Considering our two most recent large signings (JVR and Hayes) aren’t exactly home runs, maybe the fact we didn’t do a lot is actually a win ?
- landros 2

I posted earlier that I don't feel you build your team through UFA signings. Some smart complimentary signings can work if you're close. Nowadays, you build your core through the draft and trades. Of note, while both good players, I am glad we didn't pay Jones (not UFA but trade assets then salary) or Hamilton that money. Wow. Nor did I want to sign Freddy Andersen for 4 mil etc.. Ullmark to 5 mil Mrazek Grubauer etc. Jones wasn't my first pick, but I am hoping that he can rebound as a backup.

None A+ grade. My bad.
- hello it's me 2050

What UFA did they fail to sign?

What UFA did they fail to sign?
- MBFlyerfan

None. They only talked to Yandle and Nate. The GM went 2 for 2. Perfect batting average.

Stephan is one per Bill. So there is your 1.

So do you believe they didn't try to go after any other free agents besides the 2 they signed? Yes or no.

None. They only talked to Yandle and Nate. The GM went 2 for 2. Perfect batting average.

Stephan is one per Bill. So there is your 1.

So do you believe they didn't try to go after any other free agents besides the 2 they signed? Yes or no.
- hello it's me 2050

One! Wow.

They probably did. Just like every other team. I am simply pointing out the flaw in your convoluted logic.

So why did they trade him?
- hello it's me 2050

Buch was traded so they could have Kakko and Laf in the top 6. Panarin was not happy with the trade

One! Wow.

They probably did. Just like every other team. I am simply pointing out the flaw in your convoluted logic.


- MBFlyerfan

omg

You said name one. So there it is slice.

Not flawed logic. Not talking about other teams. Probably lol. They "probably" didn't pursue any other free agents.

Buch was traded so they could have Kakko and Laf in the top 6. Panarin was not happy with the trade
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

it was more a question for MJL as he constantly says why did Nashville trade ellis.

Pretty good rundown on chiclets of the eichel situation where the team wants him to get a fusion and he and his team want an artificial disc replacement which is a much quicker recovery and if it doesn’t work there is always an option for the fusion down the road. Bottom line Buffalo is an absolute joke and continues to be the worst organization in the NHL.
- ClaudeFather

I don't know that I'd call that a "good rundown of the situation" at all.

Jack Eichel has played in at least 1 charity hockey game since his agents have initially claimed he needs surgery prior to being ready for the season. What would be interesting is if the Sabres caved and said "ok, get your surgery, heal up, and we promise once your game ready you'll be traded".

My personal belief is Eichel just wants out. I understand both sides. You signed a contract to be there and were convinced to believe in the Pegula's plan for success. After 4 coaches in 6 years and a continued failure by management to assemble even a semi-competent roster its hard to continue believing in that plan.

But the whole injury thing doesn't seem as cut and dry as presented. This is why the most recent comment from Eichel's agents were "this process isn't working for us". Ok...and? That doesn't mean anything to anyone and only makes trading him that much more difficult. They have no leverage and that's exactly why they haven't pursued this medical issue seriously. There's an entire legal avenue that could be pursued here by Jack's agent if they really thought he needed that surgery ASAP and there's a reason they haven't done so.

Going to pontificate for a minute on Hart because I know that many are worried about last year's regression. I think we can all agree we need him to rebound to 2020 performance if we are to have a chance.

Part of what I saw in his regression was that essentially the overall team D did not play well in front of him (or Moose for that matter). Our d was so porous that we gave up numerous tap in goals on the far side (basically pass it around the goalie at close range and goal). So many that eventually it gets into the goalies head.

