Michael Pachla: Impressions of, and questions concerning--LW, Jeff Skinner

FIRST!

If he wants 9m cya

And he’s nowhere near Stone


And go

Like I have been saying, I think Skinner would be absolutely Foolish if he did not at least see what other teams will offer a 40 goal scorer in the FA market.

And that will mean that the Sabres can kiss him bu-bye... Some Dumb A$$ GM will give Skinner 9 Million or more.. I love Skinner and would love to keep him but I really don't want to go higher then 8 Million and I would really love to be at 5 years...

Like I have been saying, I think Skinner would be absolutely Foolish if he did not at least see what other teams will offer a 40 goal scorer in the FA market.

And that will mean that the Sabres can kiss him bu-bye... Some Dumb A$$ GM will give Skinner 9 Million or more.. I love Skinner and would love to keep him but I really don't want to go higher then 8 Million and I would really love to be at 5 years...
- hehateme

I'm telling myself he really wants to stay here - and the photos from over the weekend support that - but that he is going to go to the market to see how other GMs offers will compare to the Sabres, in the hopes of obtaining some greater leverage.

I'm no contract Cap guru - if he goes to market to we lose the right to sign him for the extra year?

What happens if what Tampa Bay fans are saying that he’s just A average coach and the only reason why he’s good is because of the roster .
- gerbe75pts

what happens if it does? Or, what happens if it doesn't? There's no way to be sure, but you can compile evidence of the successes and failures of a coach through analytics, like you do with players. It's much more rudimentary than it is with players, and even with players it's not as refined as it can be. Baseball is so much farther ahead. But just like the failures with Housley, he shared blame with his staff and roster. The same can be said about Cooper, how his roster bouys his coaching ability. But I think you'd be hard pressed to make a case for Cooper not being one of the best coaches in the NHL.

It really could simply be a situation that the CBJ have found a way to neutralize Tampa's attack. Good for them. Are we already about to discuss the possibility that John Tortorella is the best coach in the NHL because he knows how to beat Tampa?

I'm telling myself he really wants to stay here - and the photos from over the weekend support that - but that he is going to go to the market to see how other GMs offers will compare to the Sabres, in the hopes of obtaining some greater leverage.

I'm no contract Cap guru - if he goes to market to we lose the right to sign him for the extra year?
- Der Kaiser

No we do not. He's still our UFA.

After further trying to research this, I'm not totally sure.

He went 13 games without a goal from February 17 to March 14 and went goal-less for another eight games after finally scoring against his former team. Buffalo went 3-16-2 during that stretch in a dismal run that obliterated any hope of reaching the playoffs. However, Skinner pumped 73 shots on goal during that span, an average of 3.32 shots/game which was a hair above his season average of 3.27 shots/gm. Was Skinner choking under the pressure of a playoff run?

Not a dig at you Pach, as I know you are writing this in response to questions posed by others. But let's get real. From February 17 this team was NOT "under the pressure of a playoff run."

They were already cashed out and done at that point. The pressure of the playoffs evaporated sometime in January when nothing was done to sustain the early season success. (I counted real quick and only looked at outright wins [not loser points] but it looked like the Sabres only won 11 of the 28 games starting 12/1 through the 2/17 date you write about).

"Will he re-sign in Buffalo and if so, what will the price be?"

I sure hope so and $9 million per year. 40-goal scorers don't grow on trees.

Is the argument that he should have scored 50g and not had a drought, or he should have scored his 40 and spread it out? If it's the latter,it's not really helpful because we would have just lost some other games earlier on

Michael Pachla: Impressions of, and questions concerning--LW, Jeff Skinner
- Michael Pachla

if skinner was hanging out with the boys at the masters yesterday, very good sign he stays

if he wanted out, there is no chance he is going to that event with teammates

It really could simply be a situation that the CBJ have found a way to neutralize Tampa's attack. Good for them. Are we already about to discuss the possibility that John Tortorella is the best coach in the NHL because he knows how to beat Tampa?
- TheSabresTaco

Torts is a really good coach

if skinner was hanging out with the boys at the masters yesterday, very good sign he stays

if he wanted out, there is no chance he is going to that event with teammates
- homiedclown

He has been hanging out with the players every day which is good news bring some hope

But this is just like Danny and Drury you see his house for sale images of the buffalo logo on his car etc

Still hope

If he wants 9m cya
- gerbe75pts

why do you want let more talent go?

why do you want let more talent go?
- Michael Pachla

Hes a good player but if we’re swinging out $9 million deals I would rather have Matt Duchene and he could be our second line center Plus he’ll score 35g

You might lose about 15 goals but you can replace that with VO on jacks wing and nylander getting about 15

He went 13 games without a goal from February 17 to March 14 and went goal-less for another eight games after finally scoring against his former team. Buffalo went 3-16-2 during that stretch in a dismal run that obliterated any hope of reaching the playoffs. However, Skinner pumped 73 shots on goal during that span, an average of 3.32 shots/game which was a hair above his season average of 3.27 shots/gm. Was Skinner choking under the pressure of a playoff run?

Not a dig at you Pach, as I know you are writing this in response to questions posed by others. But let's get real. From February 17 this team was NOT "under the pressure of a playoff run."

They were already cashed out and done at that point. The pressure of the playoffs evaporated sometime in January when nothing was done to sustain the early season success. (I counted real quick and only looked at outright wins
- Der Kaiser[not loser points] but it looked like the Sabres only won 11 of the 28 games starting 12/1 through the 2/17 date you write about).

on Feb. 17 the Sabres were five points out of a wild card spot with 2 games in hand on Carolina and one team (PIT) between...plus, read the quote "totally obliterated any hope of reaching the playoffs"

that said, your point is well taken

Is the argument that he should have scored 50g and not had a drought, or he should have scored his 40 and spread it out? If it's the latter,it's not really helpful because we would have just lost some other games earlier on
- jcragcrumple

what's the saying around here? I don't give a poop, just win?

Gerbe - I disagree that it's like the Drury/Briere fiasco.

The Sabres don't have to decide between 2. They have 1 big free agent-to-be. He should be/and probably is their main focus.

Torts is a really good coach
- homiedclown

Everyone wanted him when he got fired from vancouver

why do you want let more talent go?
- Michael Pachla

I hate talent and I want to clone the latvian 12 more times so the forward group is all Zemgus.

Hes a good player but if we’re swinging out $9 million deals I would rather have Matt Duchene and he could be our second line center Plus he’ll score 35g

You might lose about 15 goals but you can replace that with VO on jacks wing and nylander getting about 15
- gerbe75pts

We're at the point where we can't afford to lose any goals. Keep Skinner and have VO and Nylander ADD to the total goals scored.

if skinner was hanging out with the boys at the masters yesterday, very good sign he stays

if he wanted out, there is no chance he is going to that event with teammates
- homiedclown

Publix subs are legit.

Hes a good player but if we’re swinging out $9 million deals I would rather have Matt Duchene and he could be our second line center Plus he’ll score 35g

You might lose about 15 goals but you can replace that with VO on jacks wing and nylander getting about 15
- gerbe75pts

What did we assume Casey would get this year

Like I have been saying, I think Skinner would be absolutely Foolish if he did not at least see what other teams will offer a 40 goal scorer in the FA market.

And that will mean that the Sabres can kiss him bu-bye... Some Dumb A$$ GM will give Skinner 9 Million or more.. I love Skinner and would love to keep him but I really don't want to go higher then 8 Million and I would really love to be at 5 years...
- hehateme

if skinner plays the type of game that Botterill wants his team to play, then why would they let a 40-goal scorer in the midst of his prime walk?...doesn't make a lot of sense