JohnC

Do you know what the difference between the Perreault era and the Staal era? It is the humongous salary scale of the current era versus the relative paltry salary scale of the past Perrault era. When your bank account is overflowing with today's money that certainly is a factor to influence your decision to extend your hockey lifespan. Trust me, there is no need to be concerned with our new 2C's attitude. He is a man of integrity who plays with integrity. Garnering an extra year or so of bonanza money will allow him to be free of regrets when he does decide to leave the game. When Staal is ready to walk away he will do it with his head held up high. And let's not forget that he's the one who has made the decision to stay in the game. Although I disagree with your central point you do bring up another point that is very legitimate and also potent: A team that is competitive is more likely to have players who are happy. A team that has been middling for a decade needs a jolt and needs to experience success in order to break the negative psychology of losing. That is an argument for the organization to exhibit urgency to upgrade the talent level and become successful sooner rather than later. I'm sure on that point you and I are in accord.

The laws of nature dictate that Giraffes take longer to become coordinated than cougars. 🤡

I understand your point but Staal has agreed to the trade. If he said after he was informed of the trade that he needed more time to think this over then I would be more receptive to your point. But that's not what happened here. There is no doubt that he would prefer staying in Minnesota. That's understandable for this family man. But as I stated before this grounded man has been in the business for a long time, and he is well aware that he, like everyone else, is subjected to the vagaries of this lucrative but also unsentimental business. He's one player that when he puts on the uniform of his new team that I have little worry about his state of mind. I'm more worried about someone his age having his physical abilities drop of the clift. Based on his performance last year I'm hopeful that he still has enough juice in him.

Staal is a mature person who has been in the hockey business for a long time. He's well aware that being traded and having his family moved is very often an inescapable part of the unsentimental profession he is. That doesn't mean that he is fully happy with what has transpired but he has no choice other than to retire. And I have no doubt that his financial status would allow him to do so if he wanted to take that course. Staal is a very down to earth and low maintenance person. The issue with him is not whether he is going to enthusiastically adapt to his new location but rather is his tank still full? I believe that although he isn't what he was a few years ago he is still a very good player. When you are in a very lucrative profession it is very rational even at the end of one's professional lifespan to eek out another year, and another year. My point is that he's not a person that I am worried about how he is affected about this move.

As you seem to suggest Lazar is a utility player. There certainly is a role for that type of player. His signing to a reasonable contract is a good move but it is not an influential move. That's what I will be looking for as the offseason advances with the conclusion of the playoffs and the approaching of the draft.

Reinhart playing on a Tampa team with its loaded talented roster would be even a better player, and he's a good player right now. And with Skinner moved backed to the Jack line he could be a 35-40 goal scorer. A good player playing on a lackluster roster is a lesser player than the same player playing on a star studded roster. Jack playing on a robust team like Tampa is a better player than he playing on a thin team like Buffalo, even if his stats would not be as good. When comparing players and stats there is a context. And that context is the overall talent level of the team. It makes a difference that goes beyond individual stats.

Not if you have a bulky back, a fat assss and a lumpy tummy. 🤡

There is no need to contort yourself into the "what if" pretzel. My response is still an unequivocal no on Lazar playing on the second-line. If we can't do better than that then its time to put your hands up and yell that you give up. ☠️

I respectfully disagree with the assessment that he could be an effective 2nd line winger on a good Sabre team. As I said in my prior posts if he regularly plays as a second line winger then this roster has a dearth of talent and this team will be an inconsequential NHL team. There certainly is a role for this very earnest player. It shouldn't be on any of the top two lines. For too long this franchise has been playing players in roles higher than their talent level. The record reflects this mismatch. If you want to be a competitive team that has to stop.

If Lazar becomes a full time second line player then this team is in trouble. That is not to argue against situationally playing him on the second line on limited occasions. I'm aware that Krueger likes to balance his lines but your top two lines should have scoring capabilities even when the situation calls for the top two lines to accentuate the defensive side of play. I don't see him enhancing that line's offensive role so much as inhibiting it. I'm not criticizing Lazar as a player. There is a role for him. He's a grinder whose utility is best served on the lower lines. Putting aside Okposo's high salary there is a role for him on this team. It's certainly not on the top two lines. Again, that is not a criticism of him as a player so much as to where his talents are best utilized. You give the example of Eichel scoring 82 points with Lazar on his wing. I got a better example that would be more beneficial to the team: Skinner on his wing with him scoring 95-100 pts.

