Joe: We are back again for another installment of barstool deliberations. We got hotter takes than those god awful GOP Debates. Today, Chris and myself are going to pound some beers at the bar and figure out whether the Sabres should trade Jamie McGinn. Chris, before we get started, let me lay out some stats about McGinn and where he ranks on the club:
- 4th on the club in goals (10)
- 4th on the club in assists (11).
- 3rd in shooting %.
- 3rd in hits.
- 11th in corsi% for even strength.
- tied for 3rd in PP goals (4)
He’s also been in on 56% of the defensive zone face offs which tells me they like to use him in defensive situations. So if you are GM Ostrander and with all those stats laid out, would you trade him at the deadline or try to extend him?
Chris: The only way I would accept a trade for Jamie McGinn, at this point, is if a team is going to overpay for him. That means you’re getting a first round pick. Unless I’m getting a first round pick in exchange, I’m not going to consider selling him.
Joe: Id sell him. Here’s my thing…I feel that McGinn is more of a byproduct of the Sabres being just dreadful after we get through Kane, Reinhart, Eichel, and O’Reily at the forward position. I think there’s a sense of overrating him cause the “Role guys” who we thought were going to get 15-20 goals, haven’t come close. I think if Moulson/Zemgus/Ennis were carrying their expectations, I don’t think we give a damn about trading McGinn. To me, he’s just a dude who is going to get 15-20 goals a year if he’s healthy..which he’s had some issues in the past with that. I just think you can find that type of guy later. Hell, he was basically a throwaway in the O’Reilly deal it would seem. So, its not like finding this type of player again is all that difficult. I also wonder if he’s a byproduct of playing with decent linemates. Those young players will only get better and accentuate anyone who plays on a line with them. Also, its hockey: 101 that when you aren’t in the playoff picture, you sell your assets who are about to be FAs.
Chris: I agree with you on the contention that Girgensons and Ennis’ shortcomings offensively have pushed McGinn’s feats to the forefront. But I disagree that it’s easy to cast him aside due to the ability he has to produce at such a consistent rate. He’s hit or just missed the 20-plateau in every season he’s been healthy and he’s trending that way again. I remember we set the 20-goal bar for quite of few of the players on the roster and he’s looking like one of the only guys who may reach that goal.
Additionally, given his ability to consistently produce, his age and his ability to really play anywhere in the lineup, he’s certainly a valuable asset for the Sabres as they move away from rebuilding and into that transitional phase of becoming a competitor.
Joe: But what about the whole selling guys who are about to be FAs when you aren’t playoff bound? I get you like him as a player as I do, but selling at the deadline is the norm. I know I spoke to you the other night about getting a prospect for him (Not super prospect) and you told me that those types of deals don’t happen. However, during last year’s deadline 17 of the 24 trades involved had a player for player exchange involved. Now, some weren’t for prospects, but you can get a player there. I’m just old school about it. I think you sell. Plus, you can get a 2nd rounder and maybe another player and parlay that into an offseason trade. I mean, the Sabres included the 31st pick over the summer which was received in a previous trade to get O’Reilly. So, its not like these picks have to be used by the Sabres and we gotta wait 2-3 years to see if these guys will stick.
Chris: I get the feeling the Murray is probably planning on moving him. His agent said there haven’t been any contract talks and with teams always in need of offense at the deadline, McGinn is going to be an asset. So I won’t be surprised to see him moved. And quite frankly, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Murray get a first from him in the right scenario.
That being said, I think he’s proven to be a valuable piece of the puzzle. He’s far more consistent at both ends of the rink than Marcus Foligno and he ought to come fairly cheap if and when he’s re-signed. The free agent market has been thin in recent years and if there’s a deal to be made with McGinn, there’s no reason not to lock him up for the foreseeable future and skip the gamble of finding a fit on the free agent market.
Joe: Do you think Murray owes us to re-sign him because of the tank? I feel that may be a big part of re-signing him because the Sabres have been selling assets for the last 2 seasons in order to be bad. Frankly, I remember in 2003 when they had the 5th worst record in the NHL, they traded Stu Barnes and a few other guys and I don’t really remember an outcry about selling these talented guys.
Chris: He doesn’t owe anybody anything. No matter how much the fans bitch about how this season has gone – and I assume the more patient, pragmatic fans understand the process – Murray doesn’t owe those fans anything. He’s here to build a contending team and they aren’t there yet. However, they’re getting awfully close to turning the next corner on that journey. Is Jamie McGinn the final missing piece to reaching that point? Probably not. But he’s certainly a valuable piece and he’s proven that he’s effective in this system. Plus apparently he and Ryan O’Reilly are best buds. So I’m all for keeping O’Reilly happy too.
My perspective is that Murray has to make the call over getting another strong, future asset or locking up a fairly young veteran as the team progresses through the rebuild. At some point Murray and the Sabres need to commit to the next step of this process and a decision like this one is exactly the balancing act which Murray will have to handle.
Joe: Trading him shouldn’t mean they are not committing to the next step. To me, its committing to what teams always do around this time of year when they are out of the playoffs. Its the buyers vs sellers. Get assets and parlay/trade them in the offseason for more assets. Role guys to me aren’t hard to come by. You have always posted those neat trade trees from past deals and there’s no telling if trading him for a late 1st or early 2nd can be a seed to that root.
Last question, do you think its possible that since he and ROR are boys, we could get away with dealing him and then re-signing him in July like McCormick/Moulson in 2014? I know that doesn’t happen often, but the Sabres are 25 million under the cap for next year which tells me they have the money to sign him back if they really want him and if ROR has pull with his friend, maybe its not out of the question.
Chris: The issues that surround the cap due to the Canadian dollar can only help the Sabres. They’ll be one of the few teams capable of spending to the cap with a ton of room. So I don’t think it’s out of the question that they could pull that off. But it’s a gamble. If they can get a first, or a high second without having to chip anything else in to balance the scales (think Gaustad and a 4th for a 1st), then I’m all for that gamble.
I don’t think that should be plan A, however. Cuz you’re really flying blind hoping that he doesn’t re-sign with his new team.
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