IF that’s true, then he just shouldn’t be traded

I’d rather keep developing him & risk a total bust,
than “sell low” if he has no value

There’s still a good chance for Mitts to become a good top6 player
He’s just gotta put in the work
Talent isn’t the issue
- jdfitz77

Imo, I don't think there is a snowballs chance in hell that Mitts becomes a top 6 player. Just like toe drag Tage.

What I find interesting is holding onto a player who is talented enough but who is so immature and apparently lacking in character as to throw all that talent away. That sounds like the exact opposite of the type of player the Sabres need or should even think of counting on.
Some say that a player either has it or doesn't right away, I don't necessarily subscribe to that view either, but after 2 years they should be seeing more, alot more.
- IonSabres

Not sure about the "lacking in character" part.

Not sure about the "lacking in character" part.
- Michael Pachla

I don't know about the Character part, all I know is he physically didn't look ready, needs to stop with the Reese's peanut butter cups and 6hrs of Playstation and join Jack in the Gym

One of the scenarios reportedly being considered by the NHL for the playoffs is games played at a neutral site.
"A person familiar with discussions told the AP the Buffalo Sabres' two-rink downtown practice facility, and connected to their home arena and full-service hotel, has also been mentioned among the numerous options raised."
https://sports.yahoo.com/...-run-gamut-182405873.html
- Ratsreign

I raised that as a proposal the Sabres could and should make...as well as leveraging other hockey rinks in the area.

I don't know about the Character part, all I know is he physically didn't look ready, needs to stop with the Reese's peanut butter cups and 6hrs of Playstation and join Jack in the Gym
- Buff36

Where is that coming from?

Where is that coming from?
- Michael Pachla

What do you mean, do you really think that Mitts looked physically ready to be out there.

What do you mean, do you really think that Mitts looked physically ready to be out there.
- Buff36

Idk. Looks to me as if he has some baby fat to shed. Is it typical of a player his age. Probably not. But i feel as if his physical development is behind where most players usually are and it may not be due an overabundance of to Reese's cups and video games.

Idk. Looks to me as if he has some baby fat to shed. Is it typical of a player his age. Probably not. But i feel as if his physical development is behind where most players usually are and it may not be due an overabundance of to Reese's cups and video games.
- Michael Pachla

It was a joke, just saying he needs to start taking care of himself to push to that next level.

It was a joke, just saying he needs to start taking care of himself to push to that next level.
- Buff36

How do we know he hasn't?

Perhaps I should have used the phrase "hockey character" rather than merely character.

It brings up an interesting point, which was highlighted in an article yesterday on The Athletic about Scouts who get it Right. Character was identified as one of the things Scouts look for, but the term was undefined, therefore a scout or two devalued it until it could be better defined and accepted by the majority.

Without an abundance of time spent on it, these are qualities that IMO would be included in the definition of Hockey Character, and were in the back of my mind when I typed that sentence:
-Intense desire to win
-Willingness to excel at and in practice
-Consistently making sacrafices to put your career and team 1st
-Intense desire to excel
-Persistence in fighting for the top
-Absolute love for the game, 1st on, last off.
-Commitment to physical excellence

I think Mitts is very skilled, yet IMO I don't believe he has put his career and team 1st. I believe he was far superior to his competition that he hasn't driven himself to be the absolute best he can be. To me, that means he is lacking in Hockey Character. I see him in the same light as Nylander.

Others may feel otherwise, it's good.

I'm probably late but...

https://twitter.com/SInow...tatus/1247269453714411521

Sports Illustrated
@SInow
The NHL is reportedly considering holding its remaining regular-season games and postseason in North Dakota if the suspended season can resume

Perhaps I should have used the phrase "hockey character" rather than merely character.

It brings up an interesting point, which was highlighted in an article yesterday on The Athletic about Scouts who get it Right. Character was identified as one of the things Scouts look for, but the term was undefined, therefore a scout or two devalued it until it could be better defined and accepted by the majority.

