dudacek

I usually agree with you when you are on this stream, but I suspect that in this case there were offers most of us would have considered “better.” The Sabres probably think more of Levi than we do - more UPL than Dustin Tokarski.

I think this needs to be moved into the “could this team be for sale?” thread.

Talk about obscure. Another rail. I want to hear the back story because his numbers sucked last season, but were amazing the year before. This has Laaksonen written all over it. The trend this year is getting bizarre.

Im preparing myself for Kotkaniemi, Romanov, next year’s 1st and a guy we’ve never heard of.

I would have been happy with Risto for this return. I would have accepted Sam for the Risto return. Im too old to have favourite players, but Sam is someone I enjoyed watching and appreciated his professionalism on the ice. I’m going to miss him. It sounds like it was a conditional 1st, the league didn’t like the conditions and maybe the Panthers just removed the conditions and the additional pick to let iT go through?

I can’t remember the particulars @nfreeman, but you’re right, I’m wrong. Give me the specs and I will pay up. Terrible return and I like Levi. They must love Him, because that pick looks a lot more like the ROR next year’s 1st than the Erik Karlsson 1st.

Are we to the point where they have to take at least two non-wingers in that stretch? And 7 of the top 100 picks makes the draft a lot more interesting than last year’s 2 in the top 130.

I’m pretty sure Adams didn’t tell Friedman anything and I doubt Zito did either. Given how Adams acted last night, he knew there might be issues with the trade and the fact that it’s out there before it’s approved is not on him.

Yes. These guys are no Alex Nylanders. Rosen is always moving and sticking his nose in. Poltapov seems to approach the game like Forsberg. Will they grow enough to play that way in the NHL? That’s the question. I don’t think size is an issue with Power.

Poltapov (I’ll get his name right eventually) in particular seems to have that “I don’t give ***** how small you think I am, get out of my way” vibe. I think I’m going to like him.

Reinhart must be wondering if his nightmare will ever end?

Poltopov and Kisakov are the types of picks that turn into Kiprisovs and Kucherovs. Note, I did not say they will. More often they turn into guys you never hear about again.

Credible sources have reported Sam has been told he’s been traded to Florida and Levi’s camp believes he’s coming to Buffalo. They’ve also reported the holdup is about conditions tied to the picks (plural) involved. We’ll find out when the conditions are sorted out.

Im think you’re on the right track here. I tend to tune Adams’ blathering out after a while, but he has frequently referenced what kind of player best represents a Sabre. I’m going to guess that they’ve tried to quantify the quantifiable elements of that in some analytical fashion and have been been picking BPA based on a mix of the less tangible “mindset” criteria and the resulting data.

Was he already picked by a team that recently committed to analytics and given a cool nickname only minutes later?

And, again, to a type. Although I’m not sure if he has that all-situations element and didn’t play U18. Great numbers in his league. Very skinny and he’s an ‘02 birthday.

That’s a lot of talent for that draft slot. Unlikely that there was a more skilled offensive player available. Not likely to make it if he’s not in your top six.

This is bizarre. The NHL must have had issues with the conditions and sent it back for clarification. It S the only thing that makes sense.

A) penny wise and pound foolish if Casey and Dylan get beat on. I’ll reserve judgment until I see how they replace Sam. B) Certainly they are very different in terms of contract situations, but not in the “take the best offer for a guy that doesn’t want to be here” premise of your initial post, or Kevyn’s statement last night of the move having to make the Sabres better. Again, we’ll have to see the actual return, and how they replace Sam.

Coachable Skilled good skater Plays with pace Upside Winger Shined at U18s Not from the CHL We have a thing But at least we apparently will pick Russians, so that’s something.

Should we expect the same logic for Jack then? Sam didn’t want to be here this spring either, but he didn’t show it on the ice and, according to his coach, in the room either. Im with @Randall Flagg, if we are going to trade him for a deadline price, keep him until the deadline to play 1C and help develop Casey and Dylan.

Here for sure. Around the league, no way. Sabres fans pretty quickly adopted “no franchise guys available” and melded it to “if Eichel and Dahlin couldn’t fix it” and shrugged. Around the league Power might not be thought of by general fans in franchise player terms, but he’s still BPA and a likely 1D in their minds.

Why are people thinking Vatrano? I mean he’s an OK 3rd liner and kinda plays an Adams style. But 27-year-old pending UFA and LW to boot just doesn’t seem like the kinda player we’d be targeting.

You’re right, of course. But even with that, he is no worse than the 4th, and probably the 3rd most-hyped prospect taken by the Sabres in 35 years. We’re just numb and he’s dull. “Expected” and “pretty good” and “nice enough kid” don’t make for great conversation in our grey and dreary world.

Well, everyone has to hoping for Stankoven, right? Tiny, fearless offensive centre with the best name in the draft?