JohnC

Why not just give Risto the right support? If it doesn't work out then trade him at the deadline. If you look at the makeup of the current blue line there are few players who play with any physicality. In this league a mostly finesse unit that lacks physicality is a subpar unit.

When you get miscast for 8 years you get miscast for 8 years. It's obvious that Risto has limitations. No one is arguing otherwise. On a team that had the worst record in hockey and with less than a robust roster what this team can't cavalierly do is throw away all the players who have limitations/faults. If such an exacting standard was applied every player this roster would be barren. Risto is a 2B second pairing defender. It's well known that he doesn't see the ice well and anticipate the play. Needless to say he isn't much of a thinker. But that doesn't mean that in a more simplified role as the 2B in the pairing that he can't competently fill that role. As I stated before in contrast to Sam and Eichel I don't believe that his trade value will be diminished as much if he is kept until the next trade deadline. Granato is much more adept at smartly slotting a player and giving a role that is more suitable for a players talents, including limitations. So I disagree with you that he can't play better under Granato. Risto has been unfairly singled out for criticisms that are unwarranted because they are associated with his role that he is not suited for. He is a case where using him less and using him differently will maximize what he can do well.

If Granato believes that he can make Risto a more effective player his voice will resonate in the room. Another consideration is that McCabe will still be rehabilitating when the season starts.

Refer to @dudacek's reply. My response is the same.

I didn't take it in a negative or personal way. It flowed from some previous responses.

They recipient party is going to make full use of their medical staff and consultants. As an example Anaheim wouldn't be foolish to give up Zegras or even their high pick if their medical staff had serious concerns about Jack's ability to fully recover. There is simply too much at stake to act otherwise.

If a hockey board isn't the place to make predictions then where is the right place for it. That's like saying swimming pools shouldn't be a place to swim. Being wrong about predictions is a more likely occurrence than being right for most participants. That's the nature of this untamed beast.

No one's pretending anything. Your preference is your preference. And my preference is my preference. And who is guaranteeing the the #1 pick is going to be the best player in the top-10? Where did that come from? Your straw man is your straw man.

Ask @LGR4GM. He's leading the search. I'm confident that if a trade proposal is materializing the air will be swirling with plenty of factual and non-factual stories. Stand by. Even if you have your ears covered you will hear them.

The source of the leaks don't have to come from the Sabre side of the ship. There will be a number of teams communicating with the Sabres. Those teams' whispers will be loud enough for a lot of people to hear. Also, there will be a lot of posturing through a variety of media channels in the sweepstake for the trade.

You are right that we don't know what his actual health status is. However, what has been reported is that numerous teams have inquired. And it has been reported from a variety of sources that the Sabres are asking for a bonanza for him. I'm confident that as the draft approaches the rumors will start to swirl about an upcoming Jack trade. You'll then recognize that the ship isn't as tight as you think because there will be many leaks.

I'm fine with it. In comparison to Jack and Sam if the Sabres decide to trade him at the next trade deadline his value should not decline very much. He's a second pairing forward who should be the 2B defenseman. Make him play a simple game and you will get more out of him. He's one of the few bangers on this non-banging team. In my opinion he gets unfairly scorned.

I'm not going to make the assumption that he will develop into a Hedman caliber of player. However, when 80%-90% of the analysts rate him at the top of their board then I am comfortable with his selection. The hope is that if the Sabres can work out a deal with Anaheim or another high drafting team we should be able to come away with a very good forward prospect. In addition, if Jack is traded there is an assumption/hope that a top tier young player will come back in return. Let's not try to outsmart the rest of the pack. Go with the highest rated player on the board.

I disagree. Jack is a top ten talent in the league. Even if he is not able to play when the season starts the prognosis for the long term should allow him to play next season. I agree with you that right now none of us know for sure. When it gets to the stage that a team is seriously interested in acquiring him they will have their medical staff examine him and make a judgment about his health status.

I agree with you. He's been around the business since he was a toddler. Pop's will provide good guidance along with his agent.

