Breida is better than Johnson
- Fattony1187

Never said he wasn't, homie had said something about him. I would take either in the roll they would be playing.

It is amazing what competent management can do for a team.

I believe the Sabres interviewed Zito, was it during the GM search that they decided on Botterill?
- kingcong39

they've done great, however, let's not crown him as the greatest thing since sliced bread...this season is an outlier and the cats took full advantage of a weak division with the likes of columbus and detroit as well as middling chicago and dallas teams...

although their record should not be dismissed, full context should be invoked here

I see all these mock drafts where it seems clear the time invested in looking up draft eligible players is virtually zip, as the ordering of the players is hilarious, to the point you know the author didn't even look at how the player actually performed this season and last.

Sometimes, the simplest approach is best when it comes to the draft.

Simply putting the player and their stats into an excel and sorting by points/points per game and age (youngest to oldest), and using that as your draft guide without caring about supposed skating problems, character issues, or any of the other myriad excuses for not taking a player, would yield post-first round quality players consistently.

Hell, look at Guenther. I've seen him all over the place in mock drafts due to the tired tropes that scouts use as negative talking points, but look at his actual production this year and last.

It seems it's too difficult for many to tune out the noise.
- kingcong39

Most of the players that end up out producing their draft slots fall in the draft due to size concerns. “Too small, too lanky....”

Most players over drafted and bust are due to their size. Lawson Crouse anyone ?

I think the old prejudice plays a huge role in it too.

Look at Brayden Points WHL statistics and tell me that’s not a top 5 pick if he is 6’2 200 pounds.

It’s ultimately possible the Wild got the 3rd or 4th best player in the draft last year at pick 9 in Rossi but the poor kid almost died from Covid and didn’t play any hockey this year.

Carolina getting Jarvis at 13 looks really good right now.

I 100% agree with the “noise”

Exactly. I don’t count last year with the dolphins. That team on offense was a mess

He’s a home run hitter
- Sabretooth9

never realized his speed

Heck, yeah.

Ffs, we haven't won anything with Eichel. In fact, we've been atrocious for 6 years with him. What are people so afraid of?

Personally, I don't want to trade him. But if we do and the pieces are good coming back, then what's the problem?

We may fill 2-3 holes immediately by trading him.

Now, all that said, management better be right with the pieces they acquire, if they do move him.
- Powerslave

If you took your car in and it just needed the tires and oil changed and possibly a new timing belt, do you replace the perfectly good V8 engine too ?

If the engine is running fine then fix the rest of the parts and the car will drive just fine

generational
- Michael Pachla

Hes a good Energy guy that doesn't stop
The 2nd Rounder we definitely need to hit

I believe he thinks Stankoven and Cossa will be taken before the Sabres pick at 32.
- kingcong39

Stankoven should go top 20, however cause he’s small it’s possible he’ll fall to 32 like Debrincant did because GM’s aren’t smart

people rightly called ralph a snake oil salesman...look what ownership and management sold sabreland on back in 2013...

snake oil salesmen
- Michael Pachla

Working in the corporate world, it was an immediate red flag when Ralph was using all the business buzzwords, without having any actual meaning to his comments.

Their moves also made it obvious when they talked about embracing and incorporating analytics into their thinking, but then brought in Eakin and did nothing about the goaltending.

If you took your car in and it just needed the tires and oil changed and possibly a new timing belt, do you replace the perfectly good V8 engine too ?

If the engine is running fine then fix the rest of the parts and the car will drive just fine
- Pegullaville

the tank worked at securing eichel...everything else was an epic fail as their league-worst record. two last place finishes and nhl record-tying 10th consecutive year outside the playoffs indicates

Did this season show a bit that bringing in those veteran players ended up blocking playing time for much impactful young players?

My point: You need to be very, very careful in which veteran players you target because most are more name recognition then on ice substance.
- kingcong39

You’re on one this morning 39

If you took your car in and it just needed the tires and oil changed and possibly a new timing belt, do you replace the perfectly good V8 engine too ?

