It is ridiculous to compare eichel to lemieux. Barring injury he may have surpassed gretzkys records, if not he would have easily been right behind him.

Its a different NHL these days, but it is unfair to all of lemieux, gretzky, mcdavid and eichel to be comparing them. Mcdavid is better than eichel. Period. He always will be no matter who is playing on his line and the anger/disappointment murray displayed at the draft lottery says it all.

Now, none of this has anything to do with building a team to win the cup because i believe eichel can be the major piece on a roster with cup aspirations. I am glad mcdavid is buried in edmonton for the foreseeable future.
- ieetbred

I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had a crystal ball... "He will always be better than Eichel. Period." Sounds like a pretty definitive statement on the future for someone who can't predict the future. Is it likely that's the case? Sure. But they are in their first season of the NHL we have absolutely no idea what will happen. I bet you people were saying Briere would never be good in his first few seasons in Arizona. But he turned out to be one of the best of the last ten years.
As far as the Eichel Lemiuex comparison it has been said by people who know more hockey than you or I. I don't think they were insinuating he'd have as many points but a similar game. If people can say Mcdavid is like Grestzky I see no reason the same can't be said about Eichel and Lemiuex

Huh?
He'll have the same Cap hit each year no matter how u structure the deal
- jdfitz77

Grumble grumble.

Structure the contract similar to ROR where most of the contract is bonus based.

http://www.spotrac.com/nh...falo-sabres/ryan-oreilly/

The contract I laid out has a $9.7 AAV 68/7

I'm still stand by my statement that the only reason we as fans think that Eichel rivals McDavid is that he is the player we drafted.

That said, Eichel is going to be damn good.

Side note

http://thehockeywriters.c...v-not-happy-in-rochester/

Looks like the Sabres will be losing their last Russian.
- bluengold12

That's too bad
Sounds like he feels he isn't getting a fair shot
I never thought he'd be anything more than a backup for us though

your name says it all
- Michael Pachla

Very original. You can do better, I have faith in you.

Don't even try with him. Not worth it.
- jmatchett383

choo cha

Grumble grumble.

Structure the contract similar to ROR where most of the contract is bonus based.

http://www.spotrac.com/nh...falo-sabres/ryan-oreilly/

The contract I laid out has a $9.7 AAV 68/7
- ImThatGuy

I see what u did, I'm just wondering how u think it would affect us when it's time to sign Eichel, etc?

There'd be a difference in real dollars, but that's hardly a concern with Pegula
And like I said, cap # doesn't change

I'm still stand by my statement that the only reason we as fans think that Eichel rivals McDavid is that he is the player we drafted.

That said, Eichel is going to be damn good.
- ImThatGuy

If Buffalo lost out and ended with Strome, Eichel wouldn't be able to hold a candle to McDavid

I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had a crystal ball... "He will always bet better than Eichel. Period." Sounds like a pretty definitive statement on the future for someone who can't predict the future. Is it likely that's the case? Sure. But they are in their first season of the NHL we have absolutely no idea what will happen. I bet you people were saying Briere would never be good in his first few seasons in Arizona. But he turned out to be one of the best of the last ten years.
As far as the Eichel Lemiuex comparison it has been said by people who know more hockey than you or I. I don't think they were insinuating he'd have as many points but a similar game. If people can say Mcdavid is like Grestzky I see no reason the same can't be said about Eichel and Lemiuex
- bluengold12

I dont have a crystal ball. Its just really easy to see when two generational talents come into the league, and one is obviously better. I dont care about style of play comparisons.

I dont like the mcdavid-gretzky comparisons either, but it is more appropriate than eichel-lemiex.

I also love the "first season" argument because that is easy pickins. What, you dont think mcdavid is going to get better, but eichel will?

I see what u did, I'm just wondering how u think it would affect us when it's time to sign Eichel, etc?

There'd be a difference in real dollars, but that's hardly a concern with Pegula
And like I said, cap # doesn't change
- jdfitz77

Gotcha.

I would only go as high as 9.5-9.7 AAV. Stash responded with a he will get a 10.5MM+ AAV. I said no thanks to that.

To entice him to take less of an AAV give him a lot of the money up front each season in a bonus.

If Buffalo lost out and ended with Strome, Eichel wouldn't be able to hold a candle to McDavid
- stashu

I feel like it looks like I am ripping on Eichel. I am not. Just will always have the "What if" moments when it comes to McDavid.

I dont have a crystal ball. Its just really easy to see when two generational talents come into the league, and one is obviously better. I dont care about style of play comparisons.

I dont like the mcdavid-gretzky comparisons either, but it is more appropriate than eichel-lemiex.

I also love the "first season" argument because that is easy pickins. What, you dont think mcdavid is going to get better, but eichel will?
- ieetbred

If people who are professional NHL annalists and ex players say that Eichel reminds them of Lemiex I'm going to take their word over yours.
The whole point of the first season thing is that Eichel will grow as will McDavid but one of the two could end growing more than the other. And whose to say that Eichel won't end up being equal to McDavid in 3-5 years. Right now McDavid is obviously better but we don't know that, that will be the same in a few years.

I feel like it looks like I am ripping on Eichel. I am not. Just will always have the "What if" moments when it comes to McDavid.
- ImThatGuy

Yea i feel that way too, but i am definitely not hating on eichel. I just think some reality needs to set in for sabres fans regarding mcdavid.

He is on another level, he has been touted as being on another level his entire life and he is not disappointing whatsoever in the NHL.

