1) I guess they couldn't sign any UFA's so they try and steal a player like that. 2) Why the hell not just sign Smyth to what he's worth last year, give him the 5.5 million and keep your 4 firsts. 3)It's not like Vanek is the missing peice to the playoff puzzle- You are still stuck with one of the worst top 6 D in the league and a goaltender who IMO fluked out and got hot for 1 playoff run-these picks could easily be top 10 picks, especially with the strength of Calgary, Colorado, and Vancouver even Minne is better off. 4)Buffalo should have really signed Vanek earlier-Do what the Penguins are doing with Crosby right now and locked him up. 5) I wouldn't match if I was Buffalo-They've already lost briere and Drury, go into a 2 year rebuilding mode- Sign a few UFAs and have the 2 1st rounders comming in for the next 4 years. 6) Yes Vanek is sick-43 goals as a sophmore is unbelievable- But really..It's one year- He's been known to float and not give his effort, if Ruff wasn't such a good coach I don't think he would be near 40/40. Mctavish isn't close to the coach Ruff is and would anyone really be suprised if this was Lupul part 2? They brought in a 30 goal scorer and with no help around him and poor coaching he fell down the toilet. 7) Edmonton is the crap whole of the league-Sorry to the Shucks.
I really don't like the deal. Giving up 4 first rounders at this stage is nuts. The only time I think it makes sense is when you are building something and it is the last piece (think Pittsburgh going after someone like Phaneuf) to make you a contender.
Really, they could have overpaid for someone not as good (Kariya? Guerin?) and used the picks to trade for other players.
As it is now, even if the team exceeds expectations, you have no pick for deadline deals and limited cap room.
ERic or Bryce. you better somehow give a shout out to Kevin Lowe. ask him to join this league.. cause if he signs contracts like that.. we will all take his money in this fantasy hockey league. the guy has gone nutz... he just blew edmontons future... let him have one of those unexposed teams hahaha..
Weird turn of events. From what I heard in the last 2 weeks was that Vanek was close to resigning with Buffalo and being their franchise guy. Now, from what I understand, Vanek would have had to have accepted Edmonton's offer in order for this to even matter. I don't see why he would do this unless there were other motives.
From Edmonton point of view, also very weird. They didn't necessarily sit back and let UFA's go by because we don't know what offers they made, but if they really wanted a big time scorer they could have filled their holes cheaper without paying $7 mill and giving up 4 first rounders.
I look forward to seeing what else is leaked out regarding this situation. I just read that Lowe may not be done offering RFA's offers.
Weird turn of events. From what I heard in the last 2 weeks was that Vanek was close to resigning with Buffalo and being their franchise guy. Now, from what I understand, Vanek would have had to have accepted Edmonton's offer in order for this to even matter. I don't see why he would do this unless there were other motives.
From Edmonton point of view, also very weird. They didn't necessarily sit back and let UFA's go by because we don't know what offers they made, but if they really wanted a big time scorer they could have filled their holes cheaper without paying $7 mill and giving up 4 first rounders.
I look forward to seeing what else is leaked out regarding this situation. I just read that Lowe may not be done offering RFA's offers.
I'd probably sign with the Flyers, Leafs or Sens for that much. I mean if you're gonna sell out to the devil, might as well go big.
Am I the only person who doesn't see a problem with this?
I don't mind when teams go after RFAs, they're trying to win. I think it's why they have compensation rules in place. I like this attempt better than Bobby Clarke's attempt at Kessler last year. The Oilers went all out to sign a play that could've helped them, the Flyers seemed like they were trying to see if they could bump up the salary a bit.
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I have nothing against offer sheets, I just don't think that this was a smart move. It seems to me like a desperate GM trying to save his job and not what is in the best long-term interest of the team. I think the move may helped them to the playoffs (may being the operative word) but I still don't think they were contenders, and this would have limited them in both cap space and future trades due to the lack of picks.
