mjd1001

And if that were happening, and the only offer you get is from the Rangers and it is a bad as the rumor say, they you don't trade him. You sit him for a year. If Jack and his agent WERE making things this difficult, then YOU make things difficult for him. Him missing a year (or more) of his career, losing that money in the prime of is career.....well if that happens he just might be open to a trade to someplace else other than the Rangers. Either that or the Rangers will learn they would have to up their offer.

That wouldn't be all that bad, I'm not sure why Columbus gets such a bad reputation. Have they won anything big? No, But they have made the playoffs 5 of the last 8 seasons which is a LOT better than the Sabres. The Arena isn't brand new anymore, but its pretty nice ( I have been there twice). And the location "the Arena district" is great also (filled with bars and restaurants) A few blocks away is High street, which is like Chippewa at its best times 3. Its a growing city that is at least double the size of Buffalo. Honestly, as a younger player it is far from the last place you would want to play your career in.

This is good. My perfect scenario (I don't even know he rules so I don't know if it is even possible, but....) -He plays the full year in Michigan. -When they are done, he ends up playing a game or two with the Sabres. -At that point, if it can happen he then goes to the Amerks and plays with them during the AHL playoff run I HOPE they have. Again, don't know what the rules are with his eventual contract, AHL rules, etc...but if it was possible I'd love to see the above happen.

Decide if they want a team? Then go. I like the Bills, but my life doesn't end without them. I have television to watch all the Football I want. Not liking having my/our taxes and fees keep going up so those Billionaires can have their new stadium paid for (mostly) by everyone else.

I really don't think that is the case. NY city is so far away, and for years and years not even in the same division as the Sabres. I also don't see a ton of people here who think the Sabres have a huge rivalry with the Rangers (a lot less of one than with the Leafs for example). If he is traded, he is traded...going to the Rangers as opposed to anywhere else I can't see having any more impact with this fanbase.

This is another topic that shows how one can have their life and thinking change once they hit 40 years old.... Most of my life....2 things mattered recreationally for me....Cars and the sports I followed. Anytime my mind was free, I was thinking about the NHL, NFL even MLB...I couldn't get enough stats, analysis...fantasy sports, simulation games. Season ticket holder? Yep. I ate that up more than almost anything. Now? I'm barely hanging on to my 'fandom' of the Bills and Sabres through the message boards and twitter, and I mean barely hanging on. Cars are kinda the same. 2 jobs, sometimes 3 jobs when I was younger? Sure, in order to save up for that car I really wanted. Had it for a year and started thinking about the next car. A year later I was itching for the new model, and by year 3 I'd pull the trigger (if not sooner). Of course I did have a lot of miles driven for work. Websites about cars? checked daily. Magazine subscriptions to Motortrend and Car and Driver? Had those too. I knew pretty much every engine/transmission option available for every new car I even thought of wanting and for the competition to those cars also. But just like with sports, that has changed. I really WANT to be interested in cars again, I WANT to find a car that I love so I can enjoy the 'chase' of getting it again, but I just don't. Its hard to explain, but whenever a new model is unveiled, I'll look at the pictures and read the specs HOPING I'll want it badly, but for the last few years, nothing like that has happened. With that said, if I had to pick something I like the LOOKS of....the Mercedes G-Class SUV/Wagon..it is just different. But I can't say I'd actually want to drive on on a daily basis.

I agree. however, I can't stop checking the thread because I really just want to know an update if there is any. I just want this resolved already. Right now I'd rather have him traded, but any resolution would be great (like him and the Sabres making joint statements he is staying long term.). Just not to have this hanging in the wind for so long.

I think this is a great deal for Florida. You get Sam for 3 years, but there is flexibility there beyond that. And that AAV of 6.5? If Sam is the 'average sam' of giving you 20-25 goals per year, you are paying what you should. However, Sam took a step up the 2nd half of last year...if he plays at that level, you are getting a bargain. Add to that he did what he did in the past on the Sabres....he produced on wing and at center, and produced with great linemates and with lesser linemates....I just think it is a very good deal for Florida.

Interesting opinions on this topic. I'm sure we're going to get on the forum what I have in real life, and by that I mean contradicting opinions all over the place. I've heard from just as many people that he will show up and play because he has to prove he can play with the Sabre before he's traded... And the exact opposite opinion I've heard, where they will do whatever they can to keep him away from this team and he'll never play for the Sabres again. Both points have logic to back them up.

I won't disagree with you there. I am one of the people that don't think he's generational, or anywhere close to and honestly. But I do agree with you that he is a talent and a good enough player at center that a lot of teams do not have someone of his level. It's disappointing because this is becoming something that's annoying for most of us. The weather or not he wants to be here or not, or because of his injury, or for whatever reason this is dragging out. I think most of us just want a resolution to this already.

The first line of your post I think is the issue where a lot of arguments start here.... Many people don't think he is a 'generational' player. Generational players dominate the game, change the course of the game, often winning several games with their effort alone. They are like Crosby, Gretzky, Lemieux, Lindros, McDavid, Ovechkin. Bobby Orr. A slight step down from generational would be the likes of Austin Matthews, Nathan McKinnon, Jaromir Jagr, Peter Forsberg, John Tavares, Stamkos, Patrick Kane. To many, Eichel is good/great, but maybe even a slight step down from the category above with Matthews and McKinnon in it. Generational talent? MAYBE, but that doesn't mean it translate to being a generational player. Football players like Sammy Watkins come to mind. Unreal talent coming out of college....but in the pros it just translated to being a 'good' player, not a superstar. Jack was thought to have 'near generational' or 'generational' talent when drafted, but he was only 18. He has turned out to be a 'very good/great' player, but this far into his career (without doubt in the statistical prime), the best he has ever finished is 10th overall in points in any year. An all Star? Yes. Top 25 player in the league? probably. Generational? so far not even close.

