nfreeman

Well, Reino didn't seem any happier IMHO last night, even with a hattie and leading the team to a win over the Bruins -- and if he was interviewed after the game, they didn't show it on the MSG post-game show and it's not on the Sabres' website. Again -- my point here is not that his demeanor is bad for the team -- it's that I'm concerned that he's counting the days until he gets TF off this team.

MAF, who has 1 year left on his contract at $7MM, and who could be obtained cheaply in trade, plus Linus back on a show-me 2-year deal, is my ideal outcome.

But Granato wants to keep working in the NHL -- it would seem self-destructive to pull a move like that.

Ooooooohhh. You're right. I was thinking that he's under contract for one more year, but that is incorrect -- he's an RFA for one more year, but the extension would start when he turns 26, and his last season would start when he turns 32. I'll edit my post upthread.

@dudacek -- I agree on his durability, but it's worth remembering that he'll turn 26 in November of the first year of the extension. A 7-year extension means the last 3 years of the contract would be played at ages 30, 31 and 32. So, if one thinks he's already a slow skater... EDITED to fix sloppy math.

With all the recent talk about Reino, I think one key point that gets overlooked is that if he wants to stay and if the Sabres want to keep him, they'll still need to agree on a contract extension. That probably needs to happen this summer as he'll be 1 year away from UFA. If next season starts with no extension in place, it's at least 80% likely that he's gone. I think most here like Reino enough to keep him. The cost is a critical question, though, especially with the cap likely to stay flat for at least the next couple of years, and with the Sabres already married to 2 expensive wingers in KO and Skinner. Just about everyone here would gladly keep him for 4 years x $5MM, but he's not going to agree to that. I also think his time here has been sufficiently unenjoyable that he's not going to give the Sabres a hometown discount. They are going to need to give him a fat long-term deal. How fat and how long-term should KA go? Some relevant (IMHO) facts: - Reino turns 26 in November. - Over the past 4 seasons, including this one, Reino is 62nd among all NHL forward in total points, and 82nd in points per game (excluding 6 guys who played only a few games). - The forward with the 62nd-highest average annual salary, Alex DeBrincat, makes $6.4MM per year. The 82nd-highest-paid forward is Alex Barkov at $5.9MM. - Other forwards in the top 55-to-65 salary range are: Laine, Gaudreau, Pastrnak, Stastny, Kreider, Brayden Schenn, Brendan Gallagher, Stepan, Monahan, MacKinnon (!), Radulov, Marchand (!) and Scheifele (!). - Other forwards in the top 75-to-85 salary range are: Lucic, KO, Timo Meier, RNH, Ehlers, Brock Nelson, Forsberg, William Karlsson, Huberdeau, Dustin Brown, Cam Atkinson and Brock Boeser. So, in both groups, there are guys you can fairly say are better than Reino and guys you can fairly say are worse than Reino. Assuming the Sabres don't trade Eichel, they have Eichel and Skinner on big, long-term contracts. Dahlin may or may not get one for his 2nd contract -- I think the jury is out on that. I think teams generally only have room for 4 of those contracts at the most, so the Sabres will need to decide whether they want Reino to have one of those slots. It's a tough call. I'd give him $6MM x 6 years, but I don't think he'd agree, and I'd have to think long and hard before going to $7MM x 7 years.

I'm with @Thorny that bringing in a good top-6 winger should be a priority, but only if it's a Mike Foligno type as @dudacek suggests. I want a veteran who plays with strength and passion. Unfortunately, that guy isn't likely to want to join a team as bad as the Sabres.

Was it ever!

Just to be clear: I didn't bring this up as a knock on Sam, whom I continue to think is a good player, albeit not a great player, and one that I hope the Sabres can keep at a non-crippling contract. I did so because for the first time yesterday, I got the same "no joy" vibe from Reino that I got from Kane in his last season here and I am concerned that Sam and the team both know that his days here are numbered. I am hoping that I'm either completely out to lunch, which is quite possible, or that the lack of joy is due to Reino being unhappy about missing the playoffs and wanting, as a leader, to set the right tone for the rest of the team.

