There wasn't one, unless maybe Eric Lindros like Boss said. And back then, the league didn't have revenue sharing. This would be uncharted territory.

The point is, if Eichel wants out, he will find a way to get out, because the Pegulas bearing down simply to make a statement goes against the league's and their own self-interests. There will be a message: either get him back on the ice or move him.
- buffalofan19

Lindros had no contract, he was drafted and then traded and that was all him, his father and agent's work.

Lindros had no contract, he was drafted and then traded and that was all him, his father and agent's work.
- GilPerreault11

Mommy bonnie too


Pegulas draw the line with eichel.

They shredded the franchise to draft him .

He sits, and sits and sits. Until his competitiveness gets the best of him and he rejoins the team.

Pegulas aren't worried about "pressure " from other owners. We would be hearing about the downtown bill's stadium if that were the case.


No way they let him off the hook

So, we sign sam for multiple years. 7 per

Eichel inevitably wants out, because you know -we suck again next year

We trade eichel

Stuck with skinner at 9 million and his 14 goals without eichel

Stuck with sam and his 45 points without eichel

Good times
- Boss34

I mean I know you don't like Reinhart, but the logic here is way too what-iffy. You're running the assumption that not only Jack WILL be traded, but that Reinhart can't produce without him. One is a low possibility, the other is false.

I mean I know you don't like Reinhart, but the logic here is way too what-iffy. You're running the assumption that not only Jack WILL be traded, but that Reinhart can't produce without him. One is a low possibility, the other is false.
- TheSabresTaco

If Reinhart wasn't a Sabre he wouldn't be a blip on our radar, just like he isn't on most fans around the league. The only reason there is so much Sam devotion is that he wears the Sabres' jersey and was picked 2nd overall. His ability, what he brings to the team doesn't deserve it.

Since this team has sucked so long I have little blind devotion for any player because of that jersey they wear. Jack and Dahlin are untradeable, Skinner, unfortunately, is untradeable too but for his contract and if Reinhart gets a 7 mil deal becomes one too.

Wait....so Eichel is unhappy now? Why are we talking about him sitting out until traded?

What did I miss?

Wait....so Eichel is unhappy now? Why are we talking about him sitting out until traded?

What did I miss?
- gcomella34

You most likely won't miss anything until November.

Wait....so Eichel is unhappy now? Why are we talking about him sitting out until traded?

What did I miss?
- gcomella34

We have people with sources, ones who weren't of the many fired over the last few weeks, who said if they don't make the playoffs next year he will stomp his feet and demand a trade and the Sabres will acquiesce at his request.

Where is that coming from? You come up with some weird sh*t.
- GilPerreault11

No this guy is just bumhole

Mommy bonnie too


Pegulas draw the line with eichel.

They shredded the franchise to draft him .

He sits, and sits and sits. Until his competitiveness gets the best of him and he rejoins the team.

Pegulas aren't worried about "pressure " from other owners. We would be hearing about the downtown bill's stadium if that were the case.


No way they let him off the hook
- Boss34

I hear the Super Yacht is going to be awesome.

With that said, Skinner being paid 9 million needs to be able to produce some on his own.

People female dog about Reinhart being a shotgun rider, yet Skinner is fine.
- ImThatGuy

Both are fine on their own

I mean I know you don't like Reinhart, but the logic here is way too what-iffy. You're running the assumption that not only Jack WILL be traded, but that Reinhart can't produce without him. One is a low possibility, the other is false.
- TheSabresTaco

Yes, I've read your attached articles proclaiming reinhart is as good without eichel as he is with him.


I personally watch jack eichel take passes and secondary assists from his linemates, carry the puck for 10 seconds and pick a corner with HIS awesome shot.

Keep pretending their is no eichel affect.

Ek9
Skinner
Sam

Yep, they all made eichel, not vise versa.


Please remind me of one "big goal" or big moment in Sam's career.

Skinner is irrelevant now without eichel.


Why not have some new faces that aren't losers?

There wasn't one, unless maybe Eric Lindros like Boss said. And back then, the league didn't have revenue sharing. This would be uncharted territory.

The point is, if Eichel wants out, he will find a way to get out, because the Pegulas bearing down simply to make a statement goes against the league's and their own self-interests. There will be a message: either get him back on the ice or move him.
- buffalofan19

Lets not forget the role of this very sensitive fan base in this equation, aka the customer.

As we’ve seen in the past from guys like Ryan Oriley and Marshawn Lynch, if the fans think a pro player doesn’t want to be in Buffalo... They turn on said player almost immediately. “If he doesn’t want to be here get rid of em!! What have we won with him any damn way?!!”

Hasek wanted out and he was a league MVP. The organization sure as sh!t didn’t want to move him. He was acrobatic and fun to watch, and literally kept them in the every game. He’d get shelled and would give up 1 goal. In he end he got out, got his Cup, and the Sabres got a bag of pucks in return.

If Eichel wants out, it won’t end well for the Sabres trade-wise, or from a PR standpoint. When your best players historically want out(like Hasek, Peca, Drury, Briere, ORiley, Eichel), it starts to look like a mature hour from the outside looking in. Especially if your not making the playoffs.

The league would put pressure on the Sabres eventually. Having a guy like that sitting out and refusing to play is bad for the NHL's brand, not just the Sabres.
- buffalofan19

Baseball has a mafia like union so they can sit out and get paid. NHL not so much so I agree with you and it’s bad for baseball and hockey a like

We have people with sources, ones who weren't of the many fired over the last few weeks, who said if they don't make the playoffs next year he will stomp his feet and demand a trade and the Sabres will acquiesce at his request.
- GilPerreault11

The pegula's will also be bullied into trading eichel by other mean owners, because they share revenue.


