Trade Rumors and Free Agent TalkTrade rumors, transactions, and free agent talk. Rumors must contain the word RUMOR in post title. Proposals must contain the word PROPOSAL in post title.
Curious what NJD fans value Zajac at now with the emergence of Henrique? Was discussing this with other Sabres fans on our board, and I presented the possibility of a Zajac for Roy swap. Both signed through next season at around the same salary...roy the better player offensively but zajac better in all 3-phases of the game...
who has to add and how much?
Likewise what would other teams give for him? Dont mean to make it just a NJ/Buffalo proposal...
no way, Roy is a smaller guy who would have much more trouble adjusting to DeBoer's system in New Jersey. Besides,we already know Zajac has some insane chemistry with Parise and Kovalchuk so i seriously doubt we can downgrade our best 2 way forward for extra scoring when we already have the safer bet
no way, Roy is a smaller guy who would have much more trouble adjusting to DeBoer's system in New Jersey. Besides,we already know Zajac has some insane chemistry with Parise and Kovalchuk so i seriously doubt we can downgrade our best 2 way forward for extra scoring when we already have the safer bet
We'd rather keep Zajac and Henrique and have great center depth, something we've lacked for a long, long time.
We'd rather keep Zajac and Henrique and have great center depth, something we've lacked for a long, long time.
This ^
Zajac #1
Henrique #2
....and there's no telling Henrique doesn't have a sophomore slump so you don't put all your eggs in one (rookie) basket like that. Rangers didn't go out and move a top4 blueliner because Del Zotto had a stellar season and they sure as hell needed it when he struggled in his sophomore year.
The Devils will not trade Zajac. Lou hasn't amassed great centre depth with players who have chemistry with our star wingers, just to throw it away and roll the dice on Roy.
The Sabres fans can probably explain better than I can, but I believe Roy was critical of Lindy Ruff in his year end interview with management. It seems like one or the other will be gone by the start of next season.
Yeah it very unlikely that Zajac gets dealt. He is way too valuable to us, even with Henrique and Josefson. And with Zach possibly leaving, there close to 0% chance that he is moved.
Now if Zach were to resign, I could see there being a slight chance he could be traded, but not for Roy. For me, if Zajac was going to be moved, I would include him in a deal for a top defenseman.
Now if Zach were to resign, I could see there being a slight chance he could be traded, but not for Roy. For me, if Zajac was going to be moved, I would include him in a deal for a top defenseman.
Enstrom interest you in that case?
I'm not sure I'm 100% convinced that Zajac is enough of an upgrade over Little for us to move Enstrom for him, but I'm at least wondering if this would be a starting point? I would want the Devils to maybe add a little bit.
Enstrom's style would fit in very well in New Jersey. He's Niedermayer-lite (minus the beard)
Buffalo continues to need a legitimate top center, as it has for a couple of years now, but NJ is yet another in the long line of NHL teams that currently can't afford to deal a scoring-line center. They don't have the luxury, or the ability to replace, one if they dealt him away (even for valuable assets in another area). Thus the difficulty in meeting an urgent capability need that Buffalo has been trying to address.
There are not 60 quality scoring-line centers in the NHL. A very small number of teams have three, but tend to value those riches and choose to retain them.
Basically what happened was Roy openly took a shot at how lindy ruff conducts himself, basically saying a good coach doesn't call his players out in the media like ruff has done...Vanek also hinted at similar feelings....lots of speculation saying that if ruff is still around next year,one or both will be traded.
I'm not sure I'm 100% convinced that Zajac is enough of an upgrade over Little for us to move Enstrom for him, but I'm at least wondering if this would be a starting point? I would want the Devils to maybe add a little bit.
Enstrom's style would fit in very well in New Jersey. He's Niedermayer-lite (minus the beard)
I would definitely be interested in an Enstrom/Zajac deal.
Not interested in dealing Zajac. Actual value way above perceived value after a down 10-11 and injured 11-12.
EDIT: Actually yeah, interested in Enstrom. Zajac is definitely a better player than Little. Think Patrice Bergeron when healthy, maybe slightly worse maybe.
