dudacek

“At October” is not really a factor, IMO. You are making a 5-year, $50 million commitment, never mind the pieces you are going to give up. The question is “what are the odds he will make a full recovery” You don’t make that kind of gamble unless they tell you the percentages are extraordinarily high.

I think Jack Eichel’s health status is one of the most overplayed factors in this whole scenario. If NHL teams didn’t think it was likely Jack was going to get healthy, they wouldn’t be having serious talks about him, period.

I think most of the outrage comes from people who thought Rossi was a top 5 pick and Quinn maybe a 10-12. Nothing has happened since to change their minds, except Rossi not being a top 5 pick and Quinn getting picked at 8.

The are a bad team in a weak hockey market and need a franchise face and star to get bums in the seats and sponsorship attention.

Next up, followed by San Jose and the Rangers. Not sure after that.

Cozens A game is a less-douchey Ryan Kesler, IMO, Zegras is more Artemi Panarin-esque, although I don’t see him reaching that height. Between Panarin and Willie Nylander maybe?

Because of the Pegulas? Adams Granato Karmanos Ventura is certainly a new braintrust, and the infrastructure underneath them is radically different than it was a year or two ago.

Staal was two months shy of his 24th birthday and a 6th-year pro, a year away from unrestricted free agency coming off a season of 50 points, which was his career high. Reinhart is seven months past his 25th birthday and a 6th-year pro, a year away from unrestricted free agency coming off a season of 40 points, and a career high of 65. As far as comparables go, they are a lot closer than you say. I am very confident that Sam will get a top 10 pick or similar prospect. Care to make a charity wager?

I would suspect that Vancouver at 9 and LA at 8 would add sweeteners for Sam. He’s definitely comparable to Jordan Staal, when Staal was traded for 8, Doumoulin and Sutter,

There is a large segment of (mostly non-Sabre) fandom that thinks this is about Jack forcing his way out. But anyone who has watched this develop should have no doubt it is Adams-initiated. He pretty clearly thinks that Jack is a detriment to the culture he wants to build. That said, Jack is also pretty clearly ready for a change and has very little faith that the organization is capable of giving him the support he needs. It’s broken relationship with both parties ready to move on - a divorce.

While I think Matty Beniers would quickly become one of my favourite players and I drool over the thought of alternating him and Cozens in their primes, I am all in on Eklund at #1.

100 per cent agree with your first 2 sentences. Really worried about Casey and Dylan as 1C and 2C next year and I wonder about the cost/benefit of keeping Sam until the deadline versus signing or acquiring (a likely inferior) someone else to protect them.

Hall had an NMC. And he also had 2 goals and quit on his team. Sabres still got 2 pieces.

Will they be interested? Apparently? The Avs have one of the most star-studded rosters in the league and will have to buck up big time in the next year or two for Grubauer, Makar, Landeskog and MacKinnon, so one would think it would be exceedingly difficult to accommodate Eichel and his $10 million under the cap. But they are oh so close to a cup and may see a stud to anchor their 2nd line as the missing piece. And it was reported this week that they have entered the bidding. Do they have the pieces? They have the most important piece: a prospect with 1C potential in Alex Newhook. They also have blue-chip defence prospect Bowen Byrum. Beyond that, the prospect pool is a little thin and the Sabres would almost certainly be taking a contract back, since the Avalanche has $25 million in space to re-sign or replace Saad, Landeskog, Grubauer and Makar. Would this work? Newhook, Girard, Jost, Compher and a 1st for Eichel, the Bruins 2nd and Asplund Asplund for Compher gives Sakic a similar player at a lot cheaper price. Girard opens up an expansion protection spot for Graves while Byrum fills his role. The Sabres meanwhile get their 1C prospect, and a quality young PMD on a long-term deal in Girard while adding a couple lottery tickets in Jost and the 1st. Is there a deal to be made with the Avalanche?

According to the Athletic, Kaprizov is telling the Wild he wants to see a big move for a centre before he’s willing to commit long term. Will that affect Guerin’s offer?

I think Comtois and 3OA is likely the best centrepiece on the table. The question is how much more can Adams squeeze out of Murray? What is the least amount acceptable?

Are you kidding me? Nick Foligno and David Savard got that. Pageau, Zucker, Coleman…

“If it does not happen soon, one team is out” I believe that is mostly media posturing, but there is an element of truth in the idea of “let’s get Jack fixed ASAP”. If serious threat, would it not be best for the team in question to sweeten its offer now in order to force some movement?

This. It’s in the stare down stage. We will see who bends.

Good on ya, Kevyn. Stay strong.

I hope we pick Eklund. Player most likely to be this draft’s Barzal or Sakic.

His work in contracts is an interesting element to his resume. It will be interesting to see what the Sabres do with what promises to be significant cap space and some interesting free agent decisions coming up and how those decisions play out.

No. He’s strictly assistant scouting director now, although I imagine that includes analytics. This guy is now our chief analytics guru.

Interesting that his already moving on after getting promoted last fall. Clearly a Karmanos guy in Burke/Hextall world. Seems to be highly qualified, but that must be wrong because nobody good ever wants to come to Buffalo.

It’s a rule. Seattle can’t just load up on cheap young guys. It has to take on about $50 million in contracts during the expansion draft -minimum 60% of the cap. They are expected to snag a few pricey vets with one year left on their deal, with the idea they can flip them for picks as rentals at the deadline.