The Avalanche have a management team as good as the product on the ice, that’s the difference.

They were able to surround Mackinnon, Landeskog, Rantenen, and Makar with serious veteran talent.

They traded a 2nd for Burakovsky.

Traded two seconds for the best defensive d-man in the league in Devon Toews

Got Nazem Kadri for Barrie and Kerfoot.

Saad for Zadorov.

Dealt a disgruntled Duchene for Sam Girard and the pick that turned into Bowen Byram

The core of the team was built via high draft picks and the management team made the right decisions at the professional level
- Pegullaville

smart free agent signings in nichushkin and donskoi doesn't hurt either

The Avalanche have a management team as good as the product on the ice, that’s the difference.

They were able to surround Mackinnon, Landeskog, Rantenen, and Makar with serious veteran talent.

They traded a 2nd for Burakovsky.

Traded two seconds for the best defensive d-man in the league in Devon Toews

Got Nazem Kadri for Barrie and Kerfoot.

Saad for Zadorov.

Dealt a disgruntled Duchene for Sam Girard and the pick that turned into Bowen Byram

The core of the team was built via high draft picks and the management team made the right decisions at the professional level
- Pegullaville

This is the worst trade in recent NHL history

Potentially a #1 and #2 D man for Duchene

You know it's nowhere near that easy, and it's going to become much more difficult if/when the duo of Landeskog and Makar are making a combined $19M per starting next season.
- kingcong39

Makar and Landeskog may already have a ring by the time they go to the negotiating table this offseason

The Sabres finished with 30 more points in the standings than Colorado did in the 2016-2017 season......

Craziness

smart free agent signings in nichushkin and donskoi doesn't hurt either
- homiedclown

Absolutely

smart free agent signings in nichushkin and donskoi doesn't hurt either
- homiedclown

But we got skinner, Okposo and moulson. Our guys are way better players and bigger names 🙄

say we kept reinhart and made jack happy

does anyone think we could play to this level within 3 years?

Only in the NHL do the commentators openly talk about one team sitting their stars in a lopsided game because the other team is going to try and purposely injure them.

say we kept reinhart and made jack happy

does anyone think we could play to this level within 3 years?
- homiedclown

Whether they win the cup or not, this Avs team might be the best team since the 2007/2008 Red Wings so probably not.

The Avs have 3 of the top 15 d-men in the league on one team.

Landeskog-Mackinnon-Rantenen is the best line in hockey or the second best behind the Bruins top line. The Avs also have depth in spades.

It’s an All-Star team.

say we kept reinhart and made jack happy

does anyone think we could play to this level within 3 years?
- homiedclown

Nope, and it isn't even close.
Although, I do wish we could have seen Jack play in The Don's system.

Blow it the fk up

Reaves deserves 5 games for that BS.

Embarassing really

Whether they win the cup or not, this Avs team might be the best team since the 2007/2008 Red Wings so probably not.

The Avs have 3 of the top 15 d-men in the league on one team.

Landeskog-Mackinnon-Rantenen is the best line in hockey or the second best behind the Bruins top line. The Avs also have depth in spades.

It’s an All-Star team.
- Pegullaville

Yup. And think about the power that the management would have. Oh the big stars less than 10 but offer them serious cup contention.

Then the rest of the supporting cast comes in and finds success with cheaper contracts. After a cup win or two, then sign big contract with different team and have a ring and Beaucoup bucks.

Compare this to the sabres where we tied our ship to Eichel and skinner and okposo (ror, ass grabber Kane) and can’t sign players because no money and our hood players leave for bigger contracts elsewhere. This is also the problem with the oilers. Bass ackwards with the contexts and roster.

To recap- get plethora of young high end talent. Success -sell off hangers in for picks and cap space, repeat.

Like Chicago and what TB is doing

Can you imagine this place if we had lost or traded away Drouin like TB did? The Gm and owner would have been run outta town.

But TB didn’t go down the tubes, they got better!

Yup. And think about the power that the management would have. Oh the big stars less than 10 but offer them serious cup contention.

Then the rest of the supporting cast comes in and finds success with cheaper contracts. After a cup win or two, then sign big contract with different team and have a ring and Beaucoup bucks.

Compare this to the sabres where we tied our ship to Eichel and skinner and okposo (ror, ass grabber Kane) and can’t sign players because no money and our hood players leave for bigger contracts elsewhere. This is also the problem with the oilers. Bass ackwards with the contexts and roster.

To recap- get plethora of young high end talent. Success -sell off hangers in for picks and cap space, repeat.

Like Chicago and what TB is doing

Can you imagine this place if we had lost or traded away Drouin like TB did? The Gm and owner would have been run outta town.

