nfreeman

Exactly. This is not even close to an exploitative check-cashing business. This is IMHO too kind to OSP, whose description was elected-politician-level BS. WTF is this? Do you seriously not think OSP is spinning here, or that people spin when they write books like this? And why the insult?

If he's good enough to play for Sweden at the World Juniors, he's good enough so that we shouldn't just assume he's not going to amount to anything. In fact, I can see him surpassing the other Sabres Swedish Linuses: Ullmark Omark Cronholm any others?

I agree with all of this, but the bolded is the tricky part. What is the highest price you would pay for him, assuming he signs an extension as part of the deal?

Good call. It's just enough to make a cap-strapped or cheapskate team stay away. And it secures a young depth defenseman with good offensive skills for a couple of years -- long enough to let the Ryan Johnson situation develop and to see whether Bryson himself can turn the corner and become respectable in his own end -- like Soupy finally did at age 26. I like the player and the deal, and I don't think it means that there are no other moves coming on D (although that certainly might end up being the case).

From the Athletic regarding Copp: That’s pretty pricey.

Now that is some excellent internet sleuthing. And what a story. It sounds like his life was part slap shot, part pulp fiction.

I’m pretty sure the Sabres have never had a guy named Vsevolod.

Before the draft, I was ready to give them #28 for Kane, but now I'm not trading Kulich (or Savoie or Östlund) for him. I think we're only getting him if we're the only team on his list, and I doubt that's the case. But maybe at the deadline or over the summer.

Was he fun though? Do you remember any fun? Savoie is going to deliver the joie with savoire faire! Mais oui! (Most of the joie will be because the Sabres will be a good team loaded with scoring, but still. I think this kid will be much more likeable than Eichel was.)

More on Forton's interview and emotions from the Athletic:

I liked Myers (and in fact own his jersey), but he was nowhere near Mad Max on the electricity voltage meter. As for Jack -- yes, there were a number of thrilling moments, but other than a few brief sections of a few seasons, the Sabres' overwhelming suckitude made it hard for me to get really excited. How awesome can a nice goal really be when you're 30 points out of the playoffs again? Max, OTOH, was a threat to do something wild anytime he got the puck, and the team was worth watching for most of his tenure. I'm kinda optimistic that the same will be true of Savoie. YMMV, of course.

Well, the Debrincat trade makes it clear that the Blackhawks are in full teardown-and-tank mode, so a Kane trade this summer seems highly likely. That means the question is which teams will he agree to be traded to. If it's a short list and the Sabres are on it, then the questions are whether KA is interested, and how much KA is willing to pay in assets to get him. I would guess that the Sabres will be on the list, and that KA will be interested at the right price, but the Sabres will not be the only team on the list -- and if that is the case, I would guess that the presence of other teams on the list will result in a price that is too rich for KA's liking. Still, it's possible.

I think this guy is going to be more fun to watch than any Sabre since Afinogenov.

Forton gets emotional at the end of the interview (about the 18-minute mark) when asked about KA. It's a pretty interesting and poignant moment, likely driven in part by Kim Pegula's recent health issues as well. In any case, it's clear that Forton thinks very highly of KA, and at least in Forton's view, that the franchise was a fairly dysfunctional organization before KA took over. Here's Mike Harrington's description:

Do we know whether/how many of this year's picks, including the overseas guys (I'm thinking of Kulich and Neuchev in particular) are coming?

I wonder if Modo will return now?

On Sportnet they compared him to Mitch Marner.

But isn’t he too young for the AHL? I.e. isn’t he permitted to play only in he NHL or juniors/college/overseas?

Griersie!

The Habs bringing out that big bruiser to deliver their selection in French only was an interesting and certainly intentional choice.

His nickname's gotta be Letterkenny, innit?

I agree with most of this, but Miller played 3 full years in Rochester, during which he had a few cups of coffee in Buffalo. He wasn’t really a backup in Buffalo. After his 3rd year as the starter in Rochester (which was the year of the lockout in the NHL), he won the competition with Marty and Noronen for the #1 slot with the Sabres. Don’t do this, please. Well, if he goes with Anderson and UPL and it works, I guess he gets credit, but it’s kinda like drawing to an inside straight — probably not a smart play.

The Sabres will sign or trade for a surprisingly big name this summer — probably not Kane, PLD or MAF but someone of that caliber.

Good to see ya sir! I voted 6x6, but after being reminded that he just turned 27, I’m having a bit of buyer’s remorse. Would be happy with 5x5 though. He’s a good, homegrown player who improves every year, can play either wing, can score it and pass it, has good speed, seems to be a good team guy and is pretty much a lock for 25 goals and 50 pts if he stays healthy, with clear possibilities of 30-30-60. That’s a valuable piece. I’ll also note that the Sabres are nowhere near loaded enough on offense to move on from a guy with that kind of production.

And about freaking time our needs were met. In all seriousness: thank God.