Thorny

6 years 7 million would be better than 2 years 4 million, followed by 8x10. We need to stop prioritizing a time frame *7 years away* over the nearer, 5 year term. Window is now. We’d be spending an extra 3 million per year over the next 2 years, then saving 3 million per over the crucial next following 4 years. A savings of 6 million over the next 6 seasons, and 12 million over the last 4, relative to the bridge and then 8 year 10 million dollar deal course of action. That deal prioritizes the savings over the time period 7 years from now. Is this just a reluctance to declare the window open? I care about the next 6 years way more. That’s a lifetime in the NHL.

Agree. There’ll be a number that gets it settled, below what the number’ll be should we wait and sign him later, as I kinda expect him to off for Dahlin-esque value, probably slightly less. You’ll have to pay, though, as you need to make it worthwhile to Power to forgo a purely “bet on yourself” approach. I highly doubt he’d be hard-line on that, ie “pay me 10 now, or I’ll wait”, ie they can probably find LT number below that, but we’d have to pay a reasonably significant premium on top of what a bridge would cost, under the idea that it’s worth it because Power is going to earn an even larger deal going forward. That’s the risk, paying more now than we strictly could get away with, but if you believe in Owen it’s totally worth it. Imagine if we had Dahlin on a Thompson like contract. Dahlin’s will be a good and fair deal, but it’ll be full value rather than the bargain it could have been

me when everyone else takes the last ship outa this place also I’ll be fielding offers for the honor of hosting me in the spare room when I come to visit Buffalo

What’s the old saying? It’s much easier to be a gracious winner. Jack won, he achieved the ultimate goal. Considering I don’t actually think he ever had a problem with Adams specifically, and combined with the added maturity age grants, I’m much more inclined to think Jack would draw from his positive Sabres experiences, now, if asked for a recommendation. Maybe that’s just me. Bitterness tends to evaporate, especially with success Unless he really, really has it in for the owners, I guess

They won’t and it wouldn’t

It’s possible. Would be difficult, imo Jack was probably the rightful Smythe winner. Not sure Tuch’s 200ft/defensive impacts are as strong, particularly as a winger. I’d guess he could be right up there in points with him on a Sabres team that went to the final, considering the excellent offensive season we just saw from him and our scoring in general. My guess is Tuch would, too, in fact be a guy who elevates come playoffs time, which would be great news for us. Mostly, I just hope we get to see what the answer is, and I’m praying we get a crack at it next season Perhaps. Or, maybe it’ll hurt our prospect pool, a little bit, to win. I think that would be the more relevant takeaway as far as what fans should prepare for, as of today

Dude, that’s an undisputed W, glad to hear it - - - Agree on the toughness required in the playoffs. Vegas had one of the more salient slogans I’ve heard: “It hurts to win.” Ie, to get what you want, expect a painful sacrifice

That’s just a Winnipeg price. Big Macs here are $34

As for wondering whether we can get past round 1, I’ve said this before: I literally don’t even get that far in my daydreaming. Hubris. Every quote we hear from the team about how it’s not about making the playoffs, it’s about the Cup, reeks of utter hubris to me. I’m sorry, that’s just me. I literally only daydream about the day we make the playoffs. That’s all I care about. A 12 year drought has *definitively* proven that be a worthy concern, a ridiculously happy result in and of itself. Just make th f*cking playoffs. You won’t hear me bitching if we get swept: bookmark this

Oh it’s absolutely a massive, Grand Canyon sized missed opportunity. The sort of player Jack proved himself to be, in the playoffs specifically, sort of locks that in definitively. But it’s a situation that became untenable over several years: I believe it probably got to a point, at the end, where there was no opportunity to be salvaged. Ie, KA took the best course of action for the Sabres based on the time and situation given to him (Gandalf paraphrase, auto +1)

Michkov definitely feels like he’ll be our guy - rumours he’s a big risk making falling to 13 very possible - our willingness, even desire to select Russian players - insanely talented - 4 years away from the NHL. Hey that’s a further 4 years we get to clear the runway of any Blocks. Being one of the only teams where timeline is seemingly not an issue gives us an advantage where Michkov is concerned

