It's an interesting topic.

Ion, if you're out there, please add that question to your upcoming survey:

Would you trade Reinhart for Laine? I suspect it would be like 70% yes, but I'm curious

I don't think Laine is gonna get anywhere near $10m, personally. I think he'll get a 2 year bridge, or long-term maybe $7-8.5 (if the deal was made today). He's coming off a disappointing season. It seems premature for a team to lock him into that kind of cash
- jcragcrumple

Interesting

Curious... do you share this same opinion on Marner wanting 11M? Matthews getting 11.5M? McDavid getting 13.5M?

I know points wise those guys are far above Laine but curious if you say this about all younger players or just some?


I think a cap is needed on ELCs (already is), a cap on RFA/2nd contrcats, and then a max cap contract, and then a max a player can be paid in their 35+ span.
- JVince11

Yes I feel that way about everything. Including Eichel.

Eichel did not deserve a 10mm a year contract. But he got one.

Young players control the game. Soon every team will have 3 guys making 12mm each and a bunch of nothing’s after that to stay under the cap.

I like baseballs system where guys are cost controlled for a bit longer. 2nd contracts are much lowers unless a team wants to buy out the remaining years of RFA.

Curious... do you share this same opinion on Marner wanting 11M? Matthews getting 11.5M? McDavid getting 13.5M?

I know points wise those guys are far above Laine but curious if you say this about all younger players or just some?


I think a cap is needed on ELCs (already is), a cap on RFA/2nd contrcats, and then a max cap contract, and then a max a player can be paid in their 35+ span.
- JVince11

I think it would be cool to go the exact opposite direction. No draft, no elc’s, no Rfa, and no max contracts. Players can go anywhere they want, whenever they want. Just a salary cap with guaranteed contracts that teams have to live with.

Yes I feel that way about everything. Including Eichel.

Eichel did not deserve a 10mm a year contract. But he got one.

Young players control the game. Soon every team will have 3 guys making 12mm each and a bunch of nothing’s after that to stay under the cap.

I like baseballs system where guys are cost controlled for a bit longer. 2nd contracts are much lowers unless a team wants to buy out the remaining years of RFA.
- ImThatGuy

Be very careful with this. Lots of apologizing and justification on that front.

FINALLY, someone in power gets it
- IonSabres

It is good to hear it from the org instead of the media and fans complaining about how baby soft the team is.

A disappointing season where he still tallied more goals than Samson has in his best year....... I believe he smashed 33, 40, and then 30 this past year?
- JVince11

It's a question of how much you value goal scoring over the other aspects of the game, and where you set Laine's ceiling

Is his goal scoring ceiling 45? 50? How about Reinhart, 30? And then factor in assists and 2-way play

Yes I feel that way about everything. Including Eichel.

Eichel did not deserve a 10mm a year contract. But he got one.

Young players control the game. Soon every team will have 3 guys making 12mm each and a bunch of nothing’s after that to stay under the cap.

I like baseballs system where guys are cost controlled for a bit longer. 2nd contracts are much lowers unless a team wants to buy out the remaining years of RFA.
- ImThatGuy

Oh man... baseball is CRAZY with their Rule 2 redrafts and number of games spent up/down changing restricted/control years.

I think I read that in MLB, a team basically can control a 18 year old until their are 29.

Be very careful with this. Lots of apologizing and justification on that front.
- TheHank

Due to his age, he was paid based on projections. Bridge deals are for prove-its and cap circumstances (Kucherov). The projected salary ends after the ELC player's first major deal. Then it becomes what have you done recently, your body of work, and how you're projected going forward.

I believe Eichel was paid appropriately for what he will provide his team during the contract, not for what he did for the team up to that point. Which was definitely not 10M.

It's not a popular national opinion, and that's fine, but I feel the same.
- TheSabresTaco

Given the choices of destination and being a young sought after millionaire, I would maybe consider other options. (If I were skins)

That's why I'd be surprised if skins signs before the tampering period. Maybe his agent has a good feel though?

Agents want that 8th year

Brennan noted that both the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs also would fit the bill, but neither reportedly are on Karlsson's list as of right now.

He told me the same thing, and I called him a liar to his face, because there's not a single person on this entire planet that has ever liked being in Buffalo.
- TheSabresTaco

I love Buffalo 7 months out of the year. April-Oct after it could be a poop show.

Yes I feel that way about everything. Including Eichel.

Eichel did not deserve a 10mm a year contract. But he got one.

