No one that they'd be willing to give up that would fit what we want.

They aren't giving up Juolevi, Pets, Boeser, Horvat, Roussel, or Virtanen.

You'd probably get offering an unproven kid and then to take Eriksson, Sutter, or Spooner.

The only 2C they have would be Markus Granlund
- JVince11

Markus "he's no Mikael" Granlund?

No, thanks.

A 4 straight 40+ point defensemen playing 27+ minutes a game on the worst team in hockey his entire career? What'd you expect?

His offensive point share numbers this past season were within .5 below of Doughty, Ellis, Ekblad, and above Subban, Sanheim, and Buff.
- JVince11

I hope I am wrong, I really do. I just don’t see it currently.

He has played 27 min a night, yes.
On one of the worst defensive teams in hockey over that span.

A lot of people will point to his numbers and say they're inflated BECAUSE he played so many minutes on account of the Sabres having no other options.
- BINGO!

That would be true if they weren't a bottom 5 scoring team in the NHL every season in his time there. Buffalo hasn't had secondary scoring in close to a decade. So yea... they score more when he's on the ice. IMHO, that's not a ding to trade him because he is going to bring that to another team with better assets around him.

That would be true if they weren't a bottom 5 scoring team in the NHL every season in his time there. Buffalo hasn't had secondary scoring in close to a decade. So yea... they score more when he's on the ice. IMHO, that's not a ding to trade him because he is going to bring that to another team with better assets around him.
- JVince11

It is absolutely the Sabres fault for not surrounding him with better talent. But in that same thinking it has also hurt his value around the league due to that

I hope I am wrong, I really do. I just don’t see it currently.

He has played 27 min a night, yes.
On one of the worst defensive teams in hockey over that span.
- ImThatGuy

He's right in the wheelhouse of where Jack Johnson was with the LA Kings when they traded him.

Mid 20's, 40~ points per year, 23-24 minutes per night, reasonably well thought of but a substantial minus player relative to his teammates.

He's right in the wheelhouse of where Jack Johnson was with the LA Kings when they traded him.

Mid 20's, 40~ points per year, 23-24 minutes per night, reasonably well thought of but a substantial minus player relative to his teammates.
- BINGO!

If this is true, then you deal him now. If he's headed the Jack Johnson route, you get all you can and....RUNNNNNNNNNN!!!

I hope I don't regret bringing up Kessel today. Sure beats our almighty drunken god of hockey and conqueror of Tim Horton's, ROR.

Kessel certainly puts up the poinnts, which this team is in dire need of. He is also owed 6.8M for three more years and is 31. One has to consider..

A) why is Pittsburgh trying to trade for an inferior player who had a bad year in Jason Zucker? (I would take Zucker)

B) why is Pittsburgh desperate to trade away a guy who has averaged 75 points for them during his time there, and 81 points over the past 3 years?

I suspect part of the reason is this.



Zucker had a bad season last year, but Phil has never really had a good defensive season.

Now, are the Sabres in a position to reject offense because of no defense? My guess is no, because while the Penguins have serious issues with defense, they also have a great offense, in part because of Kessel. The Sabres are an atrocity on offense, and have been for quite a few years.

The price of Kessel is a 27 year old Zucker who had a bad year. Acquiring Kessel would hamper our abilities to address our defensive needs. If we were able to acquire more defensively reliable forwards (and dmen), this might make sense for us to pursue. I just don't know if a 31 year old declining, 6.8M one dimensional forward would provide more value than a more responsible, two way forward that is maybe good for 50-60 points.
- TheSabresTaco

How are you getting the charts to post on here? I can’t figure it out

That would be true if they weren't a bottom 5 scoring team in the NHL every season in his time there. Buffalo hasn't had secondary scoring in close to a decade. So yea... they score more when he's on the ice. IMHO, that's not a ding to trade him because he is going to bring that to another team with better assets around him.
- JVince11

It’s true regardless.

