Taro T

That might be the one saving grace for the Sabres, the season might be done before Power becomes available. If it ended around April 5 again, there'd be a real possibility of it if all 3 Wolverines go back to school. Not sure when the Frozen 4 will be this year. Probably with our luck it ends April 20.

Hoping this is another 1 you're right on. Was very pleased when you chimed in on this thread back on page 1.

Something that would be intriguing to see how/if it would work is to see a team focus on a particular position in a draft if it seems that draft is particularly strong at that position (or conversely particularly weak at a slot or 2). Figuring out WHICH 18 year old will make it will likely remain an art for a very long time, but figuring out what a draft is deep at should be more of a science. It would seem to increase one's odds of hitting on a player having more lottery tickets in a particular lottery, right? Doubt the Sabres were doing that, but the way they went after W's might give us a chance to see if there might be merit to the idea.

IIRC, wasn't it reported mid-season that Ullmark wasn't opposed to re-signing but did want to test FA? Expecting Adams presented a fair offer and one that might very well be the best he'll receive and 1 he will sign. But, right now we're 3 days away from FA opening, and can't see him signing in the next 2 days. Hoping to hear he's a Sabre again on the 28th once the dust settles. Sadly, by then he might be my favorite remaining Sabre.

Which is maddening because they actually had pieces around him heading into this weekend that could have been supplanted this offseason if management had the stones to go for the playoffs now. It didn't need to be another step back. It was decided electively to take that step back. It stunk when they decided to bring "suffering" in '13 and it stinks just as bad today when they make that same choice though under a different branding.

Yep. (And there is still time to see the roster modified to change this, but) Right now would expect him to be the checking C with the plan of putting him, Girgensons, & Okposo out against the other teams' top lines to try to let Mittelstadt's & Cozens' lines get competition they can handle. Then Ruutsalainen, Asplund, or a Sheahan center the 4th line.

... because TB, Boston, FLA, TO, & Ottawa all forfeit large swaths of games as the NHL adopts the NFLs COVID protocols.

Yeah. It seems someone broke out the flyer they sent out to STHers in '14 or '15 (pretty sure it was summer '14, but it might have been the following year) listing the 120 or so draft picks (yeah, yeah, it just seemed like that many) the Sabres had coming the next 3 years & how the future was so bright back then and showed it to Terry & Kim and said 'imagine what might have been if you didn't trade away all those picks for guys that eventually got moved for pennies on the $.' And the Pegulas said 'sounds good; what could possibly go wrong.'

Adams had said that Karmanos & Fortan were going to be running this draft, so expect you are correct. But Adams only had 5 picks last year & only 2 that were at spots that players actually have a chance to make the show, so we don't really know much about his philosophy other than he doesn't give C's additional weight over W's and whoever led this effort agrees w/ that.

With a line ahead of them on the pecking order. (And pretty sure their longest stretch of 0.600 or better hockey (aka a playoff pace) was 7 games. Not really anything to rave about IMHO.) We're about to see them as THE guys. Can't believe either is actually ready for it.

True. But there are darn few public figures these days that would actually clarify that distinction. Can't/won't fault him for following the standard playbook. And, expect that Adamsvis fudging the truth as well. Expect that because he wants to be rid of Eichel & Reinhart that he also lowballed Reinhart & then the agent said if that's the best you've got, he's gone in '22. So, they're both likely truthful, but neither is in the right.

Not mad. Simply numb. Getting mad would feel better.

Honestly don't believe he wanted a player & a pick. Believe he wanted a prospect & a pick and this was what he & his braintrust determined was the best of those offers. Blatent speculation coming: Really believe that for whatever reason he wasn't a fan of Eichel prior to his becoming the GM but knew the talent he was and thought that bringing in a couple of pieces would get them into the playoffs. Doubt he thought Eichel's training injury was legit (or at least believed it didn't happen as he'd claimed). When Eichel's inability to pot goals kept the team hovering near 0.500, Adams started to believe he was right about his original opinion of Eichel. When things went all fugazi Adams decided he can't win with Jack and decided to push him & his best buddy out. The flaw in that theory is Eichel is still a Sabre.

Very possibly. Because he views Levi in a far more favorable light than anybody else does, OR those other offers that included a comparable pick to Florida's next year came with a player that might actually be useful at some point in the next 2 seasons and that wasn't what he was looking for as a return on Reinhart. (Either doesn't bode well for us; unless the crazy SOB is actually right, that is.) See the previous comment after 'OR.' 😉

At this point, does it matter? Though it likely doesn't for the Sabres, the FA signing period begins July 28.

Someone will emerge this year as THE 1C, but not A 1C because neither Mittelstadt nor Cozens is ready to become that. This team, right now (presuming Eichel is also gone), has NHLers at the 2nd-4th lines and 2nd & 3rd pairing. But they are LITERALLY lacking the entire starting lineup of 5 skaters & a goalie. There is no reason to believe there will be any UFAs brought in to fill any of those roles except the goalie. And there is no reason to expect the kids to step into those roles adequately this season.. Forcing literally every single player to be playing 1 line higher than he's ready for is a great way to have a record challengingly bad team. When it was obvious Adams was going to sell off the Big 3, we could at least hope that he'd be bringing in youthful players & some UFAs to give them 2 2nd lines & 2 2nd pairings. 2 Ullmarks as well. That would still leave them a mid-80 point team in a best case but it might be entertaining. Maybe this team ends up entertaining next season, but doubt that as well. Is it '23-'24 yet?

Especially if Eichel is also gone, this team has cap space coming out of its ears. They could easily get him. But they won't.

Healy did the TV games, yes. No idea who did radio pbp for them. Healy did the TV games, yes. No idea who did radio pbp for them.

So, has Jones moved yet, or is that deal being the one holding up "everything else" wrong as well?

Still expect that my answer will turn out to have been correct: he likely returned the key to the training room when he was told he was traded. 😉

Yep. Watching this season circle the drain. But '23-'24, they're there.

So Adams is the Bizarro Botterill? (That has a certain ring to it.)

14. Seriously? So, is Arizona going to be on the clock for the #11 pick they can't use so ESPN can babble for an extra 10 minutes not pronouncing guy's names right? And what's the over under for whether ESPN notes that the Cards forfeited that pick?

Why did you people stop at 10. We NEED 13!!! 😉

Darn you. Just got Brawndo'd. 😉