dudacek

Does anyone have any idea of their qualifications?

Honestly, I've been beaten down enough I'd probably take Krebs and Schneider and smile. But I'm very high on both.

Agreed. The retention on Zibby is worth a lot, but he's a pending UFA. If they are reluctant to give up Krebs for 5 years of Eichel, tough to see them doing it for 1 year of Mika. Sorry Wookie, but I take that deal for the Sabres, even without the picks.

Sabres are operating as if they think Casey can be a legit top 6 centre. Everybody thought that in 2018, nobody in 2020. He was definitely fun to watch to finish 2021; I finally started seeing the swagger I saw when he was a junior. He's one of the reasons I will be watching this year.

Reliable, diligent, honest, not particularly fast but relentless, not physically imposing but fearless, intelligent, able to contribute both ends of the ice: Pommer, Ramsay and Seiling weren't the same player, but those words describe all three, and they describe Quinn too. What I was getting at with those comparables is that I could see Quinn settling in as any of those guys, given his skillset and approach to the game. He's got a spectrum of skills and it is unclear what NHL role they will develop into. He does have a great shot and he can finish. He could be a good goal scorer in the NHL. But Rick Martin isn't a great comparable because Rick lived to score goals but didn't do much to prevent them. Quinn doesn't have that defined identity. He doesn't cheat. He's out there on the last shift of a one-goal game up, or down. And he doesn't lurk, he creates for himself and his linemates. In Ottawa, he did pretty much everything at a high level — Marchand without the ***** factor. At the world juniors he was Ric Seiling. It will be very interesting to see what elements of his game translate as a pro, how well the Sabres can develop him, and how long will it take.

My take? Owen Power: Upside: Alex Pietrangelo (all-situations, 1st-pairing defenceman, Olympic Team Canada-level but not Norris Trophy) Likely: Eric Johnson (all-situations #3 defenceman) Best Sabre comparable: Uwe Krupp/Doug Bodger (obvious physical gifts and top-four utility, but lacking that alpha chromosome) Jack Quinn: Upside: Mark Stone (complete, all-around 1st-line wing) Likely: Ondrej Palat (complete, all-around 2nd-line wing) Best Sabre comparable: Jason Pominville/Craig Ramsey/Ric Seiling (he's going to be good and reliable for a long time, still not sure if he ends up known more for his scoring or his checking, but he will do both) Dylan Cozens: Upside: Ryan Kesler (less of a prick, but similar presence, offence and 2-way game as a centre) Likely: Filip Forsberg (versatile all-around top six winger) Best Sabre comparable: ??? (he might be around their stature, but he's too primal to be Luce, too big and fast to be Peca, not tough enough to be Foligno. Stepping down a notch, he's way too honest to be Gratton or McKegney; he's pretty unique for a Sabre) Rasmus Dahlin: Upside: Erik Karlsson (elite, Norris Trophy winning offence-first defenceman) Likely: Karlsson (I still think he gets there) Best Sabre comparable: Phil Housley (the only one who really fits in terms of physical gifts, Rasmus will be more rounded) Casey Mittelstadt: Upside: pre-concussion Tim Connolly (good 2C production, 1C highlight reel) More likely: John Tucker (top six talent who never could put it together) Best Sabre comparable: Derek Plante (guy who could produce when used in the top 6, but generally not someone you wanted to lean on when things got tough) Henri Jokiharju: Upside: Jared Spurgeon (Smooth defender who rarely makes mistakes and can contribute in all 3 zones) More likely: Alex Goligoski (smooth defender who is best in transition but needs to be spotted to be at his most useful) Best Sabre comparable: Petr Svoboda (reliable 2nd-pairing guy with skill but not points) Going to enjoy watching these guys develop the way Sam and Jack (and too few others) have over the past decade.

https://theathletic.com/2760896/2021/08/10/jack-eichel-and-the-flames-2-0-what-would-calgary-have-to-give-up-and-how-would-the-lineup-look/

Informed speculation from the Flames Athletic beat writer: Monahan, Coronato, Dube and a 2022 first-round pick. She says the package is close to the surface ask of 4 1st rounders Monahan is there mostly to make the money work, Coronato was their top pick this year and their best prospect, Dube is young but has upside and is already an NHL player. She gives the impression Pelletier or Zary could be substituted for Dube or Coronato.

But it does mean our PP will likely not be QBed from the left half-wall. And if it's not from the left half-wall, will that take away VO's bomb from the right half-wall? I wonder if maybe Ras moves to Jack's spot; he can distribute either way very well. That would leave Victor where he is, Cozens or Thompson to Reino's spot, and Mitts or Skinner in the other low spot? Miller at the top of the umbrella would add a dead on shooting option we don't have now and maybe create more deflections and rebound opportunities low.

The PP might have to to be completely different because of the pieces. We're so used to everything going through Jack at the left wall, but we won't have a Jack any more, or a Sam to play catch with him, or a Risto to be a big body down low. I even question if VO and Dahlin should stay in the same spots since we've lost the RH passers opposite them. I think Dylan can play the PP, but I don't see him QBing it. The other guys I see getting increased touches are R2 and Casey and they're both lefties. What we know is everything needs to go through Dahlin. The rest of it is completely up in the air.

So now Sam Reinhart has competition for the slowest skater in Florida? 😘

Need to word that better: if Tage scores about 15/15/30 over 82 games, as you posted, chances are pretty good that will put him in, or flirting with the top 50 RWs in the NHL. In other words, those are borderline 2nd line numbers, and great numbers for a 3rd liner in today's NHL.

