Around The NHL #6 - All About The Teams Not Ours.
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_Del_
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He is out of shape. He needs to get his head right. Rushing him didn't help. He's got skill, but wouldn't be someone I'd target. He's probably worth more to them as a lottery ticket than they'd get back at this point. They are the ones that helped break him, soo...
He was rushed and he still isn't committed to fitness from what I've read. He's an AHLer at this point. A trade might wake him up but I wouldn't give anything of value for him. Not a culture fit at all.
Drafting Casey Mittelstadt was Never a Good Idea for the Buffalo Sabres
https://www.expectedbuffalo.com/it-...make-a-tough-decision-with-casey-mittelstadt/
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WrinkledPossum
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I don't think they'd go for Schmaltz now. Their roster looks pretty good as is except for goaltending. I think it makes a lot more sense for them to go after Hoffman, Dadonov, or Toffoli.
They definitely do need a goalie now. I think they might look at their roster and think that it's time to go all in to compete now. If they add Kuemper or Raanta (if healthy) they could be one of the better teams in the east.
_Del_
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That's true, you can probably chase down a #1 yr deal on one of the first two. On the other hand, Schmaltz is a year older than Eichel at 24, and I can see how they could mesh extremely well.
The goalie thing still makes too much sense. And they have extra RHD.
It's what happens when you take a weak HS kid you're supposed to leave in a strong college program 2-3 years and rush him.
WrinkledPossum
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I think they'd like to keep their D depth. Their D isn't amazing, it's best quality is they have 3 pretty good lines. I think there's a very good chance they could add Hoffman or Dadonov at the same cap hit that Schmaltz has now. Buffalo has all of the sudden became a very interesting destination if you don't care too much about where you live.
I think they'd definitely give up a 1st for Kuemper now. At least I think they should, that's the only missing piece to their roster. Might be willing to give a 3rd, mayyybe even a 2nd out of desperation for Raanta. That might just be me being biased though.
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Mosby
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I think the report was the Sabres are a budget team, around 70. I think Pilut has signed in the KHL as well.
As for Hall, don't really like the deal. Too many question marks with the team. And what if he gets injured? Or Eichel injured? Or if the chemistry just isn't there?
Surprised he couldn't find a similar deal with a team like Colorado.
_Del_
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I think it's an okay gamble for him under the circumstances. I don't think the long-term offers were what he wanted. He pretty clearly didn't drag the Coyotes to the playoffs, in fact they collapsed after he got here. I'm not blaming Hall, but other GM's are probably a little more reserved with a flat cap, real dollar concerns, and the question marks than they would have been otherwise.
For Buffalo, I think it's sort of dumb because they are setting themselves up for the Hall circus with people talking about him at the deadline if they are on the bubble, and trying to resign him later if that's their plan. Someone is going to regret a long-term deal for him. You just significantly raised your expectations and created a circus if it doesn't all come together, and like you said, too much can go wrong.
ETA: I should add that it will probably make Eichel happy, though. That's not nothing, and they are a better team with him than without.
WrinkledPossum
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I think they'd move Miller or Joki for LHD maybe. Miller seems to be the odd man out, don't know if he even has value now. Might just have to scratch him as 7D if they can't find a deal. If I was them I'd rather do that then trade Risto.
After signing Hall I wouldn't doubt it if Pegula says screw the budget. We just signed a former Hart trophy winner, let's win and keep Eichel happy.
I think the league all looks at Hall as a luxury piece in an offseason where the market is severely depressed. Contenders are all tight with no foreseeable increase in cap. He's potentially an expansion draft slot, and if he were not protected and winds up selected, your team just maneuvered to fit him in, costing you something else this next offseason for a single season.
Even if he leaves Buffalo, they may trade him and recoup something. He rebuilds his image playing with an elite center, and gets another swing next year. At first I wonder why Buffalo would want him, but then it's possible Eichel really is on the verge of demanding a trade, so doing a long, slow rebuild again while keeping him in the cards isn't feasible. Hall can help the team move up a tier of competitiveness and then maybe next offseason they can lure in some better free agents because of it even should he leave.
