DarthEbriate

All these 1sts being moved for rentals (and Hagels)... it's a good time to be a rebuilding squad with the 2023 draft coming up.

Brandon Hagel nets more 1sts (expected late-round, just like VGK) than Eichel. I get the late 1sts for Chicago as they're finally embracing a rebuild a few seasons too late. But, he's under contract for nothing for 3 years... he's the kind of guy you can rebuild around as a top-six option given recent production.

That's the plan. First, Quinn has to stay in the lineup. VO on a fair contract extension (easy because he's an RFA and his own injury this season means he won't break the bank) will still be easily traded when Quinn has supplanted him. But that hasn't happened yet. And removing blockers doesn't force Quinn to beat anyone out for a roster spot. I want that competition for the sweater.

Never? C'mon! Dotson, Cox (to be a backup), Jones (to stay on), Jackson (to return after initially not wanting to even report the prior season), Beebe (as a 5/6), Howard, and then Rison for nothing in-season. Teams that are on the cusp of greatness with an up-and-coming QB find it really easy to attract good players who want to win.

Out of the frying pan and into the Flames. But now the Heritage Classic and its circus, plus only one game in 6 days are firmly in the rearview mirror. Girgs and Miller have had their wake-up skate. The issue tonight is the Flames suffocating defense. (and they're good offensively, too) Gotta stay on the throttle, score first, and get the Flames out of their comforting trap. Try to get this into a higher-scoring affair.

A playoff team who needs a RHD who can man the 2nd PP they should give up a 2nd for the rental of Miller (any veteran they're planning to start the rest of the season and playoffs). If the team just wants playoff depth they shouldn't offer higher than a 3rd. But Chiarot pulling a 1st + 4th + mid-level prospect (but unsigned NCAA contract) means the Sabres could get a 1st + nothing else for Miller with the right buyer.

Yup. Not just a letdown after two motivated games, but also that Sabres played once in 6 days and that game was a slow snowy ice surface with a ton of pomp & circumstance around it, then starting a road trip. And trying to work two out-of-practice guys into the lineup at the same time over folks who were clicking. Meanwhile, Edmonton has been lights-out on their homestand trying to capitalize on Vegas' plummet. Caps, Lightning, Wings, Buf, NJ... win, win, win, win, TBD. The key is how do the Sabres respond now that they've taken one on the chin? And do Miller and Girgs look closer to game speed in Calgary?

The Amerks are in 2nd in the North by points, but the teams immediately following them have higher Points Percentages and lots of games in hand (SYR 2, TOR 6, BEL 6, LAV 7.... 7 games in hand and only 7 points back). The Sabres returning to health is just as important for Rochester. We want to see the kids on a playoff run, but they need to get there first.

On the plus side for Vegas, if Lehner goes to LTIR, it would allow them to acquire a goalie OR activate D Alec Martinez if he gets healthy enough. Not likely both. Or... if they can move $4M at the trade deadline they could get a cheap goalie and activate Stone from LTIR down the stretch. There's still the escrow for the players to pay off for the giant loans the league took out. The cap will not go up appreciatively until that's settled. If they miss the playoffs... and the fans blame him and his cap # and uninspiring play and how he ruined their feel-good expansion team with his body language... this summer before his NMC kicks in.

He'd be a really good choice, but he is another lefty.

... Hate leads to suffering. Chickens leads to soup. Soup makes you feel better.

Miller for a 2023 1st from... anyone! We don't even need the 4th and a prospect.

It's a bit bizarre. Jiricek's injury helped him, while Slafkovsky's Olympics domination appeared to be to his disadvantage.

Just to recap: since the Eichel activation on 2/16/22: Eichel 14 GP 5-4-9 -1 Tuch 12 GP 1-4-5 -1 (February cold streak) Krebs 12 GP 3-3-6 -2

They need a healthy NHL goalie who isn't playing Hutton-level if they want to make the playoffs. With all the modified-NTCs and no cap space, they're going to be a bit limited in their options for a goalie. They can't even bring back Alec Martinez if he gets healthy without putting someone else (Lehner) on LTIR.

We need Bjork to do that.

Vatrano had a couple decent seasons pre-COVID... a 4th for a rental 4th liner... meh. But for Florida, looks like clearing a bit of cap space to probably get some extra defensive depth or a 3rd goalie that inspires more confidence than Jonas Johansson.

Good for the Amerks <gif of ewoks playing scouttrooper helmets with mallets>

Not just that Northeastern had a bad Fenwick, the other teams have gaudy Fenwick scores. They were making other teams look like the tank-for-Eichel 2014-15 Sabres.

VGK tanking this season for a 12-15 pick (that would go to Buffalo) and a 3% at a lottery would be a criminal offense for the GM and he should be fired on the spot if he attempts it. They're a veteran roster that's been deep into the playoffs each of the past 4 seasons and just traded depth+picks for a top-line C. They're all-in in the short term and are going to follow through on it (hopefully to our benefit as viewers... munching away on our schadenfreude popcorn). However, missing the playoffs and having no cap space... this offseason they may elect to go another direction and that could be fascinating.

I'm good with having VO at that price as a 2W or 3W, he can play either wing just fine and then add in the PP time. Granted, if someone throws an insane trade offer for him, why not. But that's unlikely. I'm not convinced JJP makes the opening night roster next season, and if he does he's likely a bottom 6. Quinn now has health concerns of his own (missing extensive time in back-to-back seasons) and still needs to work on his all-around game. Signing VO to a contract won't block Quinn if he's good enough, but the team has no financial concerns for the next few seasons if they're continuing to build with the kids. They need to add $6M in the offseason just to replace Boychuk's reach-the-cap-floor contract. Olofsson is replaceable, but you've got to make sure he is replaced adequately before moving him.

If VGK continues to fade (look at those D injuries and no goalie... and incapable of bringing back salary because then they have no space and all those modified trade clauses on aging vets)... those season-ending locker-cleaning interviews will allow someone to write quite the thesis on body language. Vancouver wins tonight, Edmonton wins tonight... This is where the fun begins.

You've mentioned trading VO a couple times and I'm now on the opposition. He's getting healthy and his shot is back. He can make that shot against VGK. Thompson maybe can, Quinn maybe can. VO makes that shot. With his slapper soon to return, he provides a legitimate 20G scorer from the 3W or even 4W with PP time (Kotalik-style). That's a guy we can afford to keep for 3-4 years no problem, even with a little overpay, while all these young studs like Quinn and JJP and Power are coming onto their RFA/bridges. Make Quinn make VO expendable. Don't move VO just because he's a "blocker" to an unproven kid. You can always trade him and that shot later if needed, but if you rent him for a 2nd this TDL and then Quinn is hurt next season... you've lost the balancing snipers on your PP.

This team has had horrid goaltending (overall) since Lehner's last season. It's the reason we have Dahlin and now Power. So it's got that going for it... which is nice. But it is time for the GM Sheevyn to get it fixed on the NHL squad and not just in the pipeline.