apuszczalowski

You are also assuming the team would put up with that kind of play or attitude for 5 more years so he wouldn't have to take a pay cut. And after this season, when his NTC kicks in, he can also then pick an chose where he ends up by saying he will now only waive it for certain teams.

I can't see a GM in the league doing this, and I don't see other veteran GMs doing this because a first time GM says so. He is low balling because he is hoping that KA is bluffing and he can get a steal, or because he is playing hardball and isn't going to put all his cards on the table right from the start. I bet the other GMs in the league, knowing that Eichel wants out and the Sabres are going to be rebuilding again, are thinking he is delusional in getting what he is asking for considering Jack also had a serious injury too and are waiting to call his bluff.

When has this ever happened before? When was the last time a player has wanted out of a team and the team just said "too bad, we don't like the returns we are being offered and your going to have to play out the remaining years of your long term deal"? At some point, they will need to move him unless he suddenly becomes happy and satisfied here or it will be a problem for the locker room. Teams will still want him because they will believe he will be different on their team if their team is where he wants to be. Do you think the Bruins won't want him because he was unhappy and sulked in Buffalo, knowing he is a local kid who would like to play there?

I doubt he is surprised they were moved, but he may be surprised on the return not getting anything that is going to help the team now. That is what he will need to look at, he isn't getting any younger, and the goaltending FA market isn't that great (he is listed near the top available) so I would think he would find a better situation elsewhere then here. With the chances high that this team won't be any better then they were last year, that is not going to help his stats even if he took a 1 year deal to try and improve them for a bigger deal next offseason.

They would also be flying for nothing because they can't attend the games. There were many articles written about athletes being unhappy because for the woman, they couldn't bring their infants with them to take care of them, theres also an athlete in the parolympics after the Olympics who dropped out of the games because her mother couldn't attend and she is blind and partially deaf (IIRC) and would have no one around to help her get through Tokyo. Well not everything, some can't build competitive hockey teams......

The franchise could have also brought in a coach and/or GM with experience and not been the worst team in the league last year encouraging those guys to re-sign. Instead they go through another horrible year, see the team stick with 'status quo' trying to find diamonds in the rough with cheap and inexperience coaching and GM and now its time to rebuild again and toss away a core that has barely even hit their prime yet.....

And Jack is also still here. His offer might suck to us, but it doesn't mean nothing can change. Its playing hard ball and calling bluffs

isn't the 2nd photo 'The War Room' where they make their decisions?

Its pretty much how trades work, An offer is made and if other teams are interested, they will try to one up that offer. KA, rightfully so, Is going to take Drury's initial offer and untouchables list and tell him no thanks. If Drury is seriously interested he will then have to up his offer or say he's out.

Terry Facetiming with powers from Tokyo? Terry & Kim sitting in the Sabres Box at the Tokyo Tennis Venue?

You start out with a lowball offer and then work your way up. if others try and outbid you. Do you go into an auction and just shout out a huge bid right away just because there are a couple of people bidding on the item too?

They can't attend the Olympics, no one can except the athletes

Theres no spectators there and only the athletes are permitted to attend because of something we aren't allowed to mention or discuss here that turned the world upside down for the last 18+ months.....

Its not that he is delusional, he's doing what Good GMs do. He's trying to improve his team without having to give up everything. Its just as delusional as some of the prices being posted about what KA wants for Eichel. Lets not pretend that the Sabres had no intentions of trading Jack and its just other teams coming up and offering deals to try and get him. He is on the market and other teams know that he wants out. They won't come out and give their best offer with their best assets for someone they know isn't happy and wants to be moved. Just like KA isn't going to just take the first offer given to him or say what his true bottom line is in a deal for him.

Weren't they? I thought there were photos of them 'In the War Room' that the team posted prior to the draft?

yeah, I have never heard it reference as the 'World Junior Classic', Its usually just 'The World Juniors', And its pretty much the Only thing Canadians care about and watch right when Christmas is done. The 'Classic' is usually used for the Outdoor game played in the US on New Years day...

This is probably the only thing I disagree with, It didn't have to happen. Risto, Sam and Jack are not 'Older Veterans' who needed to go for youth. They just hit reset not that long ago. The franchise needs to stop always looking to the future and start dealing in the present. Hire some coaches and front office employees with actual NHL experience and backgrounds. Use some of the prospects and picks to fill the gaps on the NHL roster to improve this team, then maybe the guys you were going to build around wouldn't be wanting out. Instead, we get more cheap inexperienced Hires and young players wanting out because they don't want to waste their prime

I think so, he did have to waive it for the draft like many other did but that waive was only when it came to the draft. I don't see him waiving anything to come to Buffalo.

I would think that the offer mentioned in the tweet from Montreal would have to include a bunch of picks. If you trade within the division/conference, the price should be higher since you would be dealing with/helping a team that is competing directly with you.

I think Price would retire if that happened, or would play up the 'Serious Injury and might never play again' again their GM was trying to use to keep Seattle from taking him.....

What does it matter? This team isn't doing anything for the next couple years anyway, keeping Eichel does nothing to help except probably makes him more miserable that Risto and Sam are gone and he is stuck in Buffalo on another losing team. They won't be getting a player that can be dropped in to replace him, good teams are looking to improve their roster, not tread water. they might get someone close to being NHL ready, but its not going to help the C position unless that player comes out and has a huge breakout year. With Risto and Sam being traded, its just a matter of time (most likely soon) that Jack is traded too. You can't trade both of them and turn around to keep Jack without him being disgruntled and angrier at the team. Trying to forsce him to play this year would most likely push him over the edge of sitting out until he's moved. Usually just called 'The World Juniors', happens every year the day after Christmas.......

Thats Ballsy for such am inexperienced GM just starting out his career. Unless he has some special deal with the Pegulas that he is going to be guaranteed 5 years no matter what happens, to take the last place team, a team your about to deal away their top 2 young developed talents (Eichel & Sam) and on the verge of NHL history for longest playoff drought, to go into the draft and say your looking at guys that will be guys you want in the future, instead of now takes some guts because if the team doesn't get beeter soon, you may never see your 'future player' play for you.

I think this is the problem that many have. He may turn out great, but people are just sick and tired of always having to (and be told to) wait for the future. With the team seemingly on the verge of another rebuild with Eichel and Sam most likely on the way out, many want to see players that are more 'NHL ready' then a potential project we won't see on the roster for 3-4 years taken in the 1st. After every year hearing the same thing, more hype by fans and Buffalo media over the next great prospect they have thats just needs a few more years to develop, and then watching the previous ones come up and underwhelm, its going to cause many people to be disapointed seeing Rosens stats and getting drafted where he did...

But! But! But! If this deal was made before the freeze the Sabres could have still protected Borgen keeping him and letting someone else go instead

Far better off in the long term Maybe, but picks not in this years draft are just adding more time to the development unless they can be flipped for players closer to be NHL ready