When that happens, whether the goalie realizes it or not, you tend to play too far back in your net or cheat to one side or another. Even when someone tells you that you're doing it, sometimes you can't stop, especially when an early goal or two are scored. Then, on top of the tap ins, you start letting in short side goals cause you are cheating far side and back and forth until you're not stopping anything. Eventually, you're confidence is shot and boy is it hard to get back. Even harder as a young player and it's compounded by not much practice time/sitting in a hotel alone stewing over it. It spirals

So fast forward to next year. My hope is that with better team d in front of him, that it begins to spiral the other way. Strong play in front of him means that Hart starts to trust that he's not going to get beaten with tap ins, so he plays his angles correctly and challenges confidently. Then, the d begin to have more confidence that their goalie is going to make all the saves he's supposed to and some he's not. D are then able to be more aggressive pinching and their confidence improves. It spirals the other way and the team starts winning a lot as a consequence.

Just my.02 but I wanted to share my POV on this as it's a lot more complex than Hart played terribly and therefore the team gave up too many goals and he sucks etc.
- Hextall271

Hart will be just fine!! He already has his game at an NHL level and now he just needs to modify his flaws. The kid is serious about playing hockey and he is smart on top of that. I have absolutely no doubt that he will figure it all out and rebound very well.
I think being by himself and confined like he was without practice time had a devastating impact on both him and his game and I honestly don't think I would have fared any better under the same circumstances
I agree with your observation about Hart. He is not one of my worries but I understand why he is for some since he is the future franchise goalie that everyone has their hopes up about

BH servin' up breakfast!
- Scoob

Hot and fresh!

I don't know that I'd call that a "good rundown of the situation" at all.

Jack Eichel has played in at least 1 charity hockey game since his agents have initially claimed he needs surgery prior to being ready for the season. What would be interesting is if the Sabres caved and said "ok, get your surgery, heal up, and we promise once your game ready you'll be traded".

My personal belief is Eichel just wants out. I understand both sides. You signed a contract to be there and were convinced to believe in the Pegula's plan for success. After 4 coaches in 6 years and a continued failure by management to assemble even a semi-competent roster its hard to continue believing in that plan.

But the whole injury thing doesn't seem as cut and dry as presented. This is why the most recent comment from Eichel's agents were "this process isn't working for us". Ok...and? That doesn't mean anything to anyone and only makes trading him that much more difficult. They have no leverage and that's exactly why they haven't pursued this medical issue seriously. There's an entire legal avenue that could be pursued here by Jack's agent if they really thought he needed that surgery ASAP and there's a reason they haven't done so.
- mochoson

Them not letting team see his medical reports is also very odd if true.

Hart will be just fine!! He already has his game at an NHL level and now he just needs to modify his flaws. The kid is serious about playing hockey and he is smart on top of that. I have absolutely no doubt that he will figure it all out and rebound very well.
I think being by himself and confined like he was without practice time had a devastating impact on both him and his game and I honestly don't think I would have fared any better under the same circumstances
I agree with your observation about Hart. He is not one of my worries but I understand why he is for some since he is the future franchise goalie that everyone has their hopes up about
- Bob Habib

Was his game last year at NHL level?

omg

You said name one. So there it is slice.

Not flawed logic. Not talking about other teams. Probably lol. They "probably" didn't pursue any other free agents.
- hello it's me 2050

So if they didn't pursue any others as you say, how is that a failure?

Using your logic, if someone sees a wall, and they decide not to climb over, you would say they failed to climb the wall.

It’s silly but I keep forgetting we got yandle on top of risto and Ellis. I think he is going to really help us with depth etc. That may be one of the better moves chuck made.
- Hextall271

Yandle was a sneaky good move and I love it! All that handle brings for only 900k?! That's ELC money!
With the reports that several other teams also pursued him I don't think CF gets enough credit for landing him!
But yeah with the names Ellis and risto in headlines yandle did kind of get pushed to the back burner. That's also what makes it so sneaky good, doncha think?
I am so amped about this upcoming season! Lol
I feel like a kid again, waiting for the season to start lol

So if they didn't pursue any others as you say, how is that a failure?

Using your logic, if someone sees a wall, and they decide not to climb over, you would say they failed to climb the wall.
- MBFlyerfan

Clearly the sarcasm is something you didn't grasp. Have a blessed day.


Great analogy though. That is sarcasm.

