Would Paul Gaustad be a fit?

[EbonyRaptor]

Tab Bamford over at Chicago Blackhawks Blog has an interesting article. He suggests that if Buffalo, with their need to cut salary, were to make Paul Gaustad available for trade, the Blackhawks would be well advised to get him. He makes some compelling points that Gaustadt is a big centerman (6'5" / 210), very good at faceoffs (59%), a good penalty killer who will block shots from the forward position, and an affordable salary cap hit ($2.3M) with only one year left. He suggests Gaustadt could play 3LC moving Bolland to 2LC and Sharpie back to wing. Furthermore, Buffalo is looking to shed salary so they would probably be willing to trade for non-NHL roster prospects.



Course, spending $2.3M of the $3.1M cap space would essentially blow the wad now leaving little left for a TDL trade.



So is Gaustadt the missing piece? What do you think?

 

[Ton]

Yes. That would be a perfect addition IMO.



Also, just a small peeve, it's Gaustad not Gaustadt.

 

[jakobeast]

We need center depth, no?



I would wager dollars to donuts that if a move is made at the deadline it would be for a C. Why not get it over with now?

 

[Tater]

I'd love to see them make this move.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Paul Gaustad would be a hell of a move. Guy plays the entire game from the limited amount I've seen or know of him.



If Chris Drury would take a massive salary hit I would still love him on the team. And has to know he was getting Ranger money, not real NHL team money.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Paul Gaustad would be a hell of a move. Guy plays the entire game from the limited amount I've seen or know of him.



If Chris Drury would take a massive salary hit I would still love him on the team. And has to know he was getting Ranger money, not real NHL team money.

Ick! I hate former Sabres for the most part... never really like Gaustad but think he would be a good fit. Too bad Drury is broken or Id want the Hawks to try to lure him out of retirement for good money.



Otherwise I am very confident with the team we have now. It seems like the boys left from the SC team have that hunger back that seemed to be lacking last season judging by their comments and the shape that they're in ALREADY. This team is going to be very fun to watch!

 

[dlrob315]

Tab Bamford over at Chicago Blackhawks Blog has an interesting article. He suggests that if Buffalo, with their need to cut salary, were to make Paul Gaustad available for trade, the Blackhawks would be well advised to get him. He makes some compelling points that Gaustadt is a big centerman (6'5" / 210), very good at faceoffs (59%), a good penalty killer who will block shots from the forward position, and an affordable salary cap hit ($2.3M) with only one year left. He suggests Gaustadt could play 3LC moving Bolland to 2LC and Sharpie back to wing. Furthermore, Buffalo is looking to shed salary so they would probably be willing to trade for non-NHL roster prospects.



Course, spending $2.3M of the $3.1M cap space would essentially blow the wad now leaving little left for a TDL trade.



So is Gaustadt the missing piece? What do you think?

Cap space wise it would be no problem; that $3.1m cap space right now is with a roster of 24, which will have to be at 23 for the season.



So if the Hawks were to pick up Gaustad that would mean Kruger and Smith most likely not on opening roster and leave the Hawks with a $2.45m in cap space.

 

[MassHavoc]

I have no problem with the move, but what are we looking at return wise? Being all just off the wall speculation it's hard to tell what it would take, so getting him, great... the deal to get him. Maybe not?

 

[LordKOTL]

Gaustad for Stalberg & Beach...I'd do it. Management won't, though.

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Cap space wise it would be no problem; that $3.1m cap space right now is with a roster of 24, which will have to be at 23 for the season.



So if the Hawks were to pick up Gaustad that would mean Kruger and Smith most likely not on opening roster and leave the Hawks with a $2.45m in cap space.

The Cubs have spelled out not to bring in fillers for currently solid and developing players. Not to mention both of those guys are pretty much a must on the big club unless we do make a move, in that case one would still be needed.



If Ben Smith doesn't start opening night it'd be a travesty, especially after hearing and seeing about the ridiculous work he's done this summer. He knows how good you have to be to make it to the NHL obviously, he knows how hard you have to work to make a team like the Hawks, and he clearly wants to make a huge impact like he did in round 1.

