dudacek

I think Murray's biggest flaw was not his penchant for home-run trades, nor his player evaluation skills. It was his failure to understand he was managing people not horses. This manifested in many ways, but in terms of his dressing room, he effectively installed Bogosian, O'Reilly, Lehner and Kane (all reasonable to good NHL players, but less than ideal personalities) as his leadership core and mentors for Eichel and Reinhart. It was a major miscalculation and placing Bylsma in charge of this group effectively derailed the rebuild.

Which is why I think the Flyers would definitely be adding young elements with upside to counteract that issue. Couturier helps us now and is capable of being your top matchup centre for at least another three more years as Cozens and Mitts mature. Couturier 28, Reinhart 25, Mitts 22, Cozens 20 to start the season is not a concern. Again, not advocating this particular trade, just talking about the type of trade the Sabres need to look at — one that brings in at least one player who is very good right now, in addition to a lottery ticket(s). *** Separately: Bogosian is gone, Montour is gone, Miller is going, Risto could be as well, and Borgen is an expansion draft candidate. Johnson, Samuelsson and Bryson are lefties. The only RHD we can count on moving forward is Jokiharju. It's not the strong point you think it is.

Freddie Anderson costs them $5 million and is coming off the books this summer. He will need to be re-signed or replaced. If he plays well in an extended playoff run he will probably be re-signed. If he does not, there is no way he is coming back. Ullmark is younger and better and can probably be had for less than $5 million.

Jack for Couturier-plus is exactly the type of trade I think we will see if Jack is moved. A hockey trade between two disappointing teams looking to shake up their cores. Columbus is another target (Seth Jones?) Calgary (Tkachuk?) Anaheim (Gibson?). I expect the playoffs will shake another one or two candidates lose. Regarding the Flyers, I’d pay attention to Risto in any blockbuster. They are in the market for a nasty RD and big Rasmus fits both Philly and Chuck Fletcher to a T.

I got that and I agree. My point is the line has already been drawn in a different spot and it’s too late to redraw it. The Sabres are hardly unique in this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_retired_numbers

I believe the word that embodies Kevyn’s philosophy is “relentless” Quinn and Peterka seem to have that element. Bjork and Caggiula are jags, but you can see it in their game. It’s why I think they are targeting Beniers. I don’t believe this philosophy powered last off-season, which I think was about Kevyn filling in the boxes of Ralph’s checklist. It will be interesting to see how it manifests itself in his moves this summer.

The standard has been set. Ryan is the face of the franchise’s second great team and arguably the #3 “Sabre” of all-time. Team success, individual success, longevity, and community service and connection. If the standard is Rick Martin and Danny Gare, Ryan qualifies.

I thing a lot of Sabres fans feel this way, and I strongly disagree. If I was the Toronto Maple Leafs, I would be looking very hard at Ullmark. Also, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins. Linus is among the cream of the UFA goalie crop and he is going to have some suitors

It lacks the kids angle, but Rolston is probably the best parallel. The team got a jolt under him initially but its laughable to suggest he was an upgrade on Lindy today. In Ron’s defence, management started the process of dismantling the team when they hired him. God save us if they are about to do that again.

There was that incident where he passed out or whatever it was was on the air last season. It was kinda brushed off, but maybe there is growing concern for his health? My original post suggested a callous motivation, but more likely it’s exactly the opposite: “we love you Gramma, but it’s time to take the keys away before someone gets hurt.”

Is it possible that PSE is ready to move on, and today was a hint?

I think you’re right. Mid-season firing haven’t happened all that much in Buffalo, period. Edit: looks like 78, 92, 13, and 14, before this year, if you don’t count the weird ***** Bowman was doing. John Muckler and Ted Nolan were the only mid-season replacements who weren’t interim.

Trying to think of the last time this happened here...?

Interesting thing about Weave’s theory is this year’s Sabres team was loaded with veterans initially Why did it improve when kids like Mittelstadt, Thompson, Asplund, Bjork, Samuelsson and Bryson replaced veterans like Staal, Hall, Reider, Eakin, Montour and Miller?

Friedman had reported he was willing to sign under market if Dundon was willing to pony up for his staff, and we’re talking deeper than just the assistant coaches. Wonder if that happened?

It’ll happen when they retire his jersey. I have a lot of respect for Miller’s intellect, his hockey knowledge and his leadership. I would love to see the Sabres tap him for the front office. I have never said that about a former Sabre. In fact, I think I generally roll my eyes at the idea.

