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*** 2021/22 Stanley Cup NHL Thread **** Congrats 2022 Avs Cup Champs! (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Zegras11
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Capella
Footballguy
Seattle could have simply taken Dillon right?
edit: yes they could have. Took a goalie with a .908 save percentage. #francis
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Chemical X
Footballguy
francis simply wet the bed here. hoping he deals for strome, lord knows he may donate something awesome to the nyr.
AcerFC
Footballguy
It’s been a long three months filled with rumors, innuendo and straight-up fantasy. It’s easy for the facts to be obscured or forgotten.
So here are two indisputable facts:
The Sabres are building around players who want to be in Buffalo.
Jack Eichel wants to be somewhere else.
That’s it. The rest is just noise.
While general manager Kevyn Adams says he’s OK with Eichel still being in Buffalo when training camp starts, it’s not going to happen. He knows it. Eichel knows it. The NHL knows it.
“Our expectation is that Jack is going to be traded in the near future,” Eichel’s agents told Elliotte Friedman on Sunday night, “and all of our discussions have been centered around that issue.”
The last half of the quote is more important than the first. Adams talked with Eichel’s agents at least twice Saturday. The chats were not about when camp starts or whether Eichel should bring a hacky sack to the team picnic.
All discussions have centered around trading Eichel.
The captain’s landing spot and the return for Buffalo still need to be worked out. While a deal didn’t happen during draft weekend, talks did. The Athletic’s Michael Russo learned the Sabres are asking for four assets that are the equivalent of first-round picks. The Wild went so far as to print a potential trade on a glass board in their war room, writes The Athletic’s Scott Burnside. The Athletic’s Rick Carpiniello reported that, according to a league source, Buffalo owner Terry Pegula wants Eichel to land in the Western Conference.
For the Sabres’ sake, Adams needs to follow the guidelines he put in place for the Sam Reinharttrade. The GM sent the forward to Florida, which is in Buffalo’s division, because it was the top package for the Sabres.
“This is about the best deal you can get,” Adams said. “You’re talking to everybody. I’m not doing my job if I’m not talking to everyone in the league continuously.
“When you’re in a situation that it’s time to make a deal, you think about (division rivalries), but to me, it’s about value. If you’re getting what you believe is the best value for your organization, then you make that deal.”
It’s important, if not essential, that Adams finds his trade partner by noon ET Wednesday. That’s when the free agent market opens. Suitors that can absorb Eichel’s $10 million cap hit now may erase themselves from the bidding by signing forwards Gabriel Landeskog and David Krejci, defensemen Dougie Hamiltonand Tyson Barrie or goalie Philipp Grubauer.
If the Sabres wait, it could become a “money in, money out” situation. In addition to their desired assets, they’d have to take a bad contract or two. It wouldn’t be the end of the world — after subtracting Eichel’s $10 million, the Sabres are more than $44 million under the salary cap — but it would be preferable to not have regrettable deals on the books.
As for free agency, the Sabres are not expected to go after big names. Adams is determined to build around his core of 18- to 23-year-olds, including Rasmus Dahlin, Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt, Jack Quinn and No. 1 pick Owen Power.
“We’re going to see where we’re at in terms of the players out there,” Adams said of free agency. “What I will say I believe is critically important with our team makeup right now is not boxing young players that are on our roster out of crucial situations and crucial minutes. One of the best ways to learn in this league is by doing it, by experiencing being out there at the end of the game up a goal or down a goal, having that feeling of taking a faceoff when the game’s on the line. If you’re a Casey Mittelstadt or Dylan Cozens, that’s important.
“We want to make sure that we put the right pieces around this young core of players that we have, but you want to make sure they’re also getting out there and having the opportunity to grow and learn.”
The Sabres’ plan is going to require something of the fans: patience. It’s understandable that many have run out of it. They watched the rebuild centered around Eichel and Reinhart fail miserably. The Sabres have tied the NHL record for longest playoff drought at 10 seasons.
Guess what? It’s going to reach 11. The Sabres are in no position to challenge Atlantic Division rivals Tampa Bay, Boston, Toronto, Florida and Montreal for a playoff spot. They could struggle to keep up with Ottawa and Detroit.
By going with a young core, that’s the choice Buffalo is making. Management is focused on 2023-24, not 2021-22.
But unlike the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons — better known as The Tank — the Sabres won’t lose on purpose. They just won’t be good enough to win.
Former GM Tim Murray traded away every goalie who could stop a puck. Adams doesn’t even have a goalie on his roster. Murray dressed borderline NHLers such as Tyson Strachanand Zac Dalpe. Adams is giving ice time to his top prospects.
Coach Don Granato may coax more development from this group, but even if Cozens doubles his stats, that’s a 16-goal, 52-point season over 82 games. It would be a welcome jump for the 20-year-old, one that forecasts an impressive future.
But Toronto No. 2 center John Tavares is coming off the equivalent of a 28-goal, 73-point season. Buffalo’s top scorer, Reinhart, went to Florida and may center the second line. The Bruins re-signed Taylor Hall for their second line after he returned to point-per-game status.
While young players can play in the NHL, it’s rare for them to make significant contributions. The Sabres’ lineup will feature skaters from the 2017 through 2020 draft classes. Going back one year to look at the recently completed season:
Only five of the 71 skaters from the 2016 draft were in the top 100 scorers.
