Trettioåtta

Another thing to consider - if Jack gets traded before his NMC starts, the team he is traded to can chose to reject the NMC. This meaning he will have no protection for the reminder of his 5 year contract. Means if the team tjay acquire him don’t like him, they can also trade him with no limits

If Yandle is bought out, and we trade Eichel / Risto. I would be up for signing Yandle as a cheap 6th D man / power play specialist

I think I’ll be disappointed regardless of the trade. I think we will end up trading for volume - getting five players back, all of them young but with low end second line ceilings and a couple of picks

Was Nightingale promoted? I feel he has had about 7 different job titles this year

Happy with this if Eichel gets traded

Or a genius. It was a deliberately poisoned chalice offer sheet

True. I would like Gibson though...

Zegras, 3rd OA, Comtois + Gibson for Eichel + Olaf

And the police's job is to investigate crime - doesn't mean they put the same level of resource across all crimes. Having a second pick in your top ten changes your drafting strategy. BPA is a vague and nebulous term. Moreover, it changes your trade prospects

That's simply not how resource management works

I like Wood. He is a good 3rd line LW. I have no idea what Risto's trade value is. I suspect it is more than people think

What is driving the rumours that Power may hold out and refuse to sign with Buffalo?

In such a weak draft, following a COVID year, and last years firing of all buy about 5 scouts I am not that excited about the draft. I imagine if we pick we will do so poorly - probably half compiled from media scouts lists. if we trade it we will get little in return due to it being a weak draft; with disrupted scouting and no clear number one. Lets see what Adams does with it - certainly another tool to work with. But I imagine we will likely be looking at a top five pick for the next few years.

Round 1: 6 games - TOI 130:11 = 21.69 mins per game (1 OT period). 4 points Round 2: 7 games - TOI 160:08 = 22.87 mins per game (2 OT periods). 5 points Round 3: 6 games - TOI 116:47 = 19.41 mins per game (1 OT period). 5 points Round 4: 7 games - TOI 139:03 = 19.56 mins per game (1 OT period). 9 points

Sam has re-followed the Sabres Instagram. I think it means he is all in and is committed to re-signing for an 8 year extension. Or I am wildly reading into this. Not sure which yet.

That's a good point. Thankfully Eichel's status has been cemented due to his stellar play on a record breaking Sabres team

Not just that - but how would those answers have helped? What he wants back very much depends on which team they are dealing with - a young player, a good prospect and a first can mean wildly different things based on which team is giving them up. Also why would he answer Pegula-related questions? People are mad if they think KA will throw his boss under the bus. What is the hope? That he gets free wings at the bar whilst he watches the new manager lead the Sabres?

It isn't two wrongs make a right. It's if everyone is wrong then no-one would have made a different decision. Yakupov was rated as first overall by basically everyone in 2013 (or whenever it was). If Edmonton didn't draft first, Yakupov still (likely) goes first overall.

Reinhart is a good player, but not much more. If he is traded, it doesn't fundamentally shake the organisation. That is not true for Eichel. For Eichel, the question is 'are you all in?' The only way this team with Eichel works is if he basically decides he will potentially sacrifice his career and commit. The Sabres cannot afford for their captain, currently best player and most expensive cap piece to be one foot in. If Eichel does double down and it works out, he becomes the greatest Sabre of all time and is spoken about for generations around the league for what he overcame and on his back the cup was won. If he commits and it fails, he likely is traded in his thirties to become an important B-party vet to help a team get over the top and is remembered as a vital deadline or FA addition. If he moves on, his story will be determined by how that new team performs, and how the Sabres perform without him.

Review how hockey professionals saw the trade. The response was broadly Adams pulls a stunner and perfectly fills the 2C role. Adams was wrong - but he was certainly not alone in that boat.

I think people are overstating the NMC impact. Let’s say they actually gave him a 10 team NTC list - which is a pretty normal option. Well, that is sort of useless at the deadline. Because Hall simply looks at which teams are in the playoffs / bubble and selects the 10 teams most likely to select him. Leaving the Bruins, and teams without the cap space to make it work, or so in the bubble that they will not trade their first round pick. I actually don’t think many teams would need to be added to a list before it becomes Bruins or bust. I reckon a 5 team NTC would have still forced a Bruins trade for pretty much the same amount

Eh. Johansson only had 14 points in 34 games vs Staal’s 10 points in 32 games. Not to mention we got a third and a fifth for him and he went on to have 3 points in 21 games. Ultimately I think this was a good move that didn’t work out and basically no one thought Staal would drop off a cliff. Signing Hall was not a fail. He was the biggest name out there and we came out of left field and got him. Trading Hall for peanuts wasn’t great; but Hall had an NMC and so there wasn’t really another option. The real issue here is that Hall wanted to be paid as a first line team carrying player whilst actually wanting to be a second line passenger. The fact he basically have up on the team after signing for that amount is the failing on him. He had a duty to be professional and was negligent. Agreed on goaltending Agreed on RK Eichel situation doesn’t feel entirely Sabres fault. I actually think this team could be better off without him - if we get the right package back. Cozens and Dahlin is my hope for the team. I find it telling MCCabe watched ‘The Last Dance’ about MJ and said Eichel reminded him of MJ. Not sure I want that comparison in my captain. Agreed on standings

From an NHL executive on Eichel (via The Athletic): Tough spot for Buffalo. Your team is somewhat in disarray and your marquee player, who has had a short, substandard, injury-riddled year and NOW wants out?

I don't really see an issue with anything he has said. I think he actually liked the concept of this becoming his team. Broadly I think he came across as professional.

What would they do if he did just get it done? Void his contract?