I think it is if Helen Keller fell in the woods would she make a sound?
- Hatboro_Swords

😀

I think kagm was hiding behind a Bush.

I like the hire alot. I fall for all this bs though.......

In the pegulas defense, the rex ryan hire was supposedly all russ Brandon. "Dont let him out of the building"

Tmgm was la la's pick
Bylsma was a recent cup winner
Housley was respected
Jbotts was recommended by the nhl

Mcbeane looks great
Ralph is likeable so far
- Boss34

I'll always be a Sabres fan, but I'm done defending those two.

I had tears in my eyes at their introductory press conference. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This doesn't happen in Buffalo. Now part of me wishes they'd go far, far away.

Maybe Adams and Krueger works out. The odds are against them, especially when they're operating with the notion that they need to make moves in order to keep the captain happy. They are going to have a really tough time getting this lineup to where it needs to be.

Just my opinion, and I hope I'm wrong.

Well I will just say the Pegulas had there chance and don't know how to talk to people, or how they should talk to people. Respect is given when it is earned.

Gr 55






CATEGORIES: all local NHL Sabres News Our Opinions

Every fiber of my being wanted to just write "You can't." and have that be this entire piece. In essence, that's what the present answer is when fans and media in other NHL markets ask the question: "What would it take to get Jack Eichel?"

In fairness though, I understand all of it. If I were in Boston, Montreal, Carolina, anywhere really, I'd be thinking about what it would take to get Eichel too.

Realistically, there is no way in hell Eichel is getting traded right now. At this point, all of the talk about his being frustrated with being with the Sabres is just speculation. Nothing concrete. The lack of things to talk about in the NHL due to COVID-19 is certainly a factor in the Eichel trade talk as well.

For the fans of other teams that want to have some fun thinking about an Eichel trade, fine, here's what your trade should look like. You'll quickly pick up on why Eichel won't get traded, because most won't want to give up what it actually should cost.

To me, that cost is a young No. 1 center and something of significance.



You don't have it:

Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals



Calgary Flames: Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk, first round pick

Unless a true No. 1 center is coming back in a deal, you can't trade Eichel. Monahan is coming off a down year, but is a proven 30-plus goal scorer with three years left on his deal at 25-years-old. However, he's not an elite talent like Eichel. For that, the Sabres get a top line winger in Matthew Tkachuk and a late first round pick.



Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Jost

The Avalanche would never give up MacKinnon and he may even be a better player than Eichel, but if you're the Sabres, you're getting a player that is a year older and has three fewer years on his contract. For that, the Sabres are getting some added center depth in Jost.



Carolina Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov

Aho has become a No. 1 center in hockey and is just 22-years-old. He has four years remaining on his contract as opposed to Eichel's six. To make the deal worth it for the Sabres, they should need something substantial. Enter Svechnikov, one of the brightest young goal scorers in the NHL. He netted 24 goals and 61 points last season at just 19-years-old.



Dallas Stars: Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen

Seguin is a point per-game player, but is five years older than Eichel. For the difference, the Sabres get one of the best young defensemen in the NHL. Heiskanen may become a defenseman that'll be in the Norris Trophy running year-after-year with Rasmus Dahlin.



Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid

Yes, obviously the Oilers would never do this.



Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov, Spencer Knight, first round pick

Barkov is, arguably, on the same level as Eichel when it comes to elite young centers in the NHL. However, Barkov is a year older and has just two more years on his contract. Losing that much control is valuable. Knight was the 13th overall pick in 2019 and is, arguably, the best goalie prospect in the world. Throw in a first rounder for the hell of it.



New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, two first round picks

Hughes had anything but a stellar rookie season. Despite entering the season as a Calder Trophy favorite, he never entered the conversation with just 21 points in 61 games. Hughes, though, does have elite level potential. Given his rookie year, it's a huge question mark to whether he reaches that or not. Hischier, meanwhile, feels like Sam Reinhart, in that he was a top draft pick in a down draft year. He'll likely never be a point per-game player, but has already proven to be a top-six forward. The Devils pick seventh in the 2020 draft, meaning the Sabres would pick back-to-back in this scenario.