If the engine is running fine then fix the rest of the parts and the car will drive just fine
- Pegullaville

Not if you've been running the car w sh!t tires and dirty oil for 6 years.

At some point the engine will say, I've had enough.

I'm fine if they keep him. I'm fine if they move on (provided they get the proper return).

Hes a good Energy guy that doesn't stop
The 2nd Rounder we definitely need to hit
- gerbe75pts

he's a fine bottom-six player with speed to burn and puck-hawking capabilities...he's also quick to the puck which makes him effective on the pk and he can score goals...

fine by me

https://theathletic.com/2...-eichel-to-carter-hutton/
Interesting article

https://theathletic.com/2574630/2021/05/07/stay-or-go-who-will-be-back-with-the-sabres-next-season-from-don-granato-to-jack-eichel-to-carter-hutton/
Interesting article
- Buff36

75 percent chance of staying
Jack Eichel: The Sabres are a better team with him on it. When healthy, he’s a top-10 center in the NHL. And even if — if — there’s lingering unhappiness, he simply doesn’t have the leverage to force his way out. There’s still one season and two offseasons before his no-move clause kicks in. Eichel played hurt, but he’s coming off just two goals in 21 games. The balance of bargaining power would be in his favor had he been an MVP candidate while the Sabres still stunk, but that didn’t happen.

So, why isn’t the captain in the 99 percent group? Chris Drury. The Rangers didn’t dismantle their front office and name him president and general manager to oversee a long rebuild. They want to win now. Rumors of Eichel to New York were plentiful last offseason, and they’re bound to increase with Drury in charge. He and Eichel have a connection through USA Hockey. Landing Eichel would be a stellar first move for the Rangers’ new boss.

But the odds are still better of Eichel staying in Buffalo.

they've done great, however, let's not crown him as the greatest thing since sliced bread...this season is an outlier and the cats took full advantage of a weak division with the likes of columbus and detroit as well as middling chicago and dallas teams...

although their record should not be dismissed, full context should be invoked here
- Michael Pachla

I don't agree with the bold at all.

They are in a weak division yet it has 2 of the best 3 or 4 teams in hockey?

Also, every division has bad teams in it. You've mentioned the Penguins and Bruins, who've had the advantage of beating up on the Sabres, Devils, and Flyers, who are all bad teams.

Take a look at the other divisions and you'll see multiple bad teams there too.

Only 4 teams in the NHL have as many or more points then the Panthers.

They deserve full credit for having a tremendous season so far, and a big part of their success is due to the decisions they made on multiple players they brought in.

he's a fine bottom-six player with speed to burn and puck-hawking capabilities...he's also quick to the puck which makes him effective on the pk and he can score goals...

fine by me
- Michael Pachla

Biggest thing with me is his passing, looks like he's trying to pass a pillow instead of a hockey puck.

Most of the players that end up out producing their draft slots fall in the draft due to size concerns. “Too small, too lanky....”

Most players over drafted and bust are due to their size. Lawson Crouse anyone ?

I think the old prejudice plays a huge role in it too.

Look at Brayden Points WHL statistics and tell me that’s not a top 5 pick if he is 6’2 200 pounds.

It’s ultimately possible the Wild got the 3rd or 4th best player in the draft last year at pick 9 in Rossi but the poor kid almost died from Covid and didn’t play any hockey this year.

Carolina getting Jarvis at 13 looks really good right now.

I 100% agree with the “noise”
- Pegullaville

Along with size, add in the intangibles and skating issues and you've hit on the big three.

Calling those nonsense and going off of on ice results gets a teams drafting results ahead of most teams.

171-221-60 and .445 points percentage since they tanked for jack--both worst in the league...

florida 'non-tanking' panthers record under tallon from 17-18 to 19-20 was 115-88-30 with a .558 points percentage

you're move
- Michael Pachla

Barkov, Huberdeau, and Ekblad were all top 3 picks.

Their record from 17-18- 19-20 is in part due to all of those three players.

They did not get rid of Barkov or Huberdeau due to lack of playoff series appearances, heck they haven’t won a playoff series since they drafted either of them.

