Best Sabres Interviews on WGR: March 2-6

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2:01Really? Just visit autotrader.com, filter and search through dealer listings for the car you want, make, model, color, and all the features that matter to you. Go ahead. Get picky. Whether you're into subcompacts with heated cup holders, crossovers with all-wheel drive, pickups with kicking sound systems, or SUVs that can survive whatever chaos your kids unleash. Just drop in your info and you'll only see cars in your budget. Really? Once you find your one and only, you can do the whole deal online and have the car delivered to your driveway. Or you can pick it up at the dealership and drive your new ride right off the lot. Really? Autotrader makes it easy to buy your car online because the whole process is designed around your wants and must-haves. Autotrader. Buy your car online. Really. Hey, there it is. This is me on the drums. That's Nerds Gone Wild, hit and run, and Camille Clooney a part of this at the, uh, everything Buffalo Party in Sarasota. There you go. That's cool, man.

3:02It's just so fun. How about you, Dan? You play any instruments? I did. I played French horn way back. Oh, my French horn. I love that. I love that. You're. French horn. Yeah. It's pretty cool. It was really fun. It had a great time. It's bringing Paul Hamilton. I don't know if Paul's ever playing any instruments. Paul. You playing any instruments? Yes, sir. You're seeing or anything growing up? What'd you play? Uh, I gave piano a try. I gave guitar a try. I gave drums a try. None of them worked out for more than like a few months. Well, listen, I mean, you devoted enough time to hockey to be, uh, to be pretty good at that, right? You know what I got to say? I think if I'm not mistaken, this might be the first time you and I have spent a half hour together. So I'm nice and comfortable and downtown Blazdell here. I found a nice spot. I got my, uh, comfortable. I got my popcorn and my TV. I'm ready to roll for a half hour. Yeah. So you guys, uh, just heard it. Paul is going to join us here up until the top of the hour here. So he's here for the next couple of segments.

4:02And the reason I was surprised because, of course, it is Trade Deadline Day in the NHL at 3 p.m. Paul's appearance is on WGR. Our brought you by equitable advisors, planning for your futures about more than just money. Let equitable be your guide and by Ray Lax Honda, Ray Lax. We got this. So Paul is settled in for the day and anything could happen at any minute. But we also know there are things that already happened. Now Paul, I spent a little while since I spoke with you. I was, uh, down in Florida for a few days. You've been on with the other guys. So let me just kind of rewind and go back to everything. Um, I said earlier that, you know, if this Robert Thomas thing didn't come out, maybe people, you know, feel a little different about the trades now. But let's revisit the Robert Thomas thing. From your perspective, what happened here? Was it going to be something that would help the Buffalo Sabers and why did it not get completed? Oh, absolutely. It would have helped the Buffalo Sabers. I mean, that's kind of where Yarmul Kekalainen started is trying for a big swing, you know, and seeing if he could get that completed.

5:02The problem with it is the St. Louis Blues are not committed to trading him. It's like we're willing to, but you're going to have to overpay by a lot. You're going to have to blow our socks off if we're going to trade this player because he's 26. We don't need to trade this player. So, you know, you're really going to have to put an offer on the table that would make us move and Kekalainen felt it was just too much. Whatever that might have been. I mean, what if it's Murtka, Oslin, Helen, is, uh, what if it's all of them? I mean, that's what they're looking for, Erbenson, and I mean, it can get to a point of being ridiculous too. So, uh, Kekalainen from what reports are, didn't let, and these are all reports. I mean, we, we aren't in the room, obviously. Sometimes these trades get warped and they aren't actually what people have made them out to be. But, uh, you know, so then he's kind of shifted to, well, what about Peraco? What about Falk, uh, you know, getting and try to improve the defense?

6:07I think if you're a fan, the positive thing out of this Peraco is, it's always been for the last probably since Brear and Jury left. As soon as a player has a no trade, it's no immediately. I'm not going there. And you know what, it's more losing than the climates or the taxes or anything else. It's the horrible losing and, um, you know, the, and people are like, why would I want to go there? I mean, people once McDermott broke the playoff drought for the bills and Josh Allen showed up. People didn't want to come to the Buffalo bills either for a while. And then those guys show up and now the bills are a destination. People all want to come. People have wanted to be sabers when Brear and Jury were here and Hashek was here. The sabers had no trouble getting people to come to Buffalo. But you know, you can add in the, like if you haven't been in the playoffs for 14 years,

7:11yeah, you can add in the weather and everything else because let's face it when hockey players come here and never come here for anything but a January day where it's snowing an inch an hour, you don't get a very good impression of the city where, where players get better impressions is when they show up for a draft here or show up for the combine here. And there's, there's things going on in the waterfront. There are, there used to be concerts going on down there and people actually get to see. I always, I know people might be tired of, but I always bring up Craig Rive, who was set on the area, goes, I was in tears when in San Jose when I found out I was being traded to Buffalo, I was so, so upset and unhappy. Guess what? He's still here. He had never left. Listen, how many guys, how many guys stay here after their careers that didn't even play for the sabers? I mean, Scotty Bowman, Scotty Bowman coached here, he also coached that, you know, Marcell Deon. Marcell Deon. Marcell Deon's a great example. I was just going to say that. I mean, you're right about that.

8:12But here, somebody said to me yesterday and I agree with this because of what you're saying and I'm, I'll back it up with this. It's the stack of 14 years. It's still there. And it's going to take a little while to wash off. There's no doubt. And you wish, would wish and hope that, hey, you know what? Look what we're doing right now, but it's not that easy right now to do that. And to finish Paraco, he didn't say no right away. And he might be the first one in years that just didn't say, right away say, hang, I'm not going there. No. And Buffalo is on people's no trades right now because they just started becoming a good team. When these contracts were signed, they weren't a good team. So there are everybody's no trades. But you know, so he gave it some thought. If reports are correct, it was at least a day and a half, two days that he mulled this over. So he didn't write out a hand, say no and end it right there. So I think that's a positive that now players at least are considering it that maybe Buffalo would be a good destination. He's from Western Canada and he is, that's why he mentioned, it was mentioned about

9:15going to Anaheim or going someplace out west or staying in St. Louis. And that reporting is that that played in his decision too, that he would rather wait and see if there can be a Western Canada move. Kind of like what Tyler Myers did, it was a Detroit trade. He said, let me think about it and he spent a good long, he's spent like a week thinking about it. And he was hoping maybe a better deal would come along for Vancouver. And it did the Dallas stars where Tyler Myers spent the first 13 years of his life. So he basically got a chance to go home by waiting. So Paraco I think is doing the same thing and but I think it is a positive to note that he didn't say no right away, like it's been happening for the last 14 years. Paul Hamilton on the West, her hotline, I just want to say that this just came across from David, David Pagnota, who is obviously serious NHL network in the fourth period. He has a note that says the Sabers are shopping goalie Devon Levi.

10:19Now whatever you know, hey, he has his own report, but would you be stunned if that were the case that the Sabers would be shopping? That's an interesting word. Meaning they would be proactive in seeing if there's a market for him. I would be stunned if they weren't. They took Alice on waivers. I think the minute that happened, Devon Levi, he's never said this. This is my opinion, basically kind of washed his hands of the Sabers and it's like, OK, wait a minute here. I'm still here in Rochester. My numbers were basically identical to his in the American Hockey League last year. They're bringing a young gold tender in. What does that mean for me? Why are you bringing a young gold tender in when I could have been the number three guy and spend in Rochester? And then if you have an injury, I could come up and play with Buffalo. Where is the belief in me that I'm just again, I'm spitballing here. He's never said this. He's always said the right things in Rochester and approach things the right way.

