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"Sabres Win Cup!"
Lancaster, NY • United States • 36 Years Old • Male
Some of us are on the verge of conceding this year as lost cause for the Sabres. If this is the case, it's time to start thinking about putting up the "For Sale" sign at the trade deadline. Here's a look at our tradable assets and potential trading partners.

Our tradable assets (and their approx remaining cap at the time of the deadline)
<li>Maxim Afinogenov (1.3m)
<li>Tim Connolly (1.1m)
<li>Ales Kotalik (.9m)
<li>Brian Campbell (.6m)
<li>Jaro Spacek (1.3m)
<li>Dimitri Kalinin (.8 m)
<li>Ryan Miller (1.1m)

Pittsburgh Penguins
Current Situation: 4th Place in the east
Cap Space: $10.6m
Needs: Offensive talent to make up for Crosby, veteran defenseman
Potetial fit: Maxim Afinogenov, Dimitri Kalinin
Potential Returns: Jordan Staal, Tyler Kennedy

Washington Capitals
Current Situation: Out of the playoffs but 3 points from the Southeast Division lead
Cap space: $14.6m
Needs: Defensively sound forward, Defensive defenseman
Potential fit: Jaro Spacek, Dimitri Kalinin
Potential Returns: Picks and Prospects

Detroit Red Wings
Current Situation: 1st place overall
Cap space: $5.4m
Needs: Power Forward, Top 10 Goalie
Potetial fit: Ryan Miller, Ales Kotalik
Potential Returns: Jiri Hudler, Niklas Kronwall

Dallas Stars
Current Situation: 1st place in the West
Cap space: $2.0m
Needs: Playmaking forwards
Potetial fit: Maxim Afinogenov, Tim Connolly
Potential Returns: Picks and Prospects

Calgary Flames
Current Situation: 3rd place in the West
Cap space: $2.4m (and need to clear space to sign Phaneuf)
Needs: 2nd & 3rd line scorers
Potetial fit: Maxim Afinogenov, Tim Connolly, Ales Kotalik
Potential Returns: Eric Nystrom

Anaheim Ducks
Current Situation: 4th in the West
Cap space: $2.1m
Needs: Speed at forward
Potetial fit: Maxim Afinogenov
Potential Returns: Picks and Prospects

Minnesota Wild
Current Situation: 6th in the West
Cap space: $3.8m
Needs: Power Forward, veteran defenseman
Potetial fit: Ales Kotalik, Brian Campbell
Potential Returns: Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Aaron Voros

Colorado Avalanche
Current Situation: 7th in the West
Cap space: $3.7m
Needs: Playmaking center
Potetial fit: Tim Connolly
Potential Returns: Picks and Prospects

Vancouver Canucks
Current Situation: 8th in the West
Cap space: $2.2m
Needs: Scoring Depth
Potetial fit: Maxim Afinogenov, Ales Kotalik,
Potential Returns: Alexander Edler