Just like , um , remember when ? Player x did it.
In sport z

Any season ticket holders like the idea of moving eichel?
Because his feelings are hurt making 10 million a year.

That’s the part people don’t understand.

I’ve never seen so many excuses made for a guy making that much money in my life.

There is a group of maybe 10-15 wingers (and that might even be generous) that are worth that cap hit cause they can drive a line on their own.

For $9M Skinner should be able to score with me playing as his franking Center.

Obviously that isn’t the case, we should have moved the additional draft capital needed to instead acquire Zucker to produce the same results on Eichel’s line and used the extra $3.5-4M on a goalie who could stop a beachball.

Instead we are wasting $3.5M on the cap on a winger whose no different then anyone we can sign off the street in UFA this year.
- Pegullaville

Stop. This is where this is so wrong.

He’s averaged 30 goals per 82 games over his career.

Now please list the pending UFA’s with those numbers who will only cost 5 mil

Now please list the pending UFA’s with those numbers who will only cost 5 mil
- sbroads24

fringe second line players like Marcus Johansson who get .5 points per game and gets dinged up every recent year

We have people with sources, ones who weren't of the many fired over the last few weeks, who said if they don't make the playoffs next year he will stomp his feet and demand a trade and the Sabres will acquiesce at his request.
- GilPerreault11

Very well put, Gil. That being said ...

That's right, let's all keep talking about it and keeping this bullcrap alive. Enough already ! You might say "well, where there's smoke, there's fire...". Yeah...you friggin people are the ones creating all the g-damn smoke ! ENOUGH already...just stop !

My (not so) bold predictions for 2021

-We don’t make a big splash in the UFA or trade market.
Skunk gets 6 year 6.5 per
-Risto stays
-McCabe gets traded for depth player leaving us with almost all RHD
-Sabres hold playoff spot until 45 game mark then fall off
-Skinner has another below average year
-Cozens starts with Sabres but they opt to send him back to Jr after 9 games
-Mitts is a complete bust
-Tage surprises us on the 3rd line gets promoted to second line
-Larry and Girgs both signed to 1 or 2 year deals
-Montour leads defense in scoring
-Krueger fired at end of season

The pegula's will also be bullied into trading eichel by other mean owners, because they share revenue.


Just like , um , remember when ? Player x did it.
In sport z

Any season ticket holders like the idea of moving eichel?
Because his feelings are hurt making 10 million a year.
- Boss34

Just like when league mvp Dominik Hasek did it with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

And no, the season ticket holders didn’t like it because Dom was the highest paid athletes in Buffalo sports history at the time (making $8 mill in the early 2000 era) and no star power came back in return.

Stop. This is where this is so wrong.

He’s averaged 30 goals per 82 games over his career.

Now please list the pending UFA’s with those numbers who will only cost 5 mil
- sbroads24

I provided you an example.

Zucker at his cap hit is better than Skinner at his.

Hoffman or Dadonov probably wouldn’t cost $9M either.

Believe it or not there is more to being an NHL player then being a volume shooter and hoping you have good luck that year.

What are his assists per 82 games ?

Why are coaches so scared of his defensive inefficiencies that they can’t be bothered to play him in 3v3 situations in OT ?

Skinner does a great job of generating shot volume but the only ones that matter are the ones that go into the net.

I provided you an example.

Zucker at his cap hit is better than Skinner at his.

Hoffman or Dadonov probably wouldn’t cost $9M either.

Believe it or not there is more to be an NHL player then being a volume shooter and hoping you have good luck that year.
- Pegullaville

Dadonov is 31 years old. Hoffman is 30.

Both will cost 7-8 mil long term. Those are better options to pay into their late 30’s as opposed to Skinner who’s better, and signed until he’s 34?

fringe second line players like Marcus Johansson who get .5 points per game and gets dinged up every recent year
- homiedclown

Yea with a 2 year term. He was one of the best FA signings that year.

Come talk to me in a few years when the rest of that UFA class is anchoring NHL salary caps around the NHL

Dadonov is 31 years old. Hoffman is 30.

Both will cost 7-8 mil long term. Those are better options to pay into their late 30’s as opposed to Skinner who’s better, and signed until he’s 34?
- sbroads24

I would avoid UFA like the plague all together.

I wouldn’t care about the $9M if he were on the books for another 3-4 years.

Draft well and make savvy trades.

Giving up the additional assets for a player with term (Zucker for example) was the right move.

Just like when league mvp Dominik Hasek did it with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

And no, the season ticket holders didn’t like it because Dom was the highest paid athletes in Buffalo sports history at the time (making $8 mill in the early 2000 era) and no star power came back in return.
- SuperCat

Sabres ownership back then didn't even let it get that far. They traded him that offseason. Of course, we found out later that the Rigases were broke and later going to jail, but the point remains the same.

I don't claim to know what exactly the Pegulas will do if Eichel were to, God forbid, demand to be moved. Maybe they talk him off the ledge and get him back on the ice. Maybe they trade him for a good or not-so-good return. I do know they will not let him sit and rot for the long-term. It's not in their best interest, nor it is in the league's as a whole.

Sabres ownership back then didn't even let it get that far. They traded him that offseason. Of course, we found out later that the Rigases were broke and later going to jail, but the point remains the same.

I don't claim to know what exactly the Pegulas will do if Eichel were to, God forbid, demand to be moved. Maybe they talk him off the ledge and get him back on the ice. Maybe they trade him for a good or not-so-good return. I do know they will not let him sit and rot for the long-term. It's not in their best interest, nor it is in the league's as a whole.
- buffalofan19

You have seen/heard their press conferences.
I wouldn't place too much trust nor hope in them being able to talk anybody out of anything.