dudacek

It took six years of embarrassing ineptitude and a medical dispute for Jack to get sick of Buffalo, and he hasn’t even asked for a trade yet. Not sure why people think Jack is going to make a stink about where he ends up. And I highly doubt “he might not like it here” is high on BillArmstrong’s list of reasons to make trades. If he thinks it makes his team better - or his owner does - he pulls the trigger.

Will they be interested? Yes. Arizona is on creaky ground in terms of establishing itself in the marketplace. Jack Eichel, an American stud centre, is someone they can sell to the community, someone who will inspire people to buy tickets. His presence also increases their desirability as a destination for players; right now the weather and lack of media pressure is countered by the lack of opportunity to play with good players. In short, Eichel is a centrepiece worth building around for a franchise that desperately needs one. Do they have the pieces? It's going to be tough to formulate an offer that makes sense for both sides. Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong is thoroughly hampered in his building plans by a pipeline pillaged by ill-advised trades for Kessel and Hall, along with John Chayka's cheating — they lack both picks and prospects, especially ones that might work as a centrepiece in an Eichel deal. They do, however, have an interesting selection of young NHL roster players (Garland, Keller, Chychrun, Dvorak, Schmaltz) and a sprinkling of veterans (OEL, Kuemper) that could help the Sabres short-term under the right circumstances. Would this work? Chychrun, Keller, Crouse, Hayton, for Eichel and Ristolainen. I can't see any deal with the Coyotes that doesn't include Chychrun, even though I'm not sure they move him given the hole that creates on their blueline. Good contract, great production, the right age, and a skill set that fills a need for the Sabres. Garland, Dvorak or Schmaltz could easily be substituted for Keller. I think the Coyotes would most likely want to move Keller because of his contract. I also think from the Sabres perspective, he is the most skilled of the group. Crouse is a bottom-sixer who gives the Sabres what they've lacked since Foligno was traded. Hayton is a huge question mark, but is a 5th-overall pick and the best fit for the "futures" portion of the deal. Is there a deal to be made with the Coyotes?

I think Olofsson has limitations that prevent him from being a true top 6 and skills that elevate him out of the bottom 6. I think most of Sabrespace agrees with the above, so I’m not sure why this pops up as a point of contention on here from time to time. He’s a useful middle six player.

So considering they dumped Kane and O’Reilly and and Hall and Moulson, and they’re about to dump Eichel, and Okposo is probably in his last year, I read this as you’re a fan of the recent direction of the franchise? In fact, all you probably need is a Pegula divorce to be flat out happy?

I wouldn’t trade Reinhart for any player who is not good enough to be protected by his team. The source for “Sam wants to play on the West Coast” remains his close buddy Paul,Hamilton I think I showed elsewhere with comparables that Sam’s market value should be a minimum two mid-firsts (Brayden Schenn). I haven’t looked at it hard, but Merzlikins maximum value has to be a late first (Lehner). If Adams is at all competent, the return should be Merzlikins plus a better asset than Merzlikins. That said, the idea of reuniting Sam with Domi on their top line has to appeal to Columbus and Merzlikins makes a ton of sense for the Sabres. Just not straight across. No. I’m pretty sure all players are paid in American cash. American taxes are often lower, but I haven’t heard that about Washington state.

My post was not about trading Sam, it’s about trading him for an asset that is three years away from helping.

Please don’t take this as arguing your point, just elaborating on what might be Adams POV. Remember what went on prior to June has nothing to do with him. Jack Eichel has huge amount of presence and influence in the room Jack Eichel is down on the organization and complains a lot Jack Eichel is a bit of a prima Donna constantly making situations about him Jack Eichel is prone to riding an emotional roller coaster in games and that reflects in his play Jack Eichel has a sharp tongue that inhibits the younger players from stepping up Jack Eichel is not buying in to what Adams is preaching In short, Jack is presenting himself as an obstacle to building the persistence, togetherness and buy-in Adams has frequently cited as necessary. Then you unexpectedly remove Jack from the equation, and all of a sudden Reinhart, Dahlin and Mittelstadt and others start to blossom into what you think they should be. And maybe it cements your opinion that the team might be better off with other parts that fit your vision than it is with Jack Eichel. Not the best players, but the right ones. Im not saying any of this is, in fact, what is going on, but I am saying it does match the way Adams is behaving.

