tom webster

Actually disagree. Prevailing sentiment is that Chicago wants to rid themselves of both without looking like they are forcing them out. Best way is to send both back to their hometowns.

Again, I don’t see them giving up significant assets. Chicago wants to be bad. They want a graceful exit strategy for both Kane and Toews. Trading Kane to his hometown is that. As Elliot Friedman stated, “it’s a romantic notion.” I just don’t see the downside.

If it was completely up to me, and it’s obviously not, I acquire both Toews and Kane with Chicago retaining half of cap hit, sign Letang to a one year, $10M contract, trade for Quick and see how it goes. If come March things aren’t going well, I trade Kane, Quick and Toews, recoup some assets and resign Kane next off-season. See, I could be an insider…..

There are a ton of factors going into this. While he wants to finish his career in Buffalo, he’s not going to just let them dictate the terms. If Buffalo doesn’t step up, someone else will and it could be a lot older Kane coming to finish up his career in Buffalo long after they could have used him.

I’m old, tired and hung over. Reading comprehension only at around 25% today.

Or, they trade him this off-season and he decides to re-up with the team he gets traded to. A lot of people seem to be assuming it’s now or next off-season but there’s no guarantee he’s free next year.

I like Comrie. In my opinion, either Quick or Campbell with Comrie is the best way to go. I wouldn’t mind Varlamov. Also, I’m not sure I would count on UPL at all.

Quick and Campbell seem to be the consensus favorites. Quick, because he would almost certainly waive his no trade clause to come back East, and had only one year on his deal that only pays him $2.5M and Campbell because he’s exactly the type of person KA wants, wouldn’t be too pricey, and could just be a slow developer a/k/a Tim Thomas.

Exactly.

One other thing, while analytics has improved this a little, player evaluation is not an exact science. The Sabres got Hasek for almost nothing, than exposed him to an expansion draft before being forced to play him due to injury. Pominville was exposed to waivers before becoming a 30 goal scorer.

NFL Contracts are almost always “back” loaded with huge bonuses paid early. The NHL can do the same within certain parameters. The difference is that in the NFL, the cap has a different value every year of contract, almost always lower to absurd, while the NHL total contract value is weighted evenly over the term of the contract. What the Sabres need to assess is what’s Tage’s floor, try and get him to bite on a contract that takes that risk into account, and hope he plays closer to his ceiling. Ultimately it’s up to him and his agent and how much he’s willing to bet on himself. Anyone thinking he’s going to sign for less than $7M per is kidding themselves. I feel like Don Quixote but I’m telling you, the cap is going to approach $100M sooner than you think.

It definitely makes sense for the players to sign shorter term, especially if they are confident in their abilities but most of them stupidly jump at what they see as financial security and guarantees and a lot of their agents push for it as well.

NHL today reported record revenue, $5.3 billion or more, another indication that salary cap concerns will vanish in two or three years. Teams smart enough to lock up young players now will be in even better position. Again, the next two years are the time to take advantage of any salary cap room.

You know I’m optimistic as well but that doesn’t mean that I have to be completely on board, especially if they weren’t at least considering the possibilities of jumpstarting things. I’m one hundred percent confident, however, that they have at least discussed it.

Glad to see your back, I was concerned. As for the above, the difference this year is that it’s plausible, though unlikely. Now it’s being brought up in TSN, not hockey buzz

But why not trade for Kane, who helps bring in Campbell or Fleury along with Subban. They become more formidable, bring in veteran leadership and do nothing to hurt the development of the kids. I understand what you are saying but your acceptance of another building year is where I have an issue. One other thing, before I forget. In the small chance that this does happen, it will not be TPEGS meddling, it will be KA adjusting to the opportunity. Once the cap skyrockets, the advantage the Sabres now have goes away.

Plans and strategy are fine but you have to be willing to adapt when an opportunity arises. Like I said, I don’t expect this to happen for a myriad of reasons but how, if they can acquire him without sacrificing any of their top prospects, run counter to building a playoff caliber team? You would be bringing in a star, a veteran who isn’t just talking the talk but walked the walk, a guy who would make them better and likely encourage others to join him, how does that hurt the development of anyone? Because now they would have to earn ice time rather than be given it?

In fact, Kane coming would open the door to other moves.

I’m kinda surprised you never heard this.

I understand all the pros and cons. People that know me know that as a result of past business dealings, I have no live for the Kane family. However, the people that think that we want him because he was born in WNY have it backwards. He wants us because he was born here. We want him because he is an elite winger still at the top of his game.

Obviously. Conversely, the fact he is from here and has expressed interest in coming here, is exactly why it exists. It’s more likely Ryan Johnson and a future #1.

It has been talked about for awhile and accelerated after the Eichel trade. Someone I trust 100% that works in league office told me three years that Kane wished to end his career here and was worried after he was falsely accused in the last case that that would hurt his chances to return here. The trade scenario heated up after the Blackhawk house cleaning and decision to do a full rebuild. Again, it is still unlikely, but people would be surprised at what little the return would be. I still think it’s like he ends up in NY or LA with Colorado always being a dark horse and having no problems acquiring him for just one year.

It was even brought up on a Elliot Friedman bit, and on this one, I can 100% guarantee you that it has been discussed by all the important components. Like I said initially, still lot of reasons why it won’t happen this year, but I wouldn’t bet against it.

I know. I know. However, there continues to be rumblings of a Kane to Buffalo move. It is still unlikely to happen for a myriad of reasons. Three big reasons why it may? 1) Chicago is looking for a graceful exit strategy for both Kane and Toews. 2) Kane has always told those close to him that he has thought about finishing his career here. 3) Buffalo is one of the few teams that could absorb the contract. Like I said, there are more reasons why it won’t happen including the fact that Buffalo is a year away from being ready for it but as I’ve always told my kids, be ready to change your plans because the timing may not be right, but you can’t always control the timing.

I just read this and it’s spot on. The only thing I would add is they the thought the price on Kuemper would go down until Seattle signed Grubauer. As always, Brawndo nails it.