JohnC

What Sabre fan on this earth doesn't want a playoff team sooner rather than later?

You missed the point. The obvious point is that unless you are going to get a hefty return for a first round pick they are valuable. And not only are they valuable in adding talent but the developmental time isn't always as long as you indicated.

Are you suggesting that last year's first round pick wasn't worth taking because he didn't immediately play in the NHL? I'm open to dealing our first round pick but it has to be for a young second line player who can play right away. If that type of deal can't be made then you keep the pick.

I understand what you are saying about Reinhart and Olofsson. However, I believe that it would be better to keep Reinhart on the top line with Jack. My sense is that Krueger is more inclined to spread the talent around to get more balanced scoring. My inclination is when you have a golden first line don't subtract from it and make it a silver line.

The Reinhart/Jack/Skinner line is a solid to upper tier first line in this league. From a goal scoring standpoint they click. By adding a second line center or winger this offseason a capable second line can be constructed from what is already on the roster. I believe that this offseason the Sabres will at the minimum have some good secondary options if our primary second line options don't work out to buttress that second line. It is very doable.

You make excellent points. But why not simply play him on the Jack line where you can maximize his shooting talents? Skinner playing on the Jack line becomes a 30 plus goal scorer. If you are going to pay Skinner premium dollars then it makes more sense to get the best return that you can from him. My impression is that Skinner is not a player that Krueger is fond of. The only time I can recall when Krueger responded sharply with irritation in an interview was when he was asked on WGR why Skinner wasn't on the Jack line. That bothers me.

It's not very difficult to find conflicting views on any transaction. Unanimity on any issue is simply unattainable. With the Eichel contract extension the overwhelming consensus within and outside the Buffalo market was that it was a terrific deal for the organization and it demonstrated a commitment by the player to the organization. Because of the steady increase in salaries most people who follow the sport recognized that Jack left long-term money on the table in order to anchor himself to the organization. Your discussion on this topic brings up another important issue relating to Jack and the organization. That is does the organization have a responsibility to the player to do whatever is necessary to make this a relevant team while he is approaching or already is in his prime? I, and most others, would say yes. It's not too difficult to imagine that if this organization doesn't act with urgency it will have a "Jack" problem just as it had a "ROR" problem that had devastating results.

You make a good point about Cozens and the 2C position. Putting him on a second line with an added center (as you noted) would be a better alternative than taking Reinhart off of the first line in my opinion. At the end of the abbreviated season Krueger put together a line of KahunJohansson/Olofsson. I thought they blended in well as an effective line. Assuming that a player or two can be brought in to staff the second line this reconstituted Johansson line would make for a more contributing third line. What is apparent is that pieces need to be brought in order to figure out the puzzle of putting together properly fitting lines

Why tamper with moving Reinhart away from the Jack line where he has helped to establish a high yield first line? I like Reinhart a lot. He is one of the few consistent scoring threats on this team and one of the best instinctive passers we have. The primary reason I want him to remain on the first line is I don't consider him the type of player who can drive a line. So if he is one of the more productive scorers on the Jack line then why put him in a position to be less successful? If the second line is going to be upgraded it will have to be done by bringing in one or two players from the market. Diluting the first line by moving Reinhart off of it would not in my estimation be a good move.

I have always believed that the owner was the main driver of the trade. What seemed to be forcing the issue was the impending bonus payment and the determination not to pay it. Even if an irreversible decision was made to trade him it would have made more sense to pay the bonus and give yourself more time to scan the market for a better deal.

It's remarkable how one major blunder could have such a lingering repercussion. My fear is that unless the roster void is quickly addressed Jack will instruct his agent to get him out of his depressing situation.

I'm not trying to be snarky but if you find it to so miserable to follow this team then I recommend that you follow another team or sport. You are like the guy who hates the food of a particular restaurant but continues to patronize the place because you want to complain about the food. If that makes you happy then enjoy yourself.

I agree with you to an extent. With the majority of teams a few smart moves can make a marked difference. That's what I'm hoping for this offseason. And compared to a lot of teams we are in a good position to make those moves. You may not believe that but I do.

Briere might have been a late bloomer but he was always a full effort player. His competitive makeup was much higher than Mitts. The shorter guy had a natural passion that the taller guy doesn't have. That's the issue that troubles me the most about Mitts. His motor seems to be tuned low. I'm rooting for him but not investing in him.

You are way off the mark. If he doesn't establish himself with this team and organization this year he will fade away and be an afterthought wearing another uniform, assuming he can find any other buyers willing to buy from the bargain bin.

