tom webster

The minute I saw this thread, I knew there would be some sort of "works for the tank" post. Not judging, just stating....

So glad we went for Kea in the third round that year. Can you imagine the uproar if they drafted a 5'10" defensemen right after drafting a 6'0' one?

I was thinking the same thing. It would be interesting to know if Hextall had more Hextall's then Howe had Howe's.

I was going to mention Pronman although I think you need ESPN insider for him, TSN does a list every few months. Kris Baker does a good job with the Sabres prospects although I am concerned as he becomes more engrained with the organization. There are very few guys that actually have seen all or most of the players they write about. When I was growing up I couldn't wait to get national perspectives on the teams and players I followed. Now I realize most of them don't know much more then I do. Another by product of the information age.

Hockey a Futures has long ago "jumped the shark." There are so many better publications and sources for this information.

I have heard rumblings for Max as well and as much as I love Pysyk I would do that in a heart beat but agree that they wouldn't.

I understand the conversation and analysis, may even agree with most of it but if there ever was someone who point "scoreboard" it's Stan Bowman and his staff

With all due respect to Freeman, that "former first rounder......" Is crap and belittles those of us who have touted Pysyk. As I have stated elsewhere, it's not an exact science but my opinion of Pysyk is a lot more evolved then some infatuation with his past draft status.

That's the point. McGinn has materialized into a solid third liner with second line potential and he is 4 years older. Part of the problem, I believe is that the line is being blurred across the NHL as to what is top 6. It really is the top 4 with other interchangeable pieces being thrown in. There are currently only 108 players with 13 goals which gives them a chance of hitting 20. With 30 teams in the league, you will have roughly 4 players per team if you divided them equally. A winger that can score 15 goals is a legitimate top 6 forward in this league. This is the new Daryl Talley. Talley went from being the most underrated player to being the ,most overrated because everyone kept calling him underrated. Foligno has gone form being a favored son because of his father to being underrated because of it. McGinn, 57 games 12 goals -13 assists - give him a new contract Foligno 50 games 7 goals - 8 assists - he isn't even a bona fide NHL'er

At least you added the IMO. While I know goals aren't everything, and neither are points, right now there are roughly 192 forwards who have more goals then him.so I guess that puts him right in the top of third line players. Additionally, he is following Jamie McGinn's path in production so if he continues he will score 15-20 next year. Again, no guarantees but as a 24 years ols power forward, he wouldn't be the first to emerge in year number 5.

I agree with this completely and have told Mr. Wawrow as much. I group up having a tremendous amount of respect for local writers and AP writers especially. I can't imagine how it would feel to be continuously attacked by people who either can't comprehend what was written or just plain don't agree with it but I wish people like JW and Tim Graham would stay out of the fray. It does nothing to enhance their standing and usually just turns off people like myself. That being said, JW is my go to guy when it comes to intelligent, insightful and connected opinions and information, I just wish I could filter out the rest.

And that's the thing that gets missed. This isn't an exact science. There are always varying opinions within an organization regarding players and their potential. Mark Pysyk is a perfect example. There are people in the organization that believe he is a top pair/three guy and DB seems unsure if he is even a top 6 guy. I think people are going to be surprised what Foligno either gets in a contract or fetches in trade.

That's awesome.

He is a 7-9 who can fill in top 6 without looking uncomfortable and there are those within the league that still believe he could develop into a second line winger. Sure, if you forced me to bet I would be bottom 6 guy but him developing into a second line winger isn't out of the realm of possibility. DB will tell you he has one of the better shots on the team, skates well for a big man and is well respected by his teammates. Can he put together? Probably not but possible. I can tell you that GMTM refused to include him in at least two deals last year.

I have been meaning to address this for awhile. You are way off on Foligno's value. He's not one of those guys here just because of his connection to the past, as I have heard you say before. He is still young enough and shows enough flashes to intrigue people who think he can be a legitimate top six forward. Not sure he will develop that way but he has value because of the chance he does.

While I am not condoning over-sleeping and missing practice, in a weird sort of way, Kane's jet-setting lifestyle may be the best recruiting tool ever for the team. He is showing just how easy it is to get from Buffalo to Toronto, to New York, to Cleveland and in most cases get home for practice or a game. Playing in a city that is as close to Canadian as you can get without the pressure of playing in one of Canada's hotbeds.

The other reason would be to eliminate the distraction. He is being asked about it at every stop that cares about hockey. In addition, its a statement to the team and the fans, we are going for it and if we lose him in July, so be it.

iIt doesn't mske any difference to us why he signed there. As for Sabre fans needing to raise their expectations, you apparently have no problem thinking fondly of Arnia being one of your top six forwards.

If you tell someone they are out and intend on signing with other team, then that's one thing. If you tell someone they are out expecting them to up their offer and they don't and then you go back and tell them you were bluffing, you are still just trying to get as much out of that team as you can. That's what a Buffalo thinks happened.

I haven't read this whole thread and don't intend to but whatever Stafford has done and will do after last year is irrelevant. His contract was up and he could have signed with anyone. No way he was signing with Buffalo. The only thing Buffalo gave up with respect to Staffiord was his expiring contract which might have been worth a future 2nd in a separate deal.

The Sabres front office believes that Babcock lied to them. Some believe they were used as leverage. As far as family tilting things at last minute, no one within Sabres hierarchy believes that family was out of loop till last day. They believe that was a convenient excuse to go back on his word. As I said earlier, when 716 aired the Babcock press conference, one person high up in front office came out of his booth screaming liar and demanding that channel be changed.

Exactly. Even if there was some version of Pegula TV coming no way she is announcing it.

Of course, there is always the possibility that Stamkos is pulling a "Babcock" and using Buffalo to make sure Toronto maximizes their offer. OTOH, it does serve Buffalo well to make sure that Toronto pays top dollar.

Not sure how close he is with his father but if its a 50, why not 54?

First, McGinn isn't having one of those career"contract" years. He has been this pretty consistently. Second, he is part of that shrinking middle class. Trans are paying their core and filling roster with kids and veterans on short term deals. He is a $3.5x3 guy and if you can acquire an asset for him you take it unless he's willing to sign for even less. Third, if you can get him back, great, but it isn't paramount to the success of the process.