11:23But you know, I think he would have serious questions. I'd be surprised if he didn't have serious questions about his place in the organization. It wouldn't shock me if he's asked him and traded. Yeah. Right. Right. And I'll say this to Paul because we all know how this works in all sports, but I can relate to football the same way when you have a change in GM. This GM did not trade for Devon Levi. This GM did not draft Esauk-Rosein. This GM was a part of drafting, Rodin Murtka, but it's not a surprise when you hear things and they go, well, you know, this, this, this prospect here or there is really good. Well, if the GM, if that particular guy didn't bring a man, they don't have that attachment. And I don't know if Devon Levi ever can be an NHL goal. Kevin Adams was so enthralled by him. He handed him the job twice and he wasn't even remotely ready for it. And then finally, Adams figured out that he needed to get some seasoning in the American hockey league and he's been down there for the better part of two years, which I think he needed. I can't say, none of us can say if he can be an NHL goal tender.

12:26He hasn't gotten the opportunity this year. And I'm sure he will get another opportunity, whether it's here or whatever, but it's not looking like Colt Nellis is going to be off the roster by the trade deadline day because roster is expand. You can have as many players as you want as long as you're into the cap. And so they're really, you've taken it this far. There's really no need to alleviate the three goalie system. So if you're Devon Levi, you might be sitting there thinking, well, we're going to go into the off season with three goal tenders. You know, Lionel is only under contract for one more year, but still you still have Luke and in Ellis. And you know, if I'm Devon Levi, if it were me, I would ask to be traded, whether he has or not. I don't know, but this report would indicate it's possible. Maybe he has. Let's take a time out. When we come back, Paul, let's dive into the players. The Sabers did acquire three different players they've acquired here over the last 24 hours or so, a couple from the Winnipeg Jets, one from the New York Rangers, and we'll also get

13:29into whether or not something could else be done today and what that could be. So Paul Hamilton sticks with us here for another segment. We'll get to the top of the hour. Then it's Chris Emma from Chicago on DJ Moore here on the North Town on a motor vector point show on WGR. I'm done carrying around bulky drinks. And I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets. So yeah, I traded them both in for fruity rainbow five hour energy shots. These little guys are as pocket sized as any candy. But instead of a sugar crash, you get a zero sugar caffeine boost. Candy can't even compare at this point. Fruity rainbow five hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor with a tasty caffeine kick. That's right, caffeine just got a flavor upgrade. And it's not just one flavor. Five hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors, 17. So if you're craving that candy flavored chaos, but actually want energy that works,

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15:36Go to bombas.com slash audio and use code audio for 20% off your first purchase. That's B-O-M-B-A-S dot com and use code audio. Did you know that you can buy your car completely online on Auto Trader? Really? Just visit Auto Trader dot com, filter and search through dealer listings for the car you want, make, model, color, and all the features that matter to you. Go ahead. Get picky. Whether you're into subcompacts with heated cup holders, crossovers with all-wheel drive, pickups with kicking sound systems, or SUVs that can survive whatever chaos your kids unleash. Just drop in your info and you'll only see cars in your budget. Really? Once you find your one and only, you can do the whole deal online and have the car delivered to your driveway. Or you can pick it up at the dealership and drive your new ride right off the lot. Really? Auto Trader makes it easy to buy your car online because the whole process is designed around your wants and must-haves. Auto Trader, buy your car online. Really. So that space that you're trying to shrink, come playoff time, you know, it just adds

16:38and Logan Stanley's confidence and Luke Shen's experience. I think they're real strong additions for the Buffalo Sabers, and Buffalo Sabers are rocking and rolling right now, and there's no way we wouldn't have said this in November that they're a Stanley Cup contender. They're a Stanley Cup contender. Yeah. At the high end? No. But they have to be taken seriously because that's a good team, and they're on a roll, and they just strengthen their team. Craig Button on TSN on the Sabers. We'll get Chad D to Ministers have expected Buffalo in about 15 minutes to tell us about the impacts that Luke Shen and Logan Stanley could make to the Sabers line up, and also Sam Carrick. That's a reported trade reported in several outlets, but not yet confirmed by the team. The other trade with Winnipeg is confirmed, Isaac Rosanne and Jacob Bryson and a couple of picks out for two defensemen, two big defensemen that will help the Sabers fill in their bottom of their defense core. But nothing, I don't see these, it's not even close to what they, I think, would hope

17:40that Paraco would be, these are depth ideas, like pieces, you know, that's veteran players that I've experienced, but are not really doing much for you on the ice. Stanley is so, I'll talk to someone from Winnipeg on this, because all the number, like Don LaSition wrote about him and many others, that it doesn't make any sense how he is that big. He's six, seven. He's a monster. He's that big. He's that mean. He's that physical and he's so bad defensively. He scores. He's got nine goals this year because his shot is so big, but he is so bad in his own end. His giveaway numbers and getting it out of his own end numbers, like all of it, it's just not good. And again, they're having him for the playoffs. I just want to remind everybody, like last year Winnipeg benched him and then healthy scratched him in the playoffs. So all that meanness and physicality might sound good, but the Jets went through two playoffs series last year and went, yeah, we should get this guy off the ice.

18:40We'll see if there's more. It is NHL trade deadline to day today. Yarmul Kekalainen meets with the media at four o'clock once a deadline passes. He can answer about these additions, about the trades. He sought to complete, but couldn't call him Preko. And if there are any others, I still feel like they're going to do something. Make a big trade today. Yeah. Because they have the big, maybe not even as big as the Thomas idea, I feel like there's a good chance that they will revisit that and take another run at it. And I'm very, that's my dream scenario today. They still find a way to pull off that deal wherever they left it. And maybe honestly, the Preko part of it, because Friedman said that was a part of the original deal that it was going to be Thomas and Preko that were in the deal. Now that the Preko piece is eliminated, the deal becomes smaller. Is there any chance that that increases the likelihood that they could actually get it done? Before we were talking about this mega deal that included both, well now it's only Thomas. So let's get into what that would cost. And maybe that's a smaller deal and maybe that's more likely to get through.

19:43He also, if you're wondering about the no trade clause, he has it. The difference, though, is Preko is from out west Alaska for college, lived in Alberta, St. Louis, Thomas is a Southern Ontario kid. So I'm hoping that makes a difference between the one guy in this guy. One more thing on the Sabers and then back to some DJ more calls. If you want to give us a ring 8030550, just feels like we might have more takes from callers on DJ more than Logan Stanley. But if you have a logo, we'll take that to the Sabers point. It's deadline day today. The TSN trade bait list, nobody's not a lot of people have moved off it. Everybody's still there. All the big pieces. And you know, Yarmul Kekalainen might be monitoring a bunch of different things. And what happens when Tampa makes a deal and then Boston makes a deal and then Montreal makes a deal and Detroit makes a deal. Does he think, all right, you know what? I'll throw that extra second round pick or I'll use my first to get this other piece

20:44because the deadline can sometimes be an arms race and you want to make sure you're in the race. So we'll see. So he's from north of Toronto. Is that still Southern Ontario, by the way, Thomas? Yes, of course it is, right? Yes, because Ontario goes way up. Against a pushback. That's that. Above Toronto. That's Ontario is like the biggest thing you've ever seen, isn't it? It's pretty big. Is it like three days to drive to the top of it? Yeah. I mean, it's Southern Ontario. And our north of Toronto is still Southern Ontario, yes, for sure. Buff and Dallas on DJ Moore. Hey, Buff, good morning. Hey, good morning, guys. Happy Friday. Happy Friday. Hey, I don't know. I'm not a fan of the DJ Moore trade simply because it, you know, we were talking all season about him making a big splash at GM. And at this year, and this is your biggest splash, it's sort of, it's almost like a reach, you know, Moore is a great player. He's a good player. He's proven in his league, but for that second round, that's just given up too much.