Having jaundiced eyes makes one see everything in a negative light. I really believe that with a couple to few smart moves in this offseason a teetering roster can be uplifted and become capable of getting this team over the hump. Compared to many teams the Sabres have enough cap flexibility to be in position to make some impacting deals. And there are teams that because of their cap situation or need to alter their roster we will have opportunities to make deals with. I understand the fatigue and cynicism with this stumbling franchise. But for me having a new new staff with fresh eyes and outlook this is going to be an exciting offseason.

I also haven't given up on Mitts. But if he doesn't come into camp in impeccable shape and during camp play with a last chance attitude of desperation that so far hasn't been exhibited then his future with this franchise is unlikely. It's not uncommon that some young players don't fully gain traction in the organization they start with. They never seem to get on track and live up to their lofty expectation. Sometimes the best course of action to jolt them out of their lassitude is to be traded and given a fresh start somewhere else. If Mitts can turn it around it would give this flailing team a surprising lift. This offseason and training camp will determine what his course will be in the NHL. I'm wishing for the best but preparing for the least.

You are avoiding the obvious traits that distinguishes success and failure in a player at the NHL level. It's not only talent. Even the third and fourth line muckers at the at the NHL level were dominant players at the lower levels of hockey. It's when you get to the NHL and a little below where the attributes of competitiveness and work ethic determine success. In hockey more than many other sports if the standard isn't consistent intensity the efforts are predictably futile. I have not given up on players such as Mitts and Alex Nylander. Both players intermittently exhibit flashes of eye popping skill. But in between those short intervals of highlight plays there are long periods of invisible play. Don't discount this extended period of lax play as being unimportant in assessing a player. Mitts has more offensive talent than Gergs or Larsson. Yet both players are significantly greater factors on the ice because their intense level of play is constant. You can't say that about Mitts. I'm hoping Mitts comes to camp in tremendous shape and with a renewed drive. But I'm not confident that even if he does it will be sustainable because his makeup that he has so far exhibited indicates otherwise. I'm hoping that he proves many of his skeptics wrong but that is not to say that I am not very wary about his prospects.

Casey Mittelstadt's performance at the combine showed that he wasn't prepared. The lack of physical preparation demonstrably showed that he didn't have the work ethic and maturity required to show that he was close to being ready for the quantum leap to the pros. But that embarrassing performance was a few years ago. He is a prospect who was manifestly mishandled. He was rushed when he shouldn't have been rushed. Will he ever be a functional NHL player with us or any other team? I can't answer that question. If he comes into this camp at a high physical level which indicates that he is committed to his profession then there is a chance that whatever potential he has can be realized. I'm not making a declaration as to his success on him right now because it is impossible to know. We should soon be able to make a more decisive decision about when he comes to training camp (assuming he hasn't been dealt). Needless to say I'm not counting on him but I'm also not giving up on him just yet. It might be prudent to wait a little longer on passing a judgment before throwing him onto the garbage heap of bad hockey decisions.

I'm as open to trading our first pick as anyone here is. But you don't give up a valuable pick if the return isn't high enough. That would be foolish. You are making an assumption that if you don't give up the pick the consequence is that you are automatically precluded from making the playoffs. That's a misguided assumption. You can make trades with the pick included or not included in prospective deals. There is no absolute rule on how to make a roster enhancing deal/s other than you give up assets to get back assets. The bargaining between player and draft assets is something you work out with your trade partners.

We should have paid the bonus and then have better market options. There was one story that Carolina had a better offer but required us to pay the bonus. We declined to make that payment. My sense is that the owner wasn't willing to pay the bonus he wanted out. It isn't what you believe; it is what the organization believes. Obviously, it was an overreaction.

ROR was frustrated and publicly expressed his frustration with the organization. What should have happened is that after a cooling off period of time went by he and the organization should have had a sit down and discussed the situation. The organization didn't do that. The GM made a deal that has proven to this day to have had negative reverberations. That transaction is over with. The issue now is what is the organization going do to add talent to this insufficient roster. I'm more than open to trading our first round pick to upgrade this roster.

I want you to be right with respect to retaining Cirelli. But my money is on them keeping him. If they can't I'm sure that they will manufacture a deal that gives them a very good return.

I can understand why he was dealt. If his behavior and attitude in the locker room was poisonous then dealing him for a commensurate value does make sense. If an adequate return couldn't be made quickly then the organization should have bided its time and waited for the market to become more fertile. My criticism is more about the execution than the decision. '

I am not suggesting a deal for the sake of a deal. It has to make sense. I would love to acquire Cirelli in a deal. I know Tampa is very much squeezed with the cap but they are a smartly run franchise that will keep this talented player. If option A isn't available then there should be other option B's that will suffice and be less costly.