Peterka to the Rangers?

[mjd1001]

54 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I'm very curious how Adams reacts if this smoke about JJ's unhappiness is true.

He's publicly stated the team is in a 'new phase' and he's stepped back from 'blocking' concerns.

I wonder if he has also stepped back from "only players who want to be here" as well?

Are we in for a summer of trade rumours? Will other teams see Buffalo as a good offer sheet target? Will JJ court one?

Most of the fan base will be melting down if it plays out in that direction because JJ is one of the few young players fulfilling his potential and most of you are clinging to the notion we can fix this by trading Quinn or Samuelsson or Rosen.

I don't want to see him traded for a Jordan Greenway and a pick, or overpaid out of fear, or an offer sheet not matched because of Pegula/Adams stubbornness about "wanting to be here'.

But I've grown tired of people complaining about the mix while at the same time pushing back at any real attempt to change it.

I don't want to trade Peterka, but I would give up his goals and speed for an equal level of stops and grit.

A Peterka trade — really any trade — could and should be looked at as an opportunity to make the team better.

Just make my team better. Please. Good GMs capitalize on these situations all the time.

I'd imagine if he was traded, the most likely/logical trade would be for a very good future (1st rounder, mid-to-high prospect) and an overpriced-but-still-decent veteran that another team wants to move on from because they have cap issues worse than what the Sabres face (even with a Peterka Extension) or a team desperate to get younger but not wanting to wait 2-3 years for a first round pick to develop.  yeah, I know, that is a really narrow window.

[Rasmus_]

We're in a new phase.  Since when.  If that's the case we've had 17-25 new phases in the last 5 years.  We're nowhere close to competing with this owner, and general manager composition.   I love JJP, and I hope to god he doesn't go, but at this point my faith has dwindled into the wind.

[North Buffalo]

He kills the Rangers and Ranger fans want him, but unless Sabres get a cost controlled right handed D and a 1st rounder... seriously doubt he is going anywhere... but KA/Pegula have made some dumb trades.

[Ducky]

Chevy had Kane, Laine, PLD and Trouba that wanted out.

He took his time and waited until what he thought was a fair deal before trading them.

Peterka has no leverage whatsoever.

If he wants out, tell him to suck it up and keep playing well until he finds a fair deal.

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Zach Benson 

He's literally running numbers similar to Barkov at the same age. 

 

That's good to hear. He's not really an offensive threat yet but if he's developing a good 2 way game that's promising. He is my favourite prospect but I do still consider him a prospect and still think a year in the AHL (next year when his age allows it) would do him good. 

6 hours ago, JohnC said:

Zucker and Tuch. 

Tuch's 50/50 but they are probably the best that's fair. 

[JohnC]

4 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

That's good to hear. He's not really an offensive threat yet but if he's developing a good 2 way game that's promising. He is my favourite prospect but I do still consider him a prospect and still think a year in the AHL (next year when his age allows it) would do him good. 

Tuch's 50/50 but they are probably the best that's fair. 

No to him going back down. He's demonstrated to me that he can play in the big boy league now, and I'm confident that as he physically matures he is going to get better. He's earned the right to stay in the NHL. 

[PerreaultForever]

5 minutes ago, JohnC said:

No to him going back down. He's demonstrated to me that he can play in the big boy league now, and I'm confident that as he physically matures he is going to get better. He's earned the right to stay in the NHL. 

I view it differently. I don't see it as a demotion but as a necessary and useful part of long term development. A year where he is the #1 guy in all the big responsibility roles. If he's too good for the AHL he comes back up before the season ends but he'd grow more there than on a 3rd line role in the NHL imo. It helped Tage and Mitts. Point being I want to develop him into a top 6 forward not a utility player. 

I also want veterans on our NHL roster and there's only so many roster spots. 

[JohnC]

3 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

I view it differently. I don't see it as a demotion but as a necessary and useful part of long term development. A year where he is the #1 guy in all the big responsibility roles. If he's too good for the AHL he comes back up before the season ends but he'd grow more there than on a 3rd line role in the NHL imo. It helped Tage and Mitts. Point being I want to develop him into a top 6 forward not a utility player. 