21:47And then the contract, like you mentioned, at later in his career. So I think there's a lot of talent. I mean, a lot of talent at receiver in this draft. You just got to be and do your due diligence and you come up with that guy. You, even if you have to double dip. So but especially right now, with the second, you almost getting two for one. You gave up two players to access for one receiver. So I like to get your opinion on it, honestly. Yeah. Thanks, Buff. I think you kind of nailed it. You did. If they had done this with a defensive end, if they had done this with a linebacker, you know, an off season, we tend to think of it as draft picks or free agents. And there are also trades. And when you trade a draft pick for a guy that signs effectively a contract that the free agents are going to get, it kind of feels like you used both. You used, I'm not mad about the cap space. I mean, you know, it's a $23.5 million contract that the cap is going to be like six.

22:51But next year, that cap, it'll be big and the year after that, it'll be big. And, you know, they're, they're always up against the cap. And we like to point out that it's not really because of Josh Allen. It's because of other things they do with the cap, other ways that they, they don't save money. And more will, with this new deal, be a three year, $73 million contract, those would be big cap hits going forward. So I like it and cheap, you know, like, whatever, it's, it's just a roster building question. I'm thrilled that they address receiver. Just ask yourself this question, you don't have to agree with me. What's the better use of a second round pick? Would it be just going to get DJ morning, giving them big money? Or would it be using it to move from 26 to 15 because the best receiver that you like fell? Yeah. Now, with that, if I, if I did that, I don't have a second round pick. It's into the wind. I also don't have the guarantee that I have by, I've seen DJ more play, see, and I know

23:52we can play in this league. But I, for me, my better value would be, well, I have four and four years and a fifth year option of cost control at an unbelievably expensive position. And I'll go spend my 23 million on a linebacker. Right. Which is something like that. To me, like, far and away, that, that's a better idea because not only am I getting, what Jordan Tyson, because he fell because of injury concerns, who, like, there are risks. He might, he might not be good. Like, I understand that there are risks here and I, I understand why Brandon Bean would have wanted something. He feels like he can put his head on the pillow and sleep well. But in addition to that, I've probably signed somebody. So what, what is it? Is it Jordan Tyson and I've signed Romeo Dobbs before that? Well, I don't love that idea either, by the way, but because of the expense of it. But for the assets that I just spent to get DJ more, maybe I could have had both Jordan Tyson and Romeo Dobbs, like that really is the, it's only, it's only a part of it. It's not the craziest thing. The craziest thing to me is still the bearers got a second for him when everyone knew they wanted to divest of that asset to clear cap space.

24:55That's the craziest part. It is also crazy though to me that they didn't even get to free agency. They didn't even find out what about Mike Evans? What if he does leave? What if he would have loved to come here? Now should I assume that they jumped the gun, like probably lots of teams do on the legal tampering window and they would have known what Mike Evans motivation was? Or should I say they did it by the book and they didn't know, like that's, that's the guessing. You know, because, because how do you make this trade not knowing what does Mike Evans want to do? What is Romeo Dobbs want to do? What if Elk Pierce would take five million last to play here instead of play for some, some Cardinals team? You probably know the prices. And maybe you have concerns about Evans age. He is much older than DJ. Three. It's three years. He's been off of big injury season. Right. So you might have concerns about that. And of course, the bills, whatever, I think there are things about this deal to defend and things to question. The bills have decided this is a three year answer.

25:56I was going to say that's a good point because the Evans, maybe they think of that. Anyone that signs Evans, you might think of that as this is a one to your spirit. Even yesterday by guaranteeing his salary in 2028, which even that was like, what, what are you doing? It's a view into how they see this. They see this as the guy that's going to take Josh Allen through this next phase of his prime. Yeah. Which could be right. Which he's, you're taking a risk by really guaranteeing him that money though in 2028 because what, what if this year goes by and it is a Murray Cooper? What if it's, oh yeah, he's not as good as he was. That is, that is why. And now I'm locked in for two more years after that. Like there is a lot of risk with this move. Well, they're not living in the middle class of receivers anymore. This is, this is more like the upper class. And even then it's like lower upper class to be a $23 million receiver. But that's, yeah, what does he rank? That's Wattles territory. That's, you know, guys that have signed reasonable deals. Yeah.

26:57That might be this free agent class. I mean, is she he'd going to get 23? Maybe not. He might, he might be around that. I mean, they're talking about Pierce getting 30, so which would be nuts. But I know. But again, like, what's a better idea? All right. You want the $23 million receivers in the league? Yeah. 24 million is Nico Collins. 23 million is Michael Pittman. 23 million is Cortland Sutton, Calvin Ridley and Devonte Adams. Godwin 22, Jacobi Myers 20. Yeah. I like some of those receivers more than others, but that's a good group. All those guys would be the best receiver on the bills. And DJ Morris immediately the best receiver on the bills, right? So instead of a Josh Palmer, well, we really like this guy. It's much more of a swing to find. We'll get somebody better on another tier. I would love though. You know what would have made me like this move more is if they spun around and found a way to trade Josh Palmer. Because then that opens back up to, okay, I need another guy to draft.

27:57And I've cleared some cap space by trading him. I don't, it's like five million. I think if you do that. Yeah. And in addition to that, I'm probably getting something really small by trading him. That parts like the after point, like to me, clearing another spot for another guy and having more come in to be Palmer, you're upgraded Josh Palmer, like that sounds like a better idea to me than riding in with with the group they have right now. That is one of the most expensive groups in the NFL. But is surrounded by teams that have better receiving cores than they have. Everybody on the list of the most expensive receiving cores are like even with more are better units. Yep. Yeah. Jason Higgins. It's Pickens and Lamb. It's Addison and Jefferson Saint Brown and order. Yeah. Saint Brown and James Williams. Right. Like that's one of the thing here's like they're not going money ball. They've put, they've sunk a lot of assets into it and have shifted or maybe they never shifted. Maybe it's just that now a guy became available.

28:58I mean, they were after Devonte Adams, right? They were after Jacobi Myers. They were after Jalen Waddle. They've been trying to get somebody of this caliber. This almost feels like an extension of the trade deadline when they couldn't get anybody and you were going to get DJ more from the Bears because they were good. Maybe they would have liked DJ more last year, but the Bears are thinking we're going to the playoffs. So I would do that now. So it feels like a deal that's an extension of the trade deadline and you know, a second round pick is up. It's a big price, but they have a they have a player that makes them better quickly. John and Pittsburgh. John Good morning. It's going on fellas last night at the game, Pittsburgh probably the most they are probably one of the worst fan bases I've ever been like a part of like going to those games. They do not know hockey for as much as they've been winning. They are terrible. Also I called the other day about face offs, regard a guy who can win 54% of his face offs. Thank God we actually did something in the face off dot and care.

30:00So let's get something bigger today and let's get into those playoffs boys. All right, thanks, John he is immediately by percentage the best faceoff guy. So to that point, we're going to go to the West or hotline and chat about the players that the Sabers have acquired. Chad D. Dmitices joins us on the western hotline, he of expected Buffalo. You can of course subscribe to everything they do an expected Buffalo expect a Buffalo com and podcast and post games. Chad Good morning, we're ready to talk about a couple players at the Sabers have acquired. Good morning, guys. So how about Carrick? That one's not been confirmed yet, right? The Sabers confirmed the Winnipeg trade, but they've not yet confirmed the Sam Carrick trade in a deal with the Rangers. But the early reaction I got to the Rangers trade with Sam Carrick was that Rangers fans like him, and this guy will help them when face-offs. Yeah, I mean, that's pretty much it. I talked to a fellow Rangers writer in the piece you put out last night, and that was pretty much the sentiment.