I'm not disagreeing with your point, but Minnesota isn't exactly small market. I would say they are mid-market, knocking on the door of 'top 10 market'. Remember this is a team that attracted BOTH Zach Parise and Ryan Suter at about the same time when they were very desired players. -Forbes Franchise value has them ranked in the top half of the NHL (mid teens). -In terms of Cities with NHL teams, they are 12th in terms of market size (top half for sure). -In terms of GDP produced by the region, they are also 12th. In terms of TV ratings, that region is usually in the top 5 in the USA for the NHL, as that part of the country probably supports the NHL/Hockey as good as anywhere in the USA (right up there with Boston long term.) Even their ownership group's wealth is in the Billions. Depending on where you look (I have looked a few places), he is anywhere from the 8th to the 11th richest owner in the NHL with wealth above $4 billion.

I just took a look at the top 10 goalies in terms of GAA this year (minimum 20 games played)...just to see how they were drafted. I admit this is only from 1 year and using only 20 games is a small minimum, but I wanted to do this as quick as possible: 6 1st round picks 1 2nd round pick 2 3rd round pick 2 4th round pick Nothing later than that, no Free agents signings

I think that includes Rochester (Even with Rochester factored in, the Buffalo market is still very small...for example in Jacksonville can also include Daytona Beach....Green Bay includes Milwaukee..etc) Southern Ontario isn't factored in at all. Other than the fans crossing the border to attend games, the TV numbers aren't included, as the NFL has a different contract with Canadian networks I'm pretty sure)

Browns, Chiefs, Bengals are all bigger markets than buffalo with bigger corporate sponsors. Packers have a huge national following and generate a lot of merchandise sales year after year. The Jags? That is another story, but I think Jacksonville is now a bigger market than Buffalo and if you project trends 5-10 years from now it should be a MUCH larger market than Buffalo.

the big National websites and publications are now picking up on this... https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/austin-emerges-as-possible-relocation-spot-for-bills-amid-new-orchard-park-stadium-negotiations-per-report/

This is the price of having a team in your area. With very few exceptions, Teams DO get new stadiums and taxpayer dollars pay for them. Which do you want....no team? or a huge package of public dollars to pay for new stadiums in your region?

if you are going short term, then give him what he wants (not fantasy-land, but don't worry about overpaying), simply because you don't need the cap space now. If you are going long term, go really long term. Since you are going to have ton of cap room this year (and probably next year), load it up front so it looks really good to him, but it might keep the total value a tad lower so it doesn't hurt the cap as much in later years.

Do these guys know what they are getting into? For that matter, did Granato know exactly what he was getting into when he took the job? With this roster, this goalie tandem, there are going to be nights there will be virtually no chance of winning. I can see games the Sabres go into, that have the potential to get out of hand really really quick, and the job of the coach is just going to try to keep things together on the most basic level.

I think in a previous thread a few days ago, I said this team wouldn't be THAT bad, and it could be in the 75-80 point range. In NO WAY did I expect the goaltender situation to be what it is, and to have nothing really of value added except for spare parts no-one else wants. Hopefully Jack will be traded and part of the return will be one, maybe 2 pieces that have some value added to this current roster, or this team might be historically bad (like full seas tank bad).

I know as fans we follow this stuff every day, hour minute, but it is getting exhausting.... Team is out, they are in, they are out, they are back in, now they are out because the price is too high, now then are going after him again. It wouldn't be so bad following every bit if info....if it didn't feel like more than half it what we hear is not just false...but created as a lie.

Part of the issue is that the 'insiders' are either under pressure from someone else, or maybe themselves, to keep their name in social media by reporting SOMETHING, even if there isn't much to report. They put stuff out there and add words to their reports like "maybe" or "possibly" or "might be" or "keep an eye out for"...stuff like that. On the other hand, Adams went out of his way MANY times to say he wants players who want to be here, and he said it over and over and over. If Eichel had any thought he might have to suck-it-up and play some more in Buffalo, his agent and handlers would do WHATEVER they had to do to make it NOT look like he wants out in any way.

Except to Rangers fans and media. To them: -Eichel isn't really that good, we'll take him off your hands, but you aren't getting anything good back from us (and by the way EVERYTHING we have up and down our entire roster is great because, well, we are from NY city and we can do no wrong here) -What, you are trading him someplace else? But we REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted him!

On a side note....I think the importance of the center position in todays NHL compared to wingers has decreased slightly. Do you want any holes at any position, including Center? Nope. Is Center less important than the wing? Probably not. But 5-10 years ago you needed dominant centers, they mattered SO much more than wingers. I don't think that is the case anymore. I'd put dominant/great wingers as an equal priority as the Center position now (or at least a lot closer than it was)

I tend to agree. Now, is it possible the team will as awful as some fear? I guess so, but I more look at this team as improving as the season goes on, and would put them near 75 points for the year. That isn't good, but its not as bad as we have seen in the past also. Of course, the 2 biggest factors impacting that are still unknown....what are you getting for Jack? and who is in net?