coastal's predraft perfect offseason.

[coastal]

Coaching

Luke Richardson - This just makes sense. In an organization, any chance you have to build synergy... you do it. TM's past working relationship with Luke makes this a synergistic hire. Having a GM and HC on the same page is a must as far as I'm concerned or the temptation for egos and drama to take over or distract becomes too high. Luke has a good reputation for developing young talent. He still would be spitting distance from his daughter, who plays her last year of college hockey at Cornell. This guy is hockey through and through. Outside of Babcock... this should be the hire.

Trades

1.) Samson Reinhart for Arizona's 3rd overall pick - I'm banking on Arizona coveting the idea of reuniting this past year's Team Canada line of Reinhart, Duclair and Domi. They traded for Duclair at the deadline, and I have a sneaking suspicion the player TM received a surprise call on at the deadline was Samson.

2.) Grigerenko, Zadorov, our 2nd 2015 1st round pick, and our 2016 2nd round pick for ROR and goalie prospect Spencer Martin. Before you freak out as to the cost of this trade... it's worth it. ROR is the perfect center to mentor Jack. He's also the perfect center to pair with Ennis and Moulson. ROR is in top 5 forwards league wide in causing turnovers. This turns our Corsi numbers around from day one.

3.)

Draft

1a.) Jack Eichel - well no duh! Day one first line center and franchise player. Tank you very much!
1b.) Mitch Marner - we have our Toews and Kane... only better! Mitch has sick puck skills and skating ability. Our opening game first line... Kane, Eichel and Marner.

Free Agents

1.) Shane Prince - prospect porn. I've been on the ice with this kid and his skating ability and puck skills are off the charts. I very much want to see him on a fourth line with Larson centering. Outside of that, I don't see a huge need to go dipping into the free agency pool. I'd target a defensemen though.

Goalies - I'll defer to jamjam

[JATMtheJATM]

I've given this alot of thought. Here goes. It's going to be more conservative than coastals, and some real outside the box thinking, but here goes.

Draft: eichel second, bittner/carlo mid first, blackwood second round.

July 1. This is where we make the biggest splash. Sign neuvirth to start, sign justin Williams as a wing. Trade picks and compher to ottawa for lehner. Trade Chad Johnson for... whatever.

Coach: I'd love blashill over anyone. He's young and he's GOOD. if babcock stays in detroit, poach him.

Hodgson. Here we go. Keeping him till the board of governors meeting. Hold your hissing and boo's. Outside the box thinking.

If the BOG votes to award las vegas an expansion team, I wait to see when they come in the league. Usually, two full seasons pass between the awarding of the team, and the team taking the ice. Vegas might be fast tracked to 2016 because the arena is already almost half done. If that's the case, keep hodgson, and don't protect him in an expansion draft. Hope he bounces back and the team takes him. Given that the team has to reach the cap floor, and some of the "talent" that will be available, Hodgson should be a 1 or 2 center on an expansion team. Leave him unprotected, and you don't take a hit for him (I believe)... outside the box, but this is also dependent on eichel signing this summer, which I think he does. If Eichel does sign, maybe the sabres dont have room.

But I look at next year as a gap year. Much better over the past two seasons, but still rough a the kids need time to develop, and buffalo drafts inside the top 10 again next year.

Flame away.[

[SpikedLemonade]

But I look at next year as a gap year. Much better over the past two seasons, but still rough a the kids need time to develop, and buffalo drafts inside the top 10 again next year..[

No question.

If Eichel stays in college next year, the Sabres are drafting in the top 5 again next year.

[JATMtheJATM]

No question.

If Eichel stays in college next year, the Sabres are drafting in the top 5 again next year.

and thats where coastal and I differ. he wants to go for it now. pedal to the floor, and make trades for impact players and compete now. and while thats fine, i dont agree with it. i think the long term health of the team benefits from another year of patience, and not trade away guys like zad or even grigo, given he finally settled in and looked like a guy who should have been drafted 12th.

either way, while the team will look better and will play better, another year of patience is probably best for the team, overall.

