JohnC

We disagree on whether ROR should have been traded. I'm more sympathetic as to why the organization wanted to move him. However, where we are in agreement is that the return for him was ridiculously paltry. As @Brawndo noted there was a reasonable offer from Montreal and it was reported there was a decent (not commensurate) offer from Carolina who was willing to trade for him on the condition that the Sabres paid the upcoming bonus. The Sabres refused. Whether one is using hindsight or even foresight at the time of the trade it was clear that the organization bungled this affair. The GM and the owner were determined to trade the disgruntled player. Clearly, the ROR transaction set this franchise back. That's obvious. But what made the transaction even more damaging is the glaringly unequal return when there were reported opportunities to get more back in a trade.

If you think that it was a single interview where he expressed his loss of love for the game was the reason why the GM and most notably the owner to get his arse out of the locker room you are wrong. It was evident to the staff and others that he wanted out. My criticism of the organization is not that they dealt him. I have no problem with that. The problem was with the return. If they couldn't get the right compensation for him they should have dealt him at a later time when a better deal could have been made. The GM and owner allowed the impending bonus to make a deal sooner than was necessary.

How so?

His observations about ROR that he wasn't invested in the team and showed it was correct. ROR apparently felt that he was trapped in a situation that he wanted out of. His negative demeanor was abundantly evident to everyone including the owner and the GM. The problem wasn't so much that he was dealt as it was the return was not close to being equitable. As I and others have said if he was going to be dealt it should have happened only after a better deal was arranged. And it should be noted that it appears that the GM and owner were determined to get rid of him before his bonus kicked in.

You are right that Reinhart participated in those post practices but then he stopped. I'm not suggesting that it was the wrong thing to do. The player knows what is best for himself from a physical and mental standpoint. Hamilton had mentioned on WGR about his stopping the sessions as a criticism. In my estimation he is making an unfair judgment.

Yes he was the player that Hamilton criticized for stopping participating in ROR's "practice after practice" sessions. He did attend the sessions but he then stopped. That shouldn't be surprising. If a player believes that post practice practices are not benefiting you or is not allowing you to refresh your tired legs and battered body then stopping the sessions would be a smart thing to do. The preparation that suits ROR isn't necessarily suitable for another player.

I respectfully disagree with what you are saying it could be. I don't know of one occasion over the years where anyone reported or hinted that Reinhart was not acting professionally in the games or practice. If that type of negative behavior or attitude was witnessed by players, staff, other reporters it would have come out in the "unnamed source" pipeline. I have watched a lot of post game shows on my NHL package. The interaction between the two after games couldn't be categorized as antagonistic but what was clear was that there was friction between the two. We need to understand Reinhart's situation. For years Reinhart has been on not only losing teams but simply bad teams. Having to go to the podium to answer the same inane questions (that still needed to be asked) can be an exasperating. Let's also remember there were many times when "Jack" went to the podium and more openly expressed his frustration of being interviewed after the game when there was little to be said by the player that hadn't already been said a 1000 times before. The moral of story is that systemic losing for prideful players is frustrating and spills over when standing at the podium. It's part of the business but there is a human element to it. I really believe that the tweet that Paul H put out about Reinhart's attitude reflected his relationship with him and not the player's attitude toward the team.

Hamilton in this case is associating his relationship with a player to the relationship between the player and the team. He's unfairly carrying over his personal interaction with the player to his opinion about the person. After a typical numbing losing game Paul Hamilton would repeat the same post game questions to Reinhart about why was this team struggling. This was going on for more than a season. So Reinhart would respond to Paul H curtly. What was he going to say after saying the same thing post game hundreds of time? What Reinhart was not going to do was publicly criticize his teammates. The obvious fact was that team lacked talent. The Paul H tweet simply reflects his frustration with the player and the player understandably got tired of the same tiresome questions from the reporter.

Another sports broadcaster who worked in Buffalo and who has made the rounds is Jim Brinson. He used to work with Howard Simon as a co-host on Empire Sports. He has worked in markets all over the country. https://www.1700thechamp.com/2015/06/12/the-jimmy-b-and-tc-show/

The hockey game, like every sport, swirls with rumors. Most lack merit while some do. It's an aspect of the game that engages fans. Discussing these flimsy stories is the fun part of the business for fans during the season and keeps up interest in the offseason. You keep bringing up that there was zero substance to the rumor. How can that be when it actually happened? No one is arguing that the actual spit balling inquiry was going to materialize into a deal. This story was not twisted. It was acknowledged by our GM as a fact. So to say that it was twisted is false. GMs from teams are in constant communication during the season and offseason. Making improbable proposals for the sake of probing for other deals happen all the time. There is no conspiracy or act of sabotage here in the public acknowledgment of a true story. It happens all the time and it encourages fan discussions about the sport.

