7+6=13

I never totally understood the injury concern. He had a concussion - so that's really not a concern in terms of reoccurring. The obvious ankle injury is a concern but if we understand it better - he came back too soon and the ankle never fully healed. After surgery and plenty of time to heal, it should be fine. I guess I'm just not ready to say he's injury prone (not that you did) because of an injury he suffered and fought through. If anything I'm more inclined to say the Sabres should have let it fully heal before allowing him to come back.

He only had a couple bad games - the others were average to very good, IMO. I think he's shown the ability to be average for sure and flashes of being very good.

We're the more talented team - slightly at the top but especially at the middle and ends of our starting lineups.

I thought the date was August 15th... wait that's something else.

but its not 1 out of every 4

I hate to beat up on you man but you painted a pretty bleak picture by saying "he's doing decent drafting and signing a few guys". As many experts have said tirelessly free agency isn't how you build your team yet he signed Okposo arguably the top FA and to a very fair deal - so he's spending very wisely while adding young veteran players. He's drafted, traded or signed 5 of our top 6 offensive starters. The guy IMO has done one hell of a job. If anymore of his moves that haven't proven themselves good or bad yet work for the good - it'll be oh #$$# he's one of the best GM's in the game. Vesey not a good decision? Again, what would you rather he did with the 3rd round pick?

Well I guess if it's appropriate to critique Murray it's ok to critique your post. The Ryan trade was good enough to forget the rest if you don't like them. You don't mention the ones that possibly helped us be bad enough to ensure drafting Eichel and stocked us with all those draft picks that you said Murray has used well. We'll see about the Kulikov for Pysyk trade but we'll have to see how Asplund develops too. Signing a few guys? Okposo doesn't excite you? What player do you wish Murray would have drafted instead of trading it for Vesey's rights?

Thanks for the information. I honestly and probably obviously did not know that.

Fair to whom? NSH spent a draft pick on him and don't get a player. The easy thing is if you want to dictate your personal development and go back to college hockey that's fine - but if you want to join the NHL you go to the team that drafted you. Otherwise you'd have to create a compensation chart for the original drafting team if they can re-enter the draft.

I would think this loop hole gets changed the next time labor talks come up (I believe 2021). I'd have to think if a team drafts a player he'd eventually have to play for that team.

Watching Jon Dorenbos on America's Got Talent has been pretty cool. Guy is a seriously talented magician and has a touching life story.

To me it would seem that he should have taken the one year deal - prove himself - then had the opportunity to seek more in free agency and making it less likely to get traded. To me Buffalo would try - now - to sign him to a deal that is trade-able and that works against him. I think he made a fundamental mistake here in hopes of getting a few hundred thousand more per. I do realize that 600K or so over 2 years isn't something to take lightly but I have to think he believes he can prove himself worthy of much more (Foligno type money). The rejection of the one year deal doesn't seem to help him get there. I don't get where he's coming from - unless he'd be serious about leaving the NHL.

I love the optimism for sure. I'm not sure we're going to be one of the best offensive teams ... next year.

Since he declined the qualifying offer - what kind of contract would you be willing to give him?

The night of has been excellent. I highly recommend it.

ok, guess it all depends on whether he earns significant time with the 3rd line. If not I think it'll be tough for him to get into the teens. If we get 23 and 16 from Ennis and Moulson - gotta think this is a playoff team just on that alone.

Zemgus traded?

He can't be happy with 7-8 minutes which means he's not producing. The fact he didn't sign his qualifying offer is evidence that he's not loving that and the 105% wasn't enough - some speculating he wants Foligno money. He underachieved miserably last year with plenty of ice time available. Zemgus isn't settling into a role to love and at this point is a riddle. I still can't fathom what you're loving.

You love a players game that you think 7 goals in 71 games represents his average? I can see your 3rd line/4th line point - however that's not love and I'm not paying 2+ mil a year for it.

I'm not saying he will or that GMTM means he's ready to play. I do believe what they saw in the camp - made them think he's physically ready to have an opportunity to make the team or get some NHL playing time. “We are extremely pleased to sign Alex to his entry-level deal,” said Sabres General Manager Tim Murray. “When we selected Alex, we obviously knew he was a talented, skilled player. We look forward to him coming to training camp and competing for a job.”

Haha, absolutely

Nah man I wasn't responding to you to be too ugly or serious. Just wanted to give the OP some props.

Nice post. I don't think anyone would have predicted the drop in production from Girgensons. He's kind of put them in a tough spot because it's very difficult to understand why - equally difficult to commit to him and/or give up on him. He got good ice time last year and there's still ice time to be had on this team (even though it certainly got tighter). I like the numbers you propose on a 2 year deal which is what it would take to keep him - but I don't think the team is going to commit to more than a one year show me last year was a fluke.

I think a very well thought out post deserves a bit more than that.

I think he's going to play for Buffalo a lot more than most think. I think he plays more than 20 games and even more if there's an injury. When he does play - if there's a shootout - I believe he'll get a chance to shoot.