Curt

I think you know that when Liger says “projected out to” that he literally means projects according to a statical analysis system. You know, all the fancy charts and stuff!

Is it just me, or does that seem like an extremely poor piece of negotiating by Regier? There was no way for the Sabres to benefit from that deal. Either way, trading up or staying put, the Kings would get the player they preferred, and the Sabres would get the other guy. The Sabres paid a trade up price for no reason.

Not sure if Pronman had him ranked as such, but if he did, it was in the 2018 offseason, a full year after Mitts was drafted and everyone went bonkers about his excellent U-20 tournament performance. Just wanted to clarify that it was not immediately after Mitts being drafted.

My point was only that the fact that the majority rank Power 1st, in no way means that he is actually the best choice, and it’s not outsmarting yourself to have a different opinion. EDIT: you didn’t actually say outsmarting yourself, I was misremembering. You said “don’t try to outsmart the pack”. I disagree, I would like the Sabres to try to outsmart the pack. PS: I know I just disagreed with you like three separate times. Don’t think I’m being cross. We are all good.

I’m sure the Sabres will go with the highest rated player on THEIR board. Lets not pretend that the “consensus“ best prospect always, or even usually, turns out to be the best choice at #1. Seems like roughly half the time, the #1 pick does not end up the best player out of the top-10, and for years we’re there isn’t a slam dunk superstar, like this years draft, it’s much less certain than that. It’s fine to prefer a certain player, but let’s acknowledge that there isn’t just one intelligent option out there. I was asking you because you are the one who assured me that there would be many information leaks from the Sabres organization.

Uh, maybe. Honestly, I think prognosticating about how many future information leaks there will be from the Sabres organization is a bit out of our depth. How would we know how many leaks there will be?

Debating here how much the neck injury affects a trade return is pretty pointless, because we don’t know the current state or prognosis of the neck injury. Somewhat on that note, it’s pretty interesting that there seems to be basically no information about the Eichel injury or trade situations leaking out from the Sabres side. Seems like a pretty tight ship.

A lot of what you just said is wrong. Sam turns 26 before next season, Staal turned 24 the offseason he was traded. Staal was a year away from UFA, just like Reinhart is now, except Staal’s situation was worse because he was already signed to a deal that had one year remaining and ended in UFA. A team at least has a chance to sign Sam long term. EDIT: I see that others have brought it up. Disregard.

Zegras has the upside to be the best offensive player on a good team. Top line C and guy who drives your PP. I don’t know if he will consistently hit 30 goals, but he could pile up the assists. I think Cozens could end up as a better goal scorer and probably a little better defensive player, and he has some interesting leadership qualities, but he isn’t the passer/playmaker/stickhandler that Zegras is. Different players. Who is better will depend on their development. I’d say Zegras might have a little higher upside though because if he really hits his upside he could put up 90 point seasons and I don’t think Cozens has that in him.

I think he can play well on the ice, while simultaneously being a bad influence/distraction off the ice, and also saying F-you, trade me.

Option 4: ***** you, trade me, lol

That just does not fix the problem. 1) It’s a very public embarrassment for Eichel that will only further damage an already fractured relationship. 2) Do you think that simply removing the captaincy will really fix anything. He is still the best player, most high profile player, and one of the longest tenured members of the team. This would only make a disgruntled Eichel even more disgruntled, and doesn’t stop him from being a drag on the moral of the team. I think the better course of action would be to deal with it internally best they can, while publicly giving no hint as to what is going on, until a trade can be made.

Already making roster construction demands after his rookie season? He must really love it in Minnesota.

Definitely making a choice. I think fear of how a disgruntled captain Jack affects the young guys going forward and fear that he will demand a trade after his NMC kicks in are really driving that choice.

Last season they definitely tried to win. I think Jack is mad because the team sucks, not because of a nebulous concept of commitment to winning. No matter how you slice it, or what angle you look at it from, it’s pretty clear that this whole mess is self inflicted. It just comes down to which avenue of incompetence you prefer.

If I’m adding a couple more pieces to 3 OA and Comtois, I want Terry and Dostal. To me that would be good because we get a couple young guys who can contribute day 1, and a couple high upside pieces who can be in the NHL in 2022-23.

Maybe a late 1st and a C prospect.

This article encapsulates a lot of what I’m feeling. It seems like Adams is actually doing the things he said he wanted to when hired. I feel a bit of confidence that he isn’t just a mouthpiece full of hot air.

The bolded is really groundbreaking stuff. (Just a joke) If I had #1 and #3, I would be trying to come away with both Beniers and Eklund. Draft the D in round 2. Beat me to it

I disagree, sort of. The contractual situations they are in limits their options. Yeah, it stinks, but I think Reinhart and Risto were not resigning. That’s a choice they can make, independent of what path Buffalo wants to take. I don’t have a full picture of the relationship between Eichel and the team, but Jack seems pretty disgruntled, and I’m not sure how you move forward with a young team with a captain in that mindset. Again, it stinks. They are paying the price for being so bad for so long.

A possibility, though a very remote one. This might sound strange but I think that type of “risk” is a lot easier to take for young, unmarried, childless guys.

Personally, I would like a majority of the return to be young players. Guys 1-2 years into their NHL careers or about to break in next season. I don’t know who is initiating the trade business. I suspect that you may be right, but Eichel also seems pretty fed up with his situation. I think the relationship has become untenable.

I don’t want to see losing hockey, but I think the Sabres are a bit low on options right now. The younger guys aren’t ready to carry the team, a couple key players are finishing up their contracts, and the captain/best player wants out(?). I think things have been building towards this point since before Adams came aboard. I think they can rebuild with youth without being terrible. If they do it right, it shouldn’t take 3 years to be in the playoff hunt.

I know that your beef is also with fans acceptance of losing, as much as the Sabres’ acceptance of it, but Anthony’s opinions don’t necessarily reflect what the Sabres will do.

I agree completely, this looks like an intentional targeted lesk. The couple of teams that REALLY want him will pony up a little more at some point.