Rumours...

[MSP4LYFE]

Watching as much Buffalo hockey as I do I will tell you I would drop Stafford instantly he doesn't provide what was expected from him when drafted, as for Kassian, Mashley has raved about him so if he is as good as advertised I do not think it will happen with Buffalo's defensive depth the rumors have Buffalo looking for Forwards this was a rumor last summer with Stafford for Kaberle, but hey you never know with the NHL.

It's tough to gauge, because on the one hand the Sabres desperately need a big winger with grit (Zack Kassian), but on the other hand they need a defenceman who can distribute the puck...I personally can't see Buffalo risking it with Kassian & Stafford unless Kaberle agrees to a contract extension.

[MSP4LYFE]

Marek has Kaberle rumored for Drew Stafford+Zack Kassian

Ugh, Leafs can do better.

Big winger with size, skill and mobility (stafford), and a legitimate power forward (kassian) is nothing to balk at...

[Nick]

at the same time though...

stafford is a young struggling forward... kassian is an interesting prospect who has some issues (both on and off the ice)...


w/o those 2 they still have a very capable top 6, (even a nice 3rd)... and i really believe they actually lack defensive depth... talinder & lydman in particular are being forced to play more minutes, and in a role, that is IMO above their heads.


would suck to have to face kaberle so often TBH... 6 times a year of watching him move the puck effortlessly up and down the ice.


I can see Kaberle doing an extension & trade if its buffalo... it lets his family stay in TO.... nothing new for him


those guys are not proven at all kareem...

[MSP4LYFE]

those guys are not proven at all kareem...

Thanks tips...

[Mike]

Big winger with size, skill and mobility (stafford), and a legitimate power forward (kassian) is nothing to balk at...

Stafford's value is pretty low right now. Kassian is a crazy bastard. There's a reason I traded him to you: he is a psychopath. Plus he's a floater. I've been to a half dozen Petes' games in which he was the laziest player on the ice.

[Nick]

Big winger with size, skill and mobility (stafford), and a legitimate power forward (kassian) is nothing to balk at...

Stafford's value is pretty low right now. Kassian is a crazy bastard. There's a reason I traded him to you: he is a psychopath. Plus he's a floater. I've been to a half dozen Petes' games in which he was the laziest player on the ice.

my fear with zach is that

a) he can go way over the line...

but TBH i'm not worried about it

the bigger issue IMO
b) he thinks he's more skilled then he is, and might not exactly be aware of what makes him good. When he tries to dance with the puck = fail, when he shoots too much = fail , too fancy of passes = fail ... his game is typical big body fast skater... 40 second shifts, crash hard, skate hard, operate in straight lines.

[Topher]

Well concerns in Buffalo already I have heard about Kassian is him getting arrested for a fight already.

With the Sabres defense Tallinder and Lydman are free agents and I see them signing back Tallinder because he was Myers partner although Lydman was better. To say the minutes they played are over their heads is crazy just because a few years back they were one of the scariest defensive pairs to play against according to league sources.

It will be interesting though cause Buffalo still has Rivet, Butler, Myers, Sekera, Montador that played in the NHL last season and like I said I think they will sign back Tallinder for sure because he is Myers partner.

[MSP4LYFE]

Big winger with size, skill and mobility (stafford), and a legitimate power forward (kassian) is nothing to balk at...

Stafford's value is pretty low right now. Kassian is a crazy bastard. There's a reason I traded him to you: he is a psychopath. Plus he's a floater. I've been to a half dozen Petes' games in which he was the laziest player on the ice.

And there is a reason I traded for Kassian...True PF's are very difficult to come by, there is maybe three or four in the NHL today...Kassian is far from a floater, inconsistent yes, but that can be said about countless prospects, and can be easily corrected if the player is dedicated, and by all accounts Kassian is. No one is offering up a proven star for Kaberle, nor is he worth one the way he has played on Toronto, however Kassian and Stafford have massive upside if played the right way. Stafford never had a chande with Ruff, much like Afinoganov, he is free wheeling forward, limiting him to third line ice time with little pp, and demanding a shutdown game from is simply not gonna happen. He is what he is, a big body, with skill who plays like he's 5'6. I believe that with the right system and coaching, Stafford can be a valuable asset, and as far as I'm concerned Kassian is going to be one of the most coveted forwards in the league in 5/6 years. Just look at Backes, Stewart or Lucic...These guys are incredibly difficult to find.

