LGR4GM

Let's talk about Caleb Desnoyers. He is a 6'2" 172lb center, born in mid April, who plays in the QMJHL or simply the Q. Now first let's talk about that minor issue, the Q. In recent years (last 5-10) the Q has been considered a step below in the eyes of scouts and GMs when it comes to jr hockey leagues. The WHL and OHL are considered a step above and also like the SEC versus the MAC, it is felt that more pro level style takes place in the other two leagues. Now, that does not mean Desnoyers isn't good or can't be good but it is should be noted before moving on. Also I feel the Q has at least started to change. Caleb Desnoyers is in his 2nd Q year and last season put up a very respectable 20g, 56pts in 60games for the Moncton Wildcats. This year he has 25g, and 60pts in 37 games to date. For those who care about +/-, Desnoyer leads his team with a +41, overall though his entire team is + in terms of ev goal differential so while a high number, it isn't worlds ahead of his teammates (2nd is a +37). Desnoyers also leads his team in goals (25) and points (60) with the next closest players being at 20g and 43pts. He does have several previously drafted guys around such as 76th overall in 2023, Juraj Pekarcik and 48th overall Etienne Morin. There are two ways we can look at this, unlike say Michael Misa who basically is it on his team, Desnoyers does have some talent and help around. The 2nd part is he has talent around and is still the best. How's he play though? I think he has a very underrated shot. He has the ability to load and fire from lots of angles and with a lot of pace. This will translate his shot well to higher levels as he adds strength. His skating is pretty good, he could be faster but he's got good extensions and a solid base, you will see him cut in and around guys with his edges. Idk about his motor, not because it is bad but because I have seen only some highlights and couple of full shifts from him so it is hard to judge but most ppl seem to say he is good. Personally I like his IQ and his puck touches, he seems to find players in open space and sees the ice really well. I actually thought he would have way more assists than goals but his shot is such an asset. Overall, at 5-7, there is certainly a conversation that could be had for Caleb Desnoyers and with his April bday he's probably got 1 if not 2 more years left in the Q. Sucks he's another one of these guys who can't do one more year of jr and then move on to the AHL. Still, he's worth that 3yr wait imo and is worthy of a top 10 pick.

I wish we had a team of 6'3" centers that played like Benson. I would be happier than a pig in *****.

Multiple reports that NIH (National Institute of Health) staff have been told they can't travel to conferences or give talks until further notices. NIH also shutdown their grant reviews according to multiple scientists in the field "until further notice". NIH funding helps over 300k people across roughly 2,500 institutions including at major universities. With the grant review panel shut down, this will impact the ability of the United States to due research on very real and ongoing problems from pandemic's to biomedical engineering. Read all about it: https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-hits-nih-devastating-freezes-meetings-travel-communications-and-hiring#:~:text=Donald Trump's return to the,such as grant review panels. I notice how quiet the responses here have been. Hard to defend the Trump admin already, isn't it?

Great moments, are born from great opportunities.

Letter sent out to NASA and every other Federal agency by order of the president. Wait until DEI turns into "disparages the current administration"

Donald Trump has now made it legal for ICE to raid schools and take children. Churches are no longer safe either. https://www.npr.org/2025/01/21/nx-s1-5269899/trump-immigration-enforcement-schools-churches

That is not what this quote is telling us. We will draft in the top 8 at a minimum and top 5 is likely. This draft has a stronger top than the 2020 draft IMPO. Caleb Desnoyers at 5 is very interesting.

But then how do we set the value? Power is worth: a top 6 player, a 1st round pick, a good prospect. 1st overall is worth... what? A top 3 forward, a 1st round pick, your best prospect? Idk how to value it and neither do GMs because nobody trades them in the cap era. So the equation we are talking about is: Power, 2025 2nd = Martin Necas, 2026 1st, Scott Morrow. cap dump player for math to work (which also gets us that first) and we have Schaefer or Matthew Schaefer = Necas, 2025 1st, Morrow, Trikozov/Nadeau/Blake (someone like that)

I think it is far easier for NHL gms to value trading for Power than it is for them to trade for a pick, which is why it doesnt happen in the cap era. It also isn't about more assets IMPO, it is about the overall cumulative effect.