Without an abundance of time spent on it, these are qualities that IMO would be included in the definition of Hockey Character, and were in the back of my mind when I typed that sentence:
-Intense desire to win
-Willingness to excel at and in practice
-Consistently making sacrafices to put your career and team 1st
-Intense desire to excel
-Persistence in fighting for the top
-Absolute love for the game, 1st on, last off.
-Commitment to physical excellence

I think Mitts is very skilled, yet IMO I don't believe he has put his career and team 1st. I believe he was far superior to his competition that he hasn't driven himself to be the absolute best he can be. To me, that means he is lacking in Hockey Character. I see him in the same light as Nylander.

Others may feel otherwise, it's good.
- IonSabres

How do you know all that without being in the locker room?

I'm probably late but...

https://twitter.com/SInow...tatus/1247269453714411521

Sports Illustrated
@SInow
The NHL is reportedly considering holding its remaining regular-season games and postseason in North Dakota if the suspended season can resume
- buffalofan19

That's thrilling.

*plz turn on sarcasm detector*

Idk. Looks to me as if he has some baby fat to shed. Is it typical of a player his age. Probably not. But i feel as if his physical development is behind where most players usually are and it may not be due an overabundance of to Reese's cups and video games.
- Michael Pachla

My concerns extend beyond just the physical development. If it were all merely a question of physical strength and conditioning, we would expect to have seen more moments of brilliance like he exhibited in his first six games. But despite having big chunks of two more seasons to show those glimpses of brilliance, we never saw it.

And it isn’t as though he is putting the AHL on its head.

Take away that big splash in six games two years ago, and we have a kid who has shown NOTHING - whether in terms of talent or comitment - to justify any real value going forward.

How do we know he hasn't?
- Michael Pachla

Well if he has, then he needs to hit it harder.

My concerns extend beyond just the physical development. If it were all merely a question of physical strength and conditioning, we would expect to have seen more moments of brilliance like he exhibited in his first six games. But despite having big chunks of two more seasons to show those glimpses of brilliance, we never saw it.

And it isn’t as though he is putting the AHL on its head.

Take away that big splash in six games two years ago, and we have a kid who has shown NOTHING - whether in terms of talent or comitment - to justify any real value going forward.
- Der Kaiser

Good post Kaiser

My concerns extend beyond just the physical development. If it were all merely a question of physical strength and conditioning, we would expect to have seen more moments of brilliance like he exhibited in his first six games. But despite having big chunks of two more seasons to show those glimpses of brilliance, we never saw it.

And it isn’t as though he is putting the AHL on its head.

Take away that big splash in six games two years ago, and we have a kid who has shown NOTHING - whether in terms of talent or comitment - to justify any real value going forward.
- Der Kaiser

How do you know the 21 yr. old lacks commitment?

Well if he has, then he needs to hit it harder.
- Buff36

You could be right.

You could be right.
- Michael Pachla

You are right that he is young, and I think he could still be a very big piece of the future. I just want to see more.

How do you know the 21 yr. old lacks commitment?
- Michael Pachla

I don’t. But in two and a half years I haven’t seen the improvement in his conditioning that we’ve seen from - for example - Tage.

You are right that he is young, and I think he could still be a very big piece of the future. I just want to see more.
- Buff36

Me too. I'm nor all that impressed with his career thus far either.

Me too. I'm nor all that impressed with his career thus far either.
- Michael Pachla

But if he could bring a piece back that can help the Sabres know, I would move him in a second.

That's thrilling.

*plz turn on sarcasm detector*
- Michael Pachla

I don't mind it. The NBA is supposedly talking about doing something similar in Vegas.

Playing in front of few or no fans will be strange, but let's be honest, most of us only watch on TV anymore anyway. We would get used to it.

Either way, the reality is that we will probably be seeing games played without fans whenever sports start up again.

I don’t. But in two and a half years I haven’t seen the improvement in his conditioning that we’ve seen from - for example - Tage.
- Der Kaiser

He played a year and a half with the Sabres, and I agree, he was sucking wind a lot. He's carrying 200+ lbs playing a game that's twice as fast, or more, than he played in college. Huge jump that he may have misjudged by leaving college after his freshman year