Good read. Eichel is incredible but I wouldn't put him anywhere near the same class as McDavid. I truly believe the only player that should even be mentioned in comparison to McDavid is Crosby.

It's been a crazy strong year for rookies. Larkin and the Ghost came in flying out of nowhere! And even Panarin was a complete unknown.

Please don't overlook Byron Froese from the TML. 50gp 2g 3a 5points. This guy deserves a trophy for getting this far in hockey life with the name Byron. I feel like he should be sippin tea of playing Polo or Croquet or some poop.
- Allan Bester

I have no doubts that McDavid is the better player over his career, but Eichel is great to the point where he's going to have MVP caliber seasons.

There is only 1 player in the NHL I would trade Eichel for and it's McDavid. I gotta feel good about that

Twenty-two minutes of listening to them tell me how important my call is to them.
- Der Kaiser

here, watch this while you're waiting:

Twenty-two minutes of listening to them tell me how important my call is to them.
- Der Kaiser

Send them a bill .

And honestly that's fine. Calder means little to nothing to me. As far as which player has helped improve their team the most I'd put Eichel up there. Of course, we had nowhere to go but up, but it's been great seeing him get better as the year has gone on.

Get him another good winger next year, and with a year under Sam and his belts, they could explode next season.
- Zschalberg

great point...and that's the thing about Gostisbehere too...without him, I think philly would be around the sabres

I have no doubts that McDavid is the better player over his career, but Eichel is great to the point where he's going to have MVP caliber seasons.

There is only 1 player in the NHL I would trade Eichel for and it's McDavid. I gotta feel good about that
- sbroads24

My sentiments exactly. Jack has been hovering near that PPG pace since Christmas. And that's after just recently being given Reinhart as his linemate.

If Murray is somehow able to reel in 91....look out.

In related news, Toronto and Calgary play tonight so no matter how hard they try one of them has to win. Same with Winnipeg and Vancouver tomorrow and Edmonton and Arizona.

I read somewhere panarin is around 72% OZ starts?!? No wonder

My sentiments exactly. Jack has been hovering near that PPG pace since Christmas. And that's after just recently being given Reinhart as his linemate.

If Murray is somehow able to reel in 91....look out.
- Deuce81

Your chances of Stamkos are even less likely than the Leafs. LIke 5% Leafs, 1 % Sabres.

Did the Sabres really improve that much this year? They still have a legit shot at 30th... just how bad did those bunch of sucks suck last year?

Your chances of Stamkos are even less likely than the Leafs. LIke 5% Leafs, 1 % Sabres.
- Allan Bester

So 94% to "the field"?

Send them a bill .
- cabin

Finally got through (37 minutes), they couldn't find my account. Then the lady was pissy when I told her the exact same account number had worked in every other call I made. Then she found it when it finally sunk in that "D as in David" does not mean the second letter of the alphabet. I had only said "D as in David" three time at that point.

At least I can get to work, now.

Did the Sabres really improve that much this year? They still have a legit shot at 30th... just how bad did those bunch of sucks suck last year?
- Allan Bester

wow just looked it up. 54 points that is something special

Did the Sabres really improve that much this year? They still have a legit shot at 30th... just how bad did those bunch of sucks suck last year?
- Allan Bester

I think there is a very strong chance he stays in Tampa. Or somehow ends up in another big market like LAK or NYR. Not sure how the cap would work.

Did the Sabres really improve that much this year? They still have a legit shot at 30th... just how bad did those bunch of sucks suck last year?
- Allan Bester

Talk to MacKenzie

In related news, Toronto and Calgary play tonight so no matter how hard they try one of them has to win. Same with Winnipeg and Vancouver tomorrow and Edmonton and Arizona.
- Zschalberg[/quote

Good research here!! We have to hope for some 3 point games

I think there is a very strong chance he stays in Tampa. Or somehow ends up in another big market like LAK or NYR. Not sure how the cap would work.
- Allan Bester

It wouldn't.

I think there is a very strong chance he stays in Tampa. Or somehow ends up in another big market like LAK or NYR. Not sure how the cap would work.
- Allan Bester

Tampa will have to do better than the 8.5 mil they last offered him. That's insulting.

Your chances of Stamkos are even less likely than the Leafs. LIke 5% Leafs, 1 % Sabres.
- Allan Bester

I wouldn't be so sure on that

Tampa will have to do better than the 8.5 mil they last offered him. That's insulting.
- Deuce81

What's the number? 8 years 80 million do it?

Did the Sabres really improve that much this year? They still have a legit shot at 30th... just how bad did those bunch of sucks suck last year?
- Allan Bester

I mean, last year our team was built with the exclusive purpose of losing. We started that day 1. Other teams did the same but started day 30 or day 60. We committed. This year we're already 14 points better and have a chance to improve by almost 20 points. So, yeah, they've improved but it was to be expected.

When you add Lehner, Kane, O'Reilly, Sam, and Jack you'd expect your team to be better. However, when your top 2 scores from the year before fall into black holes (Ennis, Moulson) it doesn't help.

What's the number? 8 years 80 million do it?
- RhinoFan

Gotta think at this point he at least wants to see what Free Agency holds. If he gets out there gotta think someone offers max. The thought would be Toronto offers a max deal but I was reminded by a friend that Lou is at the helm in TO now. He might not be the guy that throws a max contract at a guy. Would TM be that guy?

What's the number? 8 years 80 million do it?
- RhinoFan

It will probably depend on Stamkos' personal priorities. If he's all about the money he would likely get $11 mil or more per season from a Buffalo or Toronto. If he truly loves Tampa and wants to stay, he probably needs to take less. Tampa seems like they're not all that committed, given the reduced ice time, insistence on playing him on the wing, and the low-ball offer.

It will probably depend on Stamkos' personal priorities. If he's all about the money he would likely get $11 mil or more per season from a Buffalo or Toronto. If he truly loves Tampa and wants to stay, he probably needs to take less. Tampa seems like they're not all that committed, given the reduced ice time, insistence on playing him on the wing, and the low-ball offer.
- Deuce81

Tampa can offer less because they can give an extra year and no state tax.

Gotta think at this point he at least wants to see what Free Agency holds. If he gets out there gotta think someone offers max. The thought would be Toronto offers a max deal but I was reminded by a friend that Lou is at the helm in TO now. He might not be the guy that throws a max contract at a guy. Would TM be that guy?
- Zschalberg

I don't ever doubt TM's guts when it comes to going after the guy he wants. Only thing is max salary is something like 14 million. I don't mind the 8 years for Stammer, but once we are in the double digits it couldn't go much further than that I would guess. We will see how it unfolds. The only thing that matters at the end of the day is what Steven thinks of it all, really. However, if T.O. offers 14million I say we wave at him on his way across the Peace bridge to Canada.

Nobody will offer a max salary to any player in the NHL ever until they change what it means. 20% of the salary cap is the max salary. This year max salary was $14.3 million. I think even $12 million would be an overpayment. For my Leafs I'd be willing to go $10mil for sure(but I don't believe the Leafs are in serious Stamkos contention anyways).


http://www.puckreport.com...maximum-wage-by-year.html