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How can the Sabres not be? Look at what the roster has for next year already. Add to that a McEichel and your choice of UFAs, or even a RFA if Murray wants to get all aggressive. The weakest link, now, is the goalie position, but, again, that will be addressed this summer.

This is the thing right here; the cards DID fall the Murray's way. He got rid of players getting in the way of the tank, and cleared out roster spots and cap room to go on a spending spree this summer. He gets to shop for players not only with big money, but he gets to tell them they're going to play on a roster that features Reinhart, Kane, Ennis, Moulson, and...McEichel. He gets to tell them that their defense is as loaded as any in the west. To me, that's a pretty big deal.

Not for nothing, Hodgson is getting a good dose of humility this season. It could very well be the kind of lesson he needs to shake the slacker habits.

This is it. The Sabres have truly bottomed-out.

On Stewart, I don't know, a second is a second. On Murray, I get the point, but, again, Murray was in the more desperate position here because he HAS to complete the tank. If I were to imagine Murray's POV on all of this, he wouldn't allow himself to be in a position where he has to sell as many assets as possible. I suppose, if one has to learn how to manage the draft deadline, this is the year and way to do it. I'm sure this deadline taught him lots of things.

3rd round. 6'2" 200lb c/rw.

The only trade where he might have received less than expected is Neuvirth. I would call that a trade of necessity. Stewart was always going to get a second. Do you think Murray was offered a first a week ago but decided to wait? I would doubt that. Flynn got a pick. Not bad. Mitchell got a pick and a prospect. That is more than I would have expected back. What's the complaint?

GMTM has had crap to work with because Darcy was first with his hands in the cupboard here. Of course Darcy was getting better deals because he had more to work with here and he was doing his deals before the 2015 draft was a reality, and before the reality of tanking for 2015. GMTM had one mission today: complete the tank. He has done well there, and got some meager returns for it. The other GMs would call him desperate because they know he has no choice today to but to try and complete the tank. He HAD to get rid of Neuvirth. He HAD to get rid of Stewart. He HAD to get rid of any player that he could and didn't want to keep, or could possibly re-sign over the summer, in order to complete the mission.

A pick and a prospect is far more than I expected for him, even if it's a late pick.

Yeah, the goalie market won't be lacking this off-season. I just happened to like Neuvirth among the UFAs. Again, I hope GMTM made sure he's not burning a bridge here. While the Sabres may get a McEichel, they will need a goalie to make next season exciting. A good goalie will make next season the antipodes of this season which would be...awesome.

The question is, now, if this is all GMTM needed to do land McEichel?

The shart is all but secured now that Neuvirth is gone.

Kevin Sylvester just said it was a 2015.

This is how I see it, but it's still very ugly. I hope GMTM has had conversations with Stewart's and Neuvirth's agents ahead of time to let them know this isn't personal, it's just business.

Frankly, I'm glad they're getting rid of the Flynns on the roster, but I also am happy for Flynn himself. He gets a legit shot in the NHL...unless, of course, they bury him in the minors.

I guess, why? Hackett will be allowed to walk. Neuvirth is a good goalie, and while this helps the tank, this doesn't help the Sabres after the draft.

If the Sabres get the third pick, then GMTM has a huge trading chip there and would/should trade up and get a solid roster player or a tasty prospect out of it (plus a higher first, of course). The Sabres D corps is set for several years. I should add that, maybe it's me, but "up" to me means moving up in number (toward 30) and "down" means moving toward 1. It seems these terms are being used loosely here and I wonder if there's a standard everyone should follow.

Actually, see my edits. Mine is flawed. Woefully. I like yours. With butter.

See calti's explanation. His is indeed much more comprehensive. And just better. Very better, in fact.

Technically, it's ~20% shot at McDavid, and 100% shot at Eichel for the last place team.

Great question.

I think Samuel L. Jackson agrees with you. Of course he is. He can net a high first with the right deal.

Not much more of this left to go. I want a unified fan-base as much as anyone, but this isn't a subtle strategy the Sabres have been following. The deeper into it we all go, I guess the more I am surprised at the divisions amongst the people.

Maybe it was a sliver and he faints at the site of blood?

A loss. I'm crushed.