Michael Pachla: Jack Eichel remains out for his third straight game as BUF hosts NJD

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Hall is out for the Devils, which helps. Mittelstadt playing with Smith is nice

New blog
- BeadyEyedDouche

wheeeeee!!!!

Hall is out for the Devils, which helps. Mittelstadt playing with Smith is nice
- jcragcrumple

gonna be interesting to see how it shakes out with skunk in

gonna be interesting to see how it shakes out with skunk in
- Michael Pachla

Is this real? If so, don't we have too many forwards?

That can still be done while getting whatever we can for the deadweight in the bottom 9. I think Guhle+ Nylander could bring in that said player. I think anyone on Rochester right now could be had in the right trade. We have a ton of picks in the next few years plus guys already drafted that will be vying for spots in Rochester.
- Pegullaville

I think we're saying the same thing. Whether it comes through offloading our "deadweight" or a combination of our prospects and/or picks, I think we should use whatever assets it takes to find guys who can contribute in Buffalo in the next 3 years.

I don't feel entirely comfortable that even high-end picks will do that. Nylander is a great example. For that matter, so is Mittlestat. We don't know whether either of those guys (both high first rounders) are going to actually pan out.

Is this real? If so, don't we have too many forwards?
- Der Kaiser

Game time decision, will probably take the skate and Elie will sit if he plays.

I think we're saying the same thing. Whether it comes through offloading our "deadweight" or a combination of our prospects and/or picks, I think we should use whatever assets it takes to find guys who can contribute in Buffalo in the next 3 years.

I don't feel entirely comfortable that even high-end picks will do that. Nylander is a great example. For that matter, so is Mittlestat. We don't know whether either of those guys (both high first rounders) are going to actually pan out.
- Der Kaiser

Good Post ! Offloading some of the deadweight will allow us to dip into free agency at the very least and that will help the problem. Tampa has had success however with always having prospects in the pipeline, whereas Toronto has absolutely nothing coming through the prospect ranks. I think at the very least the draft picks will keep the cupboards stocked.

I think we're saying the same thing. Whether it comes through offloading our "deadweight" or a combination of our prospects and/or picks, I think we should use whatever assets it takes to find guys who can contribute in Buffalo in the next 3 years.

I don't feel entirely comfortable that even high-end picks will do that. Nylander is a great example. For that matter, so is Mittlestat. We don't know whether either of those guys (both high first rounders) are going to actually pan out.
- Der Kaiser

Interesting point.

It's a catch 22:

1) You trade draft picks for assets. Cap ramifications will follow and eventually, once you're good, your draft picks have less value and you run out of them as well.
2) You draft, you get busts.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Looking at the perennial playoff teams, they seem to do a bit of both. Teams like Tampa, SJ and Pitt have all been repeat contenders. All have made trades for picks, but all have core pieces that came from the draft.

What the right balance is, that I do not know.

Interesting point.

It's a catch 22:

1) You trade draft picks for assets. Cap ramifications will follow and eventually, once you're good, your draft picks have less value and you run out of them as well.
2) You draft, you get busts.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Looking at the perennial playoff teams, they seem to do a bit of both. Teams like Tampa, SJ and Pitt have all been repeat contenders. All have made trades for picks, but all have core pieces that came from the draft.

What the right balance is, that I do not know.
- RhinoFan

The key is to trade the busts before other GMs find out they're busts. And keep the good ones. It's pretty simple, really.

Channeling my inner Gary Clark.

Easier said than done it seems.

The key is to trade the busts before other GMs find out they're busts. And keep the good ones. It's pretty simple, really.
- Der Kaiser

It's a game of chess

The key is to trade the busts before other GMs find out they're busts. And keep the good ones. It's pretty simple, really.
- Der Kaiser

The other key is to get your GM buddies super drunk at a strip club near the airport and find out what they really think about 2016 #18 OA pick Jurgen Glimsman

The key is to trade the busts before other GMs find out they're busts. And keep the good ones. It's pretty simple, really.
- Der Kaiser

Simple on the chalk board, but we've been horrible at it for years.

Leino, Ehrhoff, Okposo ---not good at FA
Grigo, Girgs, Nylander ---not good at drafting
Kane, RoR, Hodgson ---not good at trading

Whatever the formula is, we need market improvement to 2/3 of those at least.

Simple on the chalk board, but we've been horrible at it for years.

Leino, Ehrhoff, Okposo ---not good at FA
Grigo, Girgs, Nylander ---not good at drafting
Kane, RoR, Hodgson ---not good at trading

Whatever the formula is, we need market improvement to 2/3 of those at least.
- RhinoFan

For all the poop he got last year from the fans and from Housley (some of it deserved, no doubt)- Benoit Pouliot was a solid FA add at $1m last year. 13 goals, and he never sniffed the top 6. There was nothing really done in that vein this year.

Edit: Pilut, so well done there

6-2 Jersey

53 Jeff Skinner - 17 Vladimir Sobotka - 72 Tage Thompson
49 C.J. Smith - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 28 Zemgus Girgensons
43 Conor Sheary - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 29 Jason Pominville
81 Remi Elie - 22 Johan Larsson - 21 Kyle Okposo

This is Tank Bad.....

For all the poop he got last year from the fans and from Housley (some of it deserved, no doubt)- Benoit Pouliot was a solid FA add at $1m last year. 13 goals, and he never sniffed the top 6. There was nothing really done in that vein this year.

Edit: Pilut, so well done there
- jcragcrumple

Did you say Benoit Pouliot was a solid FA signing??????????? I'll have some of what he is having please...

Did you say Benoit Pouliot was a solid FA signing??????????? I'll have some of what he is having please...
- hehateme

I know, but for $1m? How many wingers are we gonna have who score 13 this year?


Reinhart
Skinner

Maybe Pominville, Sheary, Okposo. Cheap depth scoring options are nice

53 Jeff Skinner - 17 Vladimir Sobotka - 72 Tage Thompson
49 C.J. Smith - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 28 Zemgus Girgensons
43 Conor Sheary - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 29 Jason Pominville
81 Remi Elie - 22 Johan Larsson - 21 Kyle Okposo

This is Tank Bad.....
- hehateme

What would Duchene cost ?

What in the flying (frank) is the point of having Mitts on the 4th line.


I need somebody to point me the rule that says that every team ever cant ever put their young players in a position to succed.
- feetontheair22

It's incredibly dumb. Matthews got 17:31 his rookie year, McDavid got 18:53. Hell, Matthews STILL only gets 18:09 a night now. McDavid is up to 22:45 a night. Eichel started out at 19:07 and is actually playing the second fewest minutes at 19:46 this year.

So a jamoke like Mittelstadt doesn't stand a chance.

I know, but for $1m? How many wingers are we gonna have who score 13 this year?


Reinhart
Skinner

Maybe Pominville, Sheary, Okposo. Cheap depth scoring options are nice
- jcragcrumple

oh we really suck at FA signings if he stands out as one of our best.. That dude is 32 without a job this year and has played for 7 teams in 10 years.....the Sky is falling!!!!

What would Duchene cost ?
- 22sabresQ

Trade for now or sign on July 1?