kas23

Best possible scenario for us to sell high. I would increase our asking price in the trade and let other GMs decide if Jack wants to stay a Sabre given our new demands.

March the traitor into town square and rip the badge off the bugger’s sweater.

Outside of Allen and White, the Bills drafting has been sound (ie average), but the majority of their starters were not drafted by the Bills. Most of our starting OL was drafted by other teams. Our entire starting WR corps, other teams. On defense, our 2 starting safeties, other teams. Half our DL and 1/3 of our LBs, other teams. McKenzie and our punter, other teams. Our drafting on defense has been very suspect. What does this have to do with the Sabres? If KA wants to follow the same model, he needs to be continuously looking for players to upgrade the roster. Beane is tireless in this regard. He’s always looking to upgrade positions and increase competition. The big problem with this is that NHL contracts are guaranteed. Beane can afford to sign 10 players in FA with the hopes of hitting gold on 1-2 and then cut the rest during training camp. KA can’t do this. The best he can do is give out 1 year 750k contracts.

I’m fine with that. Opposing teams are going to destroy us if they know there won’t be any retribution. If we need to take some penalties to discourage this behavior, then so be it. I’m sick of our soft team.

Would be a great idea. Teach these kids to stand up for one another.

The Bills have some of the best trainers and medical staff in the NFL. It’s evident on the field as well. It’s hard to imagine the Sabres staff is the complete opposite.

I think this is a difference in terminology. First, health is a relative term. I’m a physician who specializes in seeing patients with the disease ankylosing spondylitis, which is an inflammatory condition affecting the spine. Jack does not “need” surgery. If he did, he would’ve already had it. By all medical definitions, if he does end up having surgery (which could very well be the case) it will be a completely elective procedure. I’m not a neurosurgeon, but I’ve seen patients his age with all sorts of spinal pathology, including cervical herniations. If Jack didn’t have a $50M contract and didn’t play pro hockey, I think it’s unlikely he would have any procedure, let alone an ADR. These seem to either self-resolve or the patients don’t seem to that bothered by it. It may be a completely different story if he was older than 40 or 50. Now, I have not seen Jack’s medical record (and only a small handful of people have) nor am I a surgeon, so cannot make any further definitive statements. I don’t know if he’ll end up having surgery (it would completely solve his issue though). It’s fairly unlikely, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him on the ice at TC.

He’s obviously healthy, given he’s skating with fellow NHLers. That isn’t exactly open family skate at the local rink. Here’s the issue though. Once patients start getting disc herniations, even if they self-resolve, they are prone to recur. Even if it’s resolved now, it’s statistically likely to come back, especially for a player of high impact sport. This may be why Jack wants an ADR (a cure for that spinal level). The “trick” comment was made tongue-in-cheek, as I don’t think they’ll be tricked. But, I don’t think we can deny the psychological impact of seeing Jack in games will have. It may be a moot point though. Even if Jack wanted to show off (as he’s probably doing now), the Sabres will likely shut him down for fear of re-injury or a different injury altogether.

He may be. We really don’t know. His medical records will need to be reviewed and he’ll need a physical by the acquiring team. But, I can’t recall a physical happening before a trade, although they are always contingent on one. These are usually done after a trade has been announced, but before they are officially completed. We always hear of trades falling apart due to failed physicals, but these are after the trades have been announced.

Conservative treatment for herniated discs is observation. As of now, we really don’t know if his herniation has resolved (according to Jack, it hasn’t) but none of us have examined his medical records. We do know that Jack is already skating. And yes, skating and taking hits is different.

Although incredibly crucial, a physical is usually one of the last steps in the trading process. We’re miles from that. My point is, if he’s not skating at TC, there’s really no reason for him to even get on a plane to take a physical. It seems we have got to the point where is he isn’t going anywhere until he can show that he is healthy. He’s been trying to do this in the Boston area, but GMs aren’t biting.

He has an incredibly important reason to be on ice come training camp. He needs to show GMs he is healthy or at least trick them he is. If he doesn’t, then there’s a 0.0 chance he’ll get traded.

If Krebs, Rossi, Zegras, Lafreniere, Byfield, all 1C prospects are all off the table, then there’s only one logical thing to do. Kevyn said everyone needs to have patience and this is a long game. So, it’s time to take ***** the market. Get him back on the ice and prove to GMs he’s healthy. Tell Jack we couldn’t get anything better for him than a bag of pucks and a used jock strap, which isn’t that far from the truth.

Plus, it’s all but guaranteed he’s flipped at the trade deadline. He’s get to play close to home for 75% of the season.

I heard he likes Milky Ways. Lots of them.

As he looks towards the Boston harbor, what’s his left hand doing?

If Jack thinks he has a legitimate grievance with the Sabres over the surgery he should have, he should file a complaint with the NHL and go to arbitration. This is what the Players Association and owners agreed upon. It speaks volumes he has not done this and it speaks equally loud that the PA hasn’t intervened upon his behalf. I agree, Hell will freeze over before Terry let’s Jack collect $10M/year on LTIR. And this is precisely why they will not allow him to have the procedure he wants. In financial terms, which Terry understands the most, the risk outweigh the benefits. If Jack fully accepts the risk ($50M left on his contract), I’m sure Terry would allow it and move on.

Jack has $50M to lose. So does Terry. As a team of players, the Sabres have already moved on. Getting assets back for Jack is merely icing on the cake now. They be fine even if Jack sits and they get nothing.

If traded (keys words), the NMC caps whatever assets we would potentially receive though. If a GM of a bottom dweller offers us all the gold in the kingdom for Jack, all Jack has to say is no. Same goes for any other team that is not a perennial Cup contender. The true Cup contenders will know this and use it to their advantage. Plus, they are likely to already up against the cap, so the suiters will diminish considerably. The only recourse KA will have is to then keep him, which I guess is better than getting a bag of pucks and a conditional 3rd rounder from the Rags. Still, the NMC will diminish the possibility of getting a decent return if traded. If Jack proves himself to be back to his normal self over the next season, the offers will have to become much richer than what they are today.

That’s one thing we definitely know about Peca. He’s a proven winner with a great attitude. Glad to have him on board.

The Kraken need prospects in their pool. Quantity may slightly outweigh quality. I’m sure they would trade him for a 7th before sending him down.

My guess is that whoever is insuring Jack’s contract isn’t going to look kindly at him ignoring team doctors and having his own surgery. Insurance policies are just that. Things you need to have to protect you against unforeseen circumstances, which this would not be.

But that the key thing. If Jack goes and gets his surgery, his contract may get voided. He gets the surgery he wants, plus he gets to be a free agent. I assume he would no longer be a Sabres asset if his contract is voided. Or, let’s even say the surgery is a complete success. He’ll get to show he can still play (in “6 weeks” as they say) and he’ll still get to bitch and moan about getting traded. So, the big question becomes, what exactly is stopping him? The threat of the small chance he’ll lose $50M? Is it his agent? If so, can can ***** right now and quit his crying.

All of it is in their self-interest. That said, it’s in their interest to keep Jack happy. So, their interests align, but they probably couldn’t care less what happens to Jack’s neck as long as they get paid.

His agent also runs the risk of being fired if he doesn’t get Jack what Jack wants. Tough position to be in.