The only evidence was from some finnish hack site that falsely stated Niemi and Puljujarvi would sign today for Jokerit.. it was Niemi and Lepisto.

the smoke you're referring to may indeed be player movement.. but I would be absolutely shocked to see him leave NA before he's fully developed.
- TheSabresTaco

Lehtora left today.... is that who you were thinking?

I normally enjoy Rivet but he just made an awful statement. "Analytics will only benefit some players"
- Slump Buster

They don't call him Old Man River for nothing. I usually enjoy his takes as well, and even sometimes I go with Petey. But yeah, I think there's players who require analytics to really understand their roles and talents, but everyone can be benefited by analytics. Used correctly.

Lehtora left today.... is that who you were thinking?
- JVince11

Nope. Sami Lepisto.

Jori blows snow.

https://www.jokerit.com/a...ripaitaan-lepisto-jatkaa#

Sign Skinner!!!

via GIPHY

Lance Lysowski-

"Krueger on why he is operating on the basis Skinner will return to the Sabres: "It was really just the flow of the conversation that made me feel comfortable. I felt he really loved to be here and that he was happy to be here."

Nope, wrong.

Samson could be more complete.... but he doesn't have a 40 goal ceiling that Laine has already accomplished at a younger age.

But then comes a 10M AAV that Laine wants.


I was just stirring the pot to be honest.
- JVince11

It's an interesting topic.

Ion, if you're out there, please add that question to your upcoming survey:

Would you trade Reinhart for Laine? I suspect it would be like 70% yes, but I'm curious

I don't think Laine is gonna get anywhere near $10m, personally. I think he'll get a 2 year bridge, or long-term maybe $7-8.5 (if the deal was made today). He's coming off a disappointing season. It seems premature for a team to lock him into that kind of cash

It's an interesting topic.

Ion, if you're out there, please add that question to your upcoming survey:

Would you trade Reinhart for Laine? I suspect it would be like 70% yes, but I'm curious

I don't think Laine is gonna get anywhere near $10m, personally. I think he'll get a 2 year bridge, or long-term maybe $7-8.5 (if the deal was made today). He's coming off a disappointing season. It seems premature for a team to lock him into that kind of cash
- jcragcrumple

A disappointing season where he still tallied more goals than Samson has in his best year....... I believe he smashed 33, 40, and then 30 this past year?

Lance Lysowski-

"Krueger on why he is operating on the basis Skinner will return to the Sabres: "It was really just the flow of the conversation that made me feel comfortable. I felt he really loved to be here and that he was happy to be here."

Nope, wrong.
- TheSabresTaco

Krueger and botts seemed very confident about resigning skinner.

If it doesn’t get done .... Krueger looks like an “intelligent” fool and not a good start for him without even coaching a single game.

A disappointing season where he still tallied more goals than Samson has in his best year....... I believe he smashed 33, 40, and then 30 this past year?
- JVince11

I guess a team needs to ask themselves how much a sniper is worth if he can't drive his own line, extremely poor defensively and can only be effective against average NHLers.

It's an interesting topic.

Ion, if you're out there, please add that question to your upcoming survey:

Would you trade Reinhart for Laine? I suspect it would be like 70% yes, but I'm curious

I don't think Laine is gonna get anywhere near $10m, personally. I think he'll get a 2 year bridge, or long-term maybe $7-8.5 (if the deal was made today). He's coming off a disappointing season. It seems premature for a team to lock him into that kind of cash
- jcragcrumple

The Sabres need to score more goals .... Laine would provide that.

So that would be an easy yes. Snipers like that don’t grow on trees

Second and third round picks are lottery tickets. Nothing more, nothing less. We spent a lottery ticket on the chance of hitting a home run (I still think we get it done). You're assuming that the 2nd and 3rd would be real players - how do you know? You don't. I like risking a 2nd on getting a star as compared to getting a 17 year old who doesn't yet shave.

I don't know how you can compare that to ROR and Kane.
- Slump Buster

They compare because it was said all along that we wasted assets on ROR and Kane. And the reasoning was that neither played any meaningful games for this team and both would be overpaid.

Now skinner is here, but we like him.

How is his situation any different?

The Sabres traded assets, Skinner has played in 0 meaningful games for this team.

Is Skinner not going to get overpaid.?

If Skinner walks for nothing is it not worse than ROR and Kane who were traded for additional assets?

