dudacek

Me neither. I fully expect the trade to include someone we react to with a collective disdain that a few months later turns into hope because we learn things about him that get us excited. It's kinda the way things work with fanbases.

Well played. But it makes me want to clarify my own narrative: I have never said I believe Jack Eichel is a cancer and needs to be moved to cleanse the team. I do think that Kevyn Adams believes the Sabres have a Jack-centric culture that interferes with his vision of team-building and the best way of addressing that is to move Jack. I don’t think any of us has enough insight into the locker room to know whether Adams is correct in his chosen path or not, however we do know that change of some type is necessary. I do think Jack will excel in a new environment.

I can live with it because I’m a Krebs fan and seeing a centre with top six potential included is a priority for me. That said, the other three parts are generally pretty meh: Elvenes and a Vegas 1st are 50/50 to be NHL players; Reilly Smith is a good player, but his value to us, is in his potential as a flip. And that is probably going to be another 50/50 prospect or pick.

I missed that. Not seeing it in @tom webster’s recent posting history.

Why the certainty on Tuch and Reilly?

So you only consider signed pick in the system? For example, Power isn't yet in the system?

Chytil is an interesting player. Same draft as Mitts. He's big and fast and plays hard. His point totals — 22 points in 42 games as a no-PP 3C — are pretty good for 21-year-old. He's got skill but so far the NHL game hasn't slowed down for him; he's not great at setting up his teammates. Really, his game at that moment is a lot like where Zemgus was in his second year: if you squint hard enough, you can project him turning into Ryan Kesler-esque 2C, but he could just as easily be a useful bottom-6er. I like him, but not as a key piece in an Eichel trade.

Kakko still has 1st-line power forward upside. I’m not high on him, but the skillset is there. Power forwards take time. He’s ahead of Rantanen at the same age. Braden Schneider is someone I am very high on. He’s got Risto size, edge and talent. Hopefully he is developed a little better and grows into a steadier player. Those are two 1st-rounders who will almost certainly play in the NHL for a long time and have the potential to be part of our core. A deal with those two coming back is something worth talking about.

I’d put that Rangers offer at the rough equivalent of picks 18, 28, 40 and 45. Which generally means 1-2 NHL players and no guarantee any of them will be a core piece. Not much risk there for the Rangers at all. Laughable offer.

Only the best young goalies warrant 1st-round value in pick or trade. That’s not Georgiev. He was undrafted. He’s 25 with less than ideal size, but is proven at the NHL level. He’s been mostly an NHL backup for 4 years and put up average numbers and hasn’t really grabbed the opportunity to be more. He’s asked for a trade, thinking his opportunity to be a #1 is not going to happen with the Rangers. He’s at a bit of a crossroads as to whether he’s headed for a James Reimer type career or whether he can be a starter. Adin Hill just went for a 2nd rounder, and he is of a similar age with a similar track record.

Zach Jones probably would not qualify as a 1st-round value, but he’s rising. He was a 3rd round pick in 2019. He’s 20, a smallish skilled LD. His stock has improved since the draft. Considering that only about a half-dozen players from the draft have made it as NHL regulars, his 4 points in 10 games after being a late-season signing was impressive. He put up a lot of points in two college seasons. He’s one of those difficult-to-read prospects who might turn into Torrey Krug or Lawrence Pilut. He’s the type where your scouts will have to earn their money. He was not ranked in the Future Watch top 100.

Kravtsov qualifies as a 1st-rounder, but barely. He was the 9th pick in the 2018 draft. He’s 21, a big, skilled RW. His stock has clearly dropped since he was picked - he ranks about 25th in his class in terms of games played (20) and NHL points (4). He’s already left NA for Russia once and has not put up significant points at any level, including the KHL. I don’t think it’s a stretch to compare his stock at this point to Tage Thompson’s at the time of the ROR deal, plus he has the added negative of being a flight risk. The Hockey News Future Watch poll of NHL scouts ranked him 38th.

Brooks posted a week or so ago that he’d heard the Rangers had offered Kravtsov, Jones, Georgiev and a 1st rounder. Lavoie was the guy who initially reported the Sabres wanted 4 young pieces, each roughly the equivalent of a 1st-rounder, others have reported Adams has stayed firm on his ask. Of course, “equivalent of a 1st rounder” can mean anything from Rasmus Dahlin to Tage Thompson so that leaves a ton of wriggle room. I want to take a deeper look at the Rangers’ pieces to see how they stack up.

LOL. The return is going to be that bad, eh?

That’s a pretty bold post for Valiquette to make considering his position and his market. Assuming Miller and Lafreniere are off the table: Georgiev is meh, but he would almost certainly have to be part of the deal, considering he wants out and we are desperate for a goalie. Chytil, Lundqvist,Schneider, 1st and Kakko are pieces I am interested in. Kravtsov and Jones are sweeteners at best, despite what fans might tell you. Lesser futures or contract veterans who can contribute this year are fine, but don’t add much value. The Rangers have potential to be a decent overall value/disappointing centrepiece partner, or a terrible partner, depending on the pieces we accept.

Anderson played 4 games last year, 34 two years ago. He’s 40 years old and people thought he was retired. Dell played 7 games last year and 33 is his career high. He’s 32 and had some of the worst numbers in the NHL last year. It’s a bit of a stretch to count on either to be a competent backup this year. No one in the industry expects either to be a starter. UPL has shown nothing to indicate he will be ready next year; ideally he plays 55 games in Rochester and maybe gets a look late in Buffalo. One of these three will be counted on to be the backbone of a young, mistake-prone team - a safety net to help them learn and develop. It makes no sense at all. They have to get another goalie.

If the current group is what we start the season with, UPL will be given every opportunity to be the starter. Still think there will be another NHL body brought in before then.

I remember when I was the only Samuelsson fan on here. Glad to see he made a good impression

It’s the right identity for this market. And as much as the goalie and centre situations are troubling, this aspect of Adams rebuild seems both necessary and more than just lip service. I can’t see the fan base getting more alienated. Going from passive, entitled losers, to high-energy lovable losers is a step in the right direction.

The Sabres legally have the final say on Jack's course of medical treatment according to the CBA

The game of refusing to address Jack's need for surgery prior to a trade. I think @nfreeman raises a good point though: it's likely not a game, it's a standoff, with each side refusing the other's desired path.

You may be right. If you are, and Adams has yet to get even a Seth Jones level offer, then why are we still playing this game? Adams has had more than enough time to determine that no one is going to pay his price given Jack’s health status, switch gears and get Jack healthy in order to get better offers. Why hasn’t that happened? Id suggest one of two reasons: Either: he is determined to trade Jack by a certain date, prior to surgery, for the best available offer and that date has yet to arrive. Or: There is enough interest, and give and take, and circling back and counter-offers that he believes teams have yet to make their final offers and there is a worthwhile return still to be had.

I have already addressed the bold; I agree there is a non-negligible chance Jack’s injury and/or it’s fix hampers his career. That is not the same as ending his career - meaning that it stops him from playing more than a handful of games moving forward. Like @nfreeman’s earlier post, I think we are talking about different things. I am talking about the injury. You are talking about the disc replacement surgery. The course of treatment, and their comfort level with the risk of that treatment, will be between Jack and the acquiring team to decide.

Mitts has always had the mitts.

I think that when push comes to shove, Adam Henrique becomes a Buffalo Sabre - whether it’s part of the Eichel trade or in another deal.