Crusader1969

It's becoming more of a "when" than an "if" Kane is traded. Id definitely want a 1st rounder with the trade for RHN. NHL ready prospects sounds great but how many teams are a in a win now mode and willing to give up their top prospect or two?

Hockey News speculated that OIlers would be interested in Kane but Buffalo would have to take Nugent-Hopkins and his $6 million contract that runs to 2022 I actually would have interest in this trade, though I would need a high draft pick (lottery protected?) as well. RNH would be a 3rd line centre and would allow Samson and Mittlestadt to be wingers. Though, the price tag on RHN is pretty steep.

Ryan Merkley with a 4 assist afternoon for Guelph. Now has 24 points in 19 games in the OHL. RHD that skates as well as anyone. Offensively, Merkley is comparable to Boqvist but there seems to be a clear separation on the defensive end. Looks to be anywhere from a late lottery pick to mid 20's

Here is a good video breakdown of Ty Smith. Ranked anywhere from 5 -15 https://mobile.twitter.com/draftbuzzhockey/status/929161193566203905

Speaking of Hughes - I'm looking forward to tonight's game on the big 10 network - Michigan (Hughes) vs Minnesota (Mittelstadt)

Ty Smith with a goal and 2 assists last night Gets his shot through from the point: https://twitter.com/spokanechiefs/status/929191473404243968?s=17 Really nice work down low and cross ice pass https://twitter.com/spokanechiefs/status/929174935968268288?s=17

I have to think that it's the same with Reinhart and his role as 3rd line centre. I think the team would be better off today if he was back on Jacks wing and having Larsson move up to 3C but they want to give Samson a real good look at C. Could they be looking forward to suppress Samsons numbers this year since he is an RFA? I think Mittelstadt is the 3rd centre of this team long term.

Moulson is the albatross of the Tank that probably sees Kane being traded rather than re-signed.

I definitely want an NHL ready prospect for him but it's probably going to be for futures

This is where I am confused. Leafs pay $1.8 mill of Kessel's salary but the penguins get the entire cap hit. Wouldn't it be, the Sabres could pay most of if not all Moulsons salary and the Avs (or whoever) take the $5 mill cap hit? Edit. Ok leafs are hit with the $1.2 million of his cap hit. So whatever salary the Sabres pay of Moulsons $3 mill they get hit with Unfortunately someone is going to have to be really desperate for the cap hit to take Moulson for basically free. Looks like buy out is best option. Don't think it's going to be enough savings to sign Kane for though. Hate the thought of trading Kane for even a mid first rounder whom will take 2 - 3 years to make an impact

Some player notes from future considerations https://futureconsiderations.ca/hot-and-cold-november/

If I was Botterill, I would be calling Sakic this summer 17 players under contract - just under $49mill in salary (6 to 8 mill under the floor). Could they be willing to take Moulson, pay him $1million / Sabres the other $1million and take the full $5million cap hit? Maybe we need to send them a draft pick to sweeten the deal? His Salary next season is $1mill signing bonus plus $2 million base. So, Sabres could pay signing bonus of $1mill on July 1st and then trade him to Colorada and pay half of his base Salary ($2mill). However the entire cap hit could be put on the Avs books? Would you play him with Eichel in hopes he puts up 15 goals or so, just to make sure someone will take him from you?

Elite Prospects has him 3G 6A in 9 games. Did they change the scoring on one of his goals?

Moulson's cap hit in 2018/19 is $5mill but actual salary is $2million If Sabres can trade him and pay $2million of his salary, does this mean the team acquiring him pay him nothing? They just incur $3 million on their salary cap?

I think you would have to go to 6 years, maybe 7. KO took a 7 year $42 million deal. Not sure if Kane takes less. However KO was coming off a 64 point season when he got his deal. I'm still leaning towards resigning Kane.

Are there 5 worse line-ups in the NHL right now? They look like a bottom 5 team to me, lets get Bailey and Baptiste back to Rochester and to help make the Amerks a winning play-off team. The problem isn`t effort and not having the will to win. Its talent and depth and the only thing that will improve that is time. I`ll wait for till the 24 game mark or so but if this team is still floundering - sign me up another (semi) Tank.

absolutely correct. They need that 2nd elite level player. I called for the Tank in 2016, I think they had 2 meaningless victories at the end of the year that moved them ahead of the Jets. Should clarify, not an outright Tank where they sold off all their assets but a tank where you start an ECHL level goalie for the last 5 /6 games of the season. The leafs did this by starting Tank Commander Garret Sparks down the stretch. Are we seeing a subtle talk again this year? It would explain a few of the roster decisions we are seeing

Another Zadina goal. 16th in 19 QMJHL games. No that is not a typo https://mobile.twitter.com/hfxmooseheads/status/926906717736259586

Are we there yet!? There is no way Moulson is still on the team at this point? Right? Right? Here is my way too early 2018/19 line-up Nylander Eichel Reinhart Kane Middelstadt Bailey Girgenson ROR Okposo Smith Larsson ERod/ Baptiste. Scandella. Risto Guhle. Bogosian (if healthy) MCCabe. Antipin Playoff line-up? Not sure myself but a hell of a lot better than the team that played in Dallas If the Sabres end up bottom 5, as they appear to be heading , and draft any of Svechnikov, Zadina, Hughes, Tkachuk or Dahlin a roster spot needs to be opened. All look to be ready to jump right into the NHL immediately I

Just checking to see what Dahlin today and I noticed Olofsson scored on the PP again. Is he a 1 trick pony (pp specialist) or can he find space to use his shot 5v5?

Thanks for the reminder that we coulda /shoulda drafted Sergachev. Speaking of Nylander (whom I also have high hopes for), he is back skating in Rochester. Hopefully we see him in game action sooner than later. Back to the 2018 draft - Adam Boqvist nets 2 today for Brynas J20. That's 5 goals 6 assists in 12 SuperElite games this year.

Mittlestandt will be our Keller in 2018/19 - Immediate impact next season.

Here is the initial draft list from McKeen's hockey https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2018-nhl-preliminary-draft-rankings/ Pretty typical of most lists out at this time, Dahlin #1, Svechnikov #2 and basically the same players filling out picks 3 -12 just different order. First viewing of Quinn Hughes was night on the Big 10 network, really smooth skater. Definitely a nice consolation prize for a team that misses out on Dahlin. He is an October 1999 bday and is already playing on the top D-pair at Michigan. Potentially ready to make the leap to NHL next season? 25% chance of a lottery pick for the Sabres as it stands today. 8.6% for the right to draft Dahlin. 100% chance they would draft in the top 8.

ISS November rankings Big mover up is Oliver Wahlstrom, moving from 11 to 5. Wahlstrom may be he most gifted goal scorer in the draft - very similar to Owen Tippet from last year http://www.isshockey.com/iss-top-31-november-2017/

Absolutely correct - Tkachuk is your Power Forward, using braun to create space, huge net front presence and a thorn to play against. Zadina is basically Hischier 2.0. What would you take if both available? tough call since the Sabres really don't have anyone like Tkachuk, Id probably lean slightly his direction.