2021-2022 NHL Thread

[bustaheims]

Adams has probably been bombarded with low balls given the press about the whole thing...Eichel isn't helping his own case...then you've got a meddling owner involved as well.  I'm not surprised that they're just standing pat for now.

While they clearly have no intention of being a particularly competitive team next season, I still think they'd want to have this situation dealt with sooner rather than later. The relationship with Eichel has become toxic to the point that it could negatively impact the team's ability to sign/retain other players. Who would want to go to/stay with Buffalo when they see how they've treated the face of their franchise? On top of that, with all the contracts they've shed, they've actually lost some leverage - they now need to take a contract back or overpay a free agent if they move Eichel, or they'll be below the cap floor. It's no wonder teams are lowballing them - they've basically screwed themselves here.

Really, at this point, Buffalo's best case scenario is likely still a Pyrrhic victory.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/jackeichel/status/1428423786085429248

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Adams has probably been bombarded with low balls given the press about the whole thing...Eichel isn't helping his own case...then you've got a meddling owner involved as well.  I'm not surprised that they're just standing pat for now.

The relationship with Eichel has become toxic to the point that it could negatively impact the team's ability to sign/retain other players. Who would want to go to/stay with Buffalo when they see how they've treated the face of their franchise?

Jack Eichel hasn't done himself any favours in the process.  And in turn, hasn't helped Buffalo move him. I get that Buffalo has screwed this up but Eichel comes off like a whiny player that throws a tantrum when he doesn't get his way.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Shocking news:

https://twitter.com/KatieJStrang/status/1428446666055630849

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Jack Eichel hasn't done himself any favours in the process.  And in turn, hasn't helped Buffalo move him. I get that Buffalo has screwed this up but Eichel comes off like a whiny player that throws a tantrum when he doesn't get his way.

I'm not super eager to defend Eichel's character but I feel like the only time he's (or his agents) really spoken out here have been because of how Buffalo's handled the whole injury/surgery fiasco... and it's tough to blame him there I think.

 

[Kin]

Shocking news:

https://twitter.com/KatieJStrang/status/1428446666055630849

The thing is, where would they even move to at this point? Is there even a city that makes sense geographically or economically? I know Kansas City was the noise after they built that arena but, to put it mildly, it didn't seem like there was a ton of fierce interest for expansion teams.

 

[Kin]

Also, I guarantee you'll hear people say things like "The problem isn't that the team is in Arizona, the problem is they built an arena out in Glendale that's hard to get to" which sounds reasonable until you remember that the Coyotes have been for sale a lot in the past and at no point has a smart rich person come along and bought the team, built an arena in a more accessible spot and reaped the rewards.

That's because that wouldn't be a smart business decision. What those people really mean is "The Coyotes would be in better financial shape if someone gave the team a free 500 million dollar arena in downtown Phoenix" which is what passes for smart business analysis in the sports world.

Shoot, I've got a bunch of business ideas that would work if you gave me 500 million dollars.

 

[Frank E]

Also, I guarantee you'll hear people say things like "The problem isn't that the team is in Arizona, the problem is they built an arena out in Glendale that's hard to get to" which sounds reasonable until you remember that the Coyotes have been for sale a lot in the past and at no point has a smart rich person come along and bought the team, built an arena in a more accessible spot and reaped the rewards.

That's because that wouldn't be a smart business decision. What those people really mean is "The Coyotes would be in better financial shape if someone gave the team a free 500 million dollar arena in downtown Phoenix" which is what passes for smart business analysis in the sports world.

Shoot, I've got a bunch of business ideas that would work if you gave me 500 million dollars.

I don't know...it seemed to work pretty well for the Oilers?

 

[rdowdall]

Also, I guarantee you'll hear people say things like "The problem isn't that the team is in Arizona, the problem is they built an arena out in Glendale that's hard to get to" which sounds reasonable until you remember that the Coyotes have been for sale a lot in the past and at no point has a smart rich person come along and bought the team, built an arena in a more accessible spot and reaped the rewards.

That's because that wouldn't be a smart business decision. What those people really mean is "The Coyotes would be in better financial shape if someone gave the team a free 500 million dollar arena in downtown Phoenix" which is what passes for smart business analysis in the sports world.

Shoot, I've got a bunch of business ideas that would work if you gave me 500 million dollars.

What can I get for $23 and a pack of sticky notes?

 

[Joe S.]

Why does this team need to exist?

 

[Deebo]

Also, I guarantee you'll hear people say things like "The problem isn't that the team is in Arizona, the problem is they built an arena out in Glendale that's hard to get to" which sounds reasonable until you remember that the Coyotes have been for sale a lot in the past and at no point has a smart rich person come along and bought the team, built an arena in a more accessible spot and reaped the rewards.

That's because that wouldn't be a smart business decision. What those people really mean is "The Coyotes would be in better financial shape if someone gave the team a free 500 million dollar arena in downtown Phoenix" which is what passes for smart business analysis in the sports world.

Shoot, I've got a bunch of business ideas that would work if you gave me 500 million dollars.

What can I get for $23 and a pack of sticky notes?

Season tickets to the Coyotes.