Young players control the game. Soon every team will have 3 guys making 12mm each and a bunch of nothing’s after that to stay under the cap.

I like baseballs system where guys are cost controlled for a bit longer. 2nd contracts are much lowers unless a team wants to buy out the remaining years of RFA.
- ImThatGuy

Young players don't control the game, stars control the game. They have been underpaid for a long time, while average and below average players have been overpaid. This correction is long overdue.

From an economic standpoint, Eichel is worth far more than 10m.

For all the truculence lovers here, Krueger mentioned the team is in need of, and will be pursuing, "bite and snarl"

It's necessary and was a clear factor missing from this team.
- TheSabresTaco

Vegas needs cap space. Trade Hunwick and a 3rd for Reeves and Mcnabb.

If Skinner doesn't sign:

He turned ROR, Kane, Lehner, a 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and Pu

Into

Sobotka, Thompson, Montour, 30/31OA and a 2021 2nd

That's gotta be worth getting fired over
- jcragcrumple

You can't lump them all together.

It is good to hear it from the org instead of the media and fans complaining about how baby soft the team is.
- TheSabresTaco

I really think part of "tanking" for dahlin and this years 7oa is making sure we are soft. Easy to play against.

Jbotts has moved

Ek9
D-lo
Foligno

Added: not hard to play against / intimidation factor
Sheary
Hunwick
Pilut
Dahlin
Scandella
Pommer
Mitts
Skinner
Ellie

Hi All,
Here are the results of the Survey I posted yesterday....terrific participation as we had 35 total respondents!
A sincere Thank You for giving your input

I don't think there are many surprises here, given how many posters have a serious interest in the Draft and who have read-up on the prospects.

This survey was focused on getting clarification on the direction we should go with the 7th OA. We still need to wrestle-to-the-ground the 30th/31st...but we have some additional time there.

One thing of note, we will need to discuss if/how/who we pursue trade opportunities with and for. I asked the question yesterday around trading the 7th; the answer from several rounded into:
- trade the 7th only for a young, proven Top 6 or Top Pair player with term
* term = 2+ years left
* young = under 26
* proven = something in the neighborhood of 25G's and 60sh points

Without further ado

1 - Team Needs



2- Desired Prospect Attributes



3 - Overall Prospect Rankings



4- Prospect Ranking by Position


Your feedback is desired and welcomed!

It's a question of how much you value goal scoring over the other aspects of the game, and where you set Laine's ceiling

Is his goal scoring ceiling 45? 50? How about Reinhart, 30? And then factor in assists and 2-way play
- jcragcrumple

Nailed it.
see the Team Needs matrix in my Survey Results post above^^^

From the Buffalo News....

"Skinner has proven to be one of the league's top goal scorers since he was drafted seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2010. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, Skinner ranks fifth in even-strength goals, trailing only Alex Ovechkin, John Tavares, Patrick Kane and Steven Stamkos."

Get er' done Botts. Sign Skinner.

Would anyone object to Wayne Simmonds

Morreale -- Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL): He covers the ice well with his smarts and vision and brings a little bit of a nasty streak to his game. The right-hand shot has good size (6-4, 197), strength, playmaking ability, maturity, and is a legitimate offensive threat each time he has the puck.

"Snarl and Grit"

or Byram if he's still there

Would anyone object to Wayne Simmonds
- SABRES 89

Racist

Racist
- washedup20

That's not what I was getting at

From the Buffalo News....

"Skinner has proven to be one of the league's top goal scorers since he was drafted seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2010. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, Skinner ranks fifth in even-strength goals, trailing only Alex Ovechkin, John Tavares, Patrick Kane and Steven Stamkos."

Get er' done Botts. Sign Skinner.
- SabreWest

similar production over past 5 or 6 years with respect to top 5 in scoring Game -winning and Game-tying Goals

He is a gamer.
Botts MUST get him signed, no choice and both sides know it.

Would anyone object to Wayne Simmonds
- SABRES 89

For a year or two. No idea what he will command in the UFA market, but he's on the back 9 of his career, and declining pretty quick

Curious... do you share this same opinion on Marner wanting 11M? Matthews getting 11.5M? McDavid getting 13.5M?

I know points wise those guys are far above Laine but curious if you say this about all younger players or just some?


I think a cap is needed on ELCs (already is), a cap on RFA/2nd contrcats, and then a max cap contract, and then a max a player can be paid in their 35+ span.
- JVince11

There is, it's 20% of the cap.