In my scans around the league this is the potential trade that has stood out as most likely to me. Getzlaf, the Ducks signature player, is fading. There isn't a player in the NHL who looks more like a Getzlaf successor than Jack. They are very weak at centre. They have plenty of cap space They are in a tough Southern California market that could use some star power. Jack is still young enough to anchor their rebuild The Sabres are going to want a younger elite talent. Zegras is an elite young (unproven) talent. The Sabres weakest area is in goal. Gibson is considered a top 10 goalie. Gibson is young enough to still be upper-echelon when they're good. The Sabres love their USAHockey players We've heard whispers that Sabres have kicked tires on Gibson We've heard the Ducks didn't make a move at the deadline because they were "keeping their powder dry" for something in the summer I know many on this board think goalies are a dime a dozen and won't be able to get past that, but we don't know the Sabres feel the same way. We do know that Gibson is as highly-ranked a goalie, and Zegras is as highly ranked a prospect as Jack is a centre. I am not endorsing this, and I would expect the deal would have other elements, but I can certainly see those as the main pieces. The fact they will both be picking right at the top of the draft in this, the year of no clear-cut #1 adds some additional intrigue. If they have decided they are moving Jack, I'm not sure we'll get a better offer.

Jack didnt call a press conference, this is regular end-of-season availability The media has been whining since Jack went out for a chance to talk to him. Can you imagine the hissy-fit Harrington would be throwing if he wasn't available? Thank you. Can you remember the last time the captain didn't talk to the press on locker room clean-out day?

I’m saying Jack carries a $10 million ticket. In a cap-tight world, having cap coming back makes the trade market considerably wider. People tend to think that means a cap dump, but it doesn’t have to be. Players of Jack’s calibre and age don’t get traded often. Some of the biggest non-rental names traded in the past few years: Dubois and a 3rd for Laine and Roslovic O’Reilly for 1st, 2nd, Thompson, Berglund Sobotka hamilton, Ferland and Fox for Hanifan and Lindholm Duchene for Bowers, Hammond, Kamenev, Girard, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Hall for Larsson Subban for Webber

I think it’s partially the concept of Borgen - fans desperately want a badass D who can skate - and the desire not to watch Risto any more that have elevated his value in some people’s minds. I haven’t given up on him and I like his game. But objectively he’s closer to having the career of Brendan Guhle than Jake McCabe.

Stanley Sweeney: a pseudonym for Donald Chumsky, a 38-year-old NY city delivery truck driver who lives with his mom, Rita and publishes fantasy trades for his beloved Rangers from a battered Dell in her utility room. Realistically how do you think we can get rid of Skinner now? He’s better than Schiefele, Petterson and today’s Bergeron.

Fine exercise, I found some choice very easy and others nearly impossible. It also helps show off the holes in our organization. Best players, or the coach’s list (how much I would expect to lean in them in a playoff series right now if healthy) Eichel Reinhart Ullmark Ristolainen Dahlin McCabe Mittelstadt Olofsson Girgensons Skinner The top 8 was easy. 9-10 were impossibly hard. We have a ton of JAGs and a ton of unproven kids Risto over Dahlin was hard; I went the way I did because when push came to shove against the Capitals, Risto is going over the boards when Ovi does. Really wanted to include Cozens because of how much I love the kid, but objectively he hasn’t shown what I see in him in any more than glimpses, and it seems like he’s hit a wall. I went with Girgs as the most reliable and relentless of the JAGs and Skinner as the one most likely to explode, even though I suspect I’ll be cutting his ice by game 3. Best assets, or the GM’s list (how much I value them in terms of current production, future potential, position and contract) Eichel Dahlin Reinhart Cozens 1st pick this year Ullmark Mittelstadt Olofsson UPL Quinn I found this one a lot easier. McCabe and Risto drop off the list because of their contract situations and our depth of young blueliners. And Skinner for obvious reasons. Cozens takes a huge jump because he’s going to be a stud. UPL and Quinn got the last two spots over current roster players because they are ours cheap and long-term and they are only other assets we have that could become “core” The 1st this year would be #3 on the list most years, but not this year. Not even if we win the lottery.

He's totally won me over. Hell of a player. Feel very much handicapped in this, in that I barely watched 3/4s of the league this year and it was impossible to tell how the standard on play in each division compared against each other.

Since those the players and roles GA listed started happening, the Sabres have not been dead last. They are 9/10/2 for 20 points, tied with the Canadiens and the Islanders for 15th in points, 19th in Pts%

Just because you think you aren’t getting a player as good as Jack does not mean you can’t make a good trade. And it certainly doesn’t mean that kind of trade isn’t better - or easier to pull off - than a basket full of lottery tickets