The thing about Gaustad and the Preds is, you guys have the depth to leave him on the fourth line for faceoffs/PK work when he's dinged up or slumping, you don't have to count on him as your third line center for 82 games. I think he'll be a solid pickup for you guys.
The thing about Gaustad and the Preds is, you guys have the depth to leave him on the fourth line for faceoffs/PK work when he's dinged up or slumping, you don't have to count on him as your third line center for 82 games. I think he'll be a solid pickup for you guys.
Gaustaud is nails. He's a nice pickup for a playoff run.
The thing about Gaustad and the Preds is, you guys have the depth to leave him on the fourth line for faceoffs/PK work when he's dinged up or slumping, you don't have to count on him as your third line center for 82 games. I think he'll be a solid pickup for you guys.
That's exactly why Poile picked him up. They wanted an upgrade over Smithson. Good thing it worked out, too, since they had already dealt Smithson
I think Gaustad will see fourth line minutes, and will be relied on to help the PK.
looking at it now.... gah what the **** was poile thinking... a first round pick for gaustad?? im assuming he was under pressure to make another move after thr dialogue combined with being in a bidding war with detroit...
looking at it now.... gah what the **** was poile thinking... a first round pick for gaustad?? im assuming he was under pressure to make another move after thr dialogue combined with being in a bidding war with detroit...
We have no 2nds for 2 years. It was either overpay with roster players or pay a 1st rounder.
Its an overpayment but a necessary one, we needed Gaustad last year against VAN. We got depth and the right players at this deadline, we are built for the playoffs.
That 1st wont be effective for a team for the likes of 3 years. Its worth giving up for a cup run and to get Gaustad.
We have a great prospect pool so its not a big deal.
looking at it now.... gah what the **** was poile thinking... a first round pick for gaustad?? im assuming he was under pressure to make another move after thr dialogue combined with being in a bidding war with detroit...
it was either give up the first or don't get Gaustad and move forward with only three reliable centers.
detroit was bidding. with no 1st of their own the were probably offering a 2nd and/or a decent prospect. We don't have a 2nd, so it was either the first or a solid prospect. and we did get the 4th rounder back, so that mitigates a bit of the loss, especially as god as we have been at picking in the mid rounds lately
I'll take keeping a solid prospect and letting the unknown pick go every time, especially as low as we will (hopefully) be picking..
I was quick to say I thought the AK deal was fair. But this is severe overpayment.
It has to be the first time in NHL history that a 4th liner was traded for a 1st, MUCH LESS and impending UFA 4th liner. And he has 0 goals in 38 playoff games. ZERO!
This is Brendan Witt bad, but 2x worse.
It's nice to get a big 4th line center, but like I said, this guy better be the most intangible guy on the planet (i.e. have Jedi powers to make Suter sign).
Willing to see how it plays out in the playoffs though...
I was quick to say I thought the AK deal was fair. But this is severe overpayment.
It has to be the first time in NHL history that a 4th liner was traded for a 1st, MUCH LESS and impending UFA 4th liner. And he has 0 goals in 38 playoff games. ZERO!
This is Brendan Witt bad, but 2x worse.
Like I said, this guy better be the most intangible guy on the planet (i.e. have Jedi powers to make Suter sign).
it was either give up the first or don't get Gaustad and move forward with only three reliable centers.
detroit was bidding. with no 1st of their own the were probably offering a 2nd and/or a decent prospect. We don't have a 2nd, so it was either the first or a solid prospect. and we did get the 4th rounder back, so that mitigates a bit of the loss, especially as god as we have been at picking in the mid rounds lately
I'll take keeping a solid prospect and letting the unknown pick go every time, especially as low as we will (hopefully) be picking..
So you're banking on Gastaud being difference if we play Detroit in the playoffs. You keep thinking that.
Hes 6'5, wins faceoffs, sticks up for his temmates, pots 20 more pts a year than Smithson, is a beast on PK and defense.
He is what we lacked last year, no one could shut down Kesler. he sure as hell is going to help. He is filling a hole we needed to fill and to fill it we had to overpay for him. Fine by me, because I want the cup and obviously Poile wants to win it to.
If you dont see the positives from this deal than I question your knowledge.
Would you rather have Gaustad (A big shutdown Center for the postseason) or a 1st round pick that wont have an effect for 3 years for this cup run?
That's exactly why Poile picked him up. They wanted an upgrade over Smithson. Good thing it worked out, too, since they had already dealt Smithson
I think Gaustad will see fourth line minutes, and will be relied on to help the PK.
