Curt

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.

Yeah, it’s fine to hope there is more. But they got him for 1 year of Johansson. Maybe Staal gets a lot worse, but maybe not. It’s a short term solution, but it’s a reasonable, possible solution This morning the 2020-21 Sabres had no viable 2C option. This evening they do. The cost was minimal. Net win.

Neither would Cirelli, Monahan, Danault or any other good 2C addition. In the NHL, almost no single move is a game changer. There needs to be more, but this is a good start.

Dude! He is 36 but he is good. Consistently 2C level good over the past few years. His contract is one year at 3.5M. He was acquired for Johansson, one year at 4.5M. He is better than Johansson and cheaper. Regardless of if Buffalo acquires a better/younger C this offseason, this trade looks like a big fat W for the Sabres. Can you take no joy in a good thing?

To the pedant thread with you!

Staal will probably be the 3rd best C to play for Buffalo in the past 13 years. Crazy.

Oh damn! There is a legit 2C stop gap. Looks like something that someone here might actually propose. Awesome first move! Adams coming out strong. I don’t get why Minny did this one for one with no retained salary or picks involved.

Over the past 2 seasons, ES scoring from Mitts and Sheary. Mitts- 22 pts in 108 games, 17 per 82 Sheary- 44 pts in 133 games, 27 per 82 Mitrs was consistently bad and often awful. Sheary was generally ok, sometimes bad and occasionally awful. Mitts did not outplay Sheary for any significant period of time. Mitts was not an NHL caliber player.

Is Tuch really truculent? Is he actually a physical, gritty, grinding, intimidating player? Or is he just tall? Honest question. I don’t see Vegas play much, past my bedtime. He delivers about 1 hit per game, but so does Tage Thompson, and his PIMs don’t paint the picture of an intimidating player. Guess how many he had this season........8. Guess how many last season.........8 again. Leaves me skeptical.

Seems like 12-20 range is more likely for him.

My interpretation of these answers. -No, not exceptional, but good. Probably a little above average. -“Where do you see the talent dropping off?” is a really bad question that everyone will interpret differently. The correct answer is obviously after #1 overall.

How about when beating a dead horse? Seems to be more relevant around these parts. 😁

Seems like he was clever enough to politic his way into the GM role. Maybe he is clever enough to be a savvy GM. Cream (or oil! Lol) rises to the top. Here’s hoping!