Joined: Jul. 2021
Posts: 7,136
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Sabres fan here
The trades with us are reasonable, but a couple things:
Do we “need” a goalie?
Depends on direction is management trying to take the team with the rest of this season
Are we trying to make a run at a playoff spot?
-this isn’t reasonable imo, but if management thinks we can make a run at it- then YES, we absolutely need goaltending help
IF
we do actually decide we want a goalie….
Do we even like Mrazek?
Or is there another potential target, like Holtby from Dallas for example, who would be more appealing?
OR
***and this is the side of the fence i land on***
Does management think that we just aren’t ready yet?
In which case,
wasting assets that would hurt our potential draft position would just prove to be a feudal effort that hurt more than it helps
I just don’t think we have the depth right now,
and even adding a “GOOD” goalie wouldn’t be enough to give us the boost we need
What does management think?
TBD
Now with Ritchie….
I’ve never really been a fan. Even going back to his draft year,
I thought the Ducks were “reaching” and regret the pick
Could he be a useful “bottom6” player?
MAYBE
And the Sabres would seem like the type of team to take this type of chance- especially if you’re sending us a decent pick to take him
I could see that happen- it would make some sense
However,
we have a handful of good young talent at the forward position who are ready to make the leap
So the question may not be whether or not it makes sense to give Ritchie a shot here….
It’s probably more like,
“Do we think Ritchie has enough potential, to give him a shot right now over one of our talented kids who seem ready?”
*another thing to consider
Management might not WANT to bring any of our talented kids up this season, and might just wanna let them continue to develop & do some WINNING in the AHL- as opposed to coming up here & getting their butts kicked nightly
*this is the side of the fence i land on
I think we should leave the kids in the AHL, and take chances on guys like Ritchie (even though i don’t particularly like him),
and other similar young players
We have some guys playing nightly right now who clearly have no future here, so we might as well make some deals like the Ritchie trade…. ESPECIALLY if he’s coming with a decent pick
Again, i can’t profess to know Management’s thought process here…. But I’d do the deal
Sorry for the long response
It’s just not a cut & dry situation for us
Also…. GO BILLS !!!