LGR4GM

One thing I'd toss out, Zegras was 2nd (61pts) and 1st (65pts) in points for the Ducks the 2 years before his injury shortened season. He's never played on team with shooters like Peterka, Quinn, Thompson, Tuch. The best players he's had are Troy Terry and Frank Vetrano but Zegras was injured during Veteanos breakout year. What I'm saying is Zegras wouldn't be the be all end all he was for those 2 years in Anaheim. That said if Anaheim keeps him, their young talent around him is greatly improved. Maybe this is our Jack Eichel trade.

Russian factor far less worrisome than the NCAA factor.

I'd want to know how healed Zegras ankle and groin are. I don't think Zegras takes a particularly diligent approach to the offseason so wonder if he's grown up at all. 23 is different than 21 and tbh he sounds like last years adversity taught him a lot. I do like the player and think he'd mesh with this group well. Not crazy about losing Wahlberg. "I (zegras) started feeling some stuff,” he said. “Didn’t really know what it is. Kind of when I got back on the ice. Just skating. Might have ramped it up a little too quick or something. I didn’t take care of it like I should have and maybe been on top of it. Obviously coming back into training camp is a whole different animal. These guys are playing at a different pace than you skate in summer so that probably didn’t help too much." This was in reference to an inflammation in his groin around his joint. He implies it was made worse by his actions and by the contract issue. I'd very much want my medical staff on this if I'm trading for him. He had osteitis pubis. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5432406/2024/04/22/trevor-zegras-ducks-trade-offseason?source=user-shared-article

I'd also add that since the Lucic dirty hit, we've been begging the Sabres to seriously address toughness. Not just add some guy who punches ppl but multiple guys that can also play hockey. To question Adams for doing just that because he also made sure those guys were fast seems off. For the first time in years, Buffalo picked a set of characteristics and went out and got guys that matched that. Speed, hits, defensive micro stats, ability to play anywhere in the bottom 6. Adams pissed me off with his casual trash attitude last season. At least this offseason he's fixed the bottom 6 and given them a clear identity. Only took him 4 years.

Accept all the guys acquired are fast AND have good defensive metrics or ok ones and hit everything that moves. This is an oversimplified view to say this is all he looked at. Analytics played a role and I'm hopeful we finally have a legit 4th line.

Speaking of pizza, y'all ever gone to Jays Artisan Pizza on Delaware in Kenmore? Pretty good, recommend you get there early or do takeout.

Kulich is already blocked. He's not better than Benson, jjp, Quinn or Tuch. He's not getting a center spot with Tage and Cozens around

Had pearl a couple weeks ago. Always solid and I like several of their beers.

What if I told that Zach Benson had almost exactly as many even strength points as Bedard? I think he was like 3 less.

Yes, because Zach Benson is a winger.

Or you can just use him for 5 years and dump him which is what real NHL teams do all the time to guys.

I don't believe this at all.

Hard to tell because of the difference in where they played. Savoie has more dynamic skating with at the moment, a better shot. I think I prefer Helenius in terms of passing and his off puck game. I think on a rush, you want Savoie but on a controlled breakout you want Helenius. Also if the entry fails, I want Helenius because I have faith in his ability to get the puck back. In a cycle game, it's hard because Helenius protects better but Savoie's skating gives him more options again Helenius isn't a bad skater, Savoie is just very dynamic. That said, Helenius to my eye had more creativity in his passing. I like Savoie ftr. He's fun to watch and his shot is nice. It's hard though because we're comparing a 20yr old player in a Jr. League to an 17yr old player in a men's league. Savoie has 2 full years extra dev and plays somewhere with more space and time. Helenius isn't playing in NA so figuring out how he translates and where he needs to get better (it's pace) is still something to consider.

They just don't play hockey the same. Savoie Helenius

Zach Benson made Matt Savoie expendable. Do you want to fire the person who wanted Zach Benson? Also, I think anyone adding Helenius into a pool with Savoie calling them the same is blind. Helenius is bigger for 1 but more importantly, does not play hockey the same way Savoie does. They are different.

But when Helenius turns 20, he'll be 2" and 20lbs bigger than Savoie in all likelihood.

Savoie probably is their top prospect, but he wasn't the Sabres. Buffalo could absolutely lose the trade, but Kulich and Helenius are better than Savoie impo at this current moment. I worry about Savoie in tight checking games until he proves otherwise. Kulich, Östlund, Wahlberg, Strbak, all outproduced Savoie at the wjc20. It's a short tournament, but I find that interesting. Helenius basically produced the same as him while being one of the youngest players there. Again, Savoie can be very good in the NHL. We don't know yet, but idk if he's Buffalo's best anymore.

Brady Tkachuk, 37g 37a, 74pts at 24yrs old in his 6th season. JJ Peterka, 28g 22a, 50pts at 22yrs old in his 2nd season. Tkachuk had 21g 23a for 44pts as a 21yr old in his second season. My point is, while I agree Tkachuk is better, is he so much better Buffalo should give up Peterka +++ for him. I'd be skeptical although, this year we'll know.

You aren't getting Tkachuk for any combination of the pieces you list. You're parting with 1 of Quinn, Peterka, or Cozens. You're losing Samuelsson in that trade too. Peterka, Samuelsson, Rosen, and a pick is probably in the ballpark. Also Brady Tkachuk is a LW, not a center.

Yea, no offense to Liiga but the larger ice and different approaches to offense aren't what Helenius needs. He's gotta improve pace and get used to worker in tighter areas where opponents get to him quicker. I tried to look this up but it was hard to find. I think theoretically Jukurit would have to loan Helenius to the AHL. NHL I would guess there's a straight up out clause.

A lot of ppl care about prospect size so who do we want in a future NHLplayoff game?, do ppl want 5'10" 179lb Savoie who's 20 or 5'11" 190lb Helenius who just turned 18?

There is something to be said for the fact away from the big guns in Edmonton, McLeod had mediocre to bad linemates. It's interesting that NAK, Lafferty, and McLeod all have analytic profiles that show they can eat tough minutes fairly well. Maybe the Karmanos department finally convinced Adams that stats matter.

Ftr. I don't agree that a top 10 pick has to make the NHL in their d+2 and contribute. Jack Quinn didn't for example. That said, I think Savioe being great in the WHL at 20 needs to be taken with a grain of salt. We'll just have to see how it all shakes out.

Just gonna leave this here: