Confirmed Signing with Link: [SEA] Ryan Donato signs with the Kraken (1 year, $750k)

[WiHockeyGuy]

They ll be at least 30 pt better than the Sabres

So the Sabres are only going to have ~20 point season? Now that is a hell of a prognostication.

 

[bossram]

It's basically a zero-risk signing. If he can snipe in 10 goals or so and win them a few shootouts, that would be great value for Seattle.

They can afford to shelter him on the 4th line with better defensive players.

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

So the Sabres are only going to have ~20 point season? Now that is a hell of a prognostication.

The kraken have 2 legit NHL goalies ( probably a top 5 tandem ) , very good defense and in a bad division with good ( not elite) forwards. I bet they can hit 90-100 points range - Sabres are not cracking 70. Dude you can zing me as much as you want on this - I’m from Buffalo and have been a Sabres fan for the last 40 years - Seattle is a good ( not elite) team on paper with legit NHL players at every position and right now the Sabres are not.

 

[Coachcorner]

Hard to be too critical of this at league minimum.

Then be critical at least for the player sire. He is so totally soft and doesn't belong in today's game.

 

[MMC]

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

They can still go that route. Gourde goes on IR and that leaves them with 13 - of course, all of these F: Twarynski, Geeie, Lind, and True would have. to clear waivers, IMO, they all will.

If they go with 14, then Cholowski, Borgen, and Cale Fleury all get waived. And my guess is Borgen goes back to Buffalo, Arizona picks up Cholowski, and Cale clears.

If they go with 13 F, then Borgen stays with the club and Cholowski gets picked up by Arizona or even possibly by Detroit.

From any angle, Seattle's first season appears loaded with blunders and short-sighted gambles.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

The kraken have 2 legit NHL goalies ( probably a top 5 tandem ) , very good defense and in a bad division with good ( not elite) forwards. I bet they can hit 90-100 points range - Sabres are not cracking 70. Dude you can zing me as much as you want on this - I’m from Buffalo and have been a Sabres fan for the last 40 years - Seattle is a good ( not elite) team on paper with legit NHL players at every position and right now the Sabres are not.

This is very... optimistic.

 

[banks]

Can't argue with a contract like that. It's a no-risk, high-reward move.

Donato could be waived tomorrow with no harm done. Or he could mesh with a teammate and put up some respectable numbers.

One of the very few Seattle moves I like.

 

[GM Armchair]

Neat. At least the Sabres have a plan. Seattle’s seems to be to spend money on being the most average team in the league with absolutely no future because they “cap spaced” out any picks.

The only plan the Sabres have is to be bad for another 10 years

 

[Piffle]

This is very... optimistic.

Which part do you disagree with? They are built kinda like the Islanders of the last few years. I think that's a pretty realistic expectation.

 

[Gurglesons]

The only plan the Sabres have is to be bad for another 10 years

Well I’m sure hiring the Sabres ex GM as an executive will be a great guiding light then.

 

[WiHockeyGuy]

The kraken have 2 legit NHL goalies ( probably a top 5 tandem ) , very good defense and in a bad division with good ( not elite) forwards. I bet they can hit 90-100 points range - Sabres are not cracking 70. Dude you can zing me as much as you want on this - I’m from Buffalo and have been a Sabres fan for the last 40 years - Seattle is a good ( not elite) team on paper with legit NHL players at every position and right now the Sabres are not.

I would be shocked if Seattle hits 90 points this season. I just don't see it. More than willing to be proven wrong, but I just do not see it happening.

 

[The GM]

Don’t like the AAV or term

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Which part do you disagree with? They are built kinda like the Islanders of the last few years. I think that's a pretty realistic expectation.

The "very good" anything with Seattle. They were doomed from day one with the decisions by management. This is not a Vegas repeat.

 

[Piffle]

The "very good" anything with Seattle. They were doomed from day one with the decisions by management. This is not a Vegas repeat.

They have very good depth at goalie, defense, and forward. Depth is key to winning games. They don't have an all-star forward, but NYI didn't last season either. It isn't required to make the playoffs (going deep is another matter). 8 forwards that were on pace for 20+ goals last year. 2 top tier goalies. And a deep young defense. A lot of Seattle fans are happy with this roster and expect to be fighting for a playoff spot.

 

[abo9]

The kraken have 2 legit NHL goalies ( probably a top 5 tandem ) , very good defense and in a bad division with good ( not elite) forwards. I bet they can hit 90-100 points range - Sabres are not cracking 70. Dude you can zing me as much as you want on this - I’m from Buffalo and have been a Sabres fan for the last 40 years - Seattle is a good ( not elite) team on paper with legit NHL players at every position and right now the Sabres are not.

I mean, Driedger has experience in about 38 NHL games, and Grubauer has never played for not a contender and last year his first as a starter - and Colorado did not bother resigning him.
It's a good gamble from Seattle, but nothing screaming "top 5 tandem".

I think they finish around 20th to 23rd in the league to surprise a lot of people. But I think that they;ll stay there for 4-5 years at least.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

You'd think a 25 year old forward with a .43 NHL ppg over 170 games could do better than league minimum.

Not really good when he’s not putting up points. Offers 0 additional value

 

[spfan]

I was surprised that nobody took a flier on him before now, honesty. Good for Seattle

Yeah, how does Gudbranson get just under 2M and Donato can barely get signed for anything?

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

They have very good depth at goalie, defense, and forward. Depth is key to winning games. They don't have an all-star forward, but NYI didn't last season either. It isn't required to make the playoffs (going deep is another matter). 8 forwards that were on pace for 20+ goals last year. 2 top tier goalies. And a deep young defense. A lot of Seattle fans are happy with this roster and expect to be fighting for a playoff spot.

In addition to perhaps the most restrictive, defensive system in the NHL, the NYI roster has a few star talents such as Lee and Barzal, and a steady to elite top pair. Seattle will need a remarkable defensive system just to sniff the playoffs.

 

[Irie]

Has a 1 year league minimum contract EVER generated so many negative responses?

 

[Cas]

Has a 1 year league minimum contract EVER generated so many negative responses?

Did you read the Joe Thornton thread?

 

[Maurice of Orange]

The only plan the Sabres have is to be bad for another 10 years

 

[SI]

From any angle, Seattle's first season appears loaded with blunders and short-sighted gambles.

For sure there are some questionable selections that I certainly didn’t agree with, but that goaltending tandem and blueline, which is very, very good- I dunno they might surprise some folks.They also have some really strong two way players, who play the game right... Appleton, Gourde, Schwartz to name a few. Tanev is also a tough SOB - they may not be able to score enough goals, but in that division they could be a team on the bubble.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Not really good when he’s not putting up points. Offers 0 additional value

Plenty of guys who don't do much else and don't put up points either. Not really a big Donato guy but would take the producer over a lot of the 'PK specialists' who can't manage 15pts in a season.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

This kid got a good amount of hype when he debuted for the Bruins a few seasons ago. He might not be a great top 6 players but he is an NHL regular who can give you like 45 points in a full season. That only costing a team 850k is a steal imo.