He has been struggling, and frustration is setting in with him ..not good, yet he remains 4th in scoring after playing with a myriad of players over the past 10 - 15 games. Get the guy some help on a bonafide 2nd line. He isn't a playmaker, he's a finisher as we saw last year when playing with good talent. It is confounding that his PP game sucks though, I will say that.

Your point about paying him as a UFA on a team that was devoid of scoring, in a year in which the fanbase was loaded for bear, and a GM who couldn't afford to lose him is spot on. He is overpaid.
Who argues that point? Nobody I have seen.

I guess having 2 Sheary' or Vesey's would have been preferred by some.
- IonSabres

Good post

I'll take the hit, I was %100 on signing skinner.
Plain and simple.

I would say that this book is not completely furnished.
More like chapter 1

The playoffs would be redemption hopefully.

Skins would be judged differently in the 2nd season

Seriously? You call him names in 90% of your posts. I disagree with Pegullaville, but I don't call him just plain weird names.
- Wetbandit1

Wetwipe1- that doesnt sound like me at all 🤔😀

And for something completely different:

Everyone always says that Tampa can sign players cheaper because of no state income tax; NYS effective tax rate at $10M in 2018 was $858K. That's without any fancy accounting. In reality it would be less. Kucherov signed for $9.5M which is $10.3M in NY if you're accounting for state tax, that's still less than he should've gotten, especially once you factor in cost of living, you can get a legit mansion here for $1M. And on top of all of that players are taxed based on where they play, meaning they get NYS taxes when the play in NY, and then city taxes when they play in New York. So that $858K shrinks pretty significantly, still not nothing, but not nearly enough to make up the difference.
- Wetbandit1

$440k over say 10 years for a superstar when invested nicely gets one some nice additional money.
It isn't nothing.
Couple that with the tropical weather, and a much better team over the past 5 years and it is close to a no brainer for many. The team will go through its' down turn as they all do, so that advantage comes and goes.
Depends on what a player is looking for.

Wet1

I disagree with his terrible takes and constant whining

Sabres are winning.
Larsson is playing well
Girgs is playing well
Erod sucks
Botts is not getting fired if we miss the playoffs
Botts is doing a fine job managing this team
Botts will trade a defenseman or 2 from a position of strength at the deadline.

And he's disrespectful
- Boss34

Boss, I respond to you when you come into a thread throwing punches, which is every thread. I have no idea why you're so fixated on me

This. ^^^

Hypocrisy is another bane on society. And makes people look foolish.
- joevthree

The irony of this post.

You have something critical to say about me being critical about someone else.

"Stay in your lane" right joe5?

Good post

I'll take the hit, I was %100 on signing skinner.
Plain and simple.

I would say that this book is not completely furnished.
More like chapter 1

The playoffs would be redemption hopefully.

Skins would be judged differently in the 2nd season
- Boss34

I was and still am on-board as well...knowing the contract isn't going to age well in the out years.

The important issue for me is maximizing his output in years 1 - 5/6 by getting him guys who can compliment him. Hence why, while overall I do admire what Jason has done for the most part, I still think he has failed big time for 2 years now at 2C, and now 2RW is a gaping hole.

It would be a shame to throw away this season by not addressing those needs. They have gotten lucky with the offensive production from Larry's line, I don't expect for that to be a constant.

Eichel would be worth every penny of $12M
- Pegullaville

That's the point, that extra $3M is a humongus beeg difference.

I was and still am on-board as well...knowing the contract isn't going to age well in the out years.

The important issue for me is maximizing his output in years 1 - 5/6 by getting him guys who can compliment him. Hence why, while overall I do admire what Jason has done for the most part, I still think he has failed big time for 2 years now at 2C, and now 2RW is a gaping hole.

It would be a shame to throw away this season by not addressing those needs. They have gotten lucky with the offensive production from Larry's line, I don't expect for that to be a constant.
- IonSabres

Just needs to continue to be great defensively.

I would have moved a 2nd rounder for Burakovsky and pitched offers to Brassard and Donskoi and let Skinner walk for that kind of contract.
- Pegullaville

Always pretty damn easy to say what you would have done 6 months later.

I would have drafted mike bossy vs whoever the hell we drafted. Selanne too. Would have drafted Leon over Reinhart, anybody I’ve mitts

Always pretty damn easy to say what you would have done 6 months later.

I would have drafted mike bossy vs whoever the hell we drafted. Selanne too. Would have drafted Leon over Reinhart, anybody I’ve mitts
- turbo044

The irony that 16 year old pegullaville had Leon over Sam is bittersweet.

To go against your whole “what are you 16” argument.

$440k over say 10 years for a superstar when invested nicely gets one some nice additional money.
It isn't nothing.
Couple that with the tropical weather, and a much better team over the past 5 years and it is close to a no brainer for many. The team will go through its' down turn as they all do, so that advantage comes and goes.
Depends on what a player is looking for.
- IonSabres

I think cost of living alone would eat the vast majority of that. But yeah, it's not nothing. I just think the argument of "NYS taxes, lolz" doesn't hold much, if any, water. There were $12M a year rumors for Stamkos, and he signed for $8.5M. It's a consideration, for sure, I just don't think it's very high on the list.

Always pretty damn easy to say what you would have done 6 months later.

I would have drafted mike bossy vs whoever the hell we drafted. Selanne too. Would have drafted Leon over Reinhart, anybody I’ve mitts
- turbo044

Ric Seiling

Just to bash on Skinner some more. Jack was 2/3 the player he was with Skinner on his line because, well he doesn't disperse the puck for one reason. He hit 21 goals in Feb last year. This year with Olofsson on that line he has a more complete player on that line and who also can shoot the puck accurately. I wonder if the Sabres would have signed Skinner if they truly knew what they had in Olofsson?

