So here's the funny thing:

I confess I haven't really watched Sabres games for a few years (or anything really, other than the Leafs), so I don't really have an opinion on Risto.

But going strictly off stats, he logged the most TOI/G for your defence, and was second in points.

Johnnson is a classic 2nd/3rd liner forward, with a reasonable contract, coming off of knee surgery.

Kerfoot might be useful to you as a 2nd line winger, provided he had good players to play with.

Yet everyone in Ek's thread is saying there is no way the Leafs would do this deal.

Am I missing something? What's wrong with Ristolainen?
- Atomic Wedgie

If you subscribe the "old time hockey" mentality, Ristolainen is your model.

If you subscribe to the modern analytics based mindset, you don't want to touch him with a ten foot pole.

In general, I agree.
What holds me back is ROR. GMTM was on record as saying he needed a 1C for a couple years to shield Eichel. ROR did that well.
Sabres gave up a fair amount for ROR, but I do think it was a smart move at the time.
In the past few days, Mike Harrington is on record as saying the ROR never wanted to be traded. I thought it was a ploy by him to orchestrate a trade out, which it did, but maybe not intentionally.
Team would have been miles ahead with ROR still here rather than the absolute unmitigated crap they got back.
- IonSabres

I understand the ROR trade, we had nothing really to put around them to build the team at the time. The Kane trade and the 1st for Lehner were bad. And I think the Pegulas were butt heart about ROR and they called for his trade, it was a horrible decision.

We don't have the 3rd round picks to trade
- Buff36

I'm assuming you'll get some when you trade Eichel.

If you subscribe the "old time hockey" mentality, Ristolainen is your model.

If you subscribe to the modern analytics based mindset, you don't want to touch him with a ten foot pole.
- buffalofan19

Interesting, as 33 points ain't shabby.

There are more than a few Leafs fans who believe we need another stay at home guy.

I understand the ROR trade, we had nothing really to put around them to build the team at the time. The Kane trade and the 1st for Lehner were bad. And I think the Pegulas were butt heart about ROR and they called for his trade, it was a horrible decision.
- Buff36

So, the interesting thing with Lehner is now that he is straightened out, he is a very solid goalie. Him and Ullmark would be great with 6K in the wings.

I'm not sure when his addiction started, but if he were straight back then, it would have been worth it, IMO.

EXCELLENT QUESTION!!!

There is great debate as to whether he is better suited on the wing or centre.

He moved around on the Leafs last year, and apparently also spent a lot of time on the wing in Colorado, where (I'm told - I didn't watch him) he scored the majority of his points.

tl/dr: many Leaf fans, and maybe coaching staff, feel he is a better fit on wing, but yes, he's "officially" a centre.
- Atomic Wedgie

If he's a center, the deal makes sense. I'm not sure it does if he's a winger, as bringing two more wingers to Buffalo without addressing the Center need is not the way to go.

So, the interesting thing with Lehner is now that he is straightened out, he is a very solid goalie. Him and Ullmark would be great with 6K in the wings.

I'm not sure when his addiction started, but if he were straight back then, it would have been worth it, IMO.
- IonSabres

Yes sir. Still risky though. Wagons do tip over quite frequently.

I understand the ROR trade, we had nothing really to put around them to build the team at the time. The Kane trade and the 1st for Lehner were bad. And I think the Pegulas were butt heart about ROR and they called for his trade, it was a horrible decision.
- Buff36

So, the interesting thing with Lehner is now that he is straightened out, he is a very solid goalie. Him and Ullmark would be great with 6K in the wings.

I'm not sure when his addiction started, but if he were straight back then, it would have been worth it, IMO. But it did happen, so ultimately the trade failed miserably.

So, the interesting thing with Lehner is now that he is straightened out, he is a very solid goalie. Him and Ullmark would be great with 6K in the wings.

I'm not sure when his addiction started, but if he were straight back then, it would have been worth it, IMO.
- IonSabres

Goaltending can be had without giving up 1st rnd picks. But again if he wasn't so (frank)ed up maybe it's worth it.
Edit: Why did we get rid of Halak

Interesting, as 33 points ain't shabby.

