64 replies to this topic

[wyldnwoody44]

I don't typically start threads ever, but I got to think I who  What if you could have one player in the league to add to the sabres now. I'm not talking about a trade or who we'd drop or any of that. , but almost like this is a 1st draft pick for buffalo of all the players currently playing.

I feel many would say Crosby, he's a producing center with a great track record.

Maybe a younger goalie, or a shea weber type defenseman.

Who could compliment this roster the best.... Just food for thought.

[dudacek]

Weber, but failing that, the Tyler Myers we expected him to be in year four.

[Sabres Fan In NS]

Malkin.

[wjag]

Crosby... There is not a more complete player in the league.

[Braedon]

I'd rather have Stamkos over Crosby.

[d4rksabre]

Jonathan Quick.

[deluca67]

Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyuk.

[Neo]

DeLuca67, on 10 February 2013 - 12:43 PM, said:

Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyuk.

Which one?

[Peppy22]

Patrick Kane.

Hometown guy with this skill would do wonders in Buffalo.

[IKnowPhysics]

Probably Malkin.  50 goal scorer, 107 points last year. He makes his linemates better- he could probably turn Drew Stafford into a 30 goal scorer.  No substitute for skill.  Sabres scoring ability would get ridiculous.

Would also strongly consider a premier Dman that can play big minutes, especially in a shutdown role.  Weber's an obvious choice, but I would also consider the Ghost of Nicklas Lidstrom.

If we're considering realistic players, I'd take a long look at Dan Girardi: 8th in hits, 5th in blocked shots, 12th in takeaways in '11-'12.  Player usage charts show he excels in extremely difficult situations.  A steal at $3.25 million.  He's not having a great start to this year; may be more available than some.  Bonus: he's from Welland.

Edited by IKnowPhysics, 10 February 2013 - 12:51 PM.

[deluca67]

Neo, on 10 February 2013 - 12:46 PM, said:

Which one?

What is this, Sofie's Choice? If I have to pick between the two I would go with Datsyuk.

[Neo]

Me?   Malkin.

I agree that Crosby's the most complete now.   His injury history caused me to back away.

Datsyuk?  An all time gem, for sure.   A perfectly complete player on a spectacularly complete team.  Just a little older, making Malkin more attractive to me.

Stamkos was the most difficult for me to "not choose".   What a trajectory.  I'll play it safer with Malkin, who's done it longer.

Weber, wow.  I went forward because needs there are more pressing, this season's start not withstanding.

Quick.  The only goaltender I considered.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

Callahan

[sabres1970]

I would say Crosby but being that he can't stay healthy (understandably) I have to pass. I can't decide between Malkin or Stamkos. If Stamkos had a little more postseason success I'd take him but Malkin has been around and won more so I'd probably take Malkin.

[wyldnwoody44]

I like the thought of a more unsung hero, ala dustin brown

[SwampD]

Zack Kassian.

[Neo]

Ghost of Dwight Drane, on 10 February 2013 - 01:03 PM, said:

Callahan

I like it in the best of the rest category, in my mind.   Would you call "Callahan or Lucic" categorically similar?

[LabattBlue]

Crosby, and there is not a close second.

[NowDoYouBelieve]

Isn't it strange how quickly things change?  Just two years ago, Ovechkin would have been the most common answer, now he's probably not even in my top 20.

Are we taking age, mileage and injury risk into account, or just assuming the player is healthy and in his prime?  I'd say Crosby with health and Tavares with everything considered.

[SwampD]

LabattBlue, on 10 February 2013 - 01:19 PM, said:

Crosby, and there is not a close second.

This, of course, is my real answer.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

Neo, on 10 February 2013 - 01:15 PM, said:

I like it in the best of the rest category, in my mind.   Would you call "Callahan or Lucic" categorically similar?

It was between those 2 for me. Callahan is probably a better version of Drury when he was here....and young. His tenacious way of doing things might actually rub off on some of these guys.

Crosby or Malkin would be a choice if we had a culture of work ethic and success already in place. We don't though.

[IKnowPhysics]

Javaris Jamar Javarison-Lamar, University of Middle Tennesee.

[Dannepanne]

Tim connolly, all time favorite whiping boy. The team isn't the same without him, the team lacks someone who's to blame for everything that's wrong in this world.

Edited by Dannepanne, 10 February 2013 - 01:35 PM.

[LGR4GM]

SwampD, on 10 February 2013 - 01:14 PM, said:

Zack Kassian.

Malkin.  Guy has an insane amount of talent.

[TrueBluePhD]

LabattBlue, on 10 February 2013 - 01:19 PM, said:

Crosby, and there is not a close second.

This.  If you can pick one player to improve this team, I don't see how you choose anyone other than the best player in the game.

[Braedon]

TrueBluePhD, on 10 February 2013 - 01:42 PM, said:

This.  If you can pick one player to improve this team, I don't see how you choose anyone other than the best player in the game.

