tom webster

There is no way they go into next year with Comrie and UPL.

Paying one goalie a significant AAV while the other is on an entry level deal is palatable although I’d still prefer something below $5/$6M.

With the rising cap, having your top 4 forwards locked up for a combined $28M and multiple forwards expected to be contributing on entry level deals, these worries about cap crunch are fodder, utter nonsense and excuses.

Leslie Frazier taking year off from coaching. It will be interesting to see what they do. Don’t expect radical change in philosophy.

I do too. I didn’t mean to imply it was a negative

This has actually been reported by multiple sources. Washington, like St Louis, is stuck deciding whether to tear it down or do a quick rebuild.

This is true but it’s imperative the team is open and honest with him about their plans. He’s a cocky kid who thinks he should be in the NHL right now so they have to nurture that.

And that’s what has become the norm. The more uniforms they wear, he more they can sell.

A first in 25, a second in 26. Unless we are all wrong about the talent in the system, you are looking at guys who have a 25% chance of being useful in 4 to 5 years. Like I said ad nauseum, and I know others disagree, but people are putting too much value on picks. I encourage you all to read the comments of Tampa GM. Smart teams are recalibrating value of draft picks. Buffalo might be a year away from doing this but why not now when players like this aren’t rentals, are relatively cheap and are useful pieces when building your team.

This was a deal I thought Sabres would be in on. I know they liked Lafferty for his speed, penalty killing and face off ability.

They gave up a first 3 years from now. The rest of the picks are shots in the dark. Even during the best of times you are looking to hit once or twice a year on these picks. They are still a stacked team that can take these type of chances.

Definitely wouldn’t want the Sabres to do this but Tampa is obviously going for another kick at the can and probably has enough infrastructure to give up all the picks. History says all those picks might end up being 1 or 2 NHL players.

The 2023 is technically conditional but Jersey would have to lose every hand and end up 22nd overall. The 2024 is conditioned on Jersey making Eastern Conference finals this year or next.

I’m sorry, I get all the arguments not to go all in for Meier, but if the return on this trade is what is being reported, this is, in my opinion, a big miss. They are not taking advantage of their unique cap position which will lessen as the cap stops being artificially depressed. This team is positioned to be a Cup contender as soon as next year and instead they are putting priority on acquiring more prospects who might be able to help in two or three years.

I think KA knows it as well. The “extra year” and the “not blocking a prospect” were just spin after Linus bolted. Analytics experts would scoff that he wouldn’t make up 8 points but even 4 at this point puts them solidly in the playoffs with a puncher’s chance.

Kevin Weekes, who seems much more accurate, didn’t list Buffalo as a possibility.

Yes, I agree with this. I was just trying to state best, and worst case parameters.

One can only hope that Levi has the same early success.

Maybe he can pull a Ken Dryden and win a Conn Smythe before a Calder. We both know, however, the odds of him coming in and setting the hockey world on fire are slim to none. Even the mentally, razor focused Ryan Miller had a crisis of confidence when his first turn as a starter didn’t go as planned.

I could guess but my conversations were more about whether Patrick was going to choose to go. To be honest, I didn’t ask about the other team. FWIW, the person I’m with just said Anaheim.

Took a little longer then expected but this should be done today.

Two things; 1) players want to win 2) players know better then anyone what needs to be upgraded in order to win. If this team believes a player is getting in the way of their winning, no matter how much they like them, they’ll vote for a trade. This front office has a firm handle on the pulse of the team and they are trying hard to make improvements.

What they should be doing is having a hearing for the officiating crew that missed it.

A) They don’t a defenseman like Orlov to trade B) Fans overvalue draft picks, especially picks at the end of the round or two years down the road

What are you talking about? They pick up a top 4 defenseman and a good grinder for picks that have a small chance of being better than bottom six forwards or third pair defensemen three years for now.