I also want veterans on our NHL roster and there's only so many roster spots. 

The difference between the situation that Tage and Mitts encountered is that neither one of them was physically ready to handle the rigors of the big league. Although Benson has a lot more room to physically grow, he has demonstrated in spades that he can handled the physicality of league play. His production stats might not be overly impressive but the eye test indicates to me that the league right now is not too big for this persistent bugger. In addition, if some of the other younger players emulated his tenacity and feel for the game, they would be better players. 

[PerreaultForever]

22 minutes ago, JohnC said:

The difference between the situation that Tage and Mitts encountered is that neither one of them was physically ready to handle the rigors of the big league. Although Benson has a lot more room to physically grow, he has demonstrated in spades that he can handled the physicality of league play. His production stats might not be overly impressive but the eye test indicates to me that the league right now is not too big for this persistent bugger. In addition, if some of the other younger players emulated his tenacity and feel for the game, they would be better players. 

So why do you feel having him LEAD an AHL roster would be a bad thing for his development? 

[JohnC]

2 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

So why do you feel having him LEAD an AHL roster would be a bad thing for his development? 

He’s already demonstrated that he can now play in the NHL. If he were playing limited minutes, I would agree with your approach. However, that is not the case. 

[shrader]

3 hours ago, Ducky said:

Chevy had Kane, Laine, PLD and Trouba that wanted out.

He took his time and waited until what he thought was a fair deal before trading them.

Peterka has no leverage whatsoever.

If he wants out, tell him to suck it up and keep playing well until he finds a fair deal.

I wouldn't say he has no leverage.  His contract is up and there's nothing out there that requires him to talk with Buffalo and sign a new one.

[LGR4GM]

2 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

That's good to hear. He's not really an offensive threat yet but if he's developing a good 2 way game that's promising. He is my favourite prospect but I do still consider him a prospect and still think a year in the AHL (next year when his age allows it) would do him good. 

Tuch's 50/50 but they are probably the best that's fair. 

I don't. He's already good in the NHL, no reason to send him to the AHL. 

[North Buffalo]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

No to him going back down. He's demonstrated to me that he can play in the big boy league now, and I'm confident that as he physically matures he is going to get better. He's earned the right to stay in the NHL. 

Love me some Benson: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BtsmVw889/?mibextid=wwXIfr

[K-9]

1 hour ago, shrader said:

I wouldn't say he has no leverage.  His contract is up and there's nothing out there that requires him to talk with Buffalo and sign a new one.

No, but as a restricted FA, he is limited by the Sabres’ right of first refusal. 

[7+6=13]

2 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

So why do you feel having him LEAD an AHL roster would be a bad thing for his development? 

If a player is already used to working at an NHL pace, even if they're not all the way there, going down can set them back, IMO.  Not to say I think they've handled young players properly.

[JohnC]

Just spit balling here. How about trading JJP for K'Andre Miller and Trocheck. Not inclined to give up first round pick but would be willing to add a second-round pick. Would a first-round pick added to the deal be too much? 

[LGR4GM]

4 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I view it differently. I don't see it as a demotion but as a necessary and useful part of long term development. A year where he is the #1 guy in all the big responsibility roles. If he's too good for the AHL he comes back up before the season ends but he'd grow more there than on a 3rd line role in the NHL imo. It helped Tage and Mitts. Point being I want to develop him into a top 6 forward not a utility player. 

But you said we're bad at development, so this won't have any effect. 

It's also a truly terrible idea. 

Edited Wednesday at 12:12 AM by LGR4GM

[LGR4GM]

Haha I love getting Xd over this. Sending Zach Benson of all players, to the AHL after he's played 2 full NHL seasons, is a truly laughable idea. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about even a team as inept as Buffalo doing it. 

