What was the question ?
- cabin

Oh brother....

Oh brother....
- rapperray

I think it was a good weekend.

Torrey Mitchell should be brought back to center the 4th line IMO.
- sbroads24

He looks revitalized for the Habs. Absolutely flying.

Cool article regarding the depth to replace Armia:

"Both are also making it okay for Sabres fans to not worry about losing Joel Armia. Nick Baptiste has 4 goals and 4 assists in 8 playoff games. Justin Bailey has 6 goals and 4 assists in 7 playoff games.

http://frozenfutures.com/...oving-on-from-joel-armia/

This X100.
this is exactly what an agent does which is exactly why they drive $100.000 cars.
At the end, its all about money in the bank. When the counter argument is "Unfinished business winning the NCAA title" I ask how many people on this board, sabres fans or not, would trade that kind of money for a college championship.
Plus, Eichel hasn't been drafted by Buffalo yet, if others are going to play the "who knows what could happen" thing AND he already has a slam-piece waiting for him there if he does....
- seedy

You better believe his agent will already have laid this out for him, if not he needs a new agent...call me Jack it wasn't that difficult for me to figure this out and I would love a 5% cut (not to mention endorsements)

When you're talking about this kind of skill, the "better suited for" goes out the window. Great is great. And McDavid is simply that. Eichel appears to be too, but there's a reason 30 GMs out of 30 would take McDavid first.

Despite what Murray says, Eichel is a consolation prize, a very good one, but a consolation prize nonetheless.
- buffalofan19

That's all well and good. I'm just stating my preference. I say that he's better suited now because he isn't like Reinhart coming in, where everyone has said that he has an NHL ready frame. They are different players (by a wide margin, in the eyes of most it seems) and if I were a GM, strange as it may seem to everyone here, I'd rather have Getzlaf than Crosby. That's just my opinion. I prefer the guys that could compete against the Western Conference than the finesse first type of players. I have not seen as much of McDavid and maybe I'm wrong, but McDavid and everything said about him seems more of a finesse first type player. Eichel seems more of a grind it out and get it done player to me with the skill to compete with players like McDavid.

You should be incredibly happy that you are getting Eichel - guy has "franchise" tag written all over him.
That said, anyone that would pass on McDavid (even for Eichel) is plain out of their mind. McDavid is so ridiculously talented he will be dominating this league in short time. As for your size comment, he's 6ft1" and 190lbs at 18yrs old - very nice size for an elite skilled center.
- Cooshie

I never said I would pass, which is why I said I was relieved on not winning the lottery. I would have taken McDavid, but I think Eichel is a better fit for Buffalo and the way the league is going forward.

That location.
That location.
- BuffaloHardHat

Let's see if he tries to get one of those 3 Ottawa goalies after this season.

Hammond is a UFA
Lehner is under contract until the end of the 16/17 season at 2.25 and then 3.15.
Anderson is under contract until the end of the 17/18 season at 4.75 and then 4.75 and finally 3.10.

If he makes a play for one of those goalies my point will be made and I will then go and puke.
- BuffaloHardHat

All three are good goalies, and with the Senators having 3 good goalies, one might be had cheaper than normal. But, I could see why you would go puke if we got one if them.

How about your boy Teddy going to the Latvian team for his goalie coach?! That's OK, though, right? Teddy can stay in his box, but Murray can't? Because it's your hero, Teddy bear Nolan, right?

I think it was a good weekend.
- cabin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=46&v=B6tQeyxzAag

Not that I can answer this question for him. But, I can say why I think Eichel is a better fit for the team overall. That's not to say I didn't want McDavid. But I'm still ecstatic we're getting Eichel.

I think Eichel overall is a more powerful player. Initially, that will help him in the NHL. His first year or so may actually be a bit better than McDavid. He's used to playing against guys older than him by quite a bit. He's a more powerful skater, where McDavid is a faster skater. I think Eichel's makeup is more suited to the type of team Murray is building than McDavid. Skill wise, they're so close it's not really a very large drop.