Buffalo continues to need a legitimate top center, as it has for a couple of years now, but NJ is yet another in the long line of NHL teams that currently can't afford to deal a scoring-line center. They don't have the luxury, or the ability to replace, one if they dealt him away (even for valuable assets in another area). Thus the difficulty in meeting an urgent capability need that Buffalo has been trying to address.
There are not 60 quality scoring-line centers in the NHL. A very small number of teams have three, but tend to value those riches and choose to retain them.
With Elias, Henrique, and Josefson signed for next season, NJ is actually one of the few teams that could afford to deal a scoring center.
The value would need to be there though. They aren't trading him for low value just because of his recent injury.
Zajac will be a lot better than Roy. I'll take the guy who is one of the best defensive centers in the league along with never being inconsistent like Roy. The Sabres would have to add something because a swap wouldn't do.
Zajac will be a lot better than Roy. I'll take the guy who is one of the best defensive centers in the league along with never being inconsistent like Roy. The Sabres would have to add something because a swap wouldn't do.
Let's not go so far. Roy has been a pretty consistent 25-30g,65-70p player. Zajac is better defensively, but I'm not sure by how much.
Either way, a swap doesn't make sense there. Too lateral.
Dont get me wrong if im the devils i wouldnt wanna trrade zajac either but alot of fans talk about it creating a hole at center, but roy the center piece of the proposal is a center...josefson,roy,elias,henrique there's still center depth there.
With Elias, Henrique, and Josefson signed for next season, NJ is actually one of the few teams that could afford to deal a scoring center.
The value would need to be there though. They aren't trading him for low value just because of his recent injury.
You're assuming Henrique has no hiccups whatsoever, which teams tend not to do in year two at a core position like that. I don't think they view it that way at all at the level of the NJ braintrust. After another year, maybe.
Dont get me wrong if im the devils i wouldnt wanna trrade zajac either but alot of fans talk about it creating a hole at center, but roy the center piece of the proposal is a center...josefson,roy,elias,henrique there's still center depth there.
i digress...
What would Buffalo have to add?
This is awfully disingenuous. The whole premise of the Buffalo pitch is that the team needs a significant upgrade at the position from Roy; by that measure, whoever is dealing their center for Roy is taking a significant downgrade at the position.
This is awfully disingenuous. The whole premise of the Buffalo pitch is that the team needs a significant upgrade at the position from Roy; by that measure, whoever is dealing their center for Roy is taking a significant downgrade at the position.
I think they are two very different centers. I dont think zajac is was or ever will be an OFFENSIVE upgrade over roy.
I proposed trading for zajac on the sabres board because i believe the sabres need a defensively reliable center since loosing gaustad because as good as ennis and hodgson are/may be they are average at best defensively. Its a scenario where I see the sabres sacrificing offense for defense.
To be fair ennis isn't just average at defense, he just does it differently then most other players....Instead of blocking shots and crowding lanes he picks their pockets and zips off in the other direction....but that's off topic here....
The deal for zajac isn't the sabres looking for an upgrade at center per say. I think of the deal as the sabres needing to change up the dynamic of the centers they have. In their current lineup, they have three top six centers. They Have Ennis, Hodgeson, and Roy. All three are scoring offensive centers, not really ones who like to settle in and play solid defense. So in this case they would be looking to sacrifice some of their offense (Roy) in exchange for a more defensively sound Center (Zajac).
I know that Drake is apparently morrally agaisnt any team trading a center (it seems like he hunts down every single thread about a good center being traded and posts the same carbon copy response - nobody will trade a center your not allowed to have fun and discuss it). But this deal isn't really trading for an upgrade. It is an offer of two players of similar value who play the same position with two different styles. That being said I think this deal depends more on the results of the playoffs then anything. If the NJD lose early, then I think the straight up one for one deal may be considered by the devils. If they lose a bit later then the sabres may have to add a little bit for it to happen. If they win the cup, or lose by some flukey goal in game seven of the finals, then it probably won't even be considered. So I wouldn't discount this move from happening completely until the NJD are done playing for the year.
