dudacek

It was Pronman who had Quinn to the Sabres: Buffalo Sabres: Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa-OHL Trying to figure out the Sabres has been tough with the moving pieces from new management coming in, but the two names I’ve heard the most are the two Ottawa forwards in Quinn and Marco Rossi. I’ve been hearing Quinn more often now and think that could be the pick

Interesting take from veteran Athletic writer Eric Duhatschek: “If I was L.A. and nervous about Eichel’s health, I would be prepared to part with both Alex Turcotte and Gabe Vilardi, two recent first-round picks, to bring in Reinhart.“

I know either Wheeler or Pronman from the Athletic had Quinn or Rossi to Buffalo in his final preview. For what it’s worth, none of the talking heads during the draft showed any surprise whatsoever. The Sabres were known to be very high on Sanderson and were also thought to be Rossi fans. Prioritizing size and position for Quinn is strictly your own conclusion right? I can’t recall anything from the Sabres that indicated any of this. They talked about Quinn’s skill and character, but the thing they really emphasized was upside: they loved his development curve and thought the package of attitude and athleticism offered the best chance for continued growth.

Looks like we’ve got 4 D, 2G and 8F under contract that could be in Rochester next year, although Borgen, Bryson and R2 may have fully graduated to Buffalo. Borgen, Bryson, Samuelsson, Laaksonen, Lukkonnen, Tokarski, Biro, Quinn, Murray, Pekar, Oglevie, Rousek, Weissbach, Ruotsalainen Fitzgerald and Dipietro (who doesn’t appear to have played hockey at all this year after signing as a college free agent) are listed as RFAs. I think Ryan Johnson is expected to go back to Minnesota for his junior year. Peterka is really the only other unsigned guy in the system I could see being added. Not sure of his contract situation over there. Lots of blank canvas to paint.

New GM, two straight disappointing playoffs, I’d say it’s likely. I’d also say he’d rocket straight to the top of our list if it happens.

I missed this. I can’t see how anyone who ever played would think there isn’t an advantage to shooting from your offside.

Who thinks Kakko is going to be a superstar? Landeskog, Reinhart... isn’t that more his general expectation?

Terrific interview. I won’t have any issues with him getting the job.

Well, so far he’s better than Dylan Cozens and Trevor Zegras. Power forwards tend to develop more slowly, yet he is the leading goal scorer and 2nd leading point scorer from his draft class. His career numbers aren’t out of line with Jarome Iginla’s at the same age. He’s skilled and he’s good.

I doubt we get a better offer. Or one that good.

Not really, at least not with such good comparables. Dubois for Laine and Roslovic? Jeff Carter for Jack Johnson and a first? Domi for Anderson? Mantha for Vrana, Panik (cap dump) 1st and a 2nd. Lindholm plus for Dougie Hamilton plus?

I really think Philly will be among the more highly-motivated teams to make a deal for Jack and they do have intriguing pieces. I am also far more interested in Couturier than some of you here as the secondary piece. He’d be the ideal player to shield Casey and Dylan. You can’t trust that he will re-sign and that will have to be factored into the value, but I think we can re-sign him if we look like an up-and-comer, and also get a decent return at the deadline if it doesn’t work out.

Brayden Schenn was a 26-year-old C/W when he was traded from Philly to St. Louis. He had just put up seasons of 45, 59 and 55 points. He was traded for 2 first-rounders. Ryan O’Reilly was a 24-year-old C/W when he was traded from Colorado to Buffalo. He had just put up seasons of 56 (prorated) 64 and 55 points. He was traded for two recent 1st rounders, a recent 2nd rounder and a 2nd Matt Duchene was a 26-year-old C/W when he was traded from Colorado to Ottawa He had just put up seasons of 55, 59 and 41 points He was traded for a recent 1st rounder, 2 recent 2nd rounders, a 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd. The comparables show Adams has a valuable asset. He better not ***** it up.

Sam Reinhart is 25. He was the 10th leading goal scorer in the NHL last year, and among the top dozen highest point-scoring RWs and the top 50 scoring players period since Jan. 1 2018. He also showed compelling evidence of having the ability to be a top 6 centre. His past three years pro-rated over 82 games: 22 43 65 26 33 59 38 22 60 I would be very much surprised if there is not a wide range of suitors for either a futures deal or a hockey deal.

For the record, I see nothing at all wrong with Adams having to present and justify his plans to the owner; on the contrary, it’s how I expect business to be run. I also think financial decisions, like the gutting of the hockey department and the decision to trade ROR before his bonus kicked in, are also well within the purview of the owner, even if they are clearly detrimental to the hockey department. I think those are two cases where there is clear evidence where Terry clearly meddled to the detriment of the on-ice product. I think direct evidence is lacking in cases like Ehrhoff and Girgensons, but Occam’s Razor works for me. I also think Terry’s presence on the draft room floor or the war room during free agency is more than what one typically sees from an owner, and is less than optimal for the functioning of your hockey department. What do you think?