31:00Face-offs, fourth line guy, underrated speed, forechecker, it kind of gives you think about it. It's a lot of what has made the Sabers difference this year is the forechecking, the speed, the tenacity and the puck, and being on top of it. So he brings all of that. He can kill kind of these. The face-off thing is important. He does that. He can play some wing too if he needs to, so he's flexible. That's a nice thing about it. But yeah, I mean, it's a true depth, fourth line player that, you know, it's not flash-year fun or that exciting, but I think it's something they really needed, I think they're fourth line. Well, it's headed to Moments. Hasn't really been that great for most of the season, and this is a guy you can plug in. To me, he feels like a direct, the enforcement placement, that they were hoping they were getting that out of him, and then with the injury, you know, and it's still lingering not care. It kind of steps in and replaces that. I think it could be anything for Greenway too. Maybe we are already heading this direction anyway, that he might not be able to play regularly

32:01the rest of the season. Yeah, I thought when it was happening with him again around the Olympic break, that coming out of it or during it, we were going to hear like, all right, he's done season over. So he hasn't really been on the ice with them, and I know, he's had two hernias surgeries, it's still not right. I sort of feel like you might just want to get that fixed, but, you know, yeah, I don't anticipate him playing many games, especially when you see the roster is starting to stack up out here. Chad, you need to minister this on the Western Highline. Chad, the two pieces acquired from Winnipeg, defenseman Luke Shen, and also defenseman Logan Stanley. What are the sabers getting in these two? So Shen is the veteran, 36 years old, right shot defenseman. You know, there's being nice, something was a lot less than the tank there. For me, it seems like he's probably your new sevens defenseman, I don't anticipate him playing many games, but what he does in the room, the playoff experience, I think having

33:04that veteran isn't something that should be overlooked. And also, it just builds up, I mean, if you have injuries, and you know, you don't want to get into Rochester guys, you have a guy who's played in the league who's played playoff games, and you could throw him in there if you need it. So I'm not overly focused on what he's going to bring, because I just want to anticipate he's going to play a ton. Stanley on the other hand is probably if everything goes well, going to be one of your top six regulars. You know, I'm not going to hide it that I don't love it. It's okay. You know, he's a big defenseman, six foot seven, hits physical, you know, if you want a guy who will fight and defend his teammates, that it's Stanley. You know, defensively, there's some good things around the net. He's good in that regard. He's obviously very size good on the wall, that helps. And I think if they're looking to get, you know, more physical and a little bit more, I don't know if they need more size, but maybe they thought they did on defense, you know,

34:07that's what you get there. But this year he's having one of his best offensive season. So I mean, as that part of it, but he's also on the tricky for agency, for agents, you can kind of throw in, well, that might just be a freeze in season kind of thing, and then you shoot him like 12%, which is very unlike him. So there's a little bit of offense there, but he just, I don't think he moves well enough to be that impactful. He moves good for six foot seven, but maybe not what a Lindy Ruff system would want. And then the passing is really what scares me a little bit. It's the exits are not good. Throughout his career, they have not been good. But I mean, this is the guy who's playing right now with 20-minute-ish this season with injuries when a peg is had, coming here is how they're going to drop down the 13-14. So if you can shelter him on a third pair role, you probably can get by and be fine. The good news is if it doesn't go well, even though he gave up assets to get him, but if it doesn't go well, you know, you have timons around and other options you can throw

35:09in there to replace them. Of course, like I said, it wouldn't be ideal to give up those assets and not play him, but I think in the right role, you're probably confined service there. Do you feel like with these moves, kind of, Yarmou doing the baseline work, like the little things that they needed to accomplish around the edges of the roster, that they could be done or that what would be left to do would be something bigger? And I've gone back and forth on it last night, and then again this morning just thinking about it, I would say logically, and they're probably done. You have your depth defense in, you have your depth forward, but taking or having Winnipeg retain 50% of Shen isn't nothing. I feel like that leaves them flexibility. I checked this morning, I think at like point where it works, they're deadline cast based, they still have a little bit over $5 million that could squeeze in based on pro rating.

36:10And they have all of their big asset that they were going to use for Thomas, that they were going to use for Perico, they held those, they have them, the other draft capitals kind of depleted after yesterday, but they could if they wanted to. I still would say that they're probably done, but at least flexibility that they could. And the other thing is too, I feel like if you add something else, you're kind of bordering on tinkering a lot with a roster that's doing pretty well, that would be a fourth or fifth player, if I knew what you do, that they feel like a lot of tinkering. Chad, with Perico real quickly before let's go, Chad, Dean of Ministers have expected Buffalo. Did you want that to happen? I mean, there were some that thought, good idea, bad idea, term, money, and when Perico says he won't come, where you have the belief that that's a bullet dodged, that good, glad they didn't do it, those assets could be those assets could be used as something better, or do you think he would have been a really nice fit for them?

37:10I think in the short term, it would have made them a definitely better team than they are now with the moves that they've made. For the next year or two, I mean, he's a legitimate top 4 defender and he could play up the line up, you know, he, same thing, he has that size, that physicality. He's better than Logan's family, obviously. So yeah, I think in the short term, you are definitely a better team, and if you can make an argument, one of the best lines in the league, long term, there was definitely concerns. The contract, the amount of money, the giving up of the assets too, where I feel like you're giving up significant assets for a position that has been a strength for your team, didn't really fit well with me. Now, if you were to told me it's Perico or Logan's family, I would have just bid on my shirt and took Perico, but, you know, obviously it was him not waving the number of clubs, and that's what it is, and that's where you are now. Alright, JD Ministers, expectabuffalo.com to go to the site to subscribe, get your coverage of savers, amurks, bandit stuff in there, and we'll see if anything else comes from

38:12the deadline. Thanks, Chad. I'm done carrying around bulky drinks, and I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets. So yeah, I traded them both in for fruity rainbow 5 hour energy shots. These little guys are as pocket sized as any candy, but instead of a sugar crash, you get a zero sugar caffeine boost. Candy can't even compare at this point. Fruity rainbow 5 hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor, with a tasty caffeine kick. That's right, caffeine just got a flavor upgrade, and it's not just one flavor. 5 hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors, 17. So if you're craving that candy flavored chaos, but actually want energy that works, grab fruity rainbow 5 hour energy shots, pocket sized, zero sugar, big flavor, available now at 5hourenergy.com or on Amazon.

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40:15Did you know that you can buy your car completely online on auto trader? Really? Just visit autotrader.com, filter and search through dealer listings for the car you want, make, model, color, and all the features that matter to you. Go ahead, get picky. Whether you're into subcompacts with heated cup holders, crossovers with all-wheel drive, pickups with kicking sound systems, or SUVs that can survive whatever chaos your kids unleash. Just drop in your info and you'll only see cars in your budget. Really, once you find your one and only, you can do the whole deal online and have the car delivered to your driveway, or you can pick it up at the dealership and drive your new ride right off the lot. Really, autotrader makes it easy to buy your car online because the whole process is designed around your once and must-haves. Autotrader, buy your car online, really. This is attorney Amida Zari from Zari Law. If you've been injured in an accident and feel like no one is fighting for you, it's time to fight back. Call Zari Law at 888-828-Hurt. Just with one call, you can put a proven legal team on your side.

