thewookie1

Even if it was the fairest trade imaginable I’d rather not aid the Leafs to get my hands on an average 3C and Mid-6 winger

That would be a horrid trade for us seeing as Kerfoot isn't a 2C.

Tim Murray understood how to build player chemistry but had an almost religious adherence to specific players and no ability to figure how the personalities would work outside the rink. Botterill seemed to think that skill alone would make the team better. The problem was he got far too many players of a very similar skill set and without any diversity of skill types the team would excel early in the year in open hockey but would collapse upon teams locking down for the playoff runs. He also had no ability to understand his top player’s value.

I wouldn’t take McDs contract if they gave me their 1st next year. If he were under contract for 3 years I’d say go for it but he’s literally signed until he 38/39 years old He doesn’t have to be protected he has a M-NTC not a NMC though just so you guys know. He had better adore Cozens because he’s going to be good

Aside from Point, Cozens is off the table entirely in my opinion. The problem I keep having is how will we fit our guys in after making the trade? My first solution is doing a trade akin to Cirelli & Killorn for 8OA, Thompson, and Risto w/ 1.4 mil retention, perhaps we add a 2nd next year. Thompson is a far cheaper replacement for Killorn and an RFA 8OA could very well give them a great player in the next couple years as the continue to play with a near flat cap. Risto has been noted, in the past, in rumors to Tampa Bay and at 4 mil he would clean up some of their shortages. Essentially the problem with Cirelli + Killorn is that they are 10 mil or so. With Reinhart, Olofsson, Kahun, Ullmark, making about 16mil Ristolainen and Montour become cap problems while Jokijarju becomes a need for our cap space.

The two being talked about or what exactly.

I wonder if Tampa Bay would be interested in the 8th Overall more so they could grab that Dman prospect ranked about there? After all they are in a bit of a predicament with the expansion draft with 3 D already to protect in Hedman, Sergachev, and Cernak I'd assume. Jokiharju would need to be protected which would mean he or Cernak would likely be left exposed. Just a thought

Based on this my guess would be Cirelli and either Killorn or Johnson Gourde served as a D center prior to Cirelli usurping him and the coach supposedly really likes him hence I eliminate him from the winger category. The other would be Palat whom I doubt they'd trade seeing as he's only under contract 2 more years, has produced similar numbers to Johnson and Killorn but is younger than both. Out of the two above I would guess Johnson would be the one due to his contract being 4 years and being the same age as Killorn. So, lets assume Cirelli and Johnson would be the 2C and Top Winger respectively, what would Tampa Bay desire? They would want an RHD and more obviously. The 8th OA/our 2021 1st would likely be involved as well with conditions for the latter. As for RHDs we have quite the stockpile of them. Ristolainen 2 x 5.4 mil Montour RFA (Approximately between 4 and 5 mil) Miller 2 x 3.875 mil Jokiharju on his last year of his ELC Will Borgen and Ryan Johnson would be the other notable RHDs. My first guess would be Jokiharju as for their primary desire but I do wonder if they could be looking at the others as well. The one negative about Jokiharju, is that he is an RFA next year and to be perfectly honest, their cap doesn't actually improve a ton. Even with Johnson's 5 mil off the books they would still be near the cap next year after Cernak and Sergachev's contracts. The other small problem with Tampa is that even with Johnson and Cirelli gone, they would to make another move just to open up enough space for a 4th line. (That being with Cernak and 2.75mil and Sergachev being at 5mil) So part of me wonders how the heck they will fix this. Also, I wouldn't trade a 1st with Joki. To be honest I wouldn't be interested in trading Reinhart or Cozens for either.

To be honest, most of us do lol ?

To be honest it is extremely hard to tell if it was intentional or not. Tkachuk's skate raises once prior to hitting Scheifele bounces off the ice and goes up seemingly clipping Scheifele's ankle. The hardest part in judging this is due to Tkachuk's style of dirty play and thus there is an immediate bias to blame him for doing it purposely. If you watch Karlsson's injury by the skate of Matt Cooke it looks intentional due to the combination of his far longer list of offenses but also because it looks like he purposely was trying to injure Karlsson by at very least causing him to twist his knee since Cooke's leg seems to go way over for no seeming reason. On the other hand It doesn't seems as if Tkachuk's was purposely aiming to to clip the ankle and it just occurred due to the ricochet off the ice. He does steer his skate into a stopping motion but his momentum makes it hit the ice and bounce back up. That being said, he may just be much better at the whole "accidentally on purpose" thing than Cooke ever was.

Hawks trounced the Oilers in Game 1 6-4 Hurricanes bops the Rangers aggressively in Game 1 3-2

He is at home with a set up.

The only thing I might change is I'd take Carrier's value out of the expansion draft and only stick the 6th rounder on Botts. He didn't exactly have any choice in losing a player there.

