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DarthEbriate

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Posts posted by DarthEbriate

  1. 2 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

    I think we have seen that signing the best FA's and overpaying is a flawed plan.  

    It is better to bring in a few solid  NHL players on reasonable contracts and term.  

    What helps most:

    1.  NHL Goalie help 

    2. Veteran RHD to help Dahlin/Power

    3. Center that can win faceoffs and play a two way game.  

    We must add an addendum that 1year/$750k is not a reasonable contract or term for a team that's trying to truly improve next season. Because otherwise, GM Sheevyn could argue 1. Anderson, 2. Pysyk, 3. Eakin met all the criteria this season. (And I know that Eakin doesn't really meet the criteria except for faceoffs)

    • Like (+1) 1
  2. This year's mantra was "no blocking" veteran players, so the vets are all on one-year deals. However, next season a few blocking veterans could be a blessing for the franchise to make progress. It would keep too many rookies from flooding the lineup at once and also provide the Sabres with depth they haven't had in years. If Krebs/JJP is the 1st injury call-up, that's probably good for both Buffalo and Rochester.

    None of it will matter until the team has a starting goaltender who can stay healthy and play +.916%sv hockey (average) and a team that is either defensively stable enough to make that work or offensively dynamic enough to make average goaltending irrelevant.

    • Like (+1) 1
  3. 5 minutes ago, Stads said:

    It is me! I actually led a "NHL" organization in points with 44! Someone else on this list led the team in the next year with 46.

    Ennis was a top-line skater pre-injuries. Lots of minutes on some bad hockey teams.

    I had to look up the lines, but in the seasons preceding drafts for Reinhart and Eichel, we were rolling Foligno-Ennis-Stafford and Moulson-Ennis-Stafford as #1 lines. Ennis-Girgs-Stewart toward the end of 2014-15. That's a top line right there. Mitchell, Flynn, and Matt Ellis as the remaining center spine. Those were the dark times, those were the Empire.

  4. Krebs shows flashes in both skill and tenacity, but really would benefit from another chunk of time in Rochester. Because of injuries and COVID (real and false positives), Krebs has bounced all over the lineup. Before March and teaming up with Rasmus and VO, he was often with Okposo or Cozens in a more defensive role (miscast), or on Mitts' wing when Mitts clearly needed a rehab stint. Krebs will have that shield down the game slow down; we've gotta give him more time!

    The important part is keeping this new line together and injury-free for a couple weeks, especially if Victor continues to heal. VO did a bit of a slapper from the blue line yesterday which is the first I've seen from him since his November injury. If the line gels, gets proper 3rd line minutes, and Krebs learns to use VO as a decoy and shoot the puck himself from time-to-time it could be a really nice fit.

    • Like (+1) 2
  5. The Red Wings waived RHD Danny DeKeyser (final year of $5M). That contract (and its modified NTC!) aged poorly the instant the ink dried. Juolevi was picked up on waivers over the weekend and the cleared cap space allows them to dress Jakub Vrana.

    While it'd be good for DeKeyser to keep cashing the checks, I wonder if he elects to not report to Grand Rapids, allowing the Red Wings to terminate the contract and then he can sign with any Cup contender he chooses for minimum salary, similar to what Bogosian did a few years back.

    How does it impact the Sabres? It doesn't. However, if he skips on the AHL and becomes available on a terminated contract it lowers the trade value of a RHD Colin Miller type, although you wouldn't count on DeKeyser to play the point on a PP2.

  6. 10 minutes ago, Eleven said:

    Peca is the only one I would think the team would give special attention to, and that's because he was a captain.  

    Plus, whatever they do isn't going to be good enough anyway, and will be another reason why the Pegulas are commie satan worshipers or something.

    I still think the Sabres had to take a center that year, even if they won the lottery.

    Eichel was captain (still the last person to wear the C) and was a skating highlights package 6 seasons -- starting with that first race to the puck, wheel and drive and score against.. Columbus. He even garnered some Hart attention despite being on a garbage team. Take the 60 seconds during a TV timeout to give a PA announcement and roll a highlight film with some RJ calls overlaid. It'd be easy to produce and show some goodwill to a player and give the fans a chance to wish him well. The organization can show it's all water under the bridge, say welcome back, and show some class.

    • Like (+1) 2
  7. 21 hours ago, JoeSchmoe said:

    He's got hands of stone. I do love his work ethic though, but he just can not finish or create for the life of him.

    He's still better than a Eakin-Hayden-Bjork, but we need his hard work with either more set up or more finish if we truly want to be good.

    Depends on what the playoff team needs. If they want a scorer, Girgs is not for them. But if they need a shot suppressor they can trust against an opposition's top line and might bang home a rebound or two, Girgs could be a great option.

    • Like (+1) 1
  8. 3 minutes ago, Ducky said:

    I will say though, I don't see him re-signing with a Canadian team and he definitely won't re-sign here. No way Chevy is going to give him what he wants/deserves.

    Interesting, interesting. In his age 31 season he's a UFA... when the cap might just begin to bloom again. I could see a team throwing $8M+ at a top-flight goalie for age 31-37 seasons (MAF- or Price-style). It shouldn't be the Sabres, of course, as any of UPL, Portillo, or Levi would only just be coming into their RFA contract of 1st UFA contract.

  9. On 2/24/2022 at 1:55 PM, thewookie1 said:

    I wonder if Hellebuck would be on the block if the Jets miss?

    2 minutes ago, Ducky said:

    Highly unlikely.

    2 more seasons at 6.17m.. Something like a 1st, 2nd and 4th in Vexina voting in the last 4 years.

    Chevy has Scheif's, Wheeler's and Helle's contracts all ending at the same time. The team was/is expected to win in this window...are a cap team and are not going to make the playoffs this year. 

    I honestly have no idea what he will do but trading Helle is probably the 2nd most unlikely behind PLD.

    No. Goalies are notoriously tricky from one year to the next, but Hellebuyck has been good-to-great since coming into the league. You don't trade a franchise goalie who is only now coming into his prime in his late 20s. And he's not even all that expensive.

    • Like (+1) 1
  10. 14 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

    Especially since Girgs is a boat anchor and has no business on a winning team.

    I don't know. I'd bet Girgensons would look great as 4W on Tampa, especially since he does have the versatility to play center in a pinch. Sure, he's miscast as the LW with Eichel-Reinhart on a top line, but as a role player who kills penalties and is very often in the right spot, he's not a bad trade deadline pickup. And it wouldn't cost too much to acquire him.

    • Like (+1) 1
  11. 2 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

    1-1 after 2.  Amerks being out shot 26-7.  

    Interesting Amerks lineup featuring 11 undrafted players, including 8 Americans.

    Egads! As the Flying Pig would say, "What a lineup!"

    Malone, Mersch, Biro all hurt. Krebs, Muel, Fitz all contributing in the NHL. And Jankowski wallowing on the bench instead of playing for Bjork or Eakin.

    You know Bjork would pass through waivers, GM Sheevyn. Get it done. Although we probably can't waive him for cap reasons.

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