Curt

Well maybe “perception” should get in line with reality, because if you can be a real cup contender without a 1C, then I question the utility of the term.

Yeah, he was maybe playing injured (played 79 games) the year he scored 17, but that’s exactly the problem with him and why he was declining. His body is not holding up.

Yeah, scouts may talk like this, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense to use those terms for those player groups. It just seems like an antiquated holdover from a time when the league was much smaller. With these definitions, you apparently don’t even need a 1C quality player on your team in order to win a Cup. Neither WCF teams have one.

I understood what he meant, because he had to included a paragraph to explain the term instead of just using a term that is more intuitive. Scouts very well may use terms in this way, that doesn’t make it smart or intuitive.

I will argue about it, with the scouts too if given the chance. 😉 I don’t think so. I’m just asking that people should say what they mean and not twist the meaning of another term into an unrecognizable definition completely separated from the textbook meaning of the term.

You are misunderstanding my point. Im not saying that there is a clear difference in talent level between the 31st 1C and the first 2C (32). If you want to say that there is not much difference between a low end 1C (~20-31) and a high end 2C (~32-45), that’s fine. It’s a reasonable argument. The the point that I’m trying to make is that if you are going to use those positional delineations (1C, 2C, 3C) to separate players, don’t create some arbitrary cutoff point which could be different for each person. Use the actually numbers that exist in the NHL. If you want to describe the 10-12 best C’s in the world, 1C is not the tag to use, because there are more than 10 1Cs in the NHL. Just say elite C’s, or all-star C’s or something, or even top-10. Say what you mean.

See above comment. Whichever 31 Cs are the best, those are the #1Cs. There are not 12 #1Cs, 30 #2Cs, and 45 #3Cs...........That’s just arbitrary.

It’s fine to say the Sabres #1 is not an NHL starter quality player. But somewhere out there, there are the 31 best goalies in the league. Those are the starting caliber players. There are not 10 #1 quality goalies, and 50 #2 quality goalies.

This drives me completely crazy. Do words have no meaning!? I reject this purposeful misuse of words. If you just used the words that you really mean, you wouldn’t need to write this disclaimer in your post.

If money was a primary concern, then it’s $1M more feasible than it was yesterday.

Hmm, I wouldn’t think so. Copp at 2C over Staal?

I think it’s just that former Penguins Assistant GMs are genetically predisposed to trading for Marcus Johanssons and believing that they can be top-6 C’s. Don’t forget Terry. Arguably an even less important opinion.

If they hit on 3 players with their first 2 picks, Kevy will have my full confidence. 😉

So what’s the connection between the Staal trade and the draft? That’s what I was asking. I don’t think that there is one. Neither team acquired a long term roster piece.

I don’t think it has any impact on the draft for either team. If Minny was not going to draft a center because they had 36 year old Staal or 37 year old Koivu, that’s about the most foolish thing ever. As a Buffalo fan, would now say that Buffalo is now less likely to draft a C at #8 because they have 36 year old Staal on a 1 yr contract?

If a team has a 4C who can put up 50+ points, it better be an actual playoff team! Are you thinking of Jordan Staal?

Ok, so, Eric Staal enters the mix. What does everyone view him as? (2C? 3C?) Do you think any other additions at C need to be made this offseason in order to be a playoff team? What type of C do you think the Sabres need to add to the current C group of Eichel, Staal, Lazar, Cozens, Mittelstadt, Asplund?

I guess you are right. Just resigning the RFAs probably puts it at around $72M. With that being said, I expect a RD to be moved, which would open up some room. Also, I don’t expect them to actually come in as low as $72M. One guy wrote one time that “sources” said the team was “considering” an internal cap in the “low 70’s range”. That’s pretty soft on definites. I’m going to require something with a little more substance before I take it as gospel.

Unless you think the budget is going to be like 68M, there is room to add. $1.25M more than there was yesterday actually.

Well, Minny’s GM is the green Bill Guerin. You know what they say about rookie GMs always getting raked over the coals by the leagues’ other GMs. I guess it’s true.

“DO THE SABRES NEED TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS COMING SEASON FOR YOU TO BE SATISFIED?“ Yes, that’s where my expectations are set. After getting Staal, I believe that with 2-3 more good moves (some mix of: middle-6 C, top-9 RW, 2/3 pair LD, improved G) this can be a probable playoff team.

Lol, Sheary was better 5 on 5, but it hurts me inside to praise Sheary for being below average as opposed to awful, so I think I’m out.

That’s exactly why it’s such a good move. It was cheap. It doesn’t at all hamper the ability to make other moves.

Difference is that Kahun has already played at a level of good middle 6 winger.

https://frozenpool.dobbersports.com/players/eric-staal Kevin Fiala, Marcus Foligno.