French Collection

I don’t know the specifics of Dahlin’s deal yet but if it comes in around $10M for 7 or 8 years that sounds fair. I know their window to earn money is narrow but there is also the balance of team building in play here. He would leave more on the table for KA to lock up talent around him. I know I always bash the Leafs but that is a major problem with the top end guys making so much money. They have to pay 19 players with half the cap.

Lots of fires in every part of Canada. I have been around fire and smoke almost every summer but this seems worse due to how widespread they are. Rain is not in the near term forecast, that is what is needed.

Thanks but you may be better at generating the next question. Besides, you got Leach, I said Watson then changed to MacLeish.

I forgot about Leach, I associated him with the Seals but he was a Bruins pick. I said Watson earlier but I think he’s older, changing my guess to MacLeish

Boston had two picks in a row that early? Jim Watson would be one guess, I think he was a Bruin.

I’m picturing Tkachuk pointing up in the crowd, referee looking for what he’s pointing at. Tkachuk then spears Eichel in the groin.

We don’t know Hart’s ceiling either. The cost control is a pretty big consideration. He’s better than Comrie or UPL so it’s an upgrade at the least. Goalie prime is much later so Hart could be a .915 goalie. Hellebuyck is so good though.

Chicago with Seth Jones is not looking great either.

Maybe UPL turns into Hart who gets flipped for Helle. Hart is a WHL grad.

I was in on one year of Hellebuyck.

So Columbus gets Provorov at 70% of his salary, Flyers 1st (7OA) and a conditional 2nd in 2024. They gave up their 1st (3OA). LAK basically cleared Petersen’s cap hit + Walker +Grans and 2024 2nd. They got 33year old D Connauton, 27 year old depth F Hodgson and had to retain 30% of Provorov’s salary.

I am all for finding out what these guys may develop into. I realize in the big picture they are assets, but until they are dealt they are future Sabres. KA invested a lot of time in scouting, meeting and developing players not just to flip them. There will come a day, soon from what I see, where there may not be room in the top 9 for Östlund, Rosen, Neuchev, Nadeau and Kisakov. If they are good enough to crack someone else’s lineup, they will have trade value and that can be a win-win-win situation.

It is interesting there is no trade protection with TNT, Cozens and Mule. I wonder if KA insisted on it. Those contracts are extremely tradeable, even Gretzky was traded so you are right that no one can be ruled out. Will Dahlin push for it?

Probably play in front of bigger crowds than Arizona too.

I think this is fair. He could play hardball and get more but he is leaving some $$ on the table for quality support. This is how you build a team. Quite the contrast from the Leafs, where Dahlin would be the 4th highest paid player.

Yeah, I think he’s the only former Sabre.

Eric Staal was another.

Bryson can take his spot on the Amerks.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I never liked Keith Tkachuk for the same reasons. I like tough, gritty hockey but these guys cross the line into dirty and then won’t drop the gloves. At least Brady Tkachuk will drop them. If they were Sabres I could probably take their antics a little better.

KO on the HNIC interview with Friedman. There to support Hack and Sam.

Tony Ferrari from The Hockey News top 100. https://thehockeynews.com/news/ferraris-2023-nhl-draft-rankings-the-final-cut Yahoo top 100 list from THN’s Ian Kennedy https://ca.style.yahoo.com/nhl-draft-2023-prospect-rankings-bedard-fantilli-michkov-151638078.html

Another guy like Samuelsson would set the Sabres up really well. Preferably a RHD to balance a pairing with Power but Dahlin/Mule make the 2xLHD thing work.

He will be a big part of Sweden’s WJ team and being there will get him prepared for it. Sweden is hosting so this will be a big deal for him.

Hard to say. Everyone develops differently. The main issue is he will not be under the direction of the Sabres/Amerks staff. Also, Sabres/Amerks fans won’t get to see him up close. I am OK with this. He just turned 19 and will get to stay near home another year. The SHL is a good league and it is a step above where he played last year. He is not a big guy and should get stronger over the course of the season. It’s not like a lost year of development. Rosen may need one or two more years in the AHL before he is ready. Östlund can come over and need only one year of AHL hockey to be ready for the NHL.

I watched Myers a lot at the World Championships this year. It wasn’t quite NHL caliber hockey but he used on Canada’s 2nd pairing. He did OK but wasn’t a rock solid #4. I see him more as a 5-6 Dman. I guess he would help depth and mentor Power but he is not worth the money. Canucks would have to sweeten the pot. He could be an alternative plan if KA can’t find a true 4D.