Digger

Yes I would take that trade (2nd and Nolan Patrick for Risto). But I think Philly still wants to try and get another young player in return for Patrick in return similar to what we did with Alex Nylander. Patrick would be an interesting player to see if Granato could have some success with him and get him back on track.

Compensation for choosing Colin Miller.😊

Chicago is having a hard time getting him to resign at a reasonable amount.

It was only one season ago that the media decided Connor McDavid should be set free from the Oliers because of lack of playoff success. It was all about poor Connor and he deserves better and a chance to win and that it's better for the NHL for him to play in a better market. Then the Oilers have a good season (respectable at least) and the rumors of a McDavid trade have died this off season. I would also imagine that their GM would just say "no he's not available for trade". But if the team sucked like us and McDavid was limited by injury it might be a different story. Same situation in Buffalo, if Jack had a healthy season last year and put up first line points and Taylor Hall had performed like a first line winger and we were showing to be a respectable team and trending in the right direction we would not be looking at trading him right now (my opinion). But that's not the way it went. There were games last year during the losing streak that were unwatchable. He's frustrated by injury and blames the team for treatment options. Then he most likely has his agent telling him to move to another market. He looks at the success of others that have left the team, overall frustration with constantly firing coaches and GM's. It's very disappointing that it has gotten to this point.

I would have liked to hear about his daily training regime (which I assume is prescribed from the Sabres).

I missed the show today, I'll take a listen. Good that he's keeping quiet.

It's been hard waiting even though I suspect that the trade was always going to go down after the expansion draft (we'll see). I certainly hope it goes down better than what some are expecting now for a return for Eichel. If I was Kevin Adams I would rather be known as the GM that didn't trade Eichel because I couldn't get decent value rather than the GM that traded Eichel for a crappy return. The media are all talking about how the asking price is now dropping. JB will always be remembered for the poor return that he got for Ryan O'Reilly. It's worth mentioning and repeating very loudly that if St. Louis hadn't made that trade they would not have won the Stanley Cup. He also won the Conn Smyth by the way. Botterill could have waited (but I believe he was under pressure by ownership to get RO out of Buffalo), St. Louis could have gave up their better prospects and still have won the cup. This trade set the Sabres back because we never had a good option for 2nd line center after he left. Stay patient KA and get the best deal out there or keep Eichel until the medical issue is resolved. This is a game of poker right now.

I watched part of this video from New York Rangers fans. Total trash saying they believe the Rangers are in the lead for Eichel and won't need to give up any A+ prospects. I wasn't sure if I should post it because it is a triggering video. Maybe give them some comments and thumbs down as Sabres supporters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxdNDrg_uUk

My understanding is that we can still protect Ullmark even though he's a UFA. All this does is prevent Seattle from negotiating with him ahead of free agency. I agree it's a waste if he has no intention of re-signing with us. But if there's a chance then it's a good gamble. Would like to know the behind the scenes conversations with him and his agent.

The magic of LaFontaine and Mogilny when he scored 76 goals.

I get the feeling that Columbus and Seth Jones is going to play a role in a 3 team deal for Jack and perhaps Sam. Chicago seems to be going after Seth Jones pretty hard right now after picking up his brother from Edmonton. How about: Eichel, Reinhart, and Ristolainen to Columbus Columbus sends Reinhart and Seth Jones to Chicago. Chicago works out extensions for both players. Chicago sends back Kirby Dach, Lucas Reichel, Ian Mitchell, Calvin DeHaan, and 1st (12OA) to Columbus Columbus sends Kirby Dach, Lucas Reichel, Ian Mitchell, Merlikins, Texier, Columbus's 1st Round pick (5OA), Chicago's 1st Round pick (12OA) to Buffalo Columbus ends up with Eichel, Ristolainen, Calvin DeHaan.

I watched Sam's end of season interview again and it seemed pretty clear in that interview he wants out. It's unfortunate. I do think he really liked playing with Jack because they both think the game at a high level. I've always thought Reinhart has the best hockey sense on the team. He will be missed if he's traded.

I agree on Marco Rossi but I also really like Matt Boldy who would be a great fit on the Sabres. I know reporters say the price for Eichel needs to drop but remember they don't have a high 1st to offer as part of the package so I would be pushing for both as the blue chip prospects along with other pieces.