 

[dlrob315]

The Cubs have spelled out not to bring in fillers for currently solid and developing players. Not to mention both of those guys are pretty much a must on the big club unless we do make a move, in that case one would still be needed.



If Ben Smith doesn't start opening night it'd be a travesty, especially after hearing and seeing about the ridiculous work he's done this summer. He knows how good you have to be to make it to the NHL obviously, he knows how hard you have to work to make a team like the Hawks, and he clearly wants to make a huge impact like he did in round 1.

Right now the Hawks do not have room for both Kruger and Smith unless Ole or Big John or someone else is sent to the AHL.



Or they can play the up and down game with them both!

 

[PatrickShart]

Everybody works hard in the off season....his just happen to be on you tube



Playing the full 82 games is harder physically and mentally than just a month - even if it was playoffs. Sometimes adreneline can carry you through that. It'll be interesting to see if Smith can play/handle a full 82. I'm sure for him (as well as Kruger) it will be a roller coaster

 

[CLWolf81]

I'll take anyone who is better than Kruger at this point. Let's just be honest here... ANYTHING that can put STK back together is a good thing in my eyes.



Would Gaustadt being the 3rd line center do that? Of course it would!



His stats from last year were -



81 GP

12 G

19 A

31 Points

+7



Not bad for a 3rd line center... Plus, according to his NHL.com stats, he was also a Portland Winter Hawk at one point. Very nice to see that.



What would we have to give up? A draft pick, Beach and Olesz/Kruger/Stalberg would be nice... but I doubt that will happen. I have seen stranger things traded this past offseason, so I am keeping my hopes up.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I'd rather have Brad Boyes if we're going to talk about Sabres we're not gonna get.

 

[dlrob315]

I'll take anyone who is better than Kruger at this point. Let's just be honest here... ANYTHING that can put STK back together is a good thing in my eyes.



Would Gaustadt being the 3rd line center do that? Of course it would!



His stats from last year were -



81 GP

12 G

19 A

31 Points

+7



Not bad for a 3rd line center... Plus, according to his NHL.com stats, he was also a Portland Winter Hawk at one point. Very nice to see that.



What would we have to give up? A draft pick, Beach and Olesz/Kruger/Stalberg would be nice... but I doubt that will happen. I have seen stranger things traded this past offseason, so I am keeping my hopes up.

Ole is out of the question, the Sabres would be looking to make there cap situation better...not worse! It would take AHL players/draft pick(s) to get the deal done!

 

[JOVE23]

I'd rather have Brad Boyes if we're going to talk about Sabres we're not gonna get.

You would like Boyes. Pedophile.

 

[CLWolf81]

Ole is out of the question, the Sabres would be looking to make there cap situation better...not worse! It would take AHL players/draft pick(s) to get the deal done!

Oh I know... I can dream, can't I?

 

[PatrickSharpRules]

Everybody works hard in the off season....his just happen to be on you tube



Playing the full 82 games is harder physically and mentally than just a month - even if it was playoffs. Sometimes adreneline can carry you through that. It'll be interesting to see if Smith can play/handle a full 82. I'm sure for him (as well as Kruger) it will be a roller coaster

Everybody works hard in the off-season? I don't buy that for a second. Sure these guys all work out and have regiments but I can bet that many put forth a MUCH greater effort to be better than some, thats one of the things that separates the decent, good, all-stars and greats.



My point was more toward the fact that it seems Smith is a legit good fit. He's from BC who has been great in the last decade and turning out pretty solid NHL players as of late, also he's got a taste of what the playoffs are like, and what its like to be around grown ass men who do this for a living when its at the most serious of stages. After that OT goal and then getting knocked out I'm hoping he might want it a little more. We'll see if he can handle 82 games, but I would sure as hell give him the shot. To me his is the best fit for the roster, but thats just my opinion.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

You would like Boyes. Pedophile.

Nice!

 

[EspoForever]

Gaustad for Stalberg & Beach...I'd do it. Management won't, though.

I think OUR management might do that, but I doubt the Sabres Management would.