JohnC

Does Skinner have a no trade clause?

I'm very confident that my position of no on a Power for Tkachuk trade is the right position to take. For me, it is not only the right call but also an easy call. Adding an inconvertible knucklehead to the room at the expense of a talented young defenseman with a lot more upside is a mistake that will become more evident as time passes on. You have been in the work world for a long time, as I have. A jerk is a jerk who disrupts the balance of the group. You don't have to be a bad person to be a toxic person that has a contaminating effect on those who work in the same vicinity. With respect to Power there is a misconception about him as a player just because he is not a banger, and neither is Samuelsson. He's big and strong and can skate. He's going to get better and become an anchor defenseman for us for a long time. He's not as flashy and stylistic as Dahlin. They are simply two different types of players. But there is no doubt in mind that he is going to be an instrumental player for us for a long time. Also, if you add in the fact that he is a good kid, this becomes an easy call for me.

Absolutely not! Power is going to be a stud anchor defenseman for a long time. That caliber of defenseman is tougher to acquire than a high end forward. Respectfully, it would be a mistake to make that proposed deal.

Krebs is an interesting player from a development standpoint. It still hasn't been conclusively proven yet, but it appears that Granato putting Krebs on a line with Okposo and Girgs forced him be more focused on the defensive side of the game rather than a free-floating offensive player. He would have been too much of a defensive liability if he started off his NHL career as primarily an offensive center. In his last few games he has played well. He's also a feisty and rambunctious player that irritates the opposition. There is little bland to his game. He's fun to watch.

Some quick thoughts: This was a terrific game to watch. Maximum effort throughout and drama on scoring chances. Our first line is back in sync with a lot of scoring chances. Tage is creating chances but isn't converting. However, he and his mates are playing well. UPL is my first star in this game. He is a transformed player. The transformation is stunning and not expected. It wasn't long ago where there was a chorus of voices yelling to jettison him. Krebs is looking better and better. Playing with Okposo and Girgs helped him to play a more responsible and tighter game. Now he is playing with players who are a little more offensive oriented. It has allowed him to exhibit his set up skills. I thought the play of the game was when he was maneuvering behind the net waiting for one of his players to step into an open space. Power moved into the open spot to receive his pass, and then made a laser shot into an open space. Mitts is playing well. And Greenway is playing well and moving better than I thought he could. He was a terrific pickup for a small price. Bryson is playing well. It wasn't that long ago where he also was a scorned player. I disagreed with the penalty on Dahlin where he ended up driving into the goalie with an opposition player on him when he was going to the net. It was apparent that Dahlin was trying to hold up when he was at the net. That penalty could have been a disastrous call against us. This team showed a lot of fortitude and character to not let it deflate them. Both teams played a tough brand of hockey. This was a game full of tension. This is the type of full throttle game that will help get the fans back into the arena.

Some issues are simple. An easy and safe answer are called for when a question is so obvious to respond to. If you have a different opinion on this possible trade scenario, then that's fine. My answer is clear and firm.

I don't have an offer because I have no interest in him. Let him create a ruckus in the locker room for another team. I'm not giving up valuable draft or prospect capital for a disrupter on his own team. I want our GM to use his assets to acquire talented players who are mature and not problematic.

Laugh until you split a gut, and then slam the phone down.

In general, our assessments coincide. There are some smaller specifics where my assessment diverges from your assessment. The mere fact that he was willing to roll the dice on our goalie situation entering the season indicates to me that he wasn't all in on going for it this season. As it turns out, his view on mostly relying on the goalie talent within the system (UPL, Levi and Comrie) has in the longer run worked out (???), assuming that UPL continues with his stellar play. And the hope/expectation is that Levi's development continues to the point where he will be in some rotation with UPL. I expect UPL and Levi to be our goalie tandem next season. As you indicate, this is going to be a critical offseason for the GM. He has draft capital, an abundance of good prospects and the free agent market to add a few good players to supplement the roster that we already have on hand. Can you imagine if he worked out a deal to get a Tuch caliber player who is big, tough, fast and can shoot? I'm aslo hoping/expecting that he gets a Mitts deal done. I would like to see another Clifton type deal done to add to the blue line. I expect the bulk of our improvement next season will come from players such as Quinn, JJ, Cozens, Ryan Johnson, Power, Benson healthy Samuelsson etc. However, as you point out, unless he makes some moves to add talent and alter our current roster mix from the outside, we will all continue to sing the same sad songs about this team. And that is getting beyond being tiresome.