As Taro stated if Lazar plays any time on the second line this team would not only have a dearth of talent but will be so irrelevant that it will be an invisible NHL franchise.

I think that because he is such a high effort player that he can get between 10-12 or maybe a few more goals. That's fine with me. He has a grinder role and he will fulfill that role and provide energy for the rest of his line mates.

Do you believe that Lazar has an upside as a third liner who can give you 12-15 goals? Or is that scoring expectation too high of an expectation? If this team can get some reasonable secondary scoring it will be beneficial.

I think that Ottawa had higher expectations on him. But whether that is the case or not they made a mistake by rushing him. The Sabres made the same developmental mistake with Mitts, Nylander and to a lesser extent with Tage. Some teams have a knack of having a higher hit rate on their picks. Tampa is a good example of that.

Lazar is a player who was drafted in the first round and never met the expectations associated with his first round status. After some set backs and bouncing around he found his niche/role and embraced it. When he was sent to the AHL he was a full effort player there who earned his way back up to the NHL. If players with more skill such as Nylander and Mittelstadt had the same passion and drive that Lazar has they would be established NHLers. Passion and effort are talents. You can't win with only grinders on your team but you need them in the mix to have a well rounded roster.

If Tampa couldn't work out the finances to keep Cirelli would you trade our first pick for him if a trade proposal was offered? I also want to deal the pick for an established second line player who is in his mid 20s. However, I believe that if we keep the pick we will come away with a good player who will be ready in two years or so.

As you noted Risto's strengths and weaknesses are evident. There has been talk for the past couple of years that his minutes would be curtailed and he would be going against the second rather than top lines. That has not happened to the extent that it needs to. With the development of Dahlin and Joki there is more reason to believe that his role will be lowered a tad and his minutes limited. That should benefit him. Where I disagree with you is that I believe that it is Krueger more so than the owner who is enamored with his rugged (although not always thoughtful) style of play. Last year was Krueger's first year coaching this team. So there is still a feeling out and learning process going on between the players and the coaching staff. Hopefully, with the better understanding what the players are capable of and what the coach wants the puzzle pieces will fit together better.

Risto certain has his liabilities regarding reading plays and decision-making. But one attribute that he has is that he is a hitter in a unit that lacks it. And that is an attribute that Krueger has acknowledged on more than a few occasions. Other than McCabe the other blue liners are more skaters than physical players. And it should be noted that for a big defender Risto can skate. If Montour is the more likely candidate to be moved Miller is an acceptable replacement. Montour is the better player but he is also the more marketable player. I like Montour and have felt that he wasn't utilized in a role that accentuated his best qualities. But even when acknowledging that there is still a great need to ship an extra defensive asset out to get a return that adds to the forward line.

With the Montour discussion you bring up a key issue of how to build a roster. The Sabres do have talent (acknowledged not enough). But the talent on the roster is not well distributed. And not only is it not well distributed there is a degree of incoherency to it that doesn't allow for it to be fully maximized. You astutely point this out in the Montour trade discussion. If Krueger is philosophically wedded to a system and is working with players that don't align with his conception of how to play then the pieces have to be moved. When discussing a trade sometimes the more important issue isn't who is the better player but rather who is the better fit for this team. It is not inconceivable that you can deal the better player for the lesser player and end up upgrading your roster because it ends up being better balanced.

As a Sabre would you consider him worth the price? And do you consider him to be a second-line caliber of player? If he is a second line player and plays a more hard charging style of play then the price quotes that you posted would make him a reasonable player to acquire.

While I can understand why Vegas would want to trade Marchessault who is making $6 M I don't see the Sabres interesting in such a high cost player. As you pointed out the acquisition of Staal lessens the need to go all out and deplete the bank of our assets to fill the 2C spot. Although Staal isn't a long term answer he provides the organization more options in scanning the market for good deals this offseason.

I'm presenting this question to the more schooled members of this board: Is Saad without question a second line forward? And is his hefty salary commensurate with his production capabilities. I'm not just talking about scoring but including his all around game when evaluating him.

The tooth gap facilitates the proper pronunciation. And with Iron Mike I would rather have his voice in my head than his fist in my face. 🤡

You are pithy. 🍺