GASabresIUFAN

Maybe blocked in Canada?

It does. He puts it in off the left post and behind the goalie

Future All-star

I just bought Killers tickets for next year

I'm no Cody fan, and I agree that DG probably isn't a huge fan either. However, I looked at Eakin's PT under DG last season and it was very similar to his PTR under RK. RK had cut his PT to about 11 minutes from 14 toward the end of his tenure. DG played him 14 minutes plus most nights. Only in the last few games did it seem DG kicked him to the curb, but that may also have been from a nagging injury that kept him out of the season finale. I never wanted Eakin signed in the first place and I don't want him back next season if I had a choice, but I'm not sure the DG hates Eakin narrative is 100% correct. PS Hayden played less then 10 minutes a game most nights for the Yotes last season and wasn't relied on to kill penalties. He is also a 32% career faceoff guy. Cody was 54% last year for us and over 50% for his career. I'd rather MacInnis play over both guys. He has Hayden size, is ok in the faceoff circle and I think he has more offense to give then either Eakin or Hayden even though it hasn't shown up in his limited callups so far. Truthfully none of the above would be the best choice.

But he also isn't a very effective NHLer. 14 points total over 3 seasons isn't exactly a major contributor. I don't see him beating out Eakin for the 4th line C job. If Jack returns he maybe our 6th best center behind, Jack, Mitts, Cozens, R2 and Eakin.

What does their roster look like right now Centers: Hayden, MacInnis, Oglevie, Malone RW: Quinn, JJP, Weissbach, Pekar LW Biro, Murray, Mersch Defense: Sameulsson, Laaksonen, Davidson, Prow, Schuldt, Fitzgerald Goalie: UPL, Togarski, Dell & Houser?

FYI: I posted this is prospects thread, but it should give you a point of reference on R2's potential. VO is listed at 5'11 182 by the Sabres R2 is listed at 5'9' 185 by the Sabres. I don't see him getting pushed of the puck much. Also the team just added Caggiula - 5'10" 176, Hinostroza 5'10" 177 and honestly R2 is already better then both of these players.

I am an attorney among other things.

Many moving legal parts. The easiest solution is an insurance policy on the contract, and a waiver of liability for the Sabres by Jack. What is allowed under the CBA and the cost of the policy are other issues. Also the Sabres may already have an injury policy on Jack and it might be voided if the team approves an experimental procedure. Jack’s agent is trying to force the Sabres hand. KA should tell to @&#% off and say Jack has a contract and he’s a Sabres until the deal ends unless he is willing to work with us to do what’s best for both parties

He’s the 9th best D on a expansion team. He is a 24 year old D with 14 games of NHL experience with zero points in those games and couldn’t earn a permanent role on the worst team in the NHL. How much do you think his trade value is? A 5th? Less? They also need depth in the AHL. I can see them trying to sneak him down instead of trading him.

No they haven't approved surgery. If they had it would have happened already

Don't have to trade for him. If Sea tries to send him down we get first dibs on a waiver claim. Right now I'd argue he is the 9th best D they have.

Yes, but why have that issue hanging over KA’s head?

Can one of our analytics experts give us a rundown on the new guys. I’m curious on how Pysyk, Hagg and Butcher are the D zone and how best to utilize Hinostroza. Thanks

Time for KA to say Jack is off the market. He should say that we are committed to get Jack healthy and back on the ice to help our young team. If I were KA I’d tell Jack’s agent that his public comments are the reason he was taken off the market and that if he wants Jack traded he needs to waive the NMC and he’ll allow Jack to have surgery. Once Jack returns and proves he is healthy, then and only then will KA consider a trade.

Or they can do what TB did with Hedman. Sign him, have him in practice and ease him into the lineup.

I was looking at the poll and 11 players from the list are already gone. Reinhart, Ristolainen, Montour, Hall, Lazar and Staal were traded. Borgen was lost to expansion. Ullmark and McCabe were lost in free agency. Reider and Sheahan were not re-signed (so far). Hutton and Irwin are also gone, but were not listed. The replacements: Hagg, Butcher, Pysyk, Dell, Anderson, Hinostroza, Bjork, MacInnis, Hayden, and possibly Power.

We are near $53 mil. If Jack is traded we are down to about 43 mill without taking contracts back. The cap floor is 60.2 mill. We need 8 mill already to get to the floor. 18 mill if Jack is trade before the season starts. I figure our RFAs will cost about 10 mill, unless KA buys some of Dahlins FA years.

I agree in general. He has to get on the ice and show he is healthy and productive.

That's not what he was saying. He was saying had the Sabres grabbed one of the 2 goalies with the 14th pick we all would have been ok with the selection and considering I had Wallstadt 10th on my list and Cossa high as well I agree. That said trading for Levi likely made grabbing one of the goalies significantly less likely.

Of Course all this gets further tossed in the spinner if Eichel returns.

It's why I ranked so highly on the prospect list. I think he is going to take this opportunity and become a top 6 center in the NHL.

That's reasonable. It would be hard to tell DB to break up Thompson, Asplund and Mitts after their play together last season. Honestly, this camp should be one of the most interesting in many years. So many forwards and so few known combinations. I can't even say for sure who will be at center besides Mitts next season. Skinner, VO, Caggiula, Bjork can play either wing. Girgensons, Eakin, Cozens, R2, Asplund, Mitts and Hinostroza can play wing or center. Thompson was drafted as center but has played RW in the NHL. KO can play up and down the lineup with the right center and his scoring touch returned once DB became coach. I can also see C's like Hayden or MacInnis forcing their way onto this team. We may see 1000 line combos in camp.

What did Cozens do last year to convince you he is more ready for the top center job then Mitts. Outside of Reinhart, Mitts was our best forward the 2nd half of the year. He played in all situations and helped Asplund and Thompson unlock their potential. Cozens faded down the stretch. I can actually see Cozens being our 3rd center behind Mitts and Routsalainen.