The Benson dilemma of where he should have been playing was a tough organizational issue. The ideal situation was to send him to Rochester. But that option was foreclosed because of the age rules. My view after seeing him play is that from a developmental standpoint it was better to keep him up with Buffalo. But from the standpoint of what was best for this team this year, it would have been better to use his slot for a more productive experienced NHL player. (The position you seem to argue for.) Benson is certainly not helping this team from a production standpoint. But watching him play with intelligence and tenacity, he is not a liability. However, not being a liability doesn't necessarily mean that you are a sufficient asset. In the short run, keeping him here in Buffalo might have set this team back a little. But I do believe that it was the right decision because it did accelerate his development. Ultimately, the organization will get a quicker return on his value. From a small picture perspective, this player judgment may have been the wrong call. But from a bigger perspective and a little longer time frame it was the right call. The Benson decision was a tough judgment call that I agree with. For those who conclude otherwise, I am not saying you are wrong.

The injury to Quinn prior and during the season has had a significant impact. His injury has resulted in the lines being jumbled. I'm not making excuses because all teams have to deal with injuries. But he, like JJP, was going to take a step forward this season. He's going to be good.

Everything you commented on makes sense. However, I have a slightly different version/interpretation on how this season has so transpired so far. The problem isn't that we don't play well against the better teams because we usually elevate our games against them. What has sabotaged this season was that this funky and irresolute team didn't beat the teams that they should have beaten. We lost two games against an inferior Anaheim team and lost a game against Columbus at home where we were pummeled. If you take those "should have been" 6 points, and apply them to our record, our perspective on this team and season has a more positive spin to it. Don't get me wrong. Your record is your record. "What ifs" are for losers, and excuses are for losers. The point I'm trying to make is that this team dug a deep hole for itself and now it has to accept the consequences. My other point on this issue is that the difference between success and failure can be small. The onus for this situation is directly on the players and coaches. They simply underperformed while teams in the same strata played to a higher level.

If we come away with a Greenway type deal at the deadline, I would be ecstatic. I'm more focused on the offseason because I expect some roster spots will need to be filled. The GM has some prospect and draft assets to parlay. Will he? I'm not sure. With respect to the goalie issue, I really don't expect much action. I see UPL and Levi as our two goalies. If Comrie does not return, I expect a similar caliber of player to add to the mix.

I'm not too concerned about the Sabre action at the tradeline. I'm looking for some substantive moves in the offseason. If we don't get it, I will be very disappointed.

I don't think there will be much KA action at the trade deadline. Maybe a marginal transaction? What I will be more focused on is what happens in the offseason. I expect that Olofsson will be gone and Okposo will retire. So, there will be roster spots to fill. I'm hoping for a deal that will add a Tuch like talent, big and fast, and more, to better round out the talent mix. Assuming that the goalie issue has been resolved with UPL and Levi staffing that position, I expect some action by the GM after the season.

Some quick thoughts on this game: The transformation of UPL into a stalworth goalie is amazing. He's a big fellow who is playing big. Calm with no frantic movement to his game. His rebound control during his recent exceptional stint has been exceptional. It seems that when there is a rebound that it is directed towards a safe area. In this type of game it is difficult to single out the individual play of anyone. Everyone gave good effort throughout, and everyone seemed to be very conscious about their defensive responsibilities. I always considered Bryson to be a utility player who would be brought up when needed. He's not getting a load of minutes but when he is on the ice he is not a liability. Clifton was a good pickup. Nothing special but solid. I consider him to be a good third pairing player who provides some grit to the unit. Dahlin is playing a ton of minutes. He has been smart about picking his spots and husbanding his energy. I thought that Tage played well along with Tuch. I don't want to over interpret a win against Columbus. But it is glaringly evident that this team plays a tighter game on the road. If this team would play like it does on the road at home, the Sabres would be a playoff team. A win is a win. One game at a time.

