apuszczalowski

You just hope that the plan is to replace those players with upgrades.........

Not really, there are many 'Superfans', the ones who think that any negativity towards the team makes you not a fan and that since the players are young, the will be hungry and hunger will be enough to make the team competitive and win.

And yet Eichel is still here........ We don't know who could be had though. How many expected Ned to be dealt to the redwings from the Canes this offseason after being in the top 3 for rookie of the year? Seattle was able to get their starting goalie in the Expansion draft then signed someone else to take the spot in FA before teh other guy even had a chance to play (The Sabres could have made a play for either of them in FA or making a deal with the Panthers to get the one they lost in the expansion draft). Instead they are going to go into the season with a guy who announced he was going to retire a few days before signing in Buffalo after playing in a couple games last year and Tokarski. Continuing to throw out the prospects with journeymen players to lose games isn't going to help develop the young guys into a winning team. Its either going to ruin the prospect by forcing them to develop immediately, or it will cause them to lose their will to play (like O'reilly) and want out rather then stay and hope things turn around.

At one point the Leafs fans thought they had somoene in Sparks..... (just like ever young goalie to ever put the Pads on for the Leafs)

I have said it before, the return for Eichel will be disappointing because teams looking to get him are trying to win now and won't be giving up assetts that can help now (or soon). If a team has a 1C centre to be the focal point of the deal, why would they want Eichel, someone who won't be able to step in and help them right away? If they get a 1C in the deal, it will be a prospect who will be a few years away from playing in the league. I always find it funny seeing people worried about getting players that could help now, because it might block younger players. Or they don't need better players because they aren't ready to win now. This is how you end up in this mess, and in situations like what happened with O'Reilly. Players don't want to lose and continue to lose while being told to wait a year or 2 for some prospects to make the jump. You end up with players that want out because they are sick of losing. The best way to develop players is to put them in situations where they can come into a winning situation. Having a goalie who had announced he was going to retire and a journeyman in net isn't going to help develop anyone. If they had a good/solid goalie, it can help everyone in front of them to focus on their own play and not worry about making mistakes that will cost the team. Just like the best way to bring in a young goalie would be to put a solid team in front of them to take pressure off of the from having to carry them. and so what if it blocks a young players development, thats a good problem to have because it means you have a bunch of talent that can become trade chips in the future. I don't think theres ever been a prospect who it can be said was ruined by staying in the minors too long, but theres many that it can be said were ruined by being rushed up too early because the team had no better options

Normally I might agree, but Terry would have to spend that money anyways because without Eichel, the Sabres don't hit the Cap floor, he needs that money spent to reach the minimum he needs to spend on the team for the season. If anything, him not playing might help him save money if the contract is insured and the insurance kicks in with him being out for failing his physical. Eichels cap hit counts in the 'Cap Math', and Terry lets his insurance company pay the contract instead of his wallet

If they don't view it as a 'Tank' season, they should be fired for complete incompetence and never be allowed near a hockey rink again. They did nothing in the offseason to try an improve a roster that had the #1 overall pick and basically signed warm bodies to fill out the roster, they moved out talented players and didn't upgrade on any of them for this season. They won't admit to tanking, but theres no way they can come out and say that they intend to win games this year or improve on last season with what they are putting on the ice.

Should that matter? he is under contract with another team, he shouldn't be a guest of another team for an event. He might not be a FA, but he is available to be dealt. And if a player finds out that a team is interested in him, that team can persuade him to do what he can to make the move possible.

Can you blame them? Its not like many of them were worth bringing back.

The first thing I thought was if it is the Bruins teams box at Fenway, could this be viewed as tampering? Like you said, it wouldn't be good if your employer found out you were at an event with the companies direct competitor. If you were out with just a couple of friends at an event and they happened to be employees of a competitor and it wasn't in a corporate setting, that is not usually an issue. This is the second time this offseason that Jack has been spending time with Bruins players (baseball game & training/skating with Bruins players in Boston), but nothing about him spending any time with his teammates. Its not often that you hear about other teams hangining out with one player from another team (I know that there are times where local players may get together to play/practice together in the offseason, but rarely is it just one player with another team. I can't say I have ever heard of Kane coming back to Buffalo to sit with the Sabres team in their box at Highmark stadium for a Bills game? McDavid doesn't come down to sit in the Leafs Box with them at Jays games in the Rogers Centre.

