Curt

Welcome. Toxic is a very harsh word. I don’t think Jack is a particularly good leader, but overall I just think all 3 are just very tired of the losing and are thinking about moving on.

Uh yeah, I get the appeal of trading him for something as opposed to letting him walk for nothing. The question remains, why let him pick the destination? I don’t think it makes any sense for Buffalo to do that. What’s the benefit?

No he wasn’t. He just put up a lot of points for a couple seasons and people think his name sounds cool.

Picking his spot at the deadline isn’t going to be a huge thing for Sam. It wouldn’t be long term. He would be able to pick his spot as a UFA in the offseason anyway.

It would be an interesting trade a week ago, now it’s a home run if that’s the deal you could potentially land Beniers and Clarke RHD Or even take Powers, instead of Clarke, if you want a safer pick If Samson won’t sing LT then a trade to the flames for Monahan, plus a prospect Or maybe a bigger deal for Monahan and Tkachuk for Samson, Risto , Oloffson or maybe ..... Watch after all this day dreaming all 3 be back next year 😂 Are you talking about the Kings 2021 1st? I don’t think Power or Clarke will be around at 10 and I don’t think Power is safer than Clarke. Lindholm would be my target from Calgary.

Why would you let him pick his spot in a deadline deal? Trade him for the best return.

Can’t believe the Avs put up with that! 😉

Well, I think Fox would die of a broken heart if he was traded to Buffalo, so maybe I wouldn’t either. 💔

Super weird looking list. I do appreciate that he isn’t afraid to just put the guys where he thinks they should be. It’s boring when every list looks the same. I generally don’t like Button’s rankings though.

I feel like Rangers would say no. He is literally, no doubt one of the top 5 D in the league. Maybe the best. Overall hockey fan opinion hasn’t caught up to that yet, but I feel confident that it’s true.

*I promise that I fully grasp the contract situations of all 3 players. Its certainly possible that any of the 3 could stick around long term. I don’t see it as at all likely though. That’s me reading the situation. Adams seems like he wants no part of anyone who doesn’t want to be a Sabre. Those three guys seem like they don’t want to be Sabres right now.

Not at the expense of getting either Byfield or Turcotte. If you substitute them in for draft picks, then yes. I could get into specifics about the individual guys, but that’s it in a nutshell. Part of that is that I’ve always been a Turcotte fan. I just like him a lot. If it was another high end prospect instead of him, I might be more willing to drop that prospect out, in favor of an NHL guy. Byfield there is no way I would drop him out in favor of an NHL guy.

Kings NHL players? Well Byfield is playing in the NHL as an 18 year old and a lot of their good prospects really are right on the cusp, but for slightly more established guys........ Adrian Kempe, W, 24 Alex Iafallo, LW, 27 Gabe Vilardi, C, 21 (kind of prospect but full season under his belt Karl Grundstrom, W, 23 Lias Anderson, W, 22 Trevor Moore, RW, 26 Then they have Dustin Brown, Andres Anthenasiu, Kopitar, Doughty, Olli Maata. Brown, Kopitar and Doughty have NTCs. That’s pretty much it. Realistically, unless you like AA or Maata, you are looking at those first 3 guys for guys who are already NHL acclimated and could make a real difference right away.

I have had the general impression that he was disappointing a bit so far, but he really has been good, just not excellent. Mediocre year at Wisconsin, where the whole team kind of struggled, then he has 21 pts in 31 AHL games this season, BUT scoreless his first 6 pro games, so 21 pts in his last 25, and he hasn’t scored a lot of goals, BUT he had a hat trick in his last game. I really liked him his draft year! I feel like Cozens, Turcotte, and Beniers could be a great leadership core, even if none of them become real star players.

I think they could possibly put together an acceptable offer without Byfield, though it’s not what I would prefer. They have A LOT of good prospects.

I would take it and run.

Just to note. We have no idea what their list of untouchables is. It doesn’t matter what Rangers fans on the internet think. They just fired their top two hockey guys, and the loose cannon owner seems to want to accelerate their rebuild. Its all up in the air with them.

Was going to say the same thing. I’m sick of thinking Buffalo needs to pander to individual players. Do what’s best for the team!

Adams’ comments about that certainly contrast with Risto’s answer about whether he wants a trade, “I’m good with whatever, shrug.” Reinhart seems to be heading straight towards UFA, express train. If Sam says he wants a one year contract or is going to arbitration, I just think you need to move him, because he has one foot out the door already. Jack is very tricky. He is pissed but also under contract for a long time. Can they mend the relationship? I don’t think so, but we’ll see.

Just listened to Adams presser. Some take always: -First, I drink the Cool Aid about all the team first concept stuff. Searching for players who want to be here and want to be part of something greater than themselves. If players are not all in, they are not going to be able to put all of themselves into turning around a struggling team. -The stuff about connection with the city was maybe a little much, but I think we do know that Buffalo truly is one of the best hockey markets in the world and I don’t think many fans feel an emotional connection to hardly any of the current players. -Stuff about Pegulas came off as a little butt kissy. -Didn’t Adams say that Eichel wants surgery against the advice of not just Sabres doctors but also the 2nd opinion doctor who he went to? It sounds to me like Jack has had his mind made up and just doesn’t like to be told no. -Also, I’d like to note that rehab should not necessarily be viewed as a quick fix way to get a player back on the ice, even though it’s not in the players long term best interest. I’ve seen some comments here suggesting that is the case. Recovery from surgery can often be faster than rest/physical therapy/rehab. However, once you start slicing/drilling/screwing/hammering into stuff, it’s not always great long term. If anything, it sounds to like Jack is the one who wanted to take the quick way back. Spinal surgery is generally a very last resort after other avenues are pursued. Anyone with a medical degree feel free to correct me.

Spoiler: it was the RFA/ELC guys with team control who were “all-in”. It’s easier to be “all-in” when you don’t actually have options. Lol

They both matter. Having SOMEONE to be an adequate 2C is more important though.

The value of the Staal trade was fine. Staal as a 2C solution was not fine. 2 different concepts

I don’t really want to burn it all down, but I don’t see how you can think that any of Jack, Sam, or Risto is still going to be here 12 months from now.