dudacek

I like the Reinhart and Benson comparisons because the best skill of each is reading the game, and the biggest concerns are shot and strength. Sam's 20-year-old season he put up 42 points. I think Zach is certainly capable of the same in his 20-year-old season next year. Kinda like Sam, Brad Marchand was 23 when he broke out with 55 points and 28 when turned into a point-a-game guy. We might be waiting longer for Benson than we might like.

I think the deal with this draft is there’s one stud in Schaefer, one top 5 guy in Misa, about 10-15 similar guys that would typically go in the 5-15 range. No worries about quality in the area the Sabres are picking.

I think it’s 14 players signed, essentially Marchments contract under the cap. Good GM’s find a way but there’s also Robertson raise to consider

Byram and Power have played exactly the same amount of NHL games. Not many NHL defencemen have hit their peak before they turn 24 and play 250 games.

So Jason Botterill’s first move as a GM is sending mid-round picks for a middle-six winger from a cash-strapped team? Shocked, yes, shocked I am.

I was just in Cranbrook last week. Definitely has more of a Calgary vibe than a Vancouver vibe, and his profile is a natural for the Flames, on and off the ice. Seen a lot of Andersson/Byram speculation, but only from guys like us, not the insiders.

According to this site, the Sabres were tied for 6th in the NHL this year for fighting majors. https://www.thesportsgeek.com/blog/nhl-teams-best-fighters/ Mildly surprising, but as I implied above, not really. Only 1 player out of about of 700-800 fought 10 times last year They are saying the opposite, but maybe what people are worried about more is the result of those fights?

Fighting ain’t what it was and it’s not embedded in player DNA like it used to be. Pretty much doesn’t happen prior to pro for any of these guys other than the CHL prospects. Ill look it up, but I would not be surprised to find the over/under on career fights for NHlers is pretty small. Not an excuse for the Sabres - I agree with your basic point - just an observation that they aren’t the anomaly your post suggests.

I think I’m less high on Robertson than some of you. Not because I don’t like him, just because I’m less familiar with the player than I should be and he hasn’t popped for me in my viewings. That said, if he is actually getting traded, this is exactly the type of opportunity that we’ve kept our powder dry for. Cant see many teams offering a main piece as attractive as Peterka. Cant see many with the depth Buffalo has in sweeteners.

I think we might, assuming gains defensively from the trade. I think Quinn, Kulich, Benson, and Cozens/Norris all have the capacity to score more goals, particularly given some of Peterka's opportunities.

That Ryan Donato contract seems favourable for the McLeod talks. He's older an was a pending UFA, so it's not a direct comparable. But as career 3rd-line centre who suddenly broke out, its something.

I'm the guy who started this thread and still think this is a great post. The Sabres need a blockbuster trade where they give up skill, speed and potential in exchange for discipline grit and results; Peterka is their best chip to do that. But it has to be value in, value out. It can't be for pieces. Really, the model needs to be Mogilny for Peca and McKee, with Peca and McKee already developed. Doubtful we can pull it off.

Remember liking his game watching him play against the Amerks with Utah. He's two years older and this is his 3rd contract, buying one UFA year, but statistically he's a Jack Quinn comparable.

Since no one else has mentioned it: Tage Thompson loves him some Donnie Granato. Tage Thompson considers Jeff Skinner one of his best friends and favourite linemates ever Tage Thompson knows some people think Jack Eichel is a ***** but says he was always good to him, and that he admires and looks up to Jack.

Sorry man. I was just trying to share how I feel about it.

Am seeing a few mocks where Martone falls.

Agree they may have been Dahlin-less. But a world where Bill Zito inherited Eichel, Reinhart, O'Reilly, Kane, Bogosian, Lehner, Okposo, Ristolainen, McCabe and Ullmark and didn't hire Phil Housley would have been interesting.

Miller/Lucic is my choice for the most overwrought and irrelevant Sabrespace meme. There is one player in the entire NHL from that team. It has about as much impact on the current players and their psyche as Darcy Regier's tie. Yet here it is, still chewing on people's neurons. By all means, punt Samuelsson into the sun and curse Adams for having Power and Kulich on the ice at the same time. But please, let this one go.

Ah, further back. Agree with Sam. I always thought they worked to keep Jack, but were unsuccessful, and ROR was more about the Sabres wanting to dump him than the other way around. But that entire COViD team was largely them happily sending those players out the door: McCabe, Montour, Hall, Risto, Staal… I guess they tried on Ullmark. Curious what will come out of the Peterka situation once the dust settles as to the whys and the spin. But all that really matters to me is the result.

Thanks for the link, will give it a listen. I thought his frustration was pretty clear locker clean out.

Who are you thinking of?

Jackson Smith please. Can't see myself being really unhappy with anyone in @LGR4GM's top 15 at 9. And I don't have any desire to move up. Looks pretty flat to me. Not big on Frondell and O'Brien as top 5 or 6 picks but they have value at 9. Don't want Eklund as a fit, but I like him as a player. And I'd be fine with "reaching" for Carbonneau or Bear or Aitcheson as guys I usually see mocked lower down because I like them too.

Thatcher Demko would be a significant upgrade. I have no love for EP40, but objectively he’s a much better bet as a 1C than Norris. And having him and Tage on either side of Ras is a PP even the Sabres shouldn’t be able to ***** up.

Very real concern. I disagree though that his at-worst is a point total he has yet to hit. At worst, he is Jeff Skinner: an overpaid 45 to 65 point offensive winger who doesn’t play winning hockey. (Not saying that’s what he will be, just that it’s as likely as “80-point winner” particularly if he stays in Buffalo)

This is exactly right, and i'd be interested if they are. I would rather go with Cirelli than Peterka in my top 9 with this mix. A Norris Cirelli McLeod centre spine is a lot more veteran and harder to play against than what we had last year. Something like this? Thompson Cirelli Benson Tuch Norris Zucker Quinn McLeod Greenway With Kulich forcing his way into the mix.