Oddly enough, I was just reading something my buddy texted me:

 

[Jorcus]

4 hours ago, JohnC said:

The difference between the situation that Tage and Mitts encountered is that neither one of them was physically ready to handle the rigors of the big league. Although Benson has a lot more room to physically grow, he has demonstrated in spades that he can handled the physicality of league play. His production stats might not be overly impressive but the eye test indicates to me that the league right now is not too big for this persistent bugger. In addition, if some of the other younger players emulated his tenacity and feel for the game, they would be better players. 

I counted 7 times he was off his skates in the 1st period of the Las Vegas game. You just can't play in the NHL on your knees or your ass. He is willing to go to the net but he gets tossed around a lot. I would say his lack of physicality is holding him back among other things like being slow going end to end and having one of the slowest shots in the NHL. 

There are some positives he good on his edges and can dog pucks. He plays a smart game. He can play a good half ice game. Going end to end he gets caught on break a ways or seems to trail on 2 on 1 breaks unless he has a big head start. Can he develop a harder shot? Maybe. Can he get faster? That's a lot harder to do.

 

 

 

[Pimlach]

Benson is starting to turn into a man.  Sure, he is only 19 but he is going to end up being a pound for pound physically strong player when he matures.  He looks at least 180 lbs to me, but I see him listed at 170.  Whatever it takes to improve his shot is what he needs to work on.   Get with Tage or someone in the off season and work on it.  Everything else is ahead of normal schedule for him.  

[JohnC]

7 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

I counted 7 times he was off his skates in the 1st period of the Las Vegas game. You just can't play in the NHL on your knees or your ass. He is willing to go to the net but he gets tossed around a lot. I would say his lack of physicality is holding him back among other things like being slow going end to end and having one of the slowest shots in the NHL. 

There are some positives he good on his edges and can dog pucks. He plays a smart game. He can play a good half ice game. Going end to end he gets caught on break a ways or seems to trail on 2 on 1 breaks unless he has a big head start. Can he develop a harder shot? Maybe. Can he get faster? That's a lot harder to do.

 

 

 

Sending Benson done would not serve the player and more importantly the team. This tenacious youngster’s play is a model to follow and not to be concerned with.

[LGR4GM]

6 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Benson is starting to turn into a man.  Sure, he is only 19 but he is going to end up being a pound for pound physically strong player when he matures.  He looks at least 180 lbs to me, but I see him listed at 170.  Whatever it takes to improve his shot is what he needs to work on.   Get with Tage or someone in the off season and work on it.  Everything else is ahead of normal schedule for him.  

I'd get him and Quinn together. Benson learns shooting, Quinn learns... well just about all the rest of it. 

[Jorcus]

7 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Sending Benson done would not serve the player and more importantly the team. This tenacious youngster’s play is a model to follow and not to be concerned with.

I did not advocate sending him down. I think he can play a third line role and play on the PK where it is more of a half court game. I just can't see him scoring a lot of goals unless there is physical improvement. I don't think the role model thing is going to change how anyone else plays on this team. 

[_Q_]

19 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I'd get him and Quinn together. Benson learns shooting, Quinn learns... well just about all the rest of it. 

Yep, agree with this.  Love Benson, hopefully Quinn is still catching up from injuries.

[jad1]

11 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Haha I love getting Xd over this. Sending Zach Benson of all players, to the AHL after he's played 2 full NHL seasons, is a truly laughable idea. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about even a team as inept as Buffalo doing it. 

Oddly enough, I was just reading something my buddy texted me:

 

10 goals, 13 assists.  But no blockers, right?  

I like Benson a lot, but I'm tired of this team eating loses because they keep trying to develop their prospects in the NHL.

There is nothing wrong with sending a 20 year old prospect to the AHL to continue to develop physically and mentally to translate his strong metrics into better production.  

Meanwhile the Sabres could replace him on the roster with veterens on short term contracts like McCloud and Zucker who can bring higher production and leadership to the roster, while Benson improves with Rochester. Maybe if they did that, they could make the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.

Seriously, how did we get to the place where fans who want to see 20 year old players be given time to develop in the AHL are considered the enemy?

Are we at the point of agreement that a problem with the Sabres is that the roster too young, EXCEPT for that 19 year old who has 23 points? He's got it all figured out, right?