RangerDave

I am tired of losing. IF they can get a goalie that helps them win now, they should would jump at the chance. The youngsters on the team need to find joy in playing now, not 3-5 years from now (as do us fans). If we can get a goalie that is great for the next 5 years, that is the length of the rest of Eichel's contract, and bridges us until the prospects get good. I don't think even a healthy, happy Eichel has them winning now, without a goalie who can win now. That said, I don't know of any team that has a spare great goalie that they would give up in a trade for Eichel. But, I don't know of any team that would give up a 1C of equal value to Eichel either. Why would they? I don't think any team is going to give up anything but prospects for Eichel. They are interested in getting their team better now. That means not giving up an equal asset that they need now. I don't have a lot of faith that an Eichel trade is going to make us better anytime soon. And I am dreading being a fan for the next 3-5 years while our gained prospect assets, #1 OA pick, and prospect goalies all get decent. That is a lot of hopefuls that may not pan out (and have historically not panned out). Whatever is takes to win now, we need to do it. Pinning hopes on prospects is getting very old. Screw the #1 OA. That plan has not worked at all for us. With the Bills, I used to say not "Wait 'til next year!", but "Wait 'til the year after next, because we are gonna still suck this year!" With the Sabres, I say, "Wait 'til 5 years from now!" And that sucks.....

That is my question. Is there a goalie out there that you would trade Eichel for straight up? I think it is possible we have enough players to make the playoffs, sans Eichel, IF we had a good goalie to back them. I am resigned to the probability that Eichel will never play for the Sabres again. If that turns out true, what would be the piece, or pieces, we would need in return to get back to the playoffs? A goalie, in my mind. It may not lead to long term success, but I would settle for a playoff team for a change now. I'll worry about 2 to 3 to 5 years after we reach that plateau.

While this is certainly true, I can think of at least a half dozen times the Sabres brought in or paid a forward who fell off a cliff afterwards, too. (cough...cough...Skinner...cough) I am thinking more along the lines of an established goalie, not a prospect. Someone in the same tier as Eichel who has been good for some years. Eichel is injured now, so there is no guarantee that he will be back to elite status, either.

Would you trade Eichel straight up for any NHL goalie? If so, which one(s)? I think it is more difficult to get a good goalie than it is a 1C, so if one came up in trade talks, I would probably jump at it.

Back then, highjacked planes were not used as weapons, killing everyone on board. If a plane was highjacked in the US, they usually just wanted to land in someplace like Cuba. Sometimes it was for money, but it was usually for a political message or action. The passengers on Flight 93 found out that other planes were used as weapons and flown into buildings. Knowing that their fate would probably be similar, they decided to act rather than allow themselves to be passive and just crash into a building. This is why I don't think this kind of thing will happen again. Too many of us, like you, would not sit idly by but would defend ourselves in whatever way we could. Even if the terrorists snuck a gun or even a bomb on board, if all the passengers rushed them at once with the intent to "throat punch" them, we would overwhelm them. We may all die as a result, but at least we would go down swinging and quite possibly save people at the intended target.

Could be. I just think Eichel is a very good player when his head is in the game and he is healthy. A healthy and happy Eichel would be great for the team. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening in Buffalo. Hence, "here we are", in your immortal words. 🙂

I used a poor choice of words there. I don't think Adams wants Jack to sit around for 5 years at $10M/year. I think Adams would love to have Eichel return to the team, healthy and happy. That version of Eichel would be a great asset for this team in those 5 years, hopefully starting earlier rather than later. Possibly later this season. What I meant was that if Jack is determined to never play for the Sabres again, Adams wants to get something that will add value to the team in return. If he does that, the team will be in a better position than they are now with either Jack sitting out or Jack playing unhappily and affecting the team morale.