New York Rangers: Mika Zibanejad, Kaapo Kakko, two first round picks

Zibanejad has taken a massive step in the last two seasons. He followed up a 74-point campaign in 2018-19, with 75 points in 57 games this season. He is four years older than Eichel and has two years left at $5.3 million. Kakko, like Hughes, struggled in his rookie season with just 23 points, but entered the league with elite hype. He was the second overall pick just one year ago.



Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews, Rasmus Sandin

I see Eichel and Matthews as washes as players. Both are going to be superstars for a decade-plus. Matthews' cap hit is $1.6 million higher than Eichel's, and he has two fewer years on his deal. More expensive and less control for the same caliber of player. For that, Toronto is giving up a good young defenseman on the way up in Sandin.



Vancouver Canucks: Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser

Pettersson is a bright young star developing in Vancouver. He won the Calder Trophy last year with 66 points in 71 games. He matched that this season with 66 points in 68 games. Just under a point a game isn't Eichel level yet, but there's good reason to believe he'll be considered in the same tier some day soon. For the bit of doubt that he won't reach Eichel-level, the Sabres get a proven young goal scorer on the wing in Boeser.



Winnipeg Jets: Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers

Scheifele is a No. 1 center in the NHL. He's been over a point a game in four straight seasons. He is four years older than Eichel. Ehlers is a nice top-six winger that has often been mentioned in Rasmus Ristolainen trade rumors. If Winnipeg wanted Ristolainen as a throw in, I wouldn't sneeze at it.



Likely none of the teams listed above would give up these packages to get Eichel. If you didn't understand before why the idea of Eichel being traded was completely unrealistic, hopefully you do now.

I'll always be a Sabres fan, but I'm done defending those two.

I had tears in my eyes at their introductory press conference. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This doesn't happen in Buffalo. Now part of me wishes they'd go far, far away.

Maybe Adams and Krueger works out. The odds are against them, especially when they're operating with the notion that they need to make moves in order to keep the captain happy. They are going to have a really tough time getting this lineup to where it needs to be.

Just my opinion, and I hope I'm wrong.
- Powerslave

Really good post power

Michael, good article. Your efforts are appreciated!

So, with the Bonus Overage and the d listing Buyout, Sabres have about $79.5m in spendable Cap,
Therefore, your roster build totaling $76.5m is very realistic in leaving $3.0 for next season's Rookie Bonuses and Trade flexibilty.

You $76.5 roster build has 7 of 23 roster positions of ELC/ Vet Min contracts, while also accounting for several contract renewals necessary in each of the next 2 seasons with placeholders as follows:
- Sam at 1RW of $7m '20-'21
- 3C of $2.9m = Kahun '20-'21
- 2LW of $4.5m = Olofsson '20-'21
- 4C of $900k = Lazar '20-'21
- 1LhD of $5m = Dahlin '21-'22
- 2RhD of $2.0m = Joker '21-'22
All in all, I think these are fairly reasonable guesstimates.
Add in Cozens at 3RW at the ELC value and Trade at the 2C for the $5m listed.

All the above tells me that the idea of the Sabres having lots if Cap space isn't a reality...
A) there isn't room for Gus nor Larry, let alone any of the UFA's of Frolik, Simmonds, Sobotka, Vesey
B) if you flip Okposo from ths 2RW position back to his 4RW spot, then the $900k for a 2RW is abysmal...and that includes blowing it off as Tage's opportunity
C) trades must be made for Montour and Risto as there is no place on the roster...likely the quality coming back is better than $900k ELC's ... need to find additional monies from somewhere
- do you also move Sam and Mojo and allocate some portion of their listed Cap hit to other positions like 2RW and 2C and back fill 1RW and 3LW with less costly alternatives?
D) the 4LW will need to be Asplund, Ruotsolainen, Mitts ... none of which excites me ... so likely a low level FA
E) the 3rd Pairing at ELC's are likely Brycen and Borgen not Dahlin and Joker as they represent the placeholders at 1LhD and 2RhD respectfully.

Devils hired Ruff?

[quote=lulags]
some clown with no sabres insight called it over a week ago


https://www.hockeybuzz.co...?thread_id=166883&page=24

ruff coaching the devils

imagine that
- homiedclown

That was the worst kept secret in the league the past week or so

Saw this on Cap Friendly.....