I guess a team needs to ask themselves how much a sniper is worth if he can't drive his own line, extremely poor defensively and can only be effective against average NHLers.
- TheSabresTaco

So here's my mind... how many true snipers (one sided) guys can you really pay in that 8+M range?

Can a team have a Skinner and a Laine type players and still be good enough defensively?

I'm trying to think of a good comparison NHL team that was all offensive with good success?

Lance Lysowski-

"Krueger on why he is operating on the basis Skinner will return to the Sabres: "It was really just the flow of the conversation that made me feel comfortable. I felt he really loved to be here and that he was happy to be here."

Nope, wrong.
- TheSabresTaco

What did skinner tell you?

Krueger and botts seemed very confident about resigning skinner.

If it doesn’t get done .... Krueger looks like an “intelligent” fool and not a good start for him without even coaching a single game.
- Sabretooth9

They both will look like fools. Which why I believe they both know exactly what they're saying.

The Sabres need to score more goals .... Laine would provide that.

So that would be an easy yes. Snipers like that don’t grow on trees
- Sabretooth9

Laine wants 10mm+ on his next contract.

The NHL is royally (frank)ed, any young player that has any sign of success is going to get so overpaid.

There is a lockout coming because the salaries are getting to the point where they are outgrowing the cap.

If Skinner doesn't sign:

He turned ROR, Kane, Lehner, a 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and Pu

Into

Sobotka, Thompson, Montour, 30/31OA and a 2021 2nd

That's gotta be worth getting fired over
- jcragcrumple

Or you could look at it as he turned a pending UFA, a guy who wanted out, and a guy who needed to get help into some underwhelming pieces with potential still.

What did skinner tell you?
- Boss34

He told me the same thing, and I called him a liar to his face, because there's not a single person on this entire planet that has ever liked being in Buffalo.

He told me the same thing, and I called him a liar to his face, because there's not a single person on this entire planet that has ever liked being in Buffalo.
- TheSabresTaco

#Truth.

He told me the same thing, and I called him a liar to his face, because there's not a single person on this entire planet that has ever liked being in Buffalo.
- TheSabresTaco

Well played taco 🙂

I've lived elsewhere, I love buffalo. Especially the summer and fall

I'm not pinning anything on him. He needs a win, that's it. He has two top tank picks and Montour to show for his time here so far. I'm confident that Skinner gets signed, and that'll be a win for him. If he doesn't sign, it's another mark in the loss column. I don't see how that's a controversial thing to say
- jcragcrumple

His early returns on some mid round picks are very promising

It doesn’t help the perception of him that he got to pick Dahlin first overall.

It’s not like he had the opportunity to pick someone at 5 or 10 that looks like a stud player. He

So here's my mind... how many true snipers (one sided) guys can you really pay in that 8+M range?

Can a team have a Skinner and a Laine type players and still be good enough defensively?

I'm trying to think of a good comparison NHL team that was all offensive with good success?
- JVince11

You won't think of one, because the best teams dominate the competition on both ends of the ice. The Islanders from last year come to mind. All offense, no defense, no playoffs.

Well played taco 🙂

I've lived elsewhere, I love buffalo. Especially the summer and fall
- Boss34

It's not a popular national opinion, and that's fine, but I feel the same.

Laine wants 10mm+ on his next contract.

The NHL is royally (frank)ed, any young player that has any sign of success is going to get so overpaid.

There is a lockout coming because the salaries are getting to the point where they are outgrowing the cap.
- ImThatGuy

Curious... do you share this same opinion on Marner wanting 11M? Matthews getting 11.5M? McDavid getting 13.5M?

I know points wise those guys are far above Laine but curious if you say this about all younger players or just some?


I think a cap is needed on ELCs (already is), a cap on RFA/2nd contrcats, and then a max cap contract, and then a max a player can be paid in their 35+ span.

You won't think of one, because the best teams dominate the competition on both ends of the ice. The Islanders from last year come to mind. All offense, no defense, no playoffs.
- TheSabresTaco

I feel like this was a problem with a few Caps teams too. Perhaps even the old Nucks teams w/ the Sedins that would out score people 7-5 in games.

For all the truculence lovers here, Krueger mentioned the team is in need of, and will be pursuing, "bite and snarl"

It's necessary and was a clear factor missing from this team.
- TheSabresTaco

FINALLY, someone in power gets it