Our top public health officer made a pretty strong statement yesterday that she will not villify those who decline vaccinations and fully supports their right to make that choice. She then followed by saying she also fully supports the rights of businesses and institutions to choose whether or not to hire or serve those who choose not to be vaccinated. It's going to be an interesting fall.

With the Panthers already down by one game in the opening round series, Kucherov will throw snow in the face of rookie goalie Spencer Knight as he puts the Lightning up by 2. Sam will skate in, gloves dropping, and teach the cocky Russian to show some respect. Bogosian will try to get revenge. Sam will drop him too. He will then set up Huberdeau to get the Panthers within one, Ekblad to tie things up, then win it on an end-to-end rush in overtime. By mid-June he will have shut down Vegas Golden Knight star Jack Eichel completely in the final, pumping 6 goals past Robin Lehner in the process to break Reggie Leach's playoff record with 21, dropped the f-bomb while sipping Macallan in his Conn Smythe acceptance speech, and skate off into the sunset with Kate Upton draped on his arm, becoming the first NHL player to ever trend on TikTok. I'm glad you asked.

It's likely heading that way, even if it shouldn't, because 5-year contract is heckuvalot different than pending UFA who has no interest in re-signing. Stay strong, Kevyn.

I don't think Rosen is who you think he is. He's fast and fearless, but he's scrawny.

I'm just saying that pace over 56 games would have put Tage in the top 50 for NHL RWs this past season. Not terrible by any means.

Do I think we got value for Reinhart? No. But it's pretty clear we got what we could for him. I don't get it when people think a GM got fleeced, or fleeced another in these sell-off situations. The market is the market.

With respect, if your position is Jack doesn't get traded until he's proven healthy, you should probably stay away from this thread until he's proven healthy. They aren't broadcasting it, but Calgary and Tkachuk are done with each other. He's accepting his huge QA next year and going to UFA to the team of his choice after. Unless he's moved to a team he likes first. Not many teams will take the risk, but St. Louis is one, reportedly because it's a place he wants to be. We are talking three teams here with assets that — for various reasons — are tougher to move than their history indicates they should be. That's why the deal might make sense. Tarasenko is very much on the market right now. He's done with the Blues over perceived poor treatment of his injury, and they are done with him over his return on investment. He's essentially available as a cap dump, but the expansion draft showed you can't give him away after his past few years. No team in the league is willing to take him on at full value, but at $5 million he may have some appeal. I doubt Tarasenko waives to play for the Sabres, or that the Sabres want him to play for the Sabres, but he may waive if he knows he's going to be immediately flipped to a more attractive destination, which, of course, would have to be worked out in advance. Given Tarasenko's negative value, maybe it's the Blues who should be adding a sweetener to the Flames, not the Sabres.

Lehner's time in Buffalo was spent as an addict and a risk to himself and others, on a bad team, with a bad coach and one of the loosest, least-disciplined, least-sensitive managers in recent memory. He lost a lot, often letting in a late goal to lose 3-2 in a game where he faced 40 shots, and he was embarrassingly bad in shootouts. Can't speak for Buffalo in general, but on here he was the most-pilloried Sabre of the past 10 years. Of course he has bad memories of Buffalo.

Things that are thought to be true: Calgary wants Eichel and wants to ditch Tkachuk. The Blues want Tkachuk and want to ditch Tarasenko The Sabres want to ditch Eichel and they have a ton of cap space. Tarasenko is pretty much worthless at his current contract Why not a three-way trade: Flames trade Tkachuk, Pelletier and a 1st and get Eichel and 2nd Sabres trade Eichel and a 2nd and get Pelletier, Thomas, 2 1sts, and the rights to Tarasenko Blues trade Thomas, Tarasenko and a 1st and get Tkachuk Sabres would then retain salary on Tarasenko (who has an NMC) and flip him for more futures Any traction?

To the OP, it's too early to project lineups, but there are two things in there that I think are worth chewing on: Ruotsalanien to centre makes a lot of sense right now. He's been a wing in the NHL so far, but he's a natural centre and all his success in the minors and in Liiga came there. Kyle Okposo with Cozens is something watch for. The team has a lot invested in Dylan's success. Kyle has evolved into the old pro mentor. Plus Granato showed a predilection to use Kyle in a more offensive role again after Krueger typecasting him solely as a grinder. If not with Dylan, it will be R2 or Casey (or Krebs 😜). Unless we add a Reilly Smith or two, he won't be on the 4th line.

We're up over 80% 1 dose and 71% fully vaccinated, yet the numbers are jumping back to levels from the spring. The vast majority of the new wave swamping the hospitals are not vaccinated.

12 players who will be in the lineup ahead of Eakin, guaranteed: Mitts, Cozens, Olofsson, Bjork, Thompson, R2, Asplund, Okposo, Girgensons, Skinner, Hinostroza, Caggiula Right now, he's battling with Hayden and maybe McInnes for 13th forward. The Sabres, minus Eichel, have $38 million in cap space. That's $17 million under the floor. Even if they don't get an NHL forward back in an Eichel trade, it almost guarantees they will be adding one either in a cap dump trade, or a Sheahan-style signing. Or both. Barring a run of injuries, or a miraculous off-season, Cody Eakin will not be in the starting lineup.

Don't think they will, but the picture on defence changes a fair bit now, and lot in the future if Dahlin switches to the right side. Separately, the more I look at skill sets on D and think about what the organization has said, the more I think we will see Matty the Mule getting a ton of ice in the McCabe role this year. Hope the poor kid doesn't go the way of Ristolainen.