LGR4GM

Billionaires don't live in reality. They exist in a world of everyone rushing to please them, and their voice always being heard. It makes it very hard to identify weaknesses or have the self efficacy to address them. It's easier to be like "nah, I'm right" and since doing that has 0 consequences to them personally, it self fulfills.

It won't work. None of the 3 are good defensively and none of the 3 have a good checking element. That line is a 1 dimensional rush offense line that will get figured out. They'll score on quick breakouts or d zone screw ups but they'll never be able to run a cycle, dump and chase, or sustain zone time between their play styles and their youth.

Read the parts about Wheeler breaking down the skills of a player, especially skating. You might understand why Zach Benson is not a "bad" skater or why he is in fact good. That part is near the bottom of a really long piece that touches on how scouting works. "but I prefer a player who can move, change directions and turn feet attacking on tight angles than one who can explode down the boards with a longer stride. In today’s game, I believe changing tempo is now more important than top speed" - Wheeler

My 2nd round target is actually Vaclav Nestrasil at this point. He's a 6'5" winger who at worst ends to as a 4th line guy but he's got a lot of tools and is simply a little raw still. There's 2nd line power forward elements all over his game. He's going to UMass in the fall and I'd say leave him there for 3yrs so he can refine his game. The Czech forward is a physical player with increasing offensive ideas and skills. He's the perfect type of guy to explode and over play his draft position. I'd even trade up in the 2nd to get him. He's a guy who grew his game all year in NA and who is going to take some time but he's fun to watch.

The more I see of Mrtka, the less interested I become. At 15 or 16, sure but at 9... he's just not aggressive enough. I think you're better off taking the London Knights guy in the 2nd. Henry Brzustewicz.

The Sabres are bringing back all their coaches.

Jfc. Toronto tried to trade Marner for Rantanen and asked him to waive his ntc. His wife was like 6 months pregnant. The Sharks, yes. The Hawks... nope.

Those ? After are overpays. Byram and 9th overall is a hell of a package.

Where Shanahan goes, I wonder if Marner will follow.

My plan for fixing the team would have fixed the team. I've constantly argued for hard nosed, 200ft, players at draft time. I just don't care if they're 5'10" like Zach Benson. I've also refused to believe tall players are inherently gritty and continue to be proven correct. By all means, sign Sam Bennett. I'd be fine with that. Start a thread about it.

He finished 3rd in selke voting for the 23 season and I think 17th in the 24 season. He plays defense and is good at it. Unsure of where he'll fall in this year's Selke conversation but I don't think Buffalo should complain about a top 20 defensive forward.

Mitch Marner finished 3rd in Selke voting last season. What nonsense. Also, I can't even fathom arguing but to sign Marner because we need to upgrade the 4th ***** line. Not to mention, Marner is an upgrade over Quinn.

Tage Thompson has the most 5v5 goals in the NHL over the last 2 years. Instead of viewing it your way, I view it as a chance to make our pp better which Marner is sure to do.

Well... we've come to it. The question of Mitch Marner and would or should we try to lure him to Buffalo is open for conversation. My personal take, if you can manage to get him at 12 million (will probably cost 13-14) you pull that trigger. I think the playoffs woes are a symptom of Toronto, not Marner. It's probably a pipe dream. How to make it work is another question but for now, I'd like to find a way. A 100pt player who's garnered Selke consideration... add him and figure out the rest later.

Which players on Rochester are you referring to?

Trades of unprotected 1sts are rare.

The house just passed the bill. It guts protections, centralizes power in the Executive branch, punishes any state that isn't in lockstep, and adds trillions in new debt so hard working Americans can get financially pillaged by the super wealthy. If you voted republican in the last election, this is on you.

There's very few things I'd let our 2026 first leave for. Our 2025 first though... that's a different story.

What's the purpose of the AHL?

Don't read Trumps big beautiful bill. It has punitive punishment for blue states and also strips blue states of massive amounts of funding. The tax breaks for billionaires ate insane. The medicaid work requirements and deliberate obstruction there will results in hundreds of thousands of excess deaths. We'll be less educated, sicker, less informed... but hey at least gun suppressors will get deregulated and Trump gets more power while adding 3.7 trillion to the US debt. There's no reason for Blue States to remain.

Zach Benson is better defensively than every single forward listed here. If the Sabres run that, Lindy Ruff is officially an old washed up hack.

I wouldn't say Benson or Kulich are vying for the top 9. They're all but guaranteed to play there.

Where are you conservatives? You were so loud and vocal in January and February but now you're silent. The Trump regime is arguing that whatever DOGE is doing, should be hidden from the public they are doing it to. We are but one small step from full authoritarianism in the US.

Carter Bear at 24 is a choice... not a good choice, but a choice none the less.