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I'm not sure why but in the past 2 to 3 days... With no new information... I've totally changed my thinking on how I would want theSabres to handle this. My thinking is lock him up to a long-term deal only if it's a very team-friendly deal. I don't mean lowball him in an embarrassing way, but don't overpay and make sure you're not at the top of the market. You have him this year. My thinking is if he's reluctant to sign the deal you put in front of them then play out the year. If you are having a bad year and it looks like you're going to miss the playoffs, and he's having a good year, then, if he's willing to move, move him to another team. The assets you might be able to get back could be just as good as a 30 plus-year-old aging Alex Tuch. If his play starts visibly declining this year because he is starting to show signs of being a 30-year-old winger, then you dodged a bullet by not giving him $80 million. Finally, if the team plays well and makes the playoffs, and he's a big part of it, then in the off-season you negotiate with him just like everyone else would. By making the playoffs and being his hometown team, at least you're not at a disadvantage against other teams, and I don't think another team will offer him a long-term deal for much more than what you would have to do, again,to get a 30-year-old aging winger. Maybe he'd be resentful against the team for not giving him what he wanted. I doubt that, but if he was and he signed someplace else anyway, then use that $10 million a year to allocated someplace else, again... Not on a 30 to 38-year-old winger. I don't know why but for the past year....up until 2 or 3 days ago....my thinking was sign him at any cost. Now I'm just as willing to let the season play out and see how things go.

Ida kept Kassian on this team. Mule not so much

Ullmark and Reinhart were both ready to sign here which would lead to the conclusion that, if you are right, they really didn’t care as long as they got paid.

Does that mean he's on IR?

Most people would agree with you that he wasn't much of a leader. And that shouldn't be a surprise because he was too young and inexperienced to have the captaincy and leadership responsibilities thrust on him. That miscalculation was an organizational mistake. What Jack understood, as did Reinhart and Ullmark, is that this franchise as it was structured had little chance to succeed. He was proven to be right, as were Reinhart and Ullmark. It shouldn't be a surprise that their respective careers in three different locations thrived once they got away from this Pegula run franchise.

weak too weak

That "big and opaque bug" is actually the ribbon board below the jumbotron (or whatever the monstrously big TV is officially called) that has the stats shown in rink. Would have money on it that isn't the MSG "score bug" we'll see when they start broadcasting the RS games.

I don't think he can.

I'd imagine so, but I think he should be kept up with the team for the entirety of training camp so he can absorb all the NHL experience he can. Since he's on loan from Europe and not bound by the CHL rules, can he be "called up" to the AHL mid-way through the season if injuries happen or if they decide there's not much more development for him in Seattle?

Samuelsson is WEEK TO WEEK

Totally agree here @JohnC. And my greater fear (as has been mentioned by others previously) is the collateral damage that will be done if Tuch isn't signed and he walks or is moved at the deadline. It will pale in comparison (beyond 25-26) to losing the skills and production of the player himself. What players would want to stay here, re-sign here, or want to accept a trade to come here? If KA thinks this is hard now .... Is the start of the season next week an unofficial deadline?

Well there you go. Case closed.

I'm not dying on my sword over this. If they send Mrtka back to juniors it's fine. I'm sure they are trying to decide now if the AHL would be a better place than juniors.

His is one of about 8 names I don't recognize and I suspect are guys looking to earn contracts. We seem to be lining up for Georgiev/Levi tandem in Rochester, assuming he clears waivers, which should be wonderful for the Amerks record, but maybe not the best way to develop Ratzlaff and Leinonen. @Brawndo had earlier wondered if Ratzlaff goes back to juniors as an overager. Another option might be loaning Georgiev to another AHL team needing a #1.

Do you have a story link or anything that says this or are you assuming? Eichel: uber-talented, but not a leader. Jack is succeeding in Vegas because they have locker room leaders.

There's no reason for them to play games *anywhere* else. The arena needs renovation, not reconstruction, and it will be fine if the work is done during successive summers--once it begins. They're not going to play in a 6,000-person arena in the middle of nowhere.

Remember this....

He sure has looked amazing in preseason. The way he has played so far I wouldn't be surprised if he got 60 goals this year.

I agree. He will develop and its only a matter of time before the O-line is upgraded and they get him a couple weapons. And boy does it pain me to type that.

Does Cameron Rowe have an AHL contract? I had to look him up, but it does seem a bit odd to have Levi and then 3 first year pros in net. They'll get one of the vets eventually (Georgiev). Even still, that's a lot of inexperience to start out in the ECHL. I did wonder a bit if Georgiev would be let out of his contract if he didn't stick in the NHL, but that can't happen at this point.

This has been a pet peeve of mine for a long time. FINALLY, I can now watch how few SOG’s we get on the power play in real time!!!🙃

I don't believe the pre-season games are MSG...so I'd expect that's not the score bug we'll see during the regular season.

Ya this bothered me so much.... and there will 100 percent be a time where this huge banner hides a key play It truly boggles the mind that they could put it where it is

Yes he has to be. I agree he has looked amazing and really looks exactly like the kind of player we have been clamoring for. But he has only played 40 games in junior cause he came over mid season last year. I would personally send him back to junior and let him dominate, I would hope that his team maybe has an ok and then doesnt make the play-offs, then he can go to the Amerks for an extended playoff run. He then could be the big piece for the Amerks next year playing in all situations, maybe getting a call up here or there. And then in 2 years you could have a situation where he steps right into the top 4 of Buffalo. Maybe even as a Byram replacement with Dahlin