Michael Pachla: Buffalo has two centers teams "crave." Botterill looking to fill wings

FIST!!!!!!!!!!!

If we could get 2 good young defense for Kane I would do it. One young stud and 1 prospect

FIST!!!!!!!!!!!
- RhinoFan

nice

If we could get 2 good young defense for Kane I would do it. One young stud and 1 prospect
- CondorFlake

me too...actually getting that in return is the problem

me too...actually getting that in return is the problem
- Michael Pachla

Yeah that will be a tough sell

Still wondering why Botterill is already calling Samson a winger. The kid played some of his best hockey at C last year, isn't that jumping the gun a little bit on JB's part?

Yeah that will be a tough sell

Still wondering why Botterill is already calling Samson a winger. The kid played some of his best hockey at C last year, isn't that jumping the gun a little bit on JB's part?
- RhinoFan

yeah, I was a bit surprised at that...he said he'd revisit that a bit later if I recall correctly

yeah, I was a bit surprised at that...he said he'd revisit that a bit later if I recall correctly
- Michael Pachla

This may be to highlight his versatility for possible trade

yeah, I was a bit surprised at that...he said he'd revisit that a bit later if I recall correctly
- Michael Pachla

That's good. Think that may be his true fit. And him, Eichel and RoR as 1-3C sounds promising if we can fill wing gaps.

yeah, I was a bit surprised at that...he said he'd revisit that a bit later if I recall correctly
- Michael Pachla

I'm not to be honest. If you have two centers already, and need wing help, Reinhart might need to stay there for the time being.

If we could get 2 good young defense for Kane I would do it. One young stud and 1 prospect
- CondorFlake

Taylor Hall could not fetch a good young stud Dman. Now, the Hall trade was bad, but I think it pretty much means you aren't getting anywhere near that for Kane.

I'm not to be honest. If you have two centers already, and need wing help, Reinhart might need to stay there for the time being.
- buffalofan19

I would've moved ROR to eichel's wing and put sam at centre. He's either capable of that role or hes not, either way you'd like to find out sooner rather than later.

Missed opportunity having not done that this year once the playoffs were out of reach.

Taylor Hall could not fetch a good young stud Dman. Now, the Hall trade was bad, but I think it pretty much means you aren't getting anywhere near that for Kane.
- Aetherial

Hall > Kane, so the return should be less. But as you said, it was a bad trade. I think they can get a solid #3 in return for him. Depending on who it is we might have to add a lesser pick or a prospect, but I think Kane's 28 goals could get the right team talking around expansion draft time, you don't?

True about the hall trade but the market has somewhat changed! Their will be defenceman available, because of the expansion draft, and some teams starting from scratch. But the expansion teams with problems protecting will want draft picks and or prospects? And with so many teams still looking to improve their defense competition will be strong! But with hopefully Antipin, one of the younger kids and a free agent smith/stone maybe? They won't have to go the trade root?and hopefully don't trade the 1st pick or Nylander! unless it's a number 1or2? Guy they make a package for imho either way Botterill I'm confident will be a great addition!

ROR actually had his best season playing on the Left wing...
i believe it was with Duchene and P.A. Parenteau in 2013-2014

Edit: 28g 36a - 64 points

True about the hall trade but the market has somewhat changed! Their will be defenceman available, because of the expansion draft, and some teams starting from scratch. But the expansion teams with problems protecting will want draft picks and or prospects? And with so many teams still looking to improve their defense competition will be strong! But with hopefully Antipin, one of the younger kids and a free agent smith/stone maybe? They won't have to go the trade root?and hopefully don't trade the 1st pick or Nylander! unless it's a number 1or2? Guy they make a package for imho either way Botterill I'm confident will be a great addition!
- MR.Hunter

Antipin won't sign here after all. Why ? Because Buffalo, that's why. Nothing good ever happens here.

ROR actually had his best season playing on the Left wing...
i believe it was with Duchene and P.A. Parenteau in 2013-2014

Edit: 28g 36a - 64 points
- 22sabresQ

We need him in the middle

Yeah that will be a tough sell

Still wondering why Botterill is already calling Samson a winger. The kid played some of his best hockey at C last year, isn't that jumping the gun a little bit on JB's part?
- RhinoFan

He is?
I heard him say they've seen Sam more on the wing

I don't think that's the same thing as saying he sees him as a winger

Antipin won't sign here after all. Why ? Because Buffalo, that's why. Nothing good ever happens here.
- kritter65

He's going to sign here after the tournament he said

Is it a rumour about Antipin signing here after the tourney or is it a fact? Just wondering.

ROR actually had his best season playing on the Left wing...
i believe it was with Duchene and P.A. Parenteau in 2013-2014

Edit: 28g 36a - 64 points
- 22sabresQ

So you'd move our best defensive center (and only good one) to the wing?
Doesn't make much sense to me

1C- Eichel
2C- O'Reilly
3C- Reinhart

Botterill seems like he thinks it's important to build down the middle
This potentially gives us 3 lines that can score

It's not ideal now, bc we still don't have all of our wingers ready to slot in
But a guy like Ennis gets one more shot at getting his game back together before Bailey, Nylander & Baptiste (and others: Fasching, Pu, etc) surpass him

Hall > Kane, so the return should be less. But as you said, it was a bad trade. I think they can get a solid #3 in return for him. Depending on who it is we might have to add a lesser pick or a prospect, but I think Kane's 28 goals could get the right team talking around expansion draft time, you don't?
- RhinoFan

Not necessarily...

Expansion has many teams with defensemen they can't protect
And we the have open slots to protect guys that other teams who want to upgrade their defense don't have
That means more sellers than buyers = price goes down

Example:
Edmonton has Sekera(NMC), Larson & Kelfbom
Are they really gonna trade for a defenseman & then expose Klefbom?
It better be a heck of an upgrade if they're gonna do that

But we could just expose Bogosian

For us it makes sense...
for many other teams it does not

He is?
I heard him say they've seen Sam more on the wing

I don't think that's the same thing as saying he sees him as a winger
- jdfitz77

With Schopp and BD he said he sees him as more of a winger going forward

With Schopp and BD he said he sees him as more of a winger going forward
- sbroads24

I only heard his interview on Howard Simon
I'll have to check that one out

I hope he changes his mind though

We have some wingers coming...
so I want us to be as strong down the middle as possible
I think Sam's playmaking skills are best suited for him being in the middle

So you'd move our best defensive center (and only good one) to the wing?
Doesn't make much sense to me

1C- Eichel
2C- O'Reilly
3C- Reinhart

Botterill seems like he thinks it's important to build down the middle
This potentially gives us 3 lines that can score

It's not ideal now, bc we still don't have all of our wingers ready to slot in
But a guy like Ennis gets one more shot at getting his game back together before Bailey, Nylander & Baptiste (and others: Fasching, Pu, etc) surpass him
- jdfitz77

This would be a killer Top 3 centres IMO