Id love to lay playoff bricks now, I think trading Power gets you closer to playoffs next year than keeping Power. Of course I am record as saying keep Power and move Byram. In this scenario though, I can trade Power and get X and Schaefer or I can keep Power and get X without Schaefer. I want X and Schaefer more than Power and X. When in the cap era has the 1st overall pick been traded?

You legit need to just walk away from the "we should not sign McLeod" schtick you got going. It is still illogical in the extreme. Why the flying F would I give a ***** about paying a legit NHL center 4mil a year just to save a couple million by replacing him with a guy who has 1 NHL goal total, and another who is a 20yr old rookie that if he gets in trouble, in your scenario, there is 0, zilch, nada in the wings to replace him. He's just fed to the wolves. I am sorry but you deserve to be called out every single time you start this bizarre crusade against McLeod. WTF man, you want to get rid of McLeod and his 10g and 24pts to date, a guy who is 6'3" and over 50% on faceoffs so we can hope and pray that 5'11" Tyson Kozak can pick of the slack? You've completely lost objectivity.

Why wouldn't the Sabres play Krebs as the 3rd or 4th line center? He's better than Kozak.

Look at it this way, I can keep Power and improve the team he will play on. Or I can move Power and bring Schaefer into a better team. I would pick Schaefer because he is one of those guys who demands the puck, we need more of those guys. Not puck hogs, but guys who will take the puck and want to take the puck. Power is a very passive player, so is Tage to a large extent. Cozens tries to be a guy who demands the puck but he stinks at it. Jack Quinn in large part has been trash this year because he has deferred his puck touches to others. In the end if Buffalo stays at 4, I am taking whichever of Misa or Martone is left. I prefer Misa because he is a center.

I wanted to draft Marco Rossi. He's currently Minnesota's #1 center. What matters is finding the right players. I have never been convinced Power is one of those guys and was quite vocal about that in his draft year. If this team had bothered to fix their drafting in 2014, or 15, or 16 or 17... we wouldn't be having this conversation. Can the Sabres win a playoff round next year, probably not, but in 2 years I could see it, so who do I want here in 2 years. My goal would be to upgrade the roster enough next to make the playoffs and then in year 2 to actually be a threat in the playoffs. I would love to do it faster but the Sabres have neither the balls or the ability.

If the Sabres are picking 1st overall and they have that pick or Power up for grabs, I think teams who want to win now, favor Power but teams that have any sort of rebuilding runway, will favor the pick. Edmonton might favor Power over an 18yr old kid for example. It is really hard to say and it would depend on how teams view Schaefer. If I were Buffalo though, I want to swap out either Byram or Power for someone with more on ice presence. I firmly believe that Schaefer will end up better than Power as early as 2027.

Kevyn Adams wouldn't be my GM in this scenario. In fact at this point, there is no scenario short of acquiring McDavid that I want Adams back. However if you draft 1st overall, you can still take Schaefer and trade Power. Hmmm, probably the pick.

You can draft Schaefer, but then you look to move Power. In fact, I might argue, drafting Schaefer could speed up the rebuild as you would then have Power as a trade chip and could get something very good for him like a very good center. That said, and as much as Schaefer is good and young (Sept bday), I think if I were Buffalo, I take Hagens 1st overall. That's subject to change as this goes on.

Reason is simple, he doesn't want them to say or do anything he doesn't want. It is about regurgitating his beliefs or his admins beliefs and if the science contradicts that it must be silenced.

This team needs more guys who do 2 things: Demand the puck, support the puck.

Hagens is a playmaker. Misa less so. Martone is actually a playmaker as well.

Trump officials have paused all external communications at health agencies like CDC, FDA, NIH. No health alerts and the famed MMWRs (morbidity and mortality weekly); no updates to key websites or social media posts. And no indication how long the pause will last. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/21/health/hhs-cdc-fda-trump-pause-communication/index.html

This will sound nuts but I mean stylistically not talent level, I see flashes of McDavid in some of Misa's transition game. I AM NOT SAYING MISA IS MCDAVID

We want to talk payoff down the road, Östlund in another 2-3 years is the guy I think of. Needs more garbage plates in his life though.