Though if s military drill yes it would be a failure

Yandle was a sneaky good move and I love it! All that handle brings for only 900k?! That's ELC money!
With the reports that several other teams also pursued him I don't think CF gets enough credit for landing him!
But yeah with the names Ellis and risto in headlines yandle did kind of get pushed to the back burner. That's also what makes it so sneaky good, doncha think?
I am so amped about this upcoming season! Lol
I feel like a kid again, waiting for the season to start lol
- Bob Habib

You mean Hayes?

😂. Dude. You kill me🤣.

Chicken little.

On the flip side I know I got black and Orange googles on. So I’m okay with your take. At least I’m having a lot of fun right now. This team is going to have a great season. 👍
- peesinwind

This!! This is going to be a great season and I expect risto to earn a lot of love before it's all said and done! Just wait until he cripples a few people into the boards

None. They only talked to Yandle and Nate. The GM went 2 for 2. Perfect batting average.

Stephan is one per Bill. So there is your 1.

So do you believe they didn't try to go after any other free agents besides the 2 they signed? Yes or no.
- hello it's me 2050

Maybe 1? And that's a strong maybe.

Flyers still need to sign an AHL goalie. They'd have one contract slot left after doing so and signing all their RFA's (minus Kase who slides).

Fletcher almost certainly "got everyone he wanted" considering Yandle was a late addition to FA after being bought out. Jones was probably the same case after being bought out considering his projected price point and the Dillabough connection. There was no other goalie who mad more sense the moment he was bought out.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Injured Prospects Return, Yandle & Hayes Interview, and More
- bmeltzer

Jesus. Keith Yandle and Kevin Hayes. You’d think Jeremy Roenick and Tony Amonte reunited to play on a line and dominate together.

Jesus. Keith Yandle and Kevin Hayes. You’d think Jeremy Roenick and Tony Amonte reunited to play on a line and dominate together.
- SuperSchennBros

wut

The bigger question is why do you pay him any attention? Just scroll on by.
- MJL

Just figuring that out. I’m a little slow on the up take. 😉

I don't know that I'd call that a "good rundown of the situation" at all.

Jack Eichel has played in at least 1 charity hockey game since his agents have initially claimed he needs surgery prior to being ready for the season. What would be interesting is if the Sabres caved and said "ok, get your surgery, heal up, and we promise once your game ready you'll be traded".

My personal belief is Eichel just wants out. I understand both sides. You signed a contract to be there and were convinced to believe in the Pegula's plan for success. After 4 coaches in 6 years and a continued failure by management to assemble even a semi-competent roster its hard to continue believing in that plan.

But the whole injury thing doesn't seem as cut and dry as presented. This is why the most recent comment from Eichel's agents were "this process isn't working for us". Ok...and? That doesn't mean anything to anyone and only makes trading him that much more difficult. They have no leverage and that's exactly why they haven't pursued this medical issue seriously. There's an entire legal avenue that could be pursued here by Jack's agent if they really thought he needed that surgery ASAP and there's a reason they haven't done so.
- mochoson

I’m not really following you, it seems pretty clear his camp wants one surgery and the team is suggesting another.

This!! This is going to be a great season and I expect risto to earn a lot of love before it's all said and done! Just wait until he cripples a few people into the boards
- Bob Habib

Ristolainen is the big question mark for me. I know Fletcher and company have had their eye on him for a few years. So they must have seen something to like. So I’m going to go on their analyst of the situations. Seemed they had a handful of targets that seemed to fit and went out to make things happen. I like what they did on that back end.

The bigger question is why do you pay him any attention? Just scroll on by.
- MJL

yup

Ristolainen is the big question mark for me. I know Fletcher and company have had their eye on him for a few years. So they must have seen something to like. So I’m going to go on their analyst of the situations. Seemed they had a handful of targets that seemed to fit and went out to make things happen. I like what they did on that back end.
- peesinwind

To add to your point on Chuck said they targeted Risto for years… Risto had what, 2-3 coaches in that span? This tells me our analytics recognized coaching usages and determined we can correct or set him up in the better situations to get the most of him.