I hope that we are not planning on having UPL on the Sabres this year. Seems allot like the year we asked Mittelstadt to be our 2nd line center right out of school after trading O'Reilly (wasn't a good plan on paper and didn't work). He needs time to play as a number 1 in the AHL. He's had some time but hasn't put up great numbers. Plan for another year in the AHL with potential to call up in case of injury (and hopefully we are healthier in goal this year). I do hope that we figure out something to keep Ullmark here but it may very well come after our trades give a better look at next year's roster and if we will have a chance at being competitive.

Interesting yes but usually way off on how the draft actually goes. This year will be tough for most to call or predict (even at the top). Should be fun.

Consider that we had 3 first round draft picks in the 2015 deep draft where we picked Eichel 2nd overall. #2, #21, #25 and only picked one player and only have one player still with the team today (Kane and Lehner). Look back at the names of players we could have had and would be contributing to the team if we had drafted well. Not all stars but some nice players. Counter argument is that Boston had 3 back to back firsts (#13, #14, #15) and they left Matt Barzal and Kyle Connor on the board. So you do need a competent GM and scouts.

One of my favorite books as a kid. Lol, yes that's why I phrased it that way.

This hits the nail on the head for me. As fans we get excited every year for the draft and we should but that excitement wears off when training camp rolls around and we see our new draft prospects are not ready to make the team this year or not ready to make an impact right away. Then teams and fans want to protect their prospects and say that they are untouchable which seems illogical when trading for a player like Eichel (proven 1st line star center that rarely becomes available via trade). Teams should be asking will their untouchable prospect develop into a player as good as Eichel and do they want to wait for that to happen while their older star players get older (example Byfield while Kopitar and Doughty wait for the team to get better). Yes I know money and health play a role but if health was that bad everyone would be out. Make the best trades available for blue chip prospects that can play this year for the team, NHL players under contract for the next few years (that fill a need), and then draft picks that can play in 1-2 years. I'd rather have the blue chip prospect as the priority rather than saying we need 4 or 5 pieces.

I hope that it works out. He's had so many posts and misses last season. He really needs to spend some time on affirmations........... I think I can score, I think I can score, I think I can score...........

If Sam will sign a long term deal with them then I agree. Hopefully he will so our returns will be better.

A name popped up in the Seth Jones rumors that I found interesting as a potential trade for Sam. Travis Konecny from the Flyers. He hasn't done as well statistically as Sam but he's not far off and he's a real good character player that can play in the top 6. Has played RW mostly (like Sam) but came into the league as a Center. He's signed for 3 more years at $5.5M. How about trading Reinhart and Risto for Koenecny and Nolan Patrick? Nolan Patrick would be a project to see if he can get back on track. I think that I would prefer the Flyers 1st round pick but I'm not sure that they will do that deal. Konecny is a name to watch if he gets moved to Columbus for Seth Jones. We could get him from Columbus as a piece for a Jack or Sam deal.

My apologies if this video was already posted (but I did not see it if it was). There's a YouTube video on Jack Eichel's potential surgery options that I saw and found interesting. While the doctor does not know anything about the specifics of Eichel's injury or situation he does offer an opinion that a fusion or Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) would be the best surgical operation rather than a cervical disc replacement (as suggested by Eichel's side). Peyton Manning had the ACDF and recovered to play again. The doctor goes on to say that he would be really worried about anyone in a contact sport (like hockey or football) going through a cervical disc replacement surgery because of the amount of contact and potential to dislodge. Jack Eichel's Spine, pt. 2

I agree pretty much with what you wrote. They (McKenzie, Friedman, Lebrun and Dreger) definitely get some great info from inside sources and they do provide good entertainment for us as fans while we are waiting for some news to come out (from behind closed doors). My point was just that they do add their own personal opinions quite often. McKenzie is the exception because he tends to stick more to real info from sources usually only reporting when a deal is close to being done. Most of what I've been reading is that no team wants to give up any of their top prospects for Eichel. This sounds like the O'Reilly deal all over again which we can't afford. Sabres need to stay patient and hold out for a top line center prospect even if it happens after the draft. I still have faith this will work out as a fair deal.

Dreger was also on the Instigators and said that he thought the Sabres might be asking for too much (which was his personal opinion and not based on anything from a team source). The next day it was reported as a fact by WGR that the Sabres were asking too much.

But how much stock do you put into these reports? I think this is all part of the negotiations between the teams trying to get the best deal. I'm surprised the Sabres haven't leaked it that they plan on keeping Eichel through rehab just to keep upping the offers. I still expect this trade to happen after the expansion draft. Insiders information is suspect in my opinion. We absolutely need to get at least one A+ prospect for him and a top pick. Still have faith in that occurring.