dudacek

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.

If Adams gets 2 of Anaheim’s big 3 (Zegras, Drysdale, 3OA) I will be shocked and very happy.

There are no Cup final games in the weekend. I think the shoe is about to drop.

How did the primaries and ES look? Id imagine the former was quite good, given how far ahead he was of his next teammate in total points.

Have you done a deep dive into Johnson’s numbers the previous year in Trail? He had 41 goals and 101 points in 52 games - 10 goals and 30 points more than the next highest scorer in the league. Alex Newhook led the league the previous year with almost identical numbers: 38 goals and 102 points. Newhook was 9 months older.

My takeaways: First and foremost, Granato is a hockey coach; it’s what he does, it’s who he is, it’s what he cares about. @SwampD said it earlier: I like listening to this guy talk about hockey. Any lingering concerns about experience were eroded. Every response leaned into his experience. He exuded unforced, natural confidence and he shared more about coaching philosophy and strategy in one presser than we got in four years of Housley and Krueger. The repeated references to a smart, passionate fan base and an obligation to them were interesting. I think it will be mantra of the culture change plan and one Adams and Granato appear on the same page with. Donnie was clearly trying to set a tone when he talked with such conviction about “wanting this so badly” Whether it is primarily going to be a marketing strategy or a hockey strategy (I think it’s both) next year is going to be about forging a band of brothers identity for the team. The Peca Sabres had it, the Briere Sabres had it. Even if they had very different play styles, they had an attitude of being for each other that the community bought into and fed off, which the team then fed off. Granato’s anecdote about the alumni event and recapturing the identity he felt from those players was a perfect illustration of what this management team wants to recreate. The above is why I believe Adams thinks Jack has got to go. Right now, we have an Eichel-centred culture, something Ralph fully embraced. I don’t think that’s automatically a bad thing; it worked for Michael Jordan. But I do think Adams believes it is a bad thing for this group, at least given Jack’s current state of mind. You can’t have a team-first mentality when one player is placed on a pedestal and that player does not respect or empower the pieces around him. @Thorny has expressed some very pertinent concerns about this being another “evaluation” year that allows management once again kick the can down the road. I liked the way Donnie addressed that. His focus seems to be on active improvement. He wants to challenge his players reach and grow and believes they can. He basically said the talent around them in the division is irrelevant. It is their job to become better than them, and it is something within their grasp. “If we stay focused on getting better we will hit a tipping point, it’s inevitable.” They want to get people here who believe, and who thrive on the above challenge. My favourite quote was “Don’t wait to win. Find a way,” and “We have talent in place to take big steps very fast.” Donnie came across as a good choice for this situation and this plan.. Now it’s up to Adams to get him the right pieces.

That tells me Jack’s camp believes a trade is close. With Vogl reporting yesterday there was no chance the team and the player would kiss and make up, it’s pretty hard to read this any other way.

Kings wanted two top-6 forwards and a 1st pairing defender this summer. They got a top 6 winger for three years on a good contract and didn’t touch their treasure chest of prospects. They still have plenty of ammo for a bigger move and will probably make it. They’re a team with a plan in a division with room to make a leap.

Beniers/Eklund Eidvisson/Hughes

Vogl today talked about staff staying in place until the draft despite the old June 30 cut-off. This is evidence that is certainly not universal. I guess this guy has no connection to Karmanos, but he is certainly the type we’ve been led to believe he and Adams are interested in adding.

I saw what you saw. I also wonder how much of that was a factor of trying hard to do what was being asked of him instead of what came naturally - the old thinking-instead-of-reacting issue. He did look better post-Krueger and this certainly fits with his comments about Granato wanting him to play the way he’s been brought up to play.

Is anyone else intrigued that a few short weeks after Kevyn Adams telling the world that no one is going to know until the Sabres step up to the mike who the first pick is going to be, we get not one, but two juicy leaks? On the same day no less? That seem to conflict? From what has been an extraordinarily tight ship? Reported by Buffalo reporters not known to be insiders? Could our rookie GM actually be playing the plant a rumour smokescreen game with the competition as he jockeys to reset his roster while holding the high card in a highly volatile draft and talking trade with a number of teams behind him?

The Sabres getting all three Michigan players would have helluva story. Be still my beating heart…

So if the Sabres pick the “consensus” top player in the draft at #1, is it meddling? Johnson strikes me as Alex Nylander, a guy more in love with his skills than the games.

You mean people haven’t already decided?

Give him the Chabot deal now? 8x8? The going rate? 3x4.9 (McAvoy bridge) or 6x6.75 (Provorov term) Or wait and let Heiskanen, Hughes and Makar set the market and try to slide in behind them?