dudacek

I'm not sure why you are asking this question again. We both agree they don't. I understand that. I'm questioning that stance. In hindsight, it seems they would have been a better position to improve the team had they taken that risk.

It's not the same. Teams would be be bidding on a player ready to play, not a player in rehab. But more to my point: it seems like the Sabres hard stance against ADR may not have been necessary.

Only the market determines what kind of deal can be made. The Sabres determine whether or not to pull the trigger or wait — as they have been — hoping the market improves. I think most of us agree the only way that happens is if Jack gets and recovers well from surgery.

Just think, if the Sabres would have allowed ADR back in the spring, there's a decent chance teams are bidding right now on a healthy Eichel. We heard repeatedly that wasn't an option. Apparently, for "more than a handful of teams" it is.

While I agree with criticism of Vogl's tease, I do think there was an underlying tone to Lebrun's article (and to Brisson's interview): there is a deal to be made once the Sabres understand they aren't going to get what they want, or what their fans want for Jack.

He is.

Good call. The two things that make me wonder otherwise though is the absolute lack of any moves by the Ducks this year, along with $14 million in cap space. They're cheap, yes, but they also seem to be deliberately keeping their powder dry. It's also why I keep watching the Rangers (who are anything but cheap) with their nearly $8 million in space. Right now, 9 teams are sitting with at least $7 million in space, which puts them in a position to accommodate Jack without too much shuffling. https://www.capfriendly.com/

Could a solution be Buffalo sending a conditional pick the other way? For example: Jack Eichel and a Buffalo conditional 1st in ‘23 for Krebs and Elvenes. If Eichel plays x games this year, Sabres get their 1st back. If Eichel plays y games next year, Sabres get a Vegas 1st If Eichel scores z points over the next 2 years, or Vegas wins a cup, Sabres get another Vegas 1st or something else along those lines that gives Sabres fair value if Eichel is healthy and protects the Knights if he is not.

Is anyone else surprised to see Casey Fitzgerald among the Sabres remaining defencemen? Never really considered him a legit prospect, but he’s outlasted guys with better pedigrees like Schuldt and Laaksonen.

Sabres need to get the most young talent they can in an Eichel trade. Position only matters if two offers are close.

Pietrangelo, Makar, Hamilton, Theodore, Nurse, Weegar, Letang, Petry, Weber, Chabot, Reilly, Ekblad, Doughty, Girard, Burns, Parayko, Giordano… What do you think?

This interview was the best interview on the Eichel situation we’ve heard, maybe since this situation started. https://podcast.sportsnet.ca/hockey-central/reactions-to-carey-prices-announcement/ Brisson starts around 45 minutes in.

Interesting element of the Brisson interview was how much pressure he is feeling to get this done now.

Sorry I misread. So you think the Sabres have been wrong to dig in against ADR?

Even after watching Butcher and Pysyk and Bryson tossed around like rag dolls last night? Making a big deal about size is only an issue when size is all that’s there.

How do you re-establish value without one side giving in on the surgery? Do you think that side we eventually be Jack?

So I am reading this is as you concluding the best acceptable plan for the Sabres is to secretly encourage Jack to get the surgery he wants, on the condition he knows he won’t get paid until he heals, then return to the bargaining table in the new year and see what you can get for a healthy Jack. Do you think Jack will go for that?

What if I team has been sweet-talked enough by Brisson and doctors to convince itself to upgrade a "conditional 1st and a team's 4th-best prospect" to an "actual 1st and a team's 2nd-best prospect" and that Adams has been beaten down enough to say he's not going to win the fusion battle?

I find it interesting that the Rangers have about $7 million in cap space this close to the start of the season. I also wonder if that ***** offer Chris Drury may have floated 3 months ago might look a whole lot closer to Kevyn Adams' ask than it once did. Don't get me wrong, I'm mostly on the same page as @nfreeman and the others who think nothing is going to happen prior to the surgery question being resolved. But, if there are teams out there still taking, this was always the team that made the most sense and nothing has happened to indicate the door has been closed.

Both of them will be back up before the season is over. Sabres haven't made a roster yet during camp that doesn't make sense to me.

Caggiula was ahead of Eakin to finish last season and he has been ahead of him in camp. Hayden provides something unavailable elsewhere on the roster Axel-Foley was picked up with the intention of giving him time on the NHL roster. You don't make a waiver claim otherwise. I can see Cody sticking around in the press box for the reasons you describe, but not at the price of sending one of the other three down.

I think Adams makes rational decisions – they aren't always correct decisions, but they are ones that can be defended. I also think there is a PR statement that would be made by suspending Jack without pay, which is essentially holding him hostage and forcing him to get a surgery he doesn't want in order to make his living. Sabrespace doesn't seem to care about how that's perceived, but I can tell you the greater hockey world has a different opinion and the NHL definitely cares. Anyone trading for Jack now is letting him get ADR and expecting him back fairly early in the new year.

Really looks like a team of 4 3rd lines. I guess a "good" Mitts and a resurrected Skinner would qualify as a mediocre 2nd line. Why would the Sabres pick him up if they don't intend to give him a shot? If they think Eakin Hayden etc. are ahead of him there is no point picking him up only to have the Caps (or someone else) claim him when you send him down.

Missed VO. I'm going (in no particular order) Skinner Mitts Hinostroza Bjork Girgs Okposo Axel-foley R2 VO Asplund Cozens Thompson With Caggiula pushing Bjork and Foley hard and Hayden being the extra guy.

Agreed. The only thing that has changed is that some GMs are looking at the reality of their season-opening rosters. And they're asking themselves one last time if a Jack trade is the boost they'll need.