BREAKING: Jack Eichel to be named the next captain/part ownership (just a guess)/part time cleaning lady of the front office of the Buffalo Sabres. Big shocker I know!

JVR in my book.. But it hard to compare, Kane has never really played on a good team.. Does Kane Score 35+ in he is playing in Toronto last year? I would have to say yes.. However I would still take JVR
- hehateme

Well, last year aside it is not like JVR had played on good times (at least not in Toronto). When Kane if focused on hockey I like what he can bring to the rink, but if I am a GM and had to pick between them I lean JVR as well.

I only ask because Garth makes it sound like Kane is THE winger available this off-season, thus will garner whichever prime blueliner the Sabres desire. Truth is there are other options out there for teams looking to sell, and there is no shortage of teams looking to add a 3/4 D to their lineup (off the top of my head....Toronto, Buffalo, New Jersey, Chicago, Montreal and Tampa Bay all come to mind). I am not looking forward to hearing the asking price for a guy like Fowler.

He's averaged 20 goals a year in his career. You can choose to reference the high points but many reference the lows. Injury problems, inconsistency, attitude issues have plagued him throughout his career. Those kind of players do not "demand high asking prices". Not to mention Kane is a year away from being a UFA. He's not really a guy NHL teams are looking to commit big money to in a 5-6 year deal. Too much risk
- EugenesAxe

I will agree to disagree. Over his career he has 157 Goals with 133 coming even strength, GM's love that kind of production 5 on 5. Kane has never really played on a good team either, all off ice issue aside, put Kane on Toronto or Pittsburgh and he is a 35+ goal scorer, that plays with grit and can fight. I for one would never trade away Kane but if we can get a solid young top D-man I can understand it.

Well, last year aside it is not like JVR had played on good times (at least not in Toronto). When Kane if focused on hockey I like what he can bring to the rink, but if I am a GM and had to pick between them I lean JVR as well.

I only ask because Garth makes it sound like Kane is THE winger available this off-season, thus will garner whichever prime blueliner the Sabres desire. Truth is there are other options out there for teams looking to sell, and there is no shortage of teams looking to add a 3/4 D to their lineup (off the top of my head....Toronto, Buffalo, New Jersey, Chicago, Montreal and Tampa Bay all come to mind). I am not looking forward to hearing the asking price for a guy like Fowler.
- bullethead7

Le me ask you this, IF Kane did not have the off ice issues would you feel differently? JVR & Kane are basically the same player stat wise at least.

28 Goals in 70 Games and 25 goals even strength don't grow on tree's. If he is on the market he will demand a high asking price. IMO, I don't see a top D-man as being to much...
- hehateme

I will agree to disagree. Over his career he has 157 Goals with 133 coming even strength, GM's love that kind of production 5 on 5. Kane has never really played on a good team either, all off ice issue aside, put Kane on Toronto or Pittsburgh and he is a 35+ goal scorer, that plays with grit and can fight. I for one would never trade away Kane but if we can get a solid young top D-man I can understand it.
- hehateme

You have no way of knowing that. Kessel was going score 50 goals playing on Sidney or Gino's wing. Jordan Staal was going to score 30+ goals and put up close to a ppg once he got out of the their shadows. Bouwmeester just needed to get out of Florida and he would Norris after Norris.

It is not as easy as saying swap Kane with JVR and he would have produced more. Perhaps Kane turns that line into complete garbage. Kane is a high volume shooter, perhaps on a better team with better players he doesn't get the chance to shoot much. His hockey IQ is low. He doesn't seem to know to use anyone else on the ice, and that seems to be getting worse instead of better. It's great that he produces at even strength, but he looks useless on the power play, because he just shoots every attempt he has, he kills all momentum a team has as they try setup their pp. A good team would want to count on their top 6 winger to produce on the PP.

Perhaps the reason he hasn't been on good teams is because those teams have had him as one of their top players.

Le me ask you this, IF Kane did not have the off ice issues would you feel differently? JVR & Kane are basically the same player stat wise at least.
- hehateme

Without the off-ice issues it becomes more of a coin toss. If I thought my team needed some nastiness, then Kane. if I was looking for consistency (and I want to say less of a health risk, but have not checked the numbers on this), then JVR.

Le me ask you this, IF Kane did not have the off ice issues would you feel differently? JVR & Kane are basically the same player stat wise at least.
- hehateme

I think it's more the injuries than the off-ice even. Kane plays hard, and runs into the boards alot -- he is always hurt.

I'd take JVR over Kane any day, but I don't understand what trading Kane away from the Sabres does on a positive. His value is not high (it's higher than it was last year, but that doesn't mean it is high). He was our top goal scorer.

If we aren't "in the hunt" for a playoff spot come trade deadline, move him for what you can get (which likely won't be a ton, but someone may be desperate). I don't think trading him now is a good move.

I hope they don't trade him, as LeBrun, yesterday on the Instigators radio show said his value is a 2nd rd pick.