Broken Ankles

It’s close, but TM was worse, no he won’t, and his incompetence could only lessen if any of his draft picks find success. Interesting that both you and @PerreaultForever called for a Conn Smythe for Lehner. He is losing 3-1 to a team that is one of the lowest scoring teams in the league. He has faced considerably fewer shots against than MAF in game one and given up more goals. If the Golden Knights are fortunate enough to get past Dallas, he would get lit up like a Christmas tree against TB. I only hope that KA can extract something from Vegas when they decide to overpay Robin in the off-season.

If Cozens becomes "Point-esque" is that enough to move JB below TM as worst Sabres GM of all-time? What if Joki's acceleration to solidify the right side on the second pairing happens this year? What about Pekar, UPL, Laaksonen, or Sameulsson breaking through within 12-18 months. Or Ryan Johnson's development getting back on track. What combination of these would elevate TM to worst of all-time?

I love the Pens fan comment - "That’s a negative, Ghost Rider!” regarding the Risto/Letang trade. I was thinking the same thing, only I wouldn't want Letang. I guess we're both that girl that refuses to date within her orbit because she has too much self esteem.

Irrelevant. How many 'kills" did each have Season 1 thru Season X?

This is almost never talked about and should be. Olof is never added to these mock trades. The idea of Skinner back on the first line and moving Kahun up is completely plausible.

I agree with the bold, and love the idea of Copp. However I’m off the Ehlers trade, especially if you are keeping Sam. I think Skinner/Olafsson are your LW 1/2 and you are looking to add size to FL#1 on the right. From what I read on this board and other places We certainly don’t want to downgrade this years draft, even two positions. Just think how different things would be this off-season if you didn’t have Cozens in the mix because you moved down two spots last year. I think Risto is ripe to be moved but I don’t think you need sweetener. If traded, his return will surprise some. Keep the #8 And the second rounder. IF Sam is moved for a center, then Ehlers for Risto and Miller or Montour and something.

13 points in 16 games this playoffs. Lead all Flyers in scoring even though as you note, not his forte. UFA’s are always overpaid. The nature of a free market. He has allowed Giroux to slot back to FL#1 and have two complete lines. Which is what the Sabres are desperately lacking. Scoring on a second line.

Buffalo GMs plan post tank.... Uh-yeahhhh.

Who’s to say Larsson wouldn’t have been a bust if he stayed in Minnesota? You’re a big Boston organization guy correct? Tell me how they are developing players so much better than the Sabres? Not drafting well, developing well. Their top flight players like Pasta, Hamilton, Carlo and McAvoy, had Zero to minimal time in the minors just like many of the Sabres i.e. Reinhart, Eichel, Risto and Dahlin. I just don’t see a slew of players “developed” in Providence. In the last 12 years they have....Spooner, Grzelcyz, and Heinen? If we go back 12 years you can add Marcus and Pysyk to the previous list for the Sabres. The best and most complementary thing I can say about their GMs is they convinced all those players and Donato to stay in college. And I give less credit for that in terms of development. I give more to the individual coaching staffs at these universities. Bringing this back to Casey, it seems in hindsight he would have been better served staying all four years at U of M to develop physically and more so mentally.

I would not do that even if you substituted Risto for Reino.

Except for those that we do. Larsson, Ullmark, McNabb, and Armia to name a few recent. Just because a GM decides to move on from a player does not mean the development was not successful. LA and Vegas benefitted from McNabbs development. It would appear that Borgen, Bryson and Murray are on the right track. Casey needs to take a large part of the responsibility for this failure. He (his agent) forced the hand of JB to get paid immediately. He chose to play Fortnite until all hours and play nip with his pals rather than spend every waking hour improving his game. Yes, a massive black eye for the Sabres and surely a factor in the decision to cut ties with JB, but not an indictment of the entire organization.

Adding a 2C in Kevin Hayes seemed to help.

Yeah, we certainly would not want a Conn Symthe or Vezina winner on this team.😏 Just because the AAV might be higher than Ullmark, this doesn’t mean Darcy is penciled in as the #1. This plan would qualify as upgrading the 2.

Three options: Holtby UFA. Costs nothing other than higher than desired AAV. Kuemper (or equivalence) trade. Lower AAV but cost is somewhere north of a three and south of a one. Fluery. Higher AAV, more than proven, and due to Cap issues in Vegas you can probably obtain another asset for taking this contract. Thinking the equivalent of a low first. (This is the only way Vegas can sign Lehner). I suppose keeping the status quo is an option but I’ve moved on from Hutts and presume KA has too. What is best for the Sabres in 2021?

So that’s a No?

And don’t forget the space for a number 2 Goalie. I hear more and more about Arizona and Pittsburgh floating names out there. How many others are we not hearing about? I have to think KA is considering a change and we should be allocating about $3-5m for the upgrade. Obviously you would love to have move Hutts back as part of a deal but you might be better served burying his number or buying him out. Love to know what Arizona is asking for Keumper. If Allen is a third round, what is Darcy?

It's a good thing PLAYERS win championships, and not organizations. I wish my entire marketing department would quit. When Marketing, as a department becomes essential to what it is that you produce, the quality and sustainability of that product becomes questionable.

Question. Are you entertaining Chad rumors?

Take off, eh!

This situation is like a falling stock. Of course you can hold on and wait to see if it will rebound, but it also could hit zero. In which case, selling now might be the right move. I appreciate @Taro T's cogent analysis. It sounds more promising than not. I have no idea what the value is outside the organization but I guess that's was KA needs to decide. If another GM is willing to give you something you perceive as valuable now, does that benefit outweigh the risk of holding on for another year or two. We also need to consider the expansion draft. What if Casey has a good year in Roch, but Tage stays with the big club all year? Casey's on the outside looking in as far as protection, and you get to watch him develop with another club.

Agree on both cost to obtain Monahan and alternatives that could be had for less. It’s interesting that Sabres rumors are tied to Calgary and Minnesota when neither have Cap issues and in theory less likely to trade. If StL is keeping Pietrangelo they need to shed serious cap.

Or Lili?

https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2020/08/rumor-minnesota-wild-trying-hard-to.html "Look for the Wild to make a few deals this off season, and if they have their way, Zuccarello will be included. Teams like Calgary, Nashville and Buffalo are expected to be interested. It will all be up to Mats. " Not sure how Buffalo is associated with Zucc's. If he is the top 6 forward associated with the 2C (Staal) then the cost is not much, because they will have to give something to take on this contact. It's Mitts and who? Just what we need, another LW.

Now rumors are coming from the Flames side? Connect the dots?