DarthEbriate

This. Amongst Wyshynski's insights are such diverse elements as fear and surprise humor, Star Wars, and hockey. For those I have to support him. However, on the hockey side, he's definitely listening to GMs/front offices around the league. [edit: He's at the macro level, not looking at the analytics/stats of each player/prospect. So you have to look at that sort of post as level of return, i.e., top-end prospects are absent.] Something like this may now be what we're looking at. Eichel's highest trade value was pre-draft where he could have netted a top pick. Now... it's some players. Once free agency starts, then the cap balancing really comes into play and we start looking at garbage contracts in. At least, that's what I'd be doing as a non-Sabres GM. Eichel's a top center, but he's never done anything of note leaguewide, not even threatening for a scoring title beyond the first half of the season. If we don't move him today, the best bet for trade value is let him play the beginning of the season, show he's healthy, and then try a move. But really, we're getting to the point low return, and the GMs around the league know it.

Our starting goalie, whoever he is, has a .921+ save percentage, but his backup takes over at midseason with a startling .935% and carries us all into the playoffs. Let's say it's re-tread Bernier and UPL.

Is this with Minnesota? Okposo for the cap (plus hometown warm fuzzies); then the actual 4 pieces: Mitts for the plug-and-play center to replace his minutes (and hometown warm fuzzies); Quinn for the future; Johnson for the sweetener (plus college warm fuzzies); 2022 lottery-protected 1st (becomes 2023 if we win the lottery); plus a 2023 3rd because I'm feeling generous. In exchange, Eichel & a 2023 2nd. And yes, Darths always talk about warm fuzzies.

Sometimes, it's OK to let the hate flow through you.

We'll know for sure if the team is challenging for a playoff spot (I know, I know... but maybe they get two scrub goalies and both just play out of their minds all season) and instead of going for it, they sell off the goalies. Obviously, I don't think for a second that this roster without Eichel can compete in the Atlantic. But I hope the kids at least give us the thrill of knowing that the Pegulas don't want to win.

I call him the GM Sheevyn for a reason. For me, it's just an idiom. But he was hired in place of JBot to go Great Jedi Purge the personnel department on behest of leadership (including RaKru). Now, he's gotten rid of the Count RaKru and is continuing the Purge of the Jedi players of the Old Republic. It's his new Empire. Will it succeed? Maybe, maybe not. The key now is to let him run with it for more time than any GM has had previously to work under the Pegulas. Because if they change him out in under 3 years, the next GM will do a reset for his/her style of players and coaches and philosophies. Sheevyn will have that shield down team win, we've just gotta give him more time!

I really hope this kid makes it and becomes a mainstay. The joy we will have with the Baron von Barnekow-Lofberg.

We clearly had this trade in the works for awhile, because otherwise 13(14) could have been Wallstedt or Cossa. So our scouts loved the Levi. Now we've got Portillo and Levi in the pipeline. Hopefully, UPL gets to play in Rochester and play a lot at the level he should be. If one of the three hits as a true #1, great. All the better if another becomes a 1A/B split type or a steady backup. But we've got a goalie pipeline and that's a good thing. Still need 2 NHL goalies for this season, though.

It's rough. The problem is compounded if we don't get better than Meszaros to reach the salary floor and keep the kids in Rochester where they belong so they don't get crushed into a constant losing cycle in Buffalo... which would lead us right back where we are now in a few years, just swapping out Dahlin for Risto and Cozens/Mitts for Jack/Sam.

It was a long time ago, but I think he mentioned needing grit and veteran leadership for our... playoff... push. Which was well before the play-in group was established and expanded to 24 teams.

Ghost of Reino: "You will get out of the Buffalo system." Eichwalker: "Sam. Sammmm!"

G Rasmus Korhonen is off the board. There goes our Rasmus quota. Yup. Traded for Wayne Simmonds.

It's called the Holdo Pegula Maneuver.

No can do. The Ghost of Reinhart became more powerful than we can possibly imaging and now will return to provide exposition and identify familial linkages heretofore unknown by the players. This draft-eligible in 2022 Jack Hughes NOT is the Jack Hughes that's already in the NHL nor is he apparently related to any of the Hughes brothers. dun-dun-DUNH!

Lee-vi-y?

Start reading up on Wright, Lambert, and Savoie

When we get to the later rounds, the criteria for drafting will become: "Well... he was a Third Star in one of the World Juniors games... we see a lot of potential there."

So... our scouting department really just watched the World Juniors and said, "these guys." And the Worlds for Power.

At the trade deadline, we'd expect a first and a prospect. For an entire season of Reinhart, including the ability to deal him at the deadline, it should be more than this.

Reino before the trade: "If you trade me, Sheevyn, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." Reino in trade limbo: "Hello there. Anyone? Where in blazes am I?... Hello there. Echo!"

These preceding three picks before ours have been disheartening.

I don't think Stankoven makes it that far. Though... we could package some of our numerous picks to move up some spots.

Quite possibly an Imperial security droid like a K-2S0.

From his hockeywriters profile: https://thehockeywriters.com/prokhor-poltapov-2021-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/ "Once the puck is on his stick in the defensive zone, he skates it forward with impressive confidence and will try to turn every defensive zone exit into an odd-man opportunity or a fast break up the ice." I like this quality. Always be attacking. [Edit: Of course, his overconfidence could be his undoing and lead to lots of turnovers.]

They had to wait for the Reinhart trade to be... no... still nothing? Alright whatever. Move along.