Classy letter from O'Reilly:



I wish him the best. It's a damn shame it didn't work out here
- jcragcrumple

He should still be here. Such a stupid trade - there was no reason to jettison him. The worst team in the league has lost one of its best players. Makes no sense.

He should still be here. Such a stupid trade - there was no reason to jettison him. The worst team in the league has lost one of its best players. Makes no sense.
- kritter65

Especially for spare parts not worth a damn.

Especially for spare parts not worth a damn.
- Hatboro_Swords

Thompson might be good, and the draft pick too ... but you never really know with prospects and picks - they could turn out to be busts. What I DO know is that we already had a pretty good player in O'Reilly, and we let him go. There was no need to trade him. I have a feeling we're going to regret this trade ...

Thompson might be good, and the draft pick too ... but you never really know with prospects and picks - they could turn out to be busts. What I DO know is that we already had a pretty good player in O'Reilly, and we let him go. There was no need to trade him. I have a feeling we're going to regret this trade ...
- kritter65

What is known is that he would have been the best LW on this team; a team that desperately needs left wings. And before that whole kerfuffle starts again, St. Louis's plan is to play him on Thomas's wing, if Thomas is ready

Classy letter from O'Reilly:



I wish him the best. It's a damn shame it didn't work out here
- jcragcrumple

Meh next time don't try and get people to join your Crusade and overrule a player

Cya

Especially for spare parts not worth a damn.
- Hatboro_Swords

In return for him we got a former 1st pick who played for a NHL team, a lot better than ours, as a 19 year old + a 1st Rd pick + a 2nd rd pick + two spare parts not worth a damn though they both scored more even stength goals than O'Reilly. And O'Reilly was a former 2nd round pick, so hopefully jbotts does something good with those two picks. So.......the sky is not falling

What is known is that he would have been the best LW on this team; a team that desperately needs left wings. And before that whole kerfuffle starts again, St. Louis's plan is to play him on Thomas's wing, if Thomas is ready
- jcragcrumple

What ever happened to one for one trades ? I would be OK with trading O'Reilly for a LW straight up, as long as that LW was of equal (or hopefully better, but that's unlikely to happen, unless trading with Montreal or Edmonton) value. How about O'Reilly for Shwartz, Perron, or Steen ? I wonder something like that was ever on the table. No ? Move on to another team that would be willing to trade a good LW for ROR.

In return for him we got a former 1st pick who played for a NHL team, a lot better than ours, as a 19 year old + a 1st Rd pick + a 2nd rd pick + two spare parts not worth a damn though they both scored more even stength goals than O'Reilly. And O'Reilly was a former 2nd round pick, so hopefully jbotts does something good with those two picks. So.......the sky is not falling
- turbo044

He had all the power and he couldn't land one of the top 3 prospects I'm sorry that's unacceptable

It is what it is hopefully he becomes a Vanek and not a Patrick maroon

What ever happened to one for one trades ? I would be OK with trading O'Reilly for a LW straight up, as long as that LW was of equal (or hopefully better, but that's unlikely to happen, unless trading with Montreal or Edmonton) value. How about O'Reilly for Shwartz, Perron, or Steen ? I wonder something like that was ever on the table. No ? Move on to another team that would be willing to trade a good LW for ROR.
- kritter65

I wanted ROR for Hamilton or Schwartz straight up. It's over, so I'm not gonna dwell on it too much. We didn't get Thomas, Kyrou, Fabbri or Parayko though. That 2nd may as well be in 2089.

Blah. I am excited for Berglund though. I think he's underrated. I would feel a lot better if Botts had turned some assets into a LW though

Not particularly, because he's had 5 of 6 good halves.

And even if you say he's not as bad as the first half of the year and he's not as good as the second half you still end up pretty much at his first 2 years.
- Wetbandit1

Would you really give sam 6 years?

Just not my type of player

In return for him we got a former 1st pick who played for a NHL team, a lot better than ours, as a 19 year old + a 1st Rd pick + a 2nd rd pick + two spare parts not worth a damn though they both scored more even stength goals than O'Reilly. And O'Reilly was a former 2nd round pick, so hopefully jbotts does something good with those two picks. So.......the sky is not falling
- turbo044

Spare parts. Prove me wrong.

Would you really give sam 6 years?

Just not my type of player
- Boss34

Now that ROR is gone you might as well get rid of him too. Wildest dreams can’t come true anymore.

Spare parts. Prove me wrong.
- Hatboro_Swords

Sobotka is a spare part. I think Berglund is more than that. I have to plead ignorance on Thompson. I would have liked to see GMJB move some pieces to bring us a LW though.

There's a definite "island of misfit toys" vibe going on

Would you really give sam 6 years?