41:16Zari Law has been serving the DMV for over 15 years, proudly fighting for our local's move. I was born and raised right here in the DMV, and my team is made up of experienced, reputable local attorneys dedicated to fighting for injury victims just like you. Follow us on all social platforms at azari.law. That's a-z-a-r-i.l-a-w. Don't settle. Fight back with Zari Law. With offices in Maryland, DC, and Virginia, my team and I are ready to stand up for you. Call 888-828-Hurt. That's 888-828-HURT. And let us fight back for you. It's my show and the bulldog. We're so excited, we're gonna have a ball today, tomorrow is Saturday.

42:23I'm gonna mention inside, my members all twisted up, as you know what I did. I took Deborah, went to the liquor store, I loaded up with alcohol, more specifically vodka, whiskey, beer, tequila, more beer, more vodka, more whiskey, and more beer. Now in WGR, sports radio, $5.50. Talking earlier about, to put it really mildly, renewed interest in watching Sabers Games in my house, and how my daughter, who was a hockey player, even not that she really watches TV with us, unless it's not sports. I've caught her a couple times watching the game, like last night. She likes other things. She prefers other things that are not always my cup of tea.

43:27She found a movie the other night called Like Mike, or Make Me Like Mike. I'm like, oh, what's this? And I'll give you the short, the synopsis of like the first half of the movie. I think if this were true, it would be the most incredible story in the history of the world, of sports at least. A kid lives in a group home, maybe he's like 10, 11 years old, find some magic shoes, gets picked at random to play an NBA player one on one at half time, puts on a show against him. Get signed to the team, gets into a game immediately beats the San Antonio Spurs with a buzzer beater over David Robinson. And we'll see where it goes from there. That's all I got roped in. I can't imagine what happens next. What's happening next on this show is very exciting to me.

44:28EJ Ratic, one thing, not many things are longer than the Sabers playoff drought. But my personal EJ Ratic drought is longer than the Sabers playoff drought. We spoke many times at ESPN when I was working weekend nights and then here when the Sabers were hot and you had a different schedule, I think, back in those days. Yeah, probably. Yeah, right. But well, the drought is over. The drought is over. I'm so excited. I'm sorry, Bulldog is not here for this because he would be just as excited to have you on. Well, I mean, the Sabers drought itself is pretty close to over too, isn't it? I think so. I think so. And I would tell you that I have been I've been bullish on the bubble of Sabers personnel and their roster. Really for a couple of years now and let go. I go back to I was in Prague last season when the Sabers opened the Europe against the devil. They lost both games, but and it wasn't, you know, obviously the season didn't go as far as they had hoped.

45:32But you know, I just look at the players they have there and it's like, you know, with Dolly and power and. Fire him and Sanderson for really good defense and to start with and. You know, they have Thompson. They had McLeod and then they've added Norris. So I was, you know, I wasn't crazy about that deal because Norris has had injury issues and he still has them. But he's playing right now, which is good. Hopefully he stays healthy. He's a good player when he's healthy. I just think they had the players to be good. They had to figure it out and they had to. They just had to come to the ranked night after night. Look at the mentality that liked every night is opening night where the Buffalo Sabers. We haven't been in the playoffs in whatever, you know, 13, 14, 15 years. We need to prove it every night because we're not the answer. Or you know, even the Carolina Hurricanes who have had a good year and good teams every year for the last several years. Then I think that's finally kicked in this year. Somewhere in December. And I saw them against the Rangers a couple of months ago before the deadline. I saw Kate Thompson and some of the players and Josh Dolan and.

46:36Guys have figured it out. So I'm really, really happy for that franchise for all the good people there. They're big time hockey fans. So I agree. The ground is almost over. I mean, hard questions. I'm not making it this year. I think you would agree. I hope I'm not coming off as such a homer or anything like that. But this is such a fun market when they're good. Like it is. You know, I mean those 0607 teams. It was just insane. I didn't think there was another market in the country that compared to. The excitement and the enthusiasm that was here in Buffalo and it has waned and waned. And one thing to EJ not to dwell on the past. I certainly don't want to do that. But you talk about the roster in a couple of the last couple of seasons. Of course, during this drought. Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel. I mean, oh, yeah. Oh, Riley stars that of course to make matters worse for us went on to win. Yeah. But it hasn't been easy to explain. But just you're saying about recently.

47:36It hasn't been easy to explain their failures because they have had high end talent. Yes, they have. I mean, like I go back and again, I don't we probably don't need to rehash us. But just like the night they got Jack Eichel or the night they won the day they finished second in the lottery. And Tim Murray, who was the manager at that time, just instead of really embracing like, hey, no matter what happens. We have the second pick. I don't know what the others are going to do. But if they take me, David, we got Eichel. If they take Eichel, we have McDavid. We got a great player no matter what we're instead he just railed on about the system. It was almost, you know, it was almost a shot at Jack Eichel. And so right from before he was even selected. It seemed like it wasn't great. Like if I'm Jack Eichel's family and I'm watching the general manager rail on that night, I'd be like, boy, this guy doesn't even want us. So things have happened. It hasn't worked. But the good news is it's come together, guys have matured.

48:36There's good players there now. And they're playing really well. And I'm really happy for those guys in the room, for the coaches, for the management people. And for most of all, for the fans there in Buffalo who, you know, spend their money. They come, even when the team struggles, they try to come out and watch the team play. So it's going to be, I think, a really great finish. And should be a really fun spring to have the sabers back in. Because I can remember going back to the Dominic Haasich days and the final in 99. And then those teams you had in 06 and 07. And it's a great market for hockey. We know that. I'll just add to this before my next question going to so many games myself over the years. What changes is it's not always an empty building. But more that people around you are not paying attention to the game. And I'm someone that I'm there to see the game. I don't even want the scoreboard. I'm there to watch it. And when they're in the playoffs, it's like everybody around you. It's a, it's a coveted ticket. And it's serious stuff.

49:36And, you know, I went to see Ikel return a couple years ago. Ikel had a hat trick. All the people around me were just there to scream at him. And go into games against other rivals where so many of the people in the building are rooting for those teams. Toronto, Montreal, Boston. Yep. So hopefully that changes at least somewhat here in the coming weeks with EJ Radik from NHL Network. I know you were on the desk today. The Sabers made picked up four players in three different trades, depth experience. Curious for your take on what they did. Not that I think it's massive, but it's maybe interesting. And what you have to say about what the league deadline was like. Overall, like who else maybe had a good day? Well, I mean, the Sabers added the most interesting guy is Logan Stanley because he's just 27 years of age. He was the first round draft pick several years ago. He's a big guy. I mean, he's like six, six, seven, six, eight, somewhere in that area.

50:38He's a big man. And, you know, he's, he'll bring some toughness. You know, the thing I wondered about though is like they're really the need was more for a right shot guy. Now they also got Luke Shen, who is now on his team and Luke is a great guy. And he's not going to be a great depth player and a guy that can jump in and has played in big games. His name on the Stanley Cup. But, you know, I thought, you know, they had that trade from Preko. He decided he didn't want to wave his noble, which is his right. As, you know, these guys negotiate these noble. He's totally entitled to do that. And so that didn't work out. Unfortunately, they go to the end of the Logan Stanley. I thought they might try to find a, you know, a long, like you write shot guy at the end. You know, you're on the check of line comes up with Stanley. We'll see how that works at it. You know, for the Sabers, those four top guys are going to be the guys that are going to have to do it on defense. Really dolling power. Bar and then us in, but some good pieces, some depth pieces.