Once Smithers was traded, Poile's hands were tied. He had to pick up a replacement. I think he was dead set on Gausted before the Smithson trade is made. If he had to use the 1st round pick, he must have been prepared to use it when he made the deal with FLA. There is NO WAY Poile and Trotz give up their PK and face off specialist without his replacement waiting in the wings. From everything I've seen, Gausted is a bigger, grittier version. With the size of Goose and Gill, our ability to neutralize the cycle improved dramatically.
Is he Gausted worth our 1st? I don't know. Was it a necessary acquisition given the Smithson trade? Without a shadow of a doubt.
Hes 6'5, wins faceoffs, sticks up for his temmates, pots 20 more pts a year than Smithson, is a beast on PK and defense.
He is what we lacked last year, no one could shut down Kesler. he sure as hell is going to help. He is filling a hole we needed to fill and to fill it we had to overpay for him. Fine by me, because I want the cup and obviously Poile wants to win it to.
If you dont see the positives from this deal than I question your knowledge.
Would you rather have Gaustad (A big shutdown Center for the postseason) or a 1st round pick that wont have an effect for 3 years for this cup run?
Holy overpayment but it makes the Preds a better team. I really felt they needed another goal scorer more than Gaustad who is a free agent after this year. They should have gotten Radim Vrbata or Fleischman as a free agent. As far as the deadline concerned last year they could have dealt Suter for James Neal.
Hes 6'5, wins faceoffs, sticks up for his temmates, pots 20 more pts a year than Smithson, is a beast on PK and defense.
He is what we lacked last year, no one could shut down Kesler. he sure as hell is going to help. He is filling a hole we needed to fill and to fill it we had to overpay for him. Fine by me, because I want the cup and obviously Poile wants to win it to.
If you dont see the positives from this deal than I question your knowledge.
Would you rather have Gaustad (A big shutdown Center for the postseason) or a 1st round pick that wont have an effect for 3 years for this cup run?
Definitely an overpayment, but everything you said is true. He also is pretty solid at bein a PITA when he puts his big body in front of the opposing team's goalie. Great at screening. Most Sabres fans loved havin him on the team. I know I did. What it comes down to, is Poile is taking a risk to try and win now, because he isnt sure if the core will be there after. Its a calculated risk. It may hurt your team in the future, but right now you made your team much better. I know I'll be rootin for you guys if my Sabres dont make it to the playoffs. Good luck!
I'm sure there are plenty of 4th liner centers we could have acquired for less.
I'll give the guy a chance to prove his playoff worth, but on paper, it's severe overpayment.
You keep throwing around the term 4th liner like he is Smithson or Nichol or Ortmeyer.The guy has 71 goals and 181 points in 479 games. He is a big bodied bottom six grinder who is good at faceoffs, adds some sandpaper and still fits in the "Need every line to chip in offensively" mentality.
You guys got a hell of a player. If someone runs Rinne, he'll be the first one in there punching the guy in the face. I honestly don't think there was 1 person in Buffalo who didn't like him, all the heart in the world. Good pick-up for the playoffs
Zero goals in 38 playoff games is no exaggeration.
It's overpayment, we all agree. He will likely be a good addition to roster, we all agree. Will he be a piece that helps us make a run? Let's play the games and see...
"Honestly, I can easily look at the balanced scorers that (the Predators) have right now. Playing against them is very hard. They play hard. They play the system hard. You look from the goaltender to the defensemen, the forwards, it's a balanced attack. I'm excited to join that group. Wherever they want to fit me and whatever role they need me at, I'll try my best to execute it." -- Paul Gaustad on joining the Predators
No quotes from AK yet about how he feels but I personally like Gaustad's attitude. He knows he's coming into a club that wants to compete and feels he can help an he's taking to the challenge.
I'd speculate that Buffalo wanting a first for Gaustad probably had a lot to do with wanting another asset to trade at the draft or in the summer. And ideally, you guys should use Gaustad in top PK minutes and to defend bigger forwards ... ie. last week from Sabres beat writer Bill Hoppe, Gaustad line stymies Pens' Malkin in Sabres win. Good luck Goose.
"Honestly, I can easily look at the balanced scorers that (the Predators) have right now. Playing against them is very hard. They play hard. They play the system hard. You look from the goaltender to the defensemen, the forwards, it's a balanced attack. I'm excited to join that group. Wherever they want to fit me and whatever role they need me at, I'll try my best to execute it." -- Paul Gaustad on joining the Predators
No quotes from AK yet about how he feels but I personally like Gaustad's attitude. He knows he's coming into a club that wants to compete and feels he can help an he's taking to the challenge.