Wasn’t trying to suggest otherwise, just looking a little deeper at our group.

How can we possibly be priorizing winning, when we are about to dump our leader and best player? Because our leader and best player isn’t helping us win; let’s replace him with people who can, both from inside and outside the organization. Not saying I agree, but it’s the path I think Adams has chosen.

There’s also the appreciation/depreciation and chemistry factors to consider, but your point stands.

Let’s not slip into the propaganda that sometimes is preached here and minimize the player. Over the past 3 years Sam is a 27-goal, 62-point scorer over 82 games who ranks just outside the top-10 best point producing RWs in the NHL.

For the record, I don’t see Adams embarking on a mini-tank, I think he’s on a cleanse. I don’t think the business of the Buffalo Sabres can afford the extend-the-goalposts GM job protection scheme you think is going on.

He doesn’t want to, he believes Adams is pushing the reset button and wants to acquire futures for his best players who are 24 or older.

Reinhart for what is currently pick 9 only makes sense if there is no way you can sign him, and if there is no intention to try to make the playoffs next year.

Can’t read the article, but it will be very interesting to see how many of Donnie’s meatballs stick. Did the late-season roster prove the Sabres pipeline was actually strong, graduating Cozens, Mittelstadt, Thompson, Asplund, Ruotsalainen, Bryson, Borgen and Samuelsson into real NHLers, but also gutting it for the present? Personally, I think the pipeline beyond those guys consists of four likely NHLers: UPL, Quinn, Peterka and Johnson. Which is pretty typical for an NHL team

I think Benning’s statements are more smoke than fire. They aren’t moving EP, Quinn, or Horvat. Moving Boeser or Miller is hard because it creates new holes. No one else is worth a significant return. As far as the Sabres are concerned, Reinhart for their 1st rounder or Miller or Boeser might have some sense from a value perspective, Im not sure it makes sense from a team-building perspective, from either side. Risto for Schmidt maybe?

I think Adams believes Jack being the main focus of this org is something he needs to change. Still too many variables to predict who is most likely to go, but he seems to be the player they most want to move.

Isn’t the elephant in the room as far as Eichel’s possible surgery goes is that the Sabres would ideally want the team trading for Eichel making the call on that surgery? Or at least get some direction from potential partners as to what they are comfortable with happening? If I read Vogl’s report correctly Eichel wants surgery scheduled for next week, with the idea it could be cancelled if it was deemed unnecessary by the pending review. The Sabres didn’t want to discuss that option until the pending review has been heard and discussed. I believe the Sabres will deliberately stretch out the process in order to make sure Eichel suitors are on board with the next step in his treatment plan.

I count 4 by the Sabres? J T Compher, Braden McNabb, Marcus Foligno and Jake McCabe. Brendan Lemieux will get there this season and Victor Olofsson would be if not for the pandemic. Ullmark is another worth mentioning.

Newhook?

Dumba’s clause doesnt kick in until July 1. That plus the Clauses given Suter, Spurgeon and Brodin is the reason Dumba is trade bait. He’s likely to be expose to the Kraken.

I expect the Sabres coming early season crowds to be among the worst in franchise history. And I don’t think anything they can do this summer short of acquiring Crosby or McDavid would change that. It’s going to take wins.

I’ll say it again, the Wild have $17 million in cap space this summer. They can fit Eichel under the cap. And clearing salary cap space by including a big contract like Dumba in the deal is not the same thing as taking on a salary dump. And taking on a salary cap dump like Rask (1 year at $4 million) is not the same thing as tying yourself to a Skinner.

What would you say to Fiala, Dumba and Rossi?

You may be right, but it certainly is a fan thing. That said, the Insiders have listed the Wild among the teams heavily interested in Eichel.