Point for Sam & Cozens

It’s a lot to give up, but that would be one hell of a 1-2 punch at Center... only behind:
1- McDavid/Draisaitl
2- Crosby/Malkin
3- Tavares/Matthews

And i don’t think it would take too long for our duo to move up to #2 on the list


And I’d have a hard time seeing Tampa say no
They’d probably even include a Johnson, Kilorn, etc at no cost (or very cheap) just to clear some more Cap space

That was the worst kept secret in the league the past week or so
- jdfitz77

almost like duds was suppose to sign with the sabres


no clue how 2 owners can f@ck that up

Saw this on Cap Friendly

Point for Sam & Cozens

It’s a lot to give up, but that would be one hell of a 1-2 punch at Center... only behind:
1- McDavid/Draisaitl
2- Crosby/Malkin
3- Tavares/Matthews

And i don’t think it would take too long for our duo to move up to #2 on the list


And I’d have a hard time seeing Tampa say no
They’d probably even include a Johnson, Kilorn, etc at no cost (or very cheap) just to clear some more Cap space
- jdfitz77

they are going to need to clear close to 10 mil, give or take a tad


my guess is a few of the ntc guys are getting moves, or Vasilevskiy

Yes, I've read your attached articles proclaiming reinhart is as good without eichel as he is with him.


I personally watch jack eichel take passes and secondary assists from his linemates, carry the puck for 10 seconds and pick a corner with HIS awesome shot.

Keep pretending their is no eichel affect.

Ek9
Skinner
Sam

Yep, they all made eichel, not vise versa.


Please remind me of one "big goal" or big moment in Sam's career.

Skinner is irrelevant now without eichel.


Why not have some new faces that aren't losers?
- Boss34

What?

He had 26 goals in 64 games on a way worse Sharks team, and 30 in 75 games last year. He played WORSE with Jack, because they both like to have the puck.

almost like duds was suppose to sign with the sabres


no clue how 2 owners can f@ck that up
- homiedclown

U said Duds basically said no thanks
Any insight as to why he turned down their offer?

they are going to need to clear close to 10 mil, give or take a tad

my guess is a few of the ntc guys are getting moves, or Vasilevskiy
- homiedclown

Who is taking on that deal willingly?

they are going to need to clear close to 10 mil, give or take a tad


my guess is a few of the ntc guys are getting moves, or Vasilevskiy
- homiedclown

True, and this doesn’t really clear space
Sam basically just replaces Point’s Cap hit
But if they included Tyler Johnson or Kilorn, Palat, etc etc etc... I’m sure we’d take them
Doubt they’d ask for much other than to be rid of the Cap hit
Just a matter of who they could get to waive to come here

There are only so many ex-Sabres living in the area and even fewer from the late '70's early '80's and even fewer who would have a beer with Dudley. I think we could come up with someone's source if we wanted to, just saying. It pays off to be a former investigator.

U said Duds basically said no thanks
Any insight as to why he turned down their offer?
- jdfitz77

You earn respect by giving respect. Sometimes people need to know there not the best equipped for certain things.

U said Duds basically said no thanks
Any insight as to why he turned down their offer?
- jdfitz77

it was more a meeting then an interview, from what I heard to see if there was a fit


seems it will not be a fit

There are only so many ex-Sabres living in the area and even fewer from the late '70's early '80's and even fewer who would have a beer with Dudley. I think we could come up with someone's source if we wanted to, just saying. It pays off to be a former investigator.
- GilPerreault11

never said it was a player


you need a hobby more then boss

never said it was a player


you need a hobby more then boss
- homiedclown

I am very happy to be here

Who is taking on that deal willingly?
- kingcong39

sens
islanders
devils
wings
hawks


maybe the flyers if they get bounced in 4 or 5 games

never said it was a player


you need a hobby more then boss
- homiedclown

If it was an admin or coach 30 or 40 years ago he would have one foot in the grave, Scotty was relatively young then. Dudley is 72 and he was playing then. You are on here pumping your chest more than anyone. Let's talk about hobbies.

I am very happy to be here
- SABRES 89

If it was an admin or coach 30 or 40 years ago he would have one foot in the grave, Scotty was relatively young then. Dudley is 72 and he was playing then. You are on here pumping your chest more than anyone. Let's talk about hobbies.
- GilPerreault11

never said it was a coach or admin either


I gave many hints over the years


perhaps you should read more, there is a wonderful archive here



or get off my a$$




your call