dudacek

Who is crapping all over Borgen? Unless you think suggesting he be exposed instead of Risto is crapping all over him. He’s a good skating defencemen with a tough attitude and game who projects somewhere between an NHL 4/5 and a good AHLer. I am sure there are players who had played just 14 NHL games by the time they were 24 and still went on to become top 4 D. I am also sure there aren’t many of them.

Yes. Probably the guy I’d take if I was them, although as Brawndo says, a very good case could be made for Miller, or even Girgensons. The expansion draft is designed to rob each team of its 11th-best player. I like Borgen, hope he stays. But he’s a replaceable part. I’m not too upset about us giving up a player who will likely never be among any team’s top 10 ever.

I don’t think there should be any big surprise that Risto is more valuable after the trade freeze. I also think that Will Borgen is nowhere near the top of the list of the best players who will be available in the draft.

From Rasmus Anderson and #12 to Rasmus Rasmussen and a Tampa 2nd.

I can justify Jack Eichel saying that, but never the captain of the Buffalo Sabres, if you follow my distinction. The role demands putting the organization first and setting the tone for the team. “Henri, I need you to slide over to the left side because McCabe is still out.” “Sorry, Donnie. I play best with Ras. Like Jack said, you’ve got to look after yourself.” “Victor, I’m moving you down to the 3rd line because we need to balance the scoring out.” “Sorry Donnie, but I’m not playing with Eakin, he sucks. I’m a goal scorer and I need to play with someone who gets me the puck. You’ve got to look after yourself. “ “Linus, you’re going to have to play back-to-back. Hutton has double-vision again.” “Sorry Donnie, but that will hurt my numbers and put me a greater risk of injury. You’ve got to look after yourself.”

One week until he puts on blue and gold.

Why? Your captain just said the name on the back of the jersey is more important than the logo on the front. You’re OK with that?

I agree with the above. I’ve even taken the step of suggesting Adams said things in their meeting - which, if you remember went long - that provoked it. My point is that a captain’s role demands that he put the interests of his teammates and the organization first. And whether the statement was ultimately moot, for me, it was a public point of no return.

It is. I don’t see Jack as a villain, I don’t blame him for how things got here, and I don’t see how we get fair value in a trade. But the bridge is burned. The man who said this cannot be captain of the Buffalo Sabres: “I mean, listen, my No. 1 interest and my No. 1 goal is Jack Eichel, you know what I mean? You’ve got to look after yourself. You’ve got to look after what’s best for yourself. The organization has a similar job to do, but it’s to look after what’s best for the Buffalo Sabres.“

Because he identified the Jack-centric culture of the team as a potential impediment to its growth and thought the idea of removing it might be an option worth exploring. After watching the dismal failure of last year’s Jack-centric culture (Jack’s coach, Jack’s chosen linemates, veteran acquisitions at Jack’s request), and getting a taste of what might be available in a Jack trade, he has decided to do more than just explore. As an aside, I still think Skinner didn’t play with Jack because Jack didn’t want him on his line.

I’ve been wearing Jason Botterill’s mistakes for years.

Hasn’t there always been kinda a rough rule of thumb when trading a good player for a package in a hockey trade that the package includes a good but lesser player to fill a roster hole and balance salaries, an unproven player who could, but likely won’t reach the heights of the traded player and a pick/prospect to sweeten the pot? Fiala, Rossi, 21OA nails it from that perspective. And the value feels right. Buchnevich, Kakko, 15OA? Gibson, 3OA, Comtois? Of course there have been indications Adams prefers straight futures

This was an interesting piece on the hows and whys of Seattle taking UFAs. https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/2021/07/12/seattle-expansion-draft-rules-UFAs-tlh If the Sabres don’t make a move, they should certainly protect Ullmark, but the benefits to Buffalo are pretty slender.

OK top 8-20 range, not elite, but in the 2nd tier of guys you definitely aren’t looking to replace. And signed to a 4- or 5-year deal.

Here are five takes I have that I’m sure many of you will disagree with: Linus Ullmark is a legitimate top 20 NHL starter Rasmus Ristolainen is a better asset than Will Borgen and the Seattle Kraken agree with me. Tage Thompson will score 20 goals one year in the NHL. Max Comtois would be a better return piece in an Eichel trade than Alex Tuch or Alex Turcotte. Owen Power will not be the Sabres pick at 1st overall. Things are about to get interesting. Go on record with some of yours.

What fool would turn down trading Risto for Taylor Hall or Nikolai Ehlers? Or make those offers? What fool would skate Ristolainen 20-plus minutes a game? It’s pretty clear that the disdain analytics people have for Risto is not universally held by NHL hockey executives. I have no idea what Risto would garner in a trade - the question fascinates me - but I believe he is worth more than than the waiver claim many would seem to think is more than his ceiling. We may see the answer soon.

I cannot get on board with the idea that Chris Dreidger and his 41-game NHL resume is somehow more attractive than Linus. They are the same age.

I just went with the fact 21 of the 31 picks in the 2nd round of Borgen’s draft year have played more than 8 NHL games. 89 picks in that draft have played more NHL games. I think you should too. Before the ED if you can get full value, after if it increases the return. Picture this scenario: Pittsburgh says they will trade you a 1st rounder for Risto, but only after the expansion draft because they want to use their protection slots. You can: A) protect Risto, expose Borgen, trade Risto for a first rounder. B) protect Borgen, expose Risto. Under this scenario, your choice is Borgen or a first rounder. I decide whether or not to protect Risto based on his potential trade return versus my opinion of Borgen as an unproven minor leaguer with #5D upside.

Risto is value in 365 days is irrelevant. That chip will be cashed long before then. Odds of that 2nd round pick having 8 NHL games under his belt by the time he’s 24? Gotta be at least 50%, no? *** These conversations are pointless because the underlying theme is the pro-Borgen camp sees him as McCabe and Risto as Meszaros, whereas the pro-Risto camp sees Borgen as Mike Weber and Risto as Tyler Myers.

Pretty sure one of the CBus goalies (Elvis?) is exempt.

And the reverse is true; it’s not just a 3rd rounder, it’s a 3rd rounder AND Risto. The Sabres are losing a player, they can’t avoid it. i doubt any GM in the league would cough up a 2nd for Borgen. I would not be surprised if a few would for Risto. Therefore, I believe Risto has more value around the league and would protect him. If you’d reject a 2nd for Borgen, then by all means protect him instead.

Signing and protecting Ullmark would be the team’s 2nd best move, IMO. There have not been any whispers of talks, but that seems normal for the Adams Sabres. The fact he wasn’t moved at the deadline indicated some willingness on both sides to make deal and there has been plenty of time to hammer something out. Best move would be handshake deal with Ullmark, adding someone like Vanicek for a 3rd now to back him up, protecting him, and signing Linus immediately after the expansion draft.

If Risto’s value around the league is a 3rd rounder or lower this makes sense. If it is higher, it does not. Just because he’s of no value to you, doesn’t necessarily mean he’s of no value.

I think this has been completely forgotten in all the other hype surrounding the Sabres. Buffalo will be exposing Dustin Tokarski in the expansion draft. UPL is exempt. Linus is an unrestricted free agent. As it appears right now, the Sabres have an open goalie spot on their expansion draft protection list and are the logical destination for any team not wanting to lose a goalie for free. Not taking advantage of this opportunity would seem stupid GMing. Do you expect Adams to make a deal, and for who?