All that said... here's how we start our next championship run.
<li>Campbell to Minnesota for Aaron Voros, 1st round pick, 3rd round pick and a prospect
<li>Connolly to Colorado for 2nd round pick, 3rd round pick and a prospect
<li>Afinogenov to Pittsburgh for Jordan Stall
<li>Spacek to Washington for a 2rd round pick and prospect
<li>Miller to Detroit for Hudler, Kronwall and a bounty of picks & prospects (after reconsideration about Miller's trade value)
<li>Kotalik and Kalinin to Vancouver for Edler
Filed Under:   Sabres   Trade   Cleon   Campbell   Miller  
January 23, 2008 3:01 PM ET | Delete
Minnesota has 3.8 mil. cap room. Why would they give up all that for a d-man they can't afford to sign long-term?That's practically giving Miller away. Why would you want to do that?Afinogenov for Jordan Staal. Not in this lifetime. Just cuz you're giving Miller away doesn't mean Pittsburgh has to return the favor.No offense, but some of these don't make a ton of sense.
January 23, 2008 3:20 PM ET | Delete
Miller is a Franchise Player...One of the best of the best,I think the Wings would make that move in a heartbeat,why would you?
January 23, 2008 3:25 PM ET | Delete
Is Miller REALLY that good? I've seen every game he's played. Truthfully, I think he's a tad over-rated He's good... bot not top 5 material. Another factor is signability. The Sabres need to extend him next year... and as we have seen, coming to terms with players is not a Sabres strong suit.
January 23, 2008 3:39 PM ET | Delete
Yeah you guys have a tuff time with $$ signing players. Miller is a Michigan guy too!. Wings would have to move a goalie ,Dom back to Buffalo thats funny.
January 23, 2008 3:39 PM ET | Delete
very good piece. I dont think tho they will ever consider trading Miller. I personally wouldnt trade Spacek or Kotalik and I dont think there are teams willing to take on Connolly.Are your salaries prorated to what they make now at this point in the season?
January 23, 2008 3:41 PM ET | Delete
yes the salaries are prorated for what it would cost the other team for the rest of the season.
January 23, 2008 3:41 PM ET | Delete
A few minor disagreements - 1. Connolly will not be moved, he is way too injury prone this season for him to have any value (Sorry, but it's true). 2. No way we move Miller, there is NO ONE to replace him for three years, we have salaries we can dump to get a good offer to him. 3. Spacek, no way, he's the most improved player and the only one living up to his salary right now. He deserves another year at least, and the whole idea is to get the greatest return on your salary dollar, which he is sufficiently providing.
January 23, 2008 4:42 PM ET | Delete
Yeah, even if you dealt Miller, you'd want a fair amount more back than Kronwall and Hudler.
January 23, 2008 5:02 PM ET | Delete
I wouldnt concede the season yet, however its close. I would trade connolly in a second. We need more from a 2nd line center. It will be interesting to see what campbell will bring in a trade. The one thing I would never do is trade miller. To me you sign him long term in the summer and give him what he wants, I think is really is an elite goalie in this leage. But lets wait and see how they finish this roadtrip then decide if we are sellers or not.
January 23, 2008 5:09 PM ET | Delete
Man, that sucks! I just left a good response, and I hit my post button, and then refreshed like the page says to, and it GONE!!!! Oh Discordia! All is lost!Anyway, Max is going to get the best return. He just doesn't have it here anymore, and maybe a change in scenery will help him out. Either Max, or Campbell. Campbell's value is at an all-time high, and we could get a great return if we offer him to the right team. The Blackhawks rumor seems to be pretty good for the Sabres at the present moment. Good, young talent in return for Campbell. Pratt needs to stay in the starting line-up, and start banging bodies like he did in the first couple of games he played once he got here. Spacek is still hurting, but once he gets healthy, he needs to start banging heads like he did earlier in the season too. If they could package Tree in a deal somewhere, maybe with Max, beautiful. If not, he's a 5-6 D-man here, and should get the appropriate ice time. Too many give-aways. Miller is not top 5, but with the right team in front of him, he is franchise. Not the solution there...
January 23, 2008 5:25 PM ET | Delete
Minnesota won't be making any major deals, especially not for an UFA.
January 23, 2008 5:29 PM ET | Delete
Campbell really does not fit into Minnesota's style of play, does he?
January 23, 2008 7:00 PM ET | Delete
The Wild would never make that trade. DR is on record saying he doesn't swap picks for unsigned, short term UFAs.
January 23, 2008 7:35 PM ET | Delete
very well thought out piece. I don't see the Campbell for Voros, 1st, 3rd happening either, but if the Wild could package together something that didn't include the 1st but did appeal to the Sabres I would be all for it. I think PM Bouchard is the Wild's biggest tradeable commodity right now, by the way.
January 23, 2008 7:35 PM ET | Delete
Message Posted
January 23, 2008 10:31 PM ET | Delete
I kind of want Pominville :}
January 24, 2008 9:15 AM ET | Delete
Good insight from the Minnesota faithful. With their conservative system, i figured like they could use a guy like Campbell who can generate offense all by himself.
January 24, 2008 7:58 PM ET | Delete
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Campbell in a Wild sweater. It's just not the type of trade the Wild usually make.
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