Why is Buffalo adding a 2nd, if anything Krebs is the better player

I certainly do not agree

What's the purpose for Arizona here? They already have too many picks and not enough contract slots. If Hayton is viewed as the better player now they should be more inclined to keep Hayton as they bring in more prospects

Krebs has 4 rfa years left, hayton 2. Hayton will want more money than Krebs. If they'd like they can do another durzi trade with the pick. Haytons production regressed badly this year too, I just like him as a 3C

My understanding from Zona fans is Hayton has just simply not been one of the last 3 to touch the puck but has played very well and been very effective. The RFA years left is only relevant if one of the sides isn't willing to sign a longer term deal.

IMO Hayton is a top 6 center for them until someone like Geekie is ready to step into that role (which he likely won't be next year). They are trying to exit a rebuild now so downgrading for another lottery ticket they don't need is counterproductive

Perhaps you are right, should be an interesting offseason for them then

Hayton has 20 more points than Krebs in 10 more games than Krebs while playing in the top 6, vs Krebs on the 4th line. Krebs is also better defensively

I simply do not agree

Islanders aren’t trading casey

Hayton has clanged more pipes than most plumbers this year. Extremely snakebit. He's Arizona's Steve Rucchin doing the dirty work, working the boards, screening goalies, and playing well defensively. He has obvious chemistry with Keller and Schmaltz and enough skill and speed to not look out of place. The sum is greater than the parts even if he's "not a real 1C". That line is extremely more effective with him on it, which is why no-one else has grabbed that spot.

I would be shocked if they moved him given how thin they are at center. Having said that, depending on how contract talks go, he wasn't an Armstrong pick, so maybe they are not as attached to him as they would be otherwise. But barring outrageous contract demands, I'd have to think they keep him. Trading him creates another hole on a roster with plenty of holes already. And because of his toolbox, he's the perfect candidate to move up and down the lineup even if they find an upgrade.

ETA: nothing against Krebs still fighting to carve out his niche at this level, and who is a decent prospect/player who will probably improve, but Hayton is a whopping five months older. I don't see why AZ would trade the guy they know works with their best player. It's not like Hayton has more NHL experience to grab his chance, either.

200 gp: 19-43-62
209 gp: 35-49-84

Hayton has shot between 10 and 20% every year until this year where he's shooting 4.5%. Krebs looks snakebit this year at 4 something percent, too.

It's not an opinion though lol

Hayton would be a good option for a swap with Krebs. I don't think we'd have to add a 2nd, maybe a lesser pick. But if the idea is to get a 3C I'd be okay with letting Kulich and Savoie vie for that spot

AZ should not be trading a good 3rd line center for a mid 4th line center. Hayton should not be paying in the top six, he has just been required to because AZ does not have any top six centers (Cooley soon) until some of the youth transition into the league. Once Hayton is paying in his appropriate role, I expect his production will jump considerably.

Personally I think there's a very legitimate chance Couture's contract gets terminated this offseason. If so I could see him simply signing with the Sabres

The team traded away its 3 slowest players and added a guy who skates like the wind and suddenly theyre playing actual hockey that doesnt make fans want to gouge their eyes out.

I highly doubt they follow that up by signing a guy who skates like he's wearing 30 lb ankle weights. Even if he is a bills fan.

You underappreciate what Couture does greatly. Your team needs leadership and veteran presence. Even if he's slower than he used to be he is still a high IQ player and knows how to control gaps. Speed doesn't make you good at hockey, Holland traded for Athanasiou a few years back to have someone keep up with McDavid and it was a complete flop.

I would be very happy, as would #billsmafia

im not under-appreciating anything. Im following the trends and patterns of the team. They jettisoned their slowest and oldest guys and added speed. That's likely the blueprint they follow into the summer. The team doesn't need leadership and veteran presence. That's exactly the line of thinking that brought in Erik Johnson and re-signed Kyle Okposo. Crazy how without their "leadership" the team has a pulse?

Dahlin may be young but he's got nearly 450 games to his name. Alex Tuch will probably be at 450 by the end of this year. They don't need veterans for the sake of having veterans, they need players who can execute in a rush system when teams start trapping the netural zone. That's not Couture, even if he is still good.

EJ was 3rd pair on Colorado. Was he a Vet? Yes but not a particularly relevant one. He hasn't exactly played any major roles in postseason success. Okposo has 24 playoff games max and is a 4th line caliber player.

With Couture we are talking about a free asset here. A top 6 caliber centerman over 100 playoff games and nearly a ppg in the playoffs. That has a lot more value than you are giving it credit

You sound like the Red Wings fans who didn't want to sign Kane because he was old and washed. Also aren't you one of the fans that wants Buffalo to sign Tanev? Tanev is older than Couture

No? i mean if i was i certainly am not anymore. Im not downplaying Couture's success, or his pedigree. But he's not a fit. He does his best work in a non rush based system. I would love nothing more than for the Sabres to add a veteran who both had valuable experience and could do this. That seems unlikely.

Give Marchessault the first dallas Pavelski deal

Sure, but I think the move is probably going to be at centre right?

Make 2 moves

Nyet, everyone knows we cant do that (kidding, mostly). It's a balancing act. They need someone to replace mittelstadt in the interim, but you also make that move because you figure one of the 1st round forwards not in the NHL will get there very soon, and you'll want them to have the minutes. If you traded for a 3C and signed Marchessault, that likely leaves a deserving 1st rounder somewhere in the AHL again.

I feel like you have a poor conception of rush systems. Speed is important but not everyone has to be fast to succeed in that style. Matthew Tkachuk for example is one of the slowest skaters in the league and he thrives in rush systems