PerreaultForever

It's not exactly that. I would rather phrase it that the salary he commands will be better spent elsewhere as there may be young and cheaper options to fill his role.

Well, you could say there is no forward on this roster as good as Eichel and, arguably, there is no forward on this roster as good as Reinhart, so objectively right there we aren't as good in terms of high end talent. However, I would say it's a team sport, and the dynamics of this team are better than they have been in a long time and players should feed off of that. It's a better mix, but how it all comes together and how well the younger players play remains to be seen. I would expect a high effort level in any event. That at least will be somewhat refreshing.

Yup, 8 years 65 million https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/jordan-kyrou-signs-eight-year-65m-extension-with-blues/

I think so too, although a lot might depend on how Swayman develops. You know the funny thing is a lot of Bruins fans feel their D isn't good enough. Talk about a high bar!!! If Marchand and McAvoy heal properly and return in a reasonable time frame they will be in the playoffs, at least this once more. It's going to be really hard to move up. I just want incremental improvement each year and then we will get there and stay there like some of these teams have done. Crosby and Ovi won't last forever. Tampa will start to get old too. There is hope for a conference flip but not just yet.

Possibly, but I would counter that IF at the 2024 we are a playoff team and a buyer not a seller, then I don't really care if he walks for nothing as we will be good and getting better anyway.

It will be interesting (imo) to see what the power play turns into with Dahlin hopefully reaching full maturity and Power perhaps getting PP minutes. Will there be enough talent on ice that teams won't be able to key on any one player (perhaps just attacking the points) and maybe that VO shot gets reintroduced in some capacity. It was extremely effective for a while when teams keyed on that curly haired muppet we had captaining the team and we need to find a way to get that sniper shot back in. As far as trading him goes, I see that happening at the 2024 deadline if we are not a playoff team. Not before. After that though I suspect he's gone. Otherwise I see him being about the same as we've seen. No more no less.

So I think the conclusion there is that they feel the other teams around us will rise (Ottawa, Detroit) and we still have no goaltending. I mentioned this in the other thread but even if we are better than last year we might still do worse (or be about the same) the losses just might be closer games. The competition for any sort of playoff spot is pretty substantial and I don't think anybody above us got worse (although Florida's D is a little suspect). Oh wait, I forgot. Pittsburgh lost E Rod. They're out.

Oh no sir, we are not a playoff contending team even if the goaltending is Ullmark quality (as Doohickie called it). We might be much better than last year but we are in thick with most of the really good competition. Who is dropping out? Boston was the only possible drop with the injuries but they got both Bergeron and Krejci and have Lindholm from day 1, they have one last kick at the can in them. Then there's improved Ottawa, Detroit and maybe even Columbus, just who do you think we are knocking out for a playoff spot? Pittsburgh, Washington and Boston are all on their last legs, but they're all still in it. In a couple years they might all be out and we'll be in with Ottawa and Detroit instead, but it's unlikely that's this season. Might actually be why Adams didn't fix the goaltending and would rather take his time with the kids. We could rise to Tampa level in 5 years or so with that strategy if things go right.

True, and the team is better than last year instantly with the addition of the number one overall pick added. With all the high draft picks there is no question this team should be better. It has to be right? They surely can't have missed on all these picks? The question for me most of all will remain the goaltending until proven otherwise. I just don't believe Comrie is much of an answer to that hole, and it's a very big hole that could sink the season quickly.

I guess it took so long because he was trying for longer term with somebody but he lands on a very good team so he should do okay. So Kadri out E Rod in, bit of a downgrade but such is the fate of championship teams in a salary cap. Good for E Rod.

IF (big IF) there is this shift in focus you predict. I personally doubt we see it this year.

I hope this is true, but there's no clear evidence (yet) that it is the new mantra.

Coincidentally(?) this is the three people who I think should be wearing letters this season.

I am glad to hear this. It's not a hard statistic to achieve maybe but in all seriousness, this is good. What we need.

Pretty much an unknown for me as I don't remember his impact in the few Laugh games I saw and certainly never noticed him before. I think he's a good fit and we certainly needed D but how good he will be I have no idea. My big question for him is he a fairly passive (but maybe responsible) D man or does he have a bit of a snarl (maybe even dirtiness) to his game like some of the Russians do. I'm hoping it's the latter.

It does look like there's more heart on this team then there used to be. I think Krebs qualifies too (although not sure he is good enough to be on the roster, still a maybe imo). Fitz as well, same thing. Lots of the young guys have it, I just hope they do start seeing results so they don't lose it. I do have hope that a new leadership core develops and a competitive team with pride in the jersey develops. Like it used to be oh so long ago now. We heard the "close off the ice" thing before though in the Eichel era. That part I'm not buying in to and is kind of meaningless.

I think what Ottawa is doing is trying to re-energize their fanbase and sell a lot of season tickets. They are spending and pretty much announcing that they (believe they) are a contender and will stay that way. Will be interesting to see if their whole thing works or not.

Getting Scandella wasn't a bad move. We were desperately short of D men at the time (JBot made a mess of that later obviously but when he got here we were lacking to say the least). but he tossed Foligno away like he was a worth nothing goon. We were just going to be "fast" remember, lol. Huge misunderstanding of how it takes heart and soul players to energize a roster. Ah well, all in the past. Let's hope your comment about somebody from Rochester pans out.

The Marcus Foligno trade will annoy me forever. I think we have a few guys who won't be pushed around easily, but I'm just not sure what happens if the truly big guys decide to target a Mitts or Quinn or somebody smaller. Or Maroon runs over our goalie as he is fond of doing from time to time. This team didn't even answer the Kucherov hit so all I can do is hope it'll be different now.

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.