JohnC

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.

For me, it doesn't matter what KA does positively this offseason. My view on him won't change. His record is his record. I have more animus for the owner who oddly hired him, and intensified my scorn for the owner for retaining him after half a decade of piddling performance. Even if KA has a stellar offseason, it won't be forgotten that he was the person who contributed to driving this damaged vehicle into the the ditch. My judgment is based on the body of work and not a segment of one's work.

Jarmo will be the whisperer in KA's ear. I'm certainly not a promoter of KA. But even someone who is as cautious and unimaginative as he is, is aware that some notable actions have to be taken.

Where KA and I are aligned is that there is an expectation for internal improvement by the young group. Is it too much of an expectation? I would say that although leaning toward a conservative approach, it is a reasonable approach assuming some of the other liabilities are addressed.

My heart is aflutter. Are you toying with me? There is a reasonableness and balance/equity to your proposals for all the parties involved.

I contend that fortifying the goalie position and adding a couple of defensive and more physical blue line players will make a big difference. The most consequential decision will be bringing in a goalie who will fortify that essential position. That's the biggest challenge for the front office. My expectation/hope is that Quinn, JJP, Power, Benson, Kulich and Samuelsson will be better. Am I being unreasonable? I don't think so. All these young players have enough experience where they should be a lot more comfortable in manly league.

I didn't bother watching the clip. What do you want him to say? I'm more concerned about what he does and not what he says. You're wasting your irritation energy on a vapid PR appearance. I expect some action on draft day. Jarma wasn't added to the payroll to sit on his arse and argue for the status quo. That's what my focus is on. What my desires are: I don't want JJP traded. I don't want Quin traded. I don't want Kulich traded. I don't want Benson traded. I don't want Power traded. I don't want Samuelsson traded. (I'm not giving up on him.) I want Byram traded. I want UPL traded. I want a couple of rugged defensemen added to the unit. I want an experienced goalie brought in. I want a second line forward added. Nothing extravagant. These desires are all doable. No excuses.

A once congenial fellow has been radicalized. Welcome aboard to the train whose destination is revolt-ville. 😀

Watching his play last year, I thought he lacked the caliber of shot to be a first line player. As you point out, Evan Rodriques played most of the season as a top six player. That doesn't mean that he is a top six player. E Rod is an earnest and consistent player who played a lot on the top two lines. However, that doesn't mean that he is a top two-line caliber player and is paid commensurately so. Because of the cap teams are constructed differently. There is a distinction between being on a top line and being a top line player. The pay scale tells how he is ranked as a player.

It is understood that @dudacek is a quick draw. Everyone knows that. 😀

Right now, his shot is so weak that I don't see him as a first or second line forward. If he came into camp more physically developed and more capable from an offensive standpoint, I would be ecstatic to be proven wrong. The more important issue for me regarding his individual stats is not what his production is right now but rather whether can it be surpassed by another player. We'll have to see who the front office brings in to determine what his role will be. Although he played a lot on the first line last year, he was in my estimation not a first line caliber of player. The criticism for his elevated role should be directed to the front office.

If he's bringing you 45 pts in a top six role then in my opinion he's not a top six player. I have extolled the virtues of Benson as a player as much as most people here. However, because of his current lack of physical development I don't see him being a top two caliber of player. Will he eventually do so? I'm confident that he will. But right now, I would say no. I have never felt that he was a liability playing on the top line. But that is not to say that I felt that he was providing the team first line production. If he comes into camp more physically developed than in his prior years, then good for him and the team. I will be open minded about where he should be slotted. But what I have seen so far that type of leap forward is a lot faster than I expect.

I admire Bennett as a player. It took a little time for him and teams to recognize his role and a how he best fits. Whether he scores a lot of goals or not his ferocity is what defines him as a player, and adds value to a team. I would love to have a Bennett type player to this languid team.