[coastal]

Tank on

[SpikedLemonade]

Tank on

It is what Murray does best.

He's #1 in tanking and no one can take that away from him.

[JATMtheJATM]

Tank on

wait, what? you are in favor of another down year to get another elite prospect? but you said...

certainly, i dont want another tank job, but i want the team to rise naturally, with the kids we have growing together (not saying we shouldnt trade any youth, we should. just not high end youth) and if another elite prospect comes with a gap year, im totally ok with that.

[JATMtheJATM]

Another goalie may be on the market...
http://www.hockeyfeed.com/trade-rumo...1-this-summer/

I'd love Eddie lack in a sabres uni.

[coastal]

Now that Babcock used Pegs and Murray to drive the price to obtain him up, the stage is set for step 1 of my plan.

[JATMtheJATM]

Yeah, but it doesn't sound like zad is going anywhere and the first will be used to move up. Or try to.

[coastal]

Yeah, but it doesn't sound like zad is going anywhere and the first will be used to move up. Or try to.

How do u know this... because you've read the same few tweets we have?

[JATMtheJATM]

How do u know this... because you've read the same few tweets we have?

murrays comments about growing the youth together in his interview?

[coastal]

murrays comments about growing the youth together in his interview?

So how does that negate anything in my plan?

[JATMtheJATM]

So how does that negate anything in my plan?

because trading away zad isnt letting the youth grow together?

dont forget roy, who scoffed at the idea of trading ROR and said that the plan is to resign him, as hes part of their core.

dont see it happening.

[Skooby]

because trading away zad isnt letting the youth grow together?

dont forget roy, who scoffed at the idea of trading ROR and said that the plan is to resign him, as hes part of their core.

dont see it happening.

I don't see it happening either.

[coastal]

Let's see Roy scoff at Zad, Grigs and a 1st round pick.

again... Roy can say all he wants about wanting to sign ROR he wants, but he's got two other centers who can be viewed as a priority over him.

Not it to mention... when I rebumped this thread, I talked about the the stage was set for Step 1... Richardson.

[JATMtheJATM]

I don't see it happening either.

personally, if im murray (and im not, so im not going to pretend to know what he would do. the kane deal surprised the hell out of me) but if im murray, i stand pat for the season. not saying i wouldnt make any trades, but nothing too major involving the younger players, unless its for another young player and it makes sense. id play the free agent market and make some smaller trades. but nothing too dramatic, and let the kids grow together, like he said his plan is.

that said, i read today that larsson was meeting with an SHL coach of the frolunda indians. prompting rumors of larsson heading back overseas. if im murray, i start working on him now. kid showed real growth last year and letting him walk, while not the end of the world, would be stupid.

[JATMtheJATM]

Let's see Roy scoff at Zad, Grigs and a 1st round pick.

again... Roy can say all he wants about wanting to sign ROR he wants, but he's got two other centers who can be viewed as a priority over him.

Not it to mention... when I rebumped this thread, I talked about the the stage was set for Step 1... Richardson.

sensitive much? are we not allowed to talk about all aspects of your summer plan?

and arent the sabres about to be in the same boat, with 2 or 3 centers who would be or about to be priorities over ROR?

[Skooby]

personally, if im murray (and im not, so im not going to pretend to know what he would do. the kane deal surprised the hell out of me) but if im murray, i stand pat for the season. not saying i wouldnt make any trades, but nothing too major involving the younger players, unless its for another young player and it makes sense. id play the free agent market and make some smaller trades. but nothing too dramatic, and let the kids grow together, like he said his plan is.

that said, i read today that larsson was meeting with an SHL coach of the frolunda indians. prompting rumors of larsson heading back overseas. if im murray, i start working on him now. kid showed real growth last year and letting him walk, while not the end of the world, would be stupid.

We need a few talented veterans to help lead the kids, so plan on a few big acquisitions.

[JATMtheJATM]

We need a few talented veterans to help lead the kids, so plan on a few big acquisitions.

For sure, but that could be acquired through free agency. Not saying no trades will be made, but I don't see any huge trades sending away our top youth for those vets