Hoss

Oof. That’s not even remotely true.

It’s incredibly important to a lot of people but it could not be clearer that this team needs to move on. Perception of the masses do not matter but the overall perception is rippling throughout the league. It’s going to hurt in dealings with players, executives, coaches and all the in between. It all is unless it serves a role of uplifting the spirits of the Sabres, apparently. We all must draw our own conclusions based off far too little information if we’re to have any conversation here. I see plenty of signs the Sabres are primarily responsible for one of the worst situations imaginable between a player and the team that employs him.

I played exactly how I would have played it: I watched and rolled my eyes. I don’t make millions to make these decisions.

Caving to the reality of the situation indeed. Shouldn’t be in a position to cave. Adams is clearly not living in reality. Has nothing to do with the situation.

Nobody is advocating for throwing him away but it’s time to get value for him which is very clearly not “four first-round equivalents.” It’s time to move on. This franchise will suffer the further this goes on. Beane is considered a mastermind because of how deliberate he has been. His moving players of consequence for what might have initially been perceived as below market value now looks absolutely masterful. He never had to trade THE guy but he’s dealt enough young starters to make it clear he knows how to do what needs to be done. Adams did it with Reinhart. It’s time to do it with Eichel.

At this point there is no purpose to withholding them unless you fear what’s inside of them will ruin all chances of a deal. If that’s the case then you should stop acting like a trade is possible and make it very clear he’s here until healthy.

The mistake being made is the one where people assume Friedman’s rant wasn’t from dozens of conversations he’s had on this issue with many sources. Instead, Friedman’s “source” is mentioned singularly. That’s not how it works. It’s obvious you and Webster are missing the entire point. The perception is the result of the failure. The failure is the problem, not the perception.

They need to advance this to a regular broadcast. Get them off the screen and give full game audio with their commentary and interviews through an audio channel just as a normal broadcast is. Until then it’s unwatchable.

It’s worth considering the possibility that a franchise that’s been the worst in the NHL and potentially the worst in all of pro sports for more than a decade now that finds itself in one of the worst player-team dispute in modern American sports history is the one primarily responsible for the situation. It’s immaculately obvious to me.

His records are absolutely essential here. I don’t think there’s anything more vital in this situation.

No, but I’m glad you asked. I’m talking purely about messaging and image in this continued failure to secure a deal. There’s plenty of other reasons this deal should be done.

Other fan bases, both involved and not involved in pursuit of Eichel. You’ve already done the research and my results would be the same. There’s no reason to believe there would be a change in circumstance there.

This is exactly how every single piece of Eichel information has been filtered here. If it doesn’t support Adams as a genius and Eichel as a garbage human it’s just agent propaganda.

I haven’t seen a single interpretation of the situation that doesn’t view it as an absolute disaster, much of which is the franchise’s doing, outside of this fan base. It’s been reported by several people that Adams hasn’t shown any teams Jack’s medicals.

But thank the lord Kevyn Adams is being firm and strong and not letting the league push him around! 🤮

I think they may approach Houston similarly because I think they’re going to want to disguise the game plan a bit for KC. They’ll have a plan in place in case they don’t dominate Houston for sure, but I think Frazier is veteran enough to know how to play this. In that division they absolutely are. They were the favorite to win it going into the season.

This is more likely the Sabres doing for the most part. They choose who does and doesn’t speak to the media at team events. Outside of that it’s not like members of the media can just text Jack and ask him out for lunch.

Or if the refs had called the really bad delay of game just before the kick when the Ravens were driving (it was at least two seconds late, no "snap was imminent" stuff there).

An interesting thought that i mentioned in the 2022 NHL draft thread: the Blue Jackets have reportedly had interest previously and they are the only team with two firsts next year that’s been mentioned to have interest. That could work in our favor in the “conditional” department. We could get a young-ish player from them (Laine, Roslovic, Texier) and then a few picks: both firsts this year. You could condition it in a few ways: we get the two highest of our own, Columbus’ and Chicago’s (meaning we’d send them our first if somehow Chicago and Columbus are worse) OR both of their first’s but top three protect their highest pick and if one doesn’t convert we get their 2023 first unprotected. If they want to make it playing time condition just do: we get both firsts of Jack plays half their games, if he doesn’t we get the Chicago pick and a right to swap picks or just boot it to 2023 if he doesn’t play half the games.

Did anybody say that? What a terrible response.

Of interest: Columbus has two firsts next season (their own and Chicago’s). They’ve reportedly had interest in Jack and have some pieces (including Owen Power’s Michigan teammate Kent Johnson) if those talks resume at any point. Arizona has three (their own, Montreal’s and Colorado’s), two of which I’d expect to be very high in the draft but I don’t believe they have interest in Jack and that team also needs to restock after losing so many draft picks to forfeiture and Taylor Hall (which is basically another forfeiture). That and saving money on young prospects is a good idea for a team that’s been in financial trouble for basically its entire existence.

***** this guy

Matt Milano might be the best contract in the league

Okay Star gets a sack for forcing Heineke out of bounds behind the line so it kind of counts.

Unfortunate not to capitalize there and get seven but this team is fun this week. I’d like to see the dline being Heineke down a few times down the stretch here.