nfreeman

Well, the first google hit I opened for his draft year scouting report listed him at C. https://thehockeywriters.com/leon-draisaitl-the-next-ones-2014-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/ Well, I appreciate the fandom, but both of these are simply denials of reality. I believe you also took the position that Eichel was better than McD, innit?

Completely disagree. He's slow in tight and slow in longer races. Reino would definitely be drafted behind Draisaitl if there were a do-over on the 2014 draft.

Top 10 in the Atlantic -- so top 40 in the NHL? Whoop-de-damn-do.

Dude yourself. I love that one. How dare you sir.

For "Any way you want it," it's gotta be genuine.

Sid Luckman Otto Graham Bart Starr Terry Bradshaw Bob Griese Eli Manning

WTF? 2 accusations of racism in 1 day? Knock it TF off.

Although the move for Coleman didn't pan out, IMHO it was worth the cost of the dice roll. Someone with waiver rights before the Bills probably would've claimed him if the Bills hadn't traded for him (as Cleveland was probably going to cut him). The 7th-rounder was the price of jumping those claims. Many of these moves don't work out. That doesn't mean they aren't worth trying.

Endorsed. These are near-locks, IMHO. This is going to be like when Jimbo disembarked from that plane from Houston, with those Vic Ferrari shades and "I'm da man" attitude.

Eichel hasn’t been worth anywhere near what the Sabres went through to get him, but he’s still been far more consistent than Reino IMHO. Reino has long stretches of Staffordesque complete invisibility. Eichel has short stretches (albeit lots of them) of non-dominance. Apples and oranges IMHO. As for whether there is something in particular about Reino that makes me think the fire won’t burn within him if he gets too much too soon — first, I think that is true for most people, not just Reino. Second, I can’t past the fact that he didn’t show up for the first half of last season, when the Sabres had a new coach and new GM and were clearly at a crossroads with that roster. That just can’t be rewarded. And as Blue notes I opposed it in Risto’s case too (and one could argue that my view there has been vindicated).

Well, it’s certainly possible that Reino gets a LT deal and it proves to be a good deal for the Sabres. My point really was that whether it’s $4.5MM per year or $6.5MM per year, I think (and I hope JBott thinks) that giving Reino 5 years or more is much more likely to result in Reino proving out as a career underachiever, with negative effects on the team — and thus he shouldn’t get a LT deal, regardless of annual salary.

From the Athletic's live AMA with Corey Pronman today:

...unless he (correctly) believes that there is no such thing as a LT deal for Reino that is favorable to the team.

Well, I think worst case is a bad injury that impairs his long-term earning potential. It's not a de minimis risk.

Your observation is probably correct -- but I think the assumption is mostly correct too, since the GM has most of the leverage with an RFA who's still several years away from UFA -- and especially if the deal ends up being a short-term one. Sometimes a player will prefer a short-term deal since he thinks he deliver high production during that shorter term and thus earn a fatter long-term deal in his next contract, but I think that happens only in a small minority of cases.

I have been theorizing that JBott wants to give Reino a short-term "prove it" contract and isn't interested in rewarding his play to date with a long-term deal.

There’s also the mystical synergy that sweeps through a team when an extra-terrestrial defenseman who floats like a butterfly and makes plays like Lidstrom and Kronwall on D and Bobby Freaking Orr when he has the puck joins the team and takes over. Just sayin’.

Thanks JSB. Very meaningful to hear from someone who has gone through the same thing.

I tend to believe Chad, as if he's right I will win a glorious victory on this issue, which will completely erase all of my humiliating defeats here.

Thanks Flagg.

This is a first-world problem, to be sure, but I'll mention it anyway: we took my son to college 2 weeks ago for the first time and he's lonely and homesick and we miss him terribly. He's a smart and funny kid, but shy, and it takes him a while to make friends. His roommate sounds like a decent guy and roommate, but they don't have anything in common and aren't going to be friends. He's signed up for IM sports, but they don't start until next week, so he hasn't met anyone that way. It's also been pretty hot and humid and his dorm isn't air-conditioned. Anyway, I am pretty confident it will improve over time, and he's said that he'd be fine there if he had some friends. In the meantime, though, as a parent, it saddens me to think of my son, away from home for an extended period for the first time, feeling lonely and unhappy (and that goes at least double for my wife!). And the house is too quiet without him. Calling you repeatedly on your vacation with a request to come in on the Friday before Labor Day? Whoever is making that call is a major league DB.

OK, let's have 'em. I didn't include Guhle or Thompson as I think those are the 2 prospects most likely to make the NHL roster -- and thus not "under the radar." I voted for CJ Smith out of camp, and O'Regan in stage 2.

Other than Beliveau, has a great forward ever worn #4? I agree that it's a great # for a Dman.

Freaking ROR with his freaking paisley cooler!

I agree with duda's lineup except that I think Hunwick will start over Nelson, and Nelson and Beaulieu will be the 2 extras.