Flashsabre

Leenders just got traded to the Branford Bulldogs in the OHL for 8 draft picks. I swear the guy that has to keep track of draft picks being moved in the OHL must have a nervous breakdown annually 😄

He is an absolute horse who has one of the thickest necks I have seen. Really has room to fill out even more. At his best he can become an impact power forward that other team covet. Go to the dirty area and strong net front presence. Still a teenager so has runway to develop.

Absolutely awful news. Home for their sister’s wedding and now a family is destroyed. Just a terrible tragedy.

This is a take. Benson 5, Levi 10. Novikov get no love. If Pronman thinks there are 10 teams with better prospect depth than that than I really don’t know what to tell him.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/agent-filip-zadina-nearing-deal-with-a-team-but-not-buffalo-sabres-1.2166361

Harrington once again showing off that tremendous journalistic work ethic. Tracking down the story to find the truth😜

-44 jumped off the page😁

I didn’t even notice that. I was too confused by the article already at that point.😁 Yeah someone messed up a basic assignment here.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/los-angeles-kings-sign-goaltender-erik-portillo-to-three-year-entry-level-contract-1.2165796 can someone explain this to me. He had to be signed already by LA. Did they mean a 3 year extension?

Draft spot goes out the window once the draft is over. Development is not linear for all players. It is such an imperfect science trying to project what a player will develop into. If you look at the OHL draft 16 year old kids are picked early and 2 years later many don’t get chosen to the NHL. There was just a story locally about a kid drafted 6th overall in the OHL who was passed over in the NHL draft and is going to Columbus’ camp. I think OA the Sabres have done a pretty good job of drafting and developing lately. They have a lot of players that look like they have pro potential. The one argument I see that I don’t agree with is “this player was drafted at this spot and a few players behind him have already made the NHL” Every player’s development is different and it is about a career not a debut date. I think Konsta is a good player but his timeline doesn’t negatively affect any of the other young players developing. Kulich, Rosen, Östlund will develop at their own paces and contribute when they are ready.

We’ve all seen that these young cores don’t mean much unless those crucial steps are taken to surround them with successful veteran talent to lead the way. Let’s see what Grier and co. Can do to build up the Sharks.

Johnson should be the runaway favorite at this point. He is ready to rotate into that D corps.

Yager is a good kid and player. I think Winnipeg will have come out ahead in this deal when all is said and done.

Are Winnipeg fans happy with the deal? Yager is a Western Canadian kid so he’ll fit well in Winnipeg.

I think both are wingers. Mckenna is as a WHL player. And I don’t think the Pens can have that much draft luck😁 To think the Pens have drafted Mario, Jagr, Sid and Malkin and the Oilers got Gretzky, Messier, Coffey, McDavid, Leon Two franchises blessed with some of the best players ever (and I’m not putting Leon and Malkin on the level with the others but superstars that partnered with the best players in the game)

Yep Yager for McGroaty.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/were-players-who-spoke-out-against-patrik-laine-and-elvis-merzļikins-traded-to-protect-them Interesting read. Sounds like Laine has a lot of baggage with him.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/flyers-terminating-ryan-johansens-contract-due-to-material-breach/

He is payed like a star. I wasn’t comparing the returns. I was comparing two players that were getting paid a lot of money, were damaged goods at the time of the trade and the team moving them didn’t want to retain any salary.

They paid a 2nd to get rid of him with no retention. Sort of like the Eichel trade in they were trying to move a star player who is damaged goods in his current state and don’t want to retain on a big salary. Eichel trade worked out for Vegas. Have to see how Laine does in Montreal.

Is he?

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/lightning-working-on-sale-for-value-close-to-2-billion/

All 3 Canadians are impressive. Ivankovic is a really good goalie at a young age. Bedard’s cousin, McKenna is a special talent.

Whatever happened to Mersch? Did he sign on with anybody?

Lance confirms it’s Sabres or Amerks for Konsta this season