National Post

'In other words, how do you find a solution to a $9-million problem?' … [Read more...] about Traikos: Next two weeks could decide Jeff Skinner’s future in Buffalo

'Thirteen games in, Jack Eichel has scored twice. Taylor Hall has scored once. And Jeff Skinner hasn’t scored at all. Combined, a high-paid trio that is earning $27-million this year has one even-strength goal and nine even-strength points.' … [Read more...] about Is it time for Buffalo to trade Jack Eichel?

'“The first conversation I had with Eric Staal after we acquired him, he said ‘I want to win so bad. I want to taste that again and feel what it’s like to go through the playoffs and have success.’ Obviously what Eric Staal’s done in his career in terms of winning a Stanley Cup and the Olympics and all those other things will help our room. But he’s also driven and hungry to … [Read more...] about Traikos: Sabres hungry for success

'It’s an audition as much as it is a chemistry test. But it’s not just Hall who is being tested.' … [Read more...] about Traikos: Sabres have one year to show Taylor Hall — and Jack Eichel — that they are Cup contenders

'Like Pavelski, who scored 14 goals and 31 points this season, Staal can still play. He scored 42 goals two years ago and had 19 goals and 47 points in 66 games this season. In Buffalo, he slots in as the No. 2 centre, where he will reunite with Jeff Skinner, his former teammate in Carolina.' … [Read more...] about Traikos: Addition of Staal should make Sabres a playoff contender

'At the same time, this was Eichel’s best year in Buffalo. With 36 goals and 78 points in 68 games, he should have been considered a Hart Trophy candidate. The only thing standing in his way of being recognized was that unlike the nine players ahead of him in the scoring race, he was the only one not going to the playoffs.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ Eichel ‘fed up, frustrated’ with five-year playoff drought

'There’s been no progress. No baby steps towards respectability. With two months left to play, they are out of it. And the fans, who are tired of hearing that next year will be better, are beyond frustrated and letting everyone — from the players to management — know it.' … [Read more...] about Traikos: Tanking Sabres trying to win back their fans

'“It’s huge,” Jack Eichel said of Skinner’s offensive struggles. “You have to score more goals than the other team to win the game. Obviously, we haven’t been scoring enough goals lately.”' … [Read more...] about Traikos: Jeff Skinner needs to start scoring for Buffalo

'“He seemed to take a real step,” said Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares. “He’s always been ultra-talented. With his skating ability and his puck-handling, he’s such a dual-threat type of player. But he’s really using his body and imposing himself on the game. He’s one of the best players in the league.”' … [Read more...] about Traikos: To Jack Eichel, Taylor Hall trade a wake-up call

'“It’s his delivery. It’s his message. It’s the energy he brings to the rink everyday,” said Sabres captain Jack Eichel. “He’s just such a positive person. When you’re around that enough, for one he makes you want to play better for him. And he does a really good job of bringing out the best in you.”' … [Read more...] about Traikos: NHL-best Sabres playing looser under new coach Ralph Krueger

'It’s bad enough that Eichel has spent the past four years down the road from the Maple Leafs, where he’s constantly reminded of how a rebuild is supposed to work. But once the season ended, he headed back home to a suburb outside of Boston, where the reminders of all that he has been missing were further amplified.' … [Read more...] about Traikos: Blues’ Stanley Cup win has every team asking ‘Why not us?’

'At times, O’Reilly thought the same of the Sabres. That’s why he signed a seven-year extension to stay in Buffalo, where there seemed to be so much hope around a team that included Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and at one time Evander Kane. But it was a case of unfulfilled potential.' … [Read more...] about Traikos: O’Reilly’s love for the game is back

'Montour requires a new contract at the end of the season, but he’s not a rental. As a restricted free agent, the 24-year-old is under Buffalo’s control for the foreseeable future. And with Rasmus Dahlin, Casey Mittelstadt, Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel all under the age of 24, the future looks brighter than it may have appeared the past few weeks — especially now that Montour … [Read more...] about Deadline duds: Did Sabres actually take step backwards adding Montour?

'Three games in, there’s no way of knowing if this will be the year when the Buffalo Sabres finally take a step forward and qualify for the playoffs. But based on what we’ve seen so far, they certainly look a lot better than they did a year ago — or any of the previous five years.' … [Read more...] about Finally, Jack Eichel-led Buffalo Sabres appear to have hope

'Sure, there are question marks about whether the defence can hold up and how Hutton will fare now that he has to handle a starting goalie’s workload. And then there’s Sam Reinhart’s contract negotiation to worry about, as well as an unfortunate pre-season injury to Sheary. But at least the players on Buffalo’s top-two lines are legitimate top-six forwards.' … [Read more...] about There’s hope in Buffalo — and this time, it might be justified