Well, at least they will stop talking about Eichel for a little while.

How I remember them: Pushed to sign Ville Leino and Christian Ehrhoff. It was reported by multiple sources at the time that Terry was enamoured by Ehrhoff's play in the playoffs and wanted the team to pursue him. Whether that amounts to a random comment, an order, or a thumb on the scale is a matter of interpretation. Leino was more conjecture, and a fallback after Richards wasn't interested. It's pretty undisputable that Terry handed Darcy a whack of cash and ordered him to spend it. Instigated the tank. Darcy was pretty frank that the idea came from Terry questioning him on how Stanley Cup winners like Pittsburgh came together and that the form of the tank would come at the direction of ownership. Again, thumb on the scale? OKed the Ryan Miller trade behind Pat Lafontaine’s back. Pure conjecture based on the timing. No one has ever definitively reported why Lafontaine left Overruled Botterill on the Eichel contract. This came from one of the Insiders, can't remember which. Vetoed any attempt to re-sign Kane. Again, conjecture. It was widely reported that the Pegulas were thoroughly embarrassed by the bad publicity surrounding Kane and the situation that occurred at the draft. Insisted O’Reilly be traded prior to the bonus: I don't see how this can be interpreted any other way given what Lebrun reported both before and after the deal and what Armstrong said in its wake. Steered the signing of Phil Housley: message board whispers Resisted acquiring Russians, feeding the Nylander over Sergachev decision: message board whispers Overruled Botterill on the Skinner deal: From the same insider reporter as the Eichel contract info Instigated the signings of Brett Murray and Brandon Biro because of their Penn State connections; message board whispers Ordered Botterill to gut the hockey department and fired him when he refused: pretty much straight out of Terry's mouth Ordered Adams to give Girgensons what it took to get him re-signed: message board whispers Pushed for Quinn because “52 goals”: message board whispers

Will they be interested? I think the Flyers this summer would be interested in just about anything. They had a very disappointing season and are in the mood for a shakeup. They have some cap space to work with this summer and two key pieces (Giroux and Couturier) hitting free agency next summer. Eichel would certainly move to the top of their depth chart and fits in perfectly with their new wave of players as they move on from the van Reimsdyks and the Voraceks. On the other hand, these Flyers can score; it's keeping the puck out of their net that they have problems with. Do they have the pieces? They certainly have pieces, regardless of whether the Sabres want now, later, or a bit of both. Laughton, Hayes and Couturier work as shields for the Sabres young centres. Konecny, Sanheim, Myers and Provorov are good now and young enough to get better. Frost, Farabee, York, Brink, disappointing #2 pick Nolan Patrick and a handful of others are intriguing lottery tickets. There is certainly enough to start a conversation Would this work? Provorov, Couturier, Lindblom and Patrick for Eichel, Ristolainen and Samuelsson. When I look at the Flyers, I keep coming back to Provorov as the deal-maker; he's their best asset and he fits our team as the shutdown pair anchor while Dahlin anchors the offensive pair. Couturier and Ristolainen are pending UFAs that fill the roster holes created by the primary pieces and make up the Eichel/Provorov value difference. Nolan and Samuelsson do the same at the prospect level. Lindblom is a cap dump. The Sabres could also retain on Risto instead. There are a lot of different ways to structure the adds. Is there a deal to be made with the Flyers?

Things that may or may not be true: Pushed to sign Ville Leino and Christian Ehrhoff Instigated the tank OKed the Ryan Miller trade behind Pat Lafontaine’s back Overruled Botterill on the Eichel contract Vetoed any attempt to re-sign Kane Insisted O’Reilly be traded prior to the bonus Steered the signing of Phil Housley Resisted acquiring Russians, feeding the Nylander over Sergachev decision Overruled Botterill on the Skinner deal Instigated the signings of Brett Murray and Brandon Biro because of their Penn State connections. Ordered Botterill to gut the hockey department and fired him when he refused Ordered Adams to give Girgensons what it took to get him re-signed. Pushed for Quinn because “52 goals” A couple of these things are pretty much accepted as true, the rest are just whispers. I’m sure there are others, but that’s off the top of my head. A lot of it is circumstantial, but I think there is evidence.

If there is a team that should be keeping its powder dry for McDavid, it would be the Sabres. Realistically, how many teams would have a better centrepiece to a package to offer the Oilers than Eichel?

Does your list of hot candidates start and stop at Gallant?

Not sure where you are getting this from. We are interviewing Tocchet, who is also interviewing with the Kraken. We are also interviewing Boudreau.

I think it could be Suzuki or Kotkaniemi, Romanov or Guhle or a 1st-rounder for any of the prospects and the value doesn’t change much.

Would Drouin, Petry or Anderson move the needle instead?

If Jack and Sam stay, they will each get 20-plus. Victor probably will too. There is also a chance for Skinner and Casey, but I suspect 15 will be more likely.