nfreeman

I'd just like to point out, for those who think that Nylander could fill a scoring void created by trading Kane, that Nylander has 5 freaking goals in 41 AHL games. So hold your GD horses.

Can't agree with this, unless you meant 10-15 feet off to one side or another. 10-15 feet into the slot is a terrible spot to deposit rebounds.

That sounds right.

Does anyone have an update on Kane's well-being following that collision into the boards on the GWG last night?

I didn't think it was intentional.

Y'know, as I was watching that interview on the post-game show, I was reminded of a comment Paul Hamilton made a couple of weeks ago. Hamilton said something to the effect that a number of the younger players are pretty rude to the media members -- i.e. they look at the ceiling when answering questions, they act like answering media questions is beneath them, etc. I think Eichel -- who does not project as having a low opinion of himself -- must've been one of the guys Hammy was referring to.

Seconded.

Scoring is also an issue -- the Sabres are 23rd in the NHL. Kane is their 2nd-leading goal-scorer (in 10 fewer games than KO, who is the leader). As for the "top 2 lines" point -- many others have made this point, but it continues to be neither here nor there. Kane is 4th in ice time on the team among forwards. He's a big part of their rotation. IMHO it is crazy to consider trading Kane unless (i) he has told them that he plans to leave once he hits UFA or (ii) a no-BS young #1 defenseman is coming back.

Good post.

Well, Reino and Eichel each contributed a true star-quality play. How could anyone want to trade Kane or not re-sign him? Pretty spotty outing by Nilsson.

I'm giving Homeland a C-minus so far this season. If my wife didn't like it so much, I would bail completely. Also -- 2 of my work colleagues recommended "Ray Donovan." I watched the first episode over the weekend and thought it was utter crapola. If episode 2 isn't any better, I'm out -- but then I have to figure out how to gently inform my work colleagues that I completely disagree with their recommendation.

Dude. It would be kinda TPish to get fed up and send DDB packing, innit? Well, to be fair, this has happened -- and in the SCF, no less. My 2 cents: I would sign up for dumping DDB and bringing in CJ in a heartbeat -- but I think it's highly unlikely that it will happen before the end of this season at the earliest. If, however, the Sabres limp to the finish line and end up DFL in the EC and bottom 4ish in the NHL, I think it's at least 50/50.

I generally think a bad PK is a direct result of bad coaching.

Great breakdown yse. I am just about sure they will be sellers. I think most of the UFAs will be sold for picks, which I think is the right decision. I don't think any of the RFAs or next year's UFAs will be traded.

Well, I think the replays were pretty inconclusive on that -- the stick was certainly near his arm, but there was no way to be sure whether it actually touched him. And as someone posted in the GDT, if the stick actually had touched his arm, he most likely would've protested, instead of just sinking to the ice in despair (perhaps at his own tendency to deposit fat rebounds on the doorstep).

These are all fair points about Lehner. It's certainly reasonable to say that he stops most of the pucks coming at him, and with a lousy team supporting him to boot. My point was simply that his rebound control seems like a glaring, ongoing flaw in his game, and we saw it again last night on the GWG. I'm not saying the Sabres need to move on from Lehner because of it -- just that it's something he needs to improve if he wants to ascend to high-end starter status.

I think Lehner is a legit NHL #1, but rebound control just continues to be a major issue. The GWG goal tonight was a prime example. He effectively batted the puck -- with his catcher! -- right into the near slot, where a NJD happily jumped on it and popped it in. Just a terrible piece of goaltending.

I agree, and would just add (although perhaps it's redundant with your post) that I'd rather have, say, the Sabres' 2nd-rounder (probably around pick #38) plus a 2nd-rounder from a contender (pick #55), than the contender's #1 (pick #25).

This is a pretty good theory. It's certainly at least possible that GMTM gave Falk this contract in order to preserve this option -- more specifically, to preserve the option of exposing Bogo in the expansion draft. I am by no means a resident of the Bogo bunker, but it's undeniable that (i) Bogo is under contract for 3 more seasons after this season at a $5.1MM per year cap hit, plus a no-trade clause and (ii) he's missed 17 games or more with injury for SIX seasons in a row (15 in the 48-game lockout season). It wouldn't be a huge surprise if GMTM were to decide that he'd rather have the cap space for the next 3 seasons than have Bogo.

I'd be pretty happy with a 2nd for Gio. I'll also say NFW anyone ponies up a 1st, even if the Sabres throw in a lower pick.

That was a really sweet goal Reino put in vs. Ottawa.

Great thread. I voted trade him but tell him we're interested in re-signing him.

Good point and this is fair. Still, as I've said before, my concern is that while Kane needed to get his timing back and let his ribs heal a bit, which we could reasonably expect to happen and which did happen, Ennis' elite speed may be gone and not coming back -- and if that is the case, he's not an effective NHL player.

Well, I think we need to compare apples to apples here. Of the players in these posts that I'd rather have than Kaner (Kreider, Barkov and Leddy), none have hit UFA status. I agree that $6MM per year is a bit rich, but if he stays healthy and out of trouble between now and the time he signs his next contract, I would be very surprised if he gets less than $5.5MM per year.

Or, as I like to call it, "desperate juggling of GMTM's 2 poop sandwiches."