This came out on the Day the NHL decided it found no proof he bet on his own NHL games?

On behalf of all Canadian Sabres fans, we say 'Thank you' to the US Government for this.... On behalf of all Canadian Bills fans, we say 'Screw you, WTF? Argh!' to the US Government for this........ (LOL) When I was in Arizona (Scottsdale & surrounding areas) almost 9 years ago, Coyotes gear was one of the only Arizona sports merchandise I didn't see anywhere (this was during the lockout so maybe that affected it somewhat, disappointed that if the season was being played I could have extended the trip one extra day to see The Sabres play the night we left). Plenty of Cardinals, Suns, Diamond Backs & Sun Devil gear in the stores but almost nothing Coyotes

They are just now committing to the 'Youth Movement'? When was the last team that didn't have veteran players on the roster and it was all youth?

You may have just figured it all out. PSE cuts costs again by cutting the show down to an hour, but getting a host that can cram in double the info in that time... Its most likely more cost cutting for PSE. They cut the show down to 1 hour to give more time to their successful franchise, and because of that probably offered Peters and Rivet half the salary to host a 1 hour show knowing they would probably walk. Since they still have Marty and Duff it would be difficult to have a 1 hour show with 4 guys If you listen closely you can faintly hear it

Still makes it debatable as to if the game is worth attending......... Although chances are the Pegulas 'Lamborghini Night' would probably be just them showing off their recent purchases, maybe having them outside for the fans to pay to have photos taken near...

Do they charge by size? If you stayed with a reasonable cup size it may have been corvette price comparable. New knees and huge jugs at the same time?

That article was saying Balsillie could go after them and give it another try to move them to Hamilton like he tried years ago, but I don't know if he has the money anymore. That was during the heyday of Blackberry being one of the big smart phone manufacturers. They aren't what they used to be and I don't think he has all that spending cash anymore......

Atleast he can take it easy on his voice and not have to worry about calling many goals or exciting plays in his final year.......

Lundqvist is announcing his retirement, does this mean he is signing for league minimum in Buffalo this weekend?

What about this season right now isn't a scary thought? As of right now, I would bet they go into the season with Dell and UPL as a 1A/1B tandem and Anderson retiring before the season starts but staying on to help coach and work with UPL. The Sabres seem to be on a real kick of hiring former players to the coaching and front office staff, wouldn't be surprised if Andersons signing was intended as a a way to bring him in to work and sort of mentor UPL while being a 'worst case scenario/backup plan' emergency goalie to go into the season if they need someone. Goalies his age don't usually change their minds on retirement to go play for a team almost certain to be in last or second to last in the league after playing in less then a 1/2 dozen games the year before to be paid league minimum.

Wasn't UPL also coming off hip surgery/injury? Up until this injury, he has played as one of the best goalies in the leagues he was in.

Poor guy, but I guess he can guarantee his retirement comes early by not having to call another playoff game......

Yes, the arena in Quebec which holds just under 18k is done and open, its currently been the home for one of the Junior teams. The only reason I don't see them as being at the top of the list is it would mean re-alignment again right after they just finished balancing out the East/West by adding Seattle. An article yesterday list 4 options as Phoenix, Quebec City, Houston (4th largest city, has an arena an a potential owner looking for a team), and Hamilton which I don't see anymore because they mention Balsillie taking another shot at relocating the Coyotes there but I don't know if the "Blackberry Guy' has the money anymore to do something like this anymore. I would think Quebec City has been waiting longer for a team, but Houston would atleast keep the team in the Western conference.

I read somewhere that the current owner said he wanted a new arena in the Tempe area when he bought them in 2019 If he doesn't want to move them out of Arizona, its most likely they just go back to the arena in Phoenix that they played in before moving to Gila River

While true for some players (I believe it was Nathan Horton who said he wanted to go there), most want the 'Big City, luxury lifestyle' from the NY's & LA's. While Buffalo and Columbus may have scenes that 'common folk' find nice and think is attractive, for someone young and making millions, its not the same. I beleive it was Horton that said he chose Colombus as one of his top choices because he wanted to play in a smaller market where he can live with his family and take his kids out to the Zoo without being noticed or mobbed like a player might get in a big hockey market.