[MSP4LYFE]

Well concerns in Buffalo already I have heard about Kassian is him getting arrested for a fight already.

With the Sabres defense Tallinder and Lydman are free agents and I see them signing back Tallinder because he was Myers partner although Lydman was better. To say the minutes they played are over their heads is crazy just because a few years back they were one of the scariest defensive pairs to play against according to league sources.

It will be interesting though cause Buffalo still has Rivet, Butler, Myers, Sekera, Montador that played in the NHL last season and like I said I think they will sign back Tallinder for sure because he is Myers partner.

It's funny, most people would be concerned or turned off by an off ice fight, but that kind of stuff is seen as a plus in Burke's eyes, lol.

[MSP4LYFE]

Big winger with size, skill and mobility (stafford), and a legitimate power forward (kassian) is nothing to balk at...

Stafford's value is pretty low right now. Kassian is a crazy bastard. There's a reason I traded him to you: he is a psychopath. Plus he's a floater. I've been to a half dozen Petes' games in which he was the laziest player on the ice.

my fear with zach is that

a) he can go way over the line...

but TBH i'm not worried about it

the bigger issue IMO
b) he thinks he's more skilled then he is, and might not exactly be aware of what makes him good. When he tries to dance with the puck = fail, when he shoots too much = fail , too fancy of passes = fail ... his game is typical big body fast skater... 40 second shifts, crash hard, skate hard, operate in straight lines.

Good analysis Nick.

[Mike]

Big winger with size, skill and mobility (stafford), and a legitimate power forward (kassian) is nothing to balk at...

Stafford's value is pretty low right now. Kassian is a crazy bastard. There's a reason I traded him to you: he is a psychopath. Plus he's a floater. I've been to a half dozen Petes' games in which he was the laziest player on the ice.

And there is a reason I traded for Kassian...True PF's are very difficult to come by, there is maybe three or four in the NHL today...Kassian is far from a floater, inconsistent yes, but that can be said about countless prospects, and can be easily corrected if the player is dedicated, and by all accounts Kassian is. No one is offering up a proven star for Kaberle, nor is he worth one the way he has played on Toronto, however Kassian and Stafford have massive upside if played the right way. Stafford never had a chande with Ruff, much like Afinoganov, he is free wheeling forward, limiting him to third line ice time with little pp, and demanding a shutdown game from is simply not gonna happen. He is what he is, a big body, with skill who plays like he's 5'6. I believe that with the right system and coaching, Stafford can be a valuable asset, and as far as I'm concerned Kassian is going to be one of the most coveted forwards in the league in 5/6 years. Just look at Backes, Stewart or Lucic...These guys are incredibly difficult to find.

I disagree with that. Kassian lacks work ethic. He can also be damn selfish. Watching him play the point on PPs are painful. He would go for an ineffectual one-timer nine times out of ten even with a skilled guy like Spooner open at the hash marks.

However, good point on Stafford/Ruff. You could be right.

[Nick]

a bar fight got Kevin Bieksa his chance with the Canucks!!

repeat history burke.. Kassian kicking ass, give this kid a contract!

[MSP4LYFE]

I disagree with that. Kassian lacks work ethic. He can also be damn selfish. Watching him play the point on PPs are painful. He would go for an ineffectual one-timer nine times out of ten even with a skilled guy like Spooner open at the hash marks.

However, good point on Stafford/Ruff. You could be right.

I didn't see him a ton last season on Peterbrough tbh, msot of my viewings of him were this season, specifically in the playoffs with Windsor, I was impressed to say the very least.

[MSP4LYFE]

a bar fight got Kevin Bieksa his chance with the Canucks!!

repeat history burke.. Kassian kicking ass, give this kid a contract!

LOL, me and you should get into a bar fight, maybe that will give us the chance to play with the big boys! Or at least a cool article in the local paper, lol.

[Scott]

a bar fight got Kevin Bieksa his chance with the Canucks!!

repeat history burke.. Kassian kicking ass, give this kid a contract!

