from Dave Hodge of TSN,

"Thumbs up" to the clear winner, in my estimation - Ryan O'Reilly of the Buffalo Sabres.

He's supposed to deliver in a big way because the Sabres blessed him with a seven-year, $52.5 million contract extension. He has scored seven goals and nine assists for 16 points, and those who watch the Sabres regularly say statistics merely begin to explain what O'Reilly does on the ice. The fuller explanation, in one word, is "everything."

Money was always O'Reilly's problem in Colorado, and the fiasco of the offer sheet signed with Calgary and matched by the Avalanche made it obvious he'd be negotiating his next deal with a different team. Buffalo was able to be that team by trading Nikita Zadorov, Mikhail Grigorenko, prospect J.T. Compher and a second-round draft pick. There's time for the youngsters to help Colorado close the gap, but right now, O'Reilly's a steal, even at an annual cost of 7.5 million bucks.

read on for a "thumbs down" to Alexander Semin...