My mistake - I missed the "on a long-term basis" part when I first read the article... Daigneault was certainly a notable #15, but he wasn't with the Flyers that long.

it would be wise to move on from Giroux and Couturier. They've both topped out and have shown theyre simply not good enough to compete with the top end centers in the East.

instead of piecemealing it into 7th every year, gut it and reload down the middle

I think your Couturier projection might be a bit ambitious. He's never recorded 40 points in a season yet, 55 seems like a pretty big jump. He's got so much defensive responsibility on his plate. 55 would be great. Would make him an all-star caliber player.
- PLindbergh31

I will admit I have very high expectations for Couturier, I always have. He has lived up to them in one way or another. 55 points isn't far off the pace he set last season. I saw an increase in confidence and display of skill that gives me hope he will be that All Star calibre player.

One adjustment I'd like is getting him off the left half wall on the power player and closer to the net or attacking from the right side. He looked uncomfortable there in my opinion. I'd put him either on the right point or the slot area.

it would be wise to move on from Giroux and Couturier. They've both topped out and have shown theyre simply not good enough to compete with the top end centers in the East.

instead of piecemealing it into 7th every year, gut it and reload down the middle
- Ripped Fuel

Great advice from a knowledgeable fan of the worst Eastern team of the past decade.

it would be wise to move on from Giroux and Couturier. They've both topped out and have shown theyre simply not good enough to compete with the top end centers in the East.

instead of piecemealing it into 7th every year, gut it and reload down the middle
- Ripped Fuel

this is a joke right? we're talking about the same giroux that over the past 4 years has the most points in the league?

also not gonna take advice form a sabres fan on how to put together a competing team

this is a joke right? we're talking about the same giroux that over the past 4 years has the most points in the league?

also not gonna take advice form a sabres fan on how to put together a competing team
- bulet13

The best method is to have the fans boo your players and openly cheer for the opposing team.

I will admit I have very high expectations for Couturier, I always have. He has lived up to them in one way or another. 55 points isn't far off the pace he set last season. I saw an increase in confidence and display of skill that gives me hope he will be that All Star calibre player.

One adjustment I'd like is getting him off the left half wall on the power player and closer to the net or attacking from the right side. He looked uncomfortable there in my opinion. I'd put him either on the right point or the slot area.
- Baxter27

Agreed, I'd like him to be either in front or in the slot.

At least 0 or 1 teams
- Streit2ThePoint

http://www.kenoraonline.c...-richards-on-future-plans

I mean its not like there is much going on in terms of discussion lol

Agreed, I'd like him to be either in front or in the slot.
- jmatchett383

One of the biggest mysteries of the power play last year for me was the majority of plays being created from the left side on both units. Makes it much easier for a PK to game plan when they know exactly where everything is starting from.

Watching San Jose in the play offs, there was 5 guys whipping the puck around from all areas creating chaos. I'd like at least 1 unit to follow that strategy.

I think your Couturier projection might be a bit ambitious. He's never recorded 40 points in a season yet, 55 seems like a pretty big jump.
- PLindbergh31

39/63 * 82 = 51.

Gotta look at Giroux, as well. After all, he's older than Jake.
- Feanor

Nick Schultz is older than both of them.

it would be wise to move on from Giroux and Couturier. They've both topped out and have shown theyre simply not good enough to compete with the top end centers in the East.

instead of piecemealing it into 7th every year, gut it and reload down the middle
- Ripped Fuel

You realise the sabres are committed long term to O'Reilly at a top center salary? Biggest impact I can remember him making in the last year was crashing his truck into a Leamington Tim Horton's.

Eichel didn't exactly blow the doors off in his rookie season to be spouting off this type of nonsense.

One of the biggest mysteries of the power play last year for me was the majority of plays being created from the left side on both units. Makes it much easier for a PK to game plan when they know exactly where everything is starting from.

Watching San Jose in the play offs, there was 5 guys whipping the puck around from all areas creating chaos. I'd like at least 1 unit to follow that strategy.
- Baxter27

Yep, G to Ghost, back to G, back to Ghost, meanwhile Voracek just over at the other circle looking on....Simmonds battling in front but the puck aint getting there...

Hopefully Jake is healthy and gets his confidence back because I think that was a factor.

Over/under for 2016/2017:

Mason 32 wins
Giroux 30 ESP
Flyers 44 ROW
Ghost 23 PIM
jmatchett383 4 bans
Morin 8 games
AMac 8 games
- jmatchett383

Mason- Over
Giroux- Over
Flyers-Push
Ghost-Under
Jmatch- Under. Behave.
Morin- Under (although I would love to say over, I just think he plays all year at LHV)
Amac- Over

You realise the sabres are committed long term to O'Reilly at a top center salary? Biggest impact I can remember him making in the last year was crashing his truck into a Leamington Tim Horton's.

Eichel didn't exactly blow the doors off in his rookie season to be spouting off this type of nonsense.
- Baxter27

24 goals and 32 assists to finish 2nd among rookies in scoring is pretty damned good.

it would be wise to move on from Giroux and Couturier. They've both topped out and have shown theyre simply not good enough to compete with the top end centers in the East.

instead of piecemealing it into 7th every year, gut it and reload down the middle
- Ripped Fuel

Blah blah blah, something something, fan 590, something something Eichel for President, something something, Sabres fans are the best.

Yep, G to Ghost, back to G, back to Ghost, meanwhile Voracek just over at the other circle looking on....Simmonds battling in front but the puck aint getting there...

Hopefully Jake is healthy and gets his confidence back because I think that was a factor.
- MBFlyerfan

I said it last year and was crucified for it. I would move Ghost to the far side...

Ghost has a gorgeous shot. However, it is not a deflectable shot. Slide him over to be a one time presence, and let whoever takes nearside point look more for the deflections and set ups.

Dont feed the

Over/under for 2016/2017:

Mason 32 wins
Giroux 30 ESP
Flyers 44 ROW
Ghost 23 PIM
jmatchett383 4 bans
Morin 8 games
AMac 8 games
- jmatchett383

Under (Neuvy gets 1/3 the starts so Mase misses Barely)
Over
Push
Under

Over (injury callup number 1)
Over needs to be avail for Vegas.

Pure hypothetical but if jake has a season like last year...50-60 pts while continuing to look out of sorts, is there anyone that would think about exposing him? I'd have to look at that personally
- Just5

Do you call WIP often?

24 goals and 32 assists to finish 2nd among rookies in scoring is pretty damned good.
- MBFlyerfan

Pretty damn good but not generational talent good. I wouldn't say he's cemented himself as the franchise center they're expecting in Buffalo. He might this coming season, that remains to be seen.

Pretty damn good but not generational talent good. I wouldn't say he's cemented himself as the franchise center they're expecting in Buffalo. He might this coming season, that remains to be seen.
- Baxter27

Playing in that dreck of a lineup it is.

Playing in that dreck of a lineup it is.
- MBFlyerfan

Agree to disagree. In the number of times I watched Eichel play, including live, I was never overly impressed. You can see the tools are there but haven't been put together to live up to his potential just yet. Pretty normal for an 18/19 year old I guess. I thought the gap between he and McDavid would be much smaller than it is. In all fairness, I may have underestimated how good McDavid would be out of the gate.

will the expansion team have the same cap requirements? unless they go crazy in FA wont they have a difficult time hitting the floor? would that make A. Mac a little more appealing to them?

will the expansion team have the same cap requirements? unless they go crazy in FA wont they have a difficult time hitting the floor? would that make A. Mac a little more appealing to them?
- mws5252

They have to draft between 60 and 100% of the cap.