Have u considered that deal may not have been available?
Bc u keep going on & on like Botts had those types of offers & just passed
- jdfitz77

Of course.

I quoted the rule. Next year will be Joker's 3rd pro year, entering his 4th. There's no question that he's eligible.
- Lunaion

Right, I forgot the AHL counts as pro, which is stupid, because you don't accrue a UFA year playing in the AHL. Reinhart was exempt because he had a year in Junior.

I don't think it's nearly as rigged, but we sure do talk a lot about it for something that only happens across the entire league a few times a year.
- Lunaion

No, it's not quite as rigged as offer-sheets, but there is definitely collusion going on. Except it's not all that secret if a GM goes public and says that's what happens.

Okay so I didn't realize we are #1 in the league with a huge goal differential...

This feels A LOT different than the win streak last year. I enjoyed the 10-game streak like everyone, but most of us were throwing caution to the wind...

What that win-streak represents, in hindsight, is a team's potential shining through for a large chunk before coaching ultimately did them in. We saw what the team was capable of, under the right influence. Nightmare on Elm St. seems to have calmed the room.

What a difference.

Now just keep Bogosian and his cocaine away from the locker room and everything will be fine. Talk about a cancer - his rehab is 100% the reason for his "long-term injury". He is a well-known cocaine/ecstasy addict - but is a good DJ
- BeadyEyedDouche

A 5 goal win and a 4 goal win in the first 6 games helps out a lot.

Edit: Hatty.

Of course.
- OneKaneOneCup

They why go on & on about trading him??

It’s one of 3 things:
1) Botts hasn’t gotten a good enough offer
*can’t do anything about that
or
2) Botts really does like him & isn’t gonna trade him
*in which case, idk what to tell ya except you’ll just have to deal
or
3) Botts is waiting till we get healthy to make a move
*we’ll just have to wait & see if that’s the case

But in the meantime...
it’s ok to enjoy that we are playing well & winning games
It’s been a fun start dude!!!

Of course.
- OneKaneOneCup

When that trade offer came in Botts was off the grid and reeling on day three of day of a weeklong ketamine sesh w Bogo, Sam and the 1978 Oakland Raiders alumni in an Mojave desert indigenous sweat tent.

When it was all over, Kroogs came over with melatonin, Vitamin D boosters, dried fruits, and iced herbal teas to get every body’s head straight.

When that trade offer came in Botts was off the grid and reeling on day three of day of a weeklong ketamine sesh w Bogo, Sam and the 1978 Oakland Raiders alumni in an Mojave desert indigenous sweat tent.

When it was all over, Kroogs came over with melatonin, Vitamin D boosters, dried fruits, and iced herbal teas to get every body’s head straight.
- Der Kaiser

I picture Krueger as Jeff Bridges in Men Who Stare at Goats

Right, I forgot the AHL counts as pro, which is stupid, because you don't accrue a UFA year playing in the AHL. Reinhart was exempt because he had a year in Junior.
- Wetbandit1

With only 1 team drafting, these protections rules are definitely generous.

They why go on & on about trading him??

It’s one of 2 things:
1) Botts hasn’t gotten a good enough offer
or
2) Botts really does like him & isn’t gonna trade him
- jdfitz77

It’s legit been the most talked about topic here since April.

It’s going to be talked about even more once Montour is healthy and decisions have to be made

It’s legit been the most talked about topic here since April.

It’s going to be talked about even more once Montour is healthy and decisions have to be made
- OneKaneOneCup

You’re a really big part of that

Meanwhile,
It’s been pretty damn fun watching us win games consistently

You’re a really big part of that

Meanwhile,
It’s been pretty damn fun watching us win games consistently
- jdfitz77

Oh well. I mean, it is a hockey rumor blog.

At least I’m not discussing freaking Disney World

Oh well. I mean, it is a hockey rumor blog.

At least I’m not discussing freaking Disney World
- OneKaneOneCup

Knotts Berry Farm used to be pretty hip

Oh well. I mean, it is a hockey rumor blog.

At least I’m not discussing freaking Disney World
- OneKaneOneCup

Well that’s true

Aren’t u happy with that start to the season though??
This has been great!

Well that’s true

Aren’t u happy with that start to the season though??
This has been great!
- jdfitz77

Thrilled.

I can’t wait until Mittelstadt has another year under his belt and Cozens is here.

We’re gonna contend for a long time

Thrilled.

I can’t wait until Mittelstadt has another year under his belt and Cozens is here.