Just not my type of player
- Boss34

Absolutely, I'd do 6 for $28.5M. He'd never do that though because he'd lose 2 years of UFA pay day. It's an extra $3M-$4M than what he's currently worth due to the buying of 2 UFA years, but if he signs a 2 year deal he can get way more on the next one.

I don't know about you, but my type of player is one that scores goals. He has increased his point total every year and so far has averaged more than 21 goals a year.

Sobotka is a spare part. I think Berglund is more than that. I have to plead ignorance on Thompson. I would have liked to see GMJB move some pieces to bring us a LW though.

There's a definite "island of misfit toys" vibe going on
- jcragcrumple

Berglund is going to be useless soon he's already slow as a slug with the game moving in a run and gun Direction I guarantee people are going to want to trade his contract in 1-2 years

another thing I didn't get about this trade trying to get younger and faster we got older and slower..

The Bread man’s celebration on this goal always stood out to me. Really wish the Sabres had a rockstar like that guy.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rsuBCZ8OpF0

The Bread man’s celebration on this goal always stood out to me. Really wish the Sabres had a rockstar like that guy.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rsuBCZ8OpF0
- Hatboro_Swords

They have Jack

I completely agree. I would rather risk getting him on a good, cheap, long term, deal, then have him explode and need to pay him DRAISAITL money in 2 years or so.
- Sabrehagan

It's fine to want that, but why would Sam do it?

I'd be shocked if Sam doesn't think his second half reflects his worth and that he'd want 7m+ on a long term deal.

Absolutely, I'd do 6 for $28.5M. He'd never do that though because he'd lose 2 years of UFA pay day. It's an extra $3M-$4M than what he's currently worth due to the buying of 2 UFA years, but if he signs a 2 year deal he can get way more on the next one.

I don't know about you, but my type of player is one that scores goals. He has increased his point total every year and so far has averaged more than 21 goals a year.
- Wetbandit1

Every playoff game I watched left me wondering if Sam could hold up to the physical play and speed. I have serious doubts.

The Bread man’s celebration on this goal always stood out to me. Really wish the Sabres had a rockstar like that guy.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rsuBCZ8OpF0
- Hatboro_Swords

The goal was pretty sweet,
but the celebration...?
Huh?
There was nothing special about it at all

Not particularly, because he's had 5 of 6 good halves.

And even if you say he's not as bad as the first half of the year and he's not as good as the second half you still end up pretty much at his first 2 years.
- Wetbandit1

I think this is spot on about Sams expected contract value.

To answer Boss34 though, Sam's 1st half of last season is of some concern because the 2 halves were so widely different ... couple with a rumored intervention-type event to get him back playjng...well great actually.
The issue for me is, has Sam dealt with whatever the issue was in a permanent or just temporary manner? Will he be open to whatever caused him to fall so far so fast once again?

These are in fact reasons to give him a 2 year deal ... help both sides. Pay the man if he proves he dealt with it for 2-1/2 years straight.

He should still be here. Such a stupid trade - there was no reason to jettison him. The worst team in the league has lost one of its best players. Makes no sense.
- kritter65

Well, disagree with the no reason part.
IF the alleged locker room cancer issue is true, that is plenty of reason...addition by subtraction.

Furthermore, his age didn't fit the optimal profile for when this team will be better the season after next as he'll be 29/30 Then and declining k. An expensive contract for a perceived key player... yes, they got back a couple of older players, but they are temporary fill-ins for a couple of seasons...not core members going forward.
They replaced his expected production, and got additional value in picks and another young player...not sure any of them will rival ROR alone, but equally not sure they can't either in time.

So to say no reason isn't accurate, you may not like it and that is your right to feel that way.

I think this is spot on about Sams expected contract value.

To answer Boss34 though, Sam's 1st half of last season is of some concern because the 2 halves were so widely different ... couple with a rumored intervention-type event to get him back playjng...well great actually.
The issue for me is, has Sam dealt with whatever the issue was in a permanent or just temporary manner? Will he be open to whatever caused him to fall so far so fast once again?

These are in fact reasons to give him a 2 year deal ... help both sides. Pay the man if he proves he dealt with it for 2-1/2 years straight.
- IonSabres

Every playoff game I watched left me wondering if Sam could hold up to the physical play and speed. I have serious doubts.
- Lunaion

You nailed it.
Playoff hockey is much different, especially the deeper the team goes...significantly more physical, more intense, better defensive play.

Of course, a team needs to get there first andto do so requires talented goal scorers...Reinhart is that.
I do agree and believe, once there though fans will be disappointed with his production.

I also wonder about his production away from ROR, those two pk Ayer well together. Sam does with Jack too...I just see Okposo with Jack.

- gerbe75pts

Allegedly sure.

If true, has he dealt with it permanently, or put the straw down for a couple of months only?
Hope he comes into camp stronger, fit and trim with a healthy attitude and commitment to his career and the team.

Maybe him and Jack should "separate"