Where would McCabe actually play in the Jackets lineup? We're not exactly lacking for LD...

McCabe is a cheaper option to Jack Johnson, who will likely put up a struggle to sign a fair contract. There was a lot of talk at the deadline of him being unhappy. McCabe is a similar player, but can play behind Murray and Werenski on the blue line. Would be the 6th D with Ian Cole.

Why do we want Carter over ROR? They both put up similar points, I can't imagine Carter is better than O'Reilly defensively, and he's 6 years older and doesn't fit our window at all. Carter isn't even really cheaper when you're retaining a million on ROR.

Because Jeff Carter is sick and has done stuff. ROR is a melt.

Carter is decisive, powerful and competitive. He is a multi-time 30 goal scorer. Although injured, on pace for 30+ goals this year, is also a strong two-way player, can control the game on both sides of the ice. Carter scores big goals in big games.

ROR wins face-offs... This year he had 2 PIM in 81 games. He's just not involved. Can you name a time ROR came up big for Buffalo?

As a deal this helps LA for the long term, and helps Buffalo build a real team now.

I don't see the point in the ROR for Carter trade, it's just a complete misuse of his trade value. If you're going to trade him, the primary goal should be to address either the defense or add speed on the wings. Claiming that ROR just wins face-offs, as if that's the only thing he does, is ridiculous too. He's hit 20+ goals in all three seasons with the Sabres, and has been on a 60+ point pace as well. Plus he can be relied upon in both ends of the ice and on the PP and PK. Swapping him out for a different center, while retaining salary and giving away another prospect, is just bad asset management.

Detroit would also have to be out of their minds to give away Nyquist for a goalie that the Sabres may very well wind up releasing this offseason.

But he's also 33 years old and on the downside of his career.

I have a feeling that you're valuing Carter higher because he's been on a successful team. While that's true, there are many, many more parts that go into a winning team than Jeff Carter or Ryan O'Reilly.

I'm also going to disagree about Carter being a better two way player. ROR finished 11th in Selke voting last year, while Carter finished 36th. Year before that? 33rd and 43rd. So on and so forth. Year in and year out, O'Reilly is voted to be a better two way player while playing on terrible teams with terrible linemates.

Bzzt. Stop right there. We are not retaining Jack Johnson; he didn't even play in any of our playoff games. The role of "healthy scratch" on the blueline will be played by someone like Scott Harrington or Dean Kukan. It's certainly not an important enough position that we're willing to trade away Boone ****ing Jenner for it.


Cole's partner was normally Savard, and that's if we retain him. I suspect you're forgetting that Nutivaara not only exists but is pretty good.

Sorry for not being the Columbus Blue Jackets wisperer!!!

If you remove the context, and were asked who is better out of Jeff Carter and ROR, it would be Carter, no hesitations. Carter is 33, and remains a top center, don't just assume age is an issue; Getzlaf, Backes, Vanek, Suter, Weber, Crawford, Staal, Burns, Pavelski etc, all the same age and still considered among the best at their position. You've been to caught up in the local opinions of the Sabres.
ROR was bought in to make the Sabres better. Even with a healthy line-up the team struggles. Regardless of how poor the defensive depth is, he's paid $7.5 million a year to be better than the oppositions top lines, and he just isn't. Toward the end of his contract, Carter won't be a top 2 center, but he can take the 3rd center position behind Mittelstadt.

As for Selke voting, I couldn't give a ****.

Also, good luck fitting Jenner around the expiring Panarin, Dubois, Murray and Werenski, and Bobrovski

We'll have to agree to disagree. I think that Ryan O'Reilly is the better hockey player of the two.

As opposed to fitting McCabe and Girgensons, both of whom together would cost more if they turn out to be valuable enough to be worth the trade?

You're not exactly making a good case here.