https://theathletic.com/5231542/2024/01/28/blue-jackets-david-jiricek-ahl/ I don't believe that Columbus has any interest in trading this high-end prospect. Jiricek sees some of the other top prospects in his class get significant playing time in the NHL while he isn't. That frustrates him. It shouldn't be surprising that Columbus would rather see him getting a lot of playing time in various roles with Cleveland in the AHL for developmental reasons. Next year, he will most likely be playing a lot with Columbus. They know how good he can be, and they aren't surprised that this generation of players are more outspoken and impatient. Just a sidenote on this issue: Levi is handling his demotion to the AHL in a much more mature way. He's making the best of his situation and using it to become better prepared for the big leagues.

One of the lifeguards at the pool I regularly swim at was also going to a community college to learn welding. He told me that a good specialty welder could make as much as $100,000 in their first year. Once one gained experience a person could make a lot more. When I refer to specialty welding, I'm not referring to general welders who work on construction sites. (Although they also make a lot of money.) The high-end welders I'm referring to work on nuclear plant projects, on military boats/submarines and airplanes etc. One of the advantages of being in a trade is that you can go anywhere in the country and still find work.

I had a leak somewhere that was causing water spots on the ceiling below. I told the plumber that the wet ceiling was below my bathroom upstairs. He immediately went to the bathroom and directed his attention to the toilet. He tightened the bolt under the tank where there was a leak. He was finished in 15 minutes. It took him more time to write out the work order on his tablet than to diagnose the problem and fix it. The bill was for $316. I was happy to pay the bill because he fixed the problem if left unattended much longer would have cost me thousands of $$$$. The thing about trade workers is that they will always be needed and there is an inexhaustible demand for them. And there is no onerous college debt hanging over you.

I have no clue what you are getting at or what post you are referring to. Simple solution: Don't respond to any of my posts.

I like Girgs as a fourth liner. That is a suitable role for him. The return in value for him or Eric Johnson is inconsequential to the point of meaningless. With respect to EJ, he was a good pickup for us, especially on a one-year deal. I would be receptive to having him return on another one-year deal. At this stage in his career, he is a lower pairing defender who is a stabilizer on the ice and a mature voice in the room. If he is not overused, his play is solid. The GM needs to add another one or two players who fall in the category of being rugged and tough. This roster needs a little more toughness to better balance out the roster.

What if Girgs let the GM know that he would be willing to the point of desiring to be dealt to a playoff team for the sake of having a playoff experience in his career? Systemic losing is corrosive to a prideful player's psyche. The GM has to show some urgency to getting this team over the playoff hump this offseason. And it should be acknowledged that in itself is a low bar to shoot for.

Replacing him with a young player to play his role as a fourth liner seems self-defeating to me. This team need needs some character veterans who provide some spine to this too often weak-kneed team. Okposo is at the end of his career; Girgs still has more hockey life in him. He still has some utility as a role player and character guy on this less than resolute team.

How does a poorer record prove that some players don't want to be here? What it proves to me is that this team hasn't learned to adapt to a visiting team's more conservative/tighter road team style of play. There is a difference between being physically talented and having the required on ice intelligence to adjust to a different style of game. What's the remedy? A few additions need to be made to improve the mix and balance on the roster.

I have a different view on Greenway. In my view, he does play to his size. He usually isn't a banger but when he chooses to do so he can squash opponents into the boards. But that's not his game. He's a farmer strong guy who is difficult to move, and he is one of the few players on this team who will anchor himself in front of the net. Ironically, the smallish Benson, along with Greenway, gives us our best net presence on offense. If Greenway had Tuch's speed he would be a top two line talent. To his credit, although he doesn't possess that kind of speed, he is still able to play with his limitation because he is a positionally sound player, as @Doohickiehas keenly noted. Greenway was a good pickup and a great bargain pickup. Little flash to his game but a lot of strength/toughness to his game.