dudacek

This is where I think it has to go, and where I think everyone's efforts should have been focused on months ago.

If the first two hold true, then one of the bold must change in order for there to be a resolution. I don't think either of the first two will change, and if anyone here does, they have yet to speak up and tell us why.

What does it say when I look at that group and can say both "10 guys that could be on the team' and "just 3 vets" and have both statements be true?

To add to the above before people sweep in with "how do you know..." This is my impression created by the messaging put out there by the people involved. Adams has seemed most focused on showing fans he's steadfast. I would have appreciated more messaging that also shows he's willing and able to solve this problem.

This is why I'm disappointed in the way Adams has handled this situation. If the offers have been not even worth considering because of the surgery question, why didn't he simply say two weeks after the draft — either directly from his mouth, or indirectly through an Insider — "It has become clear to us that no one is willing to make a fair offer for Jack until his neck is healed. Therefore we will not be pursuing trade talks until that issue is resolved." And then started negotiations with Jack's team on a way of getting the neck issue resolved that protects the Sabres interests? He's been flexible where he should have been tough (by putting a broken Jack on the market) and tough when he should be flexible (by not working to find a way to break the surgery impasse)

Asplund got a turn at C today, between Caggiula and Thompson. Girgs still at C as well, now between Hinostroza and Bjork

Even 4 years removed from the position, Girgs is a better 4C than Eakin right now. Caggiula and Bjork are JAGs, but they are better players than Eakin who is not an NHLer, and better fits for the way Granato wants to play. What does it matter if Eakin wins a draw but blows the breakout or scoring chance immediately afterwards?

Without putting words in Brawndo's mouth I read that as Pegula nixing the idea of pursuing an Eichel trade, rather than nixing an offer already on the table, but I'm sure he will clarify . Imagine learning that the Rangers' "fair" offer for a healthy Eichel was actually fair and was nixed by Terry in favour of Taylor Hall, Ralph Krueger, Cody Eakin and the current Eichel mess. Par for the course for this decade of suffering.

When Brawndo offers stuff like this, it's definitely not blather. That still leaves me wondering about other team's willingness to take on the risk though. Are they confident enough of the operation's success they are OK with the voided policy? And basically only willing to take that risk on, if their offer for Eichel is peanuts?

Just to be clear here, because there is a lot of overlap in where you and I are coming from, I do not agree whatsoever with the bolded. I think there is plenty of blame to go around for this situation. I do believe it is Kevyn Adams job to fix it and that digging in has not fixed it yet and shows no signs of fixing it in the future.

Why are you so forgiving of Eakin?

Mike Russo of the Athletic, who I consider one of the better hockey reporters out there, reported the Wild were willing. I've read that a Ducks beat reporter reported the same, but did not see that report first hand. How do you decide what is or isn't blather?

If I've ever come across as questioning your intelligence, I apologize. I see this as a true prisoner's dilemma and the answer is going to change based on what premise you choose. Others seem to think Adams' primary job is to stand by his principles. I think it is to untie this knot. For me, I keep coming back to the forced departures of two of the all-time great Sabres: Dominik Hasek was effectively traded for a chain of picks that if you squint real hard kinda mighta became Jochen Hecht. 4 years later we were in the semi-finals Pat Lafontaine was traded for a 2nd-rounder who became a 4th line plug named Andrew Peters. Two years later we were in the finals. Hanging on to Jack Eichel with all our might might not be as important as we think it is.

One question I would like to see answered is why are some teams (the Wild, apparently the Ducks) willing to approve ADR and the Sabres are not? It can't merely be about insurance because each team has to be dealing with similar insurance realities.

I agree with this. Can the siege end without Eichel getting surgery? If teams weren't going to pay up then and they aren't paying up now, what is going to change their minds?

Jim Schoenfeld played nine seasons as a Buffalo Sabre. So did Larry Playfair. Rene Robert played eight. Danny Gare played seven. Counting last year, which he missed entirely with a hamstring injury, Zemgus Girgensons is about to join some rarified company by entering his ninth season in blue and gold, making him far and away the current team's elder statesman. Drafted in the first round of the 2012, Girgensons became a fan favourite during the tank, sacrificing his body regularly and piling up 15 goals in 30 points in just 61 games as a 20-year-old. Some fans pictured that as a teaser for the budding 2C power forward to come. It never happened. Zemgus never again approached that kind of production, settling in instead as a bottom-six forechecking winger and penalty killer for a series of bad Sabres teams . https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=130896 Coming off the second-best goal-scoring year of his career and a burgeoning resume in a shutdown role, Girgensons blew out his hamstring in training camp last year and missed the entire campaign. He begins this year penciled back in at centre ice for the first time in a long time, and will likely be facing some tough matchups. What do you expect from Girgensons this season?

Does it matter? The Sabres have been actively trying to trade Eichel, reportedly to multiple bidders for at least five months; they know his current market value. Do you think his value is going to increase without a breakthrough in the surgery standoff? Does anyone?

For the purposes of conversation I'm defining Eichel's market value as the best offer on the table right now. I'm curious if people think Eichel's market value has some chance of increasing without a breakthrough in the surgery situation?

Respected reporter reports information that does not support my personal worldview of Jack Eichel situation Only possible conclusion is that he must be an ethically challenged w-h-o-r-e (surprised that doesn’t pass the filter).

I really need to see what Portillo does this year. Not sure how he has risen as much as he has. Dude played 7 games last year, and just 80 the three previous years combined. He hasn’t got much of a track record.

No man, I looked it up, 2011 was the last time we took three CHLers in a row in rounds 3-4-5 — catennacci, Jacobs and Lepowski (hope this group does a little better than that one) 2016 we did it, but late, 5-6-7

Real glimpse of a hoped-for future there.

I will also say that Asplund and Casey looked worse away from each other than they did together. And Bjork did not look like a fit with Casey and Tage.

It's been my experience that coaches start camp with their preferences, try a bunch of different combos over the next week or two, then revert pretty much to their original set-up with a tweak or two when the season started. We'll see if Granato follows that pattern. It looked to me like Cozens was trying to play a much more deliberate, thoughtful, traditional centre's game yesterday between those two. I think I'd rather see him pushing the pace, but he wasn't bad, just different. Agree with breaking up Skinner and VO. Of the fringe guys, Hayden looks lacking in the skill and awareness department, but his big body and the edge he brought to the game were noticeable. Caggiula and Eakin looked a lot more savvy than most of the other guys chasing jobs. Murray looked like he had more tools than any of them and he might very well be in the mix.

Those two need to score for this team to improve and they need to get better if they are going to score. Like the fact that Granato has matter-of-factly identified their issues and a path to improving, and is making them publicly accountable.