nfreeman

The toronto-Pitt trade probably increases the pressure on teams like Calgary and Buffalo to make moves sooner rather than later, innit?

This is fair, but I don’t think they could get a first-round pick for him in October, and probably not a high second-rounder either. He has loser Sabres stink on him.

You probably know this already, but as part of the eviction, you need to clean up all mouse poop (and use some kind of cleaning product, not just a paper towel) or else the smell will attract more of them.

Yes -- I listened to this interview and was very pleased to hear him speak so highly of Samuelsson. I think he also said something to the effect that Mattias was their captain and top defenseman.

Have mercy kind sir. There is probably no real Sabres news for another 6 weeks or so, and no games for 4 months. If someone finds a random comment from Vanek 20 years ago, or Vanek’s favorite ice cream Flavor for that matter, new-thread-worthy — let him spread his wings and fly.

Didn't Jimmy the Greek get fired from a CBS NFL show for this?

But you accused him of misogyny, which literally means hatred of women. You are right that his comments were out of line. But not every offense is a capital one. A meatheaded comment about men thinking about sex when they're around women is not the same as misogyny.

There's been some discussion in the playoffs thread about Monahan. Imm'a respond here because I think this is the logical thread for that conversation now that Calgary's been eliminated. I was not impressed with what I saw from Monahan during this playoff run. It was way too easy for the opposing D to get the puck out of the zone and going the other way when Monahan's line was on the ice. He's skilled, and created a number of scoring chances when he had the puck, but he sure didn't go out and get it. @dudacek's observation that Monahan is closer to Derek Roy than to ROR is spot on, and deeply troubling. Gaudreau, OTOH, was much more effective. I freaking love the idea of him on Eichel's wing, or him as the 2LW if the Sabres pick up a 2C elsewhere. And while trading for another LW seems nuts, I would trade Risto for him in a heartbeat. I guess where I'm at is that I'd be much less excited to give up Reino, #8 and Risto/Montour for Monahan and Gaudreau than I was before watching that playoff series. I could probably talk myself into it, and the point made in the other thread (maybe by @Thorny) that Monahan might thrive as a 2C instead of a 1C is a good one, but I would be apprehensive about giving up too much in total and expecting too much from Monahan.

@dudacek can of course speak for himself but I thought he meant that RK would’ve had more comments about Taylor’s performance than about anyone else’s. As for the Lysowski item, I would think that normally the NHL HC would chat with his AHL counterpart a few times over the course of the season, but perhaps not. But either way I think RK must’ve formed a fairly negative impression of Taylor during that November stretch.

Yes, and the pass from Krug on that goal was terrific as well.

Yes -- it's hard to evaluate and respond to @PASabreFan's posts without at least photos.

The first bolded is qualitatively different from the 2nd. Of course KA is going to know that the Pegulas prefer Sean McD to Rex Ryan. KA himself is much more McD/Beane than Rex/Tim Murray, and KA probably prefers McD/Beane/KA types to Rex/TM types. I think it's highly unlikely that TP mentioned Ellis to KA or otherwise gave KA any kind of specific direction as to who should be hired for this role. If I had to guess, I'd say the Pegulas had zero involvement other than the quick approval I mentioned earlier. This seems to me to be exactly the kind of position that an ex-player who is working on an NHL front office career, who has already had a couple of positions lower down the ladder and who is well liked by his current organization/network often gets. @PASabreFan is making it sound like he was just another lowlife hanging around the Bing and Tony picked him for the next job because he was there and he needed a warm body.

Do the skeptics of this hire think the Pegulas were involved in choosing Ellis for this role? I would be pretty surprised if their involvement was anything more than a 1-minute conversation with KA in which KA told them what he wanted to do and they said yes.

I agree with most of this, but I think liger is right to shy away from giving Pietey a long-term deal. My point previously that the Habs were willing to take on Weber’s long-term deal in part because it allowed them to escape PK’s deal. That factor wouldn’t be present for someone giving Pietey a long-term UFA deal. Now, if a high-quality vet LHD is available at a cheapo price this offseason due to cap/economic conditions? By all means — although I’m still annoyed that this is a need this team has after watching JB stockpile defensemen for 3 years while neglecting the rest of the team.

Well, I think it’s important to remember that the Weber trade allowed the Habs to escape the crippling contract they gave PK. i would be surprised if someone gave Pietrangelo a fat 6-year deal.

Present and accounted for. To be clear: I didn't hate him, in the sense that I don't hate anyone in his 20s whom I never met and who hasn't done anything horrible. But he was a bad goalie here. I'm glad he's got it together now. To the OP -- yes, indeed: Armia Byron McNabb Lehner Grant Compher Scandella Sekera Gerbe Myers Zadorov Bogo Fedun (Intentionally omitted: Nylander, ROR)

But if Reino is the centerpiece of the proposed Calgary trade discussed in the other thread, the Sabres would be getting back two players that are better than he is.

Here's a question: the Sabres can sign Reino to an extension anytime now, innit? Does the fact that we've heard zero about any contract talks mean anything, especially in light of recent trade rumors? i.e. if there are no contract talks, does that mean it's more likely that the Sabres are dangling Reino in trade talks?

Someone already mentioned this in another thread, but I think it belongs here too: Mike Milbury is pretty annoying as a studio guy, but very good as a game color commentator.

Not me.

It would be Monahan for 3 years and, most likely, either Gaudreau long-term OR Gaudreau for 1.7 seasons plus what he brings back at the deadline in the 2nd year. And, if the Sabres improve, there is a pretty decent chance that at least one of them re-signs here. If Mitts is one of the Sabres' 3 best prospects, we're doomed in any case. And the #8 pick could just as easily wash out as turn into a good prospect. Most importantly, it is pretty close to now or never for the Eichel Sabres. They have to take real steps this offseason. And the likelihood of them getting a player as good as Monahan or Gaudreau elsewhere is pretty low -- let alone both of them.

@Gabrielor -- I like it, but I think it's wishful thinking not to include #8 if the Sabres are getting both Monahan and Gaudreau. If the Flames put those 2 on the block, they will get much better offers than Reino, Montour and Mitts. My general rule on proposed trades is that if one team's fan looks at a trade and is ready to pull the trigger immediately, then the price is too low.

OT in the playoffs should go to 4-on-4 after the first OT period. The quality of play keeps dropping as the game gets longer.

I think this is exactly right. Couple of other relevant (IMHO) points on this: - Gaudreau turns 27 this week and Monahan will turn 26 in October, so each of them would, if he doesn't sign an extension before hitting FA, be selling himself as a 29-year-old to UFA bidders. That will probably result in fewer bidders relative to other UFAs, while still giving their pre-FA teams prime years plus contract year motivation. - The cap probably won't rise much if at all by the time Gaudreau hits FA, and perhaps not a year later when Monahan does. This will also reduce the pool of bidders. - Certainly you don't want to trade away the store if you're only getting 2 years of one of the 2 primary pieces coming back. But that risk needs to be weighed against the need to show Eichel that the franchise isn't mailing it in, and the risk of him getting fed up and demanding a trade. A trade for these 2 guys would be a game-changer and would show him that the Sabres mean business.

I don't think teams can give extensions to players until there is 1 year or less remaining on the player's contract. So trading for anyone with 2 years left until UFA means you're trying really hard to sell the player during that first year so he's willing to sign an extension during the summer after that year. If he's not willing to do so, you're in the Skinner situation all over again during that 2nd year, and you have to seriously consider trading him by the deadline.