By the way Skinner is playing against 2nd and 3rd line talent and he is supposedly a 1st line talent, Vanek scored 40+ goals when he was on the 3rd line the one year. He should be able to out talent 2nd and 3rd lines more often whoever his center is.

Ric Seiling

Just to bash on Skinner some more. Jack was 2/3 the player he was with Skinner on his line because, well he doesn't disperse the puck for one reason. He hit 21 goals in Feb last year. This year with Olofsson on that line he has a more complete player on that line and who also can shoot the puck accurately. I wonder if the Sabres would have signed Skinner if they truly knew what they had in Olofsson?

By the way Skinner is playing against 2nd and 3rd line talent and he is supposedly a 1st line talent, Vanek scored 40+ goals when he was on the 3rd line the one year. He should be able to out talent 2nd and 3rd lines more often whoever his center is.
- GilPerreault11

This is a bad take.

Try again.

That Sabres team where Vanek scored 43 was loaded. This team is not. He also had Roy as his center. Skinner, clearly, does not.

Always pretty damn easy to say what you would have done 6 months later.

I would have drafted mike bossy vs whoever the hell we drafted. Selanne too. Would have drafted Leon over Reinhart, anybody I’ve mitts
- turbo044

The Sabres drafted Ric Seiling the pick right before Bossy was picked.

I think cost of living alone would eat the vast majority of that. But yeah, it's not nothing. I just think the argument of "NYS taxes, lolz" doesn't hold much, if any, water. There were $12M a year rumors for Stamkos, and he signed for $8.5M. It's a consideration, for sure, I just don't think it's very high on the list.
- Wetbandit1

It is way overblown.
Stamkos resigned for what he did because a) he felt they were close to a SC run, b) he set an example as the Captain to "take one for the team". Others have taken less than their market rate as well to try to hold the window open as long as possible.

Money is big, the lifestyle down here is the winning part, for me anyway.

The Sabres drafted Ric Seiling the pick right before Bossy was picked.
- sabreadvocate1

And they said they did that because they had "enough offense" 🤦‍♂️

Ric Seiling

Just to bash on Skinner some more. Jack was 2/3 the player he was with Skinner on his line because, well he doesn't disperse the puck for one reason. He hit 21 goals in Feb last year. This year with Olofsson on that line he has a more complete player on that line and who also can shoot the puck accurately. I wonder if the Sabres would have signed Skinner if they truly knew what they had in Olofsson?

By the way Skinner is playing against 2nd and 3rd line talent and he is supposedly a 1st line talent, Vanek scored 40+ goals when he was on the 3rd line the one year. He should be able to out talent 2nd and 3rd lines more often whoever his center is.
- GilPerreault11

Jack's game has grown enormously this year from last. He is playing a 200' game which oddly enough is helping his O game. And, he is shooting a hell of alot more. Jack's improvement us 95% his doing.

This is a bad take.

Try again.

That Sabres team where Vanek scored 43 was loaded. This team is not. He also had Roy as his center. Skinner, clearly, does not.
- Powerslave

He is playing 3rd line a lot, you'd think his superior talent would show through on this. He's on the PP with all the top dogs and still nothing. Did you notice last game Mojo came in and played his position on the 1st PP for a couple PP's and he was noticed? Actually had the puck, made a few plays? So it's not just him being in the slot, it's him.

Jack's game has grown enormously this year from last. He is playing a 200' game which oddly enough is helping his O game. And, he is shooting a hell of alot more. Jack's improvement us 95% his doing.
- IonSabres

Part of it is linemate, part of it is shooting. When your other linemate doesn't have the puck a lot too it helps his game.

And they said they did that because they had "enough offense" 🤦‍♂️
- Powerslave

I wish I never would’ve read this.

He is playing 3rd line a lot, you'd think his superior talent would show through on this. He's on the PP with all the top dogs and still nothing. Did you notice last game Mojo came in and played his position on the 1st PP for a couple PP's and he was noticed? Actually had the puck, made a few plays? So it's not just him being in the slot, it's him.
- GilPerreault11

Ristolainen was replaced by Dahlin and we scored 2 PP goals today?

Coincidence?

The irony of this post.

You have something critical to say about me being critical about someone else.

"Stay in your lane" right joe5?
- Boss34

It wasn't critical it was factual. Your incessant whining and pot shots about anything Jcrags has to say is old and stale, and the hypocrisy in doing so makes you look foolish. Since you took exception to me commenting on another post that agreed with my sentiment, I'll take this opportunity and respond directly to you. Happy now?

It’s going to be such a chefs kiss moment when Skinner starts piling them in again, like he’s done his whole career, and these bumbling idiots go back to “Uh, he’s gonna suck in 4 years!!”

Ristolainen was replaced by Dahlin and we scored 2 PP goals today?

Coincidence?
- sbroads24

Dahlin made a huge difference on the PP. Their first PP was very good, maybe better than the 2nd one, even though they didn't score.

Watching the highlights though, Risto came absolutely flying in as the extra attacker on the 6-on-4 and parked his butt right in front of the net. I mean he absolutely came ripping in. I love net front Risto. That's the Chara play

Dahlin made a huge difference on the PP. Their first PP was very good, maybe better than the 2nd one, even though they didn't score.

Watching the highlights though, Risto came absolutely flying in as the extra attacker on the 6-on-4 and parked his butt right in front of the net. I mean he absolutely came ripping in. I love net front Risto. That's the Chara play
- jcragcrumple

He was taken off the top PP unit and we scored. Therefore he sucks or something