Eklund: What NHL Team is in the Most Trouble Right Now? Buffalo? Buzz@1

Eklund: What NHL Team is in the Most Trouble Right Now? Buffalo? Buzz@1
- Eklund

What are they in trouble for?

I would say the Devils. They suck and might need to pull an Oilers and win they lottery 4 times before they’re even remotely competitive. And they have more Ranger fans in their own state than Devils fans

San Jose Sharks, To many long term contracts that will hurt them to add YOUNGER Talent in the long term

What are they in trouble for?
- Marwood

They didn’t renew their season pass with Hockeybuzz.com

I heard a rumor that Buffalo is Hockey Heaven.

I think it's an (e3).

The Sabres organization is completely and utterly clueless and inept from top to bottom.

It depends on your definition of trouble.

In general, I would put the Toronto Maple Leafs high on the list of "teams in trouble". They have a motivation problem, a salary problem, a leadership/prima-donna problem in Matthews, a defense problem, and a fan-base that has been heaving unrealistic expectations upon their shoulders for quite a while.

It is really unfortunate that a stand-up guy like Tavares has to deal with this circus. Who will they blame "this time"? Is the question.

Hmm... how about all the teams that don’t win the cup...

I think that Ottawa and San Jose has bigger problems

Define "trouble".

Is it on ice trouble? Roster trouble? Financial trouble? Fan trouble?

I can only speak for the Preds. First, Peks is starting to show his age, and Saros is going to have to the guy now. Not sure he's up for it. Second, their defense has been shaky lately. That could be because Ellis was out, but the trend has been downward for a while. Third, they still can't score that much. Forsberg is streaky, Granlund had come alive before the shutdown, but still not what we expected. Duchene hasn't lived up to the billing AT ALL. Fourth, the coach got fired, so we have a new guy that barely got his system up and running when the season ended.

Fifth, if they flame out, having had higher expectations, there is grumbling that maybe Poile should step aside.

Yeah, I'd say the Preds could be in trouble.

It depends on your definition of trouble.

In general, I would put the Toronto Maple Leafs high on the list of "teams in trouble". They have a motivation problem, a salary problem, a leadership/prima-donna problem in Matthews, a defense problem, and a fan-base that has been heaving unrealistic expectations upon their shoulders for quite a while.

It is really unfortunate that a stand-up guy like Tavares has to deal with this circus. Who will they blame "this time"? Is the question.
- JLO961

Lol

It depends on your definition of trouble.

In general, I would put the Toronto Maple Leafs high on the list of "teams in trouble". They have a motivation problem, a salary problem, a leadership/prima-donna problem in Matthews, a defense problem, and a fan-base that has been heaving unrealistic expectations upon their shoulders for quite a while.

It is really unfortunate that a stand-up guy like Tavares has to deal with this circus. Who will they blame "this time"? Is the question.
- JLO961

Isn't Edmonton also in "trouble?" Tremendous contract for Draisatl, but utter busts with Puhljujarvi (sp?), Yakupov. RNH is a very decent player but he plays with either McDavid or Draisatl and he is on that ridiculous pp, so his numbers are inflated and he is arguably an underachiever based on draft position. In spite of several high picks (Nurse, Larrson), there does not look to be any emerging studs on D? No free agent signings of impact, mostly over the hill players like Neal, Gagner.

I don't follow your team closely, so this is just me thinking out aloud. In spite of a huge string of very high picks, and a pair of superstars, this does not look like a contending team now or in the near future.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Minnesota

San Jose. There's just no easy fix with their cap situation and lack of picks/top end prospects. And it'll only get worse as those big contract players age. Even if a prospect comes in and lights it up, they won't be able to afford him when his ELC ends cause those big, untradeable contracts will still be there for years.

Buffalo is in trouble but theoretically fixable. Firing Botterill would have to happen first, and get a scouting depsrtment that can find players outside the top 10 once in awhile.

Toronto's decline will begin next year. They're fixable if they suck it up and trade one of the big contracts to afford three or four depth players instead of trading all the depth to keep the top heavy roster.

Islanders could be in trouble if they keep paying older, declining players like they're in their prime and not have more young players stepping in.

It depends on your definition of trouble.

In general, I would put the Toronto Maple Leafs high on the list of "teams in trouble". They have a motivation problem, a salary problem, a leadership/prima-donna problem in Matthews, a defense problem, and a fan-base that has been heaving unrealistic expectations upon their shoulders for quite a while.