Adams’ reasons for not allowing the surgery make sense, but the idea they literally had no choice isn’t true. At all. Allowing the surgery was always an option. The trade request from a year previous, that Jack rescinded, was re-awoken over the injury dispute. Maybe Jack changes his mind if he gets his preferred surgery. Maybe he plays in a few games after said surgery to re-establish value, which Jack never ruled out. He specifically mentioned he knew he might need to do that to aid a deal. We also don’t know who would, or wouldn’t have traded for Jack if he got the (a) surgery before the move. KA didn’t allow the surgery, as others have said correctly, because he wanted to protect the asset value. Everyone knows this. But he didn’t have to operate in this manner. He could have allowed Jack the surgery he wanted. He didn’t, Vegas did. This is what I was referencing the other day: the perception will remain out there, at large, that the Sabres were “wrong” because Jack ended up really benefiting from a surgery his former team wouldn’t allow. These people aren’t going to drill in to KA’s Sabres-based reasoning, for the most part. Not that “he wanted to protect the value of his asset” will fly with the average person, anyways. I don’t believe how Adams approached the situation would have a negative perception around the league, though. As mentioned, his mode of operation does make sense and I understand why he operated in the fashion he did. Was speaking merely to the perception among consumers: anyone can peruse any hockey thread anywhere online and see the sentiment exists in a large way that Jack was right about the injury dispute and the Sabres wrong. In realty, Jack was right, but the Sabres in how they operated, were, too. KA got more less the exact trade value he wanted in the deal, his strategy worked. That Adams could have operated in a different manner, but instead stuck to his guns to the tune of successfully implementing his trade strategy, make the deal all the more impressive from his perspective. No need to minimize the role choice had in the matter, which is always paramount

About damn time

Cue training vid of Danny Briere flipping tires

I feel like they’d be salivating at the chance to draft Michkov. The fact he’s several years away will matter to KA perhaps least of all GMs

It could simply be the same calculation he made with Chychrun. With Ullmark. We want you, we’ll roster you, but only at our predetermined price.

Will be interesting to see how this unfolds, both in terms of who we get at D and who we get at G. Was listening to Marek’s show and he mentioned he doesn’t expect any big moves from Adams. Says the Sabres are the draft and develop team and that this is very much a slow play from Adams, emphasis on slow. His words, not mine. On the other hand, we hear a lot of rumours he’s kicking tires on guys. In my estimation it’s likely both: it’s not that KA is opposed to outside additions (Chychrun, etc), he just appears to be very hard-line re: cost. Ie we either see great value trades, or no trades at all. I don’t think we make any deals that don’t look like immediate wins on paper, asset compared against asset. Ie it’s not an ends (addressing roster holes) justify the means (what we give up) situation: we are still prioritizing coming out on the right side of value in-value out equations. - - - Just as a random tangent Marek also mentioned he was very surprised UPL wasn’t a part of Rochester for the playoff run. Said it was because the Sabres have decided UPL is an NHL goalie.

I don’t know, does he? Was curious as to what was informing your opinion The amount I follow the league and its players as a whole has cratered in the last 2-3 years. Think Frodo and Sam as they strip off all their outer cloaks and pans and weapons and stuff when trying to fight through that final stretch of their treacherous journey through an utter wasteland.

Why not?

Agree. Would rather a depth piece but maybe that’s what a 2nd could garner in a further move

Here’s the Smythe voting. Jack finished 2nd. Hill was 3rd. Marchessault got 13 first place votes, Eichel got the other 5. No one else was close. Voting points: Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas: 80 points (13 first place votes) Jack Eichel, Vegas: 56 points (5 first place votes) Adin Hill, Vegas: 17 points Mark Stone, Vegas: 8 points Matthew Tkachuk, Florida: 1 point

I’ve argued that for 2 years. But, it certainly continued, regardless. So, today, the chickens are certainly coming home to roost, in a manner of speaking.

Said in the moment they absolutely were looking for a sound byte. Jack was obviously super emotional but I thought was reasonably diligent in not throwing shade. He more spoke about how much adversity he had to go through, and, side with him or not, clearly he did.

Reciprocate what?