If Buffalo lost out and ended with Strome, Eichel wouldn't be able to hold a candle to McDavid
- stashu

Eichel would end up on Arizona then in that scenario and would likely be with Domie and Duclair and would have again at least ten more points than he has now.

And I would just love someone to debate me on this just please debate me on this and I will crush you
- gerbe75pts

"you can't believe everything you read on the internet."
-You….posted on the internet.

Eichel would end up on Arizona then in that scenario and would likely be with Domie and Duclair and would have again at least ten more points than he has now.
- bluengold12

And If McDavid didnt get hurt in a freak accident he would have about 70.

What ifs are fun.

If people who are professional NHL annalists and ex players say that Eichel reminds them of Lemiex I'm going to take their word over yours.
The whole point of the first season thing is that Eichel will grow as will McDavid but one of the two could end growing more than the other. And whose to say that Eichel won't end up being equal to McDavid in 3-5 years. Right now McDavid is obviously better but we don't know that, that will be the same in a few years.
- bluengold12

OK, if you want to take their word about a style of play comparison go ahead. I still think it is unfair to compare both these kids to the two greatest players of all time.

I will take the devastated murray at the draft lottery who has made his living scouting players to tell me there is a gap larger than most here will accept between them.

If people who are professional NHL annalists and ex players say that Eichel reminds them of Lemiex I'm going to take their word over yours.
The whole point of the first season thing is that Eichel will grow as will McDavid but one of the two could end growing more than the other. And whose to say that Eichel won't end up being equal to McDavid in 3-5 years. Right now McDavid is obviously better but we don't know that, that will be the same in a few years.
- bluengold12

You keep saying that, but no one besides you has heard/read scouts/analysts/players saying that Eichel will be Lemieux.

Yea i feel that way too, but i am definitely not hating on eichel. I just think some reality needs to set in for sabres fans regarding mcdavid.

He is on another level, he has been touted as being on another level his entire life and he is not disappointing whatsoever in the NHL.
- ieetbred

McDavid has recorded a point in ~70% of the games he has played in
Eichel records a point in ~50% of the games he plays in.

OK, if you want to take their word about a style of play comparison go ahead. I still think it is unfair to compare both these kids to the two greatest players of all time.

I will take the devastated murray at the draft lottery who has made his living scouting players to tell me there is a gap larger than most here will accept between them.
- ieetbred

I think you're missing the point and clearly stuck in your way here. Murray was pissed as was I. McDavid is better hockey player right now. No question. That being said we don't know how these players will be in 3-5 years. You can speculate all you want but we just don't know.
Also okay you can put the it's not fair to compare comment on but in the same breath you dig in that you think it's more fair to compare McDavid to Gretszky but compare Eichel to Lemiuex and you'd think we were talking about Rory Fitzpatrick...

Gotcha.

I would only go as high as 9.5-9.7 AAV. Stash responded with a he will get a 10.5MM+ AAV. I said no thanks to that.

To entice him to take less of an AAV give him a lot of the money up front each season in a bonus.
- ImThatGuy

Ok, I see your point now
I just got confused bc of what u said about it being a detriment to signing our other guys, but I gotcha

There will certainly be a number that will be the cutoff for us to sign him
Not sure what that'll be...
Eventually (whether we sign Stamkos or not) we will have tough choices & likely have to let some "support" players go like Chicago did
What we need to figure out,
Is of its worth it to add Stamkos to our "core"

I'm gonna say yes
Besides Ovechkin, he's the best goal scorer in the league
With him, u could legitimately argue we've got the best group of forwards in the league- esp if we pick a forward top3

Grumble grumble.

Structure the contract similar to ROR where most of the contract is bonus based.

http://www.spotrac.com/nh...falo-sabres/ryan-oreilly/

The contract I laid out has a $9.7 AAV 68/7
- ImThatGuy

Can anyone explain this style of contract to me? I just don't understand it. Is it that the Sabres are on the hook for the signing bonus in the last year of his contract but then could trade him (if he permits) to another team that only has to pay the balance of his $1M salary? Because it's still a 7.5M cap hit, right?
I just don't understand what the benefit is.

McDavid has recorded a point in ~70% of the games he has played in
Eichel records a point in ~50% of the games he plays in.
- ImThatGuy

Im guessing 6-7 more games for Mcdavid to catch Eichel in points. Don't know if he will catch Panarin but i think he may. I thought it would be impossible before he came back, but seeing him play and the pace he is on now is unreal.

You keep saying that, but no one besides you has heard/read scouts/analysts/players saying that Eichel will be Lemieux.
- hawk33

I've read and seen a lot of NHL things in the last four months. Especially if someone said it on TV which is where I saw it twice. It's a little difficult to search and remember who made the comments. Briere I'm almost 100% positive said it on WGR. I think the other was Barry Melrose or Buchi I can't remember which one. The 3rd was on NBC Sports. I truly forgot who said it on there but remember hearing it.

I think you're missing the point and clearly stuck in your way here. Murray was pissed as was I. McDavid is better hockey player right now. No question. That being said we don't know how these players will be in 3-5 years. You can speculate all you want but we just don't know.
Also okay you can put the it's not fair to compare comment on but in the same breath you dig in that you think it's more fair to compare McDavid to Gretszky but compare Eichel to Lemiuex and you'd think we were talking about Rory Fitzpatrick...
- bluengold12

I think it is more appropriate, not fair. I dont think eichel is as good as mcdavid. I think lemieux is as good and maybe better than gretzky was. Therefore i believe it is less appropriate to compare eichel to lemieux.

As i stated, i dont care about style of play comparisons. I am sure lots of players have played like lemieux, but were not in fact lemieux.