...

I think the fly in the ointment with this perspective is that JBot is not fully confident in what kind of player he has in Samson. If he gives Samson an 8/$6.5m contract and Samson winds up being Drew Stafford, then the contract becomes another albatross.

I was going to thumbs-up this comment, but the notion of me liking Bogo gave me pause. When he's healthy, the only thing I like about his game 100% is that he can get violent sometimes.

Curious as well to know why you think so.

He continues to impress. If last night was the trend, I think he actually knows how to build a team.

Far better bridge deal than I would have imagined. My belief in Samson being a team player is restored...mostly.

I have to say I'm not a fan. He really didn't stand out to me like Risto or Hutton.

I don't know about that, he was the Penguins' punching bag. Someone has to be a magnet for that stuff. I did not like them sitting back at the end, there. They should NEVER sit back. That's one thing that will bug me if I see them sitting back, ever. Always attack...be THAT team.

Skinner has Kane-esque qualities.

Is it me, or is Pittsburgh getting their elbows up on the head when they have a Sabre against the boards? Also, I hate to mention it, but Crosby, Malkin and the Pillsbury Dough Boy aren't out there.

I don't know if I like Okposo on the first line. Just sayin'.

Eichel made it look EASY.

E. Rod is looking good. Hutton, I like Hutton. I feel good about his play.

I think Rob Ray had it correct when he said they were trying to figure out who should take the shot.

That's the Risto I remember!

So far they're avoiding getting jammed up in their own end. That's a step forward.

Yeah, but he looks motivated.

I'm digging Hutton and the speed. It's not boring.

All I have to say is that this better be good - I hope it justifies the enthusiasm a lot of us feel.

Ugh, I gotta dig up the articles, now. Give me time, I'm supposed to be working.

We've seen neither with this year's roster - this year being, IMHO, the first "real" season with the "real" core. The longer this contract situation with Samson goes on, the less inclined I am to want to keep him as it's clear he's not a team-first guy. If Botts is trying to get a 2 year contract out of it, I don't blame him. I wouldn't sign Skinner to a 2 year deal, let alone a 6 or 7, without seeing how he fits in with the club. That would be the kind of signing the Sabres have made in the recent past and all of those contracts suck.

You guys discussing Nylander have to remember Cal O'Reilly stunted his growth by what amounts to off-the-ice maltreatment. From what I've read about what happened there, it is absolutely no surprise it's taken him time to get his head straight.

I wouldn't have guessed Reinhart would be "that guy" with contract issues at the beginning of a season.

I'm not buying the narrative that Eichel came in here with a Boston chip on his shoulder. It's obviously possible, but's also quite possible he came here amped up and wanting to win. ROR and Kane responded with a "grow up kid, just play and get paid" attitude and weren't interested in giving more than what's required to earn the big bucks - and THEN the Boston attitude kicked in with that as the foundation. Maybe Eichel wanted to know why certain people aren't as focused and/or disciplined - maybe Eichel was shocked by what it's really like behind the curtain - and THEN the Boston thing kicked in and he was an ass to those people who he thought were slackers. Just some thoughts, I know nothing about what was happening.

Chargers over 50 today? They're on their way!

I think you have to combine the changes/details in this thread with the conversation in the Lehner thread to move from "interested" or "curious" to "excited".