K-9

I’d be surprised if Columbus doesn’t ice a mostly different team tonight, just like the Sabres will in their next preseason game.

I’d submit that, aside from any trade discussions with other teams, this entire situation has been out of KA’s hands almost entirely. He is just not in a position to overrule team doctors and their best medical advice.

Thanks again for the added insight here. Unlike some around here, I don’t assume KA screwed the pooch because he may have said no to a team that was willing to assume the risk of the ADR procedure and make a deal. What’s the nature of that risk assumption in real terms? What’s the nature of that potential trade structure in real terms? Has Russo or anyone expanded on those aspects? Great, the Wild are interested. But that, in and of itself, means little.

Thanks for the clarification. Yeah, it’s pretty well known that KA was making inquiries. Nice of Pegula to actually let his GM act like, you know, a GM. It’s a shame it couldn’t get done before Eichel got hurt. Let’s hope Pegula learned his lesson.

Are you being serious? Because if you are, then you simply haven’t been paying attention. You may want to revisit the John Vogel tweet from late July that included an expansive on the record statement from Fish. There’s Dr. Prusmack’s statements on the matter as well. But you already know all that. Have a good evening.

And yet nobody from the Wild is wiling to go on record even though “it’s Jack Eichel.” Not questioning Russo so much, I just need more to be convinced there’s legs to this story.

Wait, what? KA had a deal for Eichel in place and Pegula nixed it? First I’ve heard this. Wow. KA has even more of my sympathy now.

What are these plentiful signs you see? Do you have anything concrete, other than your intense dislike for team management and unsubstantiated op/eds from the hockey media? Do you have the requisite medical knowledge or sources that indicate the Sabres medical opinion is flawed? Because that’s all I’ve ever hear KA cite; the medical recommendation from team doctors that Eichel disagrees with.

I look for actual quoted sources. So until anyone from the Wild or Ducks actually goes on the record, it’s all conjecture in my mind. But allowing the ADR is only half the equation. What are those teams actually offering in terms of value in a trade? All I’ve heard is rumors and they were underwhelming to say the least.

Did anyone from the Wild or Ducks organizations actually go on the record with that? Otherwise, it’s just more of the incessant hockey media blather.

I think the only thing that changes minds is Eichel on the ice showing no ill effects.

Clearly, Adams is not living in your reality. I think that’s a good thing.

If anything, the Sabres have acted like a trade isn’t possible as long as they have an injured player.

There are no bad guys in this situation. Just an injured, highly talented player whom the Sabres want to trade and that just isn’t feasible given the nature of the injury, the constrictive nature of the CBA, and where we are in the current hockey year.

Well that seems to support the idea I stated previously, that any piece of Eichel information is gonna be filtered by some as indicating Adams is a garbage human being. Just as some have a need to defend Adams in the face of these unfounded attacks, you and others have that need to accept these op/Ed pieces as factual evidence that the team is solely at fault. All because they suck on the ice? Never mind that none of that information is confirmed factual reporting.

The absurdity of “Eichel as a garbage human being” aside, every single piece of Eichel information proffered by the likes of Friedman, et al, has had a decided anti-Sabres bent with not one scintilla of reported fact. Is it any wonder that with the constant attacks against the team that some might take offense and back Adams in the face of such unfounded reports? The Sabres suck, people hate the owners and management, Adams is the new target and so with every piece of Eichel information some people have a need to filter it as proof positive that Adams is a garbage human being.

I don’t know what was said and never claimed to. I only know that while he was in town a couple of local guys were able to speak with him strictly off the record and it has stayed that way. Thus my characterization as “professional.” I’d bet most if it was ball busting, good natured stuff so I doubt there’s much there to chew on anyway.

Any chance he pulls a Petersen?

All I’ve ever read or heard from anyone in the media on this is 99% op/ed and 1% actual reporting.

I suspect it’s Brisson, the supposed professional who was gonna get things done but, like Fish before him, has resorted to orchestrating another propaganda campaign in favor of his client.

Oy, what an absolute load of conjecturing crap.

Can’t say that I’m shocked by that.

I think @pi2000 is spot on with his scouting report. 6K just doesn’t seem to have the requisite athletic chops to excel at the NHL level. I’d love to be proved 100% wrong on that.

No stalking necessary. There were a couple local sports guys who talked to Eichel last week. All off the record, all professional. There’s just nothing to see until there’s something to see.

Granato is a breath of fresh air in that regard. Talk about a complete 180 from the previous coach who didn’t seem to care how players practiced or even if they were in proper physical condition to do so effectively. I’ve always subscribed to the axiom, “You play like you practice.” And I always add, “And you practice like you’re coached.”