Regardless of one's feelings about how Reino handled the presser, did anyone gather any impression from his demeanor on the ice, in particular after his goals and at the end of the game when he congratulated Toker? Unfortunately I didn't see the end-of-game moments with Toker on the Sabres' website highlights, but you can see it if you check your DVR and/or center ice.

As a related point, if Sammy doesn't make KA feel like Sammy can play regularly in the NHL next year, that would probably make KA more inclined to pay Seattle not to take Borgen.

Awesome.

I’d like to think it was just irritation with Hamilton and Harrington. It just seemed like it was much more than that.

Very nice win today, although as I posted in a different new thread I found Reino's demeanor concerning. Good for Toker. He's making a bid for another NHL backup gig somewhere. As @PASabreFan noted upthread, Bryson has been a revelation. I saw some Brian Campbell in him today. I thought Mattias looked green, but that he could develop into a good NHL defenseman. He's not there yet though. That Cozens-R2 goal was thrilling. It's nice to enjoy watching the Sabres again.

So, a number of posters in the GDT commented on Reino's postgame media session, which is here: https://www.nhl.com/sabres/video/sam-reinhart-postgame-41821/t-277437090/c-8113047 The view in the GDT was "Reino is blowing off Hamilton and Harrington as he views them as hostile bozos." It's a very plausible theory. However: watching the game, I was struck by how grim and joyless Reino seemed after his goals and when he congratulated Toker at the end. Then this presser really brought the point home. IMHO there are 2 likely explanations: either (1) he is PO'd about another lost season and showing it to his teammates because he wants them to understand that not making the playoffs and playing out the string like this is an unacceptable position to be in, or (2) he is counting the days until he gets TF out of town after next season. I hope it's the former.

Before we start sending away guys like Eichel, Reino and Risto, I’d like to see what a team led by them looks like with: - real goaltending - real coaching - a real #2 center - contributions from speedy youngsters who are ready to make those contributions It seems like the first 2 are eminently attainable and in fact all 4 might already be here (except for another good goalie, which if not brought in will be a firing offense IMHO).

Let the record reflect that so far @pi2000 was right about that trade, which seems stranger and more pointless by the day.

I generally agree and would just add that on a team starving for goals, it makes no sense to unload a guy who can score ‘em. I can see VO taking Asplund’s spot with Mitts and TT and Asplund centering Zemgus and KO.

The Islanders are not trading Pelech under any circumstances.

His shot is also much better than Zemgus’. But I agree that his handle is questionable at this point.

I thought the 1st season and the last season were just OK, but 2 through 5 were consistently very good.

Also, the PP in the 3rd was their best one in forever. Reino looked comfortable and in control in Jack’s spot on the half-wall. He, Dahlin and Mitts in the high slot had a nice triangle going.

I think it should also be noted that the Pens brought their A game, unlike the caps and a number of their other opponents. I hope it keeps happening. Let the kids see what it takes to beat a good team in this league.

I felt alive as a Sabres fan when Mittelstadt scored. Separately, Toker played very well, as did Bryson, Joki, Dahlin and TT. R2 was also pretty good, as was Cozens other than his crucial turnover for a GA, and Rieder played his role well. Bjork was in the right place often and put pressure on the D with his skating, but he left quite a few plays on the table with mis-handles. To beat solid playoff teams they need more from Reino, Skinner, Casey and VO. Also I thought Asplund was too much of a passenger on his line today. Do we really not have 2 better forwards anywhere than Eakin, who has been a major disappointment that goes on the debit side of KA's balance sheet, and Fogarty?

Dude. Separately, the Sabres got it together in the 2nd and played them pretty evenly after getting dominated in the 1st. If they can get something out of the top line in the 3rd they can get back into it.