Rasmus_

Definitely, why I said, potential player. I would really like to see this continue from this year into next, before I say that's what he is. But, he potentially looks like a "developing" Buffalo Sabre, which isn't something we've been able to say in a while.

So I will swallow my pride here, if I haven't said it here. I was majorly wrong about Tage. He's showing much more than what I saw early on. While he's not a long term #1 line center, he's definitely a quality 40-50 point potential player.

Nashville v Colorado.

He doesn't do much for the Sabres in current position. Sure would a left side of Dahlin, Chychrun, Power be potent yes. But at the same time, do we want to give up: Quinn, Cozens or Peterka, plus UPL and a 1st. The pick assets are probably the easiest to let go of, but at the same time you have to consider that we're not in the "win now" window. We're still quite a few core pieces away from contending in our own division. While Chychrun helps that, and his contract is fantastic, it's not a great fit. Honestly, with his contract being so team friendly, it's why the cost, along with his age has him so high. Of course his skill is there, but his 4.6 or so cap hit, has a big thing to do with it.

Skinner is having fun, and scoring in his ugly, but effective ways. Krebs is continuing to show that he's a core piece and going to be in the mix for the top two center role for sure. This team has no expectations and they play hard. It's inconsistent often. But, you're seeing such bright spots. Thompson, Tuch, Dahlin, Krebs, Cozens, Bryson, UPL (before his injury) are all becoming useful long term fits. With Asplund, Skinner, and a few others looking like useful cogs.

I like how all the other teams were crying for him to get traded, because we ruined him. Instead, we brought in a coach with success at the national and with collegiate experience who is a communicator and it opened up Rasmus' game. Stripping the team down, getting rid of the "white noise" and frustrated player core, has allowed players like Thompson, Dahlin, Skinner, Asplund, to grow on the ice, and off the ice. I will eat cow on Thompson for days, I thought he was done here. I have been stating for days, unleash Dahlin. Olofsson is the one player who has had serious growing pains this year. In addition, Tuch has added an element that we haven't had in a while. Speed, grit, leadership and positivity.

I thought Kakko was going to be such a stud coming out of that World Junior tournament. I was so wrong. I won't say he's a bust, but I'm not sure what New York is doing with him.

This is what he is, a stud on the puck, a horse that you can build your team around. Granato has such a calming presence and it feels like, he kept preaching the same message and finally it sunk in. Dahlin is playing like he did in Frolunda and he looks like a different player. Attack and push!

Sign me up on Brock Faber, I loved him in his draft year, and he's doing some nice things this season. In a loaded situation, you can definitely see that he could possibly be popped for the right return. However, what is that return. He's the guy for me in terms of prospects. I do think Grans is a steady presence and a decent shout as well.

I counter with Lundell, but like I said, we cannot really look in the past, just moving forward. Overall, I can live with a stellar one two in JJ and Quinn in the minors right now.

There really aren't many strengths to this team. Cap space is their only asset lol

I was wrong here. I admit it, I will say that I thought he was a fantastic prospect, just not where they were taking him. Well, this year....he's looked good. Even in his only game in the NHL, he looked like the best player on the ice at times.

Not really a fan of DeBrusk, it would really depend on cost, I wouldn't give up a pick for him.

If the Senators want to cover 50% of his contract, perhaps, but even then, at $3,000,000 Murray just doesn't look like the same goalie anymore. Perhaps it could be the wrong team / structure. But, I'm not sure he's a great answer. It'd be more sensible to trade for Halak for the rest of the season if Vancouver continues to funnel downward.

The answer is no. The price for me would be higher than Eichel when healthy. We should not give up on this kid.

To me it screams Cozens. Last season when he was bloodied and went running at someone. To me he screams future C. I could see Tuch being a captain for a time though, for sure.

I think you can see, that when there is more skill and a few more bona fide top end guys, that he has the plan to push up.

Yes. Please.

He's my favorite Sabre ever, still to this day. Regardless of everything, I love how Mogilny played, I loved his story about escaping the USSR before the wall went down etc.

Nope, Mogilny is the only #89 for the Sabres previously.

So happy for Tuch, and this is a great number. I have a Mogilny 89 and will likely order one for Tuch in the same number.

I'm fine with this, gets us over the cap floor and is just the one year. Shrugs, it's just a transfer of paper.

That worked out amazingly well with Eric Staal.

Done, I was typing on my phone. My bad. The paragraph breaks aren't great 😄

For me, it's really mismanagement of assets from the start of hiring inexperienced hockey OPS from the start, and not sticking to a principle form the beginning. The structure, and then the speeding up of the rebuild the first time (2016-17) was misaligned and poorly handled. Incompetence in drafting in rounds 2-7 in almost every year for an 8 year stretch outside of random pockets, was the biggest problem at not developing a roster around Eichel. Jack has never once shown the inability to not be a staple in this market. He showed pride and enthusiasm in the community and until 2020, did not question things. However, a piss poor run of general manager's, president's of hockey operations and otherwise owners who meddled caused this. The system entering this latest version of a rebuild has a sounder approach, and a structured hockey coach who actually works well with what he has and improves the room, the players who we have drafted and possibly a development pattern. Adams mentioned right away about Krebs going down to Rochester to soak up the new room environment and to be around Quinn, Peterka, Samuelsson, UPL and to marinate in a great environment and grow. Tuch, can finally give a younger version of Okposo in the sense of a two way player with skill who can be a voice to bridge this team into what could be a stellar group going forward. Are there questions with Adams, Karmanos and company. Sure. But, for me, the group of prospects starting to establish, a sound cupboard and a wide strength of depth. The main thing that I've been disgusted with the Sabres in this process is not just letting Jack get his surgery, and causing possible more damage to his neck. The kid had a right to question the 5th general manager and 8th head coach, as to the direction. I have no problem with Jack, but at this point it was time for everyone to move on. Congrats, on going to a stellar market. I went to a Golden Knights game in late 2019 and was surprised and impressed with the vibe around Vegas, and the arena and noise was stellar. I love Krebs in this deal, and in a perfect world, we should have been able to acquire Brisson as well, however this is what we have. I'm fine with the package, and Adams did stick it out to get a legitimate #1 prospect, a roster player in his prime with local connections, and pick value. He also didn't have to bite on salary retention for a once in a generation talent. Good luck Jack, I personally loved your game. However, it's good to see players on the ice that are more about the jersey than the name on the back. I like some of the trade, and I'm disappointed in a lot of it.