Kevin Allen: Ten good fits for teams seeking new look in UFA or trade markets Dougie Hamilton might be just what the Kraken need

I actually like the idea of Ristolainen in Carolina if Hamilton leaves. People rag on Ristolainen but if anybody can turn him into the player Buffalo tried to, it's Brind'amour.

It is amazing how out of touch most media are with a particular teams fan base.

You're sitting here saying that Buffalo can't keep things the same. What the fans dont' want, is a miserable #1 overall Defenceman, nor a Goaltender...that isn't going to excite the base that lost over a third of its viewership in a year where more than others, people were sitting at home!

THOSE silent majority, who fear the 'brow beating' from eccentric social media fans, simply shut off after decades. This isn't a short term thing. The people that support(ed) that franchise for years...and it's not a simple come back any longer. The ones that left, a line was crossed, insulting their intelligence with gimmicks and goaltenders wont cut it.

This team doesn't need a #1 overall that wont play right away, and certainly not another #1 overall defenceman. What they need is the 2022 #1 overall pick.

That doubled with the fact this team can't hire the HC the fans want is, in my opinion, doomed.

That will leave only two options, new ownership, or the team leaves the city.

The media seem to think that the fanbase who have been so loyal for so long can be "tricked" with garbage. no no no, not anymore. This damage that has been done , for many , is permanent.

The one good thing on the side of this particular Sabre organization is, with a decade of absolute terrible losing, they have left the standard so LOW. You've got 15yr olds who dont know what it is to demand excellence. That being said, if that is the organizations hope, after losing a generation of fans, to be so bad, then be mediocre at best to trick younger fans into something...may God have mercy on their souls.

Last thing the sabres need is an unproven goalie to carry the load.

The article cuts off at the end? What are we missing?
"He m"
Thats an awesome sign out but maybe not the intention because I hear this shouted possibly with a British accent.

He Man

Avs are not giving up Toews for Jones. Toews is a much better 2 way Dman than Jones and Jones will want more money once his contract expires. Doesn’t make sense for the Avs who have Toews locked up on a good contract. Sakic is smart and won’t make that trade which would result in Jones walking next summer and the Avs would be hurting for dmen minus Toews and Jones next summer

Would love Jack and have said this in the Sabres... blog...

No way no how do Z and even more So Drysdale go anywhere.

Edmonton Oilers Will go after Florida Panthers UFA Goaltender 26 yr old Chris Drieger
he is a good Canadian kid and will work well with Smith...
Or
Back up plan is a trade with CBJ for the 27 yr old Goaltender Elivis Merzlikins, maybe D/man Jones and a prospect or and 3rd round pick he is a UFA next year and want out Columbus to play on a Contender like the Edmonton Oilers...??

Edmonton Oilers Will go after Florida Panthers UFA Goaltender 26 yr old Chris Drieger
he is a good Canadian kid and will work well with Smith...
Or
Back up plan is a trade with CBJ for the 27 yr old Goaltender Elivis Merzlikins, maybe D/man Jones and a prospect or and 3rd round pick he is a UFA next year and want out Columbus to play on a Contender like the Edmonton Oilers...??
- White

Smith needs to be jettisoned into the solar system.. If the oil keep running out these horrid Goalies... man I just don't know...

They need to speed dial Cbus for one of those guys for RNH if possible and maybe even make it a bigger trade.

Lol a duck fan doesn’t want to give up zegras or drysdale for Eichel! Well then enjoy the unknown and wasted Gibson years whine you can. Your team needs the top Centerman NOW not in a couple years. Your not finding a franchise center for pennies on the dollar. Being a Sabres fan, it’s gotta be Zegras and the #3 or move on. Don’t need drysdale when Power is there for you at 1.
Goalie idea is good except take out Bernier and put in Merzilinkis.
Risto to Carolina is good for Risto. He’s better than his underlying stats are due to the ineptness of the management of this team regarding the roster decisions! Too much pressure was out on him too early due to the lack of talent on the backend. As far as cost idk it’s tricky but 1 for 1 type trade similar contracts. Sabres will need forwards if they move Eichel and Reinhart so insert similar values Carolina forward here lol.
This off-season is make or break for the Sabres that’s for sure.

Laughable actually… philly tied to almost every name out there and no mention of any player going to philly. This is not flyer buzz protocol. I fully expect an edited article shortly

Colorado is not giving up toews for Jones. Colorado really doesn’t need jones and if they were to acquire him it would be as a rental as they aren’t going to break the bank for a guy to play on the 2nd pairing behind makar.

Maybe I’m in the minority here but I don’t think acquiring eichel is a good move for the ducks. You look at the rest of their roster and they would basically be buffalo west but with a top 10 goalie. They still probably have 2 more years to go in the rebuild, something that negates the main reason for bringing in a guy like eichel and something I’m sure he who can walk as a UFA in 5 years won’t be thrilled to join a team that isn’t good enough to compete.

