PerreaultForever

I don't disagree with this but it depends on which era you are looking at in terms of winning or losing. I want a Brad May in the line up far more than a Rob Ray, but I want that Brad May guy. There's no question rough stuff is down and there's less fighting but it still happens. We haven't faced much of that in recent years because we've simply been too horrible for teams to bother with, but if we become a fast skating offensive team as the plan seems to be, some teams will try to answer that by banging us around and intimidating, or trying to. We will have to answer that as a team, like you said, but we will have to see who that will be if anybody. We certainly don't want the Nelson (lack of) response to the Eichel incident. I still think we could use a bigger and tougher 4th line than that sort of cast off assembly we usually throw together. Think of Wilson tossing Panarin around and ponder what the Sabre response would be to something like that? I'd rather have a lesser minutes guy standing up to that than have to have Tage or somebody like that do all the push back. I want Tage on the ice after those guys go to the box.

That was a fun clip to watch, but is there anybody on this current roster who can truly answer the bell? Tage? Cozens? Do we want them fighting? I think not. I'm not sure it matters any more in this league, but if we do get roughed up by some team I do wonder how we will handle it.

Stutzle's age is the differentiating factor, but it's a gamble as well. A big one.

I can't buy into this. No way is he as good defensively. Not even close. Maybe will be, not as of now.

I don't disagree with this, but can you make an argument that Dahlin is as good as McAvoy? I can't.

I think he will give it a gritty effort when called upon but he won't make the starting line up. I personally prefer him to Bryson, but I don't think the Sabres agree.

I don't think so. I mean he might squeeze the Sabres for that number but he doesn't deserve it and it would be an overpay. The current market for top D man has pretty much been set in the 9 million range. McAvoy 9.5, Makar 9, Heiskenen, Werenski, Hamilton, nobody makes 10. Can't see any way to justify a contract higher than McAvoy or Makar.

The Pasternak deal certainly worked out for them. I wonder if he's now looking to make up for a little of that bargain pay as the Bruins haven't re-upped him yet and there is talk out of Boston that they are far apart and he might even walk after this year as a result. idk. Just rumours. The cap assumptions might play out, but who can say? Economy is in an iffy place. Inflation, cost of living, hockey revenues might suffer, you just never know. At the moment the Sabres payroll is super low as we all know and they can certainly afford this contract so we shall see how it plays out.

I didn't really watch Montreal much last year but I know the fans aren't happy with him and there was a lot of media talk in Quebec about it being a bad signing. Some trade talk too as a result. I think his defensive game was really bad and the effort level was questioned, but as you say, it was a horrendous season for them so you can't base anything on one year.

and at the moment, the Suzuki contract looks like a mistake.

Well I was trying to find comparable salaries. Miller's contract is the only current comparable and that was already discussed. I personally find it hard to compare Tage to other players since it was an oddly surprising season for him at a new position. I'm really not sure WHO he compares to if anyone in terms of style and play.

You're ignoring the fact that Skinner has never had more than 63 points. No matter how you look at it, he is grossly overpaid. I think Krueger caused covid, inflation and high gas prices too. It's his fault for everything.

It still comes down to one fundamental point and that is: it's based on ONE season. So, you can believe, as the Sabres obviously do, that he has developed and matured and that was his break out season and he will continue to play similar or perhaps even better hockey. If he does, it's a good contract and may become a great contract for the team . Or you can believe that he had a lucky fluke year and isn't really that good in which case he will be overpaid. It's a possibility. As a fan you won't want to believe in this possibility, but it is a possibility. Or lastly, you can be uncertain of what he will be (which I am) and so you can believe the contract was premature. So as a fan you end up hoping for the first but fearing the second. So I view it as a gamble. The stats can't disprove this as the sample size and body of work isn't large enough.

O'Reilly is an interesting comparison for obvious reasons but there's 2 big differences. One, he's near the end of this contract and has a proven track record of consistency and two, he's a 2 way center paid for his defensive prowess as well as his scoring stats. Tage has one season of solid offensive numbers. He MAY live up to this contract, but after Skinner, I guess I'm just reluctant to pay anybody after one good season.

So what you're saying is the comparables I listed are underpaid? I'm not really following the logic. Sam Reinhart puts up 82 points, he makes 6.5 million. Factoring in a small Florida tax discount it's a comparable salary so why doesn't Tage have to put up comparable points for those deals to have equal value?

So basically Tage has to match the performance(s) of players like Landeskog, Connor, Barzal, Nylander, Reinhart (maybe skip that one) and such for this to be good value. Is that a fair statement? If he's about a point a game guy it's a win but if it's less, how much less determines how much he's overpaid. Reasonable? Unless of course he brings new intangibles like he beats up thugs from the other team or something. Value you can't really measure statistically. We shall see.

I'd give them Rosen straight up. If they'd take it. Either that or picks down the road (not next year).

Because he's a consistent performer and a character guy. He's basically putting up a point a game and that will almost definitely continue so fans in Vancouver are happy he's staying. Having said that, with his age, they might regret the term if he drops off after a few years. Tage's contract will be a great deal IF (and it's a big IF) he continues to produce at the same level as this past year but the question mark, as you well know, is because it's based on only 1 year of that type of production so it is a gamble. Calculated, and possibly a good one, but still a gamble.

I "expect" him to do very well, or it's off to Rochester for the rest of his career as far as I'm concerned. It's time for him to show or go. What will he do? I have no idea. I still have my doubts on his work ethic, durability, effort and commitment level. Very happy if he puts those to rest this year.

At his age it's going to be much easier for him to pull a groin or wrench a knee or have more trouble recovering from a puck to the mask or other concussion type injury. Past injuries will also be weak spots. Unless Comrie can somehow carry a huge load, and play well enough in that role, goaltending will be the achilles heal again.

I think he's definitely better than Bryson and in the right system with the right coach I think he still has upside and more potential than Bryson. Long term you'd want to pair him with a shut down guy but imo he'd make us better. It sounds like he has issues with Gallant and maybe Gallant's hard ass approach so he'd probably respond well to Granato.

I'd say that's fair, but what if you could get him for picks or prospects? If you could do that, he would make us a better team than we are. I'd certainly pick up the phone and ask the price.

Anderson getting injured at some point is a more than likely scenario.

I'm hoping it's the third one. Not because of his poor play, but rather because the youngsters are just better. That's the hope I'm sure many of you share.

I have zero issues with this. He's still young and can still become much better than he's been. Never forget, goalies are weird.