dudacek

It's an actual search that will continue until the candidates still in the playoffs are interviewed. Capuano would have felt like a disappointing hire, but I have no issues with them interviewing him. His resume almost demands an interview. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/40073/jack-capuano Sens are ***** for not letting him speak to us. I'd say the same for any franchise who did the same.

Especially when you forget to mention Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka.

That’s a very good comparable, both stylistically and stature. He might be better than Gomez and he might not. He is not an Eichel-level prospect. Which brings up another important point: there is not a prospect out there with a ceiling that equals what Jack already is, and Jack is only 24; he’s just entered his prime. If I am comfortable with the neck and I can make the cap work, there isn’t a prospect in the league I wouldn’t put on the table for Eichel. I think fans that are drawing lines in the sand over their top prospects - including Byfield and Lafreniere - are stupid.

Almost as good as Eklund and Beniers.😁

Zegras might be the best passer outside the NHL. He plays a much different style, but projects to be similar level of prospect to Cozens. He remains a candidate for the wing.

For first-line players, I tend to think of primes generally as: Forwards: 22-29 Defence: 24-31 Goalies: 25-33 But on an individual level no one fits nicely in a box.

That's the $50 million question, isn't it? Did the rest improve Jack's condition? How risky is the surgery? Is there still a "disconnect" with Jack's current preferred treatment plan and the Sabres? With that of the interested team? How flexible is either party?

I checked out the Ducks year-ender to get a sense of where they were. Murray said he went to the owners with a plan and they gave him the budget he needed to execute the plan. No hint about what that plan was, but if it was Eichel, sounds like they approved it.

Brady and Matt have similar games, chance for similar chemistry. Plus, if we make these trades Casey is our 1C (sorry, unless Dylan makes a big jump, he is) and should be playing with our best winger.

I like this, but my mind keeps going back to what a killer combo brother Brady was with Casey Mitts.

All that said, trading one stud for his alleged Masshole tendencies for another whose seem even more pronounced seems odd, and Tkachuk’s next contract is going to be a pain.

I’ve seen Tkachuk, Zary and 12OA in numerous places. It is the best offer I have seen that the other team’s fan base seems willing to do. And I am not convinced we will get a better offer. Zary is a good, Peterka-level prospect. 12th is a high pick where we should get another prospect his equal or better. And Tkachuk is a 23-year-old, upper-echelon 1st-line NHL winger - easily the best single piece we’ve seen put on the table. Quentin Byfield spent his D+1 year putting up 20 points in 32 games in the AHL. Tkachuk spent his putting up 48 points in 76 games in the NHL. Trevor Zegras had 3 goals in 24 NHL games in his D2 year. Tkachuk had 24 in 68 in his. He’s averaged 65 points over 82 games for his career. And he’s a pain the ass. I’m not convinced that the Flames will even be able to sweeten the offer. Maybe a 2nd or the equivalent? Zary is their best prospect, 12 OA their best asset. Maybe adding a more significant piece from each side? Reinhart for Lindholm?

Have people seen how bad this roster looks next year if we trade Sam Jack and Risto mostly for futures? Here are three moves that get some support around here: Jack for Zegras, Comtois and 3rd overall Sam and a 2nd for Turcotte and 8th overall Risto to Seattle in the expansion draft Personally, I think the 1st 2 are more than the Sabres will get and the 3rd is a mistake, but they work for this thought exercise. That leaves us with the following depth chart: Olofsson Cozens Zegras Skinner Turcotte Comtois Asplund Mittelstadt Thompson Bjork Girgensons Ruotsalainen Okposo Dahlin Jokiharju Bryson Borgen Samuelsson Miller Lukkonnen Tokarski The entire 1st line combined for 20 goals last year, the 2nd had 23, the 3rd 25 and the 4th 12. Only 1 defenceman has played 200 NHL games. Borgen, Bryson and Samuelsson have played 64 combined. Only 3 forwards have played 200 NHL games. Mitts at 155 is next most veteran player on the list. Yes, we’d have a ton of cap space to acquire two goalies, two veteran defencemen, and a centre to bump Turcotte, Lukkonnen and Samuelsson to the farm, but the other kids have to play. Is this really the right path forward?

