LGR4GM

Look, if you don't know who David Jiricek is, that's fine. But maybe you should find out before saying something like this. David Jiricek will be a top 4 defender in the NHL starting in October. Ever hear of Moritz Seider? David Jiricek is a good comp.

My appreciation of Matthew Wood went up. “If a scout who came to watch me play thinks I’m inconsistent, not fast enough, or don’t compete, they should get another job.” I don't think Wood is fast or agile enough yet. That said, he is consistent and does compete. Also Calum Ritchie played the year with a torn labrum? WHAT? Omg, I probably need to move him up the board. That is insane especially if you go watch some of his stuff. He's probably not going to be a Sabre but I just enjoy the way he plays hockey.

It is like on draft night 2022 when I am sitting there watching Kulich just slide and slide and slide. I couldn't believe it when he was still there at 28. Teams IMPO tend to have too many voices and also they tend to have "this is what makes a good NHL'er" attitude that often doesn't reflect reality. Guys that show up at the u18s get overdrafted because they were good for 7-8 games, where guys who were good all year in their jr leagues slide down because scouts don't see "progress". I think I have my top 32 done. It looks different than Buttons. Pellikka at 5 is a thing you could do, you shouldn't, but you could.

You think it's a problem, I don't. Using hits to measure physicality is not great impo. Hence why sometimes status quo is all you can you do. Or we could be Detroit who dumped money on downgrades.

No the point of UFA is to fill holes on your roster. Sure that can mean upgrading but it can also mean downgrading or status quo. Also Boosh speaks russian... so it was an upgrade IMPO.

Wood scored quite a few PP goals in college because he has a cannon of a shot. That's fine and all but getting fed one timers at the circle is not something that impresses me overall. My other issue is his skating which needs to improve quite a bit. His short area burst and his edges are below average IMPO. At 13 I would rather get Musty I think over Wood. Wood has the better shot but Musty has the better everything else and both still have some size.

I didn't mention Hagg at all. I said Boosh was a solid #5 defender.

I wouldn't. If Jack has tiny man syndrome that badly you have issues to work out. If I were Eichel I would spend the cup day with my family and friends in my hometown. It is why you put in the lifetime of work. Going to Buffalo so you can show everyone you got a big schlong isn't you trolling, it is just you showing your insecurities.

Ilya Lyubushkin played his roll perfectly last year. In fact if we had had another Lyubushkin we probably make the playoffs. Boosh is a very solid #5 defender.

This is the thing with Mitts. You can play him in 6 of the top 9 forward spots, maybe 5 (I don't truly think he is a good 1c for a long period of time but that's an aside) and he can produce. He is 6'1" 200lbs so he isn't slight and can handle himself against bigger players. His passing is quite good, he has above average edges, he has some manipulation in his rush and zone patterns. He's really the perfect middle 6 player. He only overlaps with Jordan Greenway for 1 year so you could conceivable give him a 4yr, 5.5mil extension and basically just use the savings from when Greenway (3mil) comes off to accomplish that. I might go 5 years with Mitts but that would probably be my limit. I like him but I don't love him and there is a lot of talent coming behind. Also, his buddy is your #1 defender so paying a little to keep one of his friends around, especially a useful friend, doesn't hurt anything.

My only concern with Wood is how he scored in college and his skating. Wood needs to really increase his agility to be like Tage. Tage has excellent edges and Wood simply does not.

Because I think that David Jiricek is going to be better than any "proven" defender you can trade that for. In fact I like Jiricek so much I think he might be a top 10 defender in the league within the next 3 years. 6'3" great skating physical RHD don't grow on trees.

You don't see how a GM moving players when they would like to go elsewhere and sending them to places they might like helps? Of course you don't. The perception about the Sabres as a team is changing. Why? Because the team is actually a team now. There is a reason all those fun videos are coming out of the locker room and guys are going on vacation together etc... That is the stuff that players talk about, is the room fun. Also Don Granato is highly liked and respected by everyone who plays under him. Contrary to the narrative that comes up here repeatedly, DG isn't some novice bumbling his way around. He's got 20 years of coaching experience and players like him. Finally, no one gives a crap about other stuff when you start to win and the Sabres made a big statement last year. Before you toss out "they didn't make the playoffs!" this team was supposed to be a lottery team again. Almost every single national publication picked them to finish in the 5-9 range. I don't know of anyone who picked them to finish above Detroit or Ottawa. There is an entire thread on this website dedicated to Tage Thompson's sh% because everywhere you looked his new contract was highly questioned and basically everyone said "he will regress because his sh% won't be that high again". I mean I guess they were right there, it was higher. The point is, what Jack Eichel does or says doesn't matter because the teams locker room is fun, the coach is highly respected and liked, and they are starting to win. When the Sabres win a playoff round this upcoming season, no one is going to be thinking "oh man, they traded Jack Eichel 3 years ago and he won a cup so they are a bad franchise I won't go there."

Can't believe you disagree with trading 13oa. I thought you wanted to get better? I guess you're content with losing. See how annoying that post sounds. It's exactly how you frame everything.

Couldn't disagree more with this mess of a Response. No one cares that 2 years ago Eichel was in Buffalo, no players do. He doesn't.

I'd trade 13oa for Hanifin regardless of his contract. I'd do the same for. hellebuyck.

Lol. No I want to be worse next year. It's my childhood dream.

I would draft one of these players. Overage goalies are the way to go. Agreed

The forward spots on this roster are non existent even if you don't sign Zemgus and you trade olofsson. I'd love to add Hanifin to our 2nd pair. I'd trade 13 for him.

Height and weights