GASabresIUFAN

Power for the Calder.

@Pimlach Here is the link to the interview. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frankly-speaking-with-frank-seravalli/id1658075238?i=1000610717441 The Montour discussion starts at 16:04. KA's answer starts at 16:54.

You can't tell me you aren't annoyed when Jack does well or ROR.

There is no question that played into KA’s thinking. However, there are no core pieces except guys acquired in trade like Tuch and Skinner (and KA was stuck with Skinner) who are over 24 now and Tuch is only 26. Montour is now 29.

KA also said Montour has matured as a player since he left.

But Bush is on a 2 year deal that likely won’t be renewed. He is also a bottom pair D. Montour to be utilized properly would have to be the QB on the no. 1 pp. That wasn’t happening here. Also the D core is Dahlin, Samuelsson and Power. All 24 and under. When KA arrived Joki was 21, and Johnson was a 1st rd draft pick. Even without knowing he was getting Power, a mix of Dahlin, Joki, Johnson and Samuelsson had the look of a potential good top 4. From that standpoint where does Montour fit? I think KA’s comments make sense and then add in the motto of players “wanting to be here” and I can easily see that an extension was something neither party was interested in.

The age information came from KA himself during the interview. Yes he was 27 when traded, but if KA’s timeline was 3 years to get the ship turned around, then he’d be 30 when the team again became competitive. From this point of view, KA’s comments make sense. Did Montour also want out. Probably, but it’s clear from KA’s comments that he wasn’t going to offer an extension to Montour.

You do realize that Hawerchuk was in the top 20 scorers (currently 22) in NHL history with he retired with 518 g and 1409 points. Before he came to Buffalo he was the no.1 player on Wpg for years and years, won a Calder, finished 2nd to The Great One in the MVP race at 21 when put up 130 points. He played in the playoffs every season of his career except 2 and was an over a pt per game playoff player. The only active players ahead of him are Thornton, Ovie and Sid. Patrick Kane is nearly 200 point behind Hawechuk for his career. Not his fault that he played 2nd fiddle to Gretzky out West and to Patty in Buffalo.

Levi is definitely the silver lining, just like Thompson is ultimately the silver lining on the ROR trade. If he gives us Miller level goaltending it will change the future of this franchise for the better. I heard KA talking about Montour. He was very complimentary of his talent and wasn’t surprised he was flourishing. Reading a little between the lines, I got the impression that he believes we utilized him incorrectly, but moved him because his age was beyond the range he wanted for this rebuild.

There are a clear top 6 players in Bedard, Fantilli, Michkov, Carlsson, Smith and Benson. Bedard, Fantilli, W. Smith, and Carlsson will be drafted in the top 6. After that who knows. Benson and Michkov are top 6 talent, but Michkov could slip because of the Russian issues and Benson could slip because or his size like Savoie did. My guess all 6 will be drafted in the top 10, but after that the guys ranked 7-17 could all be available and all probably have similar draft grades on most NHL boards. This draft reminds 2019 when the US and Canadian U18 teams were loaded and guys like Caufield, Newhook and Krebs fell to 15, 16, & 17. Spencer Knight went 13th that year. We are going to get a really talented player this year at 13. With 2 seconds, I suspect KA’s plan will be to get the BPA on his list at 13 and then grabs some D in the second. Here is a bold prediction. If KA gets a forward at 13 and Östlund stays in Sweden, KA trades Östlund for a D, much like the Nylander for Joki trade.

Should we be annoyed the 2 former Sabres, Montour and Reinhart, were keys pieces in Fla beating Bos?

I really like this signing. He looked good last year and Beane said he actually played better last year and then the year prior. The question is are we really going to carry 4 running backs plus Reggie at FB? I’ve been reading the draft grade stories and almost everyone really likes our draft. Kincaid is the new slot receiver, Torrance will probably win the Guard job. I think Shorter has a real shot at being a guy who can stretch the field but also compete for TD’s in the red zone. The 7th rd picks look like guys with lots of experience and surprisingly good resumes. Other than not getting more DT depth, the draft really went well.

I don’t think being the 3rd best player on your line is a bar to gaining the Hall of Fame. Guys like Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson are in the Hall and deservedly so, but they played on a team with Messier and Gretzky. The weasel Marchand is the 3rd best player on his line and as much as I loath him, I’d argue he’s on or very near Hall trajectory with 862 pts in 947 games. He only has 372 goals in his career so far. Skinner is 4 years younger, but has 333 goals in 932 games. By the time Skinner reaches 34, he’ll probably be 450 goals at his current pace. Where Marchand has Skinner beat is in assists. Skinner only has 291 to Bard’s 490.

Large physical stay at home D.

From CBSsports

Only problem with Torrence is that he's a Gator.

Not really a skill set we need

That was my first reaction when I looked at Skinner's numbers. Then I realized that if he averages 30 goals for the next 6 years, which he is fully capable of doing and then wins a Cup with the Sabres or whomever, he'd have a resume very similar to other HOFers. PS: It's the off-season we need something to discuss.

I can understand that. That said, Hurst and Hockenson are solid players and Pitts is a game breakers in desperate need of a QB.

So what do you think now?

At first glance, Skins is in the Hall of Very Good. The 2 years under Rasputin put a serious cramp in Skinner's counting stats. Still, Skins has potted 333 goals in his 13-year NHL career and is only 30. Is it really beyond the realm of possibility that he reaches 500 goals by the time his career ends assuming he stays healthy and productive? In fact, every player to reach 480 goals or more (53 players so far) or more are in the Hall of Fame except current players Crosby, Ovie, and Stamkos (all future Hall members) and retired players Brian Bellows (485), Peter Bondra (503), Jeremy Roenick (513), Pierre Turgeon (515), Keith Tkachuk (538), and Pat Verbeek (522). Still not sure why Tkachuk, Turgeon, and Roenick aren't in the Hall. Skinner won the Calder, is a 2-time all-star, and is consistently among the league leaders in even-strength goals. So is this the beginning of a Hall resume if he reaches 500 goals, or does he fall short without getting his name on the Cup?

@ NAF You are more than welcome to disagree with me, but at least have the courtesy of saying what you disagree with. Do you disagree that all these players should be replaced if we are going to become a championship-caliber team? Do you disagree that most of these guys will probably be back next year to play out their contracts and then they won't be renewed?

It’s draft weekend. Who are we taking? LB, WR, DT, IOL, ? I’m going to go on a limb and say the Bills trade down to pick up and extra 3rd rd pick. That will give us 2 seconds and 2 thirds to fill most of the needs. My hope is they take GA TE Darnell Washington with the early 2nd, but suspect a WR will be the pick. I think we’ll see a DT and Safety as well as a WR and TE with those first 4 picks. Mingo and Mims seem like Bills type slot receivers. If we don’t get Washington, I like Michigan’s Schoonmaker late in the 3rd. OL will also be addressed at some point. An article I read discounted getting a LB early because they chose Bernard last year and McBeane usually don’t give up on a player they drafted early so quickly (see Cody Ford). Still I also expect a LB later in the draft as more depth.

From the Athletic. Things must be getting better here. When was the last time we were worried about losing a member of our front office to a rival team. They also said they doubt Karmanos is ready to leave and pointed out he was fired by Pittsburgh previously.

I was thinking that also. I never thought KO would be an effective player by the time his contract ended, but Skinner’s ability on his edges and to find open ice should make effective for many years to come. I also think he is so much happier here being part of this group.