You are making the assumption that the broken Jack can't be fix. I think otherwise. I'm flexible on his trade value. I would accept Zegras and the 3OA and walk away satisfied if a better offer couldn't be found elsewhere.

He was unhappy. I'm sure he isn't foolish enough to put himself in a situation where he loses control of his ability to move on in the near future. And I'm sure that he is savvy enough not to rely on a gentleman's agreement to the other party who then contractually has control. Sam is a good guy and an earnest player. He's not a bumpkin when it comes to the business side of the game.

A Jack trade with Anaheim that includes Zegras, Comtois and a 3OA would make me happy. If by chance Reinhart was retained I would be even more happy. If you then upgrade the goaltending this Granato team is competitive and more enjoyable to watch.

If you had a choice between Newhook and Zegras who would you prefer?

I would be ecstatic to re-sign Reinhart. Ultimately, he is the person who will determine through his contract stance what his fate will be. My sense is that he wants out. Zegras is a player I am intrigued with. After watching clips on him I can understand why Anaheim is reluctant to include him in a trade deal. A trade with Anaheim in which we got Zegras, Comtois and their pick would be a reasonable Jack trade return. I continue to maintain my stance on Power. We can't go wrong with him as our first pick. And if we get Anaheim's 3OA pick in a trade that would allow us to select either Eklund or Beniers. That would make my Power stance even firmer.

Neither is Power. If some people believe that Eklund and Beniers are better than Power then it would be a good pick. But the consensus in this draft is that Power is the highest rated player. If the Sabres believe that he is the highest rated player they should select him. If not, then select the player at the top of their board. If the Sabres work out a trade with Anaheim there is a good chance that the Sabres can come away with Power plus one of the two other players. Ideally, if Jack is dealt to Anaheim the best scenario would be to acquire Zegras plus another player (Comtois??) and a 3OA pick which could result in the selection of either Beniers or Eklund.

Is he still rehabbing?

The projected lineup you propose makes a lot of sense. But I have some minor differences. First, assuming Jack and Sam are traded I don't see a #1C coming back. I'm not bothered by that downgraded exchange. What I want/insist coming back in a Jack trade is a young center who will project as a future #1C. A Zegras, Bynfield or LaFreniere caliber of player who should be able to assume that critical role in the not too distant future. In my examples Bynfield may take the longest to play as a 1C. But I still would find him as an appealing return in a deal. I noticed McCabe is not included in your listing. I'm not sure what his health status is when the season starts. My preference for the first pick remains Power. I understand why others prefer a forward but I'm sticking to my preference. As @freesternoted there is a good chance that Samuelsson starts the season with the big club. He's a big guy who although very young is a mature player. If Risto had the same level of thoughtful play he would be an anchor player for us. As you noted the goaltending situation right now is vacant. Upgrading that position will do more to instantly improve the team than any other action.

Risto's best role is to make him a #2 on the second pairing. And since he isn't much of a thinker his game needs to be simplified. He can be useful on the PK and on the second PP unit. Good coaches put their players in a position to succeed rather than in a position to fail.

How many people would be satisfied with being mired in a losing and dysfunctional work environment that has gone on during their employment? It would be abnormal and even disappointing if Jack or anyone else was accepting to such an environment. Jack is passionate about the sport and intensely competitive. There is no one who works harder in the offseason to prepare for the season. (Maybe too hard to his physical detriment.) There is a portrayal of him that he is being selfish and disloyal and maneuvering to jump ship. What he wants more than anything is to be in a situation where he has a fair chance to be on a competitive team. While injured and watching the games from his couch what did he see? He saw a team that quit under a coach who was not fit to be a NHL coach. Last year under Krueger the Sabres didn't even look like a normal NHL team. They were atrociously bad and unwatchable. The team ending up having the worst record in the league. And this is after he had been on the team for four or five? years. Not only is that not progress it is regression. And still people want him to have a sunny side disposition. That in itself is weird. Maybe this is a situation where he and the team reached a point where it is in everyone's interest to move on and get a fresh start. But make no mistake this befuddled organization squandered an opportunity to build around one of the best players in the game. The main culprit here is the organization that not only failed him but also the fans. Ineptitude is costly!