That Aud Smell

that team is gonna need to do something.

Markets come in all shapes and sizes. The market for trading NHL players to another NHL franchise involves 30, soon to be 31, potential buyers. It is what it is. And if you're unfortunate enough to be in a position of needing to sell a good asset from a position of weakness, then welp. Good call, and reference. Ha! Hey - White on WGR kept saying there's a rumour that he'll return to the KHL rather than play in Buffalo. Where's that coming from?

Something something blank canvas something something clean slate. Whatcha want versus whatcha need, innit?

I think this is about what's happening. I'd take it a step further, though, and observe that JBOT has gone so far as to jack hammer into the basement floor and is laying new pipe, etc. The Knights certainly caught lightning in a bottle. Of course, they weren't cleaning up a mess that prior GMs had left behind, and they had the benefit of an expansion draft with very favourable terms.

Lots of chuckles available here this morning. Thanks for this one. Hear, hear. As Doohickie has posted many times over the past few days: JBOT is intent on building something good in Roch. And I support that plan -- slow though it will be to develop and pay dividends in Buffalo.

Man, good on him. I agree with everything he said.

I don't know who either of these dudes are, but this post made me chuckle for some reason. Maybe it's the names. They'd look right at home in that "all lacrosse name" bracket that Deadspin used to do.

What GM has ever turned that purported trick and thereby taught the market a lesson? As if. Markets are markets. They bear what they will. The idea that you’d retain a player that’s a depreciating asset and is anathema to your room/culture, just so you can “show” how you won’t be “had” is one that just doesn’t wash. The team was the worst in the league. They needed a firm shake up.

I’m underwhelmed by what came back. But I think SDS has a very fair point: The market spoke. To this point — if ROR’s on ice value outweighed his trade value, then keep him — I think posters here are operating in a bit of an “all things being equal” sort of bubble. While I didn’t sleep much last night in my old, radiator heated, no AC ducted house, I woke up feeling like this was a trade made of absolute necessity and therefore from a position of weakness for the Sabres. I get the sense that ROR wanted *out* and that bringing him back was *not* an option. So, he yielded a couple of bodies, a decent prospect, and a 1st and 2nd. It’s better than a sharp stick in the eye. My theory: Because he basically demanded a trade.

Oh, the mopey “I lost my love for the game” Eyore act.

More than fair.

His take borders on incoherent, though. ROR doesn’t compare with Kopitar or Bergeron? Umm, ok.

I know little or nothing about the assets coming in, but, in theory, I think the deal is ... okay and has real potential to work out. I mean, it’s established that JBOT was resolved to move ROR. And I’ll trust the determination that was made to inform that decision. Once that train leaves the station and is on the tracks, you just gotta do the best you can. A couple of (hopefully) solid NHLers, a prospect with upside, and 2 decent picks. All in exchange for a player they’d decided they *had* to move. Onward.

I understand people wanting to see a winner, but this doesn’t wash.

Fairly stated.

But it feels like that fantasy football trade where someone gives up an elite stud (say, Antonio Brown) and gets a proverbial hound’s breakfast in return.

And hey: HOSS returns.

But I’ve seen Vogl Tweeting quotes from Botterill that make it unequivocally clear that they’re shopping him. How can they bring him back after all this? Per Vogl: Jason Botterill confirms the signing bonus for Ryan O'Reilly isn't due until the end of the day and talks continue. Per Larry Brooks 4 minutes ago: Islanders in on O'Reilly trade talks with Buffalo, we are told. Center is owed $7.5M bonus by midnight. Return package obviously would change from today to tomorrow.

All quiet in Twitter land.

Um.

This post gave me such a chuckle - especially this piece.

Still the best arena sign ever: “Mike Peca is bigger than your Peca.”

Hamilton’s take seemed odd.

Hamilton said Pekar was embarrassing Mittlestadt. Is true? How so?

Ooof. Had hoped for a better result for FC Buffalo.