JohnC

Even if LGR's prediction about Dahlin's scoring projection doesn't come to fruition the hope is that Hall and Skinner can both return to scoring form that will significantly add to the scoring numbers that will give this team more of a margin to work with. And as you wisely point out the most important factor that will make this team a contender is a reasonable level of goaltending. Solid to good goaltending and better PK play (both related to each other) are going to make the difference between having a successful season or another disappointing season.

I would absolutely not trade Cozens in a straight up deal for Kane. Kane is on the downside of his prime. He still is an elite player but how long is that going to last? Maybe the next few years or so. Cozens is starting his career. It might take him another year or so to become an established player. But after that he could be a prime time player for the next decade or so. No thank you. I'm not interested in giving away our future for a short term boost. That's not how you build a serious team and have sustained success.

I wouldn't trade Cozens for Kane straight up even if Chicago took back some of Kane's contract. As you stated this is an internet bravado whose fantasy hockey imagination has run amuck. Because of the age differential I wouldn't even trade Reinhart in a straight up deal.

With a probable compressed scheduled season and the more likely increase in injuries because of it having reserve talent is a good situation to be in. And with there still being an open question whether there is going to be an AHL season or delayed season it wouldn't be surprising if the league authorized expanded rosters or reserve rosters where you can have an unlimited movement of players between the regular and reserve rosters. We now seem to have some depth on the blue and forward lines. That sure is a positive change from having a thin roster where injuries can quickly deplete a roster.

The problem with "no checking" even if there is still physical contact is that the altered style of play hinders player development. The point of getting a lot of playing time in these lower leagues is for the player to develop one's skills to prepare to play at the higher NHL level. This more finesse style of play not only doesn't do that but it also may retard the development of players. As has been discussed in prior posts I don't see how the proposed change in rules has anything to do with the issue of Covid and its transmission.

This is just my guess but when it is further discussed and considered I think that this absurd/nonsensical proposed policy will not go into effect and hockey will go back to being played the regular way. I don't know if fighting is allowed in this league but if it is I suspect that it will be prohibited. Which to me makes sense. With the exponential growth of this pernicious virus the more relevant question is whether hockey in this league and other leagues will be shut down completely. This virus is exploding out of control everywhere. It's a scary situation.

I don't understand resorting to playing hockey without checking as a safety response to limiting Covid risks? Both the NFL and NBA play games which are inherently very physical. The risk for players in whatever sport is that infected people knowingly or not will infect others. That's why there is testing and virus free bubbles that separate players from people who have come from a potentially infected environment. On the issue of Cozens I don't see a scenario where he doesn't make the roster. Even without the Covid situation because of his age he was not going to be able to play in the AHL, and there was little for him to gain playing in the juniors. The model for him to follow is the Kirby Dach model where the Blackhawks started him off as a winger with limited playing time and allowed him to increase his role as he gained experience.

The politicization of medicine and best practices in handling this pandemic is a historical failure to a historical challenge. This current administration has promoted an anti-science attitude toward public health issues that not only has damaged this country's ability to contend with this nemesis but will also have a lingering destructive effect of hindering the country's ability to contain it when the next administration takes control. It's indisputable that compared to the US Canada has done a terrific job handling this plague. What is on display here is the difference between ignorant and intelligent leadership.

What is evident about the ill conceived rushing of Mitts onto a NHL roster is that it not only didn't help the team but it might have set back his development. As of now I can't say for sure whether Mitts will develop or ever develop into an established NHL. I can't even say for sure that his NHL abbreviated early experience will serve him well in the long run or not. Another unknown to me is I'm not sure what his standing is within the organization? Is he a valued asset or is he is a player that the organization dangles in proposed deals? If he would have been handled in the more standard way of starting at the bottom and working your way up the system we would have a better sense of who he is as a player and what his potential could be. I'm not a Botterill basher but in this case it is easy to conclude that he grossly mishandled this young prospect.

As this NHL.com link by Nicholas Cotsonika indicates the form of the season has not yet been fully determined. There are still a lot of issues to work out. https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-could-play-reduced-schedule-for-2020-21-season/c-319607032

With respect to Routsalainen it wouldn't be surprising that he shows very well in training camp and be in consideration for a roster spot. But maybe the best way to handle him is having him play a lot in Rochester in order to acclimate him to the smaller rinks and then move him up like was done with Olofsson. What may complicate that approach is I'm not sure what the plans are for an AHL season. What's evident now compared to the previous few years is that there is more competition for roster spots with no one getting a roster spot because they are entitled to it a la Mitts scenario.

What's interesting about the Calgary speculation is that it has been going on for a long time. And as you point out to add another layer to the rumored lengthy interaction between the two teams is the number of players that could be in the trade mix. I'm a Reinhart fan. I believe that while he has had good stats his importance to the team goes beyond his numbers. I consider him to be a glue player who enhances the players he plays with. I hope Reinhart has a long tenure with the Sabres.

What players are being speculated on our side of a deal?