Only five of the 62 players from 2017 reached the top 100.
Only four of the 38 from 2018 ranked in the top 100, including none in the top 50.
None of the 21 players from 2019 were in the top 100. New Jersey’s Jack Hughes led the way by ranking 136th.
No one should expect the Sabres’ young guys to challenge for a scoring title or record elite numbers. The Sabres should compete nightly, provided they find a goalie, but they won’t have a roster built for the playoffs. What they will have is a roster built with guys who want to be in Buffalo. Their captain wants to be somewhere else — and will be.
Chemical X
Footballguy
personally, i haven’t seen enough of eichel to know if he’s a very good player or great player. but, with a balky back and $10mm per, something has to give. i think the rangers can afford him only if buffalo eats some money. i think the above 2 issues are a lot in this nhl, but a package of a 1 on top of 3 prospects is not something i would do. not unless they can get kreider or trouba waive their NTC.
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
this Blackhawks push to be relevant is awful and tragic. I love it
JaxBill
Footballguy
Reportedly MAF found out through Twitter
@walsha: While Marc-Andre Fleury still hasn’t heard from anybody with the Vegas Golden Knights, he has apparently been traded to Chicago. Marc-Andre will be taking time to discuss his situation with his family and seriously evaluate his hockey future at this time.
@walsha: While Marc-Andre Fleury still hasn’t heard from anybody with the Vegas Golden Knights, he has apparently been traded to Chicago. Marc-Andre will be taking time to discuss his situation with his family and seriously evaluate his hockey future at this time.
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
I had to look up which goalers they still had on rooster. my god is their cap situation miserable.
Bill Brasky
Footballguy
Capella
Footballguy
I get the impression Chicago is trying to half-### their way to being a first round contender.
E Street Brat
Footballguy
Chemical X
Footballguy
MAF traded to blackhawks who want him to retire?
Capella
Footballguy
Dickie Dunn
Footballguy
Sounds like Krejci is close to re-signing in Boston. The only question all along was whether he was staying here or returning with his family to Czech Republic.
I would assume it’s only a year or two, and nowhere near the $7M he made last season. If it happens, the top six forwards all return intact, and Sweeney can turn his attention tomorrow to the blue line (and maybe a goalie to take the load off Swayman until Rask is back … if/when he does).
I would assume it’s only a year or two, and nowhere near the $7M he made last season. If it happens, the top six forwards all return intact, and Sweeney can turn his attention tomorrow to the blue line (and maybe a goalie to take the load off Swayman until Rask is back … if/when he does).
Hawks64
Footballguy
Stan brilliantly traded for MAF, without speaking to him first to see if he'll even play for the Hawks.
Chemical X
Footballguy
deangelo headed to carolina.
Granted, that’s a solid core to keep around, but without depth, the Bolts become more like Toronto, who have $40 million tied up in 4 guys, and no depth to help them out.
Capella
Footballguy
Well they also have two cups and you can’t let any of those guys walk. You can replace bottom-6 grinders no matter how much people cry about losing Goodrow.
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JaxBill
Footballguy
@CapFriendly: Joel Armia
Montreal #Canadiens
$3.4M x 4 years
https://www.capfriendly.com/players/joel-armia https://twitter.com/CanadiensMTL/status/1420134991607046145
Montreal #Canadiens
$3.4M x 4 years
https://www.capfriendly.com/players/joel-armia https://twitter.com/CanadiensMTL/status/1420134991607046145
That’s true. I liked Goodrow, but I know that players are going to move around, which I think makes it more interesting, to see if the new group can win the Cup.
They gave up nothing though. The player they traded apparently isn’t going anywhere. So bizarre.
Capella
Footballguy
Eichel is better than anyone on the Rangers roster.
AcerFC
Footballguy
Not sure where this came from but I do not believe Eichel is better than Panarin
@AcerFCsee above
also, if healthy (a big if), I’m pretty confident that Eichel will be better than Panarin over the next 5 years.
“I’m hearing the Buffalo ask for Eichel from Vegas is Smith, Peyton Krebs, Nic Hague and a first-rounder“
@THNRyanKennedy
@THNRyanKennedy
This seems amazing to me. Chicago unloaded Seabrook and got two good parts in return.
i guess Seabrook deal more valuable than I realized. Still crazy, but nice work by Tampa to solve their cap issues I guess.
kind of hoped Johnson would land in Buffalo. I think he can still play and contribute, even though he’s overpaid.
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To be fair, they unload Johnson’s contract, and have the LTIR room again if they need it, which they currently do not, I believe. Besides, it’s not like it’s illegal.Bolts doubling down on going to the LTIR well
Capella
Footballguy
He was very good in the playoffs, not really in the regular season. I think he has two solid years left.
Benefit to the Bolts is they won’t need to move Palat or Killorn so top-6 all back and their D core. Also, Point extension should be incoming.
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https://twitter.com/capfriendly/status/1420212606439198721?s=21
Worth noting that Tampa created the exact same amount of cap space by acquiring Seabrook as the would have had they simply traded Tyler Johnson for picks or prospects.
Tampa essentially created $5,000,000 in additional cap space with this trade.
Worth noting that Tampa created the exact same amount of cap space by acquiring Seabrook as the would have had they simply traded Tyler Johnson for picks or prospects.
Tampa essentially created $5,000,000 in additional cap space with this trade.
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