You are reaching a conclusion via incomplete information and attempting tie together the corporate side with the player side. There is nothing that hints at the Pegulas not being willing to pay players to make the team better. (Aside from ROR but that was likely more of we aren't paying for him to leave) They are mostly tone deaf, but even a child could figure out that this team needs serious assistance on the ice. Even from a purely business side angle, bringing in some shiny new players who are well thought of could do numbers for their ticket sales; which once they return will still have to work through customer fears and a low quality product. They cannot control the fans' fears over COVID but they can fix the product. A leaner organization also regards to the steamlining and getting rid of multiple redundant positions between the Bills and Sabres as they unite the ventures under the whole PSE/One Buffalo moniker. Why would you need 20 Sabres ticket sellers and 20 Bills ticket sellers when 30 One Buffalo ticket sellers are far more efficient. Another instance of this is seen by the portions of the Bills Ticket and PR staff moving into the PSE offices above the Labatt Brew House/Restaurant downtown. As for why they hired Kevyn Adams; I honestly take them at face value in saying they don't trust the NHL's people after Botterill and former/present? NHL staffer Pat Lafontaine's choice in Murray blew up in the Pegula's faces. Hence they chose quite possibly the only possible candidate for the GM chair from within their organization. Will it work, who knows but I honestly don't believe it was solely because he'd be cheap. After all, they are still paying all these contracts they fire regardless if they are working or not. At this time, I'd say part of their desire to go leaner is perhaps due to the fact they have given a blank check since they got here only to see the team nosedive and fan sentiments turn hostile. Why pay 20 scouts to fly all over the place if it hasn't given the team any noticeable advantage. Along with this, the seeming turn towards more analytics based decision making lends to an idea of a more streamlined scouting staff versus having potentially 15 different views on the value of analytics and being left frozen by over analysis. So let us see what they do once the playoffs end; then we can likely see rather or not we should be jumping off ledges.

Oh hush you; take your pessimistic attitude and stow it away on a submarine. If Kevyn Adams feels he'll help the Sabres the Pegulas will pay; they trust him. I'd personally trade #8 for Cirelli over Jokiharju but who knows if Tampa would want #8

Hmmm, that would certainly be a tough one. What is Cirelli signing for 6x6? 6x5.5? If he's only willing to sign for 5 years, then an offersheet is likely better value.

I don’t think I trade Jokiharju+ even for Cirelli only because it leaves our defense as Dahlin and the band of what ifs and maybes. If we did I would hope we’d move Risto or Montour to go get a Hanifin tier young Dman. (I really like Joker and rather not trade him in division)

I'd guess a better way to bridge both of your opinions would be to say... Don't stop dating, but don't get married

Let's see Yes, chase them down if the price is within reason: Lebanc - team player but was atrocious in +/- this year. (He was literally a -33 over 70 games; I don't take much stock in the stat but this was too huge not to mention) Dunn - they owe us from the ROR trade, they better damn pay up ? Beauvillier - Useful scorer, isn't great but is certainly good Virtanen - The more physical and slightly older version of above, less goals total but trending up Perhaps if the price isn't much: Gaudette - young with a bit of talent, mid 6 player (From Braintree, Mass.... seriously!) Bennett - Zemgus Girgensons 2.0, a tad more consistent overall play wise and a cool red mustache if he gets into the playoffs Tuch - head scratcher, ok player but is his contract too long to play with hope? (From Syracuse though) Dvorak - eerily similar to Tuch in terms of high potential but lower output that what their contract is worth Murray - often injured so buyer beware Jenner - 3C and was a -14 last year, take that however you want Anderson - was his injury the problem or was his 27 goal campaign a fluke Bjorkstrand - 40 pt guy, not much else to say McCann - Definitely some skill but at 24 years of age, his 35pt peak and play, screams 3C Stay away, nope nope so much nope: Wennberg - if he was 1 year 4mil maybe but he's 3x4.9mil per, soft as a stuffed animal and can't even put up points. He would be nothing but an anchor who takes up cap space and a roster spot. Bjugstad - Love his size, everything else points to a guy who will never be anything special. In a combined 45 games with Pittsburgh he had 10 goals and 6 assists total. His peak was 49pts and at 28 years of age I just don't expect him to ever top that. The 2C is vital, we cannot fool around at the edges and hope to be a playoff team next year. My base 2C canditate would be a guy like Chris Tierney who brings solid overall play. A Statsny or Bozak could be used if we are left desperate however. Whomever we bring in for 2C cannot, and I repeat, cannot be a reclamation project or "hopeful with new situation" type of player. They either need to be a cagey vet who is a certainly or a younger player who at minimum is a good 3C but has potential to do more with better linemates.

Wouldn’t do it, any other team sure; but the last thing I want is Risto in the division to become a threat.

With Chayka leaving Arizona, anyone there you think might get shook loose by the new regime?

Supposedly the Blue Jays are in discussions with the Sabres about using their equipment and such at the arena.

Well that sucks, literally just resubbed for $60 last week......

That it is good sir

Good PKer, other than that he won a Cup