As this link demonstrates the rural areas are getting hit hard. And they have the least medical resources to deal with this plague. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/why-north-and-south-dakota-are-suffering-the-worst-covid-19-epidemics-in-the-us/ar-BB1arLSq

The attached link is an article on Arttu Ruotsalainen by Lance Lysowski from the Buffalo News. It discusses Arttu 's development as a player indicating that he is more ready to play in the NHL. It points out that he showed well in the prior camp but he needed to improve his skating before he would be able to solidify a position. My sense is that he will start in Rochester in order to adjust to the smaller rinks in North America before being brought up. https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/faster-more-dynamic-arttu-ruotsalainen-showing-he-could-earn-spot-with-sabres/article_9ccab7a0-2038-11eb-9e9b-1b826ab77921.html

A few years ago our blue line was half staffed with AHL players. Now the unit has some depth with players vying for positions. As you indicate now is the time for him to show whether he can take the next step into the big league. Even if he doesn't make the final cut it wouldn't be surprising that sometime during the season he will earn a call up. Another player whose rights have been retained is Pilut who currently is playing in the KHL. What's obvious is that the depth has increased and the talent upgraded. Progression is certainly better than regression.

I misread your response. I thought you were talking about this upcoming season.

As you indicate having an abundance of good players on a unit, especially in a most likely compressed schedule, is something to celebrate and not lament. You don't consider Staal as a genuine second line center?

With all due respect I prefer to follow the advice of Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx over your fringe view. If more people followed the basic public health protocols advocated by an overwhelming percentage of the medical professionals in the public health sector instead of following the rogue views of a small minority in the field this pernicious contagion would be better controlled. The intermingling of politics with science has proven to be damaging. It is killing more people than is necessary. I strongly disagree that your words, thoughts and opinions are relatively harmless. The advice you are advocating for is a contributing factor as to why our country has an abysmal record in handling this pandemic compared to a country like Canada. I'm not in the medical field like you. But I have enough judgment to look at the preponderance of evidence from the best medical minds in the world to come to an easy conclusion that your views are very aberrant.

The lockdown issue is not the real issue. By following the basic public health guidelines such as social distancing, wearing a mask, washing one hands and when called for quarantining infected people you can prevent the spread and avoid the more drastic action of selective lockdowns. It's not surprising to the public health experts that there was a surge of infectious cases after the motor cycle gathering in South Dakota, political rallies with large number of people not wearing a mask and tightly packed in a crowd and even the White House where the basic public health protocols were not followed. There is no magic solution with this highly infectious virus. Even when an effective vaccine is developed the most effective manner to deal with this plague is to follow the public standard health guidelines. There are basic proscribed protocols for infectious viruses that are called for in order to contain (not necessarily eliminate) the spread. What has damaged our ability to deal with this pandemic is the politicization of public health protocols like wearing a mask when appropriate. This is what happens when you ignore the basic protocols. https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/politics/ben-carson-coronavirus/index.html

Your opinion is a distinct minority opinion. You are not part of the norm when it comes to the medical community's position on this medical issue. Even Trump's medical experts other than the kooks that were brought in don't support what you are espousing. I agree with you that not everyone agrees on everything. You want to know why? Because it is an impossibility. There are still people who believe that Martians live on the moon.

For someone who is involved in the medical field your response is extremely thoughtless. States and local authorities for the most part make decisions on public health issues. The federal government doesn't have unfettered authority to impose national public health rules. There are states that have seat belt laws and there are states that don't have seat belt laws. Where they do exist are those Nazi-like requirements? There are states that have motorcycle helmet laws and states that don't have them. Where they do exist do those laws reflect Nazi-like inclinations? Most local public health authorities don't allow people in restaurants without shoes or shirts? Are those Nazi-like rules? Most local public health authorities require the people who cook in food establishments to wear some sort of hair net to prevent hair getting into the food being cooked. Are those Nazi-like rules? Most public health authorities require the restaurant staff to wash their hands after using the bathroom. Are those hygiene requirements a reflection of Nazi-like government thinking? You can believe whatever you want to believe on this issue. That's your prerogative. However, for someone who claims to be involved in the health sector your response is very reckless and disappointing.

You give a very apt comparison in describing his play as a Sam Reinhart for the back end. I consider that as a high tribute to the 21 year old defender. If Risto had the thinking capacity of Joki he would be an all-star defenseman.

I think you are jumping the gun in not only rating Quinn ahead of Joki but believing that it is ridiculous to do so. Joki will soon be a top 1 or 2 pairing player with more upside to draw from. Right now as a youngster he is one of the more consistent and smartest defensemen on the ice. I agree with you that Quinn was a good pick and in the not too distant future will be a more likely second line winger but the possibility of being a first line winger. But let's not get ahead ourselves.

I don't know how this season is going to unfold because of all the uncertainties caused by the virus. What I can say is that the franchise made some roster moves, including the dramatic Hall acquisition, that should make this team more competitive and a more serious playoff contending team. I am comfortable in saying that the owner and the organization did make moves to make this team a playoff team. Even with the reshaping of the roster there are not guarantees about the outcome.