It is really unfortunate that a stand-up guy like Tavares has to deal with this circus. Who will they blame "this time"? Is the question.
- JLO961

Nah

Yes Buffalo is a tire fire right now. With that said. They right now have 36 Million in Cap space next year, plus if there is a compliance buyout where they can buy Okposo out without it hitting their cap going forward the Sabres will have 42 Million to work with.

This can put them in a position where teams who are up against the cap could trade good players to Buffalo.

For example right now the Hawks have less than 9 million in cap space. Would they part with Strome because he will likely want 5 Million himself next year. The Yotes have 4 Million in Cap space next year could they put Schmaltz on the market? The Leafs 7 Million, Could Kerfoot and/or Kapanen be on the market? Tampa 7 Million, could they trade a Palat, Gourde or Johnson or even Cirelli?

Who all will be bought out with the the Compliance buyouts that are rumored to be out there? Now the Sabres do not have a ton of trade assets outside and truthfully and trade for the Sabres would be better if they got 2 or 3 assets for 1. The problem with the Sabres is that they lack Depth throughout the entire organization. Yes they have some very nice pieces, however its not many. They do have some good Young Talent however most of them project to be a 5th 6th defensmen or 3rd and 4th liners when you look at Rochester and the Minors. This is outside of Cozens, and Mittelstadt of course. Look at Samuelsson and Johnson in the back end, maybe one could be a 3rd or 4th defensmen however right now they do not project that way as of right now. Borgen as well. Asplund could be a 3rd line center however right now he does not look like it, he can be a 4th liner right now.

Thompson where is he? I dont see him anywhere right now.

Can we look at trading a Reinhart for 4+ pieces like to the Canes for Necas, Teraviinen, Suzuki, and a 1st? This brings in a very good RW, a 2nd line center in the making in Necas, Suzuki who could also become a good 2nd line Center or RW, and a 1st. Yes you will lose a top end talent like Reinhart however you add very good Talent, several pieces in fact.

The Only TRUE way to fix this team is getting 6 to 9 Good to Very good Talent players in here. And sorry NO I do not mean Vesey. He is OK but we need Good or better. We need a player like a Strome that has a lot of Talent and if you put him with someone like a Skinner that will succeed at being a 2nd line Center. We Also need good Talent that can run a 3rd line and put some points on the board. We need a 2nd line that and put points on the board reliably the entire season. We also need a 3rd line that can control pace of the game and put up points a shade under the 2nd line. We cannot be a 1 line team with a good shut down line then 2 other lines that looking like a tire fire is a complement.

I would say the Devils. They suck and might need to pull an Oilers and win they lottery 4 times before they’re even remotely competitive. And they have more Ranger fans in their own state than Devils fans
- BringNYIhome

So do you!

And we outdraw you.

And we beat you in regulation and lost in OT in our two meetings.

Just saying.

But yeah, we are a mess.

San Jose. Long Term Contracts are going to cripple them and Karlsson, Burns, Vlasic are all getting older.

Ask again after the play in round. There will be 1 or 2 pissed off fan bases after that. Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto all face dangerous competition for a spot that they already earned. All play in teams are at risk, but in those 3 series it's hard not to call the 'host' team the underdog.

Does the Buzztron have an answer to which team is in trouble? If it says Hartford Whalers then just reboot and try again.

So they go out and sign Kyle Okposo, few years later, he's on the wrong side of 30 they regret it. Now Jeff Skinner. Scored 40g last season.

On the other hand --

Imagine if the Sabres won the pick; OR got a top 3:

They have the following young players: Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin, Alexis Lafrienere, Casey Mittelstadt, Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen, Dylan Cozens, Victor Olofsson, Rasmus Asplund

So do you!

And we outdraw you.

And we beat you in regulation and lost in OT in our two meetings.

Just saying.

But yeah, we are a mess.
- Queenie_5_hole

Strange quote by an Islanders fan...Isles won 4 cups in a row in early 80s yet despite that we’re outnumbered by Ranger fans at the Coliseum during that period.

How about the Sabres trying to trade for Patrick Kane. It'll cost them this year's 1st round pick and 2nd round pick, Colin Miller, and Casey Mittelstadt. Maybe it cost the Sabres more or less, but they should try to trade for the hometown kid.

It depends on your definition of trouble.

In general, I would put the Toronto Maple Leafs high on the list of "teams in trouble". They have a motivation problem, a salary problem, a leadership/prima-donna problem in Matthews, a defense problem, and a fan-base that has been heaving unrealistic expectations upon their shoulders for quite a while.

It is really unfortunate that a stand-up guy like Tavares has to deal with this circus. Who will they blame "this time"? Is the question.
- JLO961