dudacek

Sad that the Sabres incompetence squandered Jack Eichel. Happy that they probably got the most talented prospect outside the NHL in return. Happy you’ll get to watch Zegras and Cozens compete to be the centrepiece of the Sabres just like they competed for World Junior gold. Happy you got Beniers and happier you don’t have to count on the Sabres making the right choice between Power and Beniers. Happy you get to see Beniers and Comtois skate like their hair is on fire on both ends of the ice for a long time in Buffalo. Happy you’ve solved the team’s goaltending problems for the foreseeable future with a top 10 goalie. You’re welcome.

This might be the right place for the Jones-haters to state their case. I see Ristolainen without the stupids. When I’ve watched him, he just seems to be a really complete player and a horse. Where do you see the flaws in his game? I don’t mean the charts, I mean the holes in the way he plays, where he gets exploited?

I couldn’t be happier with the results of this lottery. ”Bob Murray, you want Getzlaf and Pronger 2.0? Check out this slick and shiny Jack Eichel and this hot new Owen Power. We’ll take your 3rd overall pick and your Trevor Zegras as your first installment. How do you plan to finish this transaction? Maybe some Max Comtois and John Gibson?” Did you see Murray’s face when he came up #3? He wants to move up. Zegras has always been my top Eichel return. That just became a little more possible.

I'm of a mind that Adams has long desired Beniers; he's a poster child for Adams hockey. The "Sabres gonna Sabre" eruption on the internet if he takes him at #1 will be hard to take. I am convinced the Beniers will be a very good hockey player, the question is will it be Drury or Bergeron. Not sure if Power will be more Aaron Ekblad/Alex Pietrangelo in stature than Eric Johnson/Eric Gudbranson. Not sure if I trust the Sabres scouts to make that call.

Will they be interested? Probably more than just about any team. This is a team with an aggressive, highly competitive GM, that just lost its identity (Torterella). This is also a franchise that has never had a franchise centre and is establishing a troubling history of talent wanting to leave. A shiny first-line star pivot locked up on a fair deal for five more years would be a godsend. Do they have the pieces? It doesn't look like it. They have a lot of intriguing support pieces — guys like Jenner, Bjorkstrand, Domi, Texier, Foudy and their goalies, but completely lack the 4- and 5-star prospects the fans seem to think the Sabres want. Their best piece is the 5th overall pick in a mediocre draft. Unless...two or three years ago, there were people who considered Patrik Laine the top young goalscorer in the game and Seth Jones as its top young defenceman. They are still only 23 or 26, respectively. Laine's star has fallen due to concerns about character and this year's production. Jones has been crucified by the analytics Twitterverse. They both need new contracts. Would this work? Jones, Laine, Merzlikins and the 5th pick for Eichel and Olofsson You are going to get a top 5 prospect and a good goalie at minimum. Laine should be worth at least another 1st if you can't sign him and Jones considerably more. People are going to say it's risky (some on here won't want Laine's 30 goals or Jones' 25 hard minutes under any circumstances), but is it more risky than betting on unproven prospects? Is there a deal to be made with the Jackets?

First overall? Yes! YES! YYEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!! .....sorry? Wrong thread?

He’s done two years in the DEL and had a good year this year. I’d persevere him adjusting to NA rinks and culture in Rochester next year.

He looked like a prospect that first year. I wonder what happened to him?

https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/larssjo02.html

Yes. The composition of this first round, the fact Jack Eichel is on the market, and the fact there are teams drafting in the top 10 who might be interested elevate the chances.

I don't think its an awful comparison, but I don't agree with the conclusion because I think Reinhart's game is (relatively) better made for the playoffs than Marner's and I think Jones is good, unlike the rest of you seem to. We have no reference point for Reino and Risto. I've watched Jones eat up Marner in the playoffs just last year. Not to mention how he performed against Tampa the previous year.

I think it means he's been told actual negotiations are going on, as opposed to inquiries. Agree it's big.

I look at how they match up on the ice. Over a 7-game series I think it is way more likely Jones swallows up Marner than Marner embarrasses Jones.

