dudacek

That’s what I thought. Maybe I just misread the context.

The context of the Montour nugget was interesting. It sounds like many teams are deathly afraid of arbitration pinning them to contract that will completely handcuff them to a player at a price they won’t be able to walk away from. Sounds like there is a new clause that allows the player to accept the team’s arbitration offer if the team loses and walks away. I’m not sure why the team would be offering a number they can’t work with, but the talking heads saw this as significant. Can anyone explain?

He said earlier he thinks Jarvis is legitimately good value at 8, on the tier ahead of Lundell.

Agree. That said. I do think Montour might not be long for Buffalo. I think he (rightly) sees himself as an offence-first PP guy, and he will always take a back seat to Dahlin there. I also think he liked the warm California weather and wants a better contract than his play warranted. Staying in Buffalo doesn’t address either of those things. (Note, I am not saying he is a whiner, just what I think he’d prefer.) We have too many right defencemen and Miller offers a lot of the same skills and fits a similar role. I can see both parties deciding he might be a better fit elsewhere.

Maybe this year it will be the Sabres making that pick: someone you love like Jarvis; someone you don't, like Lundell. We are revising our scouting lens. Who knows what that leads to? And Sanderson is ranked in the top 3 by at least a couple scouts and the top defenceman by more. Him going in the top 8 will not be a surprise. I think @Crusader1969 has the right of it though: Holtz, Raymond, Rossi and Perfetti are all worthy of a top 8 pick. Drysdale and/or Sanderson goes in the top 7 and we will take one of those four forwards.

It really sounds like one of those speculative things that gets legs because it's interesting. GMs are considering not qualifying guys because of the cap. The industry is wondering who might be affected. Someone says "Buffalo makes sense. They have a lot of RFAs and look to be in cost-cutting mode." The telephone game turns that into Montour. Friedman hears it from more than one source and mentions it as something that is floating around out there.

This. Can’t see any way that makes sense. His qualifying offer is $3.3 million. That’s not any sort of back breaker and certainly tradeable. Never mind that he’s worth that number. I hope this has no basis other than wild speculation based on the front office cost-cutting.

I haven’t seen it, but this is where I read the news: https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/potential-cba-modifications-emerging-nhl-nhlpa-continue-negotiations/

Ah, marginal top 6. That’s fair. He did get better at even strength. He is conscientious out there, just not very strong. As far as Jack goes, he can play with anyone. If he gets a Mogilny, look out.

How are we defining marginal? Victor finished tied for 48 in ES points among NHL left wingers despite missing a few weeks with injury, with Nick Foligno and Jamie Benn.

LOL. It’s OK to have reasons for liking Morgan better and you’ve made a good case in the past as to how and why Casey got overhyped. I’m just pointing out some evidence that suggests how the hype pendulum may have swung too far the other way.

Yeah, I’m not trying to make it about Casey and Frost, I have no opinion on who is or will be better. I’m just using how they were statistically similar prospects, playing in the same leagues, yet are perceived very differently, to make a point about the perception of players in general. Last year Frost put up 29 points in 41 games in the minors and 7 in 20 NHL games. Last year Mittelstadt put up 25 points in 36 games in the minors and 9 in 31 NHL games.

If the Islanders really wanted to send a message to Wilson, then three of their biggest guys should have jumped him at the same time, two holding him down, while the third popped him a few times. You really want to send a message, you need to actual hurt Wilson, the way Wilson hurts other people. If fighting and intimidation are part of the game, embrace it. Lee didn’t send any kind of message except that he’s OK being Wilson’s punching bag. I’m so sick of this elementary school playground hockey code hypocritical bs.

This was changed in the CBA that was signed last month. The clause now stays and transfers with the contract. It’s up to the player whether he or not he wants waive it.

I think so, but you can add Perfetti as well if Detroit doesn't like him as much as is rumoured. Stuetzle, Byfield and Lafreniere will be gone, and its hard to believe that at least one defenceman won't be taken before our turn. (Drysdale, Sanderson, or both). If "the big 7" forwards are gone, it will be interesting if we take a D, or grab from the next tier of forwards.

Something to consider as well, Gaudreau has a NTC in the last year of contract, so you might really be limited your trade deadline options if he's bound and determined to play in Philly or New Jersey. A few other things to consider about fanbase player opinions as we play fantasy GM: every fanbase has their Cozens and their Jokiharjus (shiny new toys with impossible upsides) and their Drew Staffords and Rasmus Ristolainens (capable NHL players who they've become sick and tired of watching). We exaggerate their flaws and virtues relative to the rest of the league accordingly. every fanbase knows the rest of the league primarily through a mixture of stats, highlight packages and message board hype, not actual scouting (think about how the general perception of Sheary and Botterill before they became Sabres actually matched the reality.) GMs are privy to relevant information about players and organizations, on and off the ice, that we aren't Here's an example. Two years ago, this board was talking about Casey Mittelstadt the same way it currently does about Dylan Cozens. Now there seems to be a consensus that he will be lucky to be an NHL player and has nearly zero value in a trade. Fans now talk about how great it would be to get a Cody Glass or a Morgan Frost, players the same age as Casey who have shown less than Casey. I'm not trying to say anything in particular about Casey, other than his value around the league probably never was as high as we thought it was, and that it probably isn't as low as we think it is. Remember those stories about Tim Murray chasing Evander Kane since he was 16? GMs are playing a long game and have entrenched opinions.

Talbot is a pending UFA. Not a solution in my mind, but an option. I will take that bet.

He has to play 7 years before he reaches uNrestricted free agency. He has played 3 years. He can sign with another team, but whoever has his rights can match. He doesn’t have to sign, but if he holds out he doesn’t get paid, and he doesn’t get closer to UFA status.

All good stuff ^^^. Watching the tape Quinn did drive his line, however. He also scored plenty at even strength and killed penalties. And his goal scoring is all him. Those aren't tap-ins. And to be fair, you could say Rossi benefitted from Quinn's presence as much as the other way around. This is more Crosby/Malkin synergy, than Gretzky/Kurri.

Permanent closure? Too bad, Ice Jerseys was so good

It would be a coup to keep Cozens in a trade for Monahan and Gaudreau. Definitely a concern. Winning might change things. A top six of Jack, Johnny, Sean, Jeff, Victor and a rock would be upper echelon. He was drafted a centre and has played it in the NHL, but he's mostly been a winger over his pro career.

Flames would have to think a lot more of Mitts than most Sabrespacers do to make that deal. Neither Monahan, nor Gaudreau are perfect, but they are legitimate 1st line players. Two in one deal would cost a ton.

Reinhart, Cozens and Montour for Gaudreau and Monahan. That would be what, the 3rd biggest trade in franchise history, after Gare/Foligno and Lafontaine/Turgeon. Talk about a statement move. (I think the Flames fans would riot.)

What do you think about Portland's history of productive players not translating their production to the NHL? (Cody Glass (yet), Keifer Bellows, Oliver Bjorkstrand (his jr #s were crazy good), Nick Petan, Derrick Pouliot, Ty Rattie, Brendan Leipsic, Sven Baerstchi...)

100 per cent agree. It's because the puck spends too much time outside the danger areas, like soccer.