dudacek

This is like saying the Rangers didn’t want Byfield. It’s possible to like someone, yet still like someone else better.

It's also a system in need of a refresh given the apparent graduation: Cozens, Thompson, Mittelstadt, Asplund, Borgen and Bryson are no longer prospects, probably not R2, and maybe not Samuelsson either. Quinn, Peterka, UPL, and Johnson are still good prospects, but who else? Portillo, Laaksonen, Huglen, Pekar...we're pretty thin. But adding a top 3 pick, 2 2nds and 2 thirds, and not having anyone graduate should change the way it looks in a hurry.

Sure, but with enough corresponding infrastructure and vaccine supply that it should scale. The point is more is more about willingness to vaccinate, or lack thereof.

The Sabres will minimize the return by doing that. Very few teams can add a $10 million contract in season. The time to make a move like this is in the summer when lots of teams still have uncommitted space.

Let’s face it, this is all we’re going to talk about over the next few months, so let’s just embrace it. Every couple of days I’m going to open a thread looking at a different NHL team and how they might work as a trading partner for Eichel and let you guys chew on the possibilities. We start with the Golden Knights: Will they be interested? Of course, Vegas is a win-now Stanley Cup contender interested in every big piece that comes on the market. They think big and one of the few things they lack is that star centre element. Do they have the pieces? Probably not. Peyton Krebs is a very good prospect and would have to be involved and Sabres fans love Alex Tuch, but is that enough? They have no cap room, but they have never been scared of moving cap. Would guys like Martinez, Karlsson, Smith and Marchesseault be on the table? Would the Sabres be interested? Can they be flipped for things the Sabres are more interested in? Would this work? Fleury, Tuch, Krebs, VGK 1st, NJD 2nd for Eichel and Bjork. Fleury clears cap and gives the Sabres a good goalie for at least one year, Tuch is a needed power forward who can play top 6 now and for a long time, Krebs projects as a versatile, responsible potential 2-way top-sixer. The Sabres also get two lottery tickets. The Knights would have to find a new backup, but add Bjork for depth and basically add an offensive centrepiece at the price of Tuch from their current roster. Eichel actually makes their core a lot younger and extends their window. Is there a deal to be made with the Knights?

I find this shocking. In British Columbia, we didn’t start vaccinating the general population (under 70 and not high-risk, or working in front-line care) until April. We have now vaccinated 55 percent of our eligible population with a first dose, although only about 5% have 2 doses (because we have priorized 1st doses and stretched the time between shots to the limit.) People have been lining up to get them as fast as they are being made available. That 60 per cent of your population has yet to get a first shot despite little to no waiting times disturbs my faith in humanity.

Pretty ***** bad team.

The question was who got a better return for O’Reilly? And, for the record, O’Reilly was coming off 61 and 55 point seasons when we traded him, 55 and 64 when Colorado did. He was the same player.

You think it’s that clear? Grigorenko is trash and Jeremy Roy, the guy picked with our pick looks like he is too. Zadorov and Compher are NHL regulars. Those two are somewhat better than Colin Miller and Tage Thompson, although Tage has a chance to even that up. I think that if Ryan Johnson busts they did better, but if he develops into a player, we did better. Why do you disagree?

This on the other hand... And this. We have a weird relationship with him.

I just don't see them having a piece close enough to Eichel to balance the difference between Risto and Jones, even if they threw in a goalie.

Ryan O'Reilly was in the exact same position as Samson when he was traded to Buffalo for 2 recent first rounders and 2 high 2nds. Signed a 7-year extension a week later. I'm not worried about Samson's contract status affecting his return at all. Semi-related, is what we got for ROR that much worse than what the Avs did?

This is probably more accurate. I haven't watched Jones this year, but the player I remember watching beat the Leafs in the bubble was pretty damned good. I wonder if any analytical decline is partially a product of being on the ice half the game in all the tough situations for a bad team, like Risto or Drew Doughty? The flip side of that is how I've been saying the best Eichel comparable is Jeff Carter. Carter was also traded for a highly-touted 25-year-old horse of an American defenceman drafted in the top 4, and 1st-rounder. And we all know what became of Jack Johnson.

I don't think you've been paying attention to Minnesota. Erikson Ek put up 30 points in 56 games this year and is matching up against top lines. Kevin Fiala has 43 goals and 94 points in his past 114 games. Each is 24 and is much better than OK.

If Samson is traded, it will be to a team that believes they will be able to sign him long-term.

Can't wait for the snap.

Yet Rutherford has hinted the opposite. He's stated on the record that Malkin, Crosby, Letang and Fleury should be able to retire as Penguins, and that trading Fleury is one of his biggest regrets.

One would assume that if Adams is shopping Eichel and planning his build around that move that the owners have signed off on that plan. The fact that the bolded could still come true despite that tells you all you need to know about the Sabres.

More or less. There's a thread about it.

I agree this is the most likely situation. It also may max his value. The expansion draft may create a situation where we can trade him to a team with blueline space and a forward squeeze, but I haven't seen one presented. Right now it stands in the way of most teams wanting to add a blue liner. Also, don't shut the door on him being included in an Eichel or Renihart package. He seems like a potentially attractive option to teams like LA and Calgary

Dumba, Fiala, Rossi/Boldy would be among the more attractive returns I've seen that are somewhat realistic. At least it involve players who can help us now. Essentially, we'd add a Risto and a Reinhart to the current roster, as well as a prospect who projects to be at least as good as Quinn.

It's my wife's go-to. I think it's fine.

I don't see that as being pessimistic at all. Yes, re-signing Ullmark and McCabe should be doable. That's much different than counting on it. You need desire and dollars from both sides, and McCabe's injury further clouds things. They might, they might not. And trading Risto (and Reinhart) just opens up different checklist boxes to tick. With all due respect, my checklist isn't steadily being worked through, the work through hasn't even been started. That's not pessimistic, it's realistic.

Yep. And in the only big stage they played on, Rossi put up zero points and -6 in four WJC games while Quinn had 5 points and +10 in 7. Quinn had a hernia and Rossi had COVID. It's hard see how anything that happened this year could have "widened" the gap. I wonder if Devils fans are carrying on this painful conversation about Holtz, or the Wings about Raymond, or if it's just something Sabresfans do?

By shutdown defenceman, I did not mean Nik Lidstrom. Jay McKee is fine. I'd take Jake McCabe. Keep Eichel, re-sign Ullmark and McCabe and we only need two more to be in contention, IMO. At this point it doesn't look like we can count on them to do any of the above.