I'll take "1a with less mileage and injury risk" for $1000 Alex.

[Andrew Amerk]

Malkin.

[Sabres Fan In NS]

TrueBluePhD, on 10 February 2013 - 01:42 PM, said:

This.  If you can pick one player to improve this team, I don't see how you choose anyone other than the best player in the game.

At the risk of repeating myself ... Malkin.

[TrueBluePhD]

Braedon, on 10 February 2013 - 01:45 PM, said:

I'll take "1a with less mileage and injury risk" for $1000 Alex.

Crosby only missed ~30 games his first five years in the league before the concussion issue hit.  ###### happens sometimes.  And I really don't think it's a 1a situation, I think Crosby's all-around game is pretty clearly superior.  In fact, I think Stamkos is more of a 3a with Giroux, as Crosby and Malkin are 1-2 in my book.

[Braedon]

30 games are in the past, what has it done to his longevity?  Not like it's musculoskeletal.  Stamkos could improve in FO%, but he's around Malkin and was better than Crosby last year.  Considering that he's got the same production as Crosby, hit the 50G twice already, is younger and doesn't have the injury risk, I would take him as my No. 1.

[IKnowPhysics]

Hingle McCringleberry, Penn State University.

[TrueBluePhD]

Braedon, on 10 February 2013 - 02:08 PM, said:

30 games are in the past, what has it done to his longevity?  Not like it's musculoskeletal.  Stamkos could improve in FO%, but he's around Malkin and was better than Crosby last year.  Considering that he's got the same production as Crosby, hit the 50G twice already, is younger and doesn't have the injury risk, I would take him as my No. 1.

Crosby averages 1.4 PPG on his career, Stamkos 1.03.  That's hardly equivalent production.  Not that I particularly care about face offs, but Crosby is ~55% on his career and Stamkos is ~46%.  Crosby's possession numbers are also pretty significantly better.  IMO the only real argument for Stamkos is the age/injury thing.

[ThirtyEight]

TrueBluePhD, on 10 February 2013 - 02:21 PM, said:

Crosby averages 1.4 PPG on his career, Stamkos 1.03.  That's hardly equivalent production.  Not that I particularly care about face offs, but Crosby is ~55% on his career and Stamkos is ~46%.  Crosby's possession numbers are also pretty significantly better.  IMO the only real argument for Stamkos is the age/injury thing.

Crosby is 25. Probably kindest to just take him out into the backyard and shoot him now

[thewookie1]

Malkin would be my choice; he is both around the same skill wise as Crosby (Crosby lost some due to his injuries, he has weaknesses now) and Malkin isn't a complete pansy.

[fiftyone]

Crosby. And the whole "Crosby is a pansy" idea was the cool thing to say when he first came into the league. Anyone still saying that now is just holding on to what they've heard other people say in the past. If you watch him play now you can see he's not the same player he was back then.

[Braedon]

TrueBluePhD, on 10 February 2013 - 02:21 PM, said:

Crosby averages 1.4 PPG on his career, Stamkos 1.03.  That's hardly equivalent production.  Not that I particularly care about face offs, but Crosby is ~55% on his career and Stamkos is ~46%.  Crosby's possession numbers are also pretty significantly better.  IMO the only real argument for Stamkos is the age/injury thing.

Interesting that you point out "per game" stats.  That 's great, and I'm not discounting that he's the best when he's on the ice.  Herein lies the problem.  He hasn't had a full season in 3 years.  In contrast, Stamkos hasn't missed a game in 3 years. And comparing the two since 2009:

Crosby- 156 games, 96G, 133A, 229Pts
Stamkos- 256 games, 163G, 137A, 300Pts

I never discounted that Crosby is the best.  I'm saying that, all things considered and attempting to predict future worth, I'm taking Stamkos for my team.

ThirtyEight, on 10 February 2013 - 02:25 PM, said:

Crosby is 25. Probably kindest to just take him out into the backyard and shoot him now

One more concussion and you may get your wish.

Edited by Braedon, 10 February 2013 - 03:15 PM.

[IKnowPhysics]

EEEEE EEEEEEEEE, San Diego State University.

[Robviously]

IKnowPhysics, on 10 February 2013 - 01:32 PM, said:

Javaris Jamar Javarison-Lamar, University of Middle Tennesee.

IKnowPhysics, on 10 February 2013 - 02:09 PM, said:

Hingle McCringleberry, Penn State University.

IKnowPhysics, on 10 February 2013 - 03:25 PM, said:

EEEEE EEEEEEEEE, San Diego State University.

Time to sit back and see if anyone gets this reference.

Edited by Robviously, 10 February 2013 - 03:40 PM.

[fiftyone]

Robviously, on 10 February 2013 - 03:38 PM, said:

Time to sit back and see if anyone gets this reference.

[IKnowPhysics]

I don't normally watch Key and Peele, but this clip was pretty funny to me.

J'Dinkalage Morgoone, University of South Fluurda.