JohnC

You are astute and perspicacious.

We need another top 6 forward added to the mix.

We both agree that there is still a lot to do to reach the minimum of qualifying for the playoffs this season. We should get a better sense of whether the organization is on the right track after tonight.

The answer is to make better personnel decisions. The issue isn’t about a particular good or bad deal. It’s the body of work.

It’s a good deal for the Sabres and for the player. It gives him an opportunity to demonstrate what his value will be in the not too distant future.

You didn’t accurately read my posts on the JJP trade. As a singular deal I consider it to be a good/reasonable deal for us. In a wider context with likely upcoming trade/s that deal should look even better from the vantage of ending up with a better and more balanced roster. When all is said and done it is the end product that should be the focal point when judging the transactions.

The grades mean absolutely little without giving the context of the deal/s. Are the Sabres better with this deal and another deal that most likely will be made due to the cost saving from the JJP deal after he signed his contract? For the sake of discussion, if Rust is added to the roster that came to fruition because we didn't have to sign JJP, then the combined deals seem to result in a better and mature roster. Adding Doan, Kesselring and Rust in my opinion does improve the roster in a variety of ways even if the JJP departure is factored in. It seems that you are just being reflexively negative. If you stand back a little and take a broader view I think you will have a more positive take on the eventual tabulation. Still TBD.

I look on a Rust acquisition and how it impacts Quinn a little differently. If Rust is added, then Quinn has to compete for a top two-line spot and would probably end up on a third line. Internal competition is exactly what we what want and need. And having depth and thickening the roster is the position you want to be in for a long and grinding season replete with injuries. Sliding any player down because another player earned moving up is a good situation to be in.

What is Montreal trading?

Our views mostly coincide. Where I slightly have a different view is that I’m not necessarily looking for a blockbuster deal. What I want are deals that improve and better shape (balance) the roster. With day to day exhibitions of competence you move forward; with constantly changing of plans you create consternation that gets you nowhere. I’m so freaking tired of this back and forth nonsense which is a roadmap to nowhere.

Everyone knows why. It’s not a mystery to anyone inside and outsize of this discredited franchise. When you dig a deep hole you have to climb out of it. There’s no magical and quick solutions. It’s about making smart decisions on a day to day basis.

I've stated this in a prior post that what I will be watching is what the organization does with the added cap room? ( @Taro T keenly brought up this issue.) If the owner pockets it instead of utilizing it, then we have our answer about the seriousness of the owner to compete. The question comes down to is whether this is a serious Pegula franchise or a third-rate Micky Mouse unserious Pegula franchise???

As you keenly noted, a finesse player/team is more aesthetically pleasing to watch than a grittier player/team. Usually, the grittier team succeeds more than the finesse team in the NHL. It's a tough league where you have to handle the rigors of a hard style of play from the opposition, night in and out.

You hit on a key issue to be watched: i.e. what is done with the added cap space following this trade. Will it be utilized or will it be pocketed? If the hockey operation continues to lag spending wise compared to other franchises, then you know exactly how serious the owner is in running a competitive franchise.

It's not unusual to judge trades on the basis of who won or lost the trade. However, especially in this case, that's not how the deal should be evaluated. Based on the fact that JJP wasn't able to come to terms with Buffalo while immediately coming to terms with Utah after the trade makes it abundantly clear that he didn't want to be here. I wanted to keep JJP. But if he was going to be dealt the expectation was that the return would address other areas of need. By that measure, it did. It added a big defenseman and grittier forward. Most people who follow the Sabres acknowledge that this roster needed to be reshaped to become a less finesse-oriented team to a harder to play team. So we gave up a young scorer who was a lackluster two-way player. The bottom line is that you give up something of value to get something back in value. And that's exactly what happened here. And it should be noted that if there are additional follow up deal/s that contribute to reshaping the lineup, the JJP deal would look even better in the larger context.

Respectfully but strenuously disagree with your conclusions. It’s not so much about rearranging chairs as it is replacing some chairs. I expect some additional transactions. Then we will be in a better position to judge.

Could you give me some advice in investing? You have soothsaying talents. 😃

Scoring isn't the issue that plagued this team last year. It was the lack of defending from the blueline and forward units. This trade should help in that area.I expect Quinn to have an uptick year. And also, Kulich should be more productive after getting a lot of playing time last year. There has to be a better balance between both sides of the puck. And from that perspective, this deal partially addresses that imbalance. Based on his immediate signing with Utah, one can fairly assume that he didn't want to be here. From that context, this was a reasonable deal. It's certainly not a blockbuster deal but it is a deal that better balances out the roster from an offensive/defensive ratio.

If Byram gets dealt and the return is a solid/good defenseman coming back, then the tandem deals (JJP deal) will result in a different composition for the unit. That would be an essential accomplishment for the offseason to do list. Peterka wanted Peterka gone.

Don’t make an emotional reactionary response to this trade. In isolation it might draw a negative response but in a bigger context it is a step in making it a tougher and better team. The Sabres got a first or second pairing defender. That certainly addresses a desperate need. And we also added a grittier forward, another need. It appears that JJP deeply didn’t want to be here. So we ended up with pieces that addresses other needs. In my view this was a reasonable deal that helps to reshape the roster in a way it needs to be reshaped. Now let’s see what the follow up will be. Also, I see a Ruff influence here.

The way you lay out the comparison I am even more convinced that it would not be wise to swap these players. As far as the potential downside for JJP I would say that the concern for his slide would be minimal because over the last couple of years in his early career he has already demonstrated improvement. So although I wouldn’t be foolish in guaranteeing that he won’t slide back, I’m comfortable in expecting upside.

If you consider these two players to be comparable or close to it, then the follow up question should be which of these two players have more upside? Unless there is more going on than we are aware of: don’t trade JJP.

Looking for soothing solutions. https://www.google.com/search?q=preparation+h+suppository&oq=preperation+H+&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j0i10i433i512l3j0i10i512l4j46i10i512i613j0i10i512.30856j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I disagree that Samuelsson should be bought out. Where I do agree with you is that the letter should be taken away from him. He never should have been given a letter, just as Eichel should not have been given a letter when he was so young. Samuelsson needs to concentrate on his game and durability. Much of the hostility directed toward him is due to his style of play. Although he is a big fellow, he is not a banger. That's not his game and never will be. But that doesn't mean that he can't be a solid and versatile player for us.

You made the succinct potent point as to why he shouldn't be dealt. None of us really know what the player wants to do. Is he maneuvering for a gilded long-term contract or is he another disillusioned Sabre player who wants to get the freak out of this toxic waste franchise. Who can criticize someone for desiring a better chance for individual and team success. This is what happens when a franchise becomes known for its generational failure and understandably is not a destination for players not only outside the system but also within it. The organization needs to do everything within reason to keep him.