51:39You never have enough defenseman that people told me that for years. And it's so true. We saw it with the Sabers way back. And I think it was six when they ended up losing the Caroline in the conference file. And they ran out of defense. I think they were dead. They were into their ninth and 10th or 11th defense. Whether that cup run, but throw that playoff. They were, they were down five, five guys for game seven of the conference. Yeah. However, they were talking about calling a guy in that they had the rights of a guy in the Czech Republic. They were thinking about calling. And if I remember correctly, but the bottom line is they, you know, they're playing well. You always hope you don't want your chemistry is such a delicate balance. And, you know, they have played well. So hopefully that'll continue to be the case. And we'll see if Logan Stanley is a helpful piece. That's for the rest of the league. I mean, there was a couple that was, you know, it was a different deadline because the rules were a little different this year. There was not the ability to have that double retention. So you couldn't like retain on already a team that already retains. You couldn't get a guy that stayed a quarter of the price.

52:40So that changed the dynamic for teams. The LTIR rules have been changed too. And so now unless a player was completely out for the season. Like is the case with Tyler Sagan and Dallas, you can't get that LTIR room to add a player. And then bring a guy back in in the playoff, right? So that changed things. It was a sellers market all along. Teams that were going to sell decided they were, you know, they were looking for high prices. And for the most part, if they didn't get them, they didn't make the trade. So the change things late in the day. The ambulance were able to make that deal for not the cadre. And I think they were the best team through the end of the calendar year. The end of 25, the 25 calendar year, the start of this year. January wasn't great. They've come out of the break. Good, but like to think that they have McKinnon as the one center. Nelson is the two C cadre is the three C and and Nick was the four C.

53:41I mean, I don't know how it gets any better than that through the middle there. And of course, they have McCarr or they have their, their two goalies there. They have a number of other pieces. So I think when I look at this deadline, you know, the Colorado ambulance come out of this. They were the best team points wise going into the day. And they may just be the best team period coming out of the day. Let's get to the finals and take our chances, right? Everybody with with EJ Ratic. So Corey Perry to Tampa, the Sabers are tied with the lightning in the Atlantic division. When the Kings were here, we've known, watch Corey Perry for 20 years. And the Kings were here a month or so ago, longer. There was a play where Perry was in front of the net doing this thing. And maybe there was a goal called back because of goal interference. And he's like, always right in the middle of that kind of stuff. And I tweeted something like, it's always Corey Perry. He drives you nuts, trade for him. And it's the, it's the lightning who do it.

54:41Is that a significant move for you? It wouldn't say it's significant. But I think that can't be letting you have a great year. Now they lost one or all. They're in a little bit of a slide right now. But I'm not worried about Tampa lightning. They're going to figure that out. They're around the edges of their team. Like when they won those cups and back to back years, which of the final three years in a row, they were deep all the way through. Now they are relying on some younger pieces at different parts of their team. I think they looked at it as an opportunity to get a guy back that. Has got a ton of experience that has played in a million big games that know they know him. He knows them. And you said it. He's going to do exactly. He's going to be as advertised. I mean, he's not the fastest guy. He never was. And he's not the player that he was when he won the MVP like in 2010. But. He's the guy that will come to the front of the net and create trouble and get under your skin. And the helpful under second power play and do little things.

55:43And he understands his role very well. And like I said, they know him. So he can be a helpful player. And if he scores one big goal in the playoffs in route to winning a Stanley Cup, it's worth it. Yeah, right. And it will happen. I'm not sure how far they'll go, but there probably will be a moment. There are so many guys like that over the years that one way or another. The guy we this also goes back a long time. But the guy I'm thinking of. It's a while ago, but his Gary Roberts, who you know bounced around Toronto and Pittsburgh and. Tough cookie. You know, like kind of we always sort of looked at him as the type of player the Sabers never had. Yeah. So we'll see what happens this year unique. He was a unique player. He was another guy powerful word and. Just bullied his way into the next in games and had some offensive ability to go with it. The thing about this Sabers team. You've mentioned it already, EJ is the defenseman. The top four defensemen are really their strong suit with respect to Thompson and a couple of their forwards.

56:45But having those four guys play so many minutes. They're so long. And I mean, really good. That's a different thing for the Sabers and almost their entire history. Like they're they have the Hashek years. We had the French connection before that. Just O506 out of the gate after the canceled season. They were flying. But they've never really had like there's they've never sniffed a Norris trophy in Buffalo. Like they've never really had a team led by their decore. And I'm just really curious how far that can take them. It looks like a pretty flat. Conference in the playoffs and. I don't know except for maybe Tampa or Carolina. I don't think I'd be afraid of anyone. Yeah, I think you nailed it. And even, you know, Carolina has not been able to get over that hump in the playoffs. I mean, they have a good team. But I don't think they necessarily frighten you to blame in a seven game series. And. I think as well, even Tampa. They're not, you know, Tampa brings it, you know, because they've won. They've got that philosophy.

57:45They haven't had been they have put you off. I mean, they they frighten you a little bit more. Maybe not as much as they did. Three four or five years ago, but they're still. A really good team. The fact that the Florida fans has been injuries and are basically out of the mix this year. I've opened the door for everybody. And the way the sabers are playing it as I said. Really good down the middle. 4D that really are as good as any group of four in the league. And, you know, out of line and. You could pack a look and have played really well. In fact, Alex Ryan is just one of these guys that the last four years. And no matter where he's been, he's just gone and played well. You know, we'll see how it plays out. I think it'll be like I said, I just think it'll be a really fun spring for the sabers. No matter what happens, I mean, they haven't been in the playoffs in a long time. And to get back in will be fun. And we'll see how healthy they are when the time comes and who they play. And, you know, maybe it'll be one of those springs when they go on a long run. That'll be great news for the sabers. But I, like I said, I like the team. I like the players and, you know, they've kind of figured something out there since early December.

58:49And they've really taken off. And like you said, a couple of the teams. A few teams, even Rangers that were Washington that we're always seeing in the playoffs. We'll not be there. So any narrative about a lack of experience here, the sabers will not be alone in that. They won't be alone. Right. They will not be alone. This is EJ Radik. You can watch NHL now. And on the fly today, providing analysis and updates on the day's trades. Plus, EJ can be seen on NHL tonight. First shift for PM Eastern weekdays throughout the rest of the season. Yes, that happens to be when I'm on with Bulldog, but you know, there are ways in modern technology. There are ways. That's right. There are ways. There are ways. This is really special to me. Thank you. I hope we can do it again during the playoffs. Well, listen, I'm around. And, you know, now that the drought is over for both you and I and the sabers. Why not do it again? Why not? Let's not have a new drought. Very good. Hey. We don't need a new drought. Thanks.

59:49Enjoy your weekend, EJ. And the rest of the season. All right. You're too. Appreciate it. That's EJ Radik, NHL network. Yeah. He was like one of, I say me like it isn't Bulldog in me, but even before I knew Bulldog, I knew EJ from working those weekend nights at ESPN radio. So that was pretty cool. And look. What we're going to do here for the rest of the season is ask each other on the air real life out there. We're all going to be doing this. Can you trust this team? Is it really there? Is it for real? What has happened? How many games do you need? Basically to be hot for to convince you the sabers are at like 35. What is it? 26, 5 and 2. So in 33 games, they have lost seven, five of which in regulation. That's insane. So that seems like enough. But the playoff point is going to be there and you're going to hear lots of people make it.

1:00:53And even today, that was a big talking point around these traits. What are they going for? They got a cup winner and Shen. They're going for experience. Three of the guys they traded are in their 30s. And Stanley, the fourth is not really young. 28 almost. So experience was big. And that, you know, might mitigate some of the point that you're going to hear a lot, which is that what they haven't done. Thompson and Dalline, you know, for all their greatness, no playoff appearances, barely a sniff of one in their careers. Like not even big regular season games very often for either guy. I choose to not hold that against them. I mean, not even that, but I'm not interested in it being a big, I'm not expecting it to be necessarily a big problem. You know, once they get in, if they get in, which they almost definitely will, I guess at this point.