But his defense is the problem anyways

If this is true, then you deal him now. If he's headed the Jack Johnson route, you get all you can and....RUNNNNNNNNNN!!!
- Powerslave

He's better than Johnson, I think, but yeah I'd say it's getting close to time to bail.

Plus the Kings turned Johnson into Jeff Carter, so you should probably do something similar if possible.

How are you getting the charts to post on here? I can’t figure it out
- sbroads24

You can only post one chart at a time, copy the image. You'll break the system if you try to post more than one.

You can only post one chart at a time, copy the image. You'll break the system if you try to post more than one.
- TheSabresTaco

I haven't been able to post a youtube video in here for awhile...

I haven't been able to post a youtube video in here for awhile...

- jochfr

So am I really supposed to be enraged that the Bruins allowed Barstool Sports to sponsor their rally towels for Game 2?

[quote=buffalofan19]
It wasn't showing up in my preview for some reason...

I’m still not sold in trading a top 4 dman when we need a top 4 dman
- lulags

But he isn't a top 4 man on this roster anymore.
Montour took that spot.
I'm not sold on Montour 100% in that role, but the fact is he is RhD 2nd Pairing.

They have a need for a RhD on 1st pairing to pair with Dahlin.
Risto isn't that either.

He is an expensive 3rd Pairing here anymore.
Time to move him.

So am I really supposed to be enraged that the Bruins allowed Barstool Sports to sponsor their rally towels for Game 2?
- buffalofan19

Welcome to the new world...

But he isn't a top 4 man on this roster anymore.
Montour took that spot.
I'm not sold on Montour 100% in that role, but the fact is he is RhD 2nd Pairing.

They have a need for a RhD on 1st pairing to pair with Dahlin.
Risto isn't that either.

He is an expensive 3rd Pairing here anymore.
Time to move him.
- IonSabres

Problem is, for now, they still have to match up defensibly. Until they bring in some new guys, Risto is still the go-to again OV, Kucherov, Sid, etc.

Problem is, for now, they still have to match up defensibly. Until they bring in some new guys, Risto is still the go-to again OV, Kucherov, Sid, etc.
- Lunaion

the worst part is, adding defensive talent is still a major inefficiency that good GMs exploit.

Most still think the way to defend is what worked in the mid 2000s. Its why people still think highly of Risto, Gudbranson and co. and why muzzin was "pure trash". Never mind the fact that he managed to make zaitsev look like an nhler.

Pateryn is excellent defensively, signed a 3 year deal for something like 7 mil total. They could totally exploit this and really shore up in zone coverage/transition entry. There will still be break downs, but overall the puck will spend significantly less time in our end and we'll see fewer grade a chances against.

Welcome to the new world...
- Stripes77

Funny part is, I don't even care for the site, although the fact that Dave Portnoy will start a feud with just about anyone is both hilarious and pathetic at the same time.

Funny part is, I don't even care for the site, although the fact that Dave Portnoy will start a feud with just about anyone is both hilarious and pathetic at the same time.
- buffalofan19

He's either an a-hole or a brilliant marketing genius...

It is quite possible he is both

Ek has the Sabres and Islanders doing a sign and trade for Anders Lee

He's either an a-hole or a brilliant marketing genius...

It is quite possible he is both
- Stripes77

I'm a big fan of Clay Travis and what he does (though he can also be an a-hole as well). Portnoy decided to (according to Travis) randomly come after him when the last time they spoke or mentioned each other, I guess, was when both of them worked at Deadspin over a decade ago. I found every minute of it hilarious.

Ek has the Sabres and Islanders doing a sign and trade for Anders Lee
- Stripes77

Stopped right there...

Problem is, for now, they still have to match up defensibly. Until they bring in some new guys, Risto is still the go-to again OV, Kucherov, Sid, etc.
- Lunaion

Agreed, hence why I said the need a 1st Pairing RhD.
A stay at home, let Dahlin "go/go/go" type of guy.
Colin Miller's underlying stats would seem to be a great match for him...Chad DeDominices (sp?) from Die By The Blade had a great write-up on this.
..and he is apparently being shopped