Thorner

Michkov definitely feels like he’ll be our guy - rumours he’s a big risk making falling to 13 very possible - our willingness, even desire to select Russian players - insanely talented - 4 years away from the NHL. Hey that’s a further 4 years we get to clear the runway of any Blocks. Being one of the only teams where timeline is seemingly not an issue gives us an advantage where Michkov is concerned

Adams’ reasons for not allowing the surgery make sense, but the idea they literally had no choice isn’t true. At all. Allowing the surgery was always an option. The trade request from a year previous, that Jack rescinded, was re-awoken over the injury dispute. Maybe Jack changes his mind if he gets his preferred surgery. Maybe he plays in a few games after said surgery to re-establish value, which Jack never ruled out. He specifically mentioned he knew he might need to do that to aid a deal. We also don’t know who would, or wouldn’t have traded for Jack if he got the (a) surgery before the move. KA didn’t allow the surgery, as others have said correctly, because he wanted to protect the asset value. Everyone knows this. But he didn’t have to operate in this manner. He could have allowed Jack the surgery he wanted. He didn’t, Vegas did. This is what I was referencing the other day: the perception will remain out there, at large, that the Sabres were “wrong” because Jack ended up really benefiting from a surgery his former team wouldn’t allow. These people aren’t going to drill in to KA’s Sabres-based reasoning, for the most part. Not that “he wanted to protect the value of his asset” will fly with the average person, anyways. I don’t believe how Adams approached the situation would have a negative perception around the league, though. As mentioned, his mode of operation does make sense and I understand why he operated in the fashion he did. Was speaking merely to the perception among consumers: anyone can peruse any hockey thread anywhere online and see the sentiment exists in a large way that Jack was right about the injury dispute and the Sabres wrong. In realty, Jack was right, but the Sabres in how they operated, were, too. KA got more less the exact trade value he wanted in the deal, his strategy worked. That Adams could have operated in a different manner, but instead stuck to his guns to the tune of successfully implementing his trade strategy, make the deal all the more impressive from his perspective. No need to minimize the role choice had in the matter, which is always paramount

About damn time

Cue training vid of Danny Briere flipping tires

I feel like they’d be salivating at the chance to draft Michkov. The fact he’s several years away will matter to KA perhaps least of all GMs

It could simply be the same calculation he made with Chychrun. With Ullmark. We want you, we’ll roster you, but only at our predetermined price.

Will be interesting to see how this unfolds, both in terms of who we get at D and who we get at G. Was listening to Marek’s show and he mentioned he doesn’t expect any big moves from Adams. Says the Sabres are the draft and develop team and that this is very much a slow play from Adams, emphasis on slow. His words, not mine. On the other hand, we hear a lot of rumours he’s kicking tires on guys. In my estimation it’s likely both: it’s not that KA is opposed to outside additions (Chychrun, etc), he just appears to be very hard-line re: cost. Ie we either see great value trades, or no trades at all. I don’t think we make any deals that don’t look like immediate wins on paper, asset compared against asset. Ie it’s not an ends (addressing roster holes) justify the means (what we give up) situation: we are still prioritizing coming out on the right side of value in-value out equations. - - - Just as a random tangent Marek also mentioned he was very surprised UPL wasn’t a part of Rochester for the playoff run. Said it was because the Sabres have decided UPL is an NHL goalie.

I don’t know, does he? Was curious as to what was informing your opinion The amount I follow the league and its players as a whole has cratered in the last 2-3 years. Think Frodo and Sam as they strip off all their outer cloaks and pans and weapons and stuff when trying to fight through that final stretch of their treacherous journey through an utter wasteland.

Why not?

Agree. Would rather a depth piece but maybe that’s what a 2nd could garner in a further move

Here’s the Smythe voting. Jack finished 2nd. Hill was 3rd. Marchessault got 13 first place votes, Eichel got the other 5. No one else was close. Voting points: Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas: 80 points (13 first place votes) Jack Eichel, Vegas: 56 points (5 first place votes) Adin Hill, Vegas: 17 points Mark Stone, Vegas: 8 points Matthew Tkachuk, Florida: 1 point

I’ve argued that for 2 years. But, it certainly continued, regardless. So, today, the chickens are certainly coming home to roost, in a manner of speaking.

Said in the moment they absolutely were looking for a sound byte. Jack was obviously super emotional but I thought was reasonably diligent in not throwing shade. He more spoke about how much adversity he had to go through, and, side with him or not, clearly he did.

Reciprocate what?

Jack doesn’t have a problem with Adams. He’s got a problem with Terry. That’s my theory anyways. JE has always said reasonable things about KA. Jack was disappointed in the directions the Sabres took BEFORE KA was GM, and disappointed in ownership’s apparent willingness to allow KA to long form rebuild. I don’t think he would shade KA on his actual aptitude in rebuilding, he merely (fairly) didn’t want to be a part of it. I doubt he thinks, or cares about what the Sabres have been up to since. And in fact after yesterday I guarantee he doesn’t.

Rebuild failed in part because of how difficult the tank made it. Strategy was faulty

His goalie cost him the national college title too with an all time gaffe lol I bet you he never he got over that, until yesterday

Absurd. It’s as much to do with Jack as any other one player on that team, and more than most. They said as much themselves. The fact they had several crucial players is exactly the point. That’s the only way to build a Cup winner. No player does it without a stacked team. Not a one. ”Well I’m not sure he was even all that important”. None of this stuff would ever enter the conversation for any other Cup winning team’s 1C. He’s their 1C! And led the playoffs in scoring, WITH dominant defense. Wayne Gretzky said he was the rightful Smythe winner for jeepers sakes. I think Wayne knows Puck.

If THAT’s the victory, it illustrates how significant the “L” was.

Can’t see it on my phone sorry

At least we got a happy ending

https://thehockeynews.com/.amp/news/point-men-the-active-and-all-time-scoring-leaders-for-all-31-nhl-teams ”scoring” is commonly used to refer to points. There’s a quick example ^

Scoring. Points scoring ya. 26, led the playoffs

“He definitely helped” he *led the playoffs in scoring* as their 200 ft 1C assisting on 9 of the Smythe winner’s 13 goals Ya, I’d say he helped