nfreeman

But it would be pretty awesome if JA turns into a great QB, right?

Was kinda hoping for a good Risto trade today and some major Sabrespace action.

Does the buyout period the Sabres evidently now have extend to players besides ERod? Or can they buy out only ERod? If it extends to other players, how does the cap hit work? What would be the consequences if they bought out KO? Inquiring minds wanna know.

Is he a UFA after this year?

It’s an interesting point about not being able to afford all 3, and I agree that McCabe and Ullmark are more valuable. Makes you wonder whether Zemgus and Larsson saw the pie getting smaller and grabbed theirs while they could. I kinda think their agents would’ve advised them to do so. I’m also interested in the question raised upthread of whether there would be a dropoff if their bottom 2 centers were 2 of Zemgus, Larsson and Asplund. I could be convinced either way.

Thanks. I recall JB saying this about healthy scratches, but not about who goes down to Rochester. But I certainly could've missed it.

Pretty good breakdown here of teams under pressure to make roster moves -- i.e. potential trade partners for the Sabres: https://theathletic.com/1090456/2019/07/23/unresolved-situations-around-the-nhl-that-could-force-further-trades/

Got a link for the bolded? I don't recall seeing this. As for acquiring Montour -- I don't think it was to help Howie. That trade occurred at the end of February, after the Sabres had already fallen off the table.

Both of you pls knock this TF off or take it to the politics club.

Interesting debate here. I totally agree with @GASabresIUFAN and @dudacek that the assets ultimately acquired are critical to the analysis, but I also totally agree with @TrueBlueGED and @Randall Flagg that the time value of the assets are critical as well — so IMHO TT and Johnson need to be really freaking good to make up for the intervening period during which ROR is really good while they are non-factors.

Thanks. As an out-of-towner who has bought a ticket and then had to bail each year, I don't think I should influence the schedule. (I think my question to you probably sounded a bit more agenda-driven than I intended -- sorry.)

Why are these the only reasonable options? As noted upthread, the later in the season it gets, the more likely the game is to be meaningless.

Seems reasonably likely they’ll work out a deal before Tuesday. I would think ERod’s agent is telling him that if the Sabres make a 3-year offer at $1.8MM or higher per year, he has to take it.

I suppose I thought it was 30% possible or so, but that the factors you mentioned limited the likelihood to that level.

I've always liked McCabe and think he adds a bit more offense than he's generally credited with. I generally agree that he can handle 2nd-pairing ES minutes with a good partner plus PK. Every good D group needs a few guys who can lay people out from time to time.

Good stuff here boys.

I'm a believer in patience. And JB hasn't been extreme in this regard either. Howie only got 2 seasons, and his goalie out of the gate was a very troubled and erratic Lehner behind a shaky D group. Similarly, this will be Ullmark's 2nd NHL season. He's shown enough to get another real look, hopefully behind a better D group and with better coaching. Your point is fair regarding TT and probably Mitts too. I would've preferred a good amount of AHL time for both of them last year. Larsson is a respectable PK/4th liner who has an edge. I'm fine with bringing him back, although I also would've been fine if his spot had gone to Asplund. Probably one more year for that to happen.

All this, plus IIRC he crushed it for Finland at the World Juniors, innit?

There are a lot of Sabres with room to make a leap next year. The Sabres need a number of them to do so if they are going to sniff the playoffs.

@bob_sauve28 -- seems like a good topic for a poll!

I wanted another credible #1 goalie possibility brought in this summer, and at this point I assume it's not going to happen. This is another factor that it will be fair to evaluate JB on.

Oh yeah @North Buffalo. Break out the fancy booze tonight!!

@Randall Flaggis 100% right that while GMTM's tenure was a failure, there is exactly zero evidence thus far that JB's will be any better. The GM is accountable for the results of the team he puts together. So far, JB's teams have stunk, including a DFL finish that was absolutely not intended and in which pretty much all of his acquisitions pooped the bed. I'm glad the Sabres appear to be a more methodical and professionally-run organization than they used to be, but it won't matter a-tall unless they start winning.

I generally agree, but no one is going to take Bogo or Hunwick without being paid to do so, and I suspect the cost will be higher than JB is willing to pay.

Welcome Chevy and both of you should post often!