We all know players like Eichel don’t get traded. The closest comparables are Dubois, Staal, Richards, Carter, O’Reilly, Duchene, Johansen Using their returns as rough models with the Ducks: Laine, Roslovic: Zegras, Comtois Bowers, Girard, Kamenev, 1st, 2nd, 3rd: Lundestrom, Comtois, Colangelo, 3OA, 2nd, 3rd Berglund, Sobotka, Thompson, 1st, 2nd: Henrique, Grant, Jones, 3OA, 2nd Jones: ??? Drysdale+? Or Lindholm+? Sutter, 1st, Doumoulin: Comtois, 3OA, Perreault Johnson, 1st: Comtois, 3OA Voracek, 1st, 3rd: Comtois, 3OA, 3rd Schenn, Simmonds, 2nd: Zegras, Comtois, 2nd Assuming the Sabres aren’t being stupid, you would think the above deals should be the floors. That said, expecting a lot more than the above might unrealistic.

To be clear, I have no idea who the best player is, I just hope the Sabres do.

Three other things to consider with Anaheim Bob Murray has sung the praises of Owen Power The Ducks are known to have expressed interest in Risto over the years. The Insiders have reported Murray did not deal at the deadline because he was “keeping his powder dry” for big summer deal. While I can get on board on keeping Johnson off the table until they add another blue chip, I also think adding another blue chip means we won’t get Comtois. And Comtois should not be underestimated, he is exactly the kind of player this franchise is thirsting for. He's their 4th most valuable asset, IMO. If you are looking for a young player with a chance of growing into the type of player Marchand epitomizes, it’s Comtois.

Best player available.

Vegas is so aggressive, I can see that happening, and I like those two players. I like what Colorado has offer too, I just don't really see Sakic taking the path of adding another expensive elite player.

Will they be interested? Ryan Getzlaf, who has anchored the Ducks for 15 years, is done, and his replacement is not in the system. Bob Murray's end-of-season presser made it clear: the team can't score, it needs to add a top line forward, and it needs to give fans a reason to go to the arena. He also made it clear that the team has some decisions to make on what parts of its existing core should be or will be sticking around. They should be very interested. Do they have the pieces? They have cap space projected at $22 million. They have an existing core of veterans (Fowler, Manson, Lindholm, Gibson, Rakell, Henrique) that work as help now/cap balance elements and may be available. They have a very large number of attractive young pieces to sweeten the pot (Perreault, Colangelo, Tracey, Thrun, Lundestrom, Groulx, Comtois, Jones, Steel, Mahura, Larsson and Terry). And they have three blue-chip centrepiece assets (Zegras, Drysdale and 3OA). They have all the pieces and they can afford to move some. Would this work? Lindholm, Comtois, and 3OA for Eichel and Johnson There are so many potential variations with the Ducks; once the Sabres give up trying to get two of the blue-chip pieces and the Ducks stop making offers that don't include any of them, it will come down to which blue-chip, and what gets added to that chip. Comtois, abrasive, versatile and just 21, ticks a lot of boxes for the Sabres. He had 33 points last year. Whoever the Sabres take at 3OA should have core piece potential. Sabres fans might not think so, but that's close to market value for Eichel on its own. Lindholm is not a piece that gets discussed, but Murray talking about what parts of their core stick around raises the question. He is also a pending UFA. Lindholm-as-a-rental for Johnson works as close to market value as well, enough to balance the difference on the Eichel end. If he's not part of their future, it makes sense as a cap balance for Anaheim, and from a roster-building perspective. From the Sabres perspective, the thought of Lindholm buttressing Risto, and/or mentoring Dahlin is intriguing, even if it is only for one season. If they can't re-sign him, they should be able to flip him for a Johnson-level prospect or pick. Is there a deal to be made with the Ducks?

Me too. Doesn't mean that’s who the Sabres should pick.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence things haven’t been good around here since he got stabbed in the back.

Wait, wait! Is that… Battista?

When you travel around the internet, it is interesting (if not surprising) how many GMs included “adding a top 6 forward” in their list of off-season to-dos at their wrap-up. It is also interesting how many fan bases are openly speculating about Sam Reinhart being that piece. He’s of an age that fits with most team’s windows, his contract is something you can work with, he’s got position and role flexibility, he’s very productive, very reliable and has a good reputation. The Insiders have indicated there is a ton of respect for and interest in Reinhart around the league — we’ve been getting a lot of calls. Personally, I hope the Sabres sign Reinhart to a long-term deal. But it is hard to deny that he is shaping up as a rare sell-high opportunity for us this summer.

3rd is as good. Drysdale might be too. He’s really, really good. California kid. Good prospect. Nice consolation prize for missing out on a Drysdale, Brandt Clarke, or Luke Hughes and fills that role

Hope this doesn't sound like a cop-out, but it depends on what he does next year. One step at a time.