There are more than a few Leafs fans who believe we need another stay at home guy.
- Atomic Wedgie

He isn't a stay at home Dman, his Transition game is a complete joke, and he might be dumber than a rock. He hits though

I couldn't possibly imagine that would hold him back.
- Atomic Wedgie

His stats are pretty comparable to current HOF'ers

His name is on the cup
Longevity
1,000 + points

Old boys club probably

His stats are pretty comparable to current HOF'ers

His name is on the cup
Longevity
1,000 + points

Old boys club probably
- Boss34

The problem is that the "Hall of Fame" has really been the "Hall of Very Good" for a long time. It makes the pool larger, which makes the number of snubs higher as well.

His stats are pretty comparable to current HOF'ers

His name is on the cup
Longevity
1,000 + points

Old boys club probably
- Boss34

throw in the fact that he is the first National Hockey League draftee to defect from the Soviet Union in order to play in North America.

current team president of Amur Khabarovsk in the KHL

olympic gold medal

world championship gold

world jr gold


6 time all star


lady byng winner

one of only 30 people in the triple gold club



and I have over 300 of his rookie cards


F the NHL

It does if it is Lafreniere. He SHOULD get 60-80 points as a rookie. He is the real deal. He crushed it in the World Jrs and he was 17.
- sabresfan69

Eichel got 53.. Hughes got like 30.

The problem is that the "Hall of Fame" has really been the "Hall of Very Good" for a long time. It makes the pool larger, which makes the number of snubs higher as well.
- buffalofan19

any player that has over 1,000 points in under 1,000 games in the nhl should be in the hall of fame

Byfield has the frame and skating to make the jump
- Michael Pachla

I buy that. I just don't buy that those kids really take the Sabres up without a lot of reconstruction.

EXCELLENT QUESTION!!!

There is great debate as to whether he is better suited on the wing or centre.

He moved around on the Leafs last year, and apparently also spent a lot of time on the wing in Colorado, where (I'm told - I didn't watch him) he scored the majority of his points.

tl/dr: many Leaf fans, and maybe coaching staff, feel he is a better fit on wing, but yes, he's "officially" a centre.
- Atomic Wedgie

All I need in my life is Sam Reinhart x2.

Eichel got 53.. Hughes got like 30.
- TheSabresTaco

Eichel didn’t get to play with a clone of himself his rookie year though.

Lafreniere has also played 3 years of junior hockey and is one of the older players in this draft class. He is almost a full year older then Byfield.

Eichel didn’t get to play with a clone of himself his rookie year though.

Lafreniere has also played 3 years of junior hockey and is one of the older players in this draft class. He is almost a full year older then Byfield.
- Pegullaville

60-80 pts as a rookie. 60 is steep, 80 is mcdavid.

60-80 pts as a rookie. 60 is steep, 80 is mcdavid.
- TheSabresTaco

I’m not disagreeing with you, but playing with a super star in Eichel, I’d be betting on the over for Lafreniere to get 60+ points.

If Lafreniere goes to Ottawa or Detroit. He’s getting 40-50.

I’m not disagreeing with you, but playing with a super star in Eichel, I’d be betting on the over for Lafreniere to get 60+ points.

If Lafreniere goes to Ottawa or Detroit. He’s getting 40-50.
- Pegullaville

This assumes he plays on Eichel's line.

This assumes he plays on Eichel's line.
- buffalofan19

Fair enough. That’s also assuming Buffalo wins the lottery too. Me thinks it’s mostly just black ink taking up a page and we are talking about who were going to take at 8 tmo night

Eichel didn’t get to play with a clone of himself his rookie year though.

Lafreniere has also played 3 years of junior hockey and is one of the older players in this draft class. He is almost a full year older then Byfield.
- Pegullaville

This is exactly why I would prefer Byfield, in addition to him being a Center.

Eichel
Byfield
Cozens
Dahlin
Joker
Skinner

Offseason Trades/FA
Stastny
Tuch
DeMelo

We aren't picking in the top 5 so there is no reason to keep the pick.

Did the Buffalo News redesign its website today?