dudacek

I didn’t think it was boring at all. It was fast, the Sabres were fast and they didn’t allow much at all. Skinner was often exiting the zone early and getting up ice quickly; he had that drama Queen Euro soccer poser thing going that I can’t stand, but he needs when he’s on. That pass to Hinostroza might have been the best I’ve ever seen him make. Girgs and KO looked like warriors and old pros and Eakin actually was OK with them. Tage’s preseason hasn’t been universally loved but Ive liked him, especially tonight. He’s frequently in the middle of things on both ends of the ice. This was the other side of our D, the one that can succeed when they are moving the puck and their feet. Jacob Bryson was as good tonight as he was terrible against the Pens. I hope Hayden makes the team. He should have. Detroit is not a good team, but neither were the Pens. We skate that way on a consistent basis and I’ll keep watching.

Didn’t catch it either, but he didn’t play in camp. Brandon Biro was another. At least two more forward cuts coming from Buffalo, probably out of Hayden Eakin, Peterka, Jonsson-Fjallby. And I’m going to guess Fitzgerald and Samuelsson on D So, when healthy, something like (not sure if I missed anyone, and not actual suggested lines) …? Murray Eakin Peterka Mersch Malone Quinn Rousek MacInnis Weissbach Pekar Oglevie Biro Scarfo Franco Warren Samuelsson Laaksonen Schuldt Fitzgerald Davidson Prow Lukkonen Dell

Eichel and Dahlin

Goal, 3 assists in his 1st game of the season. Sabrespace shrugs. I know why, but the lack of hype for Power is amazing. Regardless if he becomes Eric Johnson or Larry Robinson, he’s still, at worst, the 3rd best prospect this team has drafted in 30 years.

Yeah, it was more about the concept than the specifics. We both know that whatever the deal ends up being you’re going to hate it and you wouldn’t have done it.

Too wide a range in the bold — does that mean a Vegas 1st and Elvenes, or an LA 1st and Kaliyev? But to try and answer the spirit of your question, I would take the best offer available to me right now, load it up with as many conditionals as possible, wish Jack the best of luck with his surgery and his career, and get on with the business of rebuilding the Buffalo Sabres. People are far too invested in sunk costs here. I thinking they are putting far too much import on the size of the return and not enough on healing — both Eichel's healing and the healing of the Buffalo Sabres.

If you were in Jack's position, would you get the fusion? If you were in Jack's position and felt the way he does about ADR and fusion, would you get the fusion?

For those who haven't listened to the interview "depleted asset" was one in a series of observations Brisson made in a very matter-of-fact fashion as he listed off why this is a very difficult situation. I've read the same issues cited here many times and I doubt many, really any, of you would disagree with what he said.

I agree with all of this, particularly the bold. There seems to be a prevailing sentiment around here that: 1) something other than the Sabres caving on ADR is going to happen to increase Eichel's market value 2) we shouldn't care about forcing Eichel to choose between playing hockey and a surgery he doesn't want when there is another plausible option out there I don't agree with either of these principles

I'm not sure why you are asking this question again. We both agree they don't. I understand that. I'm questioning that stance. In hindsight, it seems they would have been a better position to improve the team had they taken that risk.

It's not the same. Teams would be be bidding on a player ready to play, not a player in rehab. But more to my point: it seems like the Sabres hard stance against ADR may not have been necessary.

Only the market determines what kind of deal can be made. The Sabres determine whether or not to pull the trigger or wait — as they have been — hoping the market improves. I think most of us agree the only way that happens is if Jack gets and recovers well from surgery.

Just think, if the Sabres would have allowed ADR back in the spring, there's a decent chance teams are bidding right now on a healthy Eichel. We heard repeatedly that wasn't an option. Apparently, for "more than a handful of teams" it is.

While I agree with criticism of Vogl's tease, I do think there was an underlying tone to Lebrun's article (and to Brisson's interview): there is a deal to be made once the Sabres understand they aren't going to get what they want, or what their fans want for Jack.

He is.

Good call. The two things that make me wonder otherwise though is the absolute lack of any moves by the Ducks this year, along with $14 million in cap space. They're cheap, yes, but they also seem to be deliberately keeping their powder dry. It's also why I keep watching the Rangers (who are anything but cheap) with their nearly $8 million in space. Right now, 9 teams are sitting with at least $7 million in space, which puts them in a position to accommodate Jack without too much shuffling. https://www.capfriendly.com/

Could a solution be Buffalo sending a conditional pick the other way? For example: Jack Eichel and a Buffalo conditional 1st in ‘23 for Krebs and Elvenes. If Eichel plays x games this year, Sabres get their 1st back. If Eichel plays y games next year, Sabres get a Vegas 1st If Eichel scores z points over the next 2 years, or Vegas wins a cup, Sabres get another Vegas 1st or something else along those lines that gives Sabres fair value if Eichel is healthy and protects the Knights if he is not.

Is anyone else surprised to see Casey Fitzgerald among the Sabres remaining defencemen? Never really considered him a legit prospect, but he’s outlasted guys with better pedigrees like Schuldt and Laaksonen.

Sabres need to get the most young talent they can in an Eichel trade. Position only matters if two offers are close.

Pietrangelo, Makar, Hamilton, Theodore, Nurse, Weegar, Letang, Petry, Weber, Chabot, Reilly, Ekblad, Doughty, Girard, Burns, Parayko, Giordano… What do you think?

This interview was the best interview on the Eichel situation we’ve heard, maybe since this situation started. https://podcast.sportsnet.ca/hockey-central/reactions-to-carey-prices-announcement/ Brisson starts around 45 minutes in.

Interesting element of the Brisson interview was how much pressure he is feeling to get this done now.

Sorry I misread. So you think the Sabres have been wrong to dig in against ADR?

Even after watching Butcher and Pysyk and Bryson tossed around like rag dolls last night? Making a big deal about size is only an issue when size is all that’s there.

How do you re-establish value without one side giving in on the surgery? Do you think that side we eventually be Jack?