Even if he leaves Buffalo, they may trade him and recoup something. He rebuilds his image playing with an elite center, and gets another swing next year. At first I wonder why Buffalo would want him, but then it's possible Eichel really is on the verge of demanding a trade, so doing a long, slow rebuild again while keeping him in the cards isn't feasible. Hall can help the team move up a tier of competitiveness and then maybe next offseason they can lure in some better free agents because of it even should he leave.
Mosby
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He couldn't do one pull-up at the combine. Same as Sam Bennett.
Edit: Sam Bennett, not Sam Reinhart.
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Wooooow. I don’t even really have words to describe how pathetic that is haha. Must have a ton of raw talent he’s been coasting on his whole life...what a shame.
Big lad with a shot. Let Buffalo make something out of him if they can, I don't see the actual player as strong enough to be interested.
Sakic is too smart to go into that kind of deal, especially on Hall's terms with an NMC and NTC on top of being a very expensive rental. He needs a calm and focused TEAM, not add some sideshow who jumps on the wagon.
BUX7PHX
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With Hall, I think that there were two things that he abided to:
#1 He wanted a coach he felt comfortable with. Maybe that was part of the reason Tocchet was not let go. Hall made it sound like he was comfortable with Tocchet, even though the results may not have been there.
#2 I think that playing for a winner was misconstrued. I do think that he was looking from the perspective of who will he potentially be spending the next 6-8 years with, as teammates and skill go. Ultimately, we have some pieces, of which Hall was the best one. Play like we did prior to acquiring Hall and we are in the running.
Maybe there is also a play by Hall here. After we added him, our team went belly up. Not saying that this is the strategy specifically for Hall, but signing a one year deal with a team that has not been overly successful could also be giving other teams the chance to see him help a mediocre team rise. Considering everything petered out here, maybe this is like a "prove it" deal to clean the slate and show teams that if you have some up and coming talent, he can blend in and help, unlike what happened here. Hopefully it also shows that coaching on our part made Hall less effective.
#1 He wanted a coach he felt comfortable with. Maybe that was part of the reason Tocchet was not let go. Hall made it sound like he was comfortable with Tocchet, even though the results may not have been there.
#2 I think that playing for a winner was misconstrued. I do think that he was looking from the perspective of who will he potentially be spending the next 6-8 years with, as teammates and skill go. Ultimately, we have some pieces, of which Hall was the best one. Play like we did prior to acquiring Hall and we are in the running.
Maybe there is also a play by Hall here. After we added him, our team went belly up. Not saying that this is the strategy specifically for Hall, but signing a one year deal with a team that has not been overly successful could also be giving other teams the chance to see him help a mediocre team rise. Considering everything petered out here, maybe this is like a "prove it" deal to clean the slate and show teams that if you have some up and coming talent, he can blend in and help, unlike what happened here. Hopefully it also shows that coaching on our part made Hall less effective.
Fuhrious
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Playing on a line centered by Jack Eichel vs playing on a line centered by Christian Dvorak...real head scratcher. 
Ninja edit: Playing for a team coached by a guy you know and respect vs playing for a country club coached by a guy with no tactical nous or accountability...my scalp is bleeding from all this head scratching.
Ninja edit: Playing for a team coached by a guy you know and respect vs playing for a country club coached by a guy with no tactical nous or accountability...my scalp is bleeding from all this head scratching.
Because of the pandemic and cap situation there was no long term deal out there for Hall and what he wanted so he had no choice but to sign a short term deal. Under usual circumstances I doubt Buffalo had a chance is signing Hall to a long term deal. This deal was all about $ and I have no problem with that. Another reason was the NTC that Buffalo agreed to.
And the way it sounds, he is still coasting. What a waste. Someday when it's to late he will realize what he had.
rt
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I think we all get why he wouldn’t sign in Arizona. I don’t think anyone expected him to. The mystery isn’t Buffalo versus Arizona, the mystery is Buffalo versus the field. Kruger, Eichel and the top offer for year one cash certainly help explain it. Quite a gamble. I like Hall and I hope it pays off.Playing on a line centered by Jack Eichel vs playing on a line centered by Christian Dvorak...real head scratcher.
Ninja edit: Playing for a team coached by a guy you know and respect vs playing for a country club coached by a guy with no tactical nous or accountability...my scalp is bleeding from all this head scratching.
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