number9

Smith is going on 27. The sun is setting on his youthful grace period. Comparing him to XO and Marchenko is amusing to say the least. A proper comparison would be Kindl

We don't need a left handed 4/5 Dman who is average at D and doesn't score.

3 seasons? Says who? Do you have any examples? Smith is Kindl 2.0, sorry if that's a tough pill to swallow

"But the fans! The entertainment!" GMs couldn't give less of a s***. It's all about winning.

I have zero problem with parting with Smith in a significant trade... even if it's for an overpaid loser like Dion, assuming they eat salary

Thinking Caps take this. Isles were kinda of like the leafs out the gate. Played way above their heads. If Tavares can carry them, while at the same time they somehow shutdown Ovi/Backstroms PP, I'll eat my words but I think caps have this

More excited by this match up than any other. Almost 100% determined on the play of Carey Price. Ottawa is probably the most dangerous team in the league right now. Everyone has been calling for their play to let up for weeks now, but at this point I doubt that's happening. If Price plays like Price then I have MTL winning. But any less and I see the Sens upsetting. They've put there doubters to rest many times already.

Byflugien and Pavelec is what determines this series. Winnipeg is a lot better than most give them credit for, and I have a feeling they will be a force on home ice. With that small arena and city finally getting a good PO appearance that is. Buff is a physical dynamo and someone who can swing the series in their favor. If Pavelec can hold up, I think the Ducks are in for a real surprise.

The whole enforcer protecting the team era was in response to the lawlessness on the ice. The rules didn't protect players, so the players did. Now the league has rules to curb this lawlessness, which makes the role of the enforcer semi-obsolete. The enforcer era is not coming back. It's going to move farther and father from that despite whatever protests you (and including myself) have. The sooner one accepts this, the sooner one can move past it. Hockey isn't becoming soccer. Hockey is becoming hockey. Fighting is part of hockey's history, but at the end of the day it's a side-show within the sport. Trust me, that pains me to admit. If you want to watch good fights, do what I do and follow the UFC. Hockey and fighting are going to split. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not in 10 years from now, but we all know it's going to happen eventually. Enjoy it while we have it. The game is evolving, and it's going to leave us 80's and 90's fans in the dust if we don't evolve with it.

IMO TB is the sleeping giant in the playoffs this year. If we're going to get out of this series alive I think Mrazek is the right choice right now. We know what we get with Howard. He'll be good but he's not gonna steal the series. There's a chance Mrazek could that if he's on one of his hot streaks I think. Good luck petey

"Mathfreak"

No idea. The Sabres fans I know have already convinced themselves that once they land Mcdavid (maybe) they'll be competitive again. When really they are on a 5 year tank plan, ballpark. Not sure any hot coach would wanna take up those reigns right now. Pretty sure they're gonna end up with the someone from the bottom of the heap - but then that's probably still an upgrade from Nolan. New owner has lots of money and seems dedicated to the tank. Anything could happen I guess.

Regarding Nolan, when he was brought in it was pretty much spelled out that he was only a temporary guy till they could bring someone else in. I know most here probably don't follow buffalo, but this was expected.

You fools Datsyuk is going to Toronto. Babs is going to Russia.

Buffalo's roster next year: Nothing new - Nothing new- Nail Yakupov Nothing new - Nothing new - Nothing new Nothing new - Nothing new - Nothing new Nothing new - Nothing new - Nothing new

Orr doesn't even deserve an AHL roster spot. If by play his heart out you mean continue to suck at hockey lol

Kindl has played 52 more NHL games than Smith. Not exactly 2 seasons, not even one. Smith and Kindl were both drafted at similar draft positions. Both are of similar build. Both are regarded to have offensive upside. Both make dumb mistakes. Both are prone to defensive lapses. Both have similar point totals (Kindl's ppg has been much better than Smith's the last 2 years). Yet both are not treated the same (by us). I heralded Smith (but never Kindl) when he was a prospect as our next great d-man, as many of us did. It's time to reassess. He's 26 now and going down the exact same path as Kindl. At this point, If you don't like Kindl, you shouldn't like Smith. I would be fine to see them both go. Kronwall - Ericsson DK - Zidlicky Quincey - Marchenko Ouellet

Wanna put money on it? Or are you not a bettman?

oooooooooooooooo Sounds like Smith is in trouble

I'm more of a fan than Jack Edwards

Real fans have mustard stains

Guys... we can't tank anymore

So Smith is still a brain dead idiot

Talent? Mcgrattan doesn't play for Chi or Minny

No, he predicted we'd not get swept in the 1st, and went on to say he "could see us in the conference finals" there's a difference There's absolutely zero correlation between amount of hitting and winning hockey games. Go look at the numbers.