IKnowPhysics

Agreed. He would've been fun to have around. I think if we didn't sign Gionta, we probably would've signed Ott immediately. GMTM's July 1 response about, and I'm paraphrasing, "making moves that put pause on other moves unless other moves do or don't happen" seemed like a direct reference to Ott. I think Ott enjoyed his time here, and would consider signing here in the future.

Not to nitpick, 11, but that was his Junior year and his first at Quinnipiac. He scored 29 points in 34 games his senior year (0.85PPG). Finished fifth on the team in points. My expectations are obviously tempered, but it's a free chance at a signing of a player that someone in our organization tabbed, and that is enough to ignite just a wee amount of intrigue. If our scouts are doing their job, then someone saw this kid play and said, "yeah, he's worth a conditional seventh or more."

Peca held out for a year, seeking (what I think was a bit of an over)payment of $4M/year. It wasn't a disrespect for size- both Connolly and Pyatt are bigger than Peca. I won't dispute the grit point, but then again, those skilled players gave us quite a run post-lockout. I don't think the '06-'07 teams were full of one-dimensional underachievers.

28 NHLe points. Really developed during his college career as a freshman and sophomore with Bowling Green, then transferred to Quinnipiac. He has graduated, so if I were to guess, the condition of the 7th round pick is on him signing a pro contract with us. Should be good for Rochester at the very least. Student interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gyCs6NvITQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ0pcYdkxhc

Holy ######, we just fleeced the Jets for Mr. T.

Because he's not worth that much. You could draft the first rounder or keep Risto/Zad or keep Hodgson or keep the high 2nd rounder, and still trade for a player of that caliber or close enough to him that you're not pissing away value. Additionally, we're not in a hurry. We have the luxury of having plenty of time to let our prospects develop into greater assets- we not only don't have to leverage the future for instant results, it would be foolish to do so. Also, one 30 goal season does not a proven player make.

That's three first round picks and a high 2nd. That's almost the price of a top-flight offer sheet anyways. Any three of those things would easily net us a pick in the 2-5 overall range. So, nope, there's no deal to be made.

That's a lot for Johansen. He's good. But that's a lot for Johansen. I'd do Risto/Zad and STL 1st. Or STL 1st and Hodgson.

Huh. I would've thought he'd have regained a little more market value after a slightly redeeming outing in the postseason.

She gets killed by dragons in season five. #GoTSpoilers

But if the myth that Tim Murray doesn't do meddling has to be perpetuated in order to topple the myth that Terry Pegula does, guess what. More Tim Murray Facts: Tim Murray can cut a hot knife with butter. Tim Murray doesn't flush the toilet, he scares the ###### out of it. Jesus could walk on water, Tim Murray can swim through land.

###### Canadian first names, man.

I'd trim that down. Trading Armia doesn't make sense at the moment. I'm not a big fan of trading Myers, especially in-division, but no one's untradable and Mantha's special. Mantha's 6'5", 205lbs as a 19 year old (according to wiki, the height changes) and is playing like a top-five draft pick. This year he was the Q's top scorer, league MVP, and CHL player of the year. I'd rather see Myers and Stewart for Mantha and their 1st. If GMTM can hold out for more, fine, but this is good value for both teams.

At first I was gonna rag about about the thread title, but then I decided... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aor2eMbXbhI

Yes.

Jay Feaster, of all idiots, did this with three years left on his contract and with good reason after the owners coerced Dan Boyle to waive his no-trade clause and made other moves. Neil Smith got fired by Charles Wang after only 41 days because he "didn't fit into the management model." Pat LaFontaine would quit as Senior Adviser as a result. Would Smith have quit? Maybe, but then he probably wouldn't have gotten paid. He may have asked to be fired.

Donate old crap electronics, get free Sabres preseason tickets:

Meh, I live as if I'm never going to die, then die having never really lived.

My estimated NHL equivalency points: Connor McDavid (OHL, 0.29) 42 points Jack Eichel (USNTDP, 0.27?) 41 points Note that this is based on their statistics from this year. They've got another year to go before the draft, during which they could legitimately jack these up 25-60% (50-64 NHLe points). Eichel is headed to BU (NCAA, 0.41), where we might expect him to post 1.5-2.0 points per game based on that NHLe. Comparing to last year's NCAA scoring race, that would put him in the top three. Is that realistic? Possibly, but not probably. Players that post 1.5-2.0 points per game in the NCAA are upperclassmen- there were only two freshmen in the top 50 in NCAA scoring (~0.95 points per game and higher). More likely is that Jack Eichel will post about 1.3-1.4 points per game in the NCAA (this uses Compher's progression as a model). He'll be regarded as a special and outstanding freshman, but the increased challenges of the NCAA will present themselves. In that model, Jack Eichel's NHLe points will increase to somewhere about 44-47 points. Not a big increase in points, but he will have generated them in a much higher level against much tougher components, playing a much more complete system of hockey on both sides of the puck, and maturing more mentally and physically. It'll be very close to the level that Jonathan Toews was at (45NHLe points) after his sophomore and final season at North Dakota, except that Jack Eichel may arrive there after his freshman year.

Oh, they gonna.

If SabreDance is right and all it takes to win games is working hard, then nobody should be blaming Darcy Regier for anything- it was all on the players' shoulders the whole time. But that ain't the case, mostly. The players we bring in will work their hardest to win games. That is how they will keep their jobs. None of them want to be replaced. The roster we assemble will not win many games. That is how we tank. We assemble the veteran players we think we may want as mentors going forward, but they won't win without the influx of young top-end skill and the kids aren't here yet. Call it what you want, but this year is an audition year for players to play with what will eventually be an NHL powerhouse. Players are going to be asked to give it all when the season is all but lost. If they do, then they're of the exact fortitude we need. If they don't, they're on the next train out with Leino and Ehrhoff.

Heh, 2-16-2 to finish the season. My tank is so hard right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FFG1NqKzCg

Top bottom spot? Buffalo Sabres: Power Bottoms

Think of Bucky and Mike Harrington. Then imagine fifteen Buckys and Mike Harringtons, all writing through their anuses, competing with each other for readership. More than a few of them are going to vie for Press Czar of Turdistan.