I watched Eichel battle with 3 guys on numerous occastions during the North Dakota game and still come out of the scrum with the puck and I couldn't believe it. Just seems his current skill set will take less adjustment to the NHL level and McDavid's being the level of competition he played against this year.
- HonkFortheGoose

I've been going back & forth on who I'd rather have all year
McDavid is far more dynamic. U watch him play & there's just that wow factor that kind of blows u away.
But I also agree with your take on Eichel. While I think McDavid will outscore him, I also have been saying for a while now that I think Eichel's style of play could make him a more effective player in the playoffs.
Obv this is all just speculation,
But either way we got a heck of a player
I'm excited for the direction we're moving in

I agree. Most on this thread did not. I don't know how you could call me dumb? What does that make all the posters on here arguing with me that it was going to be a 2 yr rebuild tops?
- Cptmjl

Why can't it be a 2 year rebuild?

To each his own but McDavid will be better than Crosby.
- imsorry66

Really? based on what? Twitter? Snapchat?

You better believe his agent will already have laid this out for him, if not he needs a new agent...call me Jack it wasn't that difficult for me to figure this out and I would love a 5% cut (not to mention endorsements)
- Stripes77

you owe me one reasonably priced beer for my support.

i'm ok with that...

bring him in as sabres back-up, let ullmark and Makarov take the reigns in rochester
- Michael Pachla

That would ease my stress about Eichel, if O'Connor signed here.

you owe me one reasonably priced beer for my support.
- seedy

If I get that phone call I will fly you from California to see Jack's first game in a Sabres uniform and plenty of beer will be had!

I've been going back & forth on who I'd rather have all year
McDavid is far more dynamic. U watch him play & there's just that wow factor that kind of blows u away.
But I also agree with your take on Eichel. While I think McDavid will outscore him, I also have been saying for a while now that I think Eichel's style of play could make him a more effective player in the playoffs.
Obv this is all just speculation,
But either way we got a heck of a player
I'm excited for the direction we're moving in
- jdfitz77

I don't want to dwell on this too much, but in two years in the World Juniors, Eichel was non-existent when it mattered. At the same time, McDavid led the tournament in scoring, despite having the 4th or 5th most ice time on his team. On the flip side, Eichel was very good in the Frozen Four semifinal, but was unspectacular in the Final. The majority of the blame goes to O'Connor's gaffe, but BU still had plenty of time to tie it, if not win it, and Eichel was a non-factor, including getting knocked off the puck fairly easily when a play was to be made during the last minute of that game. Now, this is not me calling him a bust. However, if an attribute of his is to be big in big games (i.e. the playoffs), he has yet to show it. I'm not saying that he can't, just that he hasn't yet.

Cool article regarding the depth to replace Armia:

"Both are also making it okay for Sabres fans to not worry about losing Joel Armia. Nick Baptiste has 4 goals and 4 assists in 8 playoff games. Justin Bailey has 6 goals and 4 assists in 7 playoff games.

http://frozenfutures.com/...oving-on-from-joel-armia/
- stashu

I always liked Baptiste
Didn't really love the Bailey pick, but he's doing a great job of proving me wrong so far
If he can get his skating to an nhl level, he plays the style of game we'll all like

I'm very interested in how they'll both do in Rochester next year

I don't want to dwell on this too much, but in two years in the World Juniors, Eichel was non-existent when it mattered. At the same time, McDavid led the tournament in scoring, despite having the 4th or 5th most ice time on his team. On the flip side, Eichel was very good in the Frozen Four semifinal, but was unspectacular in the Final. The majority of the blame goes to O'Connor's gaffe, but BU still had plenty of time to tie it, if not win it, and Eichel was a non-factor, including getting knocked off the puck fairly easily when a play was to be made during the last minute of that game. Now, this is not me calling him a bust. However, if an attribute of his is to be big in big games (i.e. the playoffs), he has yet to show it. I'm not saying that he can't, just that he hasn't yet.
- buffalofan19

If you watch highlights from the world juniors you can see Eichel was a machine on the ice. You might not notice it as much when you compare him to McDavid in that tournament but McDavid played on a team that could go down as one of the best world junior teams of all time. Eichel still had some good plays on team USA but nowhere near the caliber of players that McDavid had to play with. It's going to be exciting waiting these guys and I'm just hoping Eichel turn out to be our Malkin in the Ovi draft

