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I wouldn’t mind Joel Hofer from the Blues as part of a Byram trade. Thatcher Demko is a top 10 goalie consistently underrated by Sabrespacers who I don’t think watch him much. He would be the single most helpful asset on the market to getting the Sabres into the playoffs.

Not sure if Peterka is still active here, but I thought I'd send along a PSA in case he is. https://www.visitsaltlake.com/plan-your-visit/frequently-asked-questions/drinking-in-utah/

Personally love the Knies deal, for all the reasons you mention. It might work. But there's a better chance it won't. MHO.

I love the Tavares deal for Toronto. This one I'm not so sure on. Is there a chance Knies will be really, REALLY good? I guess. But over the playoffs, over the last season, the year before basically his entire career, I think he is a product of Matthews. His numbers are worthy of close to $8m when playing with Matthews, if you look at his numbers, his production, his underlying metrics/analytics with not on the ice with Matthews, they are actually below average. Like he's kinda a bad player across the board without Matthews on the ice with him. I linked and posted his metrics with and without Mathews below (reg season and playoffs), but if you look at last year, they numbers are just as bad as this year. https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=TOR&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2024-10-04&td=2025-04-17&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8482720&p2=8479318&p3=0&p4=0&p5=0

To me, Komarov looks bigger than 6’2” 183. He’s like a stork or a condor out there with a huge wingspan. Wonder if those are still his measurements when drafted?

And the MLB allows players that aren't going to college to be drafted after completing HS. AKA, as soon as you're 18 or going to be 18 you are eligible to be drafted. That seems extremely similar to one of these other 3 leagues. The point about the Euro leagues wasn't simply where the kids will develop. It was also about where they'll play. The NHL gets players that are signed to the 2nd level of the Swedish league to get out of their contracts to come to the US. Don't believe that is the case for players in the top league, the SHL. So, if players can't be drafted until 20, they will end up signing and playing in the SHL with no immediate recourse to join the NHL. Same issue with the KHL. The Sabres can't get the Russian F they drafted ~3 years ago for at least 2 more years. You can say it isn't and won't be an issue; but it is and has been an issue and if players don't get drafted at 18 but have to wait until 20 it will become more of an issue; not less. And Non-NA players are now about 1/4 of the total NHL players; that has continued to increase through the years. You sure that you're cool with that going back the other way if those players are good enough to be playing in the NHL? You seem to be more concerned about making the NHL Draft destination TV like it is for the NFL. It isn't destination TV for the MLB and nobody seems to mind. Is there something else that this kid is missing here? If so, please let me know.

There is 0 chance this is true unless were throwing Benson and a prospect as well, I'd view Byfield as an almost untouchable for the Kings right now.

That sucks I would have loved to see him paired with Dahlin

Add Indianapolis to the NHL expansion derby, along with Atlanta, Houston, Austin and New Orleans. (What happened to Kansas City, Omaha and Cincinnati?) https://www.wishtv.com/sports/indy-interested-in-nhl-expansion-team-per-report/

In an interview Carter Bear said Mrtka is the toughest defender he's had to play against.

I was just listening to I forgot the guys name on TSN and it's said he's asking for 5M AAV, now i know it's just what he wants but the Sabres might have to pony up for that if they want his services.

Levi wasn't even a glint in Adams' eye when they couldn't work a deal out with Ullmark.

The labor laws in two countries applies to the MLB and NHL. The more people pretend the NHL is somehow special and incapable of growth or innovation the further it will fall behind. The NHL need not concern themselves with the KHL or any other euro league. They're part of major US sports. Let these kids develop there. That's fine. Who cares. The league needs to be concerned with each team putting the best 20 or so players in the world on the ice and making those 20 people as compelling as possible. If somebody else absorbs that cost for them and makes a couple of bucks for their home nation 80000000 miles away, even better. But some kid playing for nothing in the OHL where nobody is showing up or watching isn't helping or protecting the league. It's antiquated. There were 10 teenagers (18 or 19) at wearing an NHL sweater at league start last year. Zach Benson was one of those and he was an NHL sophomore. The 1 x18 year old is hyperbole, but it's not much at all. We all know the rarity of a first round pick playing at any point in the NHL. It is weird to get stuck on some mild hyperbole. The NHL can organize a draft that has more impact players that more fans can follow and relate with. Or they can be stupid.

Boeser and Allen are the two I'd target too.

Demko is maddingly inconsistent, the only way I get him is if somehow also get EP40 to be out 1C.

I'm hoping we sign Dan Vladar in free agency on a three year deal for between $4 million - $5 million to be a split starter with UPL until Levi's ready.

The amazing this, I think it came down to not blocking Levi, who he thought would be our starter 2 years ago. Meanwhile, Ullmark is on his 3rd team and Levi is still not starting material (and there’s a chance he’ll never be).

…because I’m running out of excuses for missing the playoffs, again. …and if you even infer that you don’t want to be here, then I’ll find a way to trade you for younger and cheaper assets. It’s called purgatory kids. Look it up.

Linus Ullmark's sv% since 2019 .915 .917 .917 .938 .915 .909 I mean idk what you're even talking about. Upl has only ever eclipsed .900 for a full season once with a .910 the year Ullmark had the .915.

I think a lot of us who have been fans for longer than 05-07 seasons, know what it's like for the most part to have good to hall of fame goaltending. You build from the net out... Nothing in front is going to matter if you can't be consistently be good to great in net. You need to a guy to steal games when you're team is off or can't seem to buy a goal! Jettison UPL... get Demko and we're headed to the playoffs as is! This is not rocket science.

GM

Year before last we did the three headed monster. This year it’s RHD. Makes you wonder next year will be.

I agree . Wasn't a fan of Ullmark, who I thought was wildly inconsistent when here. Had his 1 year in Boston but that's it, IMO. But yes, he has to find a Vet. UPL receives a no confidence vote to me. Levi should see action to see what he can do. He has promise.

I wonder what the definition of report will be. You just know at the moment the Sabres really need to do something, the Amerks will be playing in California (do they actually go out there?). That’s what actually surprises me if they’re would force them to play in a game: 1) There may not be a game for a while, and 2) the travel inequities from team to team are really big.

Well, yeah, "not like that." Who's happy that Samuelsson's contract gets the Sabres close to the cap? It's a waste of resources. Spending unwisely is just as bad as an internal cap because both prevent a team from acquring talent that can help a team win.