DarthEbriate

"What an advantage for us to have an NFL war room right at our fingertips." So... bigger screens and comfier chairs? What did you do last year? Watch TSN DraftCentre and NHL Network on laptops? Use a polycom and cell phones for intra-team conversations? Like, in previous years y'all sat at the same table and went over to talk to other GMs, then submitted a pick and went and walked up and announced it. You know what's more important? Scouting. Spending on quality scouts. Having good voices in the room. Listening to them. Having a plan. Not trading a 6th to move back one year and 25 picks for another 6th when the other team is trading "up". Spending to the cap and knowing how to build a team and a prospect pool. The war room is just a location. Maybe it gives you confidence? And if that's what you need to have a good draft, then I say ###'# ###### #### ###-#### ########### ##### ###.

I remember saying I think he can be an Alex Pietrangelo. Very good player and has won the Cup twice. Lots of Norris votes but never a finalist. It's probably been a year or so since I said that, and I still think that's who he can be. Edit: But note, Pietrangelo has gotten lots of PP1 time over the years, which Power is only going to get if Dahlin is injured. Power's drawback (apart from inability to tie up sticks, clear the crease, etc.) is his contract is paying him like someone who collects PP points. He has 1 career PPG thus far in 242 games.

My operating assumption is: GMKA is my GM forever, which means I'm still on the Power timeline. When he turns 25, he'll be good, possibly very good and that's the key to everything. (The Sabres can make the playoffs before Power is 25, but that's when expectations of contending can begin.) In the next two seasons (Power age 23 and age 24), I don't want to be bridging Rossi at 5+ or giving him low-end 1C money long-term (7+). I can get through those two seasons with some combination of Kulich/Östlund/Helenius and McLeod in middle-6 roles. My priority for the money is Tuch's long-term deal and that top-4 RHD for Power. I would take the #9 and five years of low-cost certainty and one of Martone, Hagens, McQueen (if health checks out, if not-then not in the 1st round), Desnoyers, Martin, Bear, Frondell, Eklund, O'Brien, in that order). Ultimately, I say no. However, I would gladly trade #9 for a legitimate top-4 RHD in his prime with term.

Right now, we're in between the prequel and original trilogies. I've got Grand Moff Tarkin as the Grand Ruff. Jarmo Kekäläinen could still be anyone. But I hope he's Kekäluthen (Luthen from Andor). The seed of the rebellion operating inside (on the central planet) of Sheevyn's system.

Alas, the Sabres don't have an overdrafted and very big 3rd line center (Gratton) to swap for a potential top-line scorer (Briere). They did have Cozens last year.... Maybe Guerin would've been willing to offer better than Ottawa/Norris. But, health concerns aside, I probably take a solid 2C in Norris over a young guy in Rossi who likely wants to paid as much as Norris and soon. (big caveat: does Norris ever play 70+ games in the lifetime of his current contract? TBD)

vs. Rolston (serious hire to work with new core before outright tank), Nolan (nostalgia re-tread during outright tank = no chance to win), Byslma (serious hire to rebuild), Housley (serious hire for new active D-direction), Krueger (serious???), Granato (offensive-only direction), Ruff (only interviewee in a nostalgia re-tread with only a 2-year contract before heading upstairs -- to bridge to a serious hire???) Can't be any worse.

There is always the possibility that Kekäläinen resigns or is fired because Pegula doesn't feel "heard" by him.

Kekäläinen drafted the following: Merzlikins, Gavrikov, Kolesar, Peeke, Bemstrom, Sillinger (Cole). I don't think PLD, Werenski, Marchenko, Jiricek, Del Bel Belluz, etc. will be available.

One thing of note, he was never afraid to move a 1st round pick, and he was connected enough to be involved in 3-team trades: https://www.nhltradetracker.com/user/trade_list_by_GM/Jarmo_Kekalainen/135/1

It was probably on Amerks sites as well, but Matthew Fairburn reported that Rousek played through a torn meniscus in the playoffs, good for second on the team with 8 points in 7 games (t-Kulich; Clague had 11). Props to Rousek for that.

With capfriendly and its predecessor (I've forgotten the name now) gone... is there a convenient way to compile the Columbus cap hits during Kekäläinen's time? I'm seeming to remember they were always under similar Pegulas internal restraints.

I scoured the stats page for just the right GMKA move.

In the event that someday a couple years from now, Jarmo is Sabres GM, and they make the playoffs -- and either Terry or a sportswriter or tv talking head or a Sabrespace poster gives credit to Adams for the roster he assembled that Jarmo is just the benefactor of... we all agree now to immediately shoot them down.

I had never been all that impressed with his Columbus teams. But I do appreciate that when he knew Bobrovsky was leaving and he had at least an OK squad, he said, "It's now or never: punch it!" and traded for Duchesne and Dzingel. And they swept the Lightning and lost in 6 to Boston. And they had some players that would've been good contributors that the Sabres need more of: Zucker-like. The Cam Atkinson, Brandon Dubinksy, Nick Foligno types that kept them afloat.

++Found someone they have, I would say. Hmm? --Rrrrriiiight.

If the Sabres were to trade all four to… Vancouver, let’s say… and then Vancouver won the Cup riding UPL… I’m out. I’m dropping hockey at that point.

6-3 game one win with Boushh playing. 0-3 since.

McDavid wasn’t even floating defensively looking for an easy outlet. He’s just faster to pivot and take off than anyone else.

It’s a game again.

Everyone should’ve been stocking up on as many ex-Sabres as possible.

Hear me out... UFA 32 years old, 6'3". Experienced. .926 sv % last year in the NHL. Louis Domingue. Sign him on July 1st to a 1-year $1.5M contract. Get through camp and start the season with Luukkonen, Domingue, and Levi on the roster. Then, waive Domingue. Boom. Playoffs, here we come.

It’s a little thing they call scheduled surgical procedures and LTIR.

This is totally its own thread. There is one big ancient generation. The generation that grew up with Star Wars, the generation that drew up with the Prequels, and now a generation that is growing up with the sequel trilogy.

200' player, engaged defensively, and ever around-the-puck -- yes, yes, and yes. Stirrer and pest making life miserable for opponents and getting under their skin? No. Theoren Fleury, Esa Tikkanen, Marchand he was and is not.

Eklund doesn't need to beat out TNT/Tuch/JJP/Benson/Zucker/Greenway to make the roster. Just Lafferty, Rosén, or Östlund, or (Quinn unless if he's moved). Kulich I'm already assuming is a lock. Edit: And Helenius. Benson beat Jost, Savoie (injured in preseason), Rousek (Amerks leading scorer the previous year), Kulich, and Rosén. You could also argue Biro or Murray if you're generous to their then-contracts. And also Olofsson, who was the first guy dropped out of the lineup while Benson stayed in it.