In regards to my analogy a few posts back, the Panthers didn’t throw away the perfectly good engine, they changed the tires, oil, and the timing belt. That car is running mightily fine this season

I don't agree with the bold at all.

They are in a weak division yet it has 2 of the best 3 or 4 teams in hockey?

Also, every division has bad teams in it. You've mentioned the Penguins and Bruins, who've had the advantage of beating up on the Sabres, Devils, and Flyers, who are all bad teams.

Take a look at the other divisions and you'll see multiple bad teams there too.

Only 4 teams in the NHL have as many or more points then the Panthers.

They deserve full credit for having a tremendous season so far, and a big part of their success is due to the decisions they made on multiple players they brought in.
- kingcong39

5-7-3 vs. carolina and tampa while feasting on columbus and detroit, 27th and 26th in the league, respectively, who have point differentials of -51 and -43...chicago is 20th overall with a -26...

outside of new jersey, the worst team in the east is the rangers who are 16th-overall with a +26 goal differential

put them in the east and they're not a playoff team

You’re on one this morning 39
- Pegullaville

I'm just tired of seeing the Sabres make the same mistakes over and over again.

Are they really serious about winning and icing the best possible lineup?

Trade Ristolainen and Miller for whatever they can get, even if it's just picks, as the cap relief alone is worth it.

Trade high on a player like Olofsson, for once.

When all else fails, try fresh tactics.

Barkov, Huberdeau, and Ekblad were all top 3 picks.

Their record from 17-18- 19-20 is in part due to all of those three players.

They did not get rid of Barkov or Huberdeau due to lack of playoff series appearances, heck they haven’t won a playoff series since they drafted either of them.

In regards to my analogy a few posts back, the Panthers didn’t throw away the perfectly good engine, they changed the tires, oil, and the timing belt. That car is running mightily fine this season
- Pegullaville

you're basing it on one shortened, outlier of a season...i'm not saying zito didn't help the team in ways tallon could not...i'm not saying that they're not having a good season...but running up the zito flag on iwo jima is a little premature, especially when they'll be back in one of the top two divisions in hockey next season

5-7-3 vs. carolina and tampa while feasting on columbus and detroit, 27th and 26th in the league, respectively, who have point differentials of -51 and -43...chicago is 20th overall with a -26...

outside of new jersey, the worst team in the east is the rangers who are 16th-overall with a +26 goal differential

put them in the east and they're not a playoff team
- Michael Pachla

You don't think the Panthers are a playoff team in this season's Eastern division?

You gave their record against what are quite possibly the 2 best teams in the league.

I'm not saying they're a cup favorite. They are however a good team. I can't remember the last time the Sabres could accurately be called that.

you're basing it on one shortened, outlier of a season...i'm not saying zito didn't help the team in ways tallon could not...i'm not saying that they're not having a good season...but running up the zito flag on iwo jima is a little premature, especially when they'll be back in one of the top two divisions in hockey next season
- Michael Pachla

Sure, point taken.

However the Panthers held on to their elite players they bottomed out for.

If Eichel has his Deshaun Watson or Aaron Rodgers moment this offseason and demands our then obviously it’s a different story.

Eichel, Reinhart, Mitts, Cozens, Dahlin, Joker are part of the solution and not the problem. Surround those players with other good players, a couple of goalies that can stop a beachball, and a good coach and hope for the best

You don't think the Panthers are a playoff team in this season's Eastern division?

You gave their record against what are quite possibly the 2 best teams in the league.

I'm not saying their a cup favorite. They are however a good team. I can't remember the last time the Sabres could accurately be called that.
- kingcong39

props to them...and the sabres have sucked for years...no argument there...

5-7-3 vs. carolina and tampa while feasting on columbus and detroit, 27th and 26th in the league, respectively, who have point differentials of -51 and -43...chicago is 20th overall with a -26...

outside of new jersey, the worst team in the east is the rangers who are 16th-overall with a +26 goal differential

put them in the east and they're not a playoff team
- Michael Pachla

Outside of the Sabres, Devils, and the Flyers...?