But TB didn’t go down the tubes, they got better!
- Da_Cashman

There are definitely lessons that can be learned from this though for the Sabres sake.

1) Critical to make the right coaching hire that can empowers the players. One whom has a system that fits the skills and talents on the team, and has the soft skills to relate to them as individuals. Ralph seemed to have the soft skills but not much else.

2) Asset Management. The Avs weren’t afraid to deal draft picks, however unlike the Sabres, acquired guys whom were undervalued on other teams that showed good results in sustained sample sizes that fit what they were doing and were good players in need for an expanded role or different scenery. Solid players that may not have had “flashy” names like Burakovsky (couldn’t crack a loaded top 6 in Washington), Donskoi (in and out of the lineup in San Jose and was under appreciated) and Devon Toews (solid analytics but deemed to be a cap causality for whatever reason). Not trading for Vesey (twice ffs)

There are definitely lessons that can be learned from this though for the Sabres sake.

1) Critical to make the right coaching hire that can empowers the players. One whom has a system that fits the skills and talents on the team, and has the soft skills to relate to them as individuals. Ralph seemed to have the soft skills but not much else.

2) Asset Management. The Avs weren’t afraid to deal draft picks, however unlike the Sabres, acquired guys whom were undervalued on other teams that showed good results in sustained sample sizes that fit what they were doing and were good players in need for an expanded role or different scenery. Solid players that may not have had “flashy” names like Burakovsky (couldn’t crack a loaded top 6 in Washington), Donskoi (in and out of the lineup in San Jose and was under appreciated) and Devon Toews (solid analytics but deemed to be a cap causality for whatever reason). Not trading for Vesey (twice ffs)
- Pegullaville

If it was that easy, every team would do it. Many teams try, most fail.

If it was that easy, every team would do it. Many teams try, most fail.
- Powerslave

Many teams don’t have the elite talent that the Avs have either though.

It allows players to slot in right where they should be and not have them try to play above their role.

Taylor Hall was better than he gets credit for in Buffalo cause the pucks were not bouncing his way but he fits in perfectly in Boston.

Stevie Y got one of the better goal scorers in the league with Vrana in addition to a first and second round pick at the deadline for Mantha whom is a slight upgrade if anything.

It’s a huge offseason for Buffalo and Adams/Karmanos need to be up to the task.

Reaves deserves 5 games for that BS.

Embarassing really
- IonSabres

Agreed.

He will get a 2500 fine.
Because you know “it’s just hockey.”

Welp, get ready to watch Boston vs Colorado in the finals.

Agreed.

He will get a 2500 fine.
Because you know “it’s just hockey.”
- ImThatGuy

If that's all Wilson got, there's no way Reaves gets any more. But it's the NHL, so 12 games.

To get the best return for Jack you need to take back some celery. Getting a wise old gritty player as part of the package will happen to make a deal work for both sides.
- Camel

he is a top ten player in the NHL, you dont need to take cap dumps to maximize his return.

he is a top ten player in the NHL, you dont need to take cap dumps to maximize his return.
- Mentalorgasm5

Example: Talks happen with Anaheim and the proposed deal is Zegras, Drysdale, and the 21 Anaheim 1st for Eichel and Jokiharju, but in order for Anaheim to say yes, they mandate Henrique be part of the deal.

You're not going to say yes due to Henrique being included?

Example: Talks happen with Anaheim and the proposed deal is Zegras, Drysdale, and the 21 Anaheim 1st for Eichel and Jokiharju, but in order for Anaheim to say yes, they mandate Henrique be part of the deal.

You're not going to say yes due to Henrique being included?
- kingcong39

I know you're just posting an example of a cap dump, but I still don't know why a team like Anaheim even gets involved. They should just stay the course.

he is a top ten player in the NHL, you dont need to take cap dumps to maximize his return.
- Mentalorgasm5

Right now he isn't a top 10 player in the NHL, he isn't even a top 10 Center

Whether they win the cup or not, this Avs team might be the best team since the 2007/2008 Red Wings so probably not.

The Avs have 3 of the top 15 d-men in the league on one team.

Landeskog-Mackinnon-Rantenen is the best line in hockey or the second best behind the Bruins top line. The Avs also have depth in spades.

It’s an All-Star team.
- Pegullaville

you could make a case that colorado, tampa, and the jets have more talent up front then that red wing team, minus the matt ellis factor

say we kept reinhart and made jack happy

does anyone think we could play to this level within 3 years?
- homiedclown

Yes. Dumping okposo the boat anchor would help.

Right now he isn't a top 10 player in the NHL, he isn't even a top 10 Center
- Buff36

it's going to be a beautiful day, which is why I did not respond with this exact answer