Logically though, a top 5 prospect in the NHL should be on the table. Eichel is in the early stages of his prime. If they hit their absolute ceiling, Zegras or Byfield may still not be as good as Jack is proven to be.There is also a pretty good chance they end up Phil Kessel or Ryan Johansson, or even Alex Galchenyuk or Dylan Strome. From a hockey point of view and from a business point of view, you take the better player. It’s Jack Eichel. For me, there are maybe 10 assets in the league not on the table. Never mind the bird in the hand better than 2 in the bush factor, especially when the one in hand is an eagle.

I’ve seen the Sabres aren’t interested in a PoHO. I’ve seen nothing about senior advisor. Rutherford was always pitched as senior advisor (resource, sounding board, credibility creator) not as the visionary or decision-maker. I think the latter remains Adams, as much as anyone can be under Terry. Not familiar with the Karmanos want in Pit story you are referring to.

I think you guys might be more in tune with what Adams is thinking: type trumping talent. His ideal trade might be getting a Peca, McKee and Warrener for a Mogilny.

Krueger had the boss’s ear and doesn’t any longer. Your point stands, but what we need is a good hockey man shaping Terry’s opinions. Don’t know yet if we have one. It’s finally June. If the Rutherford plan has any life, it will happen in the next few weeks. I think he’s probably been offered a senior advisor gig and is weighing his options. Why do you think Karmanos is advocating a tear-down?

It’s becoming increasingly possible Power might be the pick if we land on #1, but the reasons above are why I have been saying for months that I see Beniers becoming a Sabre if we are 2 or 3. He’s being targeted as an “identity” piece. Also, don’t be surprised if the Sabres consider trading up or down a few slots as part of an Eichel deal as other teams also target their “identity” piece. It’s one of the reasons why I think the lottery could be very interesting.

Was that quote floating around from Dubas legit? The one where he’s talking about ‘how do we get a guy like Jones?’ I think it was interesting if it was, that a guy who is taking a beating from the analytics community is getting endorsed by an analytics GM. It feeds my pet theory that people can read too much into the surface analytics of tough-use D on bad teams. (Sorta like their +/-) When I’ve watched him play (not at all this year) the guy looks fantastic.

I do not want to trade Jack Eichel but I think he will be traded. My ideal return would contain a 4-star centre entering or in his prime, like a Schiefele, a 5-star prospect like an Lafreniere and two other potentially useful young pieces like Jokiharju or a Thompson. We won’t get that. My hoped-for realistic return is a good to very good established NHLer and at least two good prospects/young players/high picks - Boldy/Rossi/Dumba or Tkachuk/Zary/1st. My realistic fear is at least one of those pieces is lesser: Boldy/2nd/Dumba or Monahan/Zary/1st. Or that he becomes a Ranger or King for five pieces that don’t project above a mid-roster player.

If the Sabres are trading Eichel, they simply have to re-sign Reinhart. I’m not sure he is a viable 1C, but he’s going to be the best 1C available.

Even if the alternative is a centre like Marco Rossi or Alex Turcotte? (Not disagreeing, just asking)

Will they be interested? There are maybe three teams in the NHL whose top six would not be dramatically improved by adding Jack Eichel. Toronto is one of them. Toronto is also the only team in the league with three $10 million players. Not much room for another. Do they have the pieces? They have no high picks, or 5 star prospects, or enough intriguing pieces to put together a competitive package and cap space is an issue. They do, however, have a distraught fan base who will be demanding a sacrifice. Would this work? Marner and Robertson for Eichel Eichel is better than Marner, plays a more premium position, and has a better contract. He is also easily the best player that might be made available for Eichel, and vice versa. Robertson is the most attractive add. It's absolutely crazy, but if team decides its time to move on, they will not get a better piece in return. Is there a deal to be made with the Leafs?

Not sure if it changed in the last CBA, but I believe it was any time after Jan.1 Don’t see it getting there. Sam either signs a multi-year deal or is traded.