LGR4GM

If you have enough beer

Pizza is good with beer.

Question is does Tappara want him or will they loan him to Rochester? I'd like him in NA sooner rather than later but if Wahlberg and Kulich are going to be Rochester's top 2 centers, and Tappara is going to let him be a top 2 center in Liiga, then Finland could be the best place. The good news is we are talking about him playing in a men's league regardless (would be his 3rd year in Liiga).

Defense wins championships

There's more to life than fancy stats for sure. I am just pointing out that for the last 13 years, most of the analytics community has dumped on the Sabres and the moves they made. This summer, not so much. Idk if McLeod can have the same impact that Cirelli has had, I think that is part of the risk. But for the first time in forever, I don't look at microstats and see red with some more red on top of red when we add these types of dudes. Again, analytics are not the end all be all, but they are a good starting point when the eye test has failed this team for over a decade.

I wouldn't guarantee Boston a playoff spot. Their forward core is... boring? Lacking? Beatable? https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/52/boston-bruins

Unsure. Think he's an average 2nd line player to this point.

Farabee is from Cicero NY too. He's the right age for this team. He's got 4 years left at 5 million. If he's actually a 25g 50pt player, he's worth it. Be curious why Torts doesn't like him

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.