When was the last time the Buffalo Sabres took a major gamble? Not like signing Ville Leino as a free agent or trading away Zack Kassian for Cody Hodgson, but more like the last time the Sabres went all-in, which was back in 2007. They lost two key players: Chris Drury and Daniel Briere. Since then the team has not been willing to mix things up. Five years later it’s time for them to finally rock the boat.
One of the players the Sabres are rumoured to be pursuing is Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks. While the Sabres have many great prospects/players to offer 
up, they will be bidding against two powerhouses: the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins. A sure way to ensure Ryan is wearing Blue and Gold next season, is to give the Ducks a player they couldn’t say no to. That player would be Tyler Ennis.
While Sabres GM Darcy Regier has said he will not include Ennis is the deal and many fans are unwilling to think of trading away Ennis, wouldn’t it be worth it for a statistically better player?
Ryan was selected 2nd overall in the 2005 draft. He’s played for the Ducks the past four seasons and has scored 30+ goals and recorded 50+ points in all four seasons. He was also a member of the 2010 U.S Olympic team that won silver. At 6 foot 2 and 212 pounds he is also much taller than the 5 foot 9, 157 pound Ennis.
The smaller Ennis was selected 26th overall in the 2008 draft hs only played two NHL seasons, but has never scored more than 20 goals. In fact Ennis has only scored 38 NHL goals.
The Sabres would be trading away a player who had half of a solid season to get a player who has had 4 very solid seasons in the league. Right now the market for Ennis is very large, but theres no gaurentee he’ll pan out. If the Sabres could get an established young player such as Ryan it could be the deal that rocks the boat and ignites the team.
For a team that finished 17th in goals for with 211, adding goal scoring should be at the top of Darcy Regier list. So far the Sabres have lost a goal scoring in Derek Roy and have added toughness. But it’s time to start replacing that goal scoring a few extra goals can make the difference between making or missing the playoffs. Wouldn’t it make sense to replace 20 goals with 31?
If it meant bringing in Bobby Ryan, would you be willing to part ways with Tyler Ennis?
I think signing Ville Leino was a huge gamble. He had one good season and the Sabres decided to hand him $27 million, taking on a $4.5 million cap hit. You ask me and that’s downright insane.
I’d do Ennis for Ryan in a heartbeat if I were the Sabres, but I doubt the Ducks would be willing. Ryan is more of a proven NHL player than Ennis, which means there are plenty of questions surrounding Ennis.
The Leino signing surprised me, I didn’t think he was worth $27 million at all. When he didn’t pan out last season I really started to regret the signing.
There would have to be other players included in the deal. It would a steal for the Sabres straight up and the Ducks would not be willing.
Caitlin, you are out of your mind. Ennis for Ryan? No – not even straight up.
Ennis is just coming into his own. He has moves few players possess. I’ve even heard opposing announcers sing his praises on his efforts in which nothing special happened! This is a guy you build around, not trade away.
Now let’s look at Ryan. Yes, his stats are impressive but look at his linemates. Buffalo has no one to compare to Getzlaf and Perry. Definitely his production will be lower. Also – this kid is a crybaby. He feels he’s being picked on by the coach and so cries to the media about it. How do you think this will go over with Ruff?
Forget Ryan. He’s not who we’re looking for. Now if we could get someone line Berglund, Read, or Simmonds, it will definitely improve the team.
I think you’re overlooking Ryan’s abilities. He’s not just a solid offensive player, but he’s also good both ways. He’d be a very nice addition to the Sabres’ roster and I think Ennis for Ryan straight up is bordering on “steal” for the Sabres given the stage of each players’ career.
It doesn’t make sense to trade away a position we are already thin at, and in return get a player whose position we are stacked at? We need to start looking at tried and proven centreman. The thought of Bobby Ryan was daunting at first, but as time wears on we could do without. Center center center
I agree at first Bobby Ryan seemed like the perfect fit for the Sabres, now not so much.
I would rather trade Stafford, Adam and Pardy for Pavelski and Clowe.
Sorry I didn’t make this more clear in the article itself. The deal would not be Tyler Ennis for Bobby Ryan straight up. There would have to be other players included on both sides for the deal to work. It would be crazy for one to think Ryan for Ennis would hapen without other players.
Caitlin—–What kind of happy pills are you on? How could you think Anaheim would make that trade even up. Ennis and two or three other players might get it done.
This was merely a hypothetical question to see if fans would be willing to include Ennis in a deal to acquire Bobby Ryan. Of course there would have to be other players in the deal. But the two major pieces would be Ennis and Ryan.
no… you can’t even say anything about ennis being unproven. he put up 49 points in his rookie year, which is pretty good.. this year he would’ve been on pace for almost 60 points if he wasn’t injured.. ryan has played on a line with getzlaf and perry, so that helps inflates his stats. no, ennis is not worth trading, even if it’s for bobby ryan.
I need to see 1 more good or decent season out of Ennis before he becomes proven or the #1 centre everyone is hoping he becomes. Next season will be big for him. Either he soars or tanks under the pressure.
That is a very intriguing trade scenario.
Thanks glad you liked it.
You’re welcome :)
:)
That is assuming Hodgson plays on a line with Vanek and Pominville.
I imagine they will tryi Leino with the two of them start off the year. No way Hodgson is ready for the number once centre position yet. Still has some maturing to do. Personally I don’t think Ennis is ready to be the number one centre everyone expects him to be.
What’s the use of trading for Ryan if you have no decent center for him to play with? The sabres are to thin at center to trade Ennis.
In a couple years when Grigorenko is ready, i’m sure Ryan would be more than happy to play on his line.
Anaheim wouldn’t trade Ryan for Ennis straight up. If they did, then yes, I would absolutely make that trade. With the lack of centers the Sabres already have, trading their number 2 center, plus other compensation, for a right winger is not smart… or necessary. Trade Vanek. Or Stafford. Or Leino (please!). Throw in Leopold, Sekera, or Adam if need be. Like you said, Buffalo is deep with talent, but not up the middle.
I agree wouldn’t be a straight up deal. Both sides would have to throw in a little extra. Perhaps we could convince the Ducks to throw in a centre. I’d be willing to throw both Adam and Sekera into any deal. I like your idea of using Vanek in lace of Ennis in the deal.
Only reason I’d be somewhat comfortable giving Ennis is because of Grigorenko.
up the middle
I had Grigs or Girgensons penciled in for the third line center spot. Can’t have both of them start this season, too likely one of them will fail (can’t imagine where Leino fits into this team now, but Ott has the third line LW). If they REALLY wanted to make that “all-in” move you’re eluding to, then they’d get Getzlaf AND Ryan. Maybe Vanek, Ennis, McNabb and our 1st? Even offering that, I’d doubt Anaheim would bite, though. Personally, I’d rather have Getzlaf than Ryan, but at the right price, we could certainly use either.
(hit enter too fast, but pretty funny)…who is worth going after? I like young and strong, the lines need more than a few months of working together w/o injury and with the left and right being strong with established talent you need to think about who could be the right fit in the center
Kyle Ailinger I agree, Bring Grigorenko up this year and keep Girgensons in the minors for another year at least. If the Sabres could get Getzlaf we’d be set.
No Ennis is going to be a super star in the NHL.
There is no way to know that right now. He’s played just 1 full year in the NHL. What if he tanks next season?