TageMVP

Too soon to say Quinn produced first line winger numbers. While 19 points in 27 games is solid, those aren't first line numbers. Could he be a first line winger in the future? I wouldn't doubt it. Regarding the topic, I would trade Benson or Quinn with my preference of Benson being traded if it involved someone like a Brady Tkachuk or Ehlers

Good response here. How many times has a player wanted to leave a team, but the coach, GM and the owner convinced the player to stay? I'd guess several times before, but thats not something that would get talked about if the player did end up staying. Wouldn't look good for the team that a player was upset. A good GM/coach absolutely should be able to convince a player to stay or at least try harder than Adams and Botterill did. I go back to Botterill botching O'Reilly, too. I highly doubt he tried to convince O'Reilly to stay, he lost his love for the game? Help him rediscover it, Botterill. He gave up immediately which is sad because everyone knew how much of a trainwreck from top to bottom those teams were. It's the GMs job to convince current and potential players that Buffalo is an excellent place to play. Adams and Botterill both failed miserably at that.

I see the Sabres next year in one of the two wildcard spots. Tons of people were upset when Adams traded Mittlestadt but they didn't fall apart without him. They finished the season 10-10 and that was with Skinner falling off in the second half of the season, an unhealthy Tage for basically the entire season and general regression from most of the teams besides Peterka and Luukkonen. If Don Granato managed to get this team to 42 and 39 wins the past two years despite questionable decisions and strategies, I don't see how Ruff can't manage to get this team to 45 wins. I wasnt happy at all when they hired Ruff again, but even I can confidently say that he's a better coach than Granato. They shored up the bottom six which should take pressure of the top two lines and Luukkonen. If Luukkonen manages to duplicate what he did last year and some of the big guns (Thompson, Tuch) get closer to where they where two years ago, I think they're at least a fringe playoff team. Final prediction: 45 wins and 7th in the conference

I'm fine with it, no offense taken. Would rather fly under the radar and when we make the playoffs and beat the snot out of Florida in the first round, it will be all the sweeter Nobody thought we'd do jack squat following the 05 lockout either, then look what happened...

Agreed, but what I meant is I could see Adams giving him 2m because he gave Girgensons 2.5 which was an overpay. Not that Malenstyn is particularly worth 2m, but that Adams has been overpaying lately (probably has to) Besides, I can't see Adams trading a 2nd round pick for him and then immediately low balling him, if this does not end up going to arbitration I hope neither Malenstyn nor Luukkonen go to arbitration. He sure is taking his sweet time with Luukkonen which I do not like at all. He botched Ullmark badly, don't want to see that again. Luukkonen is worth a solid, reasonable contract for at least a few years, in my opinion.

If Girgensons was worth 2.5m to Adams last year, over pay or not, (I lean towards overpaid) then Malenstyn is worth at least 2m in my opinion It's plausible to argue Malenstyn is better than Girgensons, too. He deserves a raise indeed

That's a hard no on Zegras for me. Talking about character issues, he's got all of them. Plus, he'd be another style of player we do not need. Soft

Lol @ chicken wing comment Looks like Taro caught this triple dot guy makin stuff up

Not sure exactly what I'd trade for Tkachuk but I would definitely include Quinn or Benson in there if got the trade done

Shouldn't have re-signed him. He's someone I've been wanting off the team for a while 3 million dollars? For what? He just got paid one million for each goal scored. Get him outta here

You called the topic starter out and then spelled Tkachuk wrong Lol

What would be ideal, for me, is that no team that currently does not have a cup gets a cup before the Sabres do. So by this logic, I want Florida to lose. Edmonton already has cups, don't care if they get more. I was happy that Vancouver lost for no reason other than them not having a cup And I agree completely about your Florida point. I don't understand the narrative of people wanting ex Sabres to do well, and that's another reason I do not want Florida to win

I think you're missing the point on what's being said about faceoff wins

Did he steal your favorite Sabres jersey or something

The problem is all the centers on this team stink at faceoffs. There's no actual center by definition on the team Speaking of, why is Tage a center still? Just move him to wing, that's how he plays anyway. Keep him on the 1st line if it's about line chemistry, just move him to wing And acquire/trade for an actual playmaking/pass first/defensively responsible center, the Sabres don't have any of those