Long story short picking up eichel is a move you make to put your team over the top, not one you bring in to be the Centrepiece of your rebuild. Doing so would essentially be the equivalent to New Jersey bringing in Taylor hall except Anaheim won’t (or at least shouldn’t) be able to fleece buffalo as bad the devils did to the oilers

Also call this a gut feeling but I think Pittsburgh is going to find a way to bring back Fluery this off-season

Eichel to Ducks, so you won't give up Z or Drysdale. Then what about the #3 and a new French connection of Comtois, Perrault, Giroulx?

Eichel is a ppg top 10 center in this league. If the Ducks aren't ready to move a blue chip prospect, then they just aren't the right trading partner imo. I understand the tendency to over-value prospects and picks.

Lol a duck fan doesn’t want to give up zegras or drysdale for Eichel! Well then enjoy the unknown and wasted Gibson years whine you can. Your team needs the top Centerman NOW not in a couple years. Your not finding a franchise center for pennies on the dollar. Being a Sabres fan, it’s gotta be Zegras and the #3 or move on. Don’t need drysdale when Power is there for you at 1.
Goalie idea is good except take out Bernier and put in Merzilinkis.
Risto to Carolina is good for Risto. He’s better than his underlying stats are due to the ineptness of the management of this team regarding the roster decisions! Too much pressure was out on him too early due to the lack of talent on the backend. As far as cost idk it’s tricky but 1 for 1 type trade similar contracts. Sabres will need forwards if they move Eichel and Reinhart so insert similar values Carolina forward here lol.
This off-season is make or break for the Sabres that’s for sure.
- firelarry

JE isn't going anywhere for value until he can prove that he can stay healthy...
And as this and most playoffs show... Goalies are very valuable .. Gibson is a bonafide #1 and should be someone the Sabres should be interested in ..

Eichel to Ducks, so you won't give up Z or Drysdale. Then what about the #3 and a new French connection of Comtois, Perrault, Giroulx?
- G - Man

A Buffalo writer had something along those lines...

I would say Gibson, #3 and Jones / Steel / Terry 2 of the 3 combo ..

Perreault and Comtois are going to be part of the rebuild...

I also hear the Avs are interested in Eichel. Give them MacKinnon, a draft pick and everyone moves on. Maybe they could do a Rantanen and pick for Guentzel and some moving on? Or maybe this Jones bullpoop is just that and no one on earth is suggesting the Avs want to bring him in, let alone at the cost of Toews. How about everyone moves on from that?

Korpisalo could be a good landing spot for a few teams. He just needs a change of scenery. Last years playoff run shows the potential he has on a good team.

A Buffalo writer had something along those lines...

I would say Gibson, #3 and Jones / Steel / Terry 2 of the 3 combo ..

Perreault and Comtois are going to be part of the rebuild...
- dozerD10

That would be a no win situation for Gibson, lol From one loser to another.

Senceless, Ducks are in a total rebuild, 3-4 years far from PO even in a pathetic Pacific. They'll have pretty the same issue as Sabres, with only difference Eichel would be even more unhappy (extra 5% state tax in commifornia)

Eichel Is damaged goods right now and It seems he has a dark cloud over him all the time, It sounds like an attitude or personality thing he's just not the guy the everybody wants to be around.

No NYI?!?!?!!? They gotta trim cap! Varly goes to another contender that needs a goalie. He can be traded to 16 teams.... Toronto? Back to the Avs if Gruby bolts?? To sunny San Jose? Up to Edmonton? Would the Krack pick him up if exposed?

Penguins and Freddie? How about the return of MAF?

Jack is not going anywhere unless given a clean bill of health!

Maybe Duby figures out how to sign Dougie. Trading Marner for picks and prospects would free up a lot of cap for signing FA's like Hamilton and Hyman!

OK, I get it. You're trolling Avs fans. But do you have to be this lame about it? First the Avs are exposing Toews in the expansion draft. Now they're trading him (and a pick!) for Seth freaking Jones.

By chance have you compared Toews numbers to Jones over the last two seasons? Especially his possession numbers? Did you happen to watch the Avs in the playoffs where Toews was at least the Avs second best defenseman?

Joe Sakic does not trade a player signed to a team friendly deal and a freaking draft pick, for a worse player on an expiring contract. And Seth Jones is one of if not the most overrated player in the league who has sucked the last two seasons. Or do you guys just look at names? We all know that Jones learned to play in Denver and his dad was briefly friends with Joe Sakic and he was in the Avs room for the 2001 Cup celebration and wanted the Avs to pick him #1 overall. That's all really nice but Joe Sakic isn't going to be the person who vastly overpays Seth Jones at the position of least need on the team and gives up Devon freaking Toews (and a pick!) for the privilege of doing so.

Oh now I really get it. This is actually Ek writing these trying to make this other guy look bad...

Really? Give them Devon Toews+, are you fvcking kidding me. Kevin Allen really should stop writing about the Avs, it’s clear he doesn’t know a god damn thing about them.