1:01:53And again, like it's partly because how much playoff experience does Montreal have or Detroit or maybe it's Ottawa, maybe it's Columbus. And some of these teams, the islanders are relatively equal in this way. The Sabres average age went way up today. When we talked about them in that context, they were when Montreal was on the schedule. What was it like three times in one month earlier this year looking at the stats. Montreal was the only team in the league younger than the Sabres by average age. And I think we took a big jump in that category today with the trades. But yeah, just bring it on. Fans are super into it. The buildings alive. The general manager today talked about that to getting goose bumps in there. And he seems really authentic to me. I was texting with someone else in the organization. I haven't met Kekelein in, but he's a pretty easy listen.

1:02:55A guy who and being has been this way as well, I want to say, where you get a sincerity. And they're direct, but there's also a likability, I think. And I get that from the current GM. I haven't gotten that with other guys. I'd like that. I'm for the most part in this area. You know, like bottle or Murray was just abrasive. He was interesting. And he could not sit still with that roster. He was interesting in other ways. But Kekelein seems to know how to, you know, how to do it. And if you missed him earlier today, the press conference went early. And that happens, you know, the deadline and things are pretty fluid. And it was originally mentioned to be four o'clock, but they ended up going a half an hour early. So maybe you didn't catch it. We'll have that for you here coming up.

1:03:55Logan Stanley, six, seven, 230 pounds and Luke Shen, who's on maybe even his twelfth team. EJ said 10. It might even be more than that, but he's been everywhere. These are the defensemen. The Sabers got from Winnipeg. They end up sending Esauk Rosanne and Jacob Bryson to the Jats plus two draft picks. No first round pick ever ended up leaving the building after the Perrico experience. Then Sam Carrick is the forward from the Rangers. He's in his thirties and Tanner Pearson was the one, as you listen to Kekelein. And he mentions there's one trade that he can't tell us about because it hadn't gone through the proper protocols yet. So that's who that is. That's for a seventh round pick. 33 year old Winger from the Jats. So two separate trades with the Jats seven goals in 52 games. Sabers and Nashville tomorrow night. And then Tampa is here Sunday, maybe with Corey Perry. I guess possible that the Jats guys will be a few days.

1:04:57I read because of visa stuff. So we'll see what the lineup looks like this weekend. All right, Yomo after the break. Happy Friday. This is Mike Shope on WGR. We're back with more of Sabers live presented by Seneca resorts and casinos. Nothing else comes close. Sabers penguins tonight in Pittsburgh. It's on WGR sports radio 550 and on ESPN. And then the Sabers come back home for an extended stretch, including youth hockey day on Saturday, presented by Orville's home appliances as the team takes on the press. First 5,000 kids to receive Sabers performance sunglasses. Get yours now the tickets that is at sabers.com slash tickets. Performance has been high for Buffalo over the last 32. That's why they appear to be buyers at this year's trade deadline. Tyson Kozak by the way, not in the lineup for the Sabers tonight. But as they take on Pittsburgh, the outer story beyond the game is of course the pending trade deadline tomorrow.

1:06:03Darren Dreger, hockey insider from TSN is with us. Darren, what's the latest on a potential deal that you broke yesterday regarding Colton Perrico from the Blues to Buffalo? Well, I know that I'm a fan favorite among Buffalo Sabers fans. That's somewhat new. No, I could appreciate the angst from the legion of fans in Buffalo. But, you know, what was reported yesterday stands as we're having this conversation live. And the one thing that Buffalo, the St. Louis Blues, every team in the national hockey that doesn't control is the timeline of a player who has full trade protection. And that's really what we're waiting for here. Now, Colton Perrico may at some point decide, not teams in the Pacific region right now too, right? So there's a three hour time gap. You know, because of his trade protection, it's his right to deliberate, take as much time as he wants to make a decision that is going to impact his life on and off the ice.

1:07:03So I wish I could answer that question. Will he wave? Don't know. I was reasonably sure yesterday last night that Perrico would wave. I mean, I, you know, I don't know why you wouldn't, you know, to go to a playoff team. A team that's certainly on the upswing like the Buffalo Sabers. But, you know, again, that's his prerogative. I would suspect that at some point, we're Thursday. Trade deadline is Friday. At some point, Yarmul Kikalainen is going to say, the dog Armstrong, all right, enough. You know, enough with like, we got to cut bait because we've got to go a different direction. What we know is that they've been in the market for that right shot. Demand started at the top with Perrico. Great if it works out. If it doesn't, you know, is Justin Falk still an option? You know, do they get into some of the other conversations with the D in place? So unfortunately for everybody, the waiting game continues. Yeah, obviously the waiting game continues.

1:08:05And it's not unusual for players to kind of weigh in their option. You know, there's a lot of guys with trade protection. Tower Myers was dealt from Vancouver to Dallas. But he also took a little bit of time to kind of see before the Dallas trade. What would happen? And maybe there was other options on the table. Do you see that for with Perrico? There would be other options on the tables for him to maybe go to. And the St. Louis Blues are exploring that. Or is it just strictly Buffalo trying to figure out if that's the movie wants to make? I mean, it's a great question. I'd be surprised if there isn't other interest in Colton, Perrico. You know, he still has some contract left. And you know, especially if you're a playoff team, a cap team. I mean, you won as much cost certainly as you can get. And you know what you've got in Colton, Perrico. There's been some injury concerns, but I'm told that that's all fleeting. It's certainly nothing, nothing serious. But he's a significant player.

1:09:07But I think you're right, Marty. We learned something through the whole Tyler Myers saga. You know, Myers, for his own personal reasons, didn't see Detroit as a fit. Now, that doesn't mean that he wasn't willing to go to Detroit. He preferred Dallas or other options. Okay, well, Dallas used the leverage that they had in knowing that, I suppose. And making a pretty good deal with the Vancouver Connects to acquire Tyler Myers. But man, how much time did it take? It took several days to get that done. Buffalo doesn't have several days. Colton, Perrico doesn't have several days. But I don't believe that St. Louis has option B and C waiting. If option A, the Buffalo Sabers doesn't play out. I don't believe that. Robert Thomas scored last night for the Blues and their win over Seattle. How much are you expecting from the Blues here as far as activity, especially based on the, you know, Armstrong to steam handoff from a manager standpoint moving forward?

1:10:10Well, I know that the teams with interest in Robert Thomas are going to continue to swing away and chip away. Why wouldn't you, right? You're hoping that Doug Armstrong and the Blues changed their position on the expected return. That seems unlikely. It does. You know, you can appreciate what the ask is. You know, we reported it on social media specific to Buffalo with a couple of prospects. A first ground pick. I believe Norris was included and there was push back there. All right. So the deal doesn't get done. That doesn't mean he's off the table. But St. Louis is very much okay with keeping Robert Thomas. They are. I mean, this is Doug Armstrong's sport fishing, trying to collect a good group of assets to give Alex Dean to your point, to offer something that maybe they can work with between now and the bell ringing at three o'clock on Friday or something you can use at the graft or something you can use in the future.

