-ice fggtry, and if the rumor that he's uncoachable is true, the Sabres should hastily get rid of Roy. Given his production and good contract (four years, $17M), he would probably have a lot of value on the trade market. And if Vancouver can't retain Henrik Sedin, Roy would be a solid replacement. In addition, the Sabres would get the top-pairing, tough, two-way D-man they've coveted for a while. Bieksa is signed for two years and $7 million.

To Whomever - Henrik Tallinder
To Buffalo - Draft pick

Hank needs a change of scenery, and the Sabres would need to even out their budget if they dealt Hecht for Briere. Moving Tallinder's one-year, $3.25 deal for a mid-round pick would enable them to revamp their team without spending much more cash, if any.

Re-signings (too lazy to provide hypothetical contracts): Ellis, Kaleta, MacArthur, Peters, Stafford, Mancari, Sekera.

2009-10 Buffalo Sabres Forwards:

Vanek-Connolly-Stafford

Paille-Briere-Pominville (Note: The second line seems high for Paille after his horrible season, but Briere and Pominville would need a gritty player to accompany them, as neither is exactly tough. Paille would provide this line some sandpaper and just might surprise offensively. Two years ago, he had 19 goals; there's no reason he couldn't be a 20-goal, 40-point guy playing with these two offensive talents. He would need to work his ass off, though, and not loaf like last season.)

MacArthur-Gaustad-Kaleta

Peters/Ellis-Mair-Mancari. Thirteenth forward - Peters/Ellis.

Defense & Goalies:

Lydman-Bieksa
Butler-Rivet
Sekera-Myers (Note: Sekera with Myers isn't ideal, obviously, as Ty should be paired with a vet; however, it was the only option I saw.)

Miller-Lalime


Continue the discusion here!
talkbuffalosports.com - My tentative offseason plan...