Adams has Eichel under contract for the next 5 years. That is the only card he needs. Either Eichel plays under that contract, or Adams gets the value he needs in a trade. Also, personally, I think the rest of the team has already written Jack Eichel off as far as playing for the Sabres again. I've been on teams where one of our best players was not happy and we all felt better when he left the team, skill level or not. Just more playing time for the rest of us. As far as management goes, I think they have written Jack Eichel off as well. Play or not, what difference does it make if he is not helping the team because he is unhappy. Any assets they get in a trade that improve the team are just gravy. That said, the assets have to help the team, not just be bodies that take time away from the players who want to play and are happy here. I could be wrong, but if I was in their shoes, that is how I would feel.

I think Adams has shown that the only way for Brisson to get Eichel out of the "dumpster fire" is for his agent to pump up his value enough to the point where other teams offer Adams enough in compensation that he feels comfortable that he is getting fair value for his asset.

I agree that Bean would get what he could for a disgruntled player via a trade. I do not think that he would cave to a player's desire for a surgical procedure that would void the team's insurance. Assuming he would not agree to Eichel's desire, do you think he would still get what he could, knowing that it would not be a fair deal in comparison with a healthy Eichel?

Any thoughts on how Beane and McDermott would handle this situation with Eichel?

I was agreeing with you? 😇

Doing things the same way and expecting different results is one definition of insanity. Maybe, instead of a panic move, the obverse is true and Jack is finally coming to his senses. His first agent was not working. Time to try a different approach?

"A source told the Buffalo News" Now that most of us believe this is probably good news and the right thing to happen, how much do we know about the source of this "breaking news"? Going on the past few years of Sabres history, I am skeptical that what we all want is what is really happening. I'll see it when I believe it, as the new old saying goes.

And those who can't teach, coach.

I heard Donald Trump is looking for something to do nowadays. (And people think the Pegulas are hockey know-nothings who interfere......)

I always liked Bailey over Jennifer. She was so dang pretty! 🥰

Just finished a biography on John Quincy Adams. Am currently reading "A Patriot's Handbook" by Caroline Kennedy. It is a collection of speeches, poems, songs, and stories that will stir your spirit of America. Will be starting to read "A History of the World" when I start traveling again (which will be soon!)

You don't know how warm my cockles are right now! Gracias, mi amigo.

Should I take offense that you have not been a jerk to me? Am I not worth your effort to be a jerk to? 😢 I will allow you one jerk-worthy moment toward me, if you promise to lay off on the hug. 😘😁

...hence, the goofy face icon...

I don't know....smacks a bit of racism. 🤪

Sorry, I did not mean to offend you. I understand that NHL teams and business corporations have differing reasons for being. Sports are such an emotional investment, which is what makes them so great in my mind. And I am not talking a financial investment, but investing our time, energy, and emotions. Most of us would do anything and everything we can to create and sustain a winning team. I tend to believe the Pegulas are doing what they think is needed to emulate the Bills success, even if hindsight has proven them wrong to date. Hopefully they learn from the past.

I can appreciate that. I can also appreciate an owner wanting to be kept informed of what his competent people are doing, even asking questions. I honestly don't know what level of involvement the Pegulas have in making hockey decisions. I am sure there are people on this forum who have more inside knowledge on this than I do. I am also sure that others are making a lot of assumptions, which is probably normal for a frustrated fan base with pitchforks and torches on the ready. My personal opinion is that the Pegulas made a good/lucky hire with the Bills (and these hires have made good/lucky draft choices and free agent signings.) We are all waiting for them to make a good/lucky hire for the Sabres. That's all it would take to change things for the team. Is Kevyn Adams the right/lucky hire? Only time will tell, and we fans are tiring of the wait.

I can understand not liking the way a sports franchise is being run, especially from a passionate fan. It can be the same for the way for any corporation not being run the way you'd like it to be. What I don't understand is how many people say the Pegulas should not be involved in any way in the company that they own. How many people here, given the chance to own the Buffalo Sabres, would just hire a GM and then forget about the team? Of course, everyone here is way more competent to run a major league hockey team than your average billionaire. 😇 I submit that an owner not involved in his company is guilty of corporate neglect.