It's the same look!! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!
- Deuce81

What is this? A center for ANTS??!!!!

What is this? A center for ANTS??!!!!
- Khmylev

Hi, I'm little Cletus!

She's Ukrainian.
- Der Kaiser

does that matter in this regard? Maybe I'll have to try to find a Ukrainian women for my next wife.... (oh and any tips on meeting them would be great too... hahaha

Not having those types of players causes low goal totals. Nothing wrong with having one of that type on the team. Pretty sure the Hawks don't hate Kane.

The Sabres top players are all considered two way players (some better than others obviously):

O'Reilly, Kane and Eichel were all given decent significant PK minutes (O'Reilly most, not surprising). I don't have backing, but I think Eichel probably saw his PK time increase as the season went on.

Other "top 6" Sabres - Reinhart, Ennis, Girgensons. All are not solely 1-way players. Reinhart may not have gotten much PK time, but it's not like he's considerend one-dimensional.

What does that get? Bottom 5-ish in team scoring.
- stashu

ennis missed 3/4 of the season. hes making 4.6 (cap hit). if my only choices are- see what tyler ennis can do OR trade valuable assets to acquire a better more costly version of ennis, im just gonna see how ennis does. hopefully there is a third choice.

ennis missed 3/4 of the season. hes making 4.6 (cap hit). if my only choices are- see what tyler ennis can do OR trade valuable assets to acquire a better more costly version of ennis, im just gonna see how ennis does. hopefully there is a third choice.
- rover16

I'm willing to give Ennis another shot in the top 6. But a very short chance like two months max. Problem is if he doesn't show anything we're screwed because his trade value goes down massively. Definitely a gamble but he's shown in the past he can play at a high level.

That only leaves one top 6 spot open and in order to be a playoff team they MUST fill it with someone not currently in the organization.

Kane, Reinhart, Ennis, Eichel, O'Riley, X

Hey Pachla, love your posts and agree with mostly everything you write but please don't ever say Pekka Rinne is one of the best again. He hasn't been in 4 years and you can use analytics to argue he's bottom 4th of the league. Besides that keep up the good work.
- PS600REVX

34-21-10 with a 2.48 GAA and 9.08 save percentage. I can agree that due to injuries and getting longer in the tooth that he may not be a top 5 goaltender anymore but I wouldn't say he's bottom 4 either. Big playoff performance can make up for a season of lows

So if the Sabres were to win the lottery do they take Austin, or do they use it to get the other dman?

Good arguments for both....... which would you rather have another Sam / jack or another Risto?

- DDM-Coga

Welcome back our western Sabres fan

So if the Sabres were to win the lottery do they take Austin, or do they use it to get the other dman?

Good arguments for both....... which would you rather have another Sam / jack or another Risto?
- gordong

You take Matthews and don't really consider much else. If you can get another Eichel, or even close to that, you do it. Same if we get the 2nd pick and Laine.

I'm willing to give Ennis another shot in the top 6. But a very short chance like two months max. Problem is if he doesn't show anything we're screwed because his trade value goes down massively. Definitely a gamble but he's shown in the past he can play at a high level.

That only leaves one top 6 spot open and in order to be a playoff team they MUST fill it with someone not currently in the organization.

Kane, Reinhart, Ennis, Eichel, O'Riley, X
- bluengold12

i dont think he has much trade value at the moment either way. he wasnt exactly setting the world on fire before he suffered 2 concussions that forced him to miss a huge chunk of the season.

You take Matthews and don't really consider much else. If you can get another Eichel, or even close to that, you do it. Same if we get the 2nd pick and Laine.
- turbo044

Agreed. Take best player available .

So if the Sabres were to win the lottery do they take Austin, or do they use it to get the other dman?

