Rumor: Cam Robinson - Tuch Availability

[tsujimoto74]

It's tough because Tuch isn't cost controlled, but if it's a draft day deal where they can work out an extension with him, I think Sillinger for Tuch is reasonable.

It's not a deadline deal because they can't get a deal done with Tuch right now, but I think the match makes sense on paper. Even with trading Sillinger, they still have Fantilli, Monahan and Jenner (when healthy) down the middle.

Can't imagine anyone in the Sabres org is looking at the roster and thinking "I know what we're missing: another low-IQ 'center' that can't win a faceoff."

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Lol

Just lol to both of those

I mean Sillinger for Tuch is far more of an absurd valuation than either of mine.

 

[Satanphonehome]

I'm not sure why people are struggling with the concept of Sabres fans not wanting to trade Tuch for a package. He's one of the few pieces that is working.

The team has two legitimate top 6 forwards and 6 or 8 skilled young players who could one day become top 6 forwards. Who proactively wants to make an area of weakness weaker in order to add to an area of depth?

Unless he wants out, a Tuch move only makes sense to address another area of weakness — reliable 2C, shutdown RD — with an equal or better player.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I mean Sillinger for Tuch is far more of an absurd valuation than either of mine.

Sillinger is a 21 year old recent high draft pick that is on pace for about 50 points while playing in a 2-way center role. He's a very valuable piece.

Columbus is likely adding to Sillinger for Tuch but that basis is a lot closer than Sillinger for Quinn. Quinn is older and less productive than Sillinger while also playing a less valuable position.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Sillinger is a 21 year old recent high draft pick that is on pace for about 50 points while playing in a 2-way center role. He's a very valuable piece.

Columbus is likely adding to Sillinger for Tuch but that basis is a lot closer than Sillinger for Quinn. Quinn is older and less productive than Sillinger while also playing a less valuable position.

I mean, agree to disagree. Sillinger's metrics are absolutely garbage, so I'm not sure what value a "two-way center" who can't play two ways has.

Also - Quinn was drafted ~one year~ before Sillinger.

 

[Satanphonehome]

Sillinger is a 21 year old recent high draft pick that is on pace for about 50 points while playing in a 2-way center role. He's a very valuable piece.

Columbus is likely adding to Sillinger for Tuch but that basis is a lot closer than Sillinger for Quinn. Quinn is older and less productive than Sillinger while also playing a less valuable position.

Sillinger versus Quinn is an eye-the-beholder kinda thing. You're right about the position, but Quinn has actually been more productive on a per/game basis over their careers. Their pedigree age and numbers are similar.

The thing about Sillinger for Tuch is that the Sabres already have a young 2nd-line centre in Cozens who is better right now than Sillinger. And they have a youngish 3C in McLeod who is better right now in that role than Sillinger.

Sure, but it's about upside, right?

The Sabres have 2022 1st-rounders Ostlund and Kulich and 2024 1st-rounder Helenius all of which project as 2Cs like Sillinger does. And they have one 30-goal power forward in their entire organization: Tuch.

If you squint, Sillinger+ as a price for a Tuch rental might make sense from asset level. But it doesn't make sense for the Sabres at a team-building level. And Tuch is not a rental.

 

[Viqsi]

Columbus feels like a team that has the young NHL pieces that Buffalo would want to justify trading Tuch.

We do, but Waddell also doesn't want to remove anyone from the roster (that's the rationale for holding on to Provorov), so I don't think it's going to happen. The "long term options" list is folks that Waddell would trade a 1st+ for, but Buffalo has made it clear that futures for Tuch isn't going to be a thing.

 

[Viqsi]

I may just be overrating Sillinger then, I thought he already looked like a fringe 2C/3C and had clear top-6 C upside.

Sillinger is super-controversial in HFCBJ world because his sophomore slump was terrifyingly bad and his advanced stats are not yet up to par. So there's a lot of willingness to move him. Personally I don't wanna.

 

[Viqsi]

Sillinger versus Quinn is an eye-the-beholder kinda thing. You're right about the position, but Quinn has actually been more productive on a per/game basis over their careers. Their pedigree age and numbers are similar.

The thing about Sillinger for Tuch is that the Sabres already have a young 2nd-line centre in Cozens who is better right now than Sillinger. And they have a youngish 3C in McLeod who is better right now in that role than Sillinger.

Sure, but it's about upside, right?

The Sabres have 2022 1st-rounders Ostlund and Kulich and 2024 1st-rounder Helenius all of which project as 2Cs like Sillinger does. And they have one 30-goal power forward in their entire organization: Tuch.

If you squint, Sillinger+ as a price for a Tuch rental might make sense from asset level. But it doesn't make sense for the Sabres at a team-building level. And Tuch is not a rental.

This is part of why I wasn't going to try to suggest Sillinger myself. The impression I get is that the one roster player type Buffalo really wants if Tuch is gone is RHD, and that's not something we can spare.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

This is part of why I wasn't going to try to suggest Sillinger myself. The impression I get is that the one roster player type Buffalo really wants if Tuch is gone is RHD, and that's not something we can spare.

A high-end 2C with term would also probably work.

 

[Viqsi]

A high-end 2C with term would also probably work.

Well, our top two centers when healthy are Monahan and Fantilli and no matter how much y'all beg y'all ain't gettin' either of them for blood or money.

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

A high-end 2C with term would also probably work.

I think you have to look the teams that would be trading for Tuch and it’s mostly likely contenders that above all else will value his contract. None of this teams are trading anything that would immediately impact the Sabres right now. The only reason the Sabres should trade him is if they don’t think he will resign. Because you are mostly likely getting pick and prospects. I don’t think he traded in a hockey deal. The best case scenario if he is traded is what the Canucks did with Horvat and flipped the assets to player to acquire an another player in a position of need.