HAHAHA QFT.. is this true? I fuckin believe it for sure, absolutely!!
I've always liked Kassian a lot, I really hope we acquire him and Stafford for Kabs. TBH, I'm getting sick of looking at Kabs and while we're on the topic of floaters and lack of work ethic.. we'd be sending Buffalo the captain of that team in Tomas.. that guy needs to go!

[MSP4LYFE]

a bar fight got Kevin Bieksa his chance with the Canucks!!

repeat history burke.. Kassian kicking ass, give this kid a contract!

HAHAHA QFT.. is this true? I fuckin believe it for sure, absolutely!!
I've always liked Kassian a lot, I really hope we acquire him and Stafford for Kabs. TBH, I'm getting sick of looking at Kabs and while we're on the topic of floaters and lack of work ethic.. we'd be sending Buffalo the captain of that team in Tomas.. that guy needs to go!

LOL yeah, it's true, he KO'ed some russian with one punch.

[Topher]

I can't believe how hard some of you Toronto fans are on Kaberle but it is always different for hometown fans just like things I think of Stafford that you may not see I don't see with Kaberle. It is just hard to believe because anytime I have seen him play I have always said I would take that guy on my team.

[Nick]

yea scott...

kevin was a day away from being cut by the canucks (failed to make the moose, hadn't dressed for the last 3-4 preseason games).

out with the team, Feder Federov was being a cock, told him that this table was for the team...

later in the night they bumped, feder told kevin to go buy him a new drink or something... by all accounts kevin ignored him....

the 3rd in counter lead feder insisting that they fight, and despite being shoved in the bar, once again all accounts agree, kevin told him to come outside.

keep in mind kevin is 5'11 and ~180lbs at the time, feder is a massive body 6'3"+ and 200+.... the stories depart here... some accounts say 1 punch, some say a few, some say it went to the ground... but... kevin kicked the shit outta him... and wrote an apology letter to the club before going to sleep (some say his mom helped others say his agent)...

he woke up to a contract offering.

Another key for the hard-charging Canucks has been the fast-forward development of blue liner Kevin Bieksa, drafted 151st in 2001. He played half the 2005-06 season and this year has developed into the squad's top point-getting defenseman (8-20--28 entering last night).

"Great kid," said Ducks general manager Brian Burke, who was Canucks GM when they drafted Bieksa. "And a great story."

Uncertain whether he wanted to sign Bieksa following the defenseman's senior season at Bowling Green, Burke invited him to the Manitoba Moose (AHL). His first night with the club, Burke recalled, the 6-foot-1-inch Bieksa didn't play, but that night he joined his new teammates at a local pub.

"He's in there, having a good time, and he bumps the table of another of our kids, Fedor Fedorov," said Burke. (Fedorov, brother of the better known Sergei, is now back in Russia, playing for Yaroslavl.) "Well, one thing leads to another, and Fedorov, a pretty good-sized kid [6 foot 3 inches, 230 pounds], asks Bieksa if he wants to take it outside. So, Bieksa's a willing kid, and says, 'Sure, let's go!' "

Out to the parking lot the two went, and according to Burke, Bieksa KO'd the bigger Fedorov with one punch.

"Down and out!" recalled Burke. "The next day, I'm talking to [assistant GM Steve Tambellini], and I guess Bieksa was all worried about it, saying to Tamby, "Oh, geez, I'm all done, Burkie's going to be really [steamed], I show up and knock out one of his own guys.' I listen to Tamby and I say, 'Are you kidding me? I love that. Sign him -- today!'

Bieksa, 25, is on the books this year for a Kmart price of $500,000 and will jump to $550,000 next season.

[Shep]

I thought Kassian was charged with assault?

Either way, Stafford + Kassian is a very mediocre return.

[Nick]

I thought Kassian was charged with assault?

Either way, Stafford + Kassian is a very mediocre return.

i see buffalo being very happy with their side of the deal to be honest.

we're talking about an out right ELITE puck moving dman.


however i think burke could like Kassian, he really is missing from our system, and is a typical part of burke style teams.

myself i would rather a deal w/o stafford... a 1st or different roster player... i can see him not working well with wilson just like he failed to work well with ruff.