Good arguments for both....... which would you rather have another Sam / jack or another Risto?
- gordong

They win any of the three lottery spots they take the pick I think it's pretty much a no brainier.... Unless OEL, Subban or Karelsson are coming back and again we know that isn't happening either so it's a moot point. Let's pray to the hockey gods and hope they give us retribution for the last two years sacrifices we've made.

i dont think he has much trade value at the moment either way. he wasnt exactly setting the world on fire before he suffered 2 concussions that forced him to miss a huge chunk of the season.
- rover16

Same could be said about Kane before his trade to a lesser extent. I think you need to give Ennis a chance but if he sucks as bad as he did last season you yank his ass from the top six by December

So if the Sabres were to win the lottery do they take Austin, or do they use it to get the other dman?

Good arguments for both....... which would you rather have another Sam / jack or another Risto?
- gordong

doesnt matter, the value of the pick just went up so much that you are getting a difference maker next year either way.

Welcome back our western Sabres fan
- cabin

im well rested off my fresh ban. Im also part of Bills Mafia, Calgary chapter

I'm willing to give Ennis another shot in the top 6. But a very short chance like two months max. Problem is if he doesn't show anything we're screwed because his trade value goes down massively. Definitely a gamble but he's shown in the past he can play at a high level.

That only leaves one top 6 spot open and in order to be a playoff team they MUST fill it with someone not currently in the organization.

Kane, Reinhart, Ennis, Eichel, O'Riley, X
- bluengold12

Maybe it's because it was so long ago, but was Ennis that bad even this year? With the exception of the injury he had almost .5 p/g which is fairly close to his career average. He also had new line mates and a new system and "struggled" at a time when the majority of the team not named Ryan O'Reilly and Jack Eichel were struggling. Had he played a full season would he have started to mesh like others did as well?

I agree that we give him another chance in the top 6 and see if he can bring that speed and scoring ability again. If he can it's a top 6 player for nothing but the cost of his contract. If not, plan B is trade him and see what we can get to fill that spot.

Maybe it's because it was so long ago, but was Ennis that bad even this year? With the exception of the injury he had almost .5 p/g which is fairly close to his career average. He also had new line mates and a new system and "struggled" at a time when the majority of the team not named Ryan O'Reilly and Jack Eichel were struggling. Had he played a full season would he have started to mesh like others did as well?

I agree that we give him another chance in the top 6 and see if he can bring that speed and scoring ability again. If he can it's a top 6 player for nothing but the cost of his contract. If not, plan B is trade him and see what we can get to fill that spot.
- Zschalberg

I hope he's ready to go and does exactly what you're hoping for next year.
If we got him back and he just does what's expected of him that would be good news.
if we can add one of the 2 college kids and they live up to expectations, we would still have plenty of $$$ for any defenceman who's available that GMTM likes.

I hope he's ready to go and does exactly what you're hoping for next year.
If we got him back and he just does what's expected of him that would be good news.
if we can add one of the 2 college kids and they live up to expectations, we would still have plenty of $$$ for any defenceman who's available that GMTM likes.
- seedy

What's more important .. Will we like him.

You take Matthews and don't really consider much else. If you can get another Eichel, or even close to that, you do it. Same if we get the 2nd pick and Laine.
- turbo044

You shop him, if you get blown away, you trade the pick. If not, so be it.

Hopefully there is a LA Rams out there if we win.

im well rested off my fresh ban. Im also part of Bills Mafia, Calgary chapter
- DDM-Coga

Hey, Coga

I'm looking to put together my mock draft for this year and since you're kind of the go to Colorado guy around here what do you think the Aves need most?

Hey, Coga

I'm looking to put together my mock draft for this year and since you're kind of the go to Colorado guy around here what do you think the Aves need most?
- sskkoo1

BPA

Hey, Coga

I'm looking to put together my mock draft for this year and since you're kind of the go to Colorado guy around here what do you think the Aves need most?
- sskkoo1

the scribble man is correct. Best Player available.

Personally I think go Forward. Gauthier or McLeod are the definition of the forwards Roy wants on his team

My pick would be McLeod if he is available, but I see Roy and Sakic going with Gauthier

the scribble man is correct. Best Player available.

Personally I think go Forward. Gauthier or McLeod are the definition of the forwards Roy wants on his team

My pick would be McLeod if he is available, but I see Roy and Sakic going with Gauthier
- DDM-Coga

Thanks, brah!

Drouin is an AHL'er