literally not a full roster and once Jack Eichel comes back they are over the cap.

Which is why Rask would need to go to Buffalo, and I don't think Nick Bonino would sign for that

Swap Fiala and Dumba, Sabres also passed on Rossi once

I’ve always found that reasoning to be really weird. They passed on Rossi for Quinn, which in no way whatsoever suggests they don’t like Rossi. In fact, they maybe love Rossi but just so happened to like Quinn more. Sabres passing on Rossi doesn’t suggest they don’t like him. It’s a dumb rationale.

I never really understood this argument. Just because they took Quinn over Rossi doesn't mean that they didn't like him. Simply means they had Quinn higher on their board. It could absolutely be the case that both Quinn and Rossi were ahead of where they picked. Not saying it is, but we just don't know and never will.

Edit: @drmantalban beat me to the punch

I know they were interested in Rossi and Quinn. If I had to guess, I would say Buffalo took need over BPA, or valued Quinn higher and Buffalo liked Quinn's two-way game and goal scoring, and the fact that we were (and still are weak) on the wings, especially the right side

I wouldn't be stunned one bit if the Sabres were interested in an Rossi-Quinn reunion

This might get me nominated for Common's preposterous statement tournament, but I don't think there's a single player on the Penguins roster I'd move Fiala for, not sure if I'd even do it for Crosby (he'll be 34 and I'm not sure if hell play more than a few years while Fiala is just entering his prime).

Lol great minds, am I right?! But yeah in all seriousness, it’s a flawed argument. For all we know, Sabres draft room was split 50-50 on Quinn/Rossi and GM played the trump card.

and the entire hockey world laughed at them (not that it hasn't worked out of course)

don't get your comment tho.. that doesn't mean Rossi isn't a top grade prospect, that means Quinn was more more to BUF.. seeing the Sabres had their future centers locked in and Quinn potentially being Eichel's wingman

actually the 2020 draft from 4-12 every team went best fit with the players left in that tier, ANA gm even publicly stated that

but now the writings on the wall that Eichel's gone.. best plan would be to get a replacement no? if they draft Powers of course

It’s not rationale just people being dumb. Ignore every comment like it. Also for the eichel deal drop greenway and add rask. That’s 5 solid pieces for eichel. I’d do 3 and a cap dump, but that’s just me. He’s great when healthy but he will cripple this team, so unless he gets a cup in his first 3 years in this team it’s setting back the franchise 8 years like Arizona.

***id say the best way to do an Eichel trade if you’re Minnesota is conditional draft picks, and if I’m Buffalo, I want a conditional 2023 first rounder if he plays a certain amount of games hoping that pick will result in a higher pick.

I can definitely see Dumba as a guy Buffalo would be interested in, and I wouldn’t be stunned if Minnesota also wanted Ristolainen as a second pair defenseman at a reduced cost of Buffalo retained (2.7m cap hit), which would be a huge bargain for Minnesota

If Eichel is healthy he is more than worth it

You may disagree but I think the deal should be Rossi+Dumba+Rask with 21 OA and a conditional 2023 first round pick if Eichel plays 60+ games or play a certain amount of playoff games for the 2023 pick

I'm concerned with Fiala's contract negotiations. Fiala is the best player in the deal but I think this helps Wild fill holes in the roster. I also think Bill wants to get bigger on the blue line and Pettersson does that. During the Zucker negotiations it was rumored Bill was asking for Jarry and rumors out there say Pens have shopped him. Finally Kapanen brings speed, grit, and replaces a bit of Fiala's production. At least that's my thinking, it's been known to be flawed.

I think they also wrote off Casey Mittelstadt but assumed that they would still have a good tear with Eichel and Staal as the one-2 and that would allow Cozens to develop. They haven’t had a legit 3C in a while.

I think long term, they were thinking Eichel and Cozens down the middle in the top six and then Reinhardt and Quinn on the right wings.....that blew up in their face

I think they have less interest now than they did at the draft table, when they didnt take him

I think missing an entire year didnt help

0 interest in Dumba, overrated and he walks in 2 years, may as well sign a ufa a grow their prospects. Dumba makes no sense

You do realize that still does not suggest they aren't interested, correct?

I agree, but at that point just trade him for a top line center. None of these players particularly jump out at me, they're all good middle of the roster players and moving a dynamic player like Fiala for these guys would just be a huge mistake in my opinion.

and I’m sure they have zero interest in Ristolainen, but at 2.7 million for a year? Why not, Buffalo can afford to take Dumba in the trade.

He make sense because the can take his salary back from Minnesota to make the trade work, and Buffalo can trade him at the deadline for more assets.

Minnesota needs to send out a good amount of salary to make a trade work and Dumba and Rask is one of the few ways to do it. They also still need to build a team around Eichel as well otherwise there’s no point for them to do it

Not to mention , the Sabres don’t have a ton of leverage unless you can stomach trading him to the NY Rangers

agreed

to be fair could've worked but Eichel's health really through a damper onto things... but hey the only right thing to do is take advantage of the situation

taking a deeper look into it everything points to Eichel being in a Wild uniform next year of course other teams r involved but it looks like the Wild have to most to lost by missing out

first Kaprizov and Fiala's contract situation.. I'm sure both would be alot easier if the Wild could add a top 10 center to their team, of course Kaprizov made the desire for the WIld to add a center public but im sure at Fiala's camp their arguing he could produced alot more if the best center option wasn't Johansson (EK wasnt in the picture yet)

and the buyouts.. the obvious stand point is freeing up those expansion slots but at the same time it adds a lot of cap space as well as changing the face of the room for Eichel to fit in easier and their in win now so they gotta use that cap space

just dont get why Guerin opted to protect 34 year old Talbot over Kähkönen

to be fair alot of prospects did....obviously he was doing some form of training

really gets u thinking tho.. the amount of potential steals that this draft could have

how a team having done their homework could just stock up on picks and select potential steal after steal seeing the names r all over the place rn

Or busts. Sabres arent a team i trust to scout well after firing all of their scouting staff a year ago

If its Dumba for Risto sure. If he counts towards the value of Eichel, no. The Sabres can loan Eichel to Russia. They dont need to trade him

Yeah their scouting record isn’t that good… but completely different crew now and the gm says he’s confident

Yup let Eichel walk to Russia and lose him for free instead of getting a boatload of picks and prospects for him while only having to face him 2 times a year