 

[Peter D.]

I hope this finally puts a nail in the coffin for this piece of shit franchise.

 

[lamajama]

I?ve attended a few games there while on vacation and the rink complex and shopping/restaurant area is great.

Other than staying in Scottsdale and having to drive 45 min each way sucked but while on vacation not a big deal for a few games?.season ticket holder?.nope.

 

[Kin]

Also, I guarantee you'll hear people say things like "The problem isn't that the team is in Arizona, the problem is they built an arena out in Glendale that's hard to get to" which sounds reasonable until you remember that the Coyotes have been for sale a lot in the past and at no point has a smart rich person come along and bought the team, built an arena in a more accessible spot and reaped the rewards.

That's because that wouldn't be a smart business decision. What those people really mean is "The Coyotes would be in better financial shape if someone gave the team a free 500 million dollar arena in downtown Phoenix" which is what passes for smart business analysis in the sports world.

Shoot, I've got a bunch of business ideas that would work if you gave me 500 million dollars.

What can I get for $23 and a pack of sticky notes?

Season tickets to the Coyotes.

Man, I looked at that question for a solid 10 minutes trying to come up with a decent joke and you just come along and do so much better than I could. Well done, sir.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Jack Eichel hasn't done himself any favours in the process.  And in turn, hasn't helped Buffalo move him. I get that Buffalo has screwed this up but Eichel comes off like a whiny player that throws a tantrum when he doesn't get his way.

I'm not super eager to defend Eichel's character but I feel like the only time he's (or his agents) really spoken out here have been because of how Buffalo's handled the whole injury/surgery fiasco... and it's tough to blame him there I think.

Correct me if I'm wrong but did he not start speaking out quite a while ago about how unhappy he was in Buffalo with how the team was progressing? I realize that the neck injury thing was a separate situation but it all kind of blends together and doesn't paint the player(or the Sabres) in a very good light IMO.

https://www.si.com/hockey/the-hockey-news/the-jack-eichel-era-is-heading-toward-a-cliff-in-buffalo

 

[bustaheims]

I can't be too critical of him being frustrated with the lack of progression from the team and how it's being managed. The Sabres organization has been a mess since before he was drafted and is still a mess today. The stupid way they've handled his neck injury just confirms that. It is worth noting, though, that he never asked to be moved pre-injury.

I have no issues with a team's star player venting their frustration with the team's lack of direction. Quite frankly, Eichel might be the only member of the organization that is in a position to criticize. The rest of the organization (including all but a handful of players) have not done their jobs well enough.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I can't be too critical of him being frustrated with the lack of progression from the team and how it's being managed. The Sabres organization has been a mess since before he was drafted and is still a mess today. The stupid way they've handled his neck injury just confirms that. It is worth noting, though, that he never asked to be moved pre-injury.

I have no issues with a team's star player venting their frustration with the team's lack of direction. Quite frankly, Eichel might be the only member of the organization that is in a position to criticize. The rest of the organization (including all but a handful of players) have not done their jobs well enough.

I can't fault him for his frustration either. But, him being critical in public(as the leader of the squad) creates a doubt in the process for the players he's supposed to be leading. Eichel may be in a position performance wise to criticize but not leadership wise IMO. I'd have no issue if Eichel went to Adams or Kreuger or whomever was in charge and voiced frustration. A podcast or media zoom call is a completely different level though. Again, that's in my opinion.

As a manager in my company I have no issues if an employee comes to me and voices frustration in the decisions being made as it gives me a chance to discuss different ideas and evaluate my own choices. Going to the local newspaper or going on Facebook to vent frustration with how I'm managing my business is a different level that I will not look fondly on.

Whether Eichel's intentions were good at the time or for that matter warranted that shouldn't be looked poorly upon, the fact is that perception is a big part of it. And if other organizations view him as a bit of a trouble maker that stomps his feet when he doesn't get away, that will lower his value in their view and their offers will be lower. So, we get what we have now. The organization won't/can't move him. I think that's partly because the other teams know they have no choice. I also think that Eichel's outward attitude in the whole thing(correct or not) is hurting the situation as well.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/hlundqvist35/status/1428708803919364105

 

[Frank E]

https://twitter.com/strombone1/status/1428727525857976327

 

[Deebo]

Also, I guarantee you'll hear people say things like "The problem isn't that the team is in Arizona, the problem is they built an arena out in Glendale that's hard to get to" which sounds reasonable until you remember that the Coyotes have been for sale a lot in the past and at no point has a smart rich person come along and bought the team, built an arena in a more accessible spot and reaped the rewards.

That's because that wouldn't be a smart business decision. What those people really mean is "The Coyotes would be in better financial shape if someone gave the team a free 500 million dollar arena in downtown Phoenix" which is what passes for smart business analysis in the sports world.

Shoot, I've got a bunch of business ideas that would work if you gave me 500 million dollars.

What can I get for $23 and a pack of sticky notes?

Season tickets to the Coyotes.

Man, I looked at that question for a solid 10 minutes trying to come up with a decent joke and you just come along and do so much better than I could. Well done, sir.

I can be witty a couple times a year.