pi2000

I was gonna say Mario. Big long powerful stride, deceptively fast because it didn't seem like he was churning the ice with this feet. Perreault was fast, powerful stride too, but different body type.

Eichel is more pro-ready, he's stronger and bigger than McDavid at this stage. McDavid will catch up, but it will take time. IMO McDavid ends his career with more points, but who really knows... they'll be close, so much depends on if they can stay healthy and who their surrounding cast is. Edmonton seems to be doing things the right way now, legit HC, better goalie, help on D, etc... they'll be better.

Agreed. Rochester would be best for his development at this stage in his career. Let him bake until he can take that 2nd line spot from Gionta.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree :) He already thinks the game at NHL speed, his skating has gotten better, but still needs work and he needs to get stronger on the puck and along the wall. He'll develop faster playing top line and PP in Roch than he will 3rd line in Buffalo. It'll be a big boost for his confidence as well, which is important for young players to have success early in their career. The AHL isn't a garage league, it's faster than juniors so he'll it's not like he'll be regressing down there. Will be interesting to see where is ends up.

low point... https://vine.co/v/O3j2HgABwtP (w/ turdburgers)

Good points. However, I just think he'd be better off getting 18-20min a night playing on a top-line in Roch (w/ Bailey and Baptiste?). They could develop some nice chemistry down there, get lot of time on the PP and learn the pro-game. Playing 3rd line minutes with less offensively talented players won't help him develop into a 1st or 2nd line skill player.... see Grigorenko, Mikhail. I'd rather plug a guy like Larsson onto the 3rd line with a guy like McGinn and Girgensons. All 3 are strong on the puck, can win most battles, score the odd goal, etc.. .which is what you need from your third line. I'd let Reinhart bake in Roch until he's ready for take over 2nd line duties from a guy like Gionta.

Couple things that stand out to me are his play away from the puck and his lack of strength on the puck. He seems to lose a lot of 50/50 pucks on the wall, just gets out muscled physically and loses it. Away from the puck he still appears to be a step behind where he should be... seems like he's either trying to catch up with the play or is a step behind on the back check. Maybe I'm just being too critical, but expectations should be high considering where he was drafted. Playing in Roch against men will help improve in both of those areas. I'd rather see him center a top line in Roch than 3rd line in Buffalo.

I think Reinhart starts the season in Roch. He looks better physically, but still not quite there yet. Put vets like McGinn and Legwand on the 3rd line and let Reinhart get top line minutes in Roch. Will be better for him in the long run.

i'm an avid cycle-baller. went to the world championships in Japan, that's me on the bike.

Anybody remember when training camp was almost the entire month of September? Now it's whittled down to a handful of practices and some pre-season games... seems odd.

I choose decent NHL starter. The NHL draft (except for the top few picks) is a giant crap shoot. If Murray feels more comfortable about Lehner than say a Blackwood or Samsonov, then by all means, pull the trigger. I'm not gonna pretend to know more than Murray does about Lehner (or any other hockey related matter). Did he make the right decision? ....let history be the judge.

The season can't start soon enough!

The draft lottery is still going. Tim Murray has strangled Gary Bettman and Connor McDavid has signed with the KHL. I've been to a bunch of games in LA and Anaheim. Just one in Arizona this past season. Anaheim is more families and little kids because OC. LA is more of a party atmosphere. Make sure to get to the LA game early so you can get whole LA Live experience outside the arena. Anaheim, everybody shows up just after puck drop, not much to do there.

Found this intriguing prospects video... http://video.bruins.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=832908&catid=1031

Consider there are infinite parallel universes (there are). In at least one of those universes both Bailey and Baptiste make the team out of camp. Maybe that's the universe we live in, maybe it's not.

These aren't 18 or 19 year old kids we're talking about. They're both 20, they were drafted two years ago. I could see them spending camp and pre-season in Buffalo getting lots of minutes in pre-season games. It's not like these are teenage kids anymore, they're physically ready (both over 6 feet, 200lbs).... maybe need to put on a little more weight/strength, but this will be their 3rd time through the prospect tournaments, etc. with Buffalo.

Any chance Bailey or Baptiste make the team? I'd take either of them over a guy like Deslauriers or McCormick.

He certainly sounds more mature, but still looks skinny to me. Maybe it's just that his face is very round, makes his neck look thin. I'd like to know specifically how much weight he's gained.

Is this gonna be another one of those last minute deals where they announce streaming of the game hours before puck drop? I certainly hope so, but not expecting it.

streaming will there be?

http://thehockeypress.sportsblog.com/posts/3180304/nhl-trade-rumors--patrick-kane-to-buffalo-sabres.html Apparently Buffalo inquired, but who really knows. Would you give up Reinhart, Moulson and 2nd for him as the article suggests? IMO it takes much more than that to get it done.

only 3 tendys.... Makarov and 2 FA's one of them from Canisius.

http://sabrenoise.com/2015/08/11/buffalo-sabres-announce-prospect-tournament/ "There are three games scheduled, with the Buffalo Sabres playing the New Jersey Devils on September 12th and the Bruins on the 14th. The Devils and Bruins will play each other on the 13th. Both of the “home” games will be played at the First Niagara Center. This will give plenty of fans an opportunity to watch Jack Eichel play against NHL teams for the first time, and not just crowd First Niagara Center to see him play against teammates."

This. Although I'd like to see Detroit and Chicago in the same conference as Buffalo... get all the great lakes teams together... something like... BUF, TOR, CHI, DET, CBJ, PIT, MON, QBC, OTT, MIN, WPG NY, NYI, PHI, WAS, CAR, NJ, NSH, TBL, FLA, STL, BOS DAL, COL, ARI, LV, ANA, LAK, SJ, VAN, CGY, EDM, SEA

Scott Hannan