Eichel staying in school would cost him millions of dollars in the grand scheme of things:

His entry level deal is 3 years just about a million per. He signs that at 18 when he turns 21 he is making close to $8 million (or more) for the next 7 years. That means when he is 28 he has made $59 million plus (not including endorsements). At 28 is the ending of his peak performing playing days. He signs a 4 year deal making $10 million a season. So now he is at $99 million at age 32. He has maybe 3 years left. Signs a 3 year $12 million per year contract. That is $135 million dollars through his contract. Now lets say he stays in school for one more year. He is 19 and signs his entry level contract. So now he signs his next contract at age 22. $8 million for 7 years. Still at $59 million but now he is 29 instead of 28. Next contract we can still say 4 years at $10 million but remember production starts to decline at age 28. $99 million at age 33. Now he has maybe 2 good years left. Now he will get a 2 year deal probably around $8 million a season now since he is a year old and his production is declining. Now he is at $115 million for his career. That is a $20 million difference by waiting 1 more year. Would you stay in school for 1 more year meaning that's $20 million less you could be making in your career? Is 1 year of school worth $20 million? I don't think so. Not to mention the risk of him being hurt in college and not making any NHL money. So in fact the smart move would be to sign his pro contract.
- Stripes77

His 1st pro deal is worth about 11.325 mil.

I don't want to dwell on this too much, but in two years in the World Juniors, Eichel was non-existent when it mattered. At the same time, McDavid led the tournament in scoring, despite having the 4th or 5th most ice time on his team. On the flip side, Eichel was very good in the Frozen Four semifinal, but was unspectacular in the Final. The majority of the blame goes to O'Connor's gaffe, but BU still had plenty of time to tie it, if not win it, and Eichel was a non-factor, including getting knocked off the puck fairly easily when a play was to be made during the last minute of that game. Now, this is not me calling him a bust. However, if an attribute of his is to be big in big games (i.e. the playoffs), he has yet to show it. I'm not saying that he can't, just that he hasn't yet.
- buffalofan19

You're missing my point
I wasn't talking in a "big game" type atmosphere
I was referring to how the playoffs always get tighter & more physical
Seems to me, that Eichel's STYLE of play could translate better in that type of setting

If you watch highlights from the world juniors you can see Eichel was a machine on the ice. You might not notice it as much when you compare him to McDavid in that tournament but McDavid played on a team that could go down as one of the best world junior teams of all time. Eichel still had some good plays on team USA but nowhere near the caliber of players that McDavid had to play with. It's going to be exciting waiting these guys and I'm just hoping Eichel turn out to be our Malkin in the Ovi draft
- Prospy1493

He was a machine in the first three games when he played weaker competition, including a sub-par Finland team, which is fine. He had better dominate weaker competition. However, when the games mattered (i.e. Canada, and the quarterfinal against Russia), he underwhelmed. It would be one thing if he played well, and nobody else carried their weight, but there were guys on that team that had better games than he did, namely Dylan Larkin. That's what sold it for me, and that's why I'm still a bit sour about not landing McDavid. I don't question whether he will put up points in this league, and help the Sabres win far more games than they lose. What I question is ultimately, how will he do at the next level. So far, he has left a big question mark there, especially when compared to his counterpart, who is dominating the competition on that big stage.

You're missing my point
I wasn't talking in a "big game" type atmosphere
I was referring to how the playoffs always get tighter & more physical
Seems to me, that Eichel's STYLE of play could translate better in that type of setting
- jdfitz77

Like I said, though, when you're great, you're great. And if McDavid projects to be as great as he's supposed to be, and there's no reason why he shouldn't, that won't matter.

His 1st pro deal is worth about 11.325 mil.
- dadeadhead

With incentives yes but I was just basing off the beginning numbers. It was all just to show what staying in school for 1 year could do to his bottom dollar at the end of his professional playing days. Just an exercise that's all.

With incentives yes but I was just basing off the beginning numbers. It was all just to show what staying in school for 1 year could do to his bottom dollar at the end of his professional playing days. Just an exercise that's all.
- Stripes77

There is a high probability he hits on many of those incentives though.

It's more money he will lose.