How can there be zero substance to the story if there was a phone call and inquiry? Wild and far fetch proposals that are unlikely to be acted on are made between organizations all the time. This rumor was actually true because it was acknowledged by Buffalo's GM.

He did mention that injury issue in one of his interviews where he said that the rehabbing hurt his training regimen for the next upcoming season. And, as you stated the injury he suffered usually takes another year to get back to original form. If he and Skinner can get back to their top shelf form this team is demonstrably more potent and better.

I was struck by the comments made that money was a primary consideration for him as if it sullied his motivation. Not only was it an important consideration but if it wasn't then he is a dope. When looking at the decision and considering which teams would be most appealing for him it would be the teams that offered him the most money and gave him a short enough deal to get back into the free agent market when the economic environment was healthier. Related to that money issue what enhances Hall's future contract's prospects is that he would be playing with an elite player that would help him to enhance his game and burnish his stats for his next contract negotiation. In addition, on the plus side for him is that he is playing for a coach that he knows well and respects. And to top off the plus side of the argument where to play is that he is playing on a team that is close to his home and family. What is apparent in the many interviews for the Buffalo market that have surfaced is that he is a bright and thoughtful person. Some people may be surprised at his decision but what can't be denied is that he fully examined his options and made a very reasoned decision that was in his best interest. To be honest I'm still stunned that he landed in Buffalo. I may be a bit dizzy but I'm also ecstatic.

According to this article by Chad DeDominicis the answer is yes. https://www.diebytheblade.com/2020/8/5/21355224/buffalo-sabres-loan-arttu-ruotsalainen-back-to-ilves-until-further-notice-liiga

With the probable compressed schedule it is likely that more injuries, including nagging injuries that need rest to heal, will require players to fill in. Whether Arttu makes the big club roster or starts off in Rochester there will be a need to have a reserve of players to draw from. Getting him a lot of playing time in Rochester and allowing him to acclimate to NHL sized rinks may be the best route for him. The grind of a compressed schedule is going to take a physical toll on the players. The teams that have the most depth not only on their teams but in their systems will have an advantage.

Don't get greedy. Just subtract one and replace with one.

I don't think that Okposo will be on the second line. However, if he does find himself on that more talented line it would be terrific if he would be more involved in the scoring. He's a fine fellow that one roots for.

Not eight. Just six or seven to cause some congestion. 🤡

What is exciting about the prospects of this team next year as you indicate in your scoring listing is that there is enough talent to disperse it throughout all the lines. Getting sufficient secondary scoring has been a problem area for years. Although our top line should be the most productive pressure will be taken off it because other teams can't load up on that single line. Also, with the players you listed our PP should be able to put together two good units.

What you are concluding is the direct opposite of what I said in my multiple posts. How you came to your conclusion about bias in the "news" is mystifying. What I did say is that the news industry of the past also had biases just as it does today. That's why I recommended going to a variety of sources to make your judgments.

With respect to Eichel trade rumor it wasn't a rumor. A team made an inquiry. Our GM even acknowledged it. So what. Swirling rumors that have substance and do not have substance are part of landscape. You can't avoid it. Sometimes it is smart to acknowledge it and sometimes not. Sometimes rumors can cause internal problems with players and sometimes it causes problems for management. It's part of the nuisance that all sides of the business have to deal with. As you noted it's part of the landscape in the political, business, entertainment etc. The bottom line is when you are in an environment you can't control then you learn to live and adjust to it. What other option is there?

Many stories if not most stories do get spun. That's the reality. It comes from the eyes of the reporter/s. So that shouldn't be surprising that there is a human element to the reporting. That is why it's a good idea to get your information from a variety of sources.

It's a different world out there than the so called good old days. And it has been different for a long time. And don't kid yourself the olden days of the editorial tinge not being involved in the paper in general never existed. It's a figment of one's clouded memory.

You as a person who diligently and intelligently follows the sport should be discerning enough to know what is what. When making a determination it is not about a report but a collection of reports that should give you a more accurate depiction of what is happening. What makes sports fun to follow beyond the wins and losses are listening to different views and having different views.

The Sabres should do this and not that. This player is better than that player. The coach is good or is it bad. When you are in the opinion business you give opinions. When you are reporting about the law business you give opinions. When you are reporting about the entertainment business you give opinions. When covering politics and the financial field often involves giving opinions. etc. etc.