1:11:10It doesn't matter. Keep an eye on Utah fellows. Keep an eye. I mean, they landed McKenzie Weeger. I thought that was a sneaky nice ad by Bill Armstrong. They've been the most persistent and consistent in the Robbie Thomas trade discussions. When I reported the other day that things were heating up with Buffalo, that was accurate because Buffalo and St. Louis started really, really drilled down on what that Thomas trade would look like. As I've already talked to you guys about that. That doesn't mean that's the Utah and maybe one or two other teams disappeared. The sensitive part, we just talked about Paraca and Myers and all of that, is Robert Thomas is a young guy in the third year of an eight-year contract extension. So he doesn't get traded now. How difficult is that going to be for him for the remainder of this year and then looking at his future with St. Louis? So, Armstrong doesn't get what he needs in the next 26 hours.

1:12:11And that's a deal that gets complicated too, right? If it's happening, I think it happens today. I do. And if it doesn't, then obviously I think we have to wait until the off season. When you look around the Buffalo Sabers, there are two points out of first place in the Atlantic Tampa Place tonight. Buffalo can't technically catch or pass Tampa. He can catch them, but Tampa would have the point percentage. Montreal, Detroit, Boston, Ottawa. Do you anticipate a lot of movement in and around the Sabers where they are in the standings? And is that why the Sabers are trying to make a bigger move because they have to keep up with other teams in the race in the Atlantic? No, I think it's a couple of things. I think it's Buffalo recognizing that it is a buyer's market and there are unexpectedly good players available. Players under contract like we've established with Paraco and Robert Thomas

1:13:13that aren't one-offs. They're going to make a team better for the foreseeable future. That's different than getting into the rental market. That's way, way, way different. I look at the Boston Ruins. Look, Don Sweeney has fooled us before, hasn't he? I mean, look what he did last year at the Deadline. He trades Brad Martian, trades Brandon Carlow. And we're all going, okay, well, the Ruins are obviously in a renovation mode. Yeah, until they're not. And they're a real good team again. They have highs and they have lows. And every team does. They're looking to bring in a quality defenseman. A Rista Linen's name has been out there. Ackman Larson's name has been out there. They also want a decent winger as part of bolstering their lineup in Boston. And I never look beyond Julian Breezeball on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Because Breezeball is, he's a big game hunter around the trade deadline. And even though the pieces that he often brings in, may not be necessarily huge in name in terms of their fit

1:14:17and how they make the lightning better. I mean, he's borderline second and none. I would, you know, I'd include Kelly McCrimman in the Vegas Golden Knights in a similar conversation. So I don't know that Tampa Bay is super active, but there's certainly an appetite among those teams in the Atlantic to get something done. Well, though, you know, the Western front runners have been active already, obviously, with Colorado acquiring Nick Wah from Toronto for a conditional first in either 27 or 28 and a conditional fifth as well. Vegas picked up Nick Dowd. The Oilers, while not necessarily front runners, right now in the standings, certainly based on recent years, you know, they've been retooling this week with a trade partner in Chicago. You mentioned the weaker deal. Colorado is also added Nick Blankenberg, Dallas gets Myers. So what have you, and then by extension all of us, learned from the market so far that's been shaped this week leading into tomorrow?

1:15:17Yeah, fill the holes. You know, if you've got any questions or concerns, do it. And I think Edmonton is exhibit A on that front. You know, you could put the pieces at stand moment is brought in versus those that he's moved out. And you can go, okay, well, it looks like Bowman is simply trying to fix mistakes that he's made. Okay, well, give me a general manager who doesn't do that. They all do that. I mean, there's no guarantee that, you know, players are going to work out with a new environment. So, you know, you have to go down swinging if that's the case. Still waiting and watching the Calgary flames. And we know they're not in that playoff mix. That's pretty obvious. They've already made some decent moves. Weager, of course. You know, watching now what happens with Nazum Calgary. Colorado was a primary target, especially for Calgary. All right. Well, that Nick Watray basically nullifies that as far as Calgary is concerned. Tony Interesting, Zach White Cloud, like, you know, I said 15 or more.

1:16:20I was told specifically it was 17 teams. And they're not sure they want to trade them because he's such a high-valued player. And they're heading in a direction in Calgary where they've got to keep some guys around to make sure that their younger players are mentored properly. So, beyond that in the West, I'm just trying to think off top of my head here. I don't think Vegas is done yet, fellas. I don't. And, you know, they've added some interesting pieces in Colesmith and Nick Dowd from the Washington capitals. But tell that bell rings tomorrow afternoon. You know, Kelly McCreman is going to be the mad scientist trying to figure out a little bit more. And some of that is just simply jockey and looking at what you're going to have to contend with, you know, with the likes of Colorado and Dallas and to degree Edmonton. Is Sergei Babroski a Florida Panthers tomorrow at 3 p.m.? I think so.

1:17:21I'm just not convinced. I hedge because Zito is going to respect Sergei Babroski. You know, he's not trading for a fourth or a fifth round draft pick. I don't think that's the case. And a lot of this has to do with, you know, just posturing and leverage when you're engaged in negotiation. And he is with Paul Thioffanos, who represents Sergei Babroski. Do we honestly think Babroski wants to go anywhere? I mean, he's living the life in Florida. He's got a chance to win. And look, when this team is healthy next year, are they not going to leap into the conversation of one more time being a top Stanley Cup contender? Well, he wants to be along for that ride at 38 years old. I mean, the agent is probably being bullish in what the term should be and the money should be. But it feels like it's more likely they get something done on an extension. But if they don't, and if there's too much greed involved here, then yeah, he could be traded.

1:18:23But I'd still say it's less than a 50 percent chance. But Drake, whoever acquires him, would that be merely as an insurance policy? Because it would be really hard, even with the pedigree, to bring Bob in with his numbers and try to supplant someone who has got you to a good place. Imagine if Buffalo acquired Babroski out of nowhere, right? Would you really push all the other goalies who've got them to this height? Would you just automatically make Bob your number one? I think that would be very hard for the team. But Montreal could be in that picture. And there's not a lot of big market out there. Would the Florida Panthers be willing to retain? Like, if that came to them, say, we'll retain just so that we can facilitate something, or is it out of the question? I don't know. It's out of the question. I just don't think that they've got to that place yet. You're right. Because I think you're talking about one or two teams here.

1:19:23That's what you're talking about. Maybe Montreal. Vegas has a collection of goalies, but they're goal-tending to a point is unreliable in Vegas, right? Edmonton, I don't think Stan Bolton can take that position again. Vegas makes the most sense. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, it always depends. You're retaining money. I mean, Nazum Codry probably would have landed in Colorado or Montreal by now if Calgary was willing to retain. Well, they've got one retention spot left in Calgary. You know, it's not a slam dunk anymore that teams just go, yeah, okay, I'll retain. No, you got to pay for it. And it's got to be worth the while of the Florida Panthers if they get to that place with Bob. All right. You need to fly because you got to save your voice, Drex. There's an awful lot of hours still for you before the trade deadline. And then immediately after. Thank you so much for the insight today. All right, guys. Good luck with the deadline. Hockey Insider, Darren Drager from TSN.

1:20:25You can bid now on Game Warn, home and away jerseys from this 2526 Sabers season. The auction ends on March the 8th at 8 p.m., all proceeds of course benefiting the Sabers Foundation. Place your bids at sabers.com slash auction. Don't miss your chance. We're back after this with some of Marty's finest thoughts of the day. Next on Sabers Live. I'm done carrying around bulky drinks. And I'm definitely done cleaning melted candy out of my pockets. So yeah, I traded them both in for fruity rainbow five hour energy shots. These little guys are as pocket sized as any candy. But instead of a sugar crash, you get a zero sugar caffeine boost. Candy can't even compare at this point. Fruity rainbow five hour energy shots treat your taste buds to an explosion of fruity flavor. With a tasty caffeine kick. That's right, caffeine just got a flavor upgrade. And it's not just one flavor. Five hour energy shots bring you tasty caffeine and 17 flavors.

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