We’re gonna contend for a long time
- OneKaneOneCup

If you called the Devils right now and they said Ristolainen and Mittelstadt gets a deal done for Hall, would you do it? What if they also ask for a 1st?

If you called the Devils right now and they said Ristolainen and Mittelstadt gets a deal done for Hall, would you do it? What if they also ask for a 1st?
- kingcong39

That's more than I'd pay to rent him.

That's more than I'd pay to rent him.
- Lunaion

The assumption would be they'd sign him like they did Skinner.

The assumption would be they'd sign him like they did Skinner.
- kingcong39

I don't want another Skinner situation. Overpaying him and thinning out the system would cause major issues.

If you called the Devils right now and they said Ristolainen and Mittelstadt gets a deal done for Hall, would you do it? What if they also ask for a 1st?
- kingcong39

Tough one. Hall is elite. I still think Mitts ceiling is really high.

I think I pass. But if they did that I don’t think I’d be upset

I don't see them trading Risto. I am not a Risto fan, and I think he's played very well for what he is capable of. But he's still on the ice for too many goals and still looks really slow to react.

The thing is, if you trade him, then someone else is in those minutes in end game and big time situations. I need four penalty killers. I need someone to play an extra 4 minutes a night. I feel really confident that Dahlin and Montour and Miller can handle these increased duties, but who put people in new tougher roles when everyone is playing great and risk someone struggling in a new role?

The sabres also have proven they don't need a 2C, because Johansson is doing great in that role. So trading Risto would be for just any top six forward, which is less urgent. Again if Ehlers is on the table it's probably worth the shakeup, but a player of that caliber is almost certainly not on the table.

It's the classic Risto problem. The Sabres have to trade their #1 defenseman to another team to be a #4. They need to get something worth a top pairing defenseman to make it make sense, and the other teams will just never give that. It's why he is still here.

The only way he becomes tradeable is if Krueger starts playing him 20 minutes a night, and starts giving a couple extra minutes each to Dahlin/Miller/ Montour when he is back.

I don't see them trading Risto. I am not a Risto fan, and I think he's played very well for what he is capable of. But he's still on the ice for too many goals and still looks really slow to react.

The thing is, if you trade him, then someone else is in those minutes in end game and big time situations. I need four penalty killers. I need someone to play an extra 4 minutes a night. I feel really confident that Dahlin and Montour and Miller can handle these increased duties, but who put people in new tougher roles when everyone is playing great and risk someone struggling in a new role?

The sabres also have proven they don't need a 2C, because Johansson is doing great in that role. So trading Risto would be for just any top six forward, which is less urgent. Again if Ehlers is on the table it's probably worth the shakeup, but a player of that caliber is almost certainly not on the table.

It's the classic Risto problem. The Sabres have to trade their #1 defenseman to another team to be a #4. They need to get something worth a top pairing defenseman to make it make sense, and the other teams will just never give that. It's why he is still here.

The only way he becomes tradeable is if Krueger starts playing him 20 minutes a night, and starts giving a couple extra minutes each to Dahlin/Miller/ Montour when he is back.
- matty12345

Problem I see is they aren’t going to be able to give enough ice to everyone

They didn’t trade a first and Guhle for Montour, to play him 15 min a night and no PP time

They aren’t going to sit Miller considering he’s been excellent and has mentored Dahlin

They didn’t tell Jokiharju to go house shopping and trade for him to sit him in the press box

They didn’t slap a letter on McCabe to trade him

Dahlin is going nowhere

They either need to trade Scandella for probably nothing, considering he’s a pending UFA, or actually fill a need by moving 55.

It’s just obvious what’s eventually going to happen IMO

Also, I can’t wait to see Montour in this system.

He can be a total weapon with his skating and playmaking

Who saw the interview from today where the coach spoke glowingly of Risto by saying he plays the PP, PK, offensively, physically "that we need, just a COMPLETE PLAYER"

This is not going to sit well with the Risto is the second coming of Satan crowd. It might get people even questioning Kreuger

Knotts Berry Farm used to be pretty hip
- Der Kaiser

Cedar Point

Who saw the interview from today where the coach spoke glowingly of Risto by saying he plays the PP, PK, offensively, physically "that we need, just a COMPLETE PLAYER"

This is not going to sit well with the Risto is the second coming of Satan crowd. It might get people even questioning Kreuger
- GilPerreault11

You're just like, appealing to authority, man.