ska-T Palmtown

who he be?

It really is an interesting and unique situation for the NHL because the Junior Leagues are also businesses trying to make money and it is really the only sport where there is viable competition to the NCAA for athletes. I am not sure what leverage the NCAA has, but I am sure they would be opposed to anything that would dilute some of the attraction power they are gaining. I don't know that too many NCAA hockey players get significant NIL money, but the potential is there. Baseball is sorta the closest comparison due to young drafting age and a vast minor league network. The difference is that if the draftee does not make it into the minor leagues, their only viable option is really NCAA. Basketball can draft from HS (or have they changed since Lebron?) - but if they don't sign with team, I think they are free to sign wherever, so there is strong incentive for the pro team to only select HS players they think can jump right away? I dunno, shooty hoops is not really my thing. Similarly, if a college football player declares for the NFL draft, they are forfeiting NCAA eligibility and there are restrictions on when they can declare. And teams would be wary of drafting younger players due to the substantial monetary investments. Point is - the structure of the hockey world in North America, and worldwide, really complicate any "fair" set of rules and defies comparison to any other North American sport. *editors note - Ska-T has only a surface knowledge level of anything discussed above. So little, in fact, that it might be hard to even call him a novice. And European football? Ha, that kid has no clue about how any of that works ....

FWIW, Little Caesar's in Chicago is also not very good ... it seems like it should be free. And the only Detroit-style is Jet's. This may correlate with random chants of "Detroit Sucks" still breaking out at 'Hawks home games even when they are not playing the Wings, lol.

I remember seeing some hand-wringing (in general, not by LGR that I recall) about "we already pay cozens 2C money!!" Yet, looking at that social media post, it appears TB decided they could pay their 3C $6.25M. Granted, TB has some rolling cap issues ... but they also have two recent cups. shrug.

LOL, right? It is similar to baseball. I recently went through all my sports cards from the early 90's - there were probably 300+ "top prospect" or "first round draft" cards between baseball and hockey and maybe ... 10 (?) made any sort of impact. The difference is both MLB and the NHL have very deep and established minor leagues so there is very little pressure when taking a first rounder. NBA allows drafting of teenagers, but the team had better be darned tootin' sure the kid can handle it because the set back for whiffing on a high 1st round pick is way worse. *on the prospect card note - I mean R2D2, Murray, and Rousek got "top guns" cards FFS.

Well, he certainly is not mine.

Even if it was an "overpay" [and that is being litigated in the trade thread, not asking for that to start here] - I sorta feel like the McLeod trade falls in the "evidence the initial assertion of this thread was wrong" bin? If it is true (the initial assertion alleged by the thread title), imagine how hard GMKA is working to get these done ... might be impressive, lol.

Not directing this at you - it is just a good place to start my rant 🙂 I don't think characterizing Carolina picking up a bunch of UFAs we did not want in the same light as Buffalo TRADING away Montour, Reinhart, and Okposo is reasonable. Honestly, it is annoying - it is like listening to a three year old child repeat the same joke off of a TV show for weeks cuz it got a laugh once. Again, only three players of any consequence on FLA's roster were drafter by FLA. Friggin' Vegas probably had zero. Why does Buffalo take the heat for ROR ... the Avalanche "cast him off", too. Honestly, the Calgary and Columbus "cast-offs" on FLAs roster were far more influential in the playoffs and it seems like the "which former-Sabre will win the cup" schtick is just a desperate attempt to pretend the Sabres have any real relevance in the NHL, which they honestly (and very sadly) don't. Phew - I feel lighter after getting that off my chest, lol.

I think the willful exclusion from consideration that any number of these prospects may have actually SHRUNK since the last time they were measured due to the crushing weight of Sabrespace expectations on their shoulders to not only be erroneous, but downright disingenuous!!! <angry noises!>

To be clear, I only reacted as "sad" because I am sad that Buffalo has no one like that to come back and help 😞 Datsyuk is a freaking legend.

Wait. Hold on. Just this morning I was thinking "I liked the Chicken Head better" ... and there it is. Let me try this ... "I liked the Sabres being perennial playoff contender better" ... no reason to doubt this will work.

nothing about the *you're?

In an alternate universe where Z had *not been a Sabre for his whole career and tainted by the drought - I could see him being a "solid" 4th liner pick up and many members of this board being meh to OK with it. He has decent numbers (not befitting of a 1st rounder, but aside from that) and I doubt his work ethic on or off the ice has ever been questioned. I real "lunch pail" "blue collar" kinda guy ... I do truly wish him the best.

can i interest you in a vegan meat substitute burger?

so, are we merely to feel whelmed? 😉

I will reserve judgement until i see some fancy colorful charts that I don't understand.

But, like, for reals .... how are so many UFAs already accounted for? What are the REAL rules around this??? I get the extensions / people staying with a current team. But how, oh how! can UFAs already have anticipated deals in place???

Let's not discuss why the Sabres are bad in this thread ... but here is my list of complaints 🤣🤣😉

I thought the $8.625 AAV number was odd ... now it makes total sense to the 12 yr old that still lives in my head. hehehe

Earlier today, I was thinking "Maybe I will take an early lunch (I am central time zone) so I can pay close attention to the enormous bounty KA will be bringing!" It feels less exciting now ...

That felt like a great big "welp" ... amirite?

I have Jags and Pronger in my HHOF binder, and I have several extra Jagrs. Such a great player! Most of the current non-Sabres I have, I have then because they are future HHOF locks ... stamkos, hedman, barkov, kane, toews, crosby, malkin. I find it really hard to cheer for active players who are not Sabres, lmao!

@shrader @#freejame - I think most card shops, unless they choose to specialize in truly vintage stuff (LIke, mid-80's and earlier), they just don't have the room and I bet the walk-in demand is really low. I have been tempted to buy a box of '86 OPC for the rush of tearing open a pack and hoping to see Mario staring back at me in pristine glory - but those boxes seem to come in around the price of a pretty decent used car, so I have not done it. My wife and I have a "your money is your money" policy - but if she ever found out I dropped that much cheddar on some old cardboard ... she might question my sanity 🤣 I admit I am a bit of a "deal" junky outside of the Sabres cards I want. Like, oh ... this graded card with a book value of $100 is auctioning for $40?? I don't mind if I do. (this only applies to retired or twilight of their career players with sustained value - I am not out there dropping any money on Cole Caufield.)

Who are the players? Always cool to see who everyone like. I have a ton of Mario Lemieux cards - including a Topps rookie. Apparently the OPC is the one to have ... but I have a budget, lol.

And as much as I love the idea of supporting small local card shops, if you are looking for hockey and especially old hockey, most shops in the US are just not gonna get it done. I troll ebay looking for things that seems to be under valued. You can find some. Sometimes you find an auction that for one reason or another is not attracting much attention and you can get a sweet deal. @shrader - Yeah, I am pretty sure after a nuclear winter, there would be cockroaches and old trading card gum!