I remember Pominville in that playoff series against the Canes over 10 years ago. He was a 34 goal scorer, amazing the preserverance, and they brought him back from the wild.
I think the Leafs have one of the most impressive F unit ever. Their G is stout. Their D is outperforming expectations. Overall I think the stats say that the Leafs belong where they are. I like their chances better than Buffalo. That's this season. Given the prospects, futures, and extraordinarily young core in Buffalo, I like the Sabres long term chances more. Given overall organizational strength and balance, and with a more manageable cap situation, I don't think it's really even close. If you had to choose between TOR & BUF for how you expect them to do over the next 15 years, I think objective fans would side with the Sabres.
When Darcy Regier moved Pommers to the Wild it signaled that the blow-up was real. (He'd already sold P. Gaustad to the Preds, but that was minor compared to trading a team Captain.) Surprisingly, Pommers, and perhaps J. Larssen, are the only pieces left from that trade that are worth a damn. It was up to Botterill to bring Pommers home.
I'd like to see how both teams look like after everybody's been signed long-term (core players), before I go 15 years down the road. One thing I think we both could agree on, the leafs and sabres won't be drafting high picks for a long while.
I have to say, there's not too many things in life that are still around from when I was a kid. Amazing that Jeneneret is still calling the games all this time, from when I was a baby.
That's where the Sabres more manageable cap situation fits in. The Sabres won't have an easy time fitting in everyone they want, but compared to Leafs that'll be a breeze. I don't think we need to wait 2 or 3 years before we can make cogent arguments about how crucial Dahlin will be, and how likely that Mittlestadt will deserve a max. contract. But, we can also see how Bots can manage that - and that's true even if Skinner is signed long term.
So, core vs core Andersen vs Ullmark/Hutton Matthews vs Eichel Tavares vs ? Marner vs Mittelstadt Rielly vs Dhalin Nylander vs Nylander Kadri vs Reinhart Kapanen vs Sheary
You left off the list the player that currently leads the NHL in G's. That's glaring if you're comparing the current roster. Oh, two of those Sabres are teenagers. My premise is based on what the team has coming up. Who knows for sure? But I'd take the Sabres overall org. balance and talent over any team for where they can be in the near future. The reference to 15 years was an exaggeration to make a point. However, it was not even close to being an outlandish comment.
Eichel vs. McDavid. Eichel vs. Matthews. These comparisons are to be expected given their ages, position, and draft status. But Eichel plays a different game and contributes in ways that do not lend to deft comparison. Eichel came into an org. in shambles compared to AM, and even to McDavid. The primary reason Buffalo has turned things around at least a year ahead of expectations is because of Jack Eichel. He just saw to it that everyone truly bought into a sense of personal & team accountability. That change in attitude is more important than anything else. Jack is a leader, if a team is building from scratch (and BUF was in 2015) there's no one I'd rather have.
Skinner is not going to get $9MM, let alone $9.5MM. The team and the player will begin contract talks in about a month. Rumors about what he will ask for are just that, rumors. He's not going to get $9MM x 8 any more so than Bill Nylander will get $8MM x 8. Otherwise, Skinner is an important part of the current Sabres. He'll either resign or be moved for assets. He needs to be acknowledged when comparing the two teams.
This is a contract year, how much do you think he'll want if he gets 50 or more goals? Assets? No way they deal him at the deadline if they're at or near the top of the standings. A UFA is much more difficult to sign than an RFA, goes without say.
Sabres suck, just wait and see, big fraud, RJ and the french connection, even tim horton